Now, Germain finally understood.
With that Legendary Perception that allowed soul-level communication, the Legendary Aura that reduced mental pressure, and the Legendary Physique that nullified harmful effects—
Only with those could Don Freecss have circled the eastern and western shores of Lake Möbius alone for hundreds of years.
The Contempt Armor had also been overwritten, for the same reason.
Under his Legendary Form, the Silver Halo, Silver Wings, and Black Robes — known as the Black Sacred Garment and Silver Sacred Body —
Completely replaced all the positive effects of the Contempt Armor, while also eliminating its drawbacks.
This was Germain, now ascended to Legendary Tier.
Just then, on the distant slope, a figure on horseback quietly came to a halt.
Even Germain's Legendary Perception hadn't immediately noticed him.
The man just stood there, silently watching —
Gazing at the four unfamiliar humans on this side.
Germain shared with the other three what he had noticed in the "Hunter Badge Projection," which left everyone in a state of surprise.
Ging was quite intrigued:
"So, you're saying that your level now should be on par with Don Freecss?"
"And these abilities are the reason he can travel around the Mobius Lake shores."
Bisky, however, was focused on something else:
"If I step into the 'Legendary Level,' would I be able to maintain my youthful appearance, or even reverse aging?"
Gon rolled his eyes and said:
"Who knows? But either way, your body will definitely be healthier."
Bisky immediately shot him a glare.
She knew Ging was probably making fun of her, implying she was an old woman who needed to stay healthy.
Shizuku's gaze wandered far away as she asked:
"Aren't we supposed to go collect 'Nitro Rice'?"
Her words reminded everyone.
While they were here, marveling at the abilities Germain gained after reaching "Legendary Level," they had almost forgotten about the nearby harvest.
Ging, Bisky, and Shizuku headed straight for the "Nitro Rice Growth Area."
Germain, however, told them he would first check the "Otherworldly Demon Corpses."
The bodies of the "Red Serpent Jealousy" and the "Black Snake of Defamation" were rapidly dissolving, much like snow melting under the scorching sun.
As Germain got closer, his "Legendary Perception" granted him some "knowledge."
"This is a powerful monster, yet a failed creation..."
With this thought-provoking "knowledge," Germain frowned.
He circled the corpses but didn't gain any more "knowledge," so he gave up and turned toward the "Nitro Rice Growth Area."
Ging, Bisky, and Shizuku arrived here a while before him.
Now, Ging was standing with his hands behind his back, observing, while the other two started harvesting.
Germain looked at the plants. The "fruits" they bore had a very unusual shape.
They looked like the kind of blocky, angular "fruits" you'd see in a pixelated game.
From a distance, they gave off a vague sense of disorientation, almost like being in Minecraft.
Bisky couldn't resist picking one of the fruits, which appeared to be made up of countless tiny pixels. She took a bite. It was somewhat crisp but had no taste at all.
It wouldn't be called delicious. It could only be described as filling.
She touched her cheek and said, "I don't feel like my 'lifespan' has increased."
"Idiot."
Ging didn't miss a chance to make fun of Bisky.
"Lifespan and vitality are not things you can just feel right away."
"We'll bring it back, let Sanbica, Menchi, and Buhara research it, and then we'll know."
The "Longevity Food Nitro Rice" — both "longevity" and "food" were perfect to pique the interest of both "Virus Hunters" and "Gourmet Hunters."
"I know all that already, no need for you to tell me."
Bisky still wasn't convinced by this part of the conversation.
However, she quickly lost herself in the satisfaction of harvesting the "Nitro Rice" with Shizuku.
Ging turned to Germain and said, "I didn't expect the 'Nitro Rice' to be such an oddly shaped 'food'... But my curiosity has been satisfied."
"Germain, we're already at the forefront of human history, very close to Don Freecss."
"Yeah."
Germain's tone remained calm as usual.
Ging couldn't get Germain excited.
Maybe it's only in battle that you can see this side of him…
Hmm, if Shizuku wants to, she should be able to see it too.
He decided to change the topic to something else that piqued his interest.
"Earlier, I mentioned that many of the events across the Six Continents might have originated from the Dark Continent."
"For example, 'bloodletting treatment' came from the 'Ancient Labyrinth,' and the 'Philosopher's Stone' originated from the 'Wilderness.'"
"'Bioelectricity' comes from the 'Steep Mountain Range.' What do you think, what might come from the 'Rainforest Swamp' on the Six Continents?"
Germain shook his head and asked, "What is it?"
Ging smiled and said, "I've heard a legend from the Ninja Nation — 'Jappon.'"
"There's a type of cat demon, called 'Nekomata.' It has a tail that splits at the end and often mimics human speech, waiting for the chance to steal a human body."
"'Nekomata' is very skilled at disguise and deception — that's how they survive."
"Besides that, cats are generally believed to have 'nine lives.'"
"Does that sound familiar?"
"After learning about the 'Twin-Tailed Snake Hellbells' and the abilities of the two 'Mutants,' I couldn't help but think of the 'Nekomata.'"
At this point, Ging smiled.
"Protecting the 'Ruins' is very meaningful to humans."
"Perhaps the 'New World Chronicles' was indeed completely recovered by V5 two or three hundred years ago, and they banned anyone who saw it from passing on its contents."
"But the records on it were always passed down in various forms by the people of that time, engraved in the ruins themselves."
"Ensuring their legacy — that's one of the reasons we 'Ruins Hunters' exist."
Germain nodded in agreement.
Who would have thought that the true face of the 'Rainforest Swamps,' after hundreds of years of evolution, would transform into a legend like the 'Nekomata.'
In the same way, "bloodletting therapy," "Philosopher's Stone," and "biological electricity" came about.
As Germain listened to Ging's words on the history of humanity, he suddenly had a thought, quickly turning his head.
He saw a figure riding a black horse, appearing beside the quickly dissolving corpses of the "Red Snake of Jealousy" and the "Black Snake of Defamation," seemingly observing them.
For a moment, Germain felt uncertain.
At this moment, he possessed "Legendary Perception."
He had not sensed the approach of this person and horse until now, only realizing their presence at this close distance.
He hadn't noticed them at all. Ging, Bisky, and Shizuku hadn't noticed them either.
The person on the black horse had been looking down at the corpses, but now slowly lifted their head.
The eyes beneath the hood met Germain's gaze.
Germain felt it—this was a human, not a subhuman, not a beast, and certainly not an abnormal demon or other creature…
Quickly, he realized the identity of the person.
After all, the only humans who moved through the Dark Continent, aside from their "Labyrinth Station members," were those men.
Ging was still talking, but suddenly noticed Germain's strange silence and alertness. He turned to look and found that Germain was staring in another direction.
Following Germain's line of sight, Ging noticed the person on the horse and understood why Germain was so quiet.
The person was wrapped in a black cloak, and the horse beneath them was pitch black as well.
If not for the moonlight, their silhouettes would almost be invisible.
The person dismounted from the horse and walked a few steps forward. The black horse behind them turned into wisps of smoke and dissipated.
They stopped about a hundred meters away from Germain and Ging and didn't move any closer.
However, the voice that followed was ancient and weathered.
At first, it was stiff and stuttered, but after repeating a few times, the language became clearer and more fluent.
"Sorry... it's been a long time since I spoke the Six Continents language... Can you understand me? I hope the language hasn't changed too much..."
"My name is Don Freecss… You should be humans from the Six Continents, right? May I ask you some questions?"
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