'Book?'
Law raised an eyebrow.
'Can give birth to all things, can also contain all things.'
Just that phrase immediately made Law think of the creation theory in the Bible.
'But according to Coo, ancient humans did indeed have a bit of a resemblance to the Biblical God: Said let there be light, and there was light?'
Coo lowered her head, gazing at the ground, the focus in her eyes gradually expanding, as if she could see past scenes on the apartment floor.
"Life force can be transformed into all sorts of bizarre abilities. And objects created with life force can also possess unique powers. Many such items are still hidden in various places on the Dark Continent, unseen."
"Only those 'books' have been active since their birth, constantly walking the line between black and white."
"They are the Orderers, also the Menders, but we prefer to call them Menders."
"Menders...?" Law's eyes flickered a few times. "Did the Menders cause the decline of ancient humanity?"
"Not entirely, but the Menders played the most crucial role."
"What did they do?"
"They changed things, then usurped humanity's position."
"What do you mean?"
"They broke free from human control. Within a single day, they wiped out over half of humanity, causing the strongest clans to crumble overnight."
"And they didn't stop the killing there. They began to hunt down humans living all over the Dark Continent."
"Can you imagine? The Menders spent a full hundred years hunting humans. But they didn't exterminate them completely. Instead, they reduced the human population to an extremely low level and then stopped."
"Before that, although humans weren't the most numerous race on the Dark Continent, they had the widest distribution. Now, only traces remain."
Listening to Coo's narration, Law was secretly shocked.
Ancient humans created the powerful Menders. Logically, the created Menders couldn't possibly be stronger than their creators, regardless of accidents or possibilities, simply due to the mechanism of Nen itself.
Because, assuming the Menders were Nen Beasts, everything about them originated from ancient humans. This relationship was inescapable.
For example, with him and Kuro, no matter how powerful Kuro became, if he willed it, he could make Kuro vanish in an instant.
Law was not only shocked but also confused.
But then, he suddenly thought of a phenomenon... Post-Mortem Nen that grows stronger after death.
Throughout his years of experience since mastering Nen, he had a profound understanding of post-mortem Nen.
There were living things, and there were inanimate objects.
As for living things, take Hisoka, who returned from the dead.
As for inanimate objects, take the Surprise Box and the Kakin Empire's Seed Urn.
These were all vivid examples.
Suppose ancient humans were particularly excellent at materializing items and setting ability effects. Then, they could likely create items with extremely bizarre abilities or Nen Beasts of great power.
And when the creator died, the Nen strengthened by death would remain, then further strengthen the already powerful Nen Beasts and items, and free them from their identity as creations.
Just starting from this angle and imagining a bit made Law's scalp tingle.
To hypothesize an example: suppose he died unexpectedly one day, but the remaining resentment strengthened Kuro and made him even more powerful.
Then, a completely free Kuro could probably kill everyone in the team.
This hypothesis was the reality ancient humans had once faced.
"What exactly are the Menders?"
"..."
Coo was silent for a moment. The image of the Menders gradually became clearer in her mind.
"Their appearance is generally no different from books. They are also the embodiment of ultimate imagination. What I mentioned earlier about 'giving birth to all things'… That description is not an exaggeration at all."
"You humans have the habit and custom of recording pictures and text in books. Creating the Menders is equivalent to humans incorporating all their imagination into a book."
"Therefore, the power of the Menders actually originates from humanity itself."
Law's expression changed slightly, and a chill rose in his heart.
He roughly understood the power of the Menders. It was like Spongebob's magic pencil... whatever he drew became real.
Moreover, not only pictures, but the imagination contained in text could also be directly transformed into physical form through the process of phenomenalization.
Coo, watching Law's expression change, said coldly, "The Menders did not exterminate humanity. That's something I've always wondered about, but I have no answer. You are the descendants, or survivors, of those ancient humans."
She then revealed a sarcastic expression.
"Your ancestors tried every means to escape to a safe place, while you rack your brains to come here, and you're trying to dig up danger."
Law silently watched Coo's undisguised sarcasm. Honestly, he felt no sense of identification at all.
After all, he had crossed over from Earth. His identity and bloodline had nothing to do with the ancient humans who fled to the Six Continents.
Having been in this world for so many years, regarding how he crossed over, the text resembling the Hunter World's language hidden in the unfrozen lake, and the unknown presence that had approached from behind…
He still had no clue about any of it.
Watching the silent Law, Coo's eyes grew slightly colder. She continued, "Over that long period, the Menders have acted many times. Each time was a purge, seemingly to curb the growing human population."
"I can't understand their pattern of action, but what I can confirm is that their range of activity does not include the Sacred Land."
She paused, then added, "The Six Continents you live in, we call it the Sacred Land."
Coo had learned the term [Six Continents] from Don Freecss.
"What are you trying to say?"
Law gradually calmed down.
"He who plays with fire gets burned."
Coo enunciated each word.
Law sighed softly, then said seriously, "Did you say that to Don Freecss too?"
Coo was stunned.
That reaction clearly meant Law was correct.
After a moment, Coo said quietly, "Don Freecss is the most extraordinary human I have ever met. I saw nothing related to desire in him."
"Is that so..."
Law mused.
Suddenly, a door appeared on the wall of the room, drawing the attention of all three.
Knov rushed through the door, his face full of fear.
"Law, come quickly."
Knov's voice had an obvious tremble as he spoke.
"What?"
Law frowned.
'This was the Hide-and-Seek Dimension. What could cause such a reaction in Knov?'