After thorough discussion, everyone unanimously agreed that Meowth's [Slippery Umbrella] was the best option.
Based on the current information, these inexplicable man-eating flowers were most likely seeds falling from the trees.
Moreover, their small size made them highly deceptive amidst the pouring rain.
Powerhouses within the S-class range like Ging and Beyond could still identify and dodge them by using [En].
However, most members of the team couldn't achieve that level.
At best, they could only manage to cut down the seeds immediately upon noticing them landing on their bodies.
But even those capable of reacting in time were few—only individuals like Muheer and Marione possessed such ability.
For others, especially those with more supportive roles in the team, dealing with these man-eating flowers would prove far more difficult.
They could only rely on the defensive capabilities of their safety suits or hope for assistance from other team members.
Thus, these umbrellas, capable of blocking the threat of the seeds, became absolutely crucial.
This would determine whether they could traverse this vast forest smoothly.
No one knew how many trees bore such seeds—at the very least, every tree in sight appeared identical.
Thinking further ahead, even if they reached areas without these trees, there was no guarantee other species wouldn't pose similar dangers.
After all, this was the Dark Continent.
What was normal elsewhere became abnormal here.
Anything could defy expectations.
As a result, the scene took on a bizarre tone.
In the depths of a rain-soaked forest, under dim lighting, a group clad in "spacesuits" wielded black umbrellas.
Everything exuded an oppressive atmosphere.
Standing out amidst the uniformity of the "spacesuits" were the cute, winking cat faces adorning the black umbrellas.
Under the exasperated gazes of the group, Meowth cleared his throat awkwardly, fist pressed to his mouth.
'Rustle, rustle…'
Suddenly, the grass nearby swayed a few times—then abruptly stilled, as if it had never moved.
This sudden disturbance immediately drew everyone's attention.
Fresh from the man-eating flower attack, their expressions tensed, bracing for another threat.
The mushroom-haired child Pekotero hesitated briefly before cautiously approaching the suspicious patch of grass—the closest to him.
As he moved, Pekotero flicked his right hand, summoning a dense aura that enveloped him.
Streams of aura, resembling data fragments, flowed around her body, emitting a radiant glow indicative of immense power.
The light flashed briefly before subsiding, the aura reabsorbed into Pekotero's body.
Now, in his eyes, the world had transformed into a pixelated style—signifying her entry into game mode.
Nen Ability—My Game World
Though Pekotero harbored a childlike love for games and even resembled a kid in appearance, he was far from naive.
Facing unknown dangers, thorough preparation was essential before investigation.
Thus, he activated his Nen Ability, [My Game World], which significantly enhanced her survivability.
The others said nothing about Pekotero's actions but instinctively moved closer to him, ready to assist should any sudden crisis arise.
Beyond their exceptional individual strengths—each a top-tier expert in their respective fields—Akira's team had another advantage.The team had a great atmosphere.
There was none of the scheming and infighting common in many teams.
Instead, everyone treated each other as comrades who could rely on one another in battle.
This was precisely one of the key factors Beyond prioritized when selecting team members—personality.
As a strong individual, you could have pride, but you couldn't be unruly—otherwise, you weren't qualified to join.
For an ordinary team, Beyond wouldn't have cared much—ability alone would suffice.
But this was no ordinary team.
This was a team venturing into the Dark Continent.
The Dark Continent was no place for games. Danger lurked everywhere, and the slightest oversight could lead to total failure.
Needless to say, internal discord was a major issue Beyond naturally sought to eliminate.
Thus, no one in this team had a foul personality or a volatile temper.
They truly trusted one another, viewing each other as comrades on the same battlefield.
Here, they were all interconnected—if something happened to one, it could very well affect the others.
This was also why they were so deeply concerned about Pekotero's safety.
In a team, caring for others meant caring for oneself.
Ging's eyes flickered with satisfaction at the sight, though his expression remained unchanged.
Since joining this team, he had been thoroughly pleased with it—in every aspect.
In fact, among all its qualities, strength wasn't even what he valued most.
Because he never paid attention to how strong the others were.
The only reason he had joined in the first place was because Akira was the captain.
The team's harmonious atmosphere and the personalities of its members were just pleasant surprises.
A competent team was clearly more capable than an incompetent one.
And when facing any challenge, they would also be more competitive.
As if sensing Pekotero's energy fluctuations, the rustling grass swayed again.
At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a strong gust of wind, producing a faint rustling sound.
The next moment, a small figure leaped out and landed right in front of Pekotero.
Pekotero took half a step back, and after getting a clear look at the creature, he gasped softly.
"A rabbit?"
What now stood in everyone's line of sight was, unmistakably, an utterly ordinary-looking rabbit.
The rabbit was about the same size as the pet rabbits commonly seen in the Six Continents—roughly the length of a forearm.
Its fur was an unremarkable shade of gray, and its bright red eyes stared at Pekotero as it tilted its head slightly.
Having grown accustomed to the bizarre and grotesque creatures of the Dark Continent, the sudden appearance of such an adorable rabbit left everyone momentarily stunned.
Was this really a creature from the Dark Continent?
How could something so… normal exist here?
The same thought crossed everyone's mind—this scene felt utterly unbelievable.
Some even wondered if they were dreaming, as if witnessing something that simply shouldn't be here.
In their minds, the creatures of the Dark Continent were synonymous with words like [bizarre], [terrifying], and [threatening].
Among all the creatures they had encountered since arriving on the Dark Continent, barely any could be considered normal.
In fact, the most normal among them were probably the giant sandworms in the desert and the ambushing insects in the purple forests.
Other creatures were either bizarre in appearance or terrifying in strength—none could be considered normal.
Yet in this abnormal place, a normal creature had appeared, making it feel all the more unnatural.
Beyond suddenly realized, his pupils contracting as he shouted at Pekotero.
"Fall back!"
Upon careful consideration, it was clear—this rabbit was anything but ordinary!
In an instant, the rabbit's petite body began to ripple like putty, rapidly stretching and expanding.
Its delicate form vanished in the blink of an eye, as the tiny rabbit grew at an explosive rate.
In moments, the small rabbit had transformed into a towering, muscular giant.
The massive rabbit stood upright on its hind legs, arms hanging naturally at its sides, its enormous head wearing a disturbingly human-like grin of bloodlust.
Its body was lean and powerful, every inch packed with bulging muscles that radiated raw strength!
A chilling aura of killing intent poured from it, freezing the very air and making it hard to breathe.
The transformation happened so swiftly that only a handful of people on the field caught the full picture.
Akira's expression darkened.
He hadn't expected the rabbit to be a disguise—its true form was far larger.
What had once been a pet rabbit no taller than a human forearm had now revealed its real appearance.
Standing roughly two to three meters tall, its body was coiled with dense, explosive muscle capable of unleashing devastating power.
Its size had multiplied several times over!
The sudden transformation reminded Akira of someone familiar.
Like Biscuit, this Rabbit-man altered its physique to conceal its true form.
But while the Rabbit-man likely did this to "play weak and ambush the strong," Biscuit disguised herself as a little girl purely to avoid revealing her true identity as a brawny middle-aged woman.
The Rabbit-man bared its fanged maw, crimson eyes brimming with murderous intent, muscles twitching rhythmically.
Then, in a flash, it swung a massive, fan-like palm toward Pekotero, the force of the strike whipping up a cutting gust.
"BAM!!"
Before Pekotero could react, her body was sent flying like a cannonball!
Her umbrella clattered to the ground, only to be crushed under the Rabbit-man's foot, shattering into pieces as the impact left a crater in the earth.
"THUD! THUD!"
After smashing through two thick trees, Pekotero finally came to a stop, slumped against a third.
For a moment, the battlefield fell into dead silence—so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the drastically altered Rabbit-man, struggling to accept the sight before them.
Given the choice, they would have much preferred the cute little rabbit.
Of course!
Nothing from the Dark Continent was ever simple!!
Pekotero had been cautious, but the sheer gap in strength left her no time to react.
[Shapeshifting Rabbit-man]: A creature native to the swamp rainforests, capable of disguising its true form.
Its real body is a muscular, immensely powerful Rabbit-man, while its disguise takes the form of an ordinary small rabbit.
The smaller form allows for greater agility, faster movement, and lulls enemies into underestimating it.
Through long evolution, the Rabbit-man developed this ability.
The Rabbit-men were extremely violent by nature.
Whenever they encountered creatures they deemed beatable, they would transform into their true forms just to tear them apart!
...
Akira frowned, realizing this Rabbit-man possessed strength frighteningly close to S-rank.
Though still within the A-tier range, it was on the very cusp of the S-rank threshold.
No wonder it could send Pekotero flying with a single slap.
Even accounting for Pekotero's momentary distraction, the sheer difference in power was undeniable.
After all, Pekotero was no weakling among their ranks.
Among A-tier fighters, her strength was second only to Marione and Pariston, even slightly surpassing Muheer.
Yet against this Shapeshifting Rabbit-man at the absolute peak of A-rank, she stood little chance.
However, this conclusion only held true when comparing raw power.
In a spar, Pekotero would lose to the Rabbit-man.
But in a life-or-death battle, the survivor would most likely be Pekotero—
Not the physically stronger Rabbit-man.
This distinction existed because of Pekotero's Nen Ability.
For Nen users, abilities were a crucial factor in combat.
She might not win, but her survival skills were formidable.
With her data-based physiology, she could trade injuries relentlessly, creating a chance for victory.
After swatting Pekotero away, the Rabbit-man's eyes darted around as it subtly tensed its legs, preparing to attack its next target.
In that split second, a ghostly figure materialized atop a tree branch, shrouded in shifting shadows that made it nearly impossible to discern.
Decidueye perched on the limb, its sharp gaze fixed on the Rabbit-man as it casually plucked two feathers.
Two arrows, wreathed in dark Aura, shot forth—one aimed at the Rabbit-man's head, the other at its chest.
Normally, arrows traveling at such speed would tear through the air with a piercing shriek.
Yet under the influence of Aura, they flew without a sound.
Thup. Thup.
The arrows pierced the Rabbit-man's forehead and heart simultaneously.
It was slain in a single encounter.