Even though the corner that was revealed has nothing to do with the truth...
But at least at this moment, it still stirred the imaginations of most people in the team.
So much so that-
For an instant, it felt like an illusion, a dream.
But this world was fraught with danger at every turn, and no one could afford to relax even for a second.
"Don't look. Just keep moving."
Although all the Bodyless Buddhas in the area had all been subdued, Moses's timely reminder prevented Tommen and the others from approaching the Buddha heads that had fallen to the ground and remained motionless.
Some things simply weren't worth the risk.
With something as eerie as the Bodyless Buddhas, maintaining distance at all times was the most rational approach.
Tommen and the others heeded Moses's words and forcibly suppress their curiosity.
The creatures from the book had become entities of the Dark Continent-
The scene unfolding before their eyes inevitably stirred a strong sense of curiosity in them, making them want to confirm the situation more closely.
However, the exploration during this period of time also allowed them to witness the many horrors of the Dark Continent.
Curiosity killed the cat...
There was no place more fitting for that saying than the Dark Continent.
"Let's go this way."
Moses quickly surveyed their surroundings and chose a path that kept the greatest possible distance from the Buddha heads.
Naturally, no one in the group had any objections to Moses's decision.
Caution and vigilance were essential for exploring the Dark Continent.
The team fell into formation and moved along the route Moses had indicated.
But just as they were about to leave, something unexpected happened.
At this time, the Buddha heads lying on the damp ground on either side suddenly exploded.
Two slender black shadows shot out from the shattered fragments, streaking straight toward the retreating team.
The speed of that narrow, elongated shadow was simply too fast-
Even the Enhancers positioned at the edges of the team, who were the first to hear the sound, couldn't react in time to intercept the incoming shadow.
Whoosh!
One of the slender shadows pierced through Kastro's temple.
At the same time-
Another long, narrow black shadow grazed past Hisoka's collarbone and stabbed into the head of Tommen, who was standing behind him.
The shadow's original target had been Hisoka, who was responsible for defense, but Hisoka's reflexes were too sharp, allowing him to instinctively dodge at the last moment.
Thanks to that evasion, Hisoka narrowly escaped the Grim Reaper's scythe.
But the Grim Reaper's scythe didn't miss entirely, as it struck Togari instead.
"Ugh…"
Tommen's eyes widened as an excruciating pain exploded inside his skull.
It felt as though something scorching was rampaging through his head, threatening to burst it apart.
He wanted to relieve the pain in his head by screaming.
But he soon realized he couldn't make a sound and only weak, guttural groans came out of his mouth.
In less than a second, Tommen's eyes were suddenly swallowed by darkness.
From the perspective of the others in the group, dozens of tumors suddenly swelled up on Tommen's head and face, and then, like a piece of clay, they were instantly kneaded into the shape of a dirty Buddha head.
This scene shocked everyone present, and also made Kastro, who had also been struck by the shadow, wore an expression of shock and terror.
Perhaps it was because of the difference in the Nen Categories, or perhaps it was because of the difference in the Manifested Aura-
While Tommen's head had twisted into a Buddha head, Kastro remained unaffected for now.
But a moment later-
Kastro also experienced the same explosive agony Togari had endured.
As if realizing something, he turned his stunned gaze toward Moses, who was rushing toward him.
In the next instant, many tumors appeared on Kastro's head, transforming in the blink of an eye into a Buddha head nearly twice its original size.
When Moses rushed over, he could still see Kastro's look of astonishment and disbelief.
It had all happened too suddenly...
From the explosion of the Buddha heads to the emergence of the slender shadows, there had been no fluctuation of Nen or any detectable Aura.
That was the key to the lethal attack.
Moses's eyes twitched, and he had no time to feel sad for Kastro.
He knew what to do at this moment.
Without hesitation, he wielded the Black Sword in his hand and cut off the Buddha head, which had already started opening its eyes, from Kastro's body.
Shhhkk-
The Buddha head flew into the air.
Taking advantage of the momentum of the forward slash, Moses turned around and kicked upwards, accurately hitting the Buddha head falling from the air.
With a thud-
This Buddha head, which was very likely to contain a deadly threat, was sent flying by Moses's strike.
After dealing with one of the transformed Buddha head, Moses immediately turned his attention to Tommen, whose head had also morphed into a Buddha head.
But at this time, Ging had already slapped the other Buddha head far into the distance.
"Move."
Ging gave the order in a deep voice, revealing a solemn tone that brooked no room for rebuttal.
The team had no time to even consider retrieving the bodies. They just responded reflexively to Ging's command.
Get away from here!
Moses silently agreed with Ging's order.
But before leaving, he looked back at Kastro's headless body, and the corners of his lips tightened imperceptibly.
When night fell, everyone had finally run out of the forest and came to a moonlit plain bathed in an eerie blue glow.
But even though the surrounding environment is clearly visible, it cannot bring a sense of security to everyone.
Moses turned to look back at the dark, gaping maw of the forest entrance.
'The Bodyless Buddhas we met in the forest, from their appearance, their abilities, even their weaknesses-'
'They are exactly the same as what Tommen said in The Strange Tales of Gui Mountain.'
'However, there is no description of the Buddha heads exploding and transforming humans into them.'
'So-'
'Are these Bodyless Buddhas really manifested from the contents in the book?'
'Or had the environment granted them an evolved ability?'
Moses's thoughts stagnated, and he looked at the Guide, who was standing quietly in the team.
When the Guide ignores highly aggressive threats such as the Black Hole or the Bodyless Buddha, the horrors of the Dark Continent mercilessly unveiled themselves before the team.
And there must be countless existences like the Bodyless Buddha in the Dark Continent.
They just hadn't encountered them yet.
'Now-'
'It's enough.'
'From here on, they only needed to intercept Beyond's team.'
With that thought in mind, Moses turned and looked at the forest again, silently mourning the deaths of Kastro and Tommen in his heart.
Then, Moses approached the Guide.
"How can you be so certain of the direction to 'reach the coastline'?"
For the first time in months, Moses posed a new question to the Guide.
And the answer to this question-
Involved something Moses had been considering.