The undead bone demons were a resilient race, blessed with bodies as hard as stone. Their physical prowess allowed them to survive the harsh environment of their homeland and fend off powerful foes. Yet, this very resilience bred arrogance, and Overlord, their leader, was no exception.
Despite his arrogance, Overlord was not entirely reckless. When Kamamo, an undead bone demon of notable influence, proposed leading an expedition to claim dominion over a ferocious land, Overlord and a few other pragmatic members voiced their objections. They foresaw the peril in such an endeavor.
However, their warnings were drowned out by the clamor of their prideful kin, intoxicated with hubris. Driven by this blind ambition, the race embarked on the expedition, ignoring the vast dangers that lay ahead.
The result was catastrophic. Nearly every warrior who set out perished. Only a handful returned, battered and broken, to recount the horrors they had encountered. The undead bone demons had overestimated their ability to adapt to the extreme and varied environments of the Dark Continent, where even the most formidable species often struggle to survive.
With the majority of their warriors wiped out, the race's strength was decimated. Overlord, alongside a few survivors, was left to confront a world teeming with threats. Faced with extinction, they had no choice but to abandon their homeland and seek refuge in the Six Continents around Mobius Lake.
In those days, the Six Continents were far less developed but already home to skilled Nen users. Aware of their vulnerability, Overlord led his people with caution, avoiding direct contact with human settlements. They found temporary solace in the remote Braga Canyon, nestled in the extreme north. Scouts were dispatched to gather intelligence on their new surroundings.
But the curse that plagued their expedition followed them. It had seeped into the survivors, festering unnoticed. This insidious curse, born of the Dark Continent, eroded the sanity of those infected, reducing them to mindless beasts driven only by instinct.
One by one, the scouts fell victim to the curse, disappearing into the wilderness. The undead bone demons were reduced to wild, aimless ghosts haunting desolate regions. In time, their terrifying presence earned them a place in the biological records of the Six Continents under the name "undead bone monsters."
Overlord watched helplessly as his race succumbed. Despite his strength, he was powerless to save them—or himself. The curse began to take hold of his mind as well, stripping away his reason and leaving him on the brink of madness.
Yet, in his darkest moment, a miracle occurred. A surge of mysterious power coursed through him, halting the curse's progression and restoring his clarity. He became the sole undead bone demon to retain his sanity. Overlord believed this was divine favor—a chance to reclaim his people's lost glory.
However, his joy was short-lived. The power that saved him also imprisoned him. A strange force surrounded him, creating a barrier he could not escape. It was a space that allowed entry but no exit, binding him like a prisoner.
Through experiments, Overlord discovered that only creatures with intelligent thought were trapped by the barrier. His mindless kin could pass freely, unaffected by its power. This revelation brought no solace, only despair. He was confined to an eternal purgatory, unable to lead his race or find freedom.
Struggling to understand the cause of his entrapment, Overlord recalled the gatekeepers—ancient beings tasked with guarding the borders of the Dark Continent. These enigmatic figures ensured that no one could cross between the continents without consequence. For those who dared to defy this law, the punishment was severe.
Centuries ago, humans who sought to explore the Dark Continent were warned of the catastrophic disasters that accompanied such ventures. Many who returned brought back "calamities"—deadly species or phenomena capable of annihilating entire civilizations. These calamities, classified as B+ to A-level threats, included:
Ai, a gaseous lifeform that possesses beings driven by desire. The enigmatic Brion, a weapon of unknown origin. Papu, a creature that exchanges happiness for life energy.The Hellbell, a two-tailed snake that spreads murderous intent with its movements. Zobae Disease, an incurable affliction that plunges victims into despair.
Each disaster was isolated, as no solution had been discovered. Humanity's only recourse was avoidance. To prevent further calamities, the six nations of the Six Continents signed a treaty 200 years ago, forbidding travel to the Dark Continent without permission from the gatekeepers.
The undead bone demons' migration to the Six Continents had invoked the gatekeepers' wrath. Unlike the disasters brought by humans, their punishment was a unique force—an area of power that imposed unyielding restrictions. Overlord and his race became victims of this punishment, a testament to the dangers of crossing the border.
Confined to his prison, Overlord was left to reflect on the price of arrogance and the cost of defying the world's natural order. His story serves as a grim reminder of the Dark Continent's unforgiving nature and the consequences of challenging its guardians.
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