Hunter x Hunter: A guide to all Dark Continent beings mentioned in the manga

If you have been closely following Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter manga, you are likely familiar with the Dark Continent and all the eldritch horrors that exist beyond the Known World.

However, the manga has gone on multiple hiatuses over the past decade. As a result, anime-only fans may have grown tired of waiting for the anime's return and chosen to dive into the manga to understand the hype surrounding the Dark Continent arc.

Given how unlikely it is for the Dark Continent arc to be adapted in the Hunter x Hunter anime anytime soon, let’s uncover the mysteries surrounding the infamous Dark Continent and the nightmare fuel (i.e., the Dark Continent beings) it has unleashed—at least those revealed in the manga so far.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Hunter x Hunter manga. Reader discretion is advised.

To understand how nightmarish the Dark Continent beings actually are, let us first look at what the Dark Continent actually is. It is a place that exists beyond Hunter x Hunter's Known World, which is embedded inside the gigantic Lake Mobius.

In other words, the Dark Continent is a vast, forbidden land that lies far beyond the Known World. The place is so dangerous and untamed that it makes even the strongest Hunters in the world seem like fodder.

It's not just uncharted territory for humanity - it's a deathtrap for any unfortunate soul that dares to step foot there. This is further made evident by the fact that the rate of survival in the Dark Continent is 0.04%.

The Chimera Ants and Nanika are the two most prominent Dark Continent beings that we have seen in the anime so far. However, these two are much more tame as compared to the Five Great Calamities from the Hunter x Hunter manga.

In simple words, they are the five distinct threats that managed to successfully cross over to the Known World during humanity's past five voyages to the Dark Continent. These otherworldly creatures were so dangerous that humanity had to collectively agree to never go back to the forbidden land beyond Lake Mobius.

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A comprehensive description of all the Five Great Calamities in Hunter x Hunter

As mentioned earlier, the Five Great Calamities in Hunter x Hunter refer to the five different eldritch horrors that made their way to the Known World during humanity's past voyages to the perilous Dark Continent. And to say that their arrival did not go well would be an understatement.

Each of the five threats brought with them a curse, a catastrophe, or some other disaster that humanity had no chance at being prepared for. Now, let's take a closer look into what each of the five threats actually are, and why they're feared as "calamities."

1) Brion

Revered as the Botanical Weapon, Brion is basically a living, walking plant-weapon hybrid with a mind of its own. Not much is known about its abilities, except for the fact that it completely laid waste to the elite forces sent by the United States of Saherta during one of humanity's past expeditions to the Dark Continent.

According to Ging Freecss, Brion's threat level was at least A. On the other hand, the current chairman of the Hunter Association declared that Brion's threat level was B+. Either way, it's a force of nature that should be best left alone, especially since it's significantly stronger than the Chimera Ants.

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2) Pap

Also known as the Human-Keeping Beast, Pap is a mysterious yet sadistic entity that not only feeds on humans, but also likes to keep them as pets. It first encountered humanity when 1000 people were unfortunate enough to be sent by Begerosse Union for an expedition to the Dark Continent.

The outcome of their encounter with Pap went just as expected - almost everyone was effortlessly destroyed, leaving behind only 7 survivors. The full extent of Pap's abilities is still unknown, but it has a threat level of A, making them a bigger menace than the Chimera Ants as well.

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3) Ai

Ai is a "Gaseous Lifeform" that completely decimated the expedition team sent by the Mimbo Republic, leaving behind only 3 survivors - who had to suffer through a lifetime of PTSD and a complete loss of their sanity.

Again, it's unclear what Ai's powers actually are. But given that its threat level is measured to be A as well, maybe it's better we don't find out what more it's capable of.

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4) Hellbell

Also known as the "Twin-Tailed Snake", Hellbell is a mysterious snake-like being from the Dark Continent. The two-tailed creature is said to have an ability that allows it to infect its prey with homicidal desire.

Hellbell's first known encounter with humanity was when it came across the expedition team sent by the Federation of Ochima. The fatality rate of that encounter was 99%, leaving behind only 11 survivors. As for its threat level, it was assumed to be somewhere in between B+ to A.

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5) The Zobae Disease

Also known as the "Immortality Disease", Zobae is a mysterious sickness whose effects are exactly as the name suggests. Its threat level was assumed to be between B+ and A, and it seemingly has a high fatality rate, since most of the members of the expedition team who contracted it, died shortly afterwards.

There was only one known survivor out of all, who was notably also a Hunter. However, surviving after contracting the disease was no blessing in disguise either, especially since it provided an immunity to death at a great cost.

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Concluding Thoughts

Yoshihiro Togashi certainly outdid himself with the concept of the Dark Continent in Hunter x Hunter. It allowed him to not only expand the world of Hunter x Hunter and push the boundaries of worldbuilding, but also to provide a commentary on the dangers of human curiosity, greed, and ambition.