Biscuit's description was quite vivid.
The Aura Fluctuations coming from afar felt like countless needles pricking the skin, not painful, but impossible to ignore.
Originally, that Aura had been on the surface, and very far away.
Now, the Aura had clearly come to the negative first floor of the ruins, seemingly not very far away.
With limited information, speculating why this Aura was on the negative first floor was essentially meaningless.
But most people would think of certain possibilities.
That Aura might have been lured down to the negative first floor.
'Was it Netero's team, or Beyond's team?'
A flicker of concern appeared in Biscuit's eyes, but she didn't forget her own position.
Even if she was worried, she wouldn't bring a problem to the team.
She looked in the direction the Aura came from, remaining silent.
From her standpoint, she naturally leaned towards prioritizing Law's team.
Everyone looked towards the direction of the Aura. No one spoke, the scene silent.
The entrance to the Hide-and-Seek Dimension had been completely erased, which should have been the time for the team to leave the ruins.
Unexpectedly, just after leaving the Hide-and-Seek, they found that the forbidding Aura had descended to the negative first floor.
This perfectly coincided with the timing of the team's departure.
"Law, let's scram while we can."
Kuro's eyes were full of apprehension, unable to imagine the true nature of this Aura.
He only knew one thing: don't actively provoke it.
Many shared Kuro's opinion, believing that the present moment was the most suitable time to leave.
Law pinched his chin, thinking.
He had actually noticed Biscuit's concern, but since she hadn't brought it up, he wouldn't mention it either.
"Fast, what are you dawdling for!"
Seeing Law hesitate to decide, Kuro started to panic.
His biggest fear was that Law's curiosity would kick in, and he'd want to see the true nature of that Aura with his own eyes.
If that happened, he would be forced to go along and share the risk.
That was not something he wanted to see.
Law sensed Kuro's urgency, shook his head slightly, and gained a new level of appreciation for Kuro's cowardice.
"Interested in taking a look?"
Just then, Ging's inquiring words struck Kuro's head like a heavy hammer.
'You two... are a perfect match!'
Kuro looked sharply at Ging, screaming inwardly.
Everyone reacted differently to Ging's words.
Law looked at Ging. "The risk is pretty high."
"It is pretty high."
"You want to go?"
"I'm a bit interested."
"Seriously?"
"Of course."
The exchange between Ging and Law made the others roll their eyes.
The skeleton suddenly said, "I've seen many entities with terrifying Auras. Watching from afar, I always felt the farther I could get, the better. But in reality, some of them are just hollow... one poke and they fall down."
"What do you mean by that?" Tonpa looked at the skeleton, a strange glint flashing deep in his eyes.
When he heard the skeleton say these things in a bland tone, Tonpa felt as if he saw his own shadow from the past in him.
'This guy...'
Faced with Tonpa's question, the skeleton said calmly, "I'm just reminding you that some things look dangerous but aren't really. Here, many creatures use camouflage as a norm for better survival."
Tonpa raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, somewhat agreeing with the skeleton's reasoning. However, he felt this guy had malicious intent.
Thinking this, he looked at Law.
Law looked at the skeleton, smiling. "What you said makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the reminder."
"..."
Meeting Law's calm gaze, the skeleton's heart felt strangely uneasy for some reason.
His reminder hadn't contained a single lie... it was truly his personal experience.
But the reason he reminded them was also his hope that this human team would risk contacting that Aura, giving him a potential opportunity to escape his current predicament.
"Law, are you planning to go?" Tonpa asked.
"Temporarily, yes."
As Law spoke, he looked at Ging, who shrugged, as if to say: You decide.
"Better not go, it's very dangerous," Nique said weakly.
"Nique is absolutely right!"
Kuro immediately jumped in, supporting Nique's statement.
Law ignored Kuro, looked at Nique, and smiled. "If anyone goes, it'll be me and Ging. You don't have to follow."
"Huh?"
Shiro frowned. "That's too dangerous."
Knov said solemnly, "If we go, we go together. More people can look out for each other."
Biscuit opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Machi, who usually would have stopped Law from taking risks, was also silent like Biscuit.
Perhaps the battle that earned her Law's trust had changed her attitude.
Sanbica also pressed her lips together, but her gaze kept shifting between several people, including Law and Machi.
She leaned towards going to check the situation.
Some remained silent, some objected, and some wanted to go along, like Uvogin.
But ultimately, Law and Ging decided to go take a look. They would go alone, without the others.
If it weren't for Ging's assistance, Law might not have gone.
But with Ging there, they could coordinate and withdraw from danger promptly if needed, significantly reducing the risk.
As the two most influential figures in the team, since Law and Ging had decided, the others had no way to stop them even if they wanted to.
After the decision was made, the team split into two groups.
The duo of Law and Ging would go to investigate the true nature of the Aura.
The others would leave the ruins, find a safe place, and set up a temporary camp.
As they parted, Biscuit slapped Law hard on the back.
Law turned back, surprised, to look at Biscuit, who glared back.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Law gestured to reassure Biscuit.
Biscuit's eyelids lowered slightly as she watched Law leave.
Thus, with everyone seeing them off, Law and Ging walked side by side, disappearing into the darkness.
Of course, Kuro, with an expression of utter despair, was slung over Law's back.
"Well, it's time for us to move too."
Once Law and Ging disappeared from view, Biscuit looked towards the ruins' entrance.
The skeleton said reluctantly, "You're really comfortable leaving them."
Biscuit glanced at him. "You'd better hide those little schemes of yours."
"..."
The skeleton's eye sockets flickered red. He subconsciously glanced at Stargie nearby, sighing inwardly, 'If only this woman had gone with them too.'
Just then, Tonpa walked over, raised his hand, and patted the skeleton's shoulder. "Law definitely noticed, but he didn't call you out directly. Just thinking about it is spine-chilling."
"..."
The skeleton looked at Tonpa, who seemed slightly gloating. If his cheek had flesh, it would surely be twitching.
The team split.
Law and Ging moved through the ruins' passageways like ghosts.
They noticed that on the negative first floor, the bronze mechanical lifeforms were almost nowhere to be seen.