As the large shadow appeared in the western sky, Law and the others were observing the surrounding blood trees. Thus, when they looked up, they immediately noticed the shadow.
It was a dense, dark mass, like storm clouds pushed by a gale. Even from a great distance, Law and Biscuit could tell it was a swarm of flying creatures, reminiscent of locusts.
The swiftly approaching swarm of flying creatures was soon close enough to discern. Law noticed that as they advanced, the swarm dropped thin black lines downward onto the blood trees on the ground.
The crimson ground had no sand, only rocks and one type of tree.
This tree was called the Dragon Blood Tree. It took root in the rocks, could survive without water, and often secreted a scent from its roots to lure prey, causing underground creatures to dig their way to it.
The scent could attract many underground creatures, yet the cockroach swarm avoided the Dragon Blood Tree, likely repulsed by the odor.
The information Law obtained from the White Smoke Font was limited, as the White Smoke Font wasn't omnipotent. So, the sight of the resin solidifying into fruit-like spheres atop the canopy surprised him.
What followed was even more astonishing.
As the massive shadow drew nearer, they could finally make out its form: a swarm of giant dragonflies, each the size of a helicopter.
They had huge green eyes, straight bodies like elongated sniper bullets, no legs, two pairs of wings, and a slender tail with a proboscis.
Dragonflies that broke away from the formation used their slender proboscises to pierce the semi-transparent resin fruits on the Dragon Blood Trees, sucking them dry like jelly.
There were so many dragonflies that their feeding resembled a frenzy, shaking off large numbers of leaves and even completely stripping smaller Dragon Blood Trees bare.
The Dragon Blood Tree where Law and the others were located was near the edge of the crimson land, closest to the coastline. Thus, it would be the last place the dragonfly swarm would reach, giving them ample time to plan their response.
Earlier, Law and Biscuit had speculated that humans might live in the trees to avoid threats from various creatures. But the sudden appearance of the massive dragonfly swarm mercilessly overturned their theory.
'With the threat of these dragonflies, it was nearly impossible for humans to live in the trees. So, how did the footprints on the resin come to be?'
Unfortunately, without instruments or specialized knowledge, it was difficult to determine when the footprints on the resin had been made.
They knew there was no time to dwell on it. The dragonfly swarm would reach their tree in mere seconds.
"Get down from the tree."
Law hurriedly took out his phone, snapped a photo of the resin footprints, then grabbed the numb-looking Tonpa and jumped down.
Biscuit followed closely. Unlike Law's reckless leap, she pressed one hand against the trunk as she descended, reducing the impact of the fall.
The three landed safely. By then, the dragonfly swarm had already reached their tree. With rustling sounds, large numbers of leaves fell from above.
The bodies of the dragonflies flying back and forth, along with the falling leaves, cast shifting shadows over Law and the others.
The silver moonlight felt like frost, and the temperature had unnoticeably dropped.
Tonpa shivered, looking at the flat, exposed crimson ground, and groaned, "Where can we hide?"
As soon as he spoke, several dragonflies curved their tails and dove toward them from above.
The dragonflies seemed interested only in the resin fruits. Their attack on Law and the others was likely because they carried the unique scent of the resin.
As a few dragonflies took action, more joined in, creating a scene as exaggerated as dozens of people fighting over a few grains of rice.
Law's expression shifted, but Biscuit said calmly, "Our only option is to go underground, through the tunnels the cockroaches came from."
It was conceivable that there would still be cockroaches underground, but the number of dragonflies in the air was immeasurable. It was a classic case of being caught between a rock and a hard place.
Given the choice, they would naturally pick the lesser evil, as the cockroaches would be easier to handle.
"Let's go."
Hearing Biscuit's words, Law didn't hesitate. Grabbing Tonpa with one hand, he followed Biscuit toward the nearest tunnel entrance.
Tonpa, being carried by Law, had initially disliked the feeling. But after being dragged through so many life-threatening dangers, he almost wished Law would just keep carrying him forever.
The experience might be unpleasant, but the survival rate was significantly higher.
The tunnel entrances the cockroaches emerged from were large enough for humans to enter easily, and fortunately, there weren't too many of them, with one nearby.
In just five seconds, the group rushed into the tunnel. Law used his ability to control a flat rock to cover the entrance.
Dozens of dragonflies lunged forward, their proboscises piercing through the rock with a hiss. With so many dragonflies landing and piling up, they lost control and tumbled to the ground.
Inside the tunnel, as the rock sealed the entrance, darkness enveloped them. But the next moment, a faint green glow emanated from Bruna's body.
Law was about to retrieve a flashlight from Kuro's space when he saw the flat rock sealing the entrance pierced by several sharp needles, extending half a meter into the tunnel.
Then, a rumbling sound came from above as the rock was suddenly flung aside. Moonlight barely filtered into the tunnel before a shadow blocked the entrance, and the sound of something cutting through the air echoed in the dark space.
It was the sound of tail needles piercing the air, rapid and frequent… the dragonflies' tails were thrashing.
Frowning, Law and Biscuit retreated further into the tunnel. Law turned on a flashlight, revealing dragonflies thrusting their tail needles frantically into the tunnel.
Although they had luminous algae, the tunnel was one-way, and using the algae would require continuous Aura input. A flashlight was a better choice here.
After observing for a moment and confirming the dragonflies couldn't enter the tunnel, Law finally had time to inspect it.
'The cockroaches devoured by the black sludge had emerged from this very tunnel.'
Law ran his hand along the smooth rock wall, visualizing the cockroaches' segmented limbs. He estimated the tunnel's diameter and felt it didn't seem like something the cockroaches could have dug.
Biscuit shared the same doubt. The tunnel was circular, with neat, smooth edges, as if dug by a large human drilling machine.
"Should we go down and take a look?"
Biscuit took a flashlight and shone it down winding tunnel. The light ended at a rock wall because the tunnel wasn't straight, it curved after dozens of meters.
If the cockroaches had reached the surface through this tunnel, its end likely led to their nest.
They had a choice: wait for the dragonflies to finish feeding on the resin fruits and leave, or venture deeper into the tunnel.
It required some consideration.
However, Law didn't hesitate.
"Let's go."
What lay at the end of the tunnel was unknown. It might be an astonishing number of cockroaches.
But in the tunnel, if they only needed to defend two directions, Law and Biscuit could each guard one side, creating an impenetrable defense.