Sanbica's departure from the team did not have a significant impact.
After a brief period of rest, Netero felt it was time to leave.
With Knov's Hide-and-Seek, they could be transported directly to the negative first floor, which was very close to the ruins' entrance.
Law did not try to stop them, but instead had Knov open the entrance.
They did not plan to follow them out.
Based on the information provided by the Masked Man, Law believed there was little value in continuing to explore the ruins.
Because the greatest value of this ruin was the Core Energy that the Masked Man had retrieved from the deep room.
And now, the Core Energy was in their hands.
Aside from that, the only other things of note were the crystals dropped by the bronze mechanical lifeforms and the edible vine plants growing inside the ruins.
Exploration, by definition, is the discovery of the unknown, focusing on things never seen before, going to lands never before trodden by human feet.
But these unknowns had already been spoiled by the information provided by the Masked Man.
Although his interest in continuing to explore the ruins had greatly diminished, the team still needed to stay in the ruins for a while to allow Knov to erase the Hide-and-Seek Entrance.
Knov used the master key to open the entrance to the negative first floor of the ruins, preparing to send Netero and his group off.
As a safety precaution, Law had the Cannon Fodder Cat scout ahead as usual.
Kuro darted out, but returned to the room in a panic in less than a second.
Seeing Kuro's alarmed state, everyone tensed slightly.
"A situation?" Law frowned slightly.
"There's a terrifying guy on the surface," Kuro said, his eyes showing deep apprehension.
"Is it that Scarecrow?" Tonpa asked.
"No, I'm sure it's not the Scarecrow. It's someone even more terrifying than the Scarecrow," Kuro said gravely.
"Just how terrifying is it?"
Kuro was stumped by this question, carefully recalling his previous experience.
He was well aware that the Aura had been very far away from him at the time.
Yet, just that tiny remnant had completely revised his understanding.
If he stood before that Aura, he would undoubtedly be utterly dominated and killed.
Kuro felt this deep within his soul.
That was why he had rushed back so hastily.
Now, trying to describe that terror...
Kuro furrowed his brow, then suddenly looked at Law and said heavily, "If I said that Aura gave me the feeling of being more terrifying than you, would you understand what I mean?"
"You're... not joking, are you?"
Tonpa was stunned, Nique was dumbfounded, and the skeleton was shocked.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Kuro's expression was grim.
Watching Kuro's reaction, Law said seriously, "There aren't many things that can scare you like this."
Regarding Kuro's statement, Law believed him. However, mere Aura couldn't be directly equated with true strength.
So even if Kuro said the Aura felt stronger than Law, the outcome of an actual fight was not certain.
Nevertheless, Kuro's statement still deserved some respect.
Hearing Law's words, Kuro's face fell, but he couldn't argue.
The owner of the Aura that Kuro had sensed had, unsurprisingly, arrived after they had entered the ruins.
"Since Kuro said so," Law shifted his gaze to Netero, "I suggest you don't be in a hurry to leave."
Netero frowned, looked at Kuro, and asked, "This guy you're talking about, is it on the surface?"
"Yes."
Netero thought for a moment, then said, "I'll go out and take a look."
"Looking is fine, but it's best not to do anything reckless," Law reminded.
Netero nodded, then stepped out of the Hide-and-Seek Dimension.
A moment later, he returned to the room, his face grave.
Law signaled Knov with his eyes to close the entrance.
Seeing this, Knov immediately closed it.
Regarding Kuro's statement, Law was quite convinced.
In his view, as long as the danger wasn't coming directly for them, they had no need to actively engage with it.
Kuro looked at the grim-faced Netero and said, "I was right, wasn't I?"
Netero glanced at Kuro, frowned, and said, "By its Aura alone, it does indeed make me feel danger. However, that Aura seems to be some distance away from the entrance."
He left one thing unsaid: That feeling was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life, not even the King of the Chimera Ants he had faced at close range had given him this sensation.
If he had to use one word to describe that feeling, it would be… lethal.
"The fact that it's so far away makes it even more terrifying!" Kuro said with apprehension.
'Was it really... that exaggerated?'
Law narrowed his eyes, considering whether to have Knov open the entrance so he could experience it himself.
But there was no need to rush.
If he waited a while and the dangerous entity on the surface was still there, he could sense its Aura. If it was gone, he could let Netero and the others leave.
"Is it possible that Beyond and his team..." Morel stroked his chin.
Morel didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood.
If the entity on the surface was truly dangerous, then if Beyond's team encountered it head-on, they might be wiped out by that Aura's owner without the Hunter Association needing to lift a finger.
"That's unlikely," Ging shook his head.
Not to mention Pro Hunters, even ordinary people, lacking motive or reason, wouldn't actively seek out danger.
As long as they could sense that Aura, Beyond and his group definitely wouldn't act rashly.
Everyone stood around the entrance, looking at each other in silence.
This was awkward indeed.
Wanting to leave, but blocked by an unknown tough guy?
...
Relying on their speed advantage, Beyond's team shook off the Scarecrow's pursuit.
Since the bronze mechanical lifeforms had been drawn deep into the ruins, the higher the team climbed, the fewer they encountered.
This phenomenon greatly increased the speed of Beyond's team's advance.
Ten minutes before Knov opened the apartment entrance, Beyond's team successfully reached the negative first floor of the ruins, just one step away from returning to the surface.
But that one step, no matter what, they could not take.
They too sensed the presence of that Aura from the surface, even more clearly than Kuro and Netero.
Because that Aura seemed to be not too far from their location.
Most crucially, the Aura wasn't directed at them, yet it gave them an extremely dangerous sensation.
Even the audacious Beyond didn't dare show his head easily to glimpse the true nature of that Aura.
"What the hell is that thing?"
Pekotero, wearing a mushroom cap, looked as if he had seen a ghost.
The machine girl Marione's eyes flickered with disturbance, clearly affected by the Aura on the surface, beginning to show signs of instability.
Just then, the woman who often poured wine for Beyond gently embraced Marione, using some unknown method to quickly stabilize her.
"We must not expose ourselves. There's no need for us to actively provoke her."
"Marione understands."
Marione nodded slightly.
That Aura had nearly caused her components to overheat.