342
It was a low, constant hum that resonated throughout the dungeon, echoing around the barren walls. It was so low that only those with enhanced senses could pick it up. That's why Sanji was a bit surprised that Usopp was able to pick it up. Though, the sniper was getting close to awakening his Observation Haki, so that might be the reason.
"What do you think that is… should we check it out?" Robin asked. "I can check with my powers…"
"Wait," Sanji said, "I'm usually not like this… but let's inform Luffy first. Call it a gut feeling, but something is definitely wrong with this place." He then glanced at Robin, "You do have a transponder snail right?"
Robin nodded, she was carrying a bag, mainly because of the books, but there was also a transponder snail in there. A snail that Luffy had left her with in case they found something interesting, before moving on to find Enel's ship.
So, with a quick look, she took out the transponder snail. But…
"Uh… I don't think this one is all right?" Usopp asked, poking the small snail.
The snail in question was hunched over, its eyes dropping low, and also looked a bit pale.
"I think it's sick-ya…" Law said, Robin handed the small snail over the doctor. Law looked at it, and nodded. "Yup, it's definitely sick… something similar happened to my transponder snail before. I think it's motion sickness, that messes up their 'link'… we won't be able to make a call with this."
"Oh… that's bad." Usopp said, feeling a bit sweaty, "You know my 'Can'tgoinsideadungeon' disease is acting up." He said with a gulp, "Can't we not go there…?"
Law gave the sniper a flat look, before sighing, "Luckily for you guys, I also have a transponder snail." He said, before looking at Bepo, "It's in his bag."
Bepo quickly nodded and took out the snail out, but… it was in a similar situation.
"You know, one time, might be a coincidence… but two…?" Law said, looking between the two transponder snail that were unconscious, "This place is definitely not normal. Where are we anyway…?"
"Is there no way to communicate with the others?" Bepo asked, with a gulp. Even Chopper was getting a bit scared here. "Are we underground?"
"No, I think I see windows there…" Usopp said, pointing upwards. Everyone looked where Usopp was pointing. They had to struggle a bit, due to the misty atmosphere, but they saw what Usopp was pointing at.
The primary sources of illumination for the dungeon were small white crystals that worked liked lamps. But there were also some windows that gave off light from the outside.
"Well, my Observation Haki isn't picking up any auras… it's like its getting blocked by the walls." Sanji said with a frown, "Or rather, there's nothing outside to pick at… it's strange."
"I will give them a look." Robin said as she crossed her arms. Small flower petals seemingly came out from nowhere as if being summoned, before disappearing. They appeared again near the high ceiling where the windows were, and a hand sprouted along with an eye.
"This is odd… there's nothing there." Robin answered with a frown, "It's like there's endless light from the outside, with no source… hmm, let me check something."
From the hand, a small ear sprouted and what she heard made her winc, and quickly cancel her powers.
"What happened?" Sanji said.
When Robin looked through the window, instead of revealing the outside world, they opened up to an endless expanse of light. It was as if they were portals to another realm, a realm of pure luminescence that stretched into infinity. And Robin could also hear the buzzing sound from there, but it was quite loud there.
"I… I think I also heard what you guys were hearing… I think it's coming from the ceiling."
That made everyone look up, and Usopp was the first one to spot it. He squinted his eyes, "Are those… what are those? Those things near the pillars… they look like…"
"They look like nests…" Bepo finished with a gulp, "B-But at least they are tiny…"
Usopp paled, "I-I don't think they are tiny at all…"
"Anyway, I don't think anything alive is in there…" Sanji said, "If there was, I would have picked up it's aura… so don't worry about it."
Usopp, Chopper and Bepo collectively sighed in relief.
Before Usopp spoke up. "Wait, so the light isn't from the sun… I… I mean it could be from the clouds right? Maybe the clouds are blocking the view."
"That would make sense… but that source of sound. If it was around Skypiea, we would have picked it up." Sanji pointed out.
Usopp gulped, "Then where are we? We can't be stuck, right?!"
That made Chopper and Bepo gave a collective gulp, now they were getting a bit afraid. What they didn't see was the shift in the trees at the mention of a certain word.
"Not quite. Let me try something…" Law said, opening his palms, "Room!"
The small transparent sphere in his hand enlarge and started covering all around them, as it expanded outwards. All of them looked on with some curiosity on Law's ability. Of course, Bepo knew, and Chopper saw only a little of his powers, but the others haven't.
As the sphere extended to the wall, going through them, Law blinked with confusion and surprise, "There's nothing outside… it's totally blank… its not clouds either." If it was, he would have been able to switch with them, if they were solid clouds at least.
What Law and the others didn't notice was the lights in the circuits started to blink more, well, except one.
"Uh, guys… why are the circuits blinking?" Usopp asked, pointing to the floor, "I'm pretty sure it was blinking way more slowly before."
Everyone looked around, and Usopp was right, the light in the circuits also started to get stronger. Along with that, the ground started to shake. At first, they didn't know what was happening, before the windows started to shut down, and the light from the crystals started to shine brightly as well. But that wasn't all, they also found the ground shaking and a grinding noise coming out from the far end of the room.
"Hey, guys, the tunnels are closing…" Usopp pointed out. "I think that's not a good sign…" Right as he said that, the rumbling intensified, "I hate it when I'm right…"
—-
A/N: Don't forget to leave a review. It helps with everything.