The Aura came suddenly, pure and powerful.
Everyone was startled, instinctively stopping their actions and looking towards the direction from which the Aura came.
Chucu's reaction was very strange, as was the silver-haired woman pinned to the ground.
They knew very well who the owner of the Aura was, and precisely because of that, they found it strange.
"Law."
Tonpa was never good at making decisions. When something big happened, he habitually looked at Law.
The same was true for a few others like Buhara.
Law nodded slightly to Tonpa, signaling him to relax, then looked at Knov and instructed, "Be ready at any moment."
"Understood."
Knov knew what Law was referring to and nodded in agreement.
His role was to send support members to the safe Hide-and-Seek Dimension as quickly as possible when the team faced danger.
Although the enemy they faced could freely enter the Hide-and-Seek Dimension, it was still better than being in this forest full of petrified feathers.
"This Aura is very likely the Mender's."
Law glanced at the guilt-ridden Chucu, first giving his teammates a preventive warning.
Hearing Law's words, each person showed varying degrees of gravity.
Although they had mentally prepared to confront the Mender, the Mender's power had already left a deep impression on them.
"Whether it is or not, we will know once we go and see."
Coo turned her head, staring at the direction from which the Aura came, taking a step forward. Before her foot landed, her body had already grown to giant size.
Before confirming the owner of this Aura, she was already building momentum.
She had put aside her hostility to cooperate with Law and the others in order to get her child back.
Now that a relatively clear clue had appeared, she could not wait any longer.
Seeing Coo change forms, Kuro, without even thinking, also transformed into a form similar to Coo's size, as if not following the trend would make him obsolete, or as if seeking a marital resemblance.
Perhaps Kuro believed that the similarities in form-changing and abilities were what made him worthy of Coo.
"But what about this woman?"
Shiro glanced at the silver-haired woman pinned under Law's feet, feeling compelled to pour cold water on Coo's exuberant fighting spirit.
Upon hearing this, the attention that had been drawn to the Aura quickly shifted to the silver-haired woman. Everyone felt stumped.
"How about bringing her into the apartment?"
Tonpa suggested.
Knov looked at Law. If Law agreed to this, he would give it his all to cooperate.
Law did not say explicitly but shook his head at Tonpa and Knov, indicating the suggestion was not feasible.
Seeing Law's reaction, Tonpa and Knov felt their hearts sink.
Not feasible meant that the control suppressing the silver-haired woman must be seamless. Otherwise, even a lapse of less than a second could allow the silver-haired woman to find an opportunity.
It also indirectly showed that the price of Law controlling the silver-haired woman was his own freedom.
Biscuit looked at them and said gravely, "Unless we deal with this woman first, do not think about going after the Mender."
With such a hidden danger present, there would be absolutely no chance against the Mender.
The others certainly knew this, but this silver-haired woman's defense was too thick. They did not know how long it would take to kill her.
Coo frowned. Reason told her that now was not a good time, but the urgent desire to save her child was continually shaking her reason.
"We have a choice. Now is not the right time to actively seek out the Mender. Besides, we cannot be one hundred percent sure this Aura belongs to the Mender."
"Yes, I think Biscuit is right. Regardless of whether this Aura is the Mender's, if we cannot kill this woman first, we had better not actively provoke the Mender."
"But what if the Mender actively comes to us?"
Sheila timidly raised a hypothesis.
Everyone paused in thought and silently looked at her.
"Those words... are a bit unlucky, huh."
Shiro smiled bitterly.
"Sorry."
Sheila stuck out her tongue.
"It seems... too late to say sorry now."
Nobunaga looked in the direction from which the Aura came, his right hand tightly gripping the hilt of his blade, veins popping on the back of his hand.
"Well, now we have no choice."
"Is it coming towards us...?"
Machi's eyes showed gravity. The index and middle fingers of her right hand lightly pressed on the sewing kit on the back of her left hand, moving slightly.
Buhara silently mobilized the fat within his body that contained Nen.
Not far away, Uvogin bumped his fists together, silently grinning.
Sensing the movement of the Aura, everyone reacted.
"I-I am sorry, I-I did not mean to."
Having made a casual remark that became reality, Sheila nearly cried.
"It is not your fault, do not mind it."
Salin comforted Sheila, then looked at Law, who was responsible for controlling the silver-haired woman. Concern appeared in her eyes.
For a long time, the dangers faced by the team had been confronted by Law, who stood at the forefront.
Now that Law was unable to spare attention, when the owner of this Aura arrived on the scene, how terrible would the situation be?
Even if that Aura did not belong to the Mender, it was likely a formidable existence. As uninvited guests, they would not receive a grand welcome.
"Kuro, go and survey the situation."
Law also felt it was very difficult now. He could only send Kuro to check the situation.
"Okay!"
Kuro acted brave and heroic, agreeing decisively. Without any hesitation, he fearlessly charged towards the direction from which the Aura came.
"?"
Watching Kuro disappear instantly, a question mark appeared over Law's head. He felt very unaccustomed.
He shook his head slightly, no longer thinking about it, and turned to look at his teammates.
"Whatever comes later, as long as it is coming for us, you will directly hide in the Hide-and-Seek Dimension."
"What about you?"
Machi and Sanbica spoke almost simultaneously, then glanced at each other.
"I have a spare key."
Law looked down at the silver-haired woman.
Originally, he was binding her, but when the powerful external factor intervened, it was instead the silver-haired woman who was controlling him.
However, the initiative was still theirs.
Sanbica's gaze flowed between Law and the silver-haired woman. Her lips under her mask were tightly bitten.
If her ability were stronger, the virus could penetrate the silver-haired woman's defense, and the team would not be in this predicament.
"Law, you have me."
Just then, Ging came to Law's side.
Law turned his head to look at Ging and shook his head. "She is different from enemies we have faced before."
"I know. But have you heard a saying?"
"What saying?"
"If you want to defeat a strong enemy, you can first find a way to bring the enemy's level down, then use rich experience to defeat them."
"I... I think I have heard that saying, but something seems off."
"Anyway, you understand the meaning. My ability is useless against the Mender, but using it on this person should not be a problem."
Ging looked down at the silver-haired woman, who showed no sign of struggling. He knew that all this calm was bought with Law's personal freedom.
After a moment, Kuro came running back in a panic.
"It is the Mender."