Tiny bubbles rose from the depths of the deep pools.
Within the pools, globs of a mercury-like, multicolored substance, distinct from water, writhed like brilliant ribbons.
No one noticed the activity at the bottom of the pools. Law entered the tunnel, gave a brief explanation, then led Tonpa and Biscuit out, stepping on air to ascend.
He intended to take the two to the mountaintop first, then study the floating rocks within the mountain belly.
They had just left when Tonpa suddenly cried out, "Law, below!"
The three were suspended in the air.
Hearing Tonpa's warning, Law and Biscuit sharply looked down.
Hundreds of mercury-like, colorful ribbons were silently shooting toward them like lightning.
Without Tonpa's warning, Law and Biscuit would have been completely unaware.
The ribbons made not a sound as they moved at high speed, and they emitted no trace of killing intent, not even the faint presence of an intelligent creature.
The distance from the tunnel to the ground was only about a hundred meters.
Tonpa's warning was timely, but the ribbons were too fast. By the time Law and Biscuit shifted their gaze, it was already too late.
In that instant, Law did not deploy his Domain.
Instead, he flung Biscuit upward, then used the momentum from the throw to twist his body, adjusting his posture at the very limit.
This was his response after seeing the trajectories of all the ribbons in a split second.
Hundreds of ribbons burst forth like celebratory fireworks, passing over Law and Tonpa's bodies, continuing to rise, pursuing Biscuit.
However, Law had used considerable force. Biscuit was flung to a height the ribbons couldn't reach.
Law looked up at the mercury-like, multicolored ribbons. Seeing Biscuit was safe, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Tonpa's slightly trembling voice came.
"Law, my hand…"
Tonpa's right hand was stained in multicolored hues.
The color was visibly creeping toward his elbow.
Law glanced over but showed no reaction because his own left hand had also been hit.
The violent motion of throwing Biscuit had prevented him from making a fine enough adjustment.
It had been too rushed. They hadn't avoided them all. If he hadn't thrown Biscuit upward first, more than just Tonpa's right hand and his own left hand might have been affected.
It was still unclear what the nature of these mercury-like ribbons was.
Law had no spare moment to deal with this now because the hundreds of ribbons that had shot into the air, their upward momentum completely spent, were now falling back down.
Law had to avoid this second attack.
This time, he had enough time to deploy his Domain.
The reason he hadn't deployed it earlier was twofold: first, there hadn't been time, so deploying the Domain wouldn't have included both Tonpa and Biscuit.
Second, while using Sky Walk, the precision of his Domain would have been reduced.
Law's right hand gripped Tonpa tightly. He leaned backward, closed the Aura Nodes on the soles of his feet, and instead released his Domain, allowing his body to fall toward the ground.
The mercury-like ribbons fell from above like a meteor shower, striking Law's deployed Domain.
"Break."
Law's eyes turned cold.
The mercury-like ribbons that penetrated his Domain were crushed, scattering in all directions.
After all the mercury-like ribbons had bypassed his body and fallen back into the deep pools, Law retracted his Domain, righted himself, and stepped on the air, ascending directly.
At that moment, Biscuit also descended, her expression very calm.
"Stand on my left shoulder." Law said.
Hearing this, Biscuit didn't hesitate and balanced on Law's left shoulder with one foot.
Law's left hand had been grazed by a ribbon, his right hand held Tonpa, his left shoulder supported Biscuit, and his right shoulder was occupied by Bruna.
Law continued to ascend while glancing downward. The ribbons shot out from the deep pools again, but they could no longer reach them.
Then, Kuro also descended from above, transforming into his giant leopard form.
Law's group landed directly on Kuro's back. Then, Law assisted Kuro in pacing through the air, following a spiral aerial path toward the open-air opening.
With a foothold secured, Law manipulated his Aura Output while raising his left hand to inspect it.
The multicolored stain had now encroached up to his forearm and was slowly seeping toward his shoulder.
Only then did Tonpa notice Law's left hand was also affected.
Bruna, perhaps curious, extended a tentacle, seemingly wanting to touch Law's colored arm.
"Don't touch."
Law stopped her promptly. She didn't understand why but obediently retracted her tentacle.
"How is it?" Biscuit asked gravely.
"I don't feel anything, but the stained part can't move," Law said, looking at Tonpa. "You?"
Beads of sweat dotted Tonpa's forehead, "Same here."
Biscuit rested her chin on her hand, examining Law and Tonpa's arms.
Not only the exposed hands, but even the clothing covering their arms had been affected.
Ensuring the colored ribbons below couldn't attack them, Law said to Kuro, "Stop on the rock wall for now."
Hearing this, Kuro adjusted his direction, heading straight for the rock wall.
His front claws dug into the stone, anchoring his body against the wall.
This gave Law the spare capacity to control his Aura with higher precision. He condensed a Nen Circle, enveloping Tonpa's arm.
He wanted to use God Hand's ability to separate the unknown substance staining the arm with color.
"It doesn't work."
But it failed.
Seeing this, Biscuit suggested, "Cut it off."
"That's the only way," Law replied calmly.
Tonpa, the person involved, twitched, "Is there any other way besides cutting it off?"
"Apparently not."
Law said this flatly, cleanly forming an Aura Blade and slicing through Tonpa's shoulder.
The entire arm fell away with a sound.
Tonpa let out a low cry of pain. Blood sprayed from the severed stump.
After severing Tonpa's arm, Law barely paused, silently cutting off his own left arm. Blood gushed out.
Then, Law remotely controlled the two severed arms. Judging by the spreading, erosive nature of the color, it might be contagious, so they couldn't be touched carelessly.
Tonpa's lips trembled, his face slightly pale.
Law took out the Grass Jelly, pinched off two small pieces, and fused them into Tonpa's and his own severed stumps.
Without the Grass Jelly, the arms would have been lost for good.
"Let's go."
After doing this, Law gently tapped Kuro with his right hand. The latter leaped into the air.
"Watch out for those floating rocks," Biscuit looked up at the increasingly close floating rocks and warned.
"Right."
Law's eyes darted through the formation of floating rocks. He couldn't find a clear path, as every direction was blocked by stones.
"Charge straight through?" Kuro asked.
"Yes," Law said.
Kuro said no more, increasing his speed.
He turned into a black shadow, plunging into the floating rock formation.
The anticipated danger did not materialize.
They passed through the floating rock formation smoothly, heading toward the open-air opening.
Law breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't know what those mercury-like ribbons were. For now, they could only put distance between themselves and the area as quickly as possible.
They passed through the open-air opening and landed on the mountaintop.
Clouds and mist swirled around them. Higher peaks stood in every direction.
Through the gaps between mountains, they could see the distant World Tree and various flying creatures.
Once on the mountaintop, Law carefully set down the two severed arms.
The arms hit the ground with a crisp sound, like stones colliding.
Hearing this sound, they couldn't help but think of the lifelike stone sculptures at the bottom.
'It seemed those sculptures had originally been living things.'