Damn, if only this were his treehouse!
His treehouseâs defense is far superior to here!
The pair of eyes of the pterosaur statue, shimmering with crimson light, still gaze in the direction of several people.
However, it doesnât move, it just watches.
Xu Xin has a feeling.
This pterosaur statue is watching him!
The mutant creature statues seem to have discovered something in the treehouse, leading this pterosaur statue to identify him as the one itâs seeking!
Being targeted by such a giant is not a good thing!
However...
"Hasnât that pterosaur statue... never left that big pit?" Qin Fu also noticed this, and frowned as he asked.
"Now that you mention it, it seems true." Zeng Tao looked in the direction of the pterosaur and whispered, "After I was hit and flew, this statue didnât seem to intend to chase."
This is the reason Xu Xin hasnât chosen to flee.
The pterosaur statue is likely being restrained.
Otherwise, it wouldnât rely on a bunch of mutant creature statues to do everything.
And despite smashing so many mutant creature statues, it still didnât act.
So now, there are two possibilities: it doesnât want to attack them, or it cannot attack them.
Thus, they actually donât need to flee.
Because if the pterosaur statue wanted to attack them, even riding the Silver King would probably not escape its pursuit.
So running is useless.
And if they manage to flee, it would feel like leading the enemy to the base...
If the treehouse canât even resist this giant, then it would truly be over.
Thus, the best solution is to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Lou FeiâEr doesnât dare to look in the direction of the pterosaur statue.
The red light exploding from the pterosaur statueâs eyes just made her feel completely powerless.
She simply canât resist this giant.
Thereâs no need even to try; itâs futile to resist.
This feeling is very clear.
Just like knowing that jumping from the height of dozens of floors, survival is impossible.
Facing this pterosaur statue, itâs absolutely impossible for her to have the strength to fight it.
This absolute sense of powerlessness engraved in her heart.
So now, she can only hide behind Xu Xin, focusing her attention entirely on Qin Fu.
She just needs to do what sheâs supposed to.
Just when everyone was analyzing and thinking to themselves, a surprising scene unfolded.
The mutant creature statues began to move!
They actually...
Started jumping, one by one, into the big pit, that deep hole.
Are they leaving?
"Huh? Leaving? Just like that?" Zeng Taoâs voice revealed a hint of joy.
"Could it be that theyâve found what they were looking for?"
Found what they were looking for?
How could it be.
In this basically abandoned treehouse, whatâs there that they might want?
What they truly want is still on his wristband.
Xu Xin rotated his wristband, thinking this.
"...That big pit, is gradually closing." Qin Fu suddenly spoke.
"Oh?" Xu Xin immediately glanced at him.
The big pit is closing?
Why canât he perceive it?
"Where is it closing? I canât see any change." Zeng Tao said with some confusion, "That deep hole hasnât changed at all, has it?"
"...The part below the surface is contracting."
Below the surface?
Xu Xin looked at Qin Fu, surprised: "Can you see below the surface? Because of your ability?"
Qin Fu nodded: "My abilities are related to plants. One of my abilities is that any plant within my ability range is like my eyes. Including their roots. So I can sense the changes below the surface."
His words stunned the other three present.
"...Does the treehouse count?" Xu Xinâs eyes brightened slightly.
"Yes, but only my own treehouse counts." Qin Fu explained.
"Isnât your ability too sneaky?" Zeng Tao whispered, "Doesnât that make you like having a clairvoyant ability?"
"Itâs not that exaggerated; the range isnât that wide." Qin Fu shook his head, "Just a few hundred meters around me."
Only a few hundred meters?
Thatâs reasonable.
If the range were large, he would be jealous.
After all, his map ability can only see enemy units above ground.
"...What are those statues jumping into the deep hole doing now?" Xu Xin looked towards the big pit.
"The hole is very deep; they just fell straight down, so I donât know the situation either," Qin Fu said while looking at the hole, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, but he didnât speak again.
Xu Xin nodded.
Yes, itâs about what he imagined.
This giant pit might very well be the entrance to an underground world.
And this group of statues is probably going into the underground world!
The mutant creature statues continue jumping into the hole one by one.
But the pterosaur statue remains motionless.
It stands beside the pit, as if guarding this big pit.
Guarding?
Xu Xinâs eyes slightly widened.
Yes, guarding!
Perhaps itâs not that it canât leave the big pit, but rather...
It doesnât want other creatures to enter this big pit!
That must be it!
Now, the climate in Zone 188 has warmed up, and the number of ordinary wild animals around has gradually increased.
This morning when he woke up, he even heard the chirping of birds.
On the map, besides the brighter red spots of these stone statues, the dimmer red spots of wild animals have also increased.
If the pterosaur stone statue doesnât guard the entrance, without its intimidation, who knows what might sneak into this big pit.
This might be something the pterosaur statue does not want to see.
So, it stays at the entrance, not straying far away from it.
But if his inference is correct...
It means that the pterosaur can actually leave the area around the entrance!
Xu Xin already had cold sweat on his forehead.
Because he felt an increasingly intense predatory gaze from the pterosaur statue.
This big creature had focused all its attention on him!
Should he just run?
As he thought about this, the last mid-level mutant creature statue had already jumped into the big pit.
Then, under several peopleâs gazes, the pit actually...
Started closing up for real!
And very quickly, in less than ten seconds, this giant pit was almost completely closed!
Hey, hey, hey, the pterosaur statue hasnât gone in yet!
Why arenât you jumping in!
The pterosaur statue not only didnât enter but didnât even budge, still watching them with glowing red eyes.
And then, as the pit completely closed...
Its wings, or rather its forelimbs, pushed off the ground, and its entire body leaped into the air, gliding towards Xu Xin and them!
The speed was so fast that the others besides Xu Xin barely reacted!
Where the pterosaur statue passed, all the trees were chopped and broken by its sharp wings!
The scene was utterly devastating!
Xu Xinâs pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately gathered Zeng Tao, who had lost strength, and the terrified Lou FeiâEr into his bracelet!
The two of them were of no use now.
If not collected, they would just be a burden!
Lou FeiâEr disappeared in an instant.
Zeng Tao was collected much slower than Lou FeiâEr.
Her expression changed, she looked at Xu Xin, and then disappeared from where she stood.
At the same time, Xu Xin pulled out his long halberd.
Beside him, upon seeing the pterosaurâs movement, Qin Fuâs expression changed drastically. He was just about to say something when he saw the two women disappear beside them.
He was stunned for a moment.
Can he collect people like this?
Is there such an ability?
The pterosaur had already pounced, right in front of them.
Just as the two were preparing to dodge sideways.
"Bang!!"
The pterosaur statue landed a few meters away from them.
A loud crash, as if something had smashed into the ground fiercely.
Xu Xinâs eyelid twitched.
After landing, the pterosaur statue let out a sharp, slightly raspy roar towards the two of them!
Then it took two steps forward, engaging in a standoff with them.
The enormous figure in front of them felt incredibly oppressive.
Yet, it did not immediately attack.
And the two remained calm, not dodging or retreating, just standing off with the gigantic pterosaur statue.
Qin Fu had already lowered his big bow, holding it by his side, watching the pterosaur statue in front of him.
"Xu Xin, maybe you should collect me too," he said helplessly and a bit frustrated.
His bow was already ineffective against mid-level mutant creature statues, let alone this pterosaur statue.
Even if he pierced through it, it probably wouldnât help.
Upon hearing this, the red glow in the pterosaur statueâs eyes momentarily shifted to him, but a second later, it was back on Xu Xin.
It seemed uninterested in him.
Xu Xin squinted his eyes.
Indeed, the pterosaur statueâs target seems to be only himself now.
But perhaps it doesnât intend to harm him?
"If I collect you, you might not have a chance to escape," Xu Xin tightened his grip on the long halberd, facing the pterosaur statue, "Donât you want to seize the opportunity to run away?"
"I canât escape anymore," Qin Fu sighed, "The ground around here is very dangerous now, Iâm afraid I canât escape."
Very dangerous underground?
Isnât this the safe zone of the treehouse?
Moreover, itâs right next to Lou FeiâErâs treehouse.
Having dangers on the ground is normal, but underground...
Isnât this supposed to be the most developed and safest area under the tree roots?
"...Alright." Xu Xin didnât refuse either, as entering his bracelet meant it was nearly impossible to escape.
He retreated two steps cautiously, keeping a wary eye on the pterosaur statueâs movements, then reached out to tap Qin Fu.
The bracelet cannot collect people if they have the thought of refusal.
Usually, it requires the personâs consent or for them to be unconscious.
Just now, Zeng Tao could be collected because she consented.
Otherwise, it wouldnât have been a second slower than Lou FeiâEr.
As for why Lou FeiâErâs collection was so quick, it was due to the contract, no consent needed to collect her.
When Qin Fu was tapped by him, he didnât immediately enter the bracelet but said, "Be careful of the ground three hundred meters outside the treehouse."
Then, he disappeared from the spot.
Now, Xu Xin was the only one left standing there.
In the entire area, only he, holding a long halberd, remained to confront the pterosaur statue.
Despite the exchange between the two, the pterosaur statue didnât react.
But at the moment Xu Xin collected Qin Fu into the bracelet, it moved.