Ramon suddenly doubled over in pain. The Time Tuning Fork vibrated violently in his hand, letting out a piercing whine. "Not good! I'm sensing a severe temporal anomaly... The Dimensional Barrier in this area is collapsing locally!"
As his words fell, the air around the oasis began to warp like a mirage in a heatwave. Fine cracks appeared in the sand, and purplish-black energy seeped from them, contaminating everything around it.
"Everyone, evacuate immediately!" Lin Ye shouted. At the same time, he activated the Dawn Blade's power, spreading a pale blue energy barrier that temporarily held back the spreading Void Energy. "This place is about to become a contaminated zone!"
Vivi swiftly ordered the guards to assemble. "Retreat toward the royal capital! We'll cover you!"
Ramon struggled to raise the Time Tuning Fork. "I can try to stabilize the local flow of time and slow the collapse, but I'll need some time."
Lin Ye nodded. "I'll cover you." He turned to Vivi. "Your Highness, please lead the guards out first. This place will become extremely dangerous very soon."
Vivi hesitated for a moment, but her sense of royal duty ultimately prevailed. "I'll wait for you at a safe distance. Please make sure you come out alive. Alabasta needs to know what we're facing."
As the Royal Guard withdrew, Lin Ye and Ramon stood back-to-back in the middle of the oasis. Ramon raised the Time Tuning Fork and began chanting an ancient incantation, while Lin Ye gripped the Dawn Blade tightly, ready to fend off any threat.
From one direction, a Revolutionary Army squad was rapidly approaching. From the other, a Cipher Pol 9 warship was descending in preparation to land. Beneath their feet, the cracks leaking Void Energy were slowly widening. A confrontation among multiple factions was about to unfold