A being resembling an elderly human man floated in midair, his body semi-transparent and constantly flickering with purple light. When Lin Ye approached, the old man turned toward him, a spark of recognition flashing in his eyes.
"You... are new..." The old man's voice sounded directly in Lin Ye's mind. "Not yet... fully... transformed..."
Lin Ye was surprised to discover that he could establish some sort of mental connection with these beings. "What is this place?" he tried to respond with his thoughts.
"Boundary... trap... waiting..." The old man's reply came in fragments. Then his form began to warp, and his consciousness sank back into chaos.
As he continued onward, Lin Ye tried to communicate with more beings, attempting to piece together information about this space. He learned that this Dimensional Boundary was a special state of existence, a "waiting area." Those drawn into Dimensional Rifts but not yet fully assimilated by the Void would be trapped here until they either completely transformed into Void Creatures or found a way back to reality.
Most beings would eventually be assimilated by the Void. That seemed to be the most common outcome.
There has to be a way back, Lin Ye thought firmly. Luffy made it back, which means a passage exists.
At that moment, a faint yet clear voice suddenly caught Lin Ye's attention:
"Key holder... you have come..."
Unlike the chaotic consciousnesses from before, this voice carried a distinct purpose, as if it had specifically come for Lin Ye. Following its direction, Lin Ye carefully crossed the Void and arrived at a peculiar space.
A fragment of a miniature island floated there. Upon it stood a ruined stone platform that appeared to be part of some ancient altar. On the platform, a being whose form constantly changed yet always retained