The Goddess's Secret, a Troublesome Mission

Ramon suddenly doubled over in pain. The Time Tuning Fork shook violently in his hand, letting out a piercing whine. "This is bad! I'm sensing a severe time anomaly... The Dimensional Barrier in this area is collapsing!"

As he spoke, the air around the oasis began to warp like a mirage in the heat. Fine cracks appeared in the sand, and purple-black energy seeped through them, contaminating everything nearby.

"Everyone, evacuate now!" Lin Ye shouted. He activated the Dawn Blade, sending a pale blue energy barrier spreading outward to hold back the Void Energy. "This place is about to become a contamination zone!"

Vivi quickly 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 Time Stream 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. It'll be extremely dangerous here soon."

Vivi hesitated for a moment, but her royal duty won out. "I'll wait for you at a safe distance. Please make it out alive. Alabasta needs to know what we're facing."

As the royal guards withdrew, Lin Ye and Ramon stood back-to-back at the center of the oasis. Ramon raised the Time Tuning Fork and began chanting an ancient spell, while Lin Ye gripped the Dawn Blade, ready to fend off any threat.

A Revolutionary Army squad was approaching at full speed from one side, while a Cipher Pol 9 warship descended from the other, preparing to land. Beneath their feet, the cracks leaking Void Energy slowly widened. A standoff among several factions was about to unfold in the desert.

Lin Ye looked up and saw a vortex of purple-black energy forming