Hearing this news, Claire felt a little better. "That's great, Luffy! Firmament's power will definitely be a huge help to you. But be careful—the Void Fortress's defenses must not be underestimated."
"Don't worry!" Luffy said confidently. "With Sabo, Firmament, and all our friends from Skypiea, we'll definitely succeed! How is your research going over there?"
Claire hesitated before finally answering, "It's still ongoing... The situation is complicated, but I'll find a way to solve it."
Soon after ending her call with Luffy, she received a message from Ace:
"Claire, we've already entered the Undersea Temple. The Void Corruption here is severe, and the spatial structure has been distorted. We encountered the legendary Abyss Guardian, the being that guards the Abyss Stone. Right now, we're undergoing... well... some kind of exchange and trial with it."
Ace sounded somewhat tense, but he remained calm. "This guardian seems to be testing whether we're qualified to obtain the Abyss Stone. The battle has been intense, but I think we have a chance to convince it."
"Be careful, Ace," Claire urged. "Ancient guardian spirits possess tremendous power and wisdom. Don't try to overpower it—try to move it with sincerity."
Lastly came Lin Ye's report, and his message was the most complicated:
"Claire, the situation in Mary Geoise is far more complicated than we expected. The Five Elders have suffered a serious split. Three of them have been controlled by the Lord of Nothingness, while the other two remain conscious. We're currently working with the two who are awake, but the three controlled ones are preparing some kind of ritual. They may be planning to release the Lord of Nothingness ahead of schedule."
Lin Ye's voice was grave. "I need more information about the Five Elders, especially their relationships and weaknesses. Also, how is your research