Inside the cave, torches cast flickering light and shadows. After days on the run, everyone finally had a chance to catch their breath and lay sprawled across the ground, resting. Dadan and the mountain bandits soon fell asleep, and even the energetic Luffy dozed off beside Ace.
Allen, however, felt no sleepiness at all. He quietly walked deeper into the cave and took out the Ark Core. In the firelight, the patterns on its surface seemed to come alive, faint light flowing slowly through them.
It was time. He had to learn more about this ancient legacy and find a way out of their current predicament.
The Power of Zhulong flowed slowly into the core. Allen closed his eyes and focused his mind. This time, he was no longer content to receive information passively. Instead, he actively explored the core's depths.
Identity verification passed... Welcome back, inheritor...
The familiar mechanical female voice sounded in his mind, but this time it was clearer, as though whispering right beside his ear.
Initiating deep connection procedure... Mental synchronization rate: 82%... Access to level-three archives granted...
A vast stream of information flooded his mind, but Allen was prepared this time. Like a dam, the Power of Zhulong channeled the torrent, allowing him to absorb and understand it in an orderly manner.
First came the origins of the Ark Core itself. Just as he had suspected, it was a technological marvel created by the Ancient Kingdom of Darasiah to keep the Uranus system running. There were seven cores in total, scattered across the world, together maintaining some kind of global balance.
The core in his hand bore the designation "Eden" and was primarily responsible for records and knowledge storage. The other cores each had different functions: some controlled the climate, some managed ecosystems, and some could even influence geological activity.
The Poseidon Conch was indeed a "backup key" created by the Ancient Kingdom. If something happened to the true Poseidon, the conch could temporarily maintain contact with the Sea Kings. But its power was limited, and it needed a long time to recharge after every use.
What shocked Allen even more was the truth about the D. Clan.
D. is short for Darasiah: the surviving people of the Ancient Kingdom. They bear the mission of liberating the world...
The information showed that the D. Clan was not simply a bloodline, but more like the inheritors of a "will." This will could resonate with ancient legacies, which was also why Allen could activate the Ark Core.
The very reason the World Government feared the D. Clan so much was that they might reactivate the Ancient Weapons and uncover the concealed truth of history.
The Void Century... The fall of the Ancient Kingdom... Uranus going out of control...
Fragmented information revealed that erased history: the Ancient Kingdom had not been an "evil empire" as the World Government claimed, but a highly technologically advanced civilization that pursued freedom and equality. Its fall had stemmed from internal strife and Uranus going out of control, allowing the later alliance of twenty kingdoms to exploit its weakness.
Uranus... Allen noticed that the name appeared repeatedly. The information showed that Uranus was not merely a weapon, but a complex global system originally intended to maintain the world's balance. After going out of control, however, it had caused an enormous catastrophe.
The "Uranus" in the World Government's possession was only an incomplete replica, far less powerful than the original.
Current Uranus system status: offline... Energy level: 3.7%... Repairs urgently required...
Just then, the core suddenly transmitted an urgent alert:
Matching-frequency signal detected... Coordinates: Amazon Lily... Signal signature: core "Olympus"... Status: active!
Amazon Lily? The island of women? Another Ark Core was actually there, and it was active!
A storm surged through Allen's heart. What did this mean? Did Amazon Lily have some connection to the Ancient Kingdom? Or had someone activated that core?
Before he could think it through, another message appeared:
Warning: increased activity detected in the "Uranus" replica system... Coordinates: Mary Geoise... Evasive measures recommended...
The World Government was activating its replica Uranus! Was it because they had detected the Ark Core's activity?
Allen felt time pressing down on him. He had to master more ancient knowledge and grow stronger as quickly as possible...
"Activate the training simulation program?" the core suddenly suggested. "The inheritor's strength has been assessed as insufficient. Combat training is recommended."
Training simulation? Allen was intrigued. "Activate it."
In an instant, his consciousness was pulled into a pure white space. A holographic figure formed before him and assumed a fighting stance.
Basic combat skills training commencing...
The figure suddenly attacked! Its speed and strength pressed precisely against Allen's current limits. He had no choice but to respond with everything he had, the Power of Zhulong circulating of its own accord.
Within the simulation space, he could unleash his full strength without worrying about exposing himself or damaging his surroundings. He clashed again and again, was knocked down again and again, and rose to his feet each time...
After an unknown amount of time, Allen knelt on one knee, panting. The simulated training was incredibly intense, but the improvement in his combat skills was obvious. He could already skillfully apply the Power of Zhulong in several ways, and his Observation Haki had grown sharper.
Basic training complete. Proceed with advanced training?
"Continue!" Allen answered without hesitation.
This time, what appeared was not a single figure, but an entire battlefield! It simulated the Summit War! Ace stood on the Execution Platform, the Marine Admirals stood ready for battle, and a hundred thousand elite Marines surrounded them...
Though he knew it was a simulation, Allen still felt his heart tremble. That sense of despair and helplessness surged through him once more.
Training objective: rescue the target on the Execution Platform. Begin!
The simulation began! Allen shot toward the Execution Platform like an arrow loosed from its bow, but Aokiji's Ice Age was already upon him! Freezing air swept across the battlefield!
"Zhulong's Breath!" Allen drove his ability to its fullest, unleashing light and heat that fiercely clashed with the freezing air! The collision of ice and fire produced vast clouds of steam!
He broke through Aokiji! Kizaru's light-speed kick followed immediately! Allen pushed his Observation Haki to its limit and narrowly dodged, but his sleeve had already been scorched!
"Not fast enough!" Allen gritted his teeth and poured the Power of Zhulong into his legs, increasing his speed once more! He left trails of afterimages in the air!
Akainu's massive magma fist came crashing toward him! This time, Allen neither dodged nor retreated. Armament Haki covered his arms, and dragon-scale patterns emerged!
Boom! A head-on collision! Allen was sent flying, his arms numb, but Akainu's offensive was also stopped for an instant!
Now! The Execution Platform was within reach! But Sengoku had already assumed his Buddha Form, and an enormous shock wave hurtled straight toward Allen!
"Aaaah!" Allen let out a long roar, unleashing the Power of Zhulong with unprecedented intensity! The powers of light and darkness intertwined, forming a strange domain! Within it, the shock wave warped and deflected!
He broke through! The Execution Platform was right before him! Allen reached for Ace...
Training failed. Target deceased.
The cold notification rang out. Allen whipped his head around and found that Akainu's magma fist had already pierced "Ace's" chest...
"No!!!" Allen roared. His consciousness returned to reality, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.
Though it had been a simulation, the despair felt utterly real. Even with everything he had, he still could not change the outcome of the Summit War as he was now...
He wasn't strong enough! Not nearly enough!
Allen clenched his fists, a resolute fire burning in his eyes. He had to become stronger, whatever the cost!
He connected to the Ark Core again. "Highest-difficulty training! Continue!"
Again and again, Allen's consciousness fought within the simulation space. From single combat to large-scale army battles, from developing his ability to refining his Haki...
Through countless "deaths" and "failures," his combat skills improved at an astonishing pace. He developed all kinds of applications for the Power of Zhulong: light and heat manipulation, visual interference, energy absorption, and even a rudimentary influence over the perception of time...
His Observation Haki grew ever sharper, already allowing him brief glimpses several seconds into the future. His Armament Haki became more solid, able to form a layer of invisible armor over his body. Though he still could not consciously control his Conqueror's Haki, it had erupted unconsciously several times during simulated battles, knocking out large numbers of "enemies."
What delighted him most was that the Ark Core seemed able to make small adjustments to the flow of time within the training space. When an hour passed outside, he might already have trained for an entire day inside!
When Allen finally withdrew from the deep connection, only half a night had passed outside. But his bearing had already changed. His gaze was sharper, his aura more restrained, as though he had undergone years of arduous training.
"Allen?" Sabo's voice came from behind him. "Are you all right? Your aura felt so strange just now..."
Allen turned and saw Sabo watching him with concern. Ace and Luffy had woken up too and were looking over with the same confusion.
"I'm fine." Allen gave them a reassuring smile. "I just figured a few things out."
He looked at his three younger brothers and made a decision. It was time to tell them part of the truth.
"There are some things it's time you knew," Allen said calmly. "About our enemies, about this world... and about what we carry on our shoulders."
Under the three brothers' puzzled gazes, Allen began his account. He selectively revealed some information: the World Government's true face, the D. Clan's mission, the existence of the Ancient Weapons... But he made no mention of specific future events or his identity as a transmigrator.
"...So what we're facing isn't just the World Government, but this entire twisted world order," Allen concluded. "But as long as we brothers stand together, there's no difficulty we can't overcome."
Ace remained silent for a long time, his gaze complicated. "So my father..."
"Roger saw the truth of the world, but the path he chose wasn't necessarily right," Allen said softly. "We can take a different path."
Luffy listened with rare quietness, then suddenly asked, "Allen, will you set sail with us?"
Allen smiled. "Of course. We're brothers, aren't we?"
Sabo tightened his grip on his steel pipe. "Then we need a plan. And a goal."
The four exchanged smiles, a new understanding forming silently between them.
Just then, the Ark Core suddenly transmitted an urgent message:
Targets detected approaching at high speed... Energy signature match: CP0 elite squad... Estimated arrival time: 3 hours, 17 minutes...
Their pursuers were coming again! And this time, they were CP0 elites!
Allen immediately woke Dadan and the others. "Get ready to evacuate! CP0 will be here soon!"
Everyone quickly sprang into action. After days on the run, they had already established an efficient evacuation procedure.
But Allen knew that simply running away was no solution. It was time to strike back.
He had a bold plan...