The crack in the platinum-gold cocoon did not reveal its inner substance, but instead transformed into a rotating portal of light composed of pure laws. Inside the portal was not the material world, but a constantly shifting realm reflecting the deepest scenes of the heart— the Mindscape Purgatory.
" Allen..." Nami looked at him with concern.
"Don't worry." Allen turned back and gave his companions a reassuring look. "Guard the ship and wait for me to come back."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the portal of light.
In an instant, the world spun around him. Allen found himself not in the nebula outside, but standing before a familiar scene—the harbor of Foosha Village, where the setting sun painted the sea golden, peaceful and serene.
However, this peace was instantly shattered! The sky suddenly darkened, and the crack that he had single-handedly held up, stretching across the heavens, reappeared, larger and more menacing than ever before! Dark red destructive energy poured down like a waterfall, and his familiar companions— Luffy, Ace, Sabo, Sanji, Zoro ...—all fought desperately, but fell one by one under that absolute power, their bodies shattered and devoured by the dark red energy! Their cries, their despair, reached Allen's ears with crystal clarity.
"No--!" Allen's eyes widened in horror, and he instinctively tried to rush forward and activate his spacetime power.
But just as his power was about to erupt, he abruptly stopped in his tracks.
"This is an illusion..." He closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing the excruciating pain and impulse in his heart, "It's a trap created by ' Echo of Nothingness ' using my memories and fears!"
When he opened his eyes again, a swirling power of light and darkness coursed through them, forcefully piercing the illusion. The figures of Foosha Village and his companions vanished like smoke. But immediately afterward, new illusions followed—
He saw himself successfully protecting the world, becoming a hero revered by all, with power, strength, and reputation within easy reach, as if he could easily control everything with just a nod. This is the Echo of "desire".
He then saw another vision: he gave up the fight, led his companions to a secluded, peaceful planet, and lived a carefree, tranquil life, free from sacrifice and suffering. This was the Echo of "escape."
Scenes that directly attacked his weaknesses kept unfolding, tempting and tormenting him. Each time, Allen forcibly broke free with his strong will and unwavering faith in his comrades and promises.
However, the true killer move of " Echo of Nothingness " goes far beyond that.
All the illusions suddenly receded like the tide, Allen found himself in an absolute void. There was no light, no darkness, no time, no space, no matter, no energy, not even the concepts of "existence" and "non-existence." There was only an eternal, deathly stillness, a Void where even thought seemed to freeze.
This is the core of the test! To confront the ultimate backdrop that gives birth to everything and will ultimately bury everything! It is the most fundamental "emptiness" and "nothingness," where even the " Abyss Will " is merely one manifestation of it!
In this absolute Void, Allen felt everything about him being stripped away and dissolved. His power, his memories, his emotions, his will... even the concept of his "existence" itself became blurred, like grains of salt thrown into the ocean, about to completely dissolve.
A powerful allure of liberation and tranquility rises from the depths of my heart—let go, merge into this eternal peace, where there is no more strife, no more suffering...
Just as his consciousness was about to completely sink—
A glimmer of light stubbornly shone in the depths of his almost extinguished consciousness.
That was Luffy's carefree, bright smile...
It was Ace's resolute figure, burning with flames...
It was Sabo's composed planning, his glasses adjusted...
It's Sanji with a cigarette in his mouth...
It's Zoro's indomitable strike...
It was Nami's focused concentration when drawing the sea chart...
It's Robin's wisdom in interpreting the Poneglyph...
It was Chopper's gentleness when treating the wounded...
It was Franky's passion as he shouted "SUPER"...
It's Brook's ringing of Binks' Sake...
Jinbe is a guardian as reliable as a mountain...
It is the gaze of trust and reliance from all partners...
It is the prayer and expectation of billions of living beings in that world...
These fragments of memory, these bonds of emotion, everything he protected, transformed into delicate yet incredibly resilient threads, forcefully anchoring his soon-to-disappear "self" in this absolute Void!
"I... can't disappear..."
A faint thought, like Sparks, ignited.
"I promised... I would protect them..."
The Sparks began to spread, igniting his will.
My existence... has meaning because of them!
boom--!!!
As if the universe had just begun! In that absolute Void, a point of light containing complex concepts such as "protection," "bond," "freedom," and "hope" erupted fiercely from the core of Allen's will!
This light did not fight against Void, but rather, against the backdrop of Void, Definition his own existence! Based on his own will and the bonds with his companions, he forcibly carved out a space of "existence" that belonged to him in this "nothingness"!
Void still exists, but it can no longer assimilate him. He is like a lighthouse in the darkness, not dispelling the darkness, but proving with his own light that even in eternal Void, "existence" itself can be so vivid and so firm!
[... qualified...]
That ancient and grand will resounded once more, carrying a hint of indescribable approval.
The surrounding Void receded like a tide, Allen found himself standing once again before the platinum-gold cocoon. The cocoon had fully opened, and at its center floated a pure white ball of light that constantly shifted shape, seemingly composed of countless tiny runes of law, radiating a gentle yet stable aura—that was the prototype of the World Seed!
At the same time, he felt that his understanding of "existence" and " Void " had reached a whole new level. His Power of Zhulong became more condensed, and in that Chaos color, there was an indescribable "steadfastness", as if no matter what kind of impact he faced, he could stick to his original intention and Definition himself.
He successfully passed the test, gaining not only the recognition of the " World Seed," but also undergoing a crucial elevation of his own realm.
Allen reached out his hand, and the ball of pure white light, as if it possessed a spirit, slowly drifted into his palm and merged into it.
He turned around, looked at his anxious companions in the distance, and gave them a tired but incredibly relieved and determined smile.
He found hope, and he also found a stronger version of himself.