Inside the command room of Tree Fortress, the atmosphere was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
"Based on the intelligence we obtained at the cost of countless scouts," the Observer Xingtong's finger traced across the holographic sand table, illuminating the internal structure of the triangular array formed by three super motherships, "The array's core energy node is located at the intersection of the three motherships' energy reactors—this 'catalytic core' suspended at the center of the array. It is responsible for the initial conversion of the absorbed planetary essence, facilitating absorption and transportation by the ' Predator '."
The sand table image was magnified, revealing a constantly pulsating device resembling a giant dark green heart, protected by layers of energy shields and dense automated defense turrets.
"External attacks are almost ineffective against it; someone must break in and destroy it physically or energetically," Chairperson Qingteng said in a deep voice, his emerald eyes filled with worry. "But the defensive perimeter around the array... we call it the ' Withering Zone.' Any life form that enters it will rapidly lose its life force; our warriors simply cannot cross it."
"Life force is being lost?" Chopper looked at his companions with concern.
"Leave it to me!" Luffy and Allen said almost simultaneously.
Luffy grinned. "I'm made of rubber, I'm not afraid of that kind of thing!"
A silver-purple light flickered in Allen's eyes. " Time Acceleration can negate the 'withering' effect on oneself, or one can directly use Space: Folding for short-distance evasion. This defensive perimeter is not a problem."
Zoro stroked the hilt of Enma's sword. "So, all we have to do is rush in and cut off the core, right? Simple."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring. "Perfect, let's see if the World-Purifying Flame can burn through that nauseating energy."
Nami quickly analyzed the energy flow data on the sand table. "I can use the Clima-Tact to create localized energy turbulence, interfering with their defense system's reaction time."
Usopp took a deep breath and began checking his special ammunition. "I'll provide support from a distance, creating chaos and barriers with the Seed."
Franky thumped his chest. "SUPER! Leave the vehicle assault and heavy firepower cover to me!"
Brook, his hand resting on the Soul Solid, said, "My Chill of the Underworld might be able to freeze some of the energy transfer."
Robin crossed his arms. "Clones can conduct multi-point reconnaissance and interference simultaneously."
Jinbe nodded calmly. "The helmsman's position remains unchanged."
Ace's fist ignited in flames. "My flames will pave the way for you!"
Break through! Tear apart the Withering Zone
The plan is set, execute it immediately!
The Thousand Sunny, refitted as a feint and long-range support platform, is piloted by Jinbe and maneuvers around the remaining Predator on the outer perimeter of the formation, with Franky's heavy firepower and Usopp's sniping providing cover.
The real elite squad, consisting of Luffy, Allen, Zoro, Sanji, Ace, sailed in a small, high-speed assault boat specially reinforced by Green Shade Civilization, like an arrow released from a bow, straight towards the " Withering Zone " on the outer edge of the formation!
As soon as they entered the dark green energy zone, a powerful suction force came from all directions, as if trying to pull their souls and life force away. The assault boat's protective shield emitted a piercing wail, and its energy was rapidly depleted.
"Indeed impressive!" Ace's eyes sharpened as he sensed the slight fluctuations in his own flame energy.
"No need for that!" Allen shouted, gesturing with his hands in front of him, "Space-Time Ritual - Severed Realm Traversal!"
A silver-purple light membrane, its edges shimmering with complex runes, instantly enveloped the entire assault boat. The next moment, the assault boat seemed to be "cut" out of its current space; the dark green withering energy outside, though close at hand, was firmly isolated by that light membrane. Allen, using his own power, forcibly opened a temporary "safe passage" in the Withering Zone!
However, this requires a significant and continuous expenditure of his energy and cannot be sustained in the long run.
"Speed up! I can't hold on much longer!" A bead of sweat appeared on Allen's forehead.
"Roger that!" Sanji, who was in charge of piloting the assault boat, pushed the engine to its limit, and the boat became a streak of light, speeding along the path opened up by Allen.
Core Battle: A Dance of Dragons and Fire
Their advance immediately triggered a frenzied response from the array's defense system. Dense beams of dark green energy rained down like a storm, and countless small, autonomous defense units swarmed forward like a bee.
"Get out of the way!" Zoro unleashed three sword strikes simultaneously, " Three-Sword Style: Black Rope: Great Tornado!" The violent whirlwind of slashes shredded the energy beams and defensive units, clearing a large area.
" Fire Fist!" Ace unleashed a massive, platinum-gold flaming fist, instantly vaporizing the swarm of spore missiles attacking from the side. The World-Purifying Flame was remarkably effective against the dark green energy.
Luffy then stretched out his limbs, blasting away approaching enemies like a barrage of bullets. " Gum-Gum - Murder of Crows Cannon!"
Under the cover of their comrades, the assault boat narrowly broke through layers of obstacles and finally approached the "catalytic core" that was suspended in the center of the array and constantly pulsating!
Around the core, the last thick layer of biomass armor, flowing with viscous dark green energy, slowly opened, revealing the guards standing ready behind it—three tall " Predator " guards covered in heavy bone armor and wielding energy scythes! The aura they exuded far surpassed that of any enemy they had encountered before.
"The last watchdog, huh?" Zoro's lips curled into a fierce, battle-ready smile.
"One for each person, resolve this as quickly as possible!" Sanji the ground with his toes, and the World-Purifying Flame burned fiercely.
Ace's hands gathered flames. "Just what I wanted!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Ace descended like tigers from a mountain, each confronting a guard, and instantly engaged in battle. Sword energy crisscrossed, flames soared, and the energy shockwaves from the collisions caused the entire core area to tremble.
Allen, however, fixed his gaze on the enormous, dark green heart—the "catalytic core"!
He could sense that this core was not only connected to the energy reactors of the three motherships, but also contained a faint, extremely subtle fluctuation that caused the " World Seed " within him to strongly reject and be wary of it—that was the highly condensed aura of the " Abyss " origin!
"It must be completely destroyed!" Allen's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he held nothing back.
He raised his hands high, unleashing the full power of the Torch Dragon Fruit, the laws of time and space intertwining and compressing in his hands.
"With this body, I draw upon the power of time and space..."
With this heart, we bear the wishes of the world...
" Spacetime Returns to Annihilation--!"
A silver-purple beam of light, condensed to its extreme and seemingly containing countless scenes of birth and death, erupted from Allen's hand. Like a spear of judgment, it ignored the distance in space and instantly struck the "catalytic core"!
"Buzz--!!!"
The core emitted a desperate, piercing wail, Transcendence the limits of hearing! Dark green light flickered and Resistance frantically, attempting to devour the silver-purple pillar of light. But the power of Spacetime Returns to Annihilation directly erased the target's existence from the dimensions of "time" and "space"! Under the onslaught of the silver-purple light, the dark green energy melted and disintegrated rapidly, like ice and snow under the sun!
At the same time, Luffy and his four companions also defeated their respective guards almost simultaneously with overwhelming superiority.
"Boom--!!!"
Without the core's support, the entire Origin-Draining Array completely spiraled out of control! The energy reactors of the three super motherships overloaded and exploded one after another due to the loss of their output ports! A terrifying chain reaction instantly engulfed the entire array!
"Go!" Allen felt his strength was almost exhausted, but he still managed to maintain the Severed Realm Traversal, wrapping up his companions and the assault boat. Before the earth-shattering explosion swallowed everything, they barely broke out of the array's range!
Looking back, the raging dark green vortex had disappeared, replaced by a continuously expanding sphere of destructive light, a mixture of flames and shattered ship hull!
The cost of victory and new shadows
The Origin-Draining Array has been destroyed!
On the Green Shade Star, the spreading dark green patches stopped expanding and began to recede slowly at a visible rate. A faint but clear sense of relief and joy emanated from the planet itself.
"We did it! We did it!" In the Tree Fortress command room, Chairperson Qingteng and Observer Xingtong were overjoyed.
The Thousand Sunny, after being refitted to retrieve the elite rescue team, breathed a sigh of relief as everyone watched the spectacular yet deadly explosion behind them.
However, after confirming that he was safe, Allen, who was overexerted, swayed and almost fell, but was caught by Sanji who was next to him.
" Allen!"
Are you alright?
Allen's face was pale. He waved his hand, about to say something, but suddenly raised his head and looked into the depths of the explosion's flames. His Observation Haki detected a very subtle spatial fluctuation, yet one filled with extreme malice.
Immediately afterwards, a cold, twisted thought, seemingly composed of the wails of countless souls, pierced through the aftershocks of the explosion like an invisible thorn, precisely sweeping across the Thousand Sunny Modified, and lingering for a moment on Allen.
[...' Torch Dragon '...' World Seed '... marked... complete...]
[... The Abyss... remembers you...]
The thought flashed by in an instant, as if it had never existed.
But everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"What was that just now?" Usopp's voice trembled.
Allen clutched his chest, feeling the intense rejection and wariness emanating from the " World Seed " towards that intent, his expression extremely grave.
"We destroyed their array," he began slowly, his voice low, "But it seems... they were also 'marked' by something even more terrible."
Although Xinghai's rescue operation achieved a tactical victory, their confrontation with the " Abyss Will " seems to have only just entered a new and more dangerous phase.