The Thousand Sunny Mod pushed its engines to their limits, like a startled swordfish, tearing through the viscous darkness of the Corrupted Star Abyss and fleeing madly towards the outer reaches. Behind it, the massive hatchery continued to explode, dark red energy and chaotic data streams mixing into a destructive storm that attracted and devoured all the surrounding aberrations, temporarily slowing the pursuit.
The atmosphere inside the cabin was heavy. Chopper was urgently treating Allen and Robin's injuries. Allen's injuries were mainly due to the overexertion of his mental and spatial powers, while Robin's injuries were caused by the excessive use of her Awakening ability to filter the data flood, which had severely impacted her consciousness, requiring rest.
"Miss Robin!" Sanji knelt beside the hospital bed, his eyes filled with heartache and rage. "Those damned Abyss scum..."
"I'm alright, Mr. Sanji." Robin smiled weakly, but her eyes were unusually bright. "That information... is extremely important."
She looked at her companions who had gathered around her and slowly said, "I've done a preliminary analysis of some of the data. The ' Predator ' fleet is merely the vanguard and engineers of the Abyss, responsible for weakening and polluting the world. Their true main force consists of a colossal ship called the ' Devourer,' and... even more terrifying, the ' Abyss Maw,' capable of directly devouring the world's rules."
" The Devourer... the Maw..." Nami repeated these chilling names.
"And their next clear target is the ' Void Rift,'" Robin's tone became extremely serious. "According to coordinate calculations, it's a crucial jump point connecting our homeworld's star system to another rich star system, and also a natural spatial vulnerability. If it falls into the Abyss's control or is destroyed, our homeworld will be directly exposed to their military might, and we will lose a vital strategic buffer and support channel!"
This news was like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads, sending chills down their spines.
Returning at full speed, the shadow looms close.
"We must go back immediately! Inform Sabo and the Allied Forces!" Luffy clenched his fist, an unprecedented sense of crisis making him even more serious.
"That's right, there's no time to rest!" Allen struggled to his feet. "We must establish defenses in the Void Rift before the Abyss operation begins!"
Jinbe word, Jinbe adjusted the course, setting the fastest route straight to their home world. Franky injected excessive energy into the engine, even overloading some components. Nami focused all her efforts on calculating the optimal route, avoiding any potential spatial traps.
The journey home felt even more urgent than the journey there. The fleeting starlight outside the porthole seemed to carry the ticking of a countdown.
Along the way, they encountered another small group of mutants, but they were swiftly eliminated by the group, who were burning with rage. Allen didn't even have to lift a finger; Zoro and Sanji's sword energy and flames turned those minions into cosmic dust.
A brief respite for the Seat of All Knowledge
Instead of returning home, they came to the " Seat of All Knowledge " once again. On one hand, they needed to complete a task in exchange for the qualification to enter the " Well of Origin "; on the other hand, they had to share information about the " Void Rift " with the council to secure larger-scale support.
When the battered and bruised Thousand Sunny, laden with astonishing intelligence, once again docked at the glittering pier, it attracted considerable attention.
It was still the same meditation room, where the holographic projections of the three elders seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
"You're back." The Star Spirit Elder's voice carried a barely perceptible fluctuation. "It seems you've gained much, but at a considerable cost."
Allen directly transmitted the intelligence summary that Robin had compiled regarding the threats of " The Devourer," " The Abyss Maw," and " The Void Rift " through an encrypted channel.
The three elders silently received and read the information. Even their consciousness, which had endured countless years, was noticeably shaken.
"...' Devourer '...' Maw '... Indeed, they have begun to unleash their true power." The Sage Elder murmured, his expression grave.
" The Void Rift... its fall means that at least three Watcher Alliance member worlds will lose contact, including yours." The Plant Controller Elder's branches moved without wind.
"We have completed our mission," Allen said, looking directly at the three elders with a tone neither humble nor arrogant. "Now, please fulfill your promise and grant us access to the ' Well of Origin '."
The three elders exchanged a thought.
The Star Spirit Elder spoke up, "The intelligence you brought back was indeed far more valuable than expected. The Council acknowledges your achievements. However..."
But again! The Straw Hat Pirates's hearts jumped.
"However, the activation and protection of the ' Well of Origin ' cannot be decided by the three of us alone," the Sage Elder explained. "It requires the joint authorization of at least seven permanent council elders. Currently, two elders believe that, given the clear movements of the Abyss's main forces and the imminent outbreak of a major war, activating the ' Well of Origin ' carries uncontrollable risks, especially for someone possessing the ' Scent of the Abyss '."
"Are they worried that I might be vulnerable to the Abyss Will while I'm in the well, or that it might trigger some unknown event?" Allen immediately understood the crux of the matter.
"That's right," the Plant Controller Elder confirmed.
"Then we made a wasted trip?! And we almost died in there!" Usopp couldn't help but exclaim.
Luffy pulled his hat down low, the shadow obscuring his eyes, but everyone could sense the suppressed anger emanating from him. "Hey, you guys, are you trying to back out?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Allen stopped Luffy from Luffy. He looked at the three elders and suddenly asked, "So, what if we can prove that we possess the power to hold off, or at least delay, the Abyss's main force at the ' Void Rift '? What if we can become the key to guarding that gate, rather than a potential 'risk'?"
The projections of the three elders fell silent again, seemingly assessing the possibility.
"If you can truly accomplish this," the Sage Elder spoke slowly, his eyes swirling with star patterns, "Then, not only will the authority over the ' Well of Origin ' be granted, but the Council will also dedicate even more resources to making the ' Void Rift ' defense line the first main battlefield for the Star Sea Allied Forces against the Abyss!"
"Then it's settled!" Luffy up, his eyes burning. "We'll hold that place! We'll blow away any of those who try to break through!"
Allen nodded. "We'll prove it with our actions."
Without another word, the Straw Hat Pirates turned and left. Time was of the essence; they had to return home immediately, gather their strength, and head towards the Void Rift, the place that would soon determine the fate of countless worlds!
The Seat of All Knowledge behind it still shines brightly, but the undercurrents and divisions within it have already become apparent.