The crack in the stone gate, like a hideous scar, reminded everyone of the terrifying moment they had just experienced. A sense of relief and... a faint awkwardness permeated the Chaos Void.
"So..." Usopp broke the silence first, slumping to the ground and cautiously pointing to the stone door, "That... big eyeball, are you sure it won't suddenly pop out again?"
"Judging from the fluctuations at the rule level, it has temporarily retreated into the seal." Allen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his face still pale, but his eyes had regained their clarity. "The attack from the ' Silent Evolution ' orb seems to have made it sense the external interference and temporarily restrained itself. But this crack... has become a permanent weakness."
"So," Franky struck his signature pose, "This super door is now a flawed secondhand item?"
"You can understand it that way." Allen nodded helplessly.
"Hohoho..." Brook touched his skull. "That really scared me to death, even though I don't have any organs left to be scared to death anymore. When that eye looked over, I almost thought my soul was going to be stared at and grow flesh and blood!"
Chopper, while injecting himself and Usopp with sedatives, nodded with teary eyes, "That was terrifying! My heart is still pounding like it was during ' The Shadow of Origin '! Thump... thump... so heavy!"
Sanji a cigarette, took a deep drag, and tried to dispel the discomfort from the cold, icy gaze he'd just received. "More than that, I'm curious... you Curly Brow Fruit user, what kind of weird thing did you almost turn into just now? I thought your arm was about to turn into tentacles?"
Upon hearing this, Allen subconsciously glanced at his arm, still shaken. "... So close. The assimilative power of that chaotic rule was too strong. If the orb of light hadn't intervened in time, I might have really turned into something you wouldn't recognize." He paused, then added, "For example, covered in Curly Brow that could Future Sight."
Everyone imagined the scene, and the tense atmosphere immediately eased considerably.
Zoro, holding his sword, snorted coldly, "Hmph, if it really turns out like that, I'll just cut off all your extra eyebrows so they won't get in the way."
Allen: "... Thank you."
Luffy clutched his stomach, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Tentacle Allen! That sounds hilarious! Can we make takoyaki?"
Nami punched Luffy on the head, roaring, "Idiot! Is this the time for jokes?! We almost got wiped out, and we might have even unleashed a cosmic-level monster!" She turned angrily to Allen, "And you! Allen! Next time you do something dangerous, can you at least give me a heads-up?! My recorder almost broke down due to the rule-breaking overload! Repairs are expensive!"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Allen touched his nose. "... I'm sorry, Miss Nami. The situation is urgent."
"However," Robin interjected with a smile, always able to find interesting details in the chaos, "when everyone was channeling their power into the door, I noticed that Usopp's ' Power of Belief ' seemed to be mixed with a strong desire for 'a treasure island ahead' and 'please, no bugs.'"
Usopp's face flushed instantly. "N-no way! I was praying for peace! I was very serious!"
Franky nodded solemnly. "That's right! What I injected was pure ' Super Power '! But speaking of which, I do seem to remember seeing a small, slingshot-like icon light up in a corner of the door?"
"Ahhh! Stop talking!" Usopp lunged forward, trying to cover Franky's mouth.
Jinbe watched his playful companions, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Regardless, everyone being safe and sound is the best outcome. Moreover, after fighting this powerful enemy together, our bond seems even stronger." He looked at Allen, " Allen, especially, you didn't give up in the end, guiding us to fight side by side; your contribution was indispensable."
Ace patted Allen on the shoulder and handed him an apple. "Good job. But don't push yourself next time, we're here for you."
Feeling the genuine care from his friends, despite their different styles, Allen felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and the heaviness he felt earlier lessened considerably. He took the apple, took a bite, and smiled, "Got it. Next time I encounter someone with those 'big eyes,' I'll definitely yell 'Help!' first."
"Hehehe, then I'll play the ' Survival March ' for you then!" Brook immediately chimed in.
After a brief moment of joking around, the real problems remain.
Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat, looked at the crack in the stone door, and his expression turned serious again. "Although there's a troublesome guy behind the door, what we're looking for might still be up ahead, right? We can't just not go through just because it's watching us, can we?"
"Theoretically, although the seal is damaged, the main body remains, and the ' Shadow of Origin ' cannot be completely freed in a short time," Allen analyzed. "Moreover, the secrets of Imu and Laugh Tale are likely hidden deeper within the Cradle of Chaos, and may even be related to the origin of this seal. We... probably have no choice but to continue forward."
"Let's go!" Luffy his hand, pointing into the depths of Chaos, "Whether it's a shadow or an eyeball, if it dares to block our way, we'll knock it away!"
"Oh--!" the crowd responded in unison, their morale lifted.
Although the road ahead is unknown and fraught with danger, and there may even be a "big-eyed monster" lurking in the shadows, the Straw Hat Pirates is fearless as long as they are together.
Of course, before setting off, Usopp secretly erected a simple wooden sign away from the stone gate, with crooked handwriting on it:
[Beware of evil eyes inside! -- GOD Usopp ]