The Pluton Battleship sailed at full speed, trying to shake off the pursuing World Government fleet. Allen stood before the console, feeling the newly acquired power of time slowly merging with the power of Zhulong within him. The unfamiliar sensation of controlling the flow of time left him both excited and wary.
"The pursuing fleet is fast!" Sabo stared at the radar screen. "They're new models, 17% faster than Pluton!"
Flames ignited around Ace's fists. "Should we fight? This is a good chance to try out our new power."
Luffy stretched his rubber arms. "Send them flying!"
Allen shook his head. "The power of time is still unstable. Using it recklessly could cause even worse spacetime disturbances. Let's try losing them first."
He concentrated, channeling the power of Zhulong and the power of time simultaneously. "Time Acceleration: Localized Field!"
The seawater around Pluton suddenly flowed faster, and the battleship's speed surged! But contrary to expectations, the acceleration field fluctuated erratically, making Pluton trace a bizarre zigzag across the sea.
"I can't control it!" Allen gritted his teeth. "The power of time is harder to handle than I thought!"
The pursuers seized the chance to close the distance. A scientist in a white lab coat stood aboard their flagship-Dr. Wills, captain of the Marine Science Unit, Dr. Vegapunk's newest assistant, and Caesar Clown's rival.
"Temporal fluctuations detected!" Wills excitedly recorded the data. "It really is with you! The power of the Time-Time Fruit!"
He called through a loudspeaker, "Portgas D. Allen! Hand over the Time-Time Fruit! The Science Unit can guarantee your safety!"
Allen answered with a sneer, "Like you 'guaranteed' the safety of all those test subjects?"
Wills's expression darkened. "Then don't blame us for getting rough! Fire the spacetime anchors!"
Several strange devices launched from the pursuing ships and embedded themselves in the empty space around Pluton! In an instant, the flow of time around Pluton slowed drastically! The battleship almost stopped!
"Time Stasis Field!" Sabo exclaimed. "They have time technology too!"
Allen felt the power of time being severely suppressed. "No wonder they've been on our heels... they came prepared!"
Wills said smugly, "Dr. Vegapunk has been researching time technology for years! All he lacked was data from the fruit itself! Thank you for delivering yourself to us!"
More pursuers surrounded them. New-model Pacifistas equipped with temporal weapons began attacking!
"We have no choice!" Allen's gaze sharpened. "I'll have to risk using the power of time!"
He channeled the power of the Torch Dragon and the power of time at full strength. The phantom image of a clock appeared in his golden slit pupils. "Time Domain: Chaotic Turbulence!"
With Pluton at its center, time began chaotically accelerating, slowing, and even reversing! Some incoming attacks suddenly sped up and exploded prematurely, some slowed until they seemed motionless, and others even flew backward!
"What's happening?!" "My attack hit me!" "Time's gone haywire!"
The pursuing fleet fell into chaos! Wills was shocked and furious. "Impossible! How could he reach this level so soon after gaining the ability?!"
But he quickly regained his composure. "All units, activate temporal stabilizers! Counter with probability weapons!"
The pursuing fleet deployed some kind of force field, reducing the effects of the temporal turbulence. At the same time, they fired large quantities of bizarre munitions that constantly split and changed direction in flight, making their trajectories utterly unpredictable!
"Temporal probability weapons!" Sabo identified them. "They interfere with the timeline to create attacks with infinite possibilities! Observation Haki can't predict them!"
Countless munitions came at them from impossible angles! Pluton's shield fluctuated violently!
"We can't hold out like this!" Ace unleashed his flames at full power, but he couldn't intercept every attack!
In his Gear Fourth Boundman form, Luffy moved through the air at high speed, knocking down munitions, but several still struck Pluton!
"Shield energy at 40%! Starboard side damaged!" Sabo reported the bad news.
Sweat beaded on Allen's forehead. Using the power of time was enormously draining and extremely difficult to control. One mistake even caused one of Pluton's gun turrets to suddenly age and rust!
"I need precise control..." He closed his eyes and focused, using the power of Zhulong to help stabilize the power of time. "Time Perception: Acceleration!"
In his perception, the world became extremely slow, and every munition's trajectory was clearly visible. But this accelerated perception placed an immense burden on his mind, and blood slowly trickled from his nose.
"Three degrees to port ahead! In three seconds, three probability shells will hit the engine simultaneously!" Allen predicted the attack. "Ace! Intercept them! Luffy! Protect the starboard side! Sabo! Hard to port!"
Under his precise commands, they successfully countered the attack! But more attacks followed one after another!
"No! There are too many!" Allen felt his mental energy draining rapidly!
Just then, a message suddenly came from the Ark Core. "Special application of the power of time detected... recommend attempting 'Time Loop: Localized'..."
A time loop? Inspiration struck Allen, and he concentrated his remaining power. "Time Loop: Ten Meters Around Pluton!"
Something extraordinary happened! Time within ten meters of Pluton began looping! Every attack entering that area returned to its position three seconds earlier! It formed an absolute defensive domain!
"It worked!" Allen was delighted, but immediately felt an even fiercer drain. "But I can't keep it up for long!"
Wills gaped. "A time loop?! How precise must his control be?! As expected of the power of Zhulong..."
But he quickly broke into a crazed smile. "All units! Concentrate your fire! Exhaust his stamina!"
An even denser barrage came at them! Allen's time-loop domain fluctuated violently!
At this rate... Allen felt his consciousness beginning to blur.
Suddenly, a familiar red warship burst through the clouds! It was the Red Hair Pirates!
"Looks like we're right on time!" Shanks laughed, cleaving through several pursuing ships with a single slash!
Benn Beckman fired precise shots at the temporal stabilizers. "Leave those annoying devices to me!"
The Red Hair Pirates' arrival instantly turned the tide! Wills's fleet was forced to divide its attention!
"Red-Haired! You're getting in my way again!" Wills raged.
Shanks pointed Gryphon at him. "You Science Unit youngsters shouldn't be picking on the young. It's hardly honorable~"
Seizing the opportunity, Allen released the time loop and gasped for breath. "We're saved..."
But the crisis wasn't over! Madness flashed in Wills's eyes as he pressed a button. "Activate the ultimate weapon! The Spacetime Collapse Bomb!"
An enormous device launched into the sky from the flagship, radiating terrifying energy fluctuations!
"That's..." Shanks's expression changed drastically. "Stop it, now! That thing can trigger a spacetime collapse!"
They concentrated all their fire on the bomb, but its surface temporal shield deflected every attack!
"It's useless!" Wills laughed maniacally. "This is Dr. Vegapunk's greatest masterpiece! Once activated, it can't be stopped!"
The bomb began glowing, and cracks appeared in the surrounding space! Both time and space were collapsing!
"It's over..." Sabo said despairingly.
But resolve flashed in Allen's eyes. "There's still one way... Time Reversal: Single-Target Targeting!"
He exhausted every last bit of his strength, driving the power of the Torch Dragon and the power of time beyond their limits! Golden dragon markings lit up across his body! The phantom image of a pocket watch appeared behind him!
"In the name of the Master of Time... reverse!"
Terrifying energy erupted! All the light converged on the bomb! Before everyone's shocked eyes, the bomb... reverted to its state before launch! It returned to the launch tube aboard Wills's flagship!
"No!!!" Wills's terrified scream was swallowed by a massive explosion! His flagship was reduced to elementary particles in the spacetime explosion!
The shock wave swept across the sea, but most of the energy was confined to a smaller area. The aftershocks still made every warship rock violently.
When everything settled, the Science Unit's fleet had lost its command and fallen into chaos.
The Red Hair Pirates seized the opportunity to mop up the remaining enemies and soon brought the situation under control.
Shanks leaped onto Pluton's deck and looked worriedly at the exhausted Allen. "Are you all right?"
Allen barely remained standing. "I'm... I'm fine... just a little... tired..." With that, he passed out.
When he woke, he was lying in Pluton's medical room. Shanks and his three younger brothers were at his side.
"You were unconscious for a day." Sabo sighed in relief. "The doctor said you overexerted yourself."
Ace handed him a glass of water. "That time reversal was way too reckless!"
Luffy's eyes brimmed with tears. "I thought you were going to die!"
Shanks looked serious. "The Time-Time Fruit's power is extremely dangerous. Wills was only one detachment of the Science Unit. Their real powerhouses haven't acted yet."
He looked at Allen. "Vegapunk himself is determined to obtain the Time-Time Fruit. More troubling still, there's a secret organization within the World Government devoted to researching time technology-the 'Guardians of Temporal Order.'"
"The Guardians of Temporal Order?" Allen frowned.
Shanks nodded. "Legend says they protect the 'correct' course of the timeline and eliminate anything that might cause a spacetime paradox. Your large-scale use of the power of time this time must have caught their attention."
Just then, the Ark Core sounded an alarm. "Hyperspacetime signal detected... unable to trace source... message contents: Warning. Cease interfering with time. Otherwise, you will be eliminated."
Allen felt a chill. The Guardians of Temporal Order... they sound more frightening than the World Government.
Shanks patted his shoulder. "Come back to my base and recuperate first. You need to learn how to control the power of time, or you might not be so lucky next time."
Pluton followed the Red Hair fleet toward a hidden island base. Allen gazed out at the sea, the pocket watch ticking in his hand.
The path of the Master of Time was more dangerous than he had imagined.
But he did not back down. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he had to master this power.
To protect his precious family, and to change this world's future.
Tick... tock... Time never stopped. Neither did his journey.