The Red Hair Pirates' base lay hidden on an island in the New World perpetually surrounded by storms-the Cavern of Time. At the island's center was an enormous natural cavern, far more spacious inside than it appeared from outside. Glowing crystals embedded in its walls provided soft light.
"Time flows slightly differently here than in the outside world," Shanks explained. "It's an ideal place to train your Power of Time."
Allen sensed the strange temporal fluctuations within the cavern. The pocket watch trembled faintly in his hand, resonating with the environment. The power of Zhulong circulated on its own, helping him adapt to the abnormal flow of time.
"The Guardians of Temporal Order's warning was no joke." Shanks looked serious. "Before they come knocking, you need to master the basics of your Power of Time."
Training began. The initial process was harder than he had imagined.
"Expand your Time Perception!" Shanks instructed. "Close your eyes. Don't use your eyes or Observation Haki. 'See' the world purely through your Time Perception."
Allen closed his eyes and concentrated, his Power of Time circulating slowly. At first, he could only vaguely sense time flowing, like looking at flowers through fog. The power of Zhulong tried to assist, but often clashed with his Power of Time, leaving him with splitting headaches.
"Balance the two powers!" Shanks barked. "Torch Dragon is the framework, and time is the content! Use the power of Torch Dragon to build channels for your Power of Time to flow through!"
Attempt after attempt, failure after failure. One uncontrolled temporal fluctuation suddenly aged and shriveled Allen's left hand, making Luffy cry out in alarm; another reverted his right hand to an infant's, leaving him unable to even hold the pocket watch steadily.
"Take a break." Shanks handed him a cup of specially prepared herbal tea. "Impatience is the worst enemy of the Power of Time. Treat it gently, like a lover, rather than trying to conquer it like an enemy."
Panting, Allen looked at his hand, which had just returned to normal. "Harder than I imagined..."
"Because you're wielding two top-tier powers at once." Shanks looked toward Ace and the other two, who were sparring nearby. "Your brothers are improving too."
Ace's flames no longer merely burned; he could now "accelerate" or "decelerate" the combustion process to a degree. Sabo's Observation Haki could detect subtler differences in timing, and even Luffy had begun trying to incorporate temporal rhythms into his rubber attacks.
On the seventh day, the breakthrough finally came.
Allen sat quietly at the cavern's center. The power of Zhulong formed a stable framework of light and darkness, and his Power of Time flowed through it like a stream. Suddenly, he "saw"-not with his eyes, but through his Time Perception.
He "saw" the fluctuations of the crystals' light like a dance in slow motion, "saw" every tiny instant as falling droplets splashed, and "saw" the paths of dust drifting through the air. More importantly, he "saw" the flow of time itself-a glittering river, winding and twisting, branching and converging.
"I did it..." Allen murmured. In his perception, the world had become so different, every instant infinitely rich.
Shanks nodded in satisfaction. "Very good! Now try interfering slightly with the flow of time."
First attempt: pause a falling droplet. Allen focused his will, and his Power of Time slowly surged out...
Pop! Instead of stopping, the droplet evaporated outright!
"Too rough!" Shanks criticized. "The Power of Time requires a delicate touch!"
Tenth attempt: the droplet suddenly accelerated as it fell, punching through the rock below!
"Not enough control!"
Thirtieth attempt: the droplet fell slowly, stopping perfectly the instant it touched the ground. It held its splashing shape for a full three seconds before resuming its normal motion.
"Very good!" Shanks finally praised him. "Hold on to that feeling!"
The training that followed was even harder: time acceleration, time deceleration, time loops, temporal foresight... Every application required extremely precise control.
Temporal foresight was the most dangerous. During one attempt, Allen accidentally glimpsed a fragment of the future, only to be swept into temporal turbulence because his mental strength was insufficient. He nearly became lost forever! Fortunately, Shanks pulled him back to reality in time with a pulse of Conqueror's Haki.
"Future Sight is the most dangerous application of the Power of Time," Shanks warned gravely. "Don't attempt it lightly without sufficient preparation!"
Half a month later, Allen could skillfully perform basic temporal manipulations. But Shanks still shook his head. "Not enough. The Guardians of Temporal Order could arrive at any moment. You need stronger abilities."
He took Allen into the deepest part of the cavern, where an ancient stone platform stood, covered in mysterious temporal runes.
"This is the trial platform of the ancient time priests," Shanks explained. "Passing the trial will grant you deeper understanding. But I'm warning you-if you fail, you could be trapped in a time loop forever."
Without hesitation, Allen placed his hand on the stone platform. Instantly, the world spun around him!
He found himself standing in an ever-changing labyrinth of space and time! Scenes from the past, present, and future flashed and overlapped! Marineford sinking, Rouge's smile, Rayleigh guiding his training, and even scenes he had never seen before-Mary Geoise burning, a figure wearing a straw hat standing at the pinnacle of the world...
"Stay true to yourself!" Shanks's voice came from far away. "Remember who you are!"
Allen held his consciousness steady, the power of Zhulong protecting his mind as his Power of Time tried to untangle the chaotic currents of time. It was an agonizing process, as though his brain were being torn apart and reassembled!
Countless timelines unfolded before his eyes: if he had not saved Sabo back then... if he had accepted Hancock's invitation... if he had failed to seize Uranus... Each choice led to a different future.
The most critical moment arrived-he saw the complete scene of the Paramount War! Akainu pierced Ace's chest! Luffy broke down sobbing! Whitebeard died a heroic death in battle!
"No!!!" Allen instinctively wanted to change this future, his Power of Time surging wildly!
But just as he was about to intervene, he saw more-if Ace survived, Blackbeard would become even more frenzied after obtaining two Devil Fruit powers, plunging the world into deeper darkness; if Whitebeard did not die, the balance of power in the New World would remain unchanged, and the revolution would be unable to advance for a long time...
A painful choice lay before him. Intervene, or let it happen?
Tears slid from Allen's eyes, but he finally made his choice-to let history follow its original course.
"The correct decision," a voice said. A hooded figure appeared in the temporal labyrinth. "Many time walkers fail this stage, unable to resist changing the fate of their loved ones."
"A Guardian of Temporal Order?" Allen asked warily.
The hooded figure pulled back his hood, revealing a face covered in clock patterns. "I am Zamasu, an observer of the Guardians of Temporal Order. We have come to assess your threat level."
"And the result?" Allen asked calmly.
Clock hands turned in Zamasu's eyes. "You have demonstrated astonishing control and judgment. But more importantly..." He looked at the Ark Core on Allen's chest. "You possess Darasiah's legacy."
"So?"
"So you are no ordinary time walker." Zamasu waved his hand, and the temporal labyrinth dissolved, returning the two of them to the real cavern. "You are the chosen one, the restorer of space-time."
He explained, "The Time-Time Fruit was originally a tool created by Darasiah to maintain the stability of the timeline. The World Government twisted its purpose. We have been searching for its true successor all along."
Allen frowned. "Then why issue a warning?"
A trace of embarrassment flashed through Zamasu's eyes. "That was an automatic defense mechanism. We didn't expect the successor to be so... young."
Shanks burst out laughing. "These old fossils are always so suspicious!"
Zamasu coughed. "In any case, you have passed the preliminary assessment. We will observe you for now rather than eliminate you. But the warning still stands-do not abuse your Power of Time, especially by interfering with major historical junctures."
He handed Allen an ancient pocket watch. "This is the Guide of Time. It can show you the way when time falls into chaos. When you can fully control it, we will meet again."
With that, Zamasu merged into the flow of time and vanished.
Allen held the Guide of Time, sensing the vast temporal knowledge contained within it.
Shanks patted his shoulder. "Congratulations! You've officially become the Master of Time!"
With their training complete, the four returned to the Pluton Battleship. Everyone could sense the change in Allen's bearing-he was steadier and more reserved, with clock-like golden light occasionally flashing in his eyes.
"Where to next?" Ace asked.
Allen sensed the guidance of the Guide of Time. "To a temporal anomaly. Something seems to be waiting for us there."
Pluton set sail toward their new destination.
And this time, Allen's control over the Power of Time had changed.
He could slightly increase Pluton's speed, make damaged components slowly repair themselves, and even foresee weather changes within a small area ahead.
"The path of the Master of Time..." Allen gazed at the endless sea. "Has only just begun."
But unbeknownst to him, in some corner of space-time, Zamasu was reporting to a council hidden within time:
"The target has obtained the Guide of Time and is proceeding along the predetermined course." "Initiate phase four of the plan." "The space-time restoration project is entering its critical stage." "May time guide us."
More challenges and mysteries awaited the Master of Time and his brothers ahead.