The sudden arrival and departure of Observer Zero was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, leaving ripples that lingered in the hearts of the Straw Hat Pirates. While the joyous atmosphere of the celebration was affected, it also refreshed their understanding of the universe once again.
A few days later, as the Thousand Sunny was about to leave the Green Algae Planet, the mysterious Observer Zero once again appeared uninvited. This time, he did not pilot the ship, but appeared directly on the deck of the Thousand Sunny like a ghost, as if he had always been there.
"No need to be nervous." Observer Zero's calm voice rang out, stopping everyone's instinctive attack posture. "We're not here for formal observation, but in a personal capacity to conduct... an information exchange."
With a wave of his hand, an antique wooden table and several chairs appeared out of thin air on the deck. A fragrant tea set was laid out on the table, and tea was automatically poured into it. "Sit."
The Straw Hat Pirates exchanged bewildered glances, but Luffy finally sat down nonchalantly. "Tea? Sure!" The others followed suit, remaining vigilant.
"Your understanding of the ' World Seed ' and the ' Power of Definition ' remains superficial." Observer Zero took a sip of tea and cut to the chase, "They are not simply fruits or abilities, but... Key."
" The Key?" A thought flashed through Allen's mind.
" The Key to the ' Sea of Origin,'" Observer Zero said with a touch of melancholy. "That is the Sea of Chaos at the beginning of the birth of rules, the source of all things, and the starting point of all possibilities. The ' World Seed ' is the 'anchor' that stabilizes and guides the formation of a trace of order within it, while the ' Power of Definition ' is the 'grammar' for interpreting and utilizing the infinite rules within this sea."
He looked at Allen: "Your existence is a miracle in itself. Usually, the ' World Seed ' chooses to merge with a nascent world, becoming its core. But you, in the form of an individual life, have borne it and comprehended the rudiments of ' Definition ' on your own. This is extremely rare even in the Council's records."
"Regarding the ' Outer-Dimensional Rule Pollution ' incident you resolved earlier," Observer Zero changed the subject, "That ' Death Superuniverse ' connected to the dying dimension is referred to as ' Nirvanic Return to the Ruins ' in the Council's archives. It is one of the examples of the final stage of complete heat death and rule collapse in the periodic birth and death of the multiverse. The experiment of the ' Well of All Sources ' is tantamount to drilling a hole in the dam leading to Ultimate Void. The resulting rule backflow and the manifestation of ' Return to Nothingness ' ( the Otherworldly Demons ) are inevitable consequences."
Robin immediately grasped the key point. "Periodic birth and death? You mean, the destruction and rebirth of the universe is some kind of... law?"
"That's one way to understand it. But it's not a simple repetition. Each cycle leaves a mark in the ' Sea of Origin,' like the rings of a tree. And certain extremely powerful beings, or miraculous creations like the ' World Seed,' can Transcendence or influence this cycle to some extent."
Observer Zero's gaze swept over the crowd. "The ' Order Harmonics ' you're using essentially activates the rule-based forces in the ' Sea of Origin ' that favor 'existence' and 'order,' which is good. But you must understand that the 'Sea' contains not only order, but also Chaos. Overly favoring either side could disrupt a delicate balance. One of the 'forbidden red lines' the Council observes is when an individual or civilization attempts to completely replace or solidify the natural evolution of the universe with its own will."
These words contained so much shocking information that everyone fell into deep thought. They not only touched upon the mysteries of the origin of the universe, but even vaguely touched upon the fundamental laws governing its operation.
"Your journey is far from over." Observer Zero set down his teacup, his figure fading. "Remember, power is neither good nor evil; the key lies in how you wield it. Maintain your initial intentions, and perhaps you can forge a unique path. We... will continue to observe."
He vanished again, along with the table, chairs, and tea set, as if it were all a dream.
Silence remained on the deck for a long time.
" The Sea of Origin... Nirvanic Return to the Ruins... Cycles of Reincarnation..." Luffy scratched his head. "I don't understand! But as long as I keep adventuring, I'll figure it out eventually, right?"
The captain's simple philosophy came into play once again. Yes, no matter what lies ahead—the vast ocean of stars or the mysteries of the universe—as long as the crew stays together and continues sailing, the answer will eventually be revealed.
The Thousand Sunny, hoisted its sails (though it was a spaceship), carrying a ship full of mysteries and determination, and set sail once more. Their goal remained the stars and their dreams, but now, the canvas of those dreams seemed to unfold even more vast and boundless.