The successful repair of the first crack was like the sounding of a charge on a silent battlefield. Just as the Scar Keeper had warned, the " Shadow of the Other Side," representing " Void " and "assimilation," beyond the Scar of Origin, was thoroughly enraged.
No longer small-scale vanguard units, the darkness deep within the rift surged violently as if boiling. In the next moment, Hundred Plans of gray warships, like a torrent of steel, surged forth from several unrepaired rifts! They were larger, with thicker armor, and their eerie blue energy cannons were denser and more ferocious. Among them were even several massive beings of the size of cross-shaped flagships, exuding a suffocating pressure.
"They're serious!" Franky said gravely, looking at the dense array of red dots on the radar.
"Then let's go all out!" Luffy immediately joined the battle after completing his repairs. His laughter in Nika Form and the Drums of Liberation resounded through the Void as his giant rubber fist smashed into the enemy fleet like a meteor.
An unprecedented battle for control of the barriers erupted at the very foundations of the universe!
The Straw Hat Pirates found themselves in an unprecedentedly fierce battle. The Gray Fleet's firepower covered almost every nook and cranny, and the azure energy corroded the shields and hulls at an astonishing rate. Zoro, Sanji, Jinbe, Ace, Law, and other key members charged into the enemy ranks, each seeking out and engaging in close combat. However, the enemy ships were too numerous and their coordination was impeccable, often requiring several people to work together to destroy a single ship.
"This won't do! There are too many of them!" Nami shouted anxiously while dodging the artillery fire. The Thousand Sunny was violently rocked by the hail of bullets, and its shield energy was rapidly decreasing.
The core members, Allen, Luffy, and Robin, have teamed up once again. But this time, they are not just focused on repairs; they are attempting to apply the power of " Light of the Heart " to the battle!
Allen unleashed the power of "order" from his Light of the Heart, transforming it into an invisible " Rule Stabilization Network " that covered the Thousand Sunny and its companions. This couldn't completely block attacks, but it significantly slowed the rate at which the Azure Energy corrupted the rules, providing a relatively stable combat environment for his companions.
Luffy incorporated the " Chaos " and "freedom" characteristics of his Light of the Heart into his attacks. Every punch and kick he made had the effect of disrupting the rules and dismantling the order, causing significant interference and damage to the gray warship's system and armor, which relied on precise rules to operate.
Robin, on the other hand, uses the power of "existence" within her Light of the Heart, not to attack directly, but to continuously "strengthen" her companions' own "concept of existence," as if she were wearing an invisible armor of belief, allowing them to better maintain their individuality and exert their strength under the interference of the enemy's rules and the suppression of their numbers.
The three men's Light of the Heart intertwined and inspired each other in actual combat, as if producing some kind of wondrous chemical reaction. That warm, platinum-gold light was no longer confined to the three of them; it began to spread across the entire battlefield like ripples!
Light of the Heart swept across Zoro as he fought, his strikes seemed to carry an added sense of resolute determination to sever the " Void."
As it passed Sanji, his World-Purifying Flame burned even more purely, enhancing its purifying effect on the azure energy;
As it passed by each of its companions, it invigorated them, further solidifying their strength and conviction!
Even the Thousand Sunny itself, bathed in the Light of the Heart, seemed to have an even stronger shield, and Franky felt that the energy transmission was smoother!
"This is... the power of the Light of the Heart... protecting and strengthening all of us?" Chopper was pleasantly surprised to find that the effectiveness of his treatments had also improved.
Driven by the will to protect and fight, the Light of the Heart has evolved! It is no longer merely a tool for repair, but has become a domain-specific force that protects the team and combats the " Void "!
Despite the still massive size of the Gray Fleet, the Straw Hat Pirates, empowered by the Heart Light Domain, stabilized their position and even began to launch a gradual counterattack. Like a steadfast dam, they firmly guarded the Scar of Origin, repelling wave after wave of attacks.
However, everyone could sense that the darkness deep within the rift was still surging, and an even more powerful being seemed to be lurking on the other side. This battle for the survival of the universe was far from over.