Under the complex and expectant gazes of the Great Forest Ranger Flora, Allen walked alone into the depths of the " Thirsty Forest," covered in dark red fungal carpet and filled with constant wailing, towards the invisible barrier at the edge of the sacred site.
The closer he got, the stronger the chaotic aura became, a mixture of plant pain, fungal greed, and the Mother Tree's weak Resistance. The air was thick with a nauseating, sweet, putrid stench. The dark red fungal carpet writhed like a living thing, trying to climb up his ankles, but before it could get close, it was separated by an invisible force field—the absolute domain formed by the natural flow of spacetime and the laws of light and darkness around Allen.
Upon reaching the edge of the sacred site, he could clearly sense a gentle yet resilient barrier of life energy, rippling like water, rejecting anything that carried an aura of "decay." This barrier originated from the Mother Tree's final will to protect itself.
Allen stopped, not forcing his way through. He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his body, communicating with the " World Seed " connected to the origin of the world. He did not release its immense power, but instead guided out a wisp of the purest, most primal " Light of Life." This light was not for illumination, but for "communication" and "proof."
He stretched out his finger and gently touched the invisible barrier. At his fingertip, the pure and gentle " Light of Life " merged into the ocean like a drop of water, silently making contact with the barrier.
The barrier trembled violently, as if recognizing and confirming. After a moment, the resisting force vanished, and the barrier parted to the sides like a gentle stream of water, revealing an entrance just wide enough for one person to pass through. The will of the Mother Tree acknowledged this life force, which was more ancient and pure than itself.
Allen stepped inside.
The scene within the barrier was even more horrifying. The land was completely covered by a thick, pulsating, dark red fungal carpet, almost obscuring its original color. Countless grotesque, twisted plants struggled within the carpet, their forms unrecognizable, reduced to mere instinctive agony. At the very center of all this was a massive, pulsating lumps, like a heart, formed by countless thick, black mycelia—the sclerotium.
The sclerotium seemed to sense the intrusion of Allen, this "foreign object," and instantly went berserk!
"Hiss--!"
Countless jet-black mycelia, covered in corrosive slime, burst forth from the sclerotium and the surrounding fungal carpet like venomous snakes, swarming towards Allen! At the same time, a powerful mental shock, mixed with boundless greed and destructive desires, surged straight into Allen's mind!
However, all of this was in vain.
When the mycelium approached within three feet of Allen, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier, unable to advance an inch, and the corrosive slime on it was instantly purified and evaporated. The mental impact was even more like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to shake even the outermost layer of Allen's consciousness.
Allen looked calmly, even with a hint of pity, at the twisted fungal core. It was itself a deformed life form in the universe, representing disordered devouring and destruction.
He no longer hesitated. He raised his right hand, palm up. This time, it was no longer the gentle " Light of Life," but a purifying holy light representing "existence" and "order"! Like the rising sun, warm yet carrying an undeniable majesty, it instantly erupted from him!
Wherever the light touched, it was as if ice and snow melted away!
"Hiss hiss hiss--!"
The thick, dark red fungal carpet emitted a shrill, mournful shriek (not a sound, but a spiritual wail), fading, drying up, and turning to ash at a visible speed! The twisted plants that had been parasitized, though still withered after the fungal carpet detached, stopped wailing, as if they had been freed from an endless nightmare. Their remaining branches and leaves trembled slightly, emitting a faint wave of gratitude for surviving a catastrophe.
The sclerotium throbbed wildly, releasing even denser darkness and more mycelium in an attempt to Resistance, but before that pure, purifying holy light, all Resistance seemed pale and powerless. The light, like a sharp sword, pierced through its defenses and directly struck its very core essence.
"Bang!!!"
With a muffled, seemingly soul-deep explosion, the massive fungal nucleus paused abruptly, then countless holy beams of light shot out from within! Its pulsating rhythm became completely chaotic, and finally, with a silent shriek, it exploded, turning into black ash that scattered across the sky, which was then completely purified by the holy light and vanished without a trace.
As the sclerotia were destroyed, the remaining fungal carpet withered and disappeared rapidly, as if it had lost its source. The disturbing whimpering whispers that enveloped the entire " Thirsty Forest " came to an abrupt end.
Sunlight finally pierced through the sky, which had long been shrouded in the stench of decay, and shone upon this long-suffering land. Although the plants remained withered and the earth was in ruins, the suffocating despair and greed had vanished, replaced by a fragile yet real... tranquility and rebirth.
Outside the barrier, feeling the decaying aura that had plagued the island for over a decade completely vanish, the Great Ranger was moved to tears, and Flora also wept with joy. The Straw Hat Pirates crew wore relieved smiles.
Allen stood there, feeling the faint sense of relief and gratitude emanating from the Mother Tree beneath his feet, and the life force beginning to slowly revive. He looked up into the depths of the sacred land, where the outline of the magnificent and ancient tree that supported the entire island was faintly visible amidst the gradually dissipating filth.
The crisis on Ambra Island has been resolved.