The Straw Hat Pirates gathered around the suspended Anchor of Time, feeling its calming power that soothed all restlessness. In this absolutely peaceful space, even Luffy was unusually quiet, curiously examining this ancient creation.
Allen's perception was like the finest probe, penetrating deep into the internal structure of the Anchor of Time. Countless runes, energy circuits, and a core driving principle that Transcendence current technological understanding were presented before his "eyes." He saw how this device, using itself as a base, forcibly regulated and constrained the surrounding turbulent spacetime currents, limiting them to a certain range and preventing them from spreading out and endangering the normal sea areas outside.
But at the same time, he also saw something deeper.
"It... is burning itself." Allen spoke slowly, his tone tinged with complexity.
"Burning?" Nami, puzzled.
"Maintaining such a large-scale spacetime stability requires unimaginable energy," Allen explained. "The core of this Anchor of Time is slowly decaying in an irreversible way, releasing energy to maintain this 'balance field.' At this rate, it can only last for... a few decades at most."
Decades may seem long to an individual, but for such a magnificent ancient artifact, for a balance that may have been maintained for thousands of years, it is but a fleeting moment.
"And... what about decades from now?" Usopp asked in a low voice.
"With the force field collapsing, the spacetime turbulence that has accumulated over countless years will be completely unleashed, sweeping out like a flood bursting its banks," Allen's voice was heavy. "At that time, not only this sea area, but also the vast surrounding normal shipping routes, and even the neighboring islands, may be swept into the spacetime turbulence, with unimaginable consequences."
Everyone gasped. They had found the source, only to discover that the source itself was a bomb about to explode!
"Can't it be fixed?" Chopper asked anxiously, his healer's instincts prompting him to want to "treat" this dying creation.
Franky stepped forward for a closer look, then shook his head. "Super... a complex structure! The core decay is fundamental, like life coming to an end; current technology... cannot reverse it."
"What can we do? Are we just going to watch it happen...?" Nami couldn't bear to imagine the catastrophic consequences.
Robin pondered, "The civilization that placed the Anchor of Time must have foreseen this day. Perhaps leaving it behind was itself a... delaying tactic?"
Just then, the Anchor of Time seemed to sense the exchange among the group. Its white light rippled slightly, and a long-forgotten stream of information, like a final message, was proactively transmitted, reflecting in everyone's mind:
In the vision, a glorious civilization was at its zenith, but they accidentally opened a rift to a chaotic dimension of spacetime, and terrifying turbulence began to devour everything. To stop the catastrophe, they poured all their resources into creating this " Anchor of Time," placing it at the entrance of the rift. Using the last rays of their civilization as fuel, they forcibly stabilized the collapsing space, buying a chance for future generations to breathe. They knew this was only temporary, but they believed that one day in the future, successors would possess enough power and wisdom to... completely resolve this problem.
As the information flow ended, the light of the Anchor of Time seemed to dim slightly, as if it had completed its final mission.
Silence enveloped everyone.
The civilization that placed the Anchor of Time sacrificed itself to ensure thousands of years of peace for future generations. Now, the moment of choice rests in the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates.
"To completely resolve..." Zoro, holding his sword, "Does that mean we need to go into that rift and deal with it at its root?"
"That sounds incredibly dangerous!" Franky was excited, but he also knew the gravity of the situation.
Brook felt a chill run down his spine. "Yo ho ho ho~ The source of chaotic spacetime?"
Jinbe said in a deep voice, "This is a momentous responsibility concerning countless lives."
Ace looked at Luffy and Allen, waiting for their decision.
Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat, his face more serious than ever before. "I don't quite understand, but it seems like a lot of people will suffer if this isn't resolved, right? Let's go take care of it!"
All eyes finally turned to Allen. He was the only one who could possibly understand and handle that level of crisis.
Allen looked at the Anchor of Time, which was still silently burning itself to maintain the fragile balance, and then looked at his companions who trusted him.
"We truly have no other choice." Allen's voice was calm yet firm. "The rift in spacetime must be mended. Not only for the present, but also for those who sacrificed themselves, and... all the future that might be affected."
He stretched out his hand, and the power of spacetime began to gather in his palm, aiming directly at the seemingly calm but actually chaotic spatial barrier behind the Anchor of Anchor of Time.
"Get ready," Allen said to his companions. "The place we're going to might be beyond the reach of common sense... the other side of time and space."