The crimson " Eye of the Expo " hung high above the arena, its destructive energy fluctuations freezing the air itself. The spectators in the stands were already gripped by extreme panic, screaming and scattering in all directions, but the exits were blocked by energy barriers, making the entire arena resemble a giant cage.
" Luffy, Zoro, protect the civilians!" Allen's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable resolve. He looked up at the " Eye of the Expo," which radiated terrifying energy, a golden glint flashing in his eyes.
"Understood!" Luffy instantly entered Gear Fourth: Snakeman form, his rubber body weaving through the stands like a phantom, gathering the panicked crowd into a relatively safe corner, and forming a barrier with his massive body and Haki.
Zoro drew his sword three times, his fierce slashes like a storm, instantly tearing apart several Demon Puppets that tried to rush onto the stands to attack the audience, clearing a safe area.
Allen, on the other hand, faced the impending beam of destruction alone. He did not choose to withstand it head-on, but instead raised his right hand and grasped it in mid-air towards the core of the " Eye of the Expo ".
The Power of Zhulong —controlling time and space!
An invisible and immense force of spacetime instantly enveloped the " Eye of the Expo "! The dark red beam of destruction that was about to burst forth had its internal time flow forcibly distorted and slowed down, as if it were trapped in viscous amber. The condensation process became extremely slow, and even showed signs of stopping!
At the same time, Allen lightly slashed his left hand across the energy barrier at the top of the arena. Space was torn open like a piece of cloth, creating a huge, stable rift!
"Get out of here!" Allen's voice clearly reached the ears of every panicked audience member.
Driven by the instinct for survival, the survivors frantically rushed towards the spatial rift.
Inside the private box, Festa and Dr. Indigo stared in disbelief at the surveillance footage.
"How is this possible?! He... he halted the energy condensation of the Eye of the Expo?! And he tore open space?!" Festa's voice was distorted with fear.
"The target's ability to manipulate spacetime... far exceeds our expectations! We are not facing humans, but... the rules themselves!" Dr. Indigo slumped into his chair, his face deathly pale.
Meanwhile, in other areas of the island:
• Technology Exhibition Area: General Franky, in full power, unleashes his laser cannon and Vibration Pulse Fist, destroying swarms of Demon Puppets while simultaneously covering the retreat of panicked exhibitors and visitors. "You bastard! How dare you ruin a man's romance!"
• Crystal Phantom Dance Theater: Sanji's Diable Jambe, like a blue whirlwind, precisely shattered every puppet that intruded into the theater, protecting the frightened dancers and audience. "Using force in front of a lady is unforgivable!" Brook's Soul Howl directly affected the puppets' energy cores, causing them to stiffen and shatter in droves. "Yohohoho~ Even the skeletons can't stand it anymore!"
Near the Information Center: Nami's Clima-Tact creates massive thunderstorms and fog, interfering with the puppets' movements and senses. Robin uses her flower-shaped arm imbued with Vibration Pulse Technique to precisely break the puppets' joints. Usopp's long-range sniping picks off distant nodes controlling the puppets or elite individuals attempting to ambush them. Chopper transforms into his Monster Point, tearing apart approaching enemies with ferocious power while simultaneously using his medical skills to heal wounded civilians.
• Port Area: Jinbe's Fish-Man Karate unleashed a massive wave, sweeping away numerous puppets attempting to board the ship and sinking them to the bottom of the sea, firmly protecting the Thousand Sunny and the escape route. "Don't even think about getting past me!"
On the street: Ace transformed into a storm of platinum flames, turning all the puppets to ashes in his wake. "Using such filthy things to cause destruction is infuriating!"
In the face of this sudden disaster, the entire Straw Hat Pirates displayed astonishing strength and teamwork. Each fought independently yet supported each other, managing to create safe zones amidst the horde of puppets and protecting innocent civilians as much as possible.
However, the number of puppets was simply too great, and they seemed to be endless. To make matters worse, the ground on the island began to shake, and more hidden turrets and defensive structures rose up, indiscriminately attacking all moving targets!
Festa had gone completely mad, his voice screaming through the island's broadcasts, "It's no use! Struggle! Fear! Your despair and your lives will become sacrifices to awaken the ' God of Carnival '! The ritual has begun, and no one can stop it!"
The entire Delta Island has been transformed into a gigantic, operating altar of evil!
After dealing with the crisis in the arena, Allen's senses were fully activated. He clearly "saw" that deep beneath the island, a massive energy core was operating wildly, drawing upon the life essence, fighting spirit, and the fear and despair energy gathered from across the island! This energy was being channeled into an even more ancient and malevolent seal.
"We can't delay any longer." Allen's eyes sharpened as he spoke into the communicator (used for the Straw Hat Pirates's internal communication), "Everyone, hold on. I'm going to deal with the source."
His figure vanished from the arena, and the next moment, he appeared directly below the island, outside the core control room, which was filled with violent energy and evil will!