The Power of the Stars was running steadily within the reactor of the Ark Maxim, emitting a calm and powerful hum like a heartbeat. The massive hull was no longer silent; it was now flowing with a soft silver light, like a colossal cosmic beast awakening.
"Everyone! The Ark Maxim is almost complete! Now, let's have a SUPER-- test voyage!" Franky stood at the bow, excitedly waving his strong arms. He had modernized the rudder and control system to better suit the Straw Hat Pirates's operating habits.
The Straw Hat Pirates, along with Gan Fall and Pierre who acted as guides, boarded the ancient spaceship one after another. The Thousand Sunny was temporarily and safely moored in a bay in Upper Yard, under the joint care of the Shandia and Skypieans.
"Let's go! Destination: Eye of the Storm!" Luffy the lead, excitedly running to the bow of the ship, his rubber arms gripping the golden mast as he gazed into the distance.
Guided by Gan Fall, the Ark Maxim slowly ascended, its stability far surpassing that of the Thousand Sunny, which relied on wind for propulsion. It smoothly traversed the White Sea, heading towards the higher reaches, towards the cloud realm that even the inhabitants of the Sky Island considered a forbidden zone.
As the altitude increased, the surrounding scenery began to change. The once pristine white clouds gradually thickened and darkened, and the air began to fill with humid vapor and restless electrical charges. In the distance, the pitch-black thundercloud, swirling like a giant vortex, could be seen— the Eye of the Storm!
Even from a great distance, one could feel the devastating power of nature. Thick Inazuma, like silver snakes, darted wildly through the clouds, deafening thunder roared incessantly, and violent hurricanes tore at everything around them, forming massive vortexes of air.
"That's... the Eye of the Storm..." Usopp and Chopper huddled together, their teeth chattering. "Are we really going in?!"
"Of course!" Luffy's eyes gleamed with a challenge. "How can we get to the moon if we don't go!"
Nami stared intently at the weather data ahead, her expression grave. "The wind speed and thunderstorm intensity far exceed records! This isn't just an ordinary weather phenomenon; it's practically... a barrier formed by some kind of force!"
"A barrier?" Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword. "Whatever it is, I'll cut it down."
Standing Luffy Allen, Allen's senses extended like tentacles towards the storm. He clearly felt that deep within the raging natural energy, there was a will that shared the same origin as the seal on the Sky Archipelago, but was even more ancient and obscure. This storm was not entirely formed naturally; it seemed to be artificially maintained and strengthened by some mechanism, or rather, by the defense system of the place where the " Endless Vearth Blueprints " was located.
"This storm is indeed extraordinary; it contains ancient energy," Allen said in a deep voice. " Ark Maxim, are you ready?"
"No problem!" Franky roared from the control room, "Star Power output stable! Shield at maximum power! Guys, buckle up!"
As Franky manipulated the system, a semi-transparent energy shield, flowing with starlight, unfolded around the Ark Maxim, enveloping the entire ship.
"Charge!" Luffy shouted the order.
The Ark Maxim's tail thrusters erupted with a dazzling stream of silver-blue light, and the ship shot into the destructive storm domain like an arrow released from a bow!
"BOOM--!!!"
Almost the instant they entered, a massive lightning bolt, over ten meters in diameter, slammed down and struck the Star Shield, sending ripples flying everywhere! The ship trembled violently, but the shield withstood the blow steadily.
Next came a hurricane powerful enough to tear steel apart! Countless tornadoes coiled around the spaceship like giant pythons, attempting to rip it apart and toss it away. The Ark Maxim swayed violently in the wind, and Franky, with all his might, used the spaceship's superior performance and powerful propulsion to weave through the gaps in the wind like a fish.
"Hard to port! Avoid the eye of the storm!"
"Beware of the thunderstorm clouds above!"
"Giant hailstorm! Concentrate shield energy in front!"
Nami's navigation and Franky's control worked perfectly together, while Sanji, Zoro, and the others stood ready, prepared to deal with any attacks that might break through the shield.
Allen didn't make a move. He trusted his companions' abilities and the power of the ancient spaceship. His main focus was on sensing the ancient will at the core of the storm, trying to find its patterns or weaknesses.
Like a lone boat, the Ark Maxim struggles forward in a sea of thunder and storms, steadfastly heading towards the very center of the Eye of the Storm. The deeper it goes, the harsher the environment becomes, with thunderstorms Gentle Breeze reaching near their limits.
"The shield energy is steadily decreasing! At this rate, it might not last until the center!" Franky reported a worrying message.
Just as everyone's hearts tightened, Allen finally moved.
He walked to the bow of the ship and stood shoulder to shoulder with Luffy. Facing the raging energy that seemed like a wall between heaven and earth, he slowly raised his right hand.
"The essence of a storm is the chaotic flow of energy." Allen's voice was calm, yet carried an air of absolute authority. "Then let it... return to order."
"Spatial Law - Flow Interruption!"
He spread his five fingers and made a Void motion in the air towards the densest area of thunderstorms ahead!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, but a bizarre scene unfolded—the rolling thunderclouds, surging Inazuma, and howling hurricane ahead seemed to have been forcibly sliced open by an invisible giant hand! A brief, relatively calm passage appeared out of nowhere amidst the destructive storm, leading straight into the depths!
"Now! Full speed ahead!" Allen shouted.
Without hesitation, Franky pushed the power to its limit! The Ark Maxim transformed into a silver streak, instantly breaking through the most violent area of the storm along the forcibly opened passage, and rushing into the strange and tranquil center of the Eye of the Storm.
Behind them, the severed storm paused briefly, then closed in even more frantically, but it could no longer stop them.
Suddenly, the view opened up before them. Inside the eye of the storm was an unusually calm sky, devoid of wind and thunder, save for a wisp of mist. And in the center of this sky, suspended in the air, was an ancient altar, entirely constructed of some kind of white jade and bearing the marks of time.
At the top of the altar, a stone slab emitting a soft white light quietly awaited their arrival.