The interior of the pyramid contrasts sharply with the deathly silence outside. The walls on both sides of the passageway emit a soft, cold light, and the air circulation system is still running weakly, carrying a musty smell, but at least it is breathable. Various complex pipes and energy lines are vaguely visible within the walls, like the building's blood vessels and nerves.
Following the resilient life force and energy source, the Straw Hat Pirates descended along the spiraling passage to the deepest part of the building.
Suddenly, a vast circular hall opened up before them. The hall's dome was a simulated starry sky, with stars slowly rotating, lifelike in their detail. In the center of the hall was a huge silver sphere connected by countless light-emitting transistors. It beat slowly like a heart, radiating a stable and powerful energy—this was the energy core that Allen sensed, and the entire city, and even this ecological dome, might depend on its remaining energy for survival.
Beneath this enormous sphere, a figure sat quietly in front of a control panel.
That was... a Winged Tribe! But unlike the Winged Tribe of Kumokakure Village, his wings were much larger, and his feathers had a metallic silver-gray sheen, with faint, naturally formed runes on them. He (judging from his figure) wore simple silver clothing, his eyes were closed, his face was handsome but covered with the marks of time, and he remained motionless, like a statue.
However, Allen clearly sensed that the tenacious life force was emanating from this seemingly dormant body.
"Hey! Are you alright?" Luffy shouted.
Startled by the sound, or perhaps sensing the aura of the Star Map Tablet, the Winged Tribe's body trembled slightly. He slowly and with great difficulty opened his eyes. They were eyes like the purest sapphire, but filled with endless weariness, vicissitudes, and... a faint glimmer of disbelief upon seeing the visitor.
His lips moved, emitting a dry, hoarse sound, yet carrying an ancient rhythm, in a language cognate with the Sky Island language family, but even more ancient:
"Stars... holders of the star map... travelers from afar... you... have finally... arrived..."
Robin immediately stepped forward and attempted to communicate in the ancient language of the Sky Island that she knew. "We are travelers from the Blue Planet, guided by the star map to this place. And you are...?"
"I... am ' The Watcher ' Laisesu... the last... gravedigger of the Moon Clan..." He spoke haltingly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, lingering on Allen for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before finally landing on Luffy's Straw Hat. He seemed to remember something, but then shook his head, returning his focus to the present.
"Time... is running out... My life... is already... linked... to the ' Star Core '... maintaining... the last... light..." He pointed to the pulsating silver sphere in the center. "Waiting... for the... prophetic... variable..."
"Prophecy? Variable?" Nami caught the key words.
" The Observers..." Laisesu's voice was filled with deep-seated hatred and fear as he uttered the word, "They... destroyed our homeworld... scattered... our brethren in the Xinghai... This... was the last refuge... and soon... they... will find it..."
He struggled to operate the control panel, and the starry sky projection on the dome of the hall changed, revealing the images of the black weapons outside.
"They... the ' Observers's '... minions... the ' Purge Protocol '... the Cleaners... they... have arrived..."
"We've encountered them! Those black guys are tough to deal with!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Why? Why would they do this?" Chopper couldn't help but ask, unable to comprehend such utter destruction.
A deep sorrow filled Laisesu's eyes. "For the 'Source'... the 'possibilities'... and 'order'... which all life and civilizations in the universe... must be... Harvest... as 'nutrients'... and... 'errors'..."
" The Dark Abyss... is merely one of the countless ' Seed of Chaos ' they... sow... to weaken... civilization... so that... they can Harvest..."
Everyone was utterly shocked! The Lord of the Dark Abyss, such a terrifying being, was merely Seed casually sown by the so-called " Observers "? Just to facilitate their Harvest of civilizations?
Just what kind of being is this " Observers "?!
"What do we need to do?" Allen asked in a deep voice, sensing that this was the true meaning of their trip to the moon.
Laisesu's gaze returned to Allen, filled with hope. "You... are special... your light... can trigger... a resonance... with the Star Core..."
He then looked at Luffy: "And you... the inheritor of the Will of 'D'... the embodiment of laughter and... liberation..."
Finally, he looked at everyone. "The turning point... has arrived... the last... hope..."
With his last ounce of strength, he pressed a few sequences on the control panel. The Star Core suddenly lit up, and a condensed silver stream of light, containing immense information and energy, split into two as if it were alive!
A smaller stream was injected into the Star Map Tablet in Robin's hand, instantly making the patterns on the tablet more complex and profound, as if the final crucial part had been completed.
Another, even larger force directly enveloped Allen!
"This is... the Moon Clan's... final... gift... the primordial imprint of the ' Star Core '... and... all... data... concerning the ' Observers '... and its... ' Purge Protocol '..."
"Use it... to find... the other... Spark... scattered... in... the Xinghai... to unite... all... the... forces... of... resistance..."
"To protect... the possibility... of life..."
Laisesu's voice grew weaker and weaker, and his body began to become transparent, turning into specks of silver light that began to merge into the central Star Core. He had completed his final mission, passing on hope and responsibility.
"Wait! Is there anything else we can help you with?" Luffy asked loudly.
Laisesu took one last look at the desolate homeland he had guarded for countless years, a hint of relief and regret flickering in his sapphire-like eyes before finally vanishing completely.
May the starlight guide you...
The last Watcher returns to the Star Core.
Inside the hall, only the pulsating Star Core, Allen who had received a massive amount of information and energy, and the Star Map Tablet in his hand that seemed to have "come alive" remained.
The Straw Hat Pirates has officially taken on the heavy mission of fighting against the " Observers " and protecting the possibility of life! Their adventure is now intertwined with the fate of the entire universe!