The tentacles, composed of " Void " and "negation," seemed to be erasing from the conceptual level. They were not fast, but they carried an inescapable sense of destiny. Allen felt that the surrounding space, light, sound, and even his own existence were being devoured and negated by those tentacles.
There's no way to avoid it! There's no way to stop it!
At the critical moment, the " Star Core Mark " within Allen's body erupted with an unprecedentedly scorching light! It wasn't Light of Purification he actively activated, but rather the mark itself, as if stimulated by the tentacles of this ultimate "shadow," triggering an instinctive reaction on its own!
The mark's light was no longer merely white; it transformed into a dazzling silver radiance, seemingly containing the birth and annihilation of countless stars! This radiance instantly enveloped Allen, forming a silver shield with flowing starlight patterns.
The tentacles "grabbed" onto the Star Shield.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a chilling, eerie sound, as if the rules of two worlds were rubbing against each other and annihilating each other. The silver shield fluctuated violently, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on its surface. Allen felt an indescribable sense of " Void " surging from the depths of his soul, as if he would disappear completely in the next second.
But the shield ultimately withstood that fatal blow!
" Allen!" Luffy's eyes widened in horror, and his rubber arm instantly extended hundreds of meters, wrapping around Allen's waist, trying to pull him back.
"Don't come any closer!" Allen roared, "This thing's power will corrupt you!"
He sensed that while the Star Shield had blocked direct annihilation on a physical (or rather, conceptual) level, the " Shadow of the End " aura attached to its tentacles, like the most stubborn poison, was attempting to erode his soul and the Star Core Mark itself along the cracks in the shield. Visions began to appear in his consciousness: endless gray fog, vanished civilizations, the deathly silence of all things returning to oneness...
"Use that!" Robin's voice suddenly came through the communicator, tinged with urgency and realization. " Allen! Use the method we used last in the Sea of Origins! Guide the will of all of us! The Star Core Mark is not just Key; it is also the core from which the ' Sparks ' converges!"
In the Sea of Origins... when faced with the "shackles" of the corrupted cosmic Baseline Consciousness... they guided the beliefs and will of all their crew members, with Luffy striking the " Drums of Liberation " that carried everything, ultimately shattering the connection point of the shackles!
"But... this isn't the Sea of Origins, there's no resonant environment here..." Allen gritted his teeth, Resistance the erosion.
"This is the 'Node'!" Robin said quickly. "The Deep Sea Ruins are 'Balance Nodes'! They can amplify and transmit specific energies and wills! Use your Star Core Mark as the ' Spark,' and our will as the 'Fuel'! Ignite it!"
Just then, Angel Yan's decisive voice rang out. " Angel Legion, activate the ' Holy Keisha's Knowledge Treasury ' auxiliary calculations! Definition the battlefield space, stabilize the rules of reality to the maximum extent, and suppress the ' Void ' erosion! Buy time and space for the otherworldly beings!"
The golden, sacred energy field unfolded once more, this time even larger, attempting to forcibly "correct" the distorted rules surrounding the dark gray mist aggregate back to normal. Although it couldn't completely suppress it, it did slow down the pressure and rate of erosion felt by Allen.
" Super Soldier Company! Attack the Triangle Bodies Array with full force! Disrupt their energy support for that monster!" Du Kao's command came through.
Ge Xiaolun, Rena, Liu Chuang, and the others immediately turned their firepower around and launched a frenzied attack on the Triangle Bodies "elder" units that were still maintaining their mental arrays and seemed to be exchanging some kind of energy with the dark gray mist aggregate.
The battlefield was briefly locked in a stalemate. The angels and the Super Soldier Company held back the Triangle Bodies and the rules of the environment. Luffy and the others were extremely anxious but unable to get close to the core. Meanwhile, Allen was struggling to hold on inside the Star Shield, engaging in the most dangerous soul tug-of-war with the erosion of the Shadow of the End fragments.
" Allen! Trust us!" Nami shouted into the communicator, "Just like on Enies Lobby, at Paramount War, in every desperate situation!"
"You're our partner! We've got your back!" Usopp trembled with fear, but still raised his slingshot.
"SUPER~ Don't give up, Allen!" General Franky roared through the loudspeaker.
Chopper transforms into his giant form and roars. Brook plays a stirring battle melody. Jinbe adopts the starting stance of Fish-Man Karate. Sanji ignites his most intense flames. Zoro's three swords hum with a desire to cut through everything.
Luffy stood at the bow of the assault boat, his Straw Hat fluttering in the wind, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness and determination. He placed his right hand on his chest, where the symbol of the Straw Hat Pirates, which embodied all his beliefs and dreams, lay.
" Allen! Can you hear me?" Luffy's voice, transmitted through the unique frequency of Conqueror's Haki, reached the depths of Allen's consciousness, drowning out the whispers of the gray mist. "Take everyone's power...!"
"Let our will... our dreams... our bonds be forged!"
"Take them all! Use them!!!"
In that instant, Allen seemed to "see" it.
He saw Luffy's burning will, like the sun, to pursue absolute freedom and adventure.
I witnessed Zoro's unwavering determination to cut through everything and pave his way to becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.
We witnessed Nami's gentleness and strength in drawing world charts and protecting her friends and hometown.
We witnessed Usopp's growth as he overcame his fear and became a truly brave warrior of the sea.
I witnessed Sanji's chivalrous spirit in pursuing All Blue and protecting the lady.
I saw Chopper's dream of a panacea that could cure all diseases.
I witnessed Robin's will to explore the true history and live on with her companions.
We witnessed Franky's craftsmanship in building his dream ship and carrying his companions to their destination.
I witnessed Brook's Song of the Soul, fulfilling his promise to Laboon across decades.
I saw Jinbe's chivalrous heart in pursuing peaceful coexistence between Fish-Man Race and humans.
And... the unwavering responsibility of the Super Soldier Company Corps to protect the Earth and fight against invasion.
Rena carries the Lieyang on her back, embodying a sense of responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the nation.
The angels' unwavering will to uphold justice and maintain order...
Countless rays of light and countless beliefs, like gentle streams, transcended the barriers of space and ignored the differences in energy systems. Under the resonance of the most basic and common emotions of "partners," "protection," and "fighting against injustice and darkness," they converged on Allen!
These lights were not physical energy, but rather a manifestation of pure "will" and "belief"! They touched Allen's nearly shattered star shield, but without causing any impact, they naturally merged into it as if they had found their home!
No, it didn't merge into the shield, but rather into the core of the shield, into the " Star Core Mark " that is currently fighting against the fragments of the Shadow of the End!
The Star Core Mark is like parched land receiving sweet rain, like a tiny Spark being fueled by endless kindling!
Buzz--!!!
An unprecedentedly brilliant silver light erupted from Allen's body! The light was so dazzling, so warm, so full of life and hope that it instantly dispelled the surrounding gray mist and darkness. Even the tentacles extended from the fragment of the " Shadow of the End " were scorched by the silver light and sizzled, causing them to retract!
Allen felt that the " Key " in his hand had finally been inserted into the correct "lock".
He was no longer alone in confronting this ancient shadow.
Behind him stood his companions, the guardians of this world, and the will to live that refused to be swallowed up by " Void " and "denial"!
"I... understand," Allen whispered, his voice carrying clearly across the battlefield.
He no longer Resistance the erosion, but instead opened himself up completely, actively guiding the beliefs of his gathered companions, as vast as a sea of Xinghai, to infuse them with the Star Core Mark, and then... through the Star Core Mark, he resonated with the deepest level of the deep-sea relic device beneath his feet that was being purified!
The relic device seemed to come alive; it was no longer just a cold creation, but transformed into a bridge and an amplifier!
Centered on Allen and based on the deep-sea ruins, an indescribable, powerful will, which integrates many concepts such as "stars," "purification," "bonds," "protection," "freedom," and "justice," ignited like a newborn star in this sea shrouded in darkness and gray fog!
" Sparks... ignites darkness!"
Allen raised his hands high, and the Star Core Mark that had absorbed endless faith detached from his body, hovering above his head, transforming into a real, miniature silver star!
The stars showered down endless radiance, a radiance that was no longer merely purification, but carried the supreme power of "reconstruction," " Definition," and "existence," shining upon the dark gray mist aggregate—the fragments of " Shadow of the End."
"Ughh...
The fragment emitted an unprecedented shriek, a mixture of pain, rage, and a hint of... fear! Its body twisted and boiled violently under the silver starlight, its surface "eyes" and "cracks" bursting open one by one, evaporating the gray mist and dispelling the darkness! It tried to retreat into the deep-sea vortex, attempting to release more gray mist to Resistance, but before the " Sparks " will that represented the meaning of countless lives, its "denial" and " Void " seemed so pale and powerless!
This is not a crushing defeat on an energy level; it is a duel on the level of the meaning of existence!
At the core of the Shadow of the End is an absolute silence that constantly tries to "unite" everything. And what shines upon it now is the brilliant light of countless lives blooming, never giving up, and pursuing freedom and the future!
The difference in quality is immediately apparent!
Under the continuous illumination of the silver starlight, the fragments of the Shadow of the End shrank and dissipated at a visible speed. Finally, with a sigh of resentment, as if from the end of ancient time, it completely turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished without a trace.
As it disappeared, the deep-sea whirlpool quickly subsided, and the color of the seawater returned to normal. The suspended Triangle Bodies arrays, as if they had lost their core command and spiritual support, instantly fell into chaos. The eerie purple light dimmed, and many Triangle Bodies units even lost power and fell into the sea.
"Now! Clear all Triangle Bodies units! Shut down the relic device!" Angel Yan decisively ordered.
The Super Soldier Company and the remaining forces of the Straw Hat Pirates immediately launched a general offensive to clear out the chaotic Triangle Bodies. Allen slowly landed back beside the relic device, which had regained its azure blue color, and reached out to gently press his hand on the core.
This time, purification was no longer needed. The Star Core Mark returned to its body, emitting gentle fluctuations and peacefully communicating with the relic device. The blue light at the core of the device stabilized, no longer showing any signs of gray mist erosion, but instead flowing with a sense of peace and gratitude.
Guided by Allen, the device slowly sank and disappeared back into the deep sea. The energy patterns on its surface gradually dimmed, returning to a "dormant" state. However, it seemed to have established a faint but permanent spiritual link with Allen and the Star Core Mark.
The crisis seems to have passed.
On the sea, only the devastation of the great battle and... the silence of survival remained.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but their faces still betrayed their exhaustion and shock. The battle they had just fought, especially the final resonance and confrontation at the level of will, had consumed far more mental energy than physical strength alone.
Angel Yan slowly descended in front of Allen, her gaze sweeping over the black-haired youth with a complex expression. The scene that had just witnessed, where countless beliefs converged and " Sparks " were ignited, had deeply moved even her.
"You did it." Angel Yan's voice was less cold and more appreciative. "Not only did you repel the fragments of 'Shadow,' you also proved that your 'existence' itself is the most powerful weapon against Void."
She looked up at the sky, as if piercing through the clouds and gazing into the depths of the universe. "' The Sparks reunite, the journey home is also a journey of discovery'... The prophecy is coming true. Your path may truly connect the past and the future, connect salvation and hope."
She looked at Allen: "The angels will continue to observe. But at least for now, you have earned the angels' respect, and... limited trust."
After speaking, she gestured to Zhui and Leng, and the three high-ranking angels transformed into streaks of light and flew towards the Heavenly Blade warship in outer space.
The soldiers of the Super Soldier Company began cleaning up the battlefield and treating the wounded. The Straw Hat Pirates gathered around Allen.
" Allen, are you alright?" Luffy was the first to rush over, looking him up and down.
"It's alright," Allen said with a tired but sincere smile. "Thanks to everyone. Without your will, I couldn't have ignited the ' Sparks '."
"Hehe! Of course! We're partners!" Luffy grinned.
"However, that feeling just now..." Robin said thoughtfully, "The resonance between the Star Core Mark and the Ruins, and that final guiding force... I think I've gleaned some new information."
"What information?" Nami asked curiously.
Robin looked at Allen: "The moment the ' Sparks ' ignited and dispelled the fragments of the 'Shadow,' through the connection of the relic device, I sensed a set of very distant, yet exceptionally clear 'coordinate Echo.' It wasn't spatial coordinates, but more like... the direction of some kind of 'bloodline resonance' or 'civilization imprint.'"
She said, word by word, "The source that it points to... is very likely the final destination of the 'main Spark ' that the Kunlun Civilization sent to our world in the ' Diversion Plan,' or rather... the 'origin' of all the special beings in our world, such as the ' Will of D.,' ' Ancient Weapon,' ' Devil Fruit,' and so on."
Allen's heart skipped a beat. "Can you find the exact location?"
"The last thing the relic device transmitted was a very simplified 'star map' and... a place name." Robin closed his eyes, recalling the vague information, "In our world... that place is called—"
" Laugh Tale."
The pupils of Straw Hat Pirates crew suddenly contracted!
The Laugh Tale! The place where Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, left behind the One Piece "ONE PIECE"! It is also the place that records all the truths of this world!
Could it be that Laugh Tale is the place where the " Spark " of Kunlun Civilization, which "diverted" into the pirate world, finally took root, sprouted, and evolved into all the legends? What lies buried there is not just eight hundred years of Void Century, but also the starting point where the destinies of two worlds intertwine, and... perhaps the ultimate answer that guides them to truly "return home" and complete their mission?
" Laugh Tale..." Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat, his eyes burning with an unprecedented fervor. "It seems that our way home and our path to becoming the Pirate King... really are the same path!"
Allen clenched his fist. Hope had never been so clear.
Although the road ahead is still long, and the threat of the "Shadow" has not been completely eliminated ( Death God Karl, the Triangle Bodies Mother Civilization, and even the possible existence of the " Observers "), at least they have found a clear direction.
Go home, uncover all the secrets, and complete the longing that transcends time and space.
And all of this seems to point to that legendary Laugh Tale.
"Let's go back," Allen said to his companions. "We need time to process this information, repair the Ark Maxim, and formulate our next plan. And..."
He looked at the Super Soldier Company soldiers who were clearing the battlefield, and at the faint outline of the Heavenly Blade warship visible on the distant horizon.
"We also need to say a proper goodbye to our friends in this world, and... make promises for the future."