The sunlight in the reef area returned to its proper brightness, and the sea breeze became refreshing again. The Ark Maxim floated above the purified sea, its seven-colored light membrane slowly receding, but the calming aura of order still lingered.
"Data acquisition complete!" Franky emerged from the cabin, holding a small instrument. "Environmental parameters after the pollution dissipated, residual energy fluctuations, and the regular interference traces from the purification process... all recorded! This will help optimize our Purification Field and prepare SUPER for similar situations in the future!"
Nami looked at the now clear sea and sky and breathed a sigh of relief, "This ' Reef's Devouring ' marker on the chart can be removed. However..." She pulled up the chart marked with multiple red dots, "... there are at least seven more such markers in the New World."
"Seven places..." Robin pondered, "If each place has those bewitched human followers, and they might even be operating in an organized manner..."
"That 'mother'." Zoro sheathed his sword, his eyes sharp. "Anything that can drive humans to the brink of self-sacrifice is anything but simple."
Allen stood at the bow of the ship, his Eye of the Torch Dragon still activated, scanning the sea below that was slowly recovering its vitality. After the purification was complete, he could clearly sense that the "color" of this sea was gradually returning from a sickly dark green and purplish-red to the normal blue and vitality of the sea. Although it would take time to fully recover, "order" had regained the upper hand.
What caught his attention even more was the change in the " Sparks Brand " deep within his soul. After this purification, the pulse emanating from the imprint became clearer and more stable, as if a more solid resonance channel had been established with the " Beacon " in distant Laugh Tale. He could vaguely sense that a certain "flow of knowledge" from the Beacon was slowly permeating—not specific skills or information, but a kind of "sense of direction," a deeper understanding of the nature of "contamination," and certain underlying laws that "purification" should follow.
"The feedback effect is better than expected," Allen thought to himself. "It seems that the growth of ' Sparks ' requires not only inheritance but also practice. Every successful purification is adding fuel to the ' Spark '."
" Allen!" Luffy's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Where to next? Should we go straight to the next red dot?"
Just as Allen was about to answer, his Observation Haki keenly detected an anomaly—not from the external environment, but from... the deep sea, from a rapidly approaching life force with a clear "information intent"!
"Something's coming up." Allen turned to the sea beside the ship. "Not a contaminated creature, it's... intelligent life."
Everyone immediately went on alert. Suddenly, a huge bulge appeared on the sea below, and then a creature over fifty meters long, covered in pale blue, crystalline scales, with a single horn on its head, resembling an oriental dragon, burst out of the water! It had no intention of attacking, but instead gracefully hovered in mid-air, its enormous eyes, like pure sapphires, gazing at the Ark Maxim.
" Sea Kings? No... this form..." Jinbe stared in shock at the creature before him, "This is... a ' Deep-Sea Spirit Jiaolong '! A legendary Ancient Zoan that inhabits the deepest trenches of the Calm Belt, possesses high intelligence, and almost never contacts humans!"
The Spirit Jiaolong's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Allen. A hint of human-like confirmation and respect flashed in its eyes, and then, a gentle yet ancient voice resonated directly in everyone's hearts:
[Greetings, ' Sparks Watcher '. I am Sairanos, the messenger of the ' Deep-Sea Council ' and guardian of the Spirit Jiaolong race. Thank you for purifying this place of ' Tumor of Corruption ' and saving the many twisted creatures of this sea.]
Telepathic communication! Everyone was astonished. This ability to directly communicate with consciousness was far more advanced and precise than the way the Little Mermaid Shirahoshi commanded the Sea Kings.
" The Deep-Sea Council?" Allen stepped forward, responding telepathically as well—thanks to Laugh Tale's legacy and the " Sparks Brand," he too could engage in a degree of mental dialogue. "What is that?"
[An ancient alliance of intelligent marine life.] Sairanos's voice carried a sense of history. [Composed of a few races possessing high intelligence and inherited memories, including Spirit Jiaolong, ancient Sea Kings, intelligent whales, and Deep Sea Water Spirit. For generations, we have guarded the balance of the ocean and monitored the secrets of the deep sea. However, since the ' Starry Sky Calamity ' (referring to the invasion of otherworldly creatures), some ancient 'filth' that was sealed in the deep sea abyss has begun to loosen and leak out. What you just purified was only a tiny 'leak'.]
"As expected, this is organized, and at a higher level!" Allen's spirits lifted. "Do you know specific information about the source of the pollution? What is that being whom the believers call 'Mother'?"
A hint of solemnity and... heartache flashed in Sairanos's eyes.
[We do possess some intelligence, but things are more complex than you imagine. That so-called 'Mother'... its roots are indeed connected to an ancient ' Source of Corruption ' somewhere in the deep sea. But its spread so rapidly and its impact so widespread... there's a 'traitor' behind it all.]
"A traitor?" Jinbe couldn't help but exclaim, "Among the intelligent marine races, there's a traitor who assisted in the spread of pollution?"
[Yes.] Sairanos's voice was heavy. [About three years ago, Callistos, the elder of the Shadow Shell Tribe responsible for monitoring an ancient seal within the Deep-Sea Council, and some of his tribesmen, suddenly disappeared. Also missing were some of the Council's research records regarding the seal's weak points. Shortly afterward, the first ' Tumor of Corruption ' appeared near the area corresponding to its seal. We strongly suspect that Callistos betrayed the Council, sided with the ' Source of Corruption,' and may even have actively helped it spread its ' Seed ' in exchange for some kind of... power or promise.]
" The Shadow Shell Tribe?" Robin pondered. "I remember reading in ancient texts that they are an ancient, intelligent race of shellfish that can secrete special substances, record and analyze energy seals, and have an innate affinity for sealing techniques."
[That's right.] Sairanos nodded (his massive head made a nodding motion). [ Callistos is one of the most skilled seal masters in the Council. His betrayal has caused us to lose precise control over the seal on the ' Source of Corruption,' and has also given him the ability to find and exploit weaknesses in the seal to assist in the infiltration of corruption. We have been tracking him, but he is extremely cunning, elusive, and seems to be protected by the corrupting forces, able to shield himself from most of our tracking methods.]
Allen frowned. "So, merely purifying these 'leaks' isn't enough. We must find this traitorous elder, stop him from further breaking the seal, and perhaps... reinforce or completely eliminate the ' Source of Corruption '?"
[This is the fundamental solution.] Sairanos affirmed. [However, Callistos is elusive, possesses considerable strength, and is further enhanced by the power of corruption. The Deep-Sea Council's repeated pursuits have all been unsuccessful. Furthermore, the ' Abyss Corridor,' where the ' Source of Corruption ' resides, is an absolute forbidden zone that even we dare not easily venture into. The environment is extremely harsh, filled with distorted rules and spatial traps; forcibly entering it would be extremely dangerous.]
Its enormous eyes focused on Allen again: [Until we sensed your presence, ' Sparks Watcher '. The fluctuations of 'order' and 'purification' rules that you emitted when you purified this ' Tumor of Corruption ' crossed the deep sea and were sensed by the Council. We believe that the ' Sparks ' power you possess is key to combating corruption, tracking traitors, and even exploring the ' Abyss Corridor.' The Council sent me here to establish contact with you, exchange intelligence, and... where possible, seek cooperation.]
Cooperation! This is exactly what Allen needs—intelligence support from the local intelligent race! Their understanding of the deep sea and their knowledge of the history of pollution sources are things the Straw Hat Pirates cannot acquire on their own in a short time.
"We are willing to cooperate." Allen said without hesitation. "Purifying the pollution and maintaining order and balance in this sea is also our goal. We need all the information about the locations of all known ' Tumor of Corruption,' the possible activity patterns of the traitor Callistos, and the ' Abyss Corridor.'"
Sairanos's eyes showed relief: [A wise choice. As a gesture of goodwill, I will share some of the intelligence currently held by the Council with you through a telepathic transmission. Please relax and receive the information.]
A gentle yet vast stream of information shot from the Spirit Jiaolong's eyes and flooded into Allen's consciousness. Instantly, a flood of information about the markings of anomalous seas in various parts of the New World, the analysis of the patterns of corruption spread, the characteristics and abilities of the Shadow Shell Tribe, the portrait of Callistos and his known few sightings, as well as the legends and warnings about the " Abyss Corridor "... rushed into Allen's mind like a tidal wave.
The amount of information was enormous; even with Allen's mental strength, it took him several minutes to begin to sort it out.
"Hoo..." Allen opened his eyes, a hint of understanding and seriousness flashing in them. "So that's how it is... The next area that might be heavily eroded is near the ' Ocean Current Graveyard '? That's a chaotic area where multiple ocean currents converge, with an unstable spatial structure, indeed a natural weak point of the seal..."
"Indeed," said Sairanos. "According to our monitoring, the corruption activity there is rising sharply, and it is very likely that a new, larger ' Tumor of Corruption ' will form soon. Callistos is likely active there. The Council has sent a small team to monitor it, but lacks effective means to directly purify or combat the corrupted manifestations."
"Then let's go to ' Ocean Current Graveyard '!" Luffy clenched his fist, eager to try. "Let's find that traitor and burn all that filth!"
"Wait, Luffy." Nami grabbed him and looked at Allen, "That ' Abyss Corridor '... it sounds even more dangerous Laugh Tale. Should we consider going there now?"
Allen pondered for a moment, "No, now is not the time. Intelligence indicates that the environment of the ' Abyss Corridor ' is extremely harsh, even the powerful members of the Deep-Sea Council are wary of it. We need to accumulate more purification experience first, improve our understanding of the rules of corruption, and at the same time weaken the external forces of the Source of Corruption as much as possible, clipping its wings—for example, capturing or eliminating Callistos. The ' Ocean Current Graveyard ' will be our first joint operation with the Deep-Sea Council, and also a good opportunity to test our cooperation model."
He looked at Sairanos: "Please inform the council's squad that we will head to ' Ocean Current Graveyard ' as soon as possible. How do we contact them upon arrival?"
Sairanos spat out a shimmering, pearl-like crystal that floated toward Allen: [This is the ' Deep Blue Beacon.' Infuse it with your ' Sparks ' power or Observation Haki, and you can establish a mental link with nearby members wearing Council tokens, and it can also guide you to the ' Ocean Current Graveyard.' May the spirit of the deep sea bless this collaboration.]
The enormous body of the Spirit Jiaolong slowly sank into the sea, its voice fading into the distance: [I will return to the council to report. I look forward to your performance at the ' Ocean Current Graveyard,' Watcher. Please be careful; Callistos is not only cunning, but the corrupting power he wields has begun to distort his very existence... He is no longer a pure Shadow Shell Tribe.]
The Spirit Jiaolong disappeared, and the sea returned to calm.
Allen gripped the " Deep Blue Beacon " tightly, feeling the ancient ocean atmosphere and spatial coordinate information contained within it.
"Traitorous elders... the Source of Corruption..." he muttered to himself, "It seems that the 'freedom' of the new era must not only confront ambitious figures at sea, but also contend with these ancient threats from the deep."
" The Deep-Sea Council... sounds reliable!" Usopp breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Having a local guide is better than wandering around blindly."
"But the enemy is even more troublesome now." Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilt. "A guy who could betray the entire Alliance of Intelligent Races and was empowered by the source of corruption... his strength is probably not weak."
"Furthermore, he's familiar with the deep-sea environment, skilled in sealing techniques, and can utilize the power of corruption," Robin analyzed. "The ' Ocean Current Graveyard,' a place with chaotic ocean currents and unstable space, is his home turf."
"SUPER~ Extremely challenging!" Franky excitedly began inspecting the ship's condition. " The Ark Maxim's amphibious capability is coming in handy! In those chaotic waters, ordinary ships would be suicide!"
"Ingredients... Could the special ingredients from the deep sea also be contaminated?" Sanji lit a cigarette, somewhat worried.
"Forget about food for now, cook!" Nami spread out the sea chart, comparing it with the coordinates transmitted by the " Deep Blue Beacon." "' Ocean Current Graveyard ' is about a three-day voyage from here, but we'll have to pass through a region of perennial thunderstorms and several dangerous whirlpools along the way... Allen, is our ship okay?"
"No problem. The ' Order Barrier ' from the Ark Maxim can withstand extreme weather and spatial turbulence," Allen affirmed. "However, we can't be idle for these three days. I need to process and digest the intelligence provided by the Deep-Sea Council, especially regarding the manifestations of the corrupting power, the characteristics of Callistos ' abilities, and... try to integrate the ' Light of Purification ' more deeply with our fighting style."
He looked at his companions. " Zoro, your slashes can sever energy connections. You could try incorporating a trace of the 'purification' principle into your sword energy; it might be effective against corrupted creations. Sanji, your flames themselves have purification properties; you could further develop them. Jinbe, Fish-Man Karate manipulates water currents; perhaps we could combine it with 'purifying dust' for a wide-range spread... We need targeted tactics."
"Clear!"
Leave it to me!
"Interesting idea!"
A fighting spirit ignited in everyone's eyes. New challenges, new collaborators, new enemies... Adventure is always full of unknowns.
Allen gazed at the distant horizon, in the direction of the " Ocean Current Graveyard ".
"Traitor... Let me see just how far corrupted and seduced 'wisdom' can fall."
"And the ' Sparks '... will illuminate the darkness of the deep sea and purify all filth."
The Ark Maxim adjusted its course, the seven-colored light membrane glowed slightly, and it transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards its new destination.
The undercurrents beneath the deep sea are stirring.
On the sea, the ark bearing the name "Guardian" has sailed towards the confluence of storms and chaos.