After obtaining the Heartwhisper Flower Seeds, the Combined Fleet's mental connection reached an unprecedented level of harmony. However, that peace was soon shattered-they received an urgent distress signal from the Abyss Corridor, a spatial anomaly zone notorious for its dangers.
"The Abyss Corridor..." Sabo analyzed the signal with a grave expression. "According to the records, its spatial structure is extremely unstable. It's a 'scar' in the universe." Ace's flames flickered slightly. "The distress signal is faint, but urgent." Luffy's rubber body tensed. "Someone needs help!" Allen expanded his Time Perception, and his pupils suddenly contracted. "The flow of time there... is chaotic and dangerous... as if something is struggling..."
When the Pluton entered the Abyss Corridor, the sight before them was suffocating-space resembled a shattered mirror, each fragment spinning chaotically. Enormous spatial rifts were everywhere, devouring any matter that drew near. Most terrifying of all, time here was completely erratic, sometimes racing past and sometimes almost standing still.
The distress signal came from deep within the corridor, from a small research vessel nearly swallowed by a spatial rift.
"Full speed ahead for the rescue!" Allen ordered. "But watch out for spatial anomalies!"
The Pluton struggled through the shattered space, every evasive maneuver fraught with peril. The spatial rifts resembled ravenous mouths that could swallow the entire warship at any moment.
"Spatial collapse thirty degrees to port!" "A temporal fault has appeared ahead to starboard!" "The spatial rift below is expanding!"
Sabo directed them tensely, Ace illuminated the dangerous areas with flames, and Luffy pushed floating debris aside with his rubber arms.
They finally approached the research vessel, but a greater crisis emerged-a pack of Void Predators was besieging the ship! These creatures could pass freely through spatial rifts, their forms bizarre and unpredictable!
"They're Void Predators!" Sabo identified them. "They feed on spatial energy. The research vessel's energy core attracted them!"
The rescue began immediately! But the Void Predators' abilities were extremely troublesome:
· They could jump through space and attack from any angle;
· They could create spatial traps to ensnare their targets;
· They could even briefly induce Time Stasis, creating deadly openings!
"I can't hit them!" Luffy's rubber fists passed through phantom images! Ace's flames were swallowed by spatial rifts! Sabo's tactics were completely anticipated! Allen's Power of Time was affected, making precise control difficult!
Even more terrifyingly, the Abyss Corridor began to "contract"! Spatial rifts rapidly expanded, and more and more temporal faults appeared!
"The corridor is entering an unstable phase!" Sabo exclaimed. "We have to evacuate within ten minutes, or we'll be trapped in the spatial rifts forever!"
The countdown began! But the research vessel was surrounded by layers of Void Predators, making the rescue extremely difficult!
"I'll draw them away!" Ace volunteered. "Flames can disrupt spatial creatures!" He transformed into a flaming meteor and charged toward the pack of predators! Sure enough, the Void Predators were drawn to the flames, and most chased after Ace!
"Ace!" Luffy wanted to help, but Allen held him back. "Trust him! Let's hurry with the rescue!"
The remaining predators were still troublesome. Allen drove his Power of Time to its fullest. "Time Acceleration: Rescue Operation!" Time flowed faster around the research vessel, speeding up the rescue!
But the Void Predators adapted extremely quickly and began countering with temporal abilities! The rescue team and the predators plunged into a heart-pounding chase!
Space shattered and time fell into chaos, every clash a brush with death! Luffy's rubber arms were nearly severed by spatial rifts! Sabo was almost trapped in a temporal fault! Allen's Power of Time nearly went out of control several times!
Three minutes remained! The research vessel was finally connected successfully! But Ace was in danger-he was surrounded by a huge number of predators, and the spatial rift was closing!
"Brother!" Luffy's eyes strained as though they would split! Allen used his Time Perception to calculate at full capacity. "There's a spatial jump route! But it's extremely dangerous!"
Without hesitation, the Pluton risked a spatial jump! It threaded precisely through the shattered space, each jump potentially its last!
Ten seconds remained! The Pluton broke through the encirclement and jumped through space to Ace's position! Luffy stretched his rubber arm to its limit, grabbing Ace at the very last moment before the spatial rift closed!
"Hold tight!" Everyone joined forces and hauled Ace back aboard the Pluton!
One second remained! The Pluton surged out of the Abyss Corridor at full power! Behind it, the entire corridor collapsed completely, dissolving into nothingness...
With the crisis over, everyone collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. This rescue had been more harrowing than any battle.
The research vessel was saved, and its passengers were a group of scholars studying spatial science. Their research concerned "spatial stabilization technology," which was just what they needed to counter Imu's spatial manipulation abilities.
"The Void Predators are Imu's experimental subjects!" the chief scholar revealed. "He's trying to create an army of spatial creatures!"
Even more shockingly, the scholars brought urgent intelligence-Imu had already initiated the "Final Order Plan" and was preparing to forcibly unify the flows of time across all dimensions!
"There's no time left..." Allen's Time Perception confirmed the gravity of the intelligence.
The Combined Fleet immediately entered its highest state of combat readiness. All the powers they had acquired began to be integrated:
· The Power of Time combined with spatial knowledge;
· The Power of Emotion synchronized with their mental connection;
· Multidimensional Perception resonated with stellar energy;
An ultimate battle spanning dimensions was about to begin.
Standing at the bow of the Pluton and watching the fleet's tense preparations for battle, Allen held the Time Sand Hourglass as its sand flowed faster.
The true challenge was not a powerful enemy, but the urgency of time itself.
That sense of urgency would drive them beyond every limit.
The Pluton sailed toward the final battlefield, carrying their determination to race against time.
And that determination might change everything at the last moment.