Countdown: 46 hours and 10 minutes.
Laugh Tale.
But when the New Thousand Sunny broke through the last storm, and the Red Fosse followed closely behind through the fog, what appeared before everyone's eyes was not land.
It is a sea.
But this is no ordinary seawater. The surface is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the starry sky, yet it is even more profound than the starry sky. The seawater is not blue, but the color of consciousness—an indescribable transparency, yet containing an infinite flow of information.
"This is..." Nami looked at the nautical chart, "The coordinates are absolutely correct, but..."
"But Laugh Tale doesn't have a physical form." Robin's voice came from the deck. She walked to the bow and looked at the Sea of Consciousness. "Or rather, Laugh Tale is this sea itself."
Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat: "So how are we going to get in? Swim?"
"I'm afraid so." Shanks walked to his side, his expression unusually serious. "And not with the body, but with the mind."
He pointed to the sea. "Look there."
On the sea, countless translucent figures emerged. They wore clothing from different eras, their faces blurred but their eyes clear—those eyes held ecstasy, sorrow, satisfaction, and regret.
"All those who ever reached Laugh Tale," Robin whispered, "Their consciousness is forever left here, becoming part of the ' Pillar of Consciousness '."
Sanji lit a cigarette. "Including Roger?"
"Including Roger." Shanks nodded. "Back then... I declined Captain Roger's invitation and didn't go with him to the Laugh Tale. So what he saw and experienced in the end, I don't know."
He paused. "But now it seems that it wasn't a blessing, but... imprisonment."
Brook tried to separate his Soul Departure, but as soon as his soul left his body, he felt a powerful suction coming from the sea, almost pulling him completely away.
"Hohoho... This sea will devour consciousness!" He hurriedly returned to his body.
Franky examined the detector. "SUPER--! High concentration of consciousness energy detected! This entire sea is a giant aggregate of consciousness!"
Usopp trembled. "Do we still have to go in?"
"Of course!" Luffy grinned. "Since we're already here..."
"But we need a safe way in," Jinbe said. "If consciousness is swallowed up, it's worse than death."
Just then, Robin suddenly covered his forehead.
The Balance Field Fragment in her hands were getting hot, and a resonance occurred between the four fragments. This resonance conveyed a message:
"The central hub of the Sea of Consciousness... lies at the deepest part of the ocean... the fifth fragment is there..."
"But the method to enter... requires 'pure will'..."
"It must not be contaminated by any distracting thoughts..."
Zoro gripped his sword tightly. "What do you mean?"
"It means that if we enter with fear, greed, hatred, or any selfishness, our consciousness will be polluted and then assimilated," Robin explained. "We must be as pure as a child's heart."
Everyone looked at Luffy.
Luffy tilted his head. "Am I pure enough?"
"You're terrifyingly pure," Nami retorted, "But the problem is we're not pure enough!"
Shanks patted Luffy on the shoulder. "But you are the captain. Your will can be the anchor for everyone."
He looked at the Straw Hat Pirates: "You've been through so much with Luffy, your will has long resonated with his. As long as you believe in him and follow him, your consciousness can safely enter through his 'pure' filter."
Luffy nodded. "Let's go then!"
He walked to the side of the boat and jumped in without hesitation.
It wasn't his body that jumped down, but rather—his consciousness detached from his body, transforming into a golden light that plunged into the Sea of Consciousness.
The Straw Hat Pirates exchanged glances and then simultaneously closed their eyes.
Beams of light rose from their bodies, following Luffy's golden light, and plunged into the sea.
Shanks looked at Ben Beckman: "You stay here and protect our bodies."
"Clear."
Red-Haired also closed his eyes, his consciousness leaving his body.
The consciousness of the group— Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe, and Shanks —fell like eleven shooting stars into the Abyss of consciousness.
In the Sea of Consciousness.
There is no up or down, no direction, only flowing memories and thoughts.
They saw:
Roger laughed heartily after learning the truth of history, but his laughter was tinged with tears.
--Kozuki Oden stood silent before the stone monument, then vowed to open the country.
--The shock and despair of the older navigators upon discovering the final truth.
"These memories..." Robin wanted to touch them, but Luffy stopped her.
"Don't touch it," Luffy said, his consciousness still wearing the straw Straw Hat, "You'll be sucked in."
Indeed, those memories are like a whirlpool, radiating a powerful attraction.
They continued their descent.
The deeper one goes, the greater the density of consciousness and the older the memories become.
They began to see memories that did not belong to humans— Fish-Man Race, the Mink Tribe, and even... the Triangular Body Civilization.
"All consciousness that has ever reached this place... regardless of race..." Robin murmured, "Is imprisoned here..."
"Why?" Usopp asked, "What's the use of imprisoning consciousness?"
"Fuel," a voice answered.
It wasn't the voice of any of them.
A familiar figure materialized in the seawater.
Robin.
Or rather, another Robin.
She wore the same clothes as Robin and had the same appearance, but her eyes were empty and a stiff smile hung on her lips.
The Forgetter, " False Robin ".
"Consciousness is the purest form of energy," the False Robin said, her voice unmistakably Robin's, but devoid of emotion. "Especially those consciousnesses that have reached the truth and borne its weight. Their 'existence density' is extremely high, making them the best fuel for maintaining the universe's reset."
She looked at the real Robin:
"And you, History Bearer, your consciousness is the most 'delicious' of all. You bear eight hundred years of history, the legacy of Ohara, and the blessings of the Weavers."
"Lord Ithaqua has been waiting for you."
"Waiting for you to voluntarily step into this sea."
"Then--"
She opened her arms:
"--Turn you, and all your companions, into fuel."
Luffy stood in front of Robin: "Impossible."
The False Robin tilted her head. "Why is it impossible? You're already in. Here, physical strength is meaningless. It's a contest of 'strength of will.' And your will—"
She laughed, a laugh that sent chills down Robin's spine:
--It's full of cracks.
The words had barely left his lips when his Sea of Consciousness suddenly churned!
Countless fragments of memory transformed into sharp blades, piercing into everyone's consciousness!
But it's not an attack; it's an awakening.
Awaken their deepest fears, their most painful wounds, and their most forgotten past.
Zoro witnessed Kuina fall to her death down the stairs, heard his own vow to "become the World's Greatest Swordsman," and then heard a voice say, "You can never Transcendence the dead."
Sanji saw Germa 66's indifference, Zeff's expectations, and all the women's faces, and then he heard. "You'll always just be a cook; you can't protect anyone."
Nami witnessed Bellemere's shooting, the eight years in Arlong Park, and the tattoo on her shoulder. Then she heard. "You'll always be a thief, unworthy of having friends."
Usopp saw Kaya's crying face, saw his father Yasopp's back, saw his own cowardice in running away, and then heard. "You'll always be a liar; all your bravery is a lie."
Chopper witnessed Dr. Hiriluk's death, saw his own loneliness as a monster, and felt the regret of the cherry blossoms failing to bloom. Then he heard. "You will always be a monster, unworthy of being accepted by humans."
Franky saw Mr. Tom being taken away, saw the pain he felt during his body modification, saw the moment the Thousand Sunny was launched, and then he heard. "You will always be a cyborg, no longer human."
Brook witnessed the instant the entire Rumbar Pirates died, saw his own fifty years of solitary sailing, saw Laboon waiting, and then heard. "You're already dead. Now you're just a moving skeleton."
Jinbe witnessed Fisher Tiger's death, the suffering of Fish-Man Island, and the resolute decision he made when he betrayed Big Mom. Then he heard. "You will always be a traitor. You don't deserve to be trusted."
Shanks witnessed Roger's execution, saw his own lost arm, saw Luffy put on his Straw Hat, and then heard. "You chose to run away; you don't deserve to be a pirate."
And Luffy--
He witnessed Ace's death at Akainu's hands, saw Sabo lose his memory, felt powerless in the Paramount War, and then heard. "You're too weak to protect anyone."
Everyone's consciousness began to fluctuate violently, the light dimmed, and they were on the verge of collapse.
The False Robin smiled with satisfaction, "See? Your will is utterly fragile."
But at that moment...
Robin's voice rang out:
"No."
She stepped forward and faced the False Robin:
You're wrong.
"Those scars, those pains, those fears--"
She turned around and looked at all her companions:
"--That's why we're standing here."
Zoro's consciousness returned. "That's right. Kuina's death is my motivation to become stronger. I will carry her part and become the strongest together."
Sanji's consciousness reignited. " Germa gave me strength, Zeff gave me gentleness, and the ladies gave me a reason to protect. I am both a cook and a warrior."
Nami's consciousness rekindled. " Bellemere taught me to live, Arlong showed me the need for power, and the tattoo represents my resolve. I am the navigator, and a member of the Straw Hat Pirates."
Usopp's resolve hardened once more. " Kaya is waiting for me to return, my father is my pride, and running away is to survive and continue fighting. I am a brave warrior of the sea!"
Chopper's consciousness warmed again. "Dr. Hiriluk gave me hope. Monsters can have dreams too. The cherry blossoms will eventually bloom. I am a doctor, I am a comrade!"
Franky's consciousness returned to steel. " Mr. Tom gave me a reason to live, the modification was for protection, the Thousand Sunny is my child. I am the shipwright, a SUPER man!"
Brook's consciousness returned. " The Rumbar Pirates live on in my music. Loneliness makes me cherish my crew even more. Laboon is waiting for me. I am a musician, a living legend!"
Jinbe's consciousness regained its composure. " Fisher Tiger taught me to walk my own path, the suffering on Fish-Man Island made me determined to change, and betrayal was for a greater cause. I am the helmsman, I am the Knight of the Sea!"
Shanks ' spirit soared once more. " Captain Roger gave me freedom, his arm gave Luffy the future, running away is for waiting. I am Red-Haired, the Guide!"
Finally, Luffy's consciousness erupted with an unprecedented golden light:
" Ace's death taught me to become stronger, Sabo returned, Paramount War taught me the importance of having allies."
"I can't protect everyone--"
He grinned, and that smile illuminated the entire Abyss consciousness:
"--But my partner can!"
The consciousness of the eleven individuals re-coalesced, their light intertwining to form an unbreakable network of will.
The False Robin's expression changed.
"Impossible... How could human will possibly..."
"Because that's just how humans are," Robin said, walking up to her. "Vulnerable, yet strong; wounded, yet healed; fearful, yet courageous."
And you--
She reached out and touched the False Robin's face:
"--It's just that part of me that I 'want to escape'."
"It was the thought that made me want to forget everything when I was massacred in Ohara."
"It was the weakness I had when I wanted to give up everything after twenty years of fleeing in darkness."
"It was my desire to unload the burden when I learned the truth of history."
The False Robin began to tremble. "You... what are you going to do...?"
"I'm not trying to destroy you," Robin said softly, "Because you are me."
I want to... accept you.
She embraced the False Robin.
The two consciousnesses began to merge.
The False Robin's empty eyes gradually regained their light, and her stiff smile softened.
"So..." she whispered, "Being hugged... feels like this..."
"I'm sorry..." Robin shed tears, "I left you in the darkness for too long..."
The fusion is complete.
Robin's consciousness became more complete and clearer.
The False Robin disappeared, but her existence became part of Robin's power.
The Sea of Consciousness returned to calm.
At the deepest point of the ocean, a beam of light that pierces through dimensions slowly rises.
That was not a physical pillar of light, but a " Pillar of Existence " woven from countless rays of consciousness. Within the pillar, five colors of light flowed—corresponding to life, time, space, matter, and the consciousness of this moment.
At the center of the pillar of light, the fifth and final Balance Field Fragment floats.
Around the fragments were the most intricate chains—not grayish-white, but transparent, seemingly nonexistent, yet firmly binding the fragments.
"Those are ' Void Contract '," Shanks said. "The ultimate bondage created by Ithaqua using the power of Void. It cannot be broken by physical means, energy attacks are ineffective, and even contact with consciousness will be contaminated by Void."
Luffy asked, "How do we undo this?"
"All five Key need to be gathered," Robin said. "The five fragments resonate, creating an ' Existence Resonance Field ' that counteracts the Void."
"But we only have four," Nami said. "The fifth one is still inside."
"No," Luffy pointed at the beam of light, "Look."
Inside the pillar of light, besides the fifth fragment, four other points of light floated—these were the four fragments they had obtained earlier, which had somehow escaped their control and flown here.
"The fragments are calling to each other," Zoro said.
"Then let's get them back together," Sanji said.
The five fragments began to glow simultaneously.
The light pierced through the Sea of Consciousness, through the barriers of dimensions, and through the Void.
In some indescribable place, five points of light converged.
The resonance began.
Buzz--
An indescribable sound, resounding throughout the consciousness of all beings.
Five colors of light intertwined, transforming into a bridge of light that connects the multiverse.
At one end of the bridge of light lies the Sea of Consciousness.
The other end--
It is the Gate of the Void.
The door opened.
But it doesn't open from the outside.
It's from the inside.
A figure stepped out of the door.
With each step he took, his body became more solid, and his light grew stronger.
When he reached the center of the light bridge--
Everyone saw it.
Allen Portgas.
But he is no longer the same as before.
The platinum in the left eye and the dark purple in the right eye merged completely, transforming into a gray-gold pupil, with Sparks patterns swirling deep within it.
Her hair had turned from black to gray-gold, with faint flames burning at the ends.
On its surface, platinum and dark purple patterns flow like a living thing, forming a perfectly balanced totem.
He is no longer a " Threshold Bearer ".
He is--
" The Balancer," Allen spoke, his voice resonating simultaneously in reality and consciousness, "The bridge between Chaos and order is complete."
He looked in the direction of Laugh Tale, and then at the people in the Sea of Consciousness:
"Now, it's time to end all of this."
But just as he was about to step off the bridge of light and enter the Sea of Consciousness—
In the deepest part of the Sea of Consciousness, those eyes opened.
Not False Robin, not Forgetter.
It is Ithaqua.
Or rather, it is a projection of Ithaqua onto this world.
Those eyes were so enormous they covered the entire seabed, and the spinning gray starlight made everyone feel dizzy.
[ The Balancer... you've finally arrived...]
The sound resonates directly within existence itself.
[But do you think... once the bridge is completed... we've won?]
A bridge needs two banks to be built...
What if I destroy one of the banks?
Eyes turned to all consciousness in the Sea of Consciousness — Roger's, Oden's, and all the navigators.
Then, it begins to close.
It aims to forcibly annihilate all consciousness, destroy the " Pillar of Consciousness," and deprive the balance of the support of order!
"No--!" Robin tried to stop her, but her consciousness was as insignificant as dust before Ithaqua.
Allen's expression changed.
He sped off the light bridge!
But it's too far!
Just then--
Those imprisoned consciousnesses suddenly lit up simultaneously!
Roger's consciousness erupted in a hearty laugh, " Ithaqua! Did you think we'd been here all these years just waiting around?!"
Oden's consciousness drew his sword. "The path to opening Wano Country begins here!"
All consciousness, all navigators, all imprisoned souls—
They simultaneously burned their last vestiges of existence, transforming into a torrent of light that pierced the heavens and earth, crashing into Ithaqua's eyes!
"We are—seafarers who yearn for freedom!"
"Our will--"
"--Never imprisoned!"
A torrent of light collides with the eyes!
The Sea of Consciousness trembled violently!
Ithaqua's eyes were forcibly pried open and could not be closed!
The price was the complete annihilation of all imprisoned consciousness.
Not even the last trace remains.
Roger's last voice echoed, " Luffy... Shanks... The new era... is entrusted to you..."
Oden's last words. "Tell Hiyori... I'm proud of her..."
Then, silence.
The Sea of Consciousness is empty.
Only the Straw Hat Pirates, Shanks, and Allen, who had just arrived, remained.
The fifth fragment, freed from its restraints, drifted slowly down.
Robin reached out and caught it.
Five Key, all gathered together.
But the taste of victory is so bitter it makes you want to cry.
Allen landed in front of them, his expression somber.
"I'm sorry... I'm late..."
Luffy shook his head. "No. They chose their own ending."
He looked at Allen: "Now, it's our turn."
"How do we defeat that guy?" Zoro asked.
Allen looked into Ithaqua's eyes—though they were stretched open, they were still there, still terrifying.
"It requires the power of five Key, plus my Power of Balance, to create an 'existential paradox' within it, causing it to collapse on its own."
How to do it?
"Someone needs to... bring five fragments into its eye," Allen said, "To detonate the paradox within it."
"Who will die?" Sanji concluded.
"Not necessarily," Allen said. "If there's a sufficiently strong 'anchor of existence,' one can escape before the paradox erupts."
What is an anchor point?
"A 'will to exist' strong enough to contend with Void." Allen looked at Luffy, "For example... the will to become the Pirate King."
Luffy grinned. "Then I'll do it."
"No." Shanks pressed down on his shoulder. "I'll do it."
Everyone looked at him.
" Captain Roger gave you the Straw Hat, and he gave you a new era," Shanks smiled. "The debts of the old era shall be repaid by the people of the old era."
He looked at Allen: "Give me the fragments. I'll be the detonator."
Allen paused for a moment, then nodded.
Five fragments floated from Robin's hand and merged into Shanks ' consciousness.
Shanks ' body began to glow, with five colors swirling around him.
" Beckman," he said through their telepathic connection to the first mate outside, "If I don't return... the Red Hair Pirates are in your hands."
Ben Beckman remained silent for a long time before replying, "... Understood."
Shanks smiled.
Then, he rushed toward Ithaqua's eyes.
His eyes wanted to close, but were forced open by the surge of consciousness just now, and he couldn't close them completely for the time being.
Shanks rushed into the eye.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Then--
An indescribable light burst forth from within their eyes!
Five-colored rays intertwine with gray-gold light to form a rotating Möbius strip—a visual representation of "existence/non-existence being true simultaneously."
Ithaqua's eyes began to disintegrate.
It wasn't an explosion, it was a logical collapse.
Its very existence presents a paradox, and it begins to disintegrate from within.
"We did it!" Nami cheered.
But at that moment—
A gigantic hand made of Void reached out from the remains of an eye and grabbed at the Straw Hat Pirates!
Ithaqua's dying counterattack!
"Watch out!" Allen tried to stop him, but he had just finished building the bridge and his strength was unstable.
The Void hand was too fast; it was about to grab Luffy.
A red figure burst forth from the eye's remains and crashed into the Void hand!
It's Shanks.
His consciousness was already semi-transparent, but it still clung tightly to the hand of Void:
Luffy--
He turned back, revealing his final smile:
"Don't let me die in vain!"
Then, he detonated all the remaining parts of his consciousness.
The explosion's light engulfed the Void Hand.
When the light fades--
Shanks has disappeared.
The Void hand also vanished.
Ithaqua's eyes completely disintegrated, turning into countless grayish-white specks of light, which then disappeared.
The Sea of Consciousness began to recede.
The "island" of Laugh Tale has revealed its true form for the first time.
It was a small island made of crystallized consciousness, with only one stone tablet on it.
A line of text is engraved on the stone tablet:
[This is the shore of freedom]
[All who arrive here]
[They have all set sail for more distant seas]
Consciousness returns to the body.
The Straw Hat Pirates woke up on the deck, tears streaming down their faces.
Shanks ' body slowly collapsed on the deck of the Red Voss.
Ben Beckman caught him and silently lowered his head.
The entire Red Hair Pirates knelt down.
And in the starry sky.
Ithaqua's projection was destroyed, but His true form remains.
However, having lost its anchor point in this universe, it is temporarily unable to directly interfere.
Allen hovered above Laugh Tale, feeling the flow of the Power of Balance.
The bridge is complete.
The Chaos Consciousness Side is slowly returning to its proper place.
The rules of the universe have begun to repair themselves.
But the price...
It's too big.
He looked at the Straw Hat Pirates, at the direction of the Super Soldier Company universe, and at the place where all the victims had disappeared.
whisper:
"Sorry..."
"And... thank you."
Countdown: 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds.
The war is over.
But there was no cheering for the victory.
Only silent tears and indelible memories remain.