The seventh day after the war ended.
At the boundary between two universes, a newly formed nebula is slowly rotating.
The color of the nebula is neither pure platinum nor pure dark purple, but a gentle grayish-gold—the color of Chaos and order in balance. Within the nebula, new stars ignite one after another, each radiating both the light and heat of order and the possibility of Chaos.
At the center of this nebula, a platform floats.
The platform is composed of pure rules; it has no physical form, yet it truly exists. Two people are standing on the platform.
"So this is your new job?" Ge Xiaolun looked around, "The gatekeeper of the universe?"
Allen smiled—his appearance had stabilized; his grey-gold eyes and hair, the balance totem on his body slowly shifting. "Not a gatekeeper, but a maintainer of the bridge. The Chaos Consciousness Side is slowly returning to its proper place, but this process needs guidance, otherwise it may trigger a new imbalance."
He looked into the distance—from there, he could see both Earth in the Super Soldier Company universe and the Red Line in the One Piece world.
"The merging of the two universes is also underway. The rules are adapting to each other, and energy is flowing between them. Perhaps in a few decades, people from the two worlds will be able to travel freely between them, no longer needing inter-space Sea Route."
Angel Yan stood beside Ge Xiaolun, her wings now restored to their former whiteness, but a hint of weariness lingered in her eyes. "Was Rena's sacrifice... worth it?"
Allen paused for a moment, then said, "She made her choice. The Light of the Sun chose to fight against Void with its radiance, illuminating the path for everyone. That's so ' Rena '."
He paused. "Moreover, her consciousness hasn't completely vanished. The sun's rays will shine forever. I've preserved a wisp of her 'light imprint' in the Sparks Network. When the universe is fully stable, perhaps... she'll have a chance to return in a new form."
Yan's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"The possibility exists." Allen nodded. "Just like the fragments of Shanks and Momonosuke's consciousness are also in the Sparks Network. They sacrificed their existence, but the traces of their existence remain forever in the memory of the universe."
Ge Xiaolun clenched his fist. "We'll wait."
"Hmm." Allen looked in another direction. "They're here."
At the edge of the nebula, a ship slowly sailed in.
The New Thousand Sunny has some new paint scheme on its hull— the Straw Hat Pirates ' logo on the left, the Earth emblem of the Super Soldier Company on the right, and a small balancing totem painted in gray-gold on the bow.
The ship was moored beside the platform.
The Straw Hat Pirates disembarked.
The atmosphere was somewhat silent.
Luffy at the very front, his Straw Hat pulled low, obscuring his expression.
They stopped in front of Allen.
After a long while, Luffy raised his head.
Unexpectedly, he didn't cry or make a fuss; he simply asked calmly:
How long are you going to stay here?
Allen answered truthfully, "Until the bridge can sustain itself. That could be years, or it could be centuries."
"Can't you come back with us?"
"If I leave now, the bridge might collapse, and the two universes will once again fall into the conflict between Chaos and order," Allen said softly. "Moreover, the Chaos Consciousness Side needs guidance; it has been mad for too long and needs someone to teach it how to coexist with order."
Luffy nodded. "Oh."
Then he turned around and looked at his companions:
"You heard that."
" Allen will stay and work here."
"Then we--"
He grinned, revealing his signature, sunny smile:
"--Let's take the risks and wait for him!"
Zoro's lips curled into a slight smile, "Perfect, I need time to train. When this guy gets back, I'll show him my new technique."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring. "I'll develop a delivery service that can be delivered across the universe."
Nami raised her fist. "Then we need to make even more money! To buy all the treasures in the universe!"
Usopp puffed out his chest. "I... I'm going to become the universe's greatest sniper!"
Chopper transforms into his Monster Point: "I'm going to research a panacea that will make everyone happy!"
Franky struck his signature pose. "SUPER--! I'm going to build a ship that can go anywhere!"
Brook plucked the strings. "Yo ho ho ho, I'm going to create music that will move the entire universe!"
Jinbe nodded calmly. "I will protect this route."
Robin smiled, a glint of wisdom in his eyes. "I will continue to search for the truth of history—now it's not just the history of one universe."
Luffy adjusted his straw Straw Hat and looked at Allen:
Did you hear that?
"We will continue our adventures, go to more places, meet more friends, and experience more fun things."
"Then--"
He stretched out his hand, his little finger sticking up:
"We'll pick you up after you finish work."
"Let me show you the New World we've discovered."
Allen was stunned.
He looked at Luffy's outstretched hand, at the expectant eyes of the Straw Hat Pirates, and at the smiles he had once sworn to protect.
Then, he smiled too.
Her grey-gold eyes curved into crescent moons.
He extended his little finger and hooked it with Luffy's little finger:
"It's a date."
"I'll come find you after I finish my work."
"When the time comes, take me to see your adventures."
Nami wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "It's a deal then! But if you dare forget us later, I'll hit you on the head with the Clima-Tact!"
"I'll never forget," Allen said earnestly, "Never."
One month later.
The Super Soldier Company the universe, Earth, Juxia City.
Reconstruction is in full swing. The traces of the War of the Void are being erased, new buildings are rising, and new technologies are being integrated into daily life.
A monument was erected in the city center square.
The monument is not a memorial to any one person, but to all the lives lost in this war—regardless of which universe they came from or what race they were.
The base of the monument is inscribed with:
Those who fight for balance will live on.
[Those who sacrificed for freedom are immortal]
[Dawn of Two Universes]
[Illuminated by their light]
Every day, people from both worlds come to offer flowers.
Angel Yan stood before the monument and gently placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums.
Behind her, Ge Xiaolun, Liu Chuang, Qilin, Zhao Xin, and other members of the Super Soldier Company stood solemnly.
" Rena's funeral is scheduled for next week," Ge Xiaolun said. "General Pan Zhen said that according to the customs of the Lieyang Civilization, the funeral of the Light of the Sun must be held at the moment when the star is at its brightest."
Yan nodded. "I will participate."
"And also..." Ge Xiaolun hesitated for a moment, " The Earth United Government has decided to formally establish diplomatic relations with the One Piece world. The first batch of ambassadors has been selected and will depart next week."
Who is leading the team?
"Me," Ge Xiaolun said, "And Yu Qin, Wei, and... Angel Leng."
Yan asked in surprise, "Leng is willing to go?"
"She said she wanted to see that 'savage but interesting' world." Ge Xiaolun smiled wryly, "That's exactly what she said."
Yan laughed, "Then let her go. But remember to remind her not to be too arrogant on their turf."
"I'm already having a headache."
The two exchanged a smile, then fell silent, looking at the monument.
The list of those who sacrificed their lives is too long.
But the journey must continue.
The world of One Piece, New Marineford.
The Joint Council Hall is packed to capacity today.
As the Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Hiyori made her first official appearance at the Joint Council. She wore a modified kimono, and the dragon crest on her forehead emitted a faint glow—a blessing left by Momonosuke.
"On behalf of Wano Country, I hereby declare the country fully open to the outside world." Her voice was clear and firm. "We will abolish the policy of national isolation, open all ports, and welcome all friendly visitors."
"At the same time, Wano Country will join the Joint Council, contributing to peace and exchange between the two worlds."
Thunderous applause erupted.
Sabo, as the representative of the Revolutionary Army, stood up to speak:
" The Revolutionary Army will promote reforms around the world, abolish slavery, and establish fair laws. We have reached agreements with several kingdoms, and within the next ten years, the slave trade will become history in the pirate world."
Princess Shirahoshi also stood up—she was now the official Speaker of the Deep-Sea Council.
" The Fish-Man Race will establish the underwater city ' New Fish-Man Island,' located at the Sea Route of two universes. We welcome friends of all races to visit and explore the mysteries of the deep sea together."
The meeting continued.
New laws are being drafted, new alliances are being formed, and a new era is dawning.
On the balcony outside the conference hall, Zoro leaned against the railing, gazing at the distant sea.
"Don't you want to go inside and listen?" Sanji walked over and handed him a bottle of wine.
Zoro took the drink and gulped it down. "No interest. Politics is for you smart people."
So where do you plan to go next?
"Training," Zoro said succinctly, "I'm going to the Super Soldier Company Universe to spar with their 'Sword God'."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "I've heard their swordsmanship system is different from Haki."
"That's why I need to learn." Zoro's eyes burned with fighting spirit. "Once I've fused the swordsmanship of two worlds—"
He didn't finish speaking, but Sanji understood.
When Allen returns, Zoro wants him to see that he has become strong enough to cut through any obstacle.
Including time, including distance, including fate.
Deep sea, New Fish-Man Island.
This newly built underwater city is ten times larger than the old Fish-Man Island. Outside the transparent protective shield, strange marine creatures swim—some from the pirate world, some from the Super Soldier Company universe, and you can even see several orderly Triangle Bodies playing in the sea.
Princess Shirahoshi is receiving a special guest in the palace.
" Star Speaker No. 2, thank you for providing the deep-sea ecological stabilization technology," Shirahoshi said with a smile. "The coral growth rate on New Fish-Man Island has increased fivefold."
Star Speaker No. 2 —who now had a new name, " Xinghai "—nodded. "This is what we should do. The Threshold Bearer gave us new life, and we must repay all life with new life."
He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, the Ancient One asked me to tell you: the Chaos Remnants have all achieved order, but have retained the characteristics of Chaos. We will establish a 'balanced ecological zone' at the edge of the two universes, as a buffer zone between Chaos and order."
"That's good," Shirahoshi said. "Diversity is the true essence of the ocean."
After Xinghai left, Shirahoshi walked to the observation window and looked at the deep sea outside.
She thought of Queen Otohime, Fisher Tiger, Jinbe, the Straw Hat Pirates, and Allen.
"Mother... did you see that?"
"The ocean is connecting us to a wider world."
"And I will protect all of this."
"In the name of Poseidon."
Six months later.
The merging of the two universes is progressing smoothly.
Inter-space travel has become commonplace, with thousands of ships and spacecraft traveling between the two worlds every day.
The exchange of culture and technology has given rise to countless new things:
--The chefs in the One Piece world learned the molecular gastronomy techniques of the Super Soldier Company and created a brand new culinary style.
--The scientists of the Super Soldier Company studied the principles of Devil Fruit and developed a "rule stabilizer" that makes the fruit abilities more controllable.
-- Artists from two worlds collaborated to create music and paintings that transcended race.
--Even intercosmic marriages have occurred--though not many yet, some people are already trying them.
In a star field unknown to anyone.
Allen sat cross-legged on the platform of rules, his hands weaving in the Void.
He is guiding the Chaos Consciousness Side.
This process is slow and meticulous, like teaching a child with amnesia to recognize the world anew.
The Chaos Consciousness Side remains insane, but fragments of reason are beginning to emerge from this madness. It will ask questions:
Why... is there an need for order...?
Why... can't it devour everything...?
Allen answered patiently:
"Because after devouring everything, only Void remains."
"And in Void, even madness does not exist."
The Chaos Consciousness Side silent, then continued to ask:
[Then why... do I have to be here...?]
"Because order needs contrast, it needs possibility, it needs change," Allen said. "A world of pure order will stagnate and die."
Therefore, we... need each other...
"Yes," Allen smiled, "Like light and shadow, like the ocean and the land, like... me and my companions."
The Chaos Consciousness Side seems to have understood.
It began slowly, tentatively, to establish contact with the side of order.
The bridge is becoming more and more stable.
One year later.
The New Thousand Sunny is sailing in a completely new star system.
This is the "Boundary Star Region," born from the merging of two universes, where the rules of two worlds coexist, resulting in bizarre and wondrous sights:
-- Glowing mechanical fish float in the seawater.
--Singing plants grow on the clouds.
--The island's core is a miniature star.
"Record it! Record everything!" Nami excitedly drew on the nautical chart. "These places will be popular shipping routes in the future!"
Usopp used his newly developed "Star Slingshot" to shoot at a passing meteor. "Look! I hit it!"
The meteor shattered, and sparkling crystals fell out.
Chopper picked it up and examined it. "This is... a memory crystal? It seems to contain the memories of some civilization..."
Robin took the crystal and deciphered it. "It represents a vanished civilization. Their final choice was... to seal their history within the stars, awaiting discovery by future generations."
She looked up at the starry sky:
How many more stories like this are there in the universe?
Luffy sat at the bow of the ship, chewing on a piece of meat, and mumbled, "Then find them all!"
"All of it?" Franky asked. "The universe is huge, SUPER!"
"So what?" Luffy grinned. "We have plenty of time."
"And—" he looked into the distance, in the direction of Allen, "We're waiting for someone to come back."
"When he comes back, I'll take him to see it together."
He'd definitely say, "You guys, you've found another interesting place!"
Everyone laughed.
yes.
It will definitely happen this way.
Three years later.
On the rules platform.
Allen opened his eyes.
In the Void before him, a perfectly balanced gray-gold pillar of light slowly rotated.
The Chaos Consciousness Side has completed 70% of its return to normalcy; the rest can be self-regulated.
The bridge is now stable.
He stood up and looked around.
This is the first time in three years that he has left this platform.
He flew towards the edge of the nebula, towards that agreed-upon direction.
But just as he was about to fly out of the boundary star system—
A message came from deep within the Sparks Network.
This is not information from the Chaos Consciousness Side.
It's not information from two different universes either.
Rather... it's information from a third party.
The information is very simple, consisting of only one line of coordinates and one sentence:
[Hello, Balancer.]
We are the ' Watcher Civilization,' and we have been observing the balancing process of your universe for three hundred years.
Congratulations on your success!
[But note: Ithaqua was only one of the creators of the ' Reapers Civilization '.]
The real threat comes from the ' Eternal Council '.
They will not allow any universe to achieve true freedom.
[Be careful. They're already on their way.]
The message was interrupted here.
Allen stopped in the starry sky, his grey-gold eyes fixed on the coordinates.
The coordinates point to a place so far away it's unimaginable.
But he could sense that something was indeed moving towards him.
Slow, but certain.
He remained silent for a long time.
Then, it turned around and flew back to the rules platform.
It wasn't because he was afraid.
It's because he needs time.
More time is needed for the two universes to become stronger, the bridge to become more solid, and the partners to become more mature.
as well as--
He looked in the direction the Straw Hat Pirates was sailing and smiled slightly.
--Let them enjoy a little more of their peaceful adventure.
" The Eternal Council...?"
He sat down cross-legged and began weaving again.
But this time, it's not just about weaving a network of balance.
And... the network of defenses.
"No matter who you are."
"Whatever you want to do."
"In this universe, there are people I want to protect."
"So--"
The greyish-gold light condensed into the shape of a sword in his hand:
"--bring it on."
We are ready.
And in the distant depths of the starry sky.
The New Thousand Sunny has just discovered a brand new planet.
On this planet lives a kind of intelligent mushroom that can fly.
Luffy is having a contest with King Mushroom to see who can eat more.
Zoro is sparring with the mushroom swordsman.
Sanji is researching mushroom dishes.
Nami is calculating the economic value of the mushrooms.
Usopp was boasting that he had once defeated an even bigger mushroom.
Chopper is exchanging medical knowledge with Dr. Mushroom.
Franky was amazed by the mushroom's construction techniques.
Brook is playing music for the mushrooms.
Jinbe is discussing philosophy with Elder Mushroom.
Robin is deciphering the Poneglyph of the mushroom.
Everything was so joyful and full of hope.
They were unaware of the impending storm in the distance.
But even if I knew--
Luffy would also grin and say:
"Then let's knock them out!"
Because this is the Straw Hat Pirates.
This is the path they chose.
Always taking risks, always moving forward, always protecting those who matter.
And Allen will be behind them, providing them with a starry sky where they can roam freely.