The joy of victory didn't last long before the starry sky froze once more.
It was neither an enemy fleet nor a regular attack.
Rather, it is an arrival at a higher level of existence.
It was as if the entire universe was making way for something; nebulae stopped spinning, stars stopped burning, and even time itself became viscous and slow.
A figure emerged from the Void.
He wore a simple gray robe, and his face bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Allen, but was older and more weathered, with eyes that held the weight of millions of years. His hair was pure silver-white, without a single blemish, as if all colors had been washed away by time.
He stood there calmly, radiating no pressure, yet he instilled in everyone an indescribable sense of insignificance.
It's not that we are insignificant in terms of power, but rather insignificant in terms of our level of existence.
Like seeing a two-dimensional picture, it was the first time I had ever seen a three-dimensional world.
"We've finally met, Allen." His voice was gentle, yet it resonated deep within everyone's consciousness. "I am your great-great-great-grandfather, but I can't remember exactly how many generations removed."
Allen's pupils contracted.
He guessed that the other person's identity might be related to him, but he didn't expect it to be so direct.
"You are..." Allen's voice was a little hoarse.
"One of the three founders of the Eternal Council, the First Balancer, and a student of the Weavers Civilization's last Grand Master—" the gray-robed elder smiled slightly, "And also the one who cast the Spark of Sweet Commander into the temporal turbulence, allowing it to find you."
These words exploded like a bomb in everyone's hearts.
The origin of the Sparks, the gift of the Weavers, both came from this person?
"Why?" Allen asked, "If you created the Eternal Council, why give me the power to oppose it?"
"Because I want to see," the old man's eyes deepened, "To see if my descendants will make the same choice as me, or the opposite."
He looked around at the Freedom Alliance, their faces scarred but their eyes resolute; at Luffy, still Luffy but standing; and at the Dragon of Chaos's youthful yet clear light.
"Millions of years ago, I, too, believed in freedom, in possibility, and in the ability to take responsibility for my own life, just like you."
"Then, I witnessed universe after universe descend into Chaos due to excessive freedom, and self-destruct due to the possibility of losing control."
"I have seen the most glorious civilizations turn to dust because of internal strife."
"I have seen the kindest race ever, corrupted into monsters by greed."
"I have seen life with limitless potential, which, by choosing the wrong path, dragged the entire universe into eternal darkness."
For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared in the old man's voice—a deep sorrow:
"Freedom is beautiful, but too fragile."
"Like delicate glassware, it would shatter at the slightest touch."
"Therefore, I and two other like-minded partners founded the Eternal Council."
"We do not seek conquest, we do not seek plunder, we do not even seek power."
What we seek is lasting stability.
"Through appropriate control, appropriate planning, and appropriate restrictions—"
He looked at Allen:
"May all universes and all life continue on a safe trajectory."
Even if that means they'll never know what 'true freedom' is.
Allen fell silent.
He understood.
He is neither an evil schemer nor a mad dictator.
This is a heartbroken idealist who, after witnessing too many tragedies, chose the most extreme, and also the "safest," path.
"But you didn't ask them," Luffy suddenly spoke, straightening up and looking directly at the old man through his Straw Hat. "You didn't ask those lives you 'protected' whether they were willing."
The old man looked at Luffy, a hint of admiration in his eyes:
" Monkey D. Luffy, successor to Joy Boy, the embodiment of free will."
I knew you would say that.
"But let me ask you a question: If a child wants to play with fire, and you know that playing with fire could burn him to death, would you let him play with it out of 'respect for his freedom'?"
Luffy frowned: "This is different--"
"The essence is the same," the old man said calmly, "Only the scale is different."
"Fire is dangerous for a child."
"For a universe, unrestricted freedom is dangerous."
"And my responsibility is to prevent these dangers from happening."
Zoro gripped his sword tightly. "So you treat everyone like a child?"
"In my eyes, all lives that haven't reached the 'ultimate state of rationality' are indeed children," the old man nodded, "Including you."
He looked at Allen:
"Including you, my descendants."
"You possess the Sparks, the knowledge of the Weavers, and have even begun to grasp the second level of the Power of Balance."
"But you are still too young, too idealistic, and haven't experienced enough 'loss' yet, nor truly understood the necessity of 'control'."
Allen shook his head. "I've experienced loss. Ace, Shanks, Rena, Momonosuke... I've lost too many important people."
"Then you should understand," the old man's voice turned stern, "If someone had controlled the course of the Paramount War, Ace wouldn't have died. If someone had controlled the opening of the Gate of the Void, Shanks and Rena wouldn't have sacrificed themselves. If someone had controlled Ithaqua's actions, Momonosuke wouldn't have—"
"But they chose their own paths!" Allen interrupted him, his voice rising with emotion for the first time. " Ace chose to fight for Whitebeard, Shanks chose to pave the way for me, Rena chose to illuminate the darkness with her light, Momonosuke chose to sacrifice himself for Wano Country!"
"They may have lost their lives, but they lived meaningful lives!"
"And what you call 'control' is stripping away this meaning!"
The old man fell silent.
He looked at Allen with a complicated expression.
After a long silence, he said softly:
You look a lot like your mother.
Allen was taken aback.
"That's what she said too." A hint of nostalgia flashed in the old man's eyes. "She said, 'Father, even knowing the ending would be tragic, I still chose my own path.'"
"Then she went to a newly born universe, wanting to help the life there build a 'free and responsible' civilization."
"In the end, that civilization was destroyed by civil war, and she was taken down with it..."
The old man closed his eyes:
That was the last time I let 'freedom' take hold.
Allen was jolted.
Mother...
His mother, whom he had never met.
"So you want to repeat the same mistakes?" The old man opened his eyes, "To watch everything you cherish be destroyed because of freedom?"
"It won't be destroyed." Luffy up to Allen, grinning, "Because we'll take responsibility."
"Take responsibility?" the old man looked at him. "How will you take responsibility? How will you ensure that freedom doesn't get out of control?"
"Use this." Luffy pointed to his chest, where the symbol had faded, but a golden light still seemed to flicker. "Our 'anchor point.' Remember who you are, remember why you fight, remember what you must protect."
"When everyone remembers these things, freedom will not become indulgence, and possibility will not become chaos."
The old man shook his head. "The theory is wonderful. But what about practice? Can you guarantee that, thousands of years from now, when you are all gone, new life will still remember these things?"
"I can't guarantee that," Allen replied, "But we can pass it on."
He pointed at the Straw Hat Pirates, at the Freedom Alliance, and at all life in both universes:
"Let the spirit of freedom, the meaning of responsibility, and the vow to protect be passed down from generation to generation."
"Perhaps along the way, some will forget, some will betray, and some will make mistakes."
But there will always be someone who remembers, and someone who will rekindle the Spark.
"Like the Spark of Weavers Civilization, it has traversed billions of years of time and space to find me."
"Like Joy Boy's will, it traversed eight hundred years and found Luffy."
As long as there are still people who believe, the Spark will not be extinguished.
The old man's gaze wavered.
He looked at the Dragon of Chaos.
The gray-gold light cautiously approached, uttering a childish voice:
I... used to be very crazy... I wanted to devour everything...
But Allen taught me... to choose...
[ Luffy taught me... freedom...]
[Now I choose... to protect...]
It paused, then added:
Although I don't understand it very well yet... I will learn...
The old man then looked at the others.
The Kozuki Hiyori and the dragon pattern on his forehead, a legacy passed down from his younger brother's sacrifice.
The flames flickering in Sabo's hands represent the passing down of brotherhood.
The tears in Princess Shirahoshi's eyes were a testament to the passing down of her mother's dreams.
Ge Xiaolun's resolute gaze speaks of a legacy dedicated to protecting the Earth.
The wings behind Yan represent the inheritance of Order of Justice.
Everyone is passing on something in their own way.
"It seems..." the old man said softly, "That I am indeed old."
"It's not that I'm getting old," Allen said, "It's that I've been lonely for too long."
"You've carried the responsibility of 'protecting all universes' alone for far too long."
"It's been so long that we've forgotten that responsibility can be shared, and protection can be shared."
The old man smiled.
That was the first truly meaningful smile in billions of years.
It wasn't the laughter of a successful plan, nor the laughter of someone in complete control.
Instead, he smiled with relief.
"Maybe you're right," he said. "Maybe I should... retire."
He looked in the direction of the Eternal Council headquarters:
"But my two old friends probably won't agree."
"They are even more convinced than I am of the necessity of 'control'."
"You have won this battle. But the Eternal Council will return."
Allen nodded. "I know, but we'll be ready."
"How should we prepare?" the old man asked. "Your current strength is insufficient to stand against the entire council."
"Then I'll get stronger." Luffy. "I'll keep getting stronger, so strong that they won't dare come back."
The old man looked at Luffy with admiration in his eyes:
" Joy Boy said something similar back then."
"It's a pity he didn't live to see the day when he was powerful enough."
"But you, perhaps you can."
He stretched out his hand, and three points of light appeared in his palm.
One platinum, one dark purple, and one gray gold.
"This is my final gift," the old man said. "Platinum represents the 'ultimate order,' dark purple represents the 'ultimate Chaos,' and gray gold represents the 'ultimate balance.'"
"Infuse them into your Sparks, and you will break through to the third level— 'Transcendence '."
"Only then will you be able to truly stand up to Parliament."
Allen didn't immediately take it. "What's the price?"
"The price is that I will lose most of my power and return to an ordinary life," the old man said calmly. "Then, I will go to the universe where your mother is buried and spend the rest of my life there."
"It's a kind of... atonement."
Allen paused for a moment, then took the light.
The moment the light merged into his body--
boom--!!!
An indescribable power erupted within him!
It's not an explosion of energy, it's a breakthrough in one's realm!
His transparent light began to transform, becoming deeper and more inclusive, as if containing all possibilities, yet also as if containing nothing at all.
The third level: Transcendence.
Chaos and order are no longer a binary opposition, but rather the backdrop against which he exists.
He is the rule, and the rule is him.
But it also Transcendence the rules.
The old man looked at Allen, who had completed his breakthrough, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Now, you are qualified."
But remember: with great power comes great responsibility.
"Don't repeat my mistake—don't deprive others of their right to choose because you're afraid of losing them."
Allen nodded emphatically. "I understand."
The old man took one last look at everyone, his gaze lingering longest on Luffy:
Cherish your freedom.
"And also properly shoulder the responsibility of freedom."
"The future belongs to you."
His body began to become transparent, turning into specks of light and dissipating into the starry sky.
There was no tragedy, no regret.
Only acceptance.
One of the three founders of the Eternal Council, the first Balancer, and Allen's ancestor.
I chose to let go.
The starry sky resumed its flow.
The war is truly over.
The Freedom Alliance erupted in thunderous cheers!
But Allen knew this was just the beginning.
The Eternal Council also has two founders and a vast power.
But this time, they have the means to fight back.
This also provided a reason for confrontation.
Luffy over and patted Allen on the shoulder:
Where to go next?
Allen looked into the distance, a smile playing on his lips:
"Let's go back to Earth and Wano Country first, and see everyone."
"Then--"
He looked at the Straw Hat Pirates:
"Take me to your adventure."
"Didn't we agree that once I finished my work, you'd take me to see the New World you found?"
Luffy grinned, his eyes shining like stars:
"Let's go!"
"First stop--"
He pointed to the depths of the starry sky, where there lay a star that had never been explored:
"--That singing sun!"
The New Thousand Sunny raises its sails and sets sail on a new voyage.
Behind them, the Freedom Alliance fleet slowly dispersed, each returning to their homeland.
But they knew that no matter how far apart they were, they were connected by the same will.
free.
responsibility.
Inheritance.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Allen felt the new power within him, the steady pulse of the two universes, and the laughter of his companions.
He thought of Ace, he thought of Shanks, he thought of all those who had sacrificed their lives.
whisper:
Did you see that?
"We did it."
From the depths of the starry sky, laughter seemed to echo in response.