Having absorbed the energy of the Temporal Resonance Crystal Ore, Pluton's navigation method underwent a subtle change. It no longer merely tore through space to leap; more often, it glided along the boundary between reality and spacetime, like an elegant ghost, sensing and evading any surveillance network Imu might have laid. Sabo's Omniscient Domain, combined with Pluton's new sensory system, charted a route that bypassed major Order strongholds, pointing towards a dangerous sea marked on official nautical charts as "Endless Whirlpools and the Lost Realm"—the Sea of Mists of Mists.
According to information pieced together by Robin from Poneglyph and scattered legends of the Resistance, the Sea of Mists was once the birthplace of a highly advanced ancient civilization that lived in harmony with nature. This civilization was not known for its military might, but rather for its ability to utilize the environment and communicate with all things. However, in the "Great Purge" eight hundred years ago, it was completely erased from history, leaving behind only this sea shrouded in Eternal Mist, with chaotic magnetic fields and unpredictable currents, like a scar on the world that refuses to heal.
"Where Imu tries so hard to cover things up, fragments of the truth are often hidden." Robin stared intently at the thickening, milk-like fog ahead, her eyes resolute.
Pluton entered the fog, visibility plummeted to extremely low levels. Ordinary navigation techniques became completely ineffective here, and even Sabo's Omniscient Domain was severely disrupted, as if the fog contained some kind of power that absorbed and distorted perception. Only Allen's enhanced Time Perception and Pluton's own connection to the ley line energy could barely provide direction.
"The spacetime here is... fragmented." Allen closed his eyes, sensing, his brow furrowed. "Not chaotic, but like a shattered mirror, each fragment reflecting a different point in time. Some are echoes of the past, some... even fleeting glimpses of the future."
Suddenly, Pluton trembled slightly, and a vast shadow vaguely appeared in the thick fog ahead—not an island, but a strange structure woven from countless enormous, decaying corals and petrified trees, like the skeleton of a sunken city, partly above the sea and partly hidden beneath the mist. An atmosphere of sorrow and desolation permeated the air.
"It's a ruin!" Nami exclaimed (if she were on the ship).
Just as Pluton cautiously approached, something unexpected happened.
The surrounding mist was not water vapor, but began to condense and deform! It transformed into countless blurry, semi-transparent humanoid or beast-like shapes, emitting silent roars as they rushed towards Pluton! They passed through the deck, not as physical attacks, but they sent a chill down everyone's spine and a powerful emotional shock through them—fear, despair, resentment, and deep longing.
"It's a lingering will!" Sabo immediately analyzed. "It's the intense emotions of the ancient inhabitants of this land in their final moments, combined with this peculiar mist, forming a ghost-like entity! Physical attacks are ineffective!"
Luffy's fist pierced through the mist, but to no avail. Ace's flames could only be temporarily dispelled, not destroyed. They were endless, constantly assaulting everyone's spirits.
What's more troublesome is that these thought entities seem to be able to trigger the deepest negative emotions and memory illusions within a person.
Luffy witnessed the moment Ace fell during the Paramount War;
Ace saw Whitebeard's battered and bruised back;
Sabo witnessed the fire that destroyed the Goa Kingdom and the pain of losing his brother;
Allen witnessed the devastation of his homeland Paradis Island...
Even Pluton himself seemed to be affected, his ship trembling slightly, as if recalling the dark years when he was forcibly controlled by Imu and used for destruction.
"This won't do! We'll be dragged into the Abyss of illusion!" Sabo endured his headache, struggling to maintain clarity in his Omniscient Domain.
"They... aren't attacking us..." Allen suddenly spoke, his silver eyes reflecting countless shattered fragments of time and light, "They are... crying for help. They are reliving the fear of their destruction, yearning to be understood, yearning for someone to remember their existence!"
He tried to stop Resistance and instead slowly released his Power of Time, which had become more gentle and inclusive after being tempered by the Temporal Resonance Crystal Ore. This power was like a warm stream, gently brushing over those frenzied mental entities.
A miracle happened.
The violent actions of the consciousness entities touched by the Power of Time gradually subsided. Their blurred faces seemed to become clearer, and their silent roars began to transform into fragmented images and intermittent emotional fluctuations, flooding into Allen's mind and, through his connection with Pluton, being vaguely shared with others:
• A prosperous past: Cities coexisted with forests and corals, people interacted with exotic marine mammals and plants, and made use of natural energy for survival.
• A rain of fire falls from the sky: A colossal warship (the primordial Pluton? or some other Ancient Weapon ) suddenly appears and launches an indiscriminate attack.
• The struggle and end of civilization: The ancient inhabitants tried to pray for peace through their communication skills, but to no avail. In the end, the entire continent was sunk, the survivors were hunted down, and history was erased.
• The final obsession: longing for their homeland, anger towards the invaders, and the strongest desire—"to remember us."
"I... I saw it..." Luffy's smile vanished, his eyes heavy. "So... Imu has been doing the same thing from the very beginning..." Ace clenched his fist. Sabo remained silent, focusing all his efforts on recording and analyzing these fragmented pieces of history, filling in the gaps in the main Poneglyph.
"They need rest," Allen said softly, "But they cannot rest, for even their existence has been denied."
Robin stepped forward, crossed his arms over his chest, and in a gesture perhaps learned from Poneglyph —a sign of respect for this ancient civilization—proclaimed loudly, "We heard you! We saw you! We will remember you! Your civilization will not be completely erased by Imu! It will be passed down by us!"
Her voice contained determination and sincerity, as if it carried a certain power.
Pluton seemed to understand, and the light in the core control room softened, radiating a wave of soothing and promise.
The mental entities ceased their movements; they circled Pluton, as if confirming something. Finally, the intense, overwhelming sorrow gradually dissipated, transforming into a sense of relief and a gentle gratitude.
Countless points of light rose from the mist, like stars flowing against the current, slowly ascending into the sky before finally dissipating at the top of the mist. The traces of their existence did not completely disappear, but rather transformed into pure spiritual energy and historical imprints, merging into the Pluton ship itself, especially into the newly fused Temporal Resonance Crystal Ore.
On the silver-gray hull of Pluton, subtle pale blue patterns, resembling ancient coral and vines, quietly emerged. Its aura became deeper and heavier, as if carrying more memories and responsibilities. Its stealth capabilities were greatly enhanced, even capable of simulating an energy signature similar to a misty environment.
The thick fog gradually dissipated, revealing the entire ruins. Although dilapidated, they were no longer eerie; instead, they possessed a tragic and serene beauty.
The allied forces did not linger, but they took with them a heavy promise and a precious historical legacy. Pluton was no longer just a ship; it began to truly become a moving historical ark, a beacon against Imu's lies and a guardian of diversity.
"The next target," Sabo's gaze drifted into the distance, his Omniscient Domain combined with Pluton's new senses pointing to a new coordinate, "To find more buried truths and awaken more forgotten voices."
Pluton trembled slightly, then silently slid into the depths of the mist to continue its journey. The new patterns on its hull glowed faintly, as if whispering to the slumbering ocean.