Under the sudden attack of the mysterious black fleet, Pluton fought and retreated, barely managing to hide in a strange star field filled with even more chaos and huge crystalline debris thanks to Allen's " Severed Realm " and Sabo's emergency command. The spatial folds here were exceptionally complex, which temporarily shook off the pursuers, but also made Pluton completely lose his way, like a small boat trapped in a spacetime labyrinth.
Inside the core control room, the atmosphere was heavy. The external threat had been temporarily averted, but the internal problems were severe— Pluton needed to be completely repaired, Allen needed to regain his power, and the road ahead was unknown.
"This can't go on," Allen said weakly, his deep purple eyes fixed on the illusory image of the Emerald Mother Tree. "We're too passive. I need... to master the power of the Torch Dragon more quickly." He could only use that immense power, which originated from the Creation of Heaven and Earth, in a rudimentary way, at a huge cost and difficult to control.
As if responding to his desire, the illusory light of the Emerald Mother Tree suddenly intensified, resonating strongly with the surrounding patterns representing the Sea of Mists, the Emerald Star, and even the gold of Tesoro. The Whispers of All Spirits within Pluton became high-pitched and unified, no longer chaotic wailing, but converging into a clear stream of intent that surged toward Allen.
At the same time, the dormant Power of Zhulong within Allen spontaneously became active, resonating with the Whispers of All Spirits.
"This is..." Robin stared in astonishment at the scene, "The civilization imprint carried by Pluton seems to be responding to Allen!"
Sabo's Omniscient Domain detected the energy flow. "They're pointing to... a region deep within Pluton! A region that even my authority cannot fully perceive!"
Guided by the Whispers of All Spirits and drawn by the Power of Zhulong, Allen involuntarily stood up and walked towards a previously smooth and seamless wall at the back of the control room. As he approached, the wall rippled like water, revealing a spiral staircase extending downwards, composed of energy and an unknown metal.
" Allen?" Luffy, a little worried. "I'll be right back." Allen turned back and gave everyone a reassuring look. "Perhaps this is the answer Pluton, or rather, those lost civilizations, are giving me."
He resolutely stepped into the passage. At the end of the stairs was not a traditional room, but a peculiar spherical space. There were no lights here, but the surrounding walls seemed to be made of flowing stars and ever-changing aurora borealis. Under his feet was a smooth, mirror-like black surface, reflecting the flowing cosmic scene above. In the center of the space, a fist-sized sphere of light constantly shifted between transparency and purplish-blue.
The sense of time and space here is extremely distorted, as if a single step could traverse a thousand years, and you could reach out and touch the distant stars.
" The Temporal Interstice..." Allen understood the name of this place. This was a peculiar space that Pluton simulated using the Temporal Resonance Crystal Ore and his own core, combined with countless imprints of civilizations, and was close to the origin of spacetime.
As soon as he stepped into the central area, the ever-changing sphere of light suddenly burst forth with intense light!
First Trial: The Weight of Time
The scene before Allen's eyes changed abruptly! He felt as if he had been thrown into the deepest part of the river of time, where countless fragments of history—the birth, prosperity, war, and destruction of civilizations—pressed down on his consciousness like heavy mountains! It wasn't just watching; he felt as if he had personally experienced countless deaths and rebirths, joys and despairs! This was the weight of all the memories of civilizations contained in the Whispers of All Spirits, enough to crush the spirit of any ordinary person in an instant!
"Ugh!" Allen groaned, collapsing to his knees, his silver hair (or perhaps discolored due to the power) instantly soaked with sweat. But he didn't break down; the power of the Time-Time Fruit had long since made him accustomed to the flow of time, Torch Dragon's high status allowed him to barely bear this weight. He forced himself to open his eyes, his dark purple vertical pupils burning, no longer resisting, but beginning to try to understand, to sort out, and to bear this weight. He regarded this vast torrent of memories as the natural changes of the world from Torch Dragon's perspective.
After an unknown amount of time (perhaps a moment, perhaps millennia), the heavy pressure gradually lessened, and he successfully withstood the first wave of impact.
Second Trial: The Labyrinth of Space
As soon as the pressure subsided, the surrounding space instantly shattered, spun, and folded like a kaleidoscope! Up, down, left, and right lost their meaning, and cause and effect became chaotic. He felt as if he had been divided into countless pieces, scattered in different spatial fragments. This was the chaotic aspect of the essence of space, enough to make any being lose itself and be forever trapped in Void.
Allen felt intense dizziness and a tearing sensation. He instinctively tried to use " Severed Realm " to forcibly stabilize himself, but found that his power was difficult to gather here. He recalled the legend of Torch Dragon —open eyes for day, closed eyes for night, Definition light and darkness, and dividing the boundaries of time and space.
He closed his eyes, no longer using them to observe the chaotic space, but instead using his heart to feel the primordial power within the Power of Zhulong that Definition order and distinguished between purity and turbidity. He imagined himself as the Torch Dragon, creating something from Chaos and giving space "rules" and "form."
Gradually, the chaotic spatial fluctuations around him began to become orderly, centered on him. Although still changing, they were no longer filled with malice. He had successfully found his "coordinates" in the chaos.
The Third Trial: The Heart of Light and Darkness
The final trial has arrived. The central sphere of light no longer changes, but instead splits into an extremely pure white and a deep, Void black. The two forces intertwine and collide, both opposing and symbiotic. They represent the two powers of the Torch Dragon: "Opening its eyes" and "closing its eyes," which are both the light of creation and the darkness of return to nothingness.
The white light shone forth, bringing endless knowledge, truth, and cold, absolute rationality, tempting him to merge into this omniscient realm, yet demanding the stripping away of all emotions. The black light spread out, bringing boundless Void, silence, and the allure of the end of all things, inviting him to sink into eternal slumber and abandon all struggle.
This is the ultimate test of one's character. Those who control time and space, if their hearts are inclined towards absolute rationality, may become cold gods like Imu; if their hearts are inclined towards Void, they may transform into demons that destroy everything.
Standing at the center where light and darkness intertwined, Allen, having experienced the Weight of Time and the Labyrinth of Space, was utterly clear-headed. He remembered the smiles of his comrades, the tears of the sacrificed, the resentment of the destroyed civilization, and his own determination to protect the present and create the future.
"Light and darkness are both my power, not my master." He spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness. "I don't need to become an omniscient god, nor do I need to fall into the abyss of Void. I only need to become Allen, and use this power to protect the 'present' I cherish, and to create the 'future' I desire!"
He reached out his hand, no longer resisting or being greedy, but accepting the power of light and darkness with a mindset of inclusiveness and balance!
Buzz--!
The forces of light and darkness flowed gently into his body like rivers flowing into the sea, perfectly merging with his original Power of Time and the essence of the Torch Dragon. The phantom of the dragon horn on his forehead became more solid, and in his dark purple vertical pupils, his left eye seemed to shimmer with white light containing boundless knowledge, while his right eye was as deep as a black hole, seemingly capable of devouring everything. He had begun to grasp the rudimentary powers of the Torch Dragon to " Definition light" and "control darkness."
The light in the spherical space gradually subsided, restoring the original appearance of the flowing stars. Allen stood in place, his aura restrained yet unfathomable. Although his body was still weak, his understanding and control of his own power had entered a completely new realm.
He walked out of the " Temporal Interstice " and returned to the control room. Only a moment may have passed outside, but to him it felt as if he had undergone a long baptism.
"How is it?" Everyone gathered around with concern.
Allen nodded slightly, a new light shining in his eyes. "You've got the basics down... Now it's your turn. Pluton has prepared trials for us all."
He looked at Luffy, Ace, Sabo... The whisper of the Pluton echoed once more, and different passages slowly opened in different areas. The path to becoming stronger for each of them had only just begun.