Inside the shelter, the damp air mingled with the smell of earth and sweat. The Dadan Family and the four boys crowded into the limited space, the atmosphere heavy.
"So we're being hunted by both the World Government and the nobles' private troops?" Dadan clutched her messy hair, on the verge of a breakdown. "Just how much trouble have you brats gotten yourselves into?"
Allen calmly wiped his short blade. "It's not that bad. The cave collapse should have held CP0 up for a while, and the nobles' troops don't know where this shelter is."
Ace tightened his grip on his pipe, his gaze firm. "We'll protect everyone."
For once, Luffy wasn't making a fuss. His rubber arms stretched and contracted uneasily. "Will those bad guys come back?"
Sabo checked their supplies. "The food and water will last about a week. But if we're trapped here for a long time..."
Most of Allen's attention, however, was focused on the Ark Core tucked against his chest. Ever since they had arrived at the shelter, its pulses had become unusually active, constantly transmitting fragments of information to him.
The main information concerned "Poseidon"-one of the Ancient Weapons, a mermaid princess capable of communicating with and commanding Sea Kings. The core indicated that this era's Poseidon had already been born and was on Fish-Man Island.
But another piece of information concerned Allen even more: somewhere off the coast of the Goa Kingdom, a resonance signal similar to Poseidon's had been detected. It wasn't the real Poseidon, but some kind of... replica? Or perhaps a fragment of Poseidon's power?
The signal was growing stronger and stronger, as though calling out to something.
"Allen?" Sabo's voice brought him back to reality. "Are you all right? You've been distracted for a while now."
Allen came to his senses and found everyone watching him with concern. He managed a smile. "I'm fine. Just thinking about a few things."
Late that night, after everyone else had fallen asleep, Allen quietly took out the Ark Core. Stimulated by the Power of Zhulong, the core projected a detailed holographic nautical chart. The source of the resonance signal was precisely marked-a trench roughly thirty nautical miles southeast of the Goa Kingdom.
I have to investigate. Allen made his decision. This signal was far too unusual. If the World Government discovered it first, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But how do I get there? He was being hunted by two forces now; heading out to sea would be practically walking into a trap. And an ordinary person couldn't reach that depth...
Just then, the core suddenly transmitted new information: "Compatibility detected... beginning modification procedure..."
A strange energy surged out of the core and flowed into Allen's body! The Power of Zhulong circulated automatically, merging with it. Allen felt subtle changes taking place in his body: his lungs changed structure, allowing them to process oxygen more efficiently; his eyes adapted to deep-sea vision; faint scale patterns emerged on his skin, providing greater resistance to water pressure...
Is this... underwater adaptation? The Ark Core was helping him acquire the ability to operate in the deep sea!
The modification process lasted all night. When dawn came, Allen felt completely renewed, with a peculiar affinity for water. He could even faintly sense the pulse of the distant ocean.
"I need to head out to sea," Allen announced to everyone the next morning. "There's something important I have to investigate."
"Out to sea now? That's too dangerous!" Dadan was the first to object. "The harbor is bound to be under tight surveillance!"
Ace's gaze was sharp. "What are you going to do?"
Allen hesitated for a moment, then decided to reveal part of the truth. "I've found an important lead that might be connected to the recent attacks. I have to check it out."
He looked at Ace. "I need your help. The Flame-Flame Fruit's ability can give us some protection at sea."
Ace nodded without hesitation. "I'll go with you."
Sabo rose, leaning on his steel pipe. "I'll go too. One more person means someone else to watch your back."
Luffy hurriedly jumped up. "Me too!"
Allen shook his head. "The more people we have, the easier we'll be to spot. Ace and I will be enough. His ability is best suited to operating at sea. Sabo, your leg hasn't fully healed yet. Stay here and protect everyone. Luffy..." He rubbed his younger brother's rubber head. "You're a Devil Fruit user. Going into the sea is too dangerous."
The plan was settled. That night, Allen and Ace quietly left the shelter and headed for the coast. Rather than using the regular harbor, they chose a secluded stretch of shoreline.
"How are we getting out there?" Ace looked at the dark sea. "It's too far to swim."
Allen pushed a simple wooden raft out of hiding-he had secretly prepared it a few days earlier. "With this. You can use your ability for propulsion if necessary."
The two quietly set out on the raft. Allen adjusted their course according to the core's guidance, while Ace kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
The sea was calm, moonlight spilling across its shimmering surface. But Allen's Observation Haki sensed that things weren't calm beneath the water-some large creature was prowling nearby.
"There's something underneath us." Ace sensed it too, kindling a small ball of flame in his hand as he readied himself.
Suddenly, the raft shook violently! Several enormous tentacles rose from the sea and reached to coil around it!
"A sea monster!" Ace cried out. His flames surged as he tried to drive the tentacles back, but their power was greatly diminished over the sea.
A golden gleam flashed in Allen's eyes as the Power of Zhulong circulated. He tried conveying his will to the sea monster: Back off!
To his surprise, the sea monster visibly hesitated! Its tentacles paused in midair, as though wavering.
It worked! Allen concentrated and sent out an even stronger command: Leave!
The sea monster gave a low hum, slowly sank into the sea, and vanished.
Ace stared, dumbfounded. "You... how did you do that?"
Allen was surprised himself. It seemed the combination of the Ark Core's modifications and the Power of Zhulong had given him some ability to communicate with marine life.
"Just a little trick." Allen brushed it off vaguely. "Let's keep going."
Following the core's guidance, they reached their destination. The water here was an eerie deep blue, as though it led into a bottomless abyss.
"This is it." Allen sensed the energy fluctuations below. "I'll go down and take a look. Keep watch up here. If anything happens, signal me with flames."
Ace looked worriedly at the unfathomable water. "How deep can you dive? This place looks..."
"No problem," Allen said confidently. After the Ark Core's modifications, he felt as well adapted to the underwater environment as a fish.
He took a deep breath and jumped into the sea. The water was icy, but his body quickly adjusted. The Power of Zhulong circulated, and his eyes could still see clearly in the deep sea-even more keenly than on land.
He descended, deeper and deeper. The pressure kept increasing, but his modified body could withstand it completely. Strange deep-sea creatures began appearing around him, giving off faint fluorescent glows.
At last, he saw it-a fissure on the seabed emitting a soft blue light. The resonance signal was coming from there.
Approaching the fissure, Allen was astonished to discover half-buried ruins there! Their style resembled the ancient underground base, but they were older and more dilapidated. At the center stood an altar-like structure, with a crystalline conch resting on it.
The instant Allen reached out and touched the conch, something unexpected happened!
The entire ruin suddenly lit up! Countless luminous patterns spread across the seabed, forming an enormous magic formation. The conch shone brilliantly, and a vast torrent of information flooded Allen's mind!
This time, it was no longer Ancient Script, but images and emotions conveyed directly:
A mermaid princess weeping... the fury of Sea Kings... a flood sweeping across the world... and a figure wearing a straw hat...
Fragments of Poseidon's memories! This conch held some of the previous Poseidon's memories and power!
Even more shocking, Allen saw a familiar figure in the images-Gol D. Roger! He stood in a similar place, also holding a conch, communicating with Sea Kings!
Roger came here too? He also knew the secret of the Ancient Weapons?
The torrent of information was too immense, and Allen felt as though his head would split. The Power of Zhulong circulated automatically, helping him sort through and absorb it.
When he finally recovered, he found that his understanding of the ocean had reached an entirely new level. He could even clearly sense the emotions and intentions of every marine creature around him.
This conch... is it a replica of Poseidon's power created by the Ancient Kingdom? Or a "spare key" meant to maintain contact with the Sea Kings if something happened to the real Poseidon?
I have to take it! Allen made his decision. This treasure, whose existence was unknown to the World Government, absolutely could not fall into their hands.
The instant he removed the conch, the entire ruin began to shake! Without the conch to stabilize it, the ruin seemed about to collapse!
Allen swiftly swam upward, gripping the conch tightly. Thunderous rumbles came from below as the ruins collapsed!
When he broke the surface, the sight before him made his heart sink-two warships had surrounded Ace's raft! One flew the World Government's flag, while the other belonged to the Goa Kingdom nobles' private troops!
"Allen! Run!" Ace shouted, flames blazing in his hands. He had clearly already been through a battle.
But it was too late. Several searchlights converged on Allen, and a broadcast echoed over the sea:
"Put down the object in your hand and surrender immediately!"
Jerome stood at the bow of the government ship, his gaze icy. "Finally found you, brat. Let's see where you can run this time."
Aboard the nobles' ship, a lavishly dressed middle-aged man stared greedily at the conch in Allen's hand. "Is that the treasure causing those abnormal fluctuations? Hand it over, and perhaps I'll leave your corpse intact."
Allen's heart sank to rock bottom. The worst had happened-both forces had arrived at once, surrounding him and Ace at sea with nowhere to escape!
But he didn't panic. The conch in his hand radiated warm energy, resonating with the Ark Core. Deep beneath the sea, some enormous presence was being awakened...
Allen looked at Ace and gave him an odd smile. "Ace, do you trust me?"
Ace froze for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Of course!"
"Then get ready." Allen poured the Power of Zhulong into the conch. "We're in for a thrilling adventure."
The conch suddenly erupted with dazzling light! The entire sea surface began to churn violently as an enormous whirlpool took shape!
"Fire! Open fire!" Orders rang out from both ships at once.
But it was too late. Several colossal creatures were rapidly rising from the depths...
Sea Kings! Deep-sea behemoths awakened by Poseidon's power!
A chaotic battle erupted at sea. What Allen didn't know was that, at the same time, the shelter was also facing a crisis...
Sabo suddenly jolted awake, his Observation Haki sensing several powerful presences rapidly approaching!
"Enemy attack!" he shouted, waking everyone. "Get ready to fight!"
Luffy climbed to his feet, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "What's going on?"
Dadan and the bandits quickly grabbed their weapons and watched the cave entrance warily.
Heavy footsteps came from the passage, and an icy voice rang out:
"Found you. Hand over the ancient legacy, and we'll spare your lives."
A new crisis had arrived.