Chapter 677 United as One
Chapter 677 United as One
"Finally, and most importantly," Linus took a deep breath and looked at me. "About how we can work together to face the ultimate threat from the Deep Sea Fissures that still exists. We know that although The Lord of Cracks was severely wounded, it wasn't completely destroyed. It could come back at any time. Besides The Lord of Cracks, we don't know if there are other similar, or even more terrifying higher-dimensional beings in our universe. Our association has accumulated a massive amount of research data on the deep sea, alternate dimensions, and various unknown energies and life forms over the past few hundred years. We're willing to share this knowledge and technology with the Guardian Alliance, within limits. We hope to work with you to establish a tighter and more effective global defense system, to protect our home together."
The conditions Linus proposed were indeed tempting.
But I remained very cautious.
From deep in Linus's eyes, I could see a hint of wariness.
Although they appeared humble on the surface, talking about cooperation, deep down, they probably still saw those of us with extraordinary powers as potential threats.
This so-called cooperation might just be bait they threw out to lull us into complacency, or to better exploit us later.
"Linus," I looked at him, "your proposal does sound appealing. The Earth Guardian Alliance has always been willing to cooperate openly. Before we discuss specific cooperation, I think we need more time and deeper mutual understanding. After all, trust needs to be built on equality and honesty, doesn't it?"
My words were polite, but they clearly conveyed my position.
Cooperation was possible, but if they wanted to control us through it, they could forget it.
Linus and his delegation left Mist Island temporarily with my answer, returning to their secret base in the North Atlantic.
This was just the beginning.
There would definitely be more confrontations and scheming between us and the association in the future.
Their true purpose hidden behind the mask of cooperation, and their designs on Pandora's Box, would eventually show themselves again.
But at least we'd bought ourselves some time to recover our strength, improve our abilities, and prepare for bigger crises ahead.
After sending off those unwelcome guests from the association, I immediately locked myself in a meditation chamber in the deepest part of Tide Eye's core fortress.
That place had the most concentrated ocean and stellar energy on all of Mist Island, making it perfect for meditation and recovering my strength.
The battles with The Lord of Cracks' will projection and Night Owl's fused mechanical beast—although we won in the end, they were all narrow victories that left my Star Sea Divine Authority, as well as my soul and body, damaged.
Especially that final activation of Pandora's Box, which nearly shattered my soul.
If Olivia and Wendy hadn't used Chaos Star Power and Cradle Heart's life essence to save me in time, I'd probably be dead already.
I sat down cross-legged and entered meditation.
The Stellar Trident in my hand and the Heart of the Tide connected to my soul both began glowing blue under my will.
I started trying to sort out and stabilize the chaotic Star Sea Divine Authority that had been disrupted by activating Pandora's Box.
That power, though strong, was also full of unknowns.
Every time I used it, it was like dancing on a knife's edge—one wrong move could hurt myself.
Just as my consciousness sank to the deepest part of my soul, trying to understand and control that forbidden power from Pandora's Box and its impact on my Star Sea Divine Authority, an unexpected change occurred.
The Heart of the Tide, which had been quietly resting in my soul's sea of consciousness, suddenly began shaking violently.
Then, a powerful emerald energy wave surged up from deep beneath Mist Island, from the energy node connected to Cradle Heart.
It resonated strongly with my Heart of the Tide.
The miniature Gaia Heart I'd accidentally activated in the Atlantis ruins also awakened at this moment, called by these two complementary powers from the same source.
It emitted an earthy yellow glow that intertwined with the Heart of the Tide's blue divine light and Cradle Heart's green life light, attracting each other.
Finally, they slowly merged into an energy sphere radiating rainbow colors.
The Heart of the Tide, Cradle Heart, and the imprint of the miniature Gaia Heart—these three things, representing the ocean and stars, earth and life, and the planet's essential rhythm, achieved the deepest level of resonance and fusion at this moment.
This wasn't just an energy response.
I could feel that this was more like the fundamental will of the planet beneath our feet calling to me, recognizing me.
I wasn't just a guardian of the ocean and stars, but a Child of Gaia chosen by this planet.
In this wonderful state, the stellar bloodline within me was also baptized and awakened by a higher power, beginning to undergo earth-shattering changes.
My perception broke through the limits of body and soul, extending infinitely.
I could see inside Blue Star, those surging underground energy lines and flows—they were the planet's blood vessels, nourishing all things.
I could hear in the deep sea, those turbulent ocean currents—they were the planet's breathing, regulating the climate.
I could even touch the Gaia consciousness network that enveloped the entire planet.
It was a massive living entity formed by the collective consciousness and essential will of all life on this planet over billions of years.
At this moment, I seemed to merge with the entire planet.
I could feel its joy, sorrow, and anger, and the tremendous trauma and pain it was suffering because of The Lord of Cracks' arrival.
Although we'd temporarily driven back The Lord of Cracks, the damage it caused to our world was far more serious than we thought.
The dimensional residue it left behind was still constantly eroding our world's spatial barriers and laws.
Those spatial rifts it tore open had been temporarily contained, but they still remained like scars that wouldn't heal on Blue Star's body.
They could tear open again at any time, dragging us into an even deeper abyss.
And the association's insane Ark Project, though we destroyed it, had also caused immeasurable effects on the planet's energy balance and geomagnetic stability.
If we couldn't find a way to resolve these hidden dangers soon, what awaited us was still irreversible destruction.
"I understand now," I slowly opened my eyes. "Guarding isn't just about fighting and killing, but more importantly about understanding, repairing, and creating. As the Child of Gaia chosen by this planet, I have both the responsibility and the duty to heal its wounds, repair the broken laws, and protect its last spark of life and hope."