CHAPTER 10 — Four Idiots and a Vortex The Paradox Core wasn’t a place. It was a decision the universe hadn’t made yet. A swirling vortex of redacted light hovered before them, pulsing like a heartbeat made of missing context. Every few seconds, it flickered into a different shape—a doorway, a spiral, a sentence fragment, a loading bar. Luffy stared at it, eyes sparkling. “Can I eat it?” Spike grabbed his face. “NO. You cannot eat the unstable metaphysical core of a collapsing reality.” Luffy blinked. “Why not?” Jin‑Woo answered calmly. “Because if you eat it, we all die.” Luffy nodded. “Okay! Good reason.” Gojo stepped forward, hands in pockets. “Alright, team. Before we jump into the cosmic blender, we need a plan.” Spike crossed his arms. “Finally. Someone talking sense.” Gojo pointed at himself. “Step one: I look cool.” Spike groaned. “I take it back.” Luffy raised his hand. “Step two: We punch stuff!” Jin‑Woo nodded. “That part is inevitable.” Spike sighed. “Step three: Try not to die.” Luffy grinned. “I’m rubber. I don’t die easy.” Gojo leaned toward Spike. “He’s not wrong.” Spike rubbed his temples. “I’m surrounded by idiots.” Jin‑Woo placed a hand on Spike’s shoulder. “You’re not alone.” Spike looked up. “Thanks, Jin‑Woo.” Jin‑Woo nodded. “I’m surrounded by idiots too.” Gojo burst out laughing. “He got you.” Luffy rolled on the ground laughing like a cartoon tumbleweed. Spike glared. “I hate all of you.” Gojo patted his head. “You love us.” Spike swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch me.” Luffy wrapped Spike in a rubber hug. “GROUP HUG!” Spike: “NO—” Jin‑Woo: “Luffy—” Gojo: “I accept this.” The vortex pulsed violently. Auren’s voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere. “Enter. The Paradox Core awaits.” Gojo stepped forward. “Alright boys… let’s rewrite destiny.” Luffy cracked his knuckles. “Let’s beat up destiny!” Spike’s aura flared. “Let’s finish this.” Jin‑Woo summoned his army. “Let’s hunt.” Together, the four stepped into the vortex— and the world folded around them.
CHAPTER 11 — The Core That Remembers You The Paradox Core was… alive. Not in a biological sense. In a narrative sense. It whispered memories that weren’t theirs. It showed futures that contradicted themselves. It displayed scenes from stories that never happened. Luffy gasped. “WOAH! Look! It’s me as a cowboy!” Gojo squinted. “Why do you have a horse made of noodles?” Luffy shrugged. “I dunno! But it looks tasty!” Spike pointed at another floating memory. “Is that… me? With hair?” Gojo burst out laughing. “You look like a blue hedgehog K‑pop idol.” Spike’s face turned red. “SHUT UP.” Jin‑Woo stared at a vision of himself ruling a kingdom of shadows. He frowned. “This… isn’t my path.” Gojo placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then choose the one you want.” Jin‑Woo looked at him, surprised. “You’re… surprisingly wise.” Gojo smiled. “I contain multitudes.” Luffy nodded. “He contains snacks too!” Gojo blinked. “I do?” Luffy reached into Gojo’s jacket pocket and pulled out a rice ball. Gojo stared. “How long has that been there?” Luffy shrugged. “Long enough!” Spike facepalmed. “We’re going to die.” The Core pulsed again—this time with intent. A voice echoed through the chamber. “You four do not belong here.” Gojo smirked. “We’ve heard that before.” Luffy cracked his knuckles. “And we beat the guy who said it!” Spike stepped forward. “Show yourself.” Jin‑Woo’s shadows rose behind him. “We’re ready.” A shape formed in the center of the Core— not the Sovereign, not a Beast, but something new. A figure made of every version of themselves that never existed. Gojo tilted his head. “Oh. That’s… unsettling.” Luffy pointed. “It’s like a big ‘what if’ monster!” Spike’s aura flared. “It’s the Core’s guardian.” Jin‑Woo drew his blade. “Then we fight.” The creature roared— a sound made of every choice they never made. Gojo cracked his neck. “Alright boys… let’s show destiny why it should fear us.” Luffy grinned. “LET’S GOOOO!” Spike charged. “For truth!” Jin‑Woo’s army surged. “For the path we choose.” The four launched forward together— and the Core trembled at the unity of Infinity, Chaos, Truth, and Shadows.
