The cage of 'Source-Code Steel' felt freezing against Amine's skin. It wasn't just cold metal; it was an absolute void, sucking the energy directly from his core. beside him, Luffy lay completely lifeless, his rubber body looking like a deflated balloon. Smoker, the Marine, was coughing, the smoke escaping his mouth only to be immediately absorbed by the cage bars.
Amine gripped his golden stylus. It was just a heavy piece of metal now. He tried to focus, to channel any bit of 'Ink' from his soul, but the system screen refused to appear.
[Critical Error: Connection to the 'Source' Severed. All Functions Suspended.]
"It's no use, kid," Smoker grunted, leaning against the bars, sweat dripping from his nose. "I've seen all kinds of Seastone, but this... this feels like it's made of anti-matter. It doesn't just block powers; it erases the very memory of having them."
"He... he's deleting our souls," Amine whispered, his voice cracking. He looked at Robin, who was standing outside the cage, her eyes masked by the shadows. She was holding Crocodile's coat, a perfect 'Secondary Character' in the eyes of the Origin Author.
Crocodile, sitting on his gold throne above them, blew a cloud of cigar smoke that formed the shape of an eraser. "That's right, Prophet. You've been so dependent on that pen, you forgot that the 'Ink' comes from within. You're nothing without your system."
Amine felt a rush of despair. He looked at Nami, Zoro, and Usopp, also trapped in a smaller cage beside them. Zoro was trying to cut the bars with Wado Ichimonji, but the blue glow was gone. Shusui was just an ancient, heavy sword now.
"I... I can't protect them," Amine thought, the tears welling up in his eyes. The weight of his responsibility as the 'Author' of this new path felt crushing.
Luffy suddenly mumbled something. Amine leaned in.
"Meat..." Luffy whispered. "Amine... draw me some meat..."
Amine felt a pang of guilt. Luffy didn't understand the rules. He just understood his stomach. But in that guileless request, Amine saw a spark. Luffy's will was so strong, so raw, that the 'Source-Code Steel' couldn't completely delete it.
"He... he is the 'Main Character'..." Amine realized, looking at Luffy's weak form. "His will is the 'Source Code'. If I can't draw for him... maybe I can make him the quill."