Help Needed: Creating Damage Display Numbers After Modifying/Deleting Read-Only VariableSettings Node's taken_damage/value

ACTION GAME MAKER Questions
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1

Currently, I have modified or deleted the taken_damage/value in the read-only VariableSettings node, and I’m stuck on creating damage display numbers.
I’ve followed a tutorial to create a simple Label that can read the taken_damage/value from my own VariableSettings node, but now I’m facing two issues:

  1. I can’t figure out how to read the taken_damage/value from another object’s VariableSettings node across objects.
  2. I’m unsure about how to set up the trigger conditions for this.
    Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

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Here is the current code:

extends Node2D

@onready var label: Label = $Label
@onready var variable_settings = $"VariableSettings"  # Assuming VariableSettings is a sibling node in the parent

var position_tween: Tween
var scale_tween: Tween
var fade_tween: Tween

func _ready() -> void:
    scale = Vector2.ZERO
    # Get the taken_damage/value from the VariableSettings node
    var damage_amount = variable_settings.get("taken_damage/value")
    display_damage_text(damage_amount)

func display_damage_text(damage_amount: float) -> void:
    # Cancel any existing animations
    if position_tween != null and position_tween.is_valid():
        position_tween.kill()
    if scale_tween != null and scale_tween.is_valid():
        scale_tween.kill()

    # Set the damage text
    label.text = str(damage_amount)
    label.modulate = Color.WHITE  # Reset opacity

    # Generate random offset (X: -10 to 10 pixels, Y: unchanged)
    var random_offset = Vector2(randf_range(-10, 10), 0)

    # Create all tweens
    position_tween = create_tween().set_parallel(false)  # Sequential animation
    scale_tween = create_tween().set_parallel(false)
    fade_tween = create_tween()

    # Phase 1: Pop effect (scale up + move up + random offset)
    scale_tween.tween_property(self, "scale", Vector2.ONE, 0.2)
    position_tween.tween_property(
        self, "global_position",
        global_position + Vector2.UP * 16 + random_offset,
        0.3
    )

    # Phase 2: Continue moving up + fade out
    position_tween.tween_property(
        self, "global_position",
        global_position + Vector2.UP * 40 + random_offset,
        0.3
    )
    fade_tween.tween_property(label, "modulate:a", 0.0, 0.4)  # Fade to 0 opacity

    # Phase 3: Shrink (synchronized with fade)
    scale_tween.tween_property(self, "scale", Vector2.ZERO, 0.4)