The thick fog that had shrouded the sky above Thriller Bark was actually beginning to disperse!
"...!"
"It's too soon! We still had a sliver of hope with the fog..."
"Who's behind this? Why is the fog clearing at a time like this? Now the morning sunlight will shine straight down!"
Barn frowned at the sight and asked Usopp in a low voice.
"Usopp, how long until dawn?"
Usopp answered immediately.
"Less than ten minutes! Mr. Barn! What do we do?"
Barn merely smiled. His hand returned to the First-Generation Onikiri, which he had just sheathed, and he said calmly.
"Ten minutes... that's enough."
"Mr. Barn? What are you going to do?"
Usopp asked in surprise as Barn gripped his sword, his fighting spirit steadily rising.
The corners of Barn's mouth curled upward.
"What else? I'm going to take him down!"
Hearing Barn's words, Sanji stamped out his cigarette, Zoro raised the three swords he had never sheathed, and Franky adjusted his glasses with a strange laugh.
"It's our only choice. Rather than stand here waiting for the sunlight to turn us to ash, we should at least get Luffy's shadow back into his body before dawn!"
"Sanji... Zoro... Franky..."
Usopp stared in surprise at the three men as they readied themselves. Then he smiled too, tightening his grip on his Special Slingshot as he looked at the fallen Oars.
"Then let's get moving!"
"It seems we have no other choice."
Robin stepped forward with a smile as well.
"Everyone..."
Still holding the chain, Chopper also broke into a smile.
Just then, something unexpected happened... Moria's laughter rang out!
"Kishishishi... things never go quite as planned! What a lovely, clear night sky... looks like dawn is almost here!"
Barn frowned at the voice, while Usopp cried out in shock.
"M-Moria!