With his eyes tightly shut, Barn could not see the blinding light before him, but the searing heat washing over his body registered clearly in his mind.
Yet even facing Kizaru, who had unleashed his awakened Devil Fruit Ability, Barn had spoken those words without a trace of emotion. At that moment, he seemed to have truly become the lofty Thunder God, looking down upon everything and caring for nothing.
Kizaru's figure had now vanished completely. Only a vague body made of rapidly moving photons retained the outline of his original form. The Sabaody Archipelago had also changed entirely, seemingly transformed into a surging ocean of photons. Every building that had stood here had become countless photons, constantly gathering toward Kizaru's body!
Kizaru's voice rang out from the entire space. Yes, the entire space-as though every photon in this ocean of light were a duplicate of Kizaru, speaking with his voice.
"If you think you can do it, go ahead and try. Let me show you the true power of the strongest Devil Fruit-the Logia Glint-Glint Fruit!"
Barn frowned deeply at Kizaru's words. Through his Mind's Eye, he could no longer locate Kizaru at all. Or rather, Kizaru was everywhere. Standing in this ocean of light, Barn experienced the feeling of helplessness for the first time. Just then, the danger-sensing aspect of his Mind's Eye warned him of an approaching threat!
Barn instinctively raised his blade to block, but a massive gash still opened on his sword arm, blood spraying from it without stopping!
"Even faster than light..."
Feeling the pain radiating from his injured arm, Barn murmured to himself. His expression remained calm, but turbulent waves had already risen within his heart!
At that moment, Kizaru's voice once again rang out throughout the entire space.
"The Awakening of my