There was no sound.
No explosion.
Lucian Thorn's mind went completely blank.
It no longer felt like he was standing in a mountain valley. In an instant, he had been thrown into the furnace of the universe, into the core of a star!
Endless light and heat erupted within every corner of his body.
And then—half a second later—a pain unlike anything he could describe ripped through his soul.
Every single nerve ending was screaming at his brain, sending signals that far exceeded the very concept of "pain."
This wasn't burning.
"AAAGH—!"
A guttural roar burst out from deep within Lucian's throat.
He collapsed to his knees with a heavy thud, his fingers clawing into the ground. The solid stone beneath him crumbled into dust beneath his grip.
His body convulsed violently. Beneath his skin, golden cracks spread like wildfire—like a porcelain vase on the verge of shattering.
From those cracks, there was no blood.
Only blinding light, so intense it couldn't be looked at directly.
"It… hurts… so much…"
Lucian clenched his jaw. Each word felt like it was being forced out between his teeth.
He felt his soul being torn apart inch by inch, thrown into a sea of golden fire, burned, crushed, and reformed.
This pain surpassed any torture he had experienced in this life—or his previous one.
It was destruction and rebirth—at the level of his cells, his genes, even his soul.
Across the valley.
Even Whitebeard's mountainous figure had gone rigid.
For the first time, those sharp eyes that had seen through the world showed deep, unshakable worry and heartache.
He could sense it clearly—Lucian's life force was plummeting at an alarming rate, on the verge of disappearing altogether.
And at the same time, a new, terrifying energy was surging from deep within Lucian's body—divine, destructive, and monstrous.
This was a breaking point.
A mortal body daring to house the power of a god—this was a madman's trial.
If he succeeded, he would ascend in one leap and become a Sun God walking among mortals.
If he failed, his entire being—body and soul—would vanish from this world without even a trace.
"Kid…"
Whitebeard growled under his breath, the veins bulging along his muscular arms. He instinctively stepped forward, Murakumo Giri gripped tightly in hand, ready to strike down the power raging within Lucian if needed.
He couldn't just stand there and watch his beloved son be devoured by his own strength!
But just as he was about to act—
In the center of the valley, the figure enveloped in endless golden light—trembling, curled in pain—suddenly lifted his head.
Lucian's face was twisted by agony, his eyes bloodshot, but deep within those crimson lines… burned a flame that would never die.
"Pops!"
He used every ounce of strength in his body to roar in Whitebeard's direction.
"Don't come any closer!"
His voice was hoarse but full of unwavering resolve.
"This pain…"
"I can take it!"
As if responding to his determination, the golden light in his body blazed even brighter!
This time, it wasn't just heat and light.
A crushing pressure erupted from Lucian's body, sweeping through the entire valley like a tsunami!
Crack! Crack-crack!
The ground beneath him split open, vast spiderweb-like fissures spreading in every direction!
Whitebeard stopped in his tracks.
He watched that golden figure struggle, never falling—watched those eyes, burning with unyielding spirit, despite the pain threatening to drown him.
His massive hands slowly loosened, then tightened again around Murakumo Giri.
The worry and pain remained—but now, it was mixed with pride and admiration.
This… this was truly a son worthy of Edward Newgate's recognition.
A pirate who could fight beside him—and shake the world.
"Gurararara…"
Whitebeard took a step back, arms folding once more across his chest. But this time, his aura was heavier, more focused.
He chose to respect Lucian's will.
He would stay and witness—with his own eyes—the birth of a new powerhouse.
Or… to send him off.
Center of the valley.
Lucian no longer resisted.
He gave up trying to suppress the power—he opened himself completely, letting the divine flames consume his body and soul.
The pain didn't stop.
It grew worse—a thousand times more intense.
His consciousness began to drown in an endless sea of gold.
Countless foreign memories and ancient visions surged into his mind like a tidal wave.
He saw the birth of the universe.
He felt the power of the sun.
A force far beyond all things—representing light, life, purification, and at the same time… destruction and finality.
This was the true power of the [Mutated: Sun God Apollo Fruit]!
Unlike other Devil Fruits that simply empowered the user—
This one transformed him.
Elevated him.
It was forcibly pulling a mortal man toward the realm of gods.
And the price of that transformation…
Was a level of pain that could crush any warrior alive in an instant.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH—!"
Lucian could no longer hold back. He let out a scream that didn't even sound human.
His entire body began to levitate, wrapped in a massive, growing sphere of golden light.
The surface of the orb shimmered with raging, fiery runes, and the pressure it emitted distorted and warped the surrounding space.
In seconds, the temperature of the valley skyrocketed to an inhuman degree!
The rocky ground glowed red-hot—and began to melt.
Whitebeard had to coat his body in Armament Haki just to resist the overwhelming heat and pressure.
He stared at the ever-brightening golden "sun," his expression darker than ever.
He could sense it—Lucian's life force was hanging by a thread.
Like a flickering candle in a raging storm.
This would be the deciding moment.
And then—
The massive golden orb suddenly contracted!
All the raging energy, all the blinding light, the destructive aura—
It was all sucked back inward, flooding violently into Lucian's body!
The valley was plunged back into darkness.
Only the shattered, scorched ground remained—to prove what had just occurred was real.
High above.
Lucian's figure slowly reappeared.
He hovered silently in the air.
His eyes remained closed.
He didn't move.