"Nekomamushi!"
Inuarashi's desperate cry echoed across the deck; Nekomamushi's lifeless body lay before him.
Seeing this, Marco rushed forward, blue flames erupting around him as he activated Phoenix's power, attempting to heal Nekomamushi.
It was futile.
Nekomamushi was beyond saving.
Anger contorted Marco's face.
"Damn it! That Lloyd… he actually dared—"
A breeze brushed past his pineapple-shaped head, freezing him in place.
Slowly, he raised his gaze.
Lloyd looked down at him, ruby eyes scanning him as though he were an insect.
Before Marco could react, Lloyd's right hand turned pitch black and clamped onto his shoulder.
A sharp cracking sound accompanied his scream as he hit the deck, black smoke curling from his crushed shoulder blade.
Marco tried to summon Phoenix flames, but nothing appeared.
Inuarashi, roused by the pain, dragged his weakened body forward.
Gripping his sword, he stabbed toward Lloyd.
"Bastard! I will fight you to the death!"
Clap!
Lloyd swatted casually, sending Inuarashi's sword spinning into the deck.
Desperation coursed through Inuarashi.
Lloyd's finger now pointed at his forehead, just as before.
"Stop! Two-Sword Style: Samurai Charm Great Soul!"
Oden finally arrived, clothes tattered, skin burned, two wounds on his abdomen glowing faintly golden.
Behind him, Kizaru supported Akainu, both panting from exhaustion.
Akainu had pressed his magma attacks fiercely, but Oden's skill had forced him into overexertion, leaving visible wounds across his torso.
Oden's full focus was on Lloyd, giving Akainu a reprieve.
He raised the Demon Blade Muramasa, pointing it at the exact intersection of Oden's crossed swords.
His Moon God transformation amplified his strength to terrifying levels, while Oden, weakened and injured, could barely match him.
Silver electric light coiled around Lloyd's hand and Muramasa, enveloping Oden.
The scent of burning filled the air.
Oden gritted his teeth, shaking off Muramasa's assault, and in a sudden move, bypassed Lloyd entirely.
With Lloyd's focus momentarily elsewhere, he scooped up Inuarashi and Marco, one under each arm, and leapt toward the Moby Dick.
He was retreating.
Lloyd's brow furrowed.
In a flash, he disappeared from his previous location, moving with inhuman speed.
---
On the Moby Dick
Whitebeard's fists slammed the air with deafening force, shockwaves throwing Zephyr and Garp back.
Whitebeard tilted his head back, roaring with booming laughter.
But it abruptly stopped.
"Lloyd!"
Whitebeard froze.
Oden appeared in the sky, injuries evident, and a violent aura surged around him.
"Oden!? Who dared hurt you like this!?"
Before Oden could respond, crackling energy sounded behind him.
Lloyd had caught up, Muramasa glowing with silver electricity and Armament Haki, striking down with a devastating blow.
Oden, still carrying Marco and Inuarashi, could only defend with Armament Haki.
The attack was overwhelming; Lloyd's transformed power rendered Oden's defense paper-thin.
Whitebeard, Garp, and Zephyr watched in stunned silence as Lloyd's strike severed Oden's left arm, along with Inuarashi, who fell to the deck with a dull thud.
Garp nudged Zephyr.
"Who is he? One of your students?"
Zephyr shook his head, then nodded cautiously.
"That… that is Lloyd, my student. The strongest one."
"What?! A cadet challenging Whitebeard's Second Division Commander?"
Even Zephyr faltered at the revelation.
The Whitebeard Pirates had a wide gap between the Captain and the crew.
Oden was their most powerful member aside from Whitebeard.
And now, a Navy cadet had nearly defeated him.
Marco, least injured, began recovering slowly with his Devil Fruit powers, dragging Oden to Whitebeard's side.
His voice choked with tears.
"Old Man… Nekomamushi… he was killed… by that Navy cadet!"
Whitebeard's face darkened, veins bulging.
The Moby Dick trembled under his rising fury.
Lloyd, however, remained unnervingly calm.
Unlike other Mink Tribe members, he did not rage after transforming.
He clearly understood that even in his Moon God form, he was no match for a furious Whitebeard.
---