In the Ed War Sea Area, Roger and Lloyd had already withdrawn their Haoshoku Haki.
The violent pressure that had crushed the sky moments ago faded gradually, leaving only a tense silence across the ocean.
The two men stood at the bows of their respective ships, staring at each other with deep, unreadable expressions.
Both of them were thinking the same thing.
He has become stronger.
Lloyd was not surprised by this realization. Roger had already become the Pirate King recognized by the world. It was only natural that his aura would grow even more powerful. Furthermore, Roger had truly reached Laugh Tale, the final island of the Grand Line. No one knew what he had discovered there, but it would not be strange if that journey had allowed him to reach a higher level.
Roger, however, was thinking something else.
No wonder Lloyd had remained quiet during this period.
So he had been training.
Otherwise, how could his strength have increased so dramatically once again?
In truth, Roger's guess was correct.
Lloyd had indeed been cultivating during this time.
However, if people discovered his method of cultivation, they would likely cough blood from jealousy.
Because Lloyd's method of training was simple.
Sleeping.
That was correct. As long as the mysterious power within Lloyd's right arm had not been completely absorbed, his body continued to grow stronger even while he slept.
Strength accumulated naturally inside him.
When the oppressive pressure of Haoshoku Haki finally disappeared from the battlefield, the pirates who usually loved shouting and provoking the Navy suddenly became quiet.
Although Roger had blocked most of Lloyd's Haoshoku Haki earlier, a number of weaker pirates had still collapsed unconscious from the lingering shockwaves.
Now the sea was filled with pirate ships and Navy warships, yet the battlefield felt strangely silent.
At that moment, a massive shadow slowly rose beneath the ocean surface.
The dark shape moved steadily through the water, heading directly toward the Navy fleet.
Just as the shadow approached the underside of a warship, Lloyd narrowed his eyes slightly. He lifted one hand toward the ocean below.
A dark vortex formed in his palm.
"Almighty Pull."
A terrifying gravitational force erupted outward.
Several massive columns of seawater spiraled upward, dragged violently from the surface. Along with the water, the enormous creature hidden beneath the ocean was also pulled upward.
When the creature finally emerged into view, shock spread across the battlefield.
It was a Giant.
However, this Giant was absurdly large.
His body towered nearly two hundred meters high, like a living mountain rising above the sea.
Among the Navy's forces were several Giant Rear Admirals from Elbaf, yet their average height was only around twelve meters.
Compared to this colossal monster, they looked like infants.
Even Lloyd's gaze sharpened slightly when he saw the creature.
He clenched his hand lightly.
With his current mastery over dark gravity, controlling a being of such enormous size had become effortless.
The gigantic figure hung suspended in midair.
Across the world, the people watching through the image Den Den Mushi felt even greater shock from this scene than from the Giant's size itself.
The Giant flailed his limbs awkwardly in midair. His obese body made him resemble a massive turtle struggling helplessly.
His brain did not seem particularly sharp.
He muttered loudly in confusion. Because of his size, his voice thundered across the sea like a giant bell.
"This is strange. Wasn't I in the ocean? How did I end up in the sky? Captain Roger, help me..."
On the Oro Jackson, Roger's face darkened.
"What an idiot."
Roger spoke in a low voice while staring at the struggling Giant.
"I told him to wait until the battle began before revealing himself. Now look at him. He ran straight into Admiral Black Dragon's hands."
Rayleigh sighed quietly.
"This guy was never very bright to begin with. What should we do now? Should we rescue him first?"
Before Roger could respond, Lloyd let out a cold sneer.
He flicked his arm.
The giant figure suspended in the air was instantly dragged above the pirate fleet.
Then Lloyd released his control.
The colossal body plummeted from the sky like a falling mountain.
Roger's pupils shrank.
In the next instant, he vanished from the deck and appeared in midair. Busoshoku Haki surged from his body as he struck the falling Giant from a distance, sending the enormous body flying toward Lloyd's side.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
The Demon Blade Muramasa appeared in Lloyd's right hand.
A cold black light flashed through his eyes.
He swung the blade.
A terrifying slash burst forward, a pitch black sword wave stretching across the sky and the sea.
The world watched in horror.
Before the massive Giant could even fly back toward the pirate fleet, the sword energy sliced through his body as easily as cutting tofu.
The enormous figure was split cleanly in half.
Blood poured down like a waterfall.
Chunks of massive organs spilled across the ocean, instantly dyeing the seawater crimson.
Even people watching through projection screens around the world felt nauseated from the gruesome sight.
For those witnessing it directly on the battlefield, the scene was even more horrifying.
Boom.
The two halves of the Giant crashed into the ocean, sending enormous waves surging across the battlefield.
Roger's expression turned grim.
A hint of regret appeared in his eyes.
He should have pushed the Giant farther back.
If the creature had remained hidden beneath the ocean and attacked from behind once the battle began, he might have capsized several Navy warships.
Instead, the Giant had become nothing more than a grotesque spectacle.
Completely useless.
Lloyd glanced down at the floating corpse and scattered organs drifting across the sea.
His expression remained indifferent.
"Nothing more than sea trash."
Then he lifted his gaze toward the pirate fleet.
"So are you."
The pirates immediately erupted in anger.
However, not a single one of them dared to speak.
Every pirate instinctively turned toward Roger.
Roger's face had grown dark as iron.
He gripped the hilt of Ace, his sword pointing toward Lloyd across the battlefield.
His voice was cold and filled with killing intent.
"Kill."
The command echoed across the sea.
Instantly, the pirate fleet surged into action.
Dozens of pirate ships charged forward under heavy cannon fire, rushing toward the Navy warships.
Aramaki raised his arms.
Countless thick vines shot upward into the sky, weaving together rapidly to form an enormous green net.
The incoming cannonballs crashed into the net and were completely blocked.
At the same time, Akainu roared.
His arms transformed into molten magma as he thrust them toward the sky.
A massive amount of magma erupted upward.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Blazing magma rained down across the battlefield like a volcanic storm.
In the air above, Aokiji appeared with a flash of movement. Freezing air spread from his body.
"Ice Age."
The seawater instantly froze solid.
The pirate ships charging forward became trapped in thick ice.
Unable to move, they became perfect targets for Akainu's descending magma.
Explosions echoed across the battlefield.
Ships shattered.
Pirates screamed as molten magma engulfed them.
The sea quickly filled with wails and burning wreckage.
Meanwhile, the Oro Jackson remained perfectly still.
Roger watched the slaughter unfolding before him with a calm expression.
Those pirates were not his companions.
They were merely temporary allies.
Their deaths meant nothing to him.
During this entire exchange, Roger only moved occasionally to destroy a few magma projectiles that threatened the Oro Jackson.
Around the Oro Jackson, many other pirate ships had gathered.
The pirates aboard these ships watched the slaughter of the front line with mocking smiles.
They had no intention of reinforcing the cannon fodder.
These pirates were far stronger, and far more intelligent.
They understood something very clearly.
Charging forward before the main fighters of the Oro Jackson made their move was nothing more than suicide.
A pirate who wished to survive needed to use his brain.
On the Navy's side, Kizaru stood casually with his hands in his pockets.
He watched Akainu and Aokiji wreak havoc across the battlefield.
"Oh my... everyone seems very motivated today. I have nothing to do."
His voice carried its usual lazy tone.
Then Kizaru slowly lifted his gaze toward Roger standing at the bow of the Oro Jackson.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"To capture the thieves, first capture the king."
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Sorry for the late update.
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