In mid-air, Lloyd coated Mori's massive head in Armament Haki, then launched it forward with a powerful kick.
Dragon, already struggling under the relentless assault of Admiral Kuzan and Admiral Aramaki, suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine. In the next instant, the massive head slammed into him head-on. Blood burst from his mouth as his body was hurled violently toward the two Admirals.
A savage grin spread across Aramaki's face. In his tree-man form, he swung a massive blackened fist and drove it straight into Dragon.
Boom!
With a deafening impact, Mori's head shattered completely, and Dragon's body dropped to the ground like a broken corpse.
As Dragon tried to push himself up, Admiral Kuzan instantly appeared beside him. Cold air gathered rapidly in his palm, forming a sharp ice spear that he drove through Dragon's remaining right hand, pinning him firmly to the ground.
Dragon cried out in pain, but Kuzan showed no reaction. Two more ice spears formed in quick succession, piercing through both of Dragon's legs and locking him in place.
Gravely wounded, Dragon could no longer use his Logia ability to escape.
Seeing this, Sabo tried to rush in to save him. However, in that brief moment of distraction, two Haki-coated bullets fired by Ginny struck his legs. He collapsed to his knees instantly.
The surrounding Navy soldiers wasted no time. They surged forward, attempting to subdue him.
Sabo roared in defiance, dragging his blood-soaked legs as he faced them head-on.
Moments later...
Thump!
Sabo dropped to his knees once more, his eyes losing focus.
A bullet hole pierced through his forehead. Deep, brutal wounds covered his body, cutting down to the bone, with fragments of his internal organs spilling out.
Not far away, Ginny parted her red lips slightly and blew away the smoke rising from her gun. Vice Admiral Momonga and Vice Admiral Onigumo stood beside Sabo, calmly wiping the blood from their blades.
Since Lloyd had become Fleet Admiral, the Navy's methods had completely changed.
Against enemies like the Revolutionary Army and the Four Emperors' crews, there was only one rule.
Kill without hesitation.
Elsewhere, Lloyd shifted his gaze away from Ginny and looked down at Dragon, who lay beneath his foot.
"Monkey D. Dragon, now that it has come to this, do you regret it?" Lloyd asked, his voice indifferent.
Dragon struggled to lift his head, teeth clenched.
"I don't..."
Splurt!
Lloyd's foot drove down into Dragon's back.
His heart was crushed instantly. Dragon's eyes widened, his voice cut off mid-sentence as a grotesque choking sound escaped his throat. Blood and foam spilled from his mouth as his body twitched.
Nearby, both Admiral Kuzan and Admiral Aramaki subtly stiffened at the sight.
Lloyd lifted his blood-stained foot without a second glance.
"Kuzan, freeze him."
Kuzan said nothing. A surge of freezing air erupted from his body, instantly encasing Dragon in solid ice.
Lloyd gave a slight nod before his figure vanished from sight.
Kuzan and Aramaki turned immediately, charging toward the remaining pirates and Revolutionary Army forces.
Whitebeard had fallen. Dragon was dead.
Now, only linlin remained.
Relying on her monstrous physique, known as the Iron Balloon, she managed to endure the combined assault of two Admirals, though her appearance had grown disheveled.
Her pink dress had been burned down into a short skirt by Lucia's flames. During the battle, glimpses of her massive form were exposed, adding a chaotic intensity to the scene.
A distinct paw-shaped imprint marked her face, clearly left by Kuma.
Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit ability was absurdly powerful. Combined with Lucia's overwhelming offensive capabilities, even linlin found herself pressured.
Clang!
Doom collided with Napoleon. Purple and red flames burned fiercely along both blades, crackling violently as Haki clashed.
Lucia's expression was focused and severe. Her long hair had transformed into flickering purple flames as she pressed forward, locking blades with linlin.
Seizing the moment, Kuma brought his palms together. When he pulled them apart, a miniature paw-shaped bubble formed between his hands.
In an instant, he vanished and reappeared behind linlin, slamming the compressed bubble directly into her back.
The bubble detonated inside her body, releasing a blinding white flash that burst outward through her skin.
Linlin groaned, her strength faltering.
A sharp purple glint flashed in Lucia's eyes. With a decisive strike, she knocked Napoleon from linlin's grasp.
Linlin had not yet recovered from Kuma's internal attack. With her weapon gone, her defenses were completely open.
Lucia unleashed a rapid series of slashes, each one carving deep into linlin's chest.
Under the relentless barrage, her famed defense finally broke.
A massive wound tore across her chest. Blood erupted outward, only to be instantly evaporated by the intense purple flames.
The overwhelming pain snapped linlin back to clarity. Roaring in fury, she raised a pitch-black hand and grabbed hold of doom's blade.
Lucia's eyes widened slightly. She had not expected such raw strength at this point.
With a violent pull, linlin flung her backward.
Mid-air, Lucia spread her wings to stabilize herself. However, before she could regain control, she collided into a firm and warm embrace.
A familiar presence surrounded her.
Without thinking, she retracted her wings and turned her head slightly.
"Young Master," she said softly.
Lloyd gave a faint smile as the wings on his back beat gently, lowering them both to the ground.
Lucia bit her lip.
"I'm sorry, Young Master, I'm still not strong enough..."
Lloyd raised a hand, stopping her.
"What are you saying? You and Kuma pushed linlin into that miserable state. And you call that not enough?"
Whitebeard had been weakened by age and illness. Dragon had already lost an arm.
Compared to them, linlin was still in far better condition, aside from her occasional instability. Facing two Admirals, it was only natural she wouldn't fall easily.
After reassuring Lucia, Lloyd lifted his gaze toward the ongoing battle between Kuma and linlin.
In the next moment, his body dissolved into a swarm of black bats and scattered into the air.
At that moment, a rare emotion surfaced within linlin.
Regret.
She regretted her carelessness at God Valley, allowing the Paw-Paw Fruit, which should have been hers, to fall into Kuma's hands.
She regretted letting both Kuma and Lloyd escape back then.
What were once insignificant ants had grown into forces capable of threatening her.
Especially Lloyd.
The most terrifying monster in the world.