After canceling his transformation, Lloyd clenched his fists and found, unlike the Mink Tribe, he did not enter a weakened state.
He considered whether it was due to Kuma expelling his fatigue, but quickly dismissed that idea. Transformation consumed stamina rapidly, and Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit could only remove negative effects, not replenish energy.
Lloyd's mind returned to the words Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had uttered: "Moon God Form" and "Royalty."
"Is this because the Mink genes Gulando used were special, or did my body mutate them?" he wondered.
He leaned toward the first possibility. Gulando's obsession with perfection was pathological, and given his status, acquiring ancient Mink genes would have been trivial.
As he pondered, two figures streaked across the sky, landing on the deck: Garp and Zephyr.
Garp's face was displeased. "Zephyr, why are you rushing back? This was the perfect chance! Couldn't we have taken down Whitebeard together?"
Zephyr shook his head. "Have you forgotten this is the Sea?"
"I know, but we aren't Devil Fruit users. Even if the ship is destroyed, Whitebeard should suffer more, right?"
"True, but you didn't notice? Whitebeard was holding back. If we push him too far, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit will trigger a massive tsunami. Do you have confidence to capture him then? And what about Lloyd and the others? What about the soldiers?"
Garp listened blankly, then wiped spit from his face. "You have a point. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is troublesome on the Sea."
Zephyr snorted. "Exactly. To handle a Pirate like Whitebeard, we must be fully prepared. Luring him to land would be ideal. Given our current situation, pushing him this far is already remarkable. And of course, this success owes much to Lloyd and the others."
Zephyr's gaze turned to Lloyd, pride gleaming in his eyes. "Especially you, Lloyd. To injure Kozuki Oden, a key Whitebeard combatant, so severely, you are the most outstanding cadet of this generation."
Though Lloyd had long been recognized as the strongest cadet, Zephyr's words now officially certified it.
Akainu nodded, fervent eyes fixed on Lloyd. He had set him as his benchmark for the future.
Kizaru sidled closer, voice sly. "Lloyd, don't forget me when you become Marshal. Just treat me well."
Lloyd arched an eyebrow. "Borsalino, you're confident, thinking of this already?"
"Sooner or later, yes! I'll support you fully. Anyone who objects, I'll chop their dog legs off!"
Zephyr, overhearing, approached with a dark expression and kicked Kizaru's backside. "Can't you focus on training instead of these messy thoughts?"
Kizaru rubbed his backside and obediently fell in line behind Akainu.
Lloyd glanced toward the Whitebeard Pirates. "Zephyr-sensei, they are retreating."
Zephyr nodded. Losses were severe on both sides. Many Navy soldiers brought by Garp were dead or injured. Whitebeard's side suffered even more—key combatants like Cat Viper and Inuarashi were dead, and Oden crippled. The Navy had won, but at a Pyrrhic cost.
Aboard the Moby Dick, Oden had been carried to the treatment room, barely surviving his injuries. Inuarashi's split body lay on the deck, a grim reminder of the battle.
Whitebeard remained silent until the deck was cleaned. Then he walked to the bow, eyes flashing with Haoshoku Haki.
The aura was terrifying. Marco whispered, "Old Man…"
Whitebeard flexed his arm, clenched his fist, and prepared to strike. His sons cried out in excitement.
Crack!
Whitebeard's fist shattered the air, sending waves towering hundreds of meters high. Zephyr cursed, "He's insane! Doesn't he care about his own fleet?"
The waves were dispersed by Whitebeard's ability, minimizing the impact. Zephyr's teeth ground in anger. Pitch-black Armament Haki covered his arms. "Fortunately, the distance helps. Garp and I can manage a tsunami this size…"
Warships were beneath waves a hundred meters high, shadows on every face. Zephyr and Garp exchanged a glance, preparing to leap and use external Haki to defend.
A figure had already jumped higher than them. Zephyr's eyes widened. "Lloyd!?"
Facing the colossal waves, under everyone's gaze, Lloyd lowered his head, arms crossed against his chest. A concentrated dark gravitational force gathered around him, compressing the surrounding air, the waves pausing as if they dared not approach…