Even though Lloyd and Gulando were his descendants, they were already separated by several generations, so Cassius felt no deep attachment to them.
He looked down at his fading form and said, "Alright, my time is short. I must send you out."
Lloyd let out a deep sigh of relief, ready to express his gratitude once more, but a sudden surge of pain shot through his scarlet right arm. Clutching it with his left hand, the pain persisted.
At that moment, the Muramasa, still in Lloyd's grip, trembled, transformed into a black light, and returned to the back of his right hand. As the blade reintegrated, Lloyd felt his arm lighten, and the pain vanished completely.
Cassius nodded. "The power absorbed by Gulando has been purified by my Darkness Power. It also contains the source energy of the Blood-Blood Fruit…"
He glanced at the large bat-like wings unfurling from Lloyd's back. "I also sensed another Devil Fruit within you. Judging by its nature, it should be the Vampire Fruit."
Lloyd nodded. Cassius continued, "I don't know how you managed to host multiple Devil Fruits simultaneously, but this is perfect. My power is nearly spent, so I cannot help you assimilate these abilities. You happen to have the Vampire Fruit, and with the Muramasa suppressing it, you can manage it yourself. Moreover, the source energy of the Blood-Blood Fruit will stimulate your Vampire Fruit, awakening it further. Kid, consider this a blessing in disguise."
Lloyd's eyes briefly reflected sadness as he looked at Cassius's gradually ethereal form.
"Don't wear that expression. I am already beyond life. Seeing such an exceptional descendant in the Figarland Family gives me no regrets," Cassius said, a faint smile gracing his face.
With a wave of his hand, an exit appeared within the vast darkness, leading back to the battlefield where they had confronted Gulando. Cassius' voice grew fainter, "Go swiftly. The Figarland Family still requires your presence…"
Lloyd bowed deeply and flew toward the exit.
Once his figure disappeared, Cassius' phantom scattered into points of light, gradually fading. Before fully vanishing, he murmured, "The step I failed to take back then… I hope this kid can accomplish it. Joy Boy, where is your successor…"
The first king of the Figarland Family disappeared into the ether.
Outside, Garling remained silently in place. Saint Saturn had returned to his original form, standing quietly beside him.
Nearby, the other Four Elders watched. Warcury's smile could no longer be restrained. He could hardly wait to open champagne in celebration.
Suddenly, a dark vortex appeared out of nowhere, and Lloyd's figure shot through it, plunging directly into Garling's embrace.
Caught off guard, Garling was knocked backward, eventually colliding with Warcury, whose round body served as a cushioning barrier.
Neither Garling nor Warcury paid attention to the minor collision. All eyes were fixed on Lloyd lying in Garling's arms.
Garling carefully lifted him, gripping Lloyd's shoulders and forcing him to meet his gaze.
From Garling's perspective, the possibility of Lloyd being possessed by Gulando was high, but he clung to a sliver of hope.
His voice trembled as he asked, "Lloyd? Is that truly you?"
Lloyd's lips curved into a faint, calm smile. "Uncle Garling, who else could it be but me?"
He produced the Dark Bible, retrieving an olive-shaped scarlet Devil Fruit. Garling's eyes lit up in ecstasy. It was the Blood-Blood Fruit, a sign that Gulando had truly been defeated.
Warcury, still beneath Garling, turned pale and shouted, "Saint Garling! Get off me quickly!"
Garling raised an eyebrow, only now remembering his precarious position. With a flicker, he shifted beside Lloyd, ignoring Warcury entirely.
Saint Saturn walked forward slowly, eyeing Lloyd with hesitation. "Lloyd Saint… where did you go just now?"
Lloyd's lips curved slightly. "I initially intended to exile myself in the dark space forever, unable to resist Gulando's erosion."
"Then how did you…?"
Everyone present stared at Lloyd, curiosity and shock in their eyes. Lloyd replied calmly, "Ancestor Cassius Saint saved me."
"What!?"
Even the world's greatest figures among the Five Elders were struck with horror at the name. Warcury's voice trembled, "Impossible! Cassius Saint died eight hundred years ago!"
The other Four Elders slowly nodded, speechless. Even Saint Saturn offered no objection.
Only Garling's eyes remained steady. He gazed directly into Lloyd's and said slowly, "Nothing is impossible. Since Joy Boy could leave his will in a Devil Fruit, it is not strange for Ancestor Cassius Saint to leave countermeasures behind."
Lloyd nodded and summoned the Demon Blade Muramasa. "Ancestor embedded his will in the Muramasa. Using the awakened power of the Dark-Dark Fruit through me, it completely eliminated Gulando."
He deliberately glanced at Warcury, omitting the fact that what remained in the Muramasa was only the last trace of Cassius' will, sending a clear message to the elder who often opposed the Figarland Family.
Warcury's face went pale, fear creeping into his heart.
He understood Cassius Saint's terror even better than Garling. If Cassius had not perished, seriously wounded, long ago, no one could say who would sit on the "Empty Throne" now.
If Cassius' will still lingered in the world, capable of using Lloyd's body to activate abilities, then even a Five Elder could be struck down at any moment.
Warcury instinctively stepped back two paces, eyes locked on the Demon Blade Muramasa in Lloyd's hand, a shiver running down his spine.