Lloyd's current strength was sufficient to contend with Whitebeard, but it was still extremely difficult to defeat him entirely.
Seeing the situation on Ginny's side worsening, Lloyd glanced at his scarlet right arm, his eyes flickering with calculation.
Whitebeard relentlessly struck against the Demon Blade Muramasa in Lloyd's hand with Murakumogiri, and the entire area where they fought was encased in an invisible force field of Haki, lightning dancing through the air like a battlefield of Shura.
Lloyd knew he could not sustain this fight with Whitebeard any longer; he needed to free his hands to support Ginny and the others.
With that thought, Lloyd unleashed his full power, driving Whitebeard back with a surge of energy infused with Haki. Then he raised his scarlet right arm, faint black patterns materializing across it.
If one looked closely, those patterns were reminiscent of Devil Fruit markings, pulsing with unseen force.
As more of these symbols spread, tangible blood energy surged from Lloyd's arm, and the two bloodstains on his face glowed bright scarlet.
An aura of malevolence erupted from him, and a thick red mist filled the battlefield, causing all who saw it to tremble.
Whitebeard, focusing on the confrontation, froze for the first time. Lloyd's transformation gave him an unsettling feeling that echoed through his bones.
Roger and Zephyr, locked in their own battle, abruptly halted their clash. Roger's gaze snapped toward Lloyd, shock filling his voice,
"What is he doing?! This is bad! Newgate is in peril!"
Lloyd was forcibly tapping into a forbidden power sealed deep within his right hand, a force so extreme it caused agonizing pain throughout his body, as though every fiber threatened to burst.
The flame at the back of his neck blazed fiercely, and the Demon Blade Muramasa flew back into his right hand to help him channel and contain this surging force.
Without his Lunarian heritage and the power of Muramasa, his body would have ruptured and died the moment he unleashed this energy.
He could use this power for only one strike, but that strike alone would outclass the strength of Emperors.
Clenching his right fist, Lloyd vanished in a flicker and reappeared before Whitebeard.
The next instant, Whitebeard swung his fist and collided with Lloyd.
The moment their blows met, Whitebeard's entire arm began trembling violently, the sound of cracking bones filling the air, and his arm hung limp like ragged cloth.
Lloyd followed up without hesitation. After delivering that devastating blow, he suppressed the excess power back into his right arm and continued his assault.
His glowing red hand pressed against Whitebeard's face, and a swirling dark vortex spun fiercely beneath his palm.
Whitebeard let out a muffled groan, the skin on the right half of his face rapidly shrinking and twisting into a grotesque contortion. With a desperate motion, he slapped Lloyd's body with the weapon in his other hand, forcing him back a few steps while clutching his mangled face.
He sagged onto one knee, blood trickling down between his fingers. Since leaving the Rocks Pirates behind to form his own crew, this was the first time he had suffered an injury of this magnitude.
Marco, responding instantly, flew to Whitebeard's side with a gust of Phoenix flame and began treating him.
Whitebeard still tried to rise and pursue Lloyd, but Marco intervened urgently,
"Old Man, you cannot fight anymore! Your arm will be completely destroyed if you continue!"
Whitebeard froze, staring down at his wounded limb. Marco was drenched in sweat as he applied his healing flames.
"Damn it! The healing effect is too weak! What kind of power is this?"
Whitebeard gritted his teeth, pain and fury warring within him, and for the moment, he yielded to the treatment.
Not far away, Lloyd, after adjusting his posture mid‑air, was still breathing heavily. His right hand throbbed painfully, and his aura wavered, but compared to Whitebeard, he was in far better condition.
After a cold glance at the struggling Whitebeard, Lloyd's wings beat, and he flew toward Ginny's position with merciless speed.
Marco had left the area to support Whitebeard, and Lucia was still pinned down, unable to retreat because she was locked in a brutal fight with Jabba — a fierce powerhouse known as one of Roger's most trusted captains.
Though Lucia's strength was among the strongest of the female Marines at Marine Headquarters — arguably second only to Tsuru — Jabba was a formidable opponent. She could stand her ground, but she could not withdraw to support Ginny.
Ginny and Gion were in immediate peril.
Curiel of the Whitebeard Pirates had just been shot in the head by Ginny, which only incited further fury among the Pirates and intensified their assault.
Izo, with his dual pistols, fired volley after volley at Ginny. While dodging attacks from other Pirates, she also had to weave through the hail of bullets. Even with sharp Observation Haki, her thigh was cut by Izo's "Bullet Slash," slowing her movements considerably.
Seeing this, Izo closed in for a killing strike.
Suddenly, a pitch‑black massive hand crashed down onto his head.
He then saw his headless body spew blood before he blacked out completely.
Lloyd was standing with Izo's severed head in his grip, blood and a fragment of spine still attached.
He had simply torn Izo's head off in one brutal motion.
With a casual flick, the pitch‑black head shot forward like a cannonball, piercing through Fossa's torso.
Fossa, who would have been the 15th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, stared dumbfounded at the blood hole in his abdomen before collapsing limp in a spray of crimson.
The sight sent shock rippling through everyone present, and many Marines turned visibly pale in horror.
In the Pirates' eyes, Lloyd was nothing but a devil incarnate.
Lloyd's rampage continued unabated. After dealing with Izo, he flickered and appeared in front of Gion. Wounded and exhausted from Vista's relentless sword assault, Gion's body instantly went limp the moment she saw him. Lloyd turned slightly, sweeping her up in his arms with clinical precision.
At that moment, countless roses rained down from the sky. Vista, blades in both hands, descended amidst a chorus of steel ringing,
"Rose Dance!"
A cold glint appeared in Lloyd's eyes. He tightened his hold on Gion, and Muramasa manifested instantly in his right hand.
His right arm trembled slightly, still far from recovered, but it was enough strength to deal with Vista.
Gion's cheek pressed against Lloyd's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her cheek. Her pale face flushed softly with warmth, an achingly tender reaction in the midst of chaos.
Before she could dwell on it, Lloyd lifted her into the air and carried her as he charged.
When Lloyd touched down again, two rapiers fell behind him, crossing in the earth.
The last to fall was Vista's body, split cleanly in half.
In that brief, brutal span of time, three of Whitebeard's most trusted sons had already fallen to Lloyd's merciless blade.
Grief and fury filled Whitebeard's chest as he prepared to leap toward Lloyd once more. But before he could move, Roger appeared beside him with blinding speed and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
In a deep, grave voice he said,
"Newgate, rest and be treated. I will deal with him."
===
If you want to read more, there are up to 80 chapters available on patreon.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph