Lloyd stood on the shore, watching Whitebeard and the Roger Pirates slowly fade into the horizon, their ships cutting through the sea as sunlight danced on the waves, his body still glowing faintly with white light.
Whitebeard, aboard the Moby Dick, was deeply moved by the sight. He made his way to the bow, his massive frame shifting as his muscles bulged. In the next instant, both he and Lloyd erupted with force — a massive clash of repulsion and shockwaves that sent towering waves crashing across the ocean.
Spray blossomed into the sky and fell like rain. Through the curtains of saltwater, Lloyd and Whitebeard stared at each other across the raging sea.
After a moment of silence, Lloyd gave a disdainful smile, turned with elegant precision, his Navy greatcoat flapping behind him in the wind.
Behind him, the Navy officers and soldiers kept formation. Zephyr was supported by Admiral Kizaru, his eyes scanning toward Lloyd with relief in them.
Lloyd's expression was solemn as he addressed his comrades in a deep voice,
"Thank you all for your hard work. Victory belongs to the Navy. Justice will prevail."
The Navy personnel, though wounded, were invigorated by his words. More than a few limped or bled from deep cuts, but they raised their arms and cheered with everything they had.
Lloyd did not dwell on casualties. In his view, mourning was something the defeated side did after the war, while the victors should first celebrate and take care of the living.
Grieving came after that. Providing material support to the families of the fallen was far more practical.
He did not want a situation like Marineford, where the Navy technically won but ended up looking like they lost because of Koby's ill‑timed interference.
At this moment, Roger and the Whitebeard Pirates were all under a shadow of exhaustion and loss.
Roger stood silently among his remaining crew. The casualties had been counted, and including Jabba, the Pirate crew had lost seven men.
Their total force had been only about thirty, so losing nearly one‑third of their number was a devastating blow.
Sadness was there, but Roger's heart was filled more with guilt than despair.
He had been arrogant, overestimating himself and underestimating the Navy. He assumed the Navy would never dare to provoke both him and Whitebeard. Reality had slapped that belief out of his mind.
Just as Lloyd had said, the chase between Garp and himself before was merely a game. He had played too long, and in doing so ignored how terrifying the Navy truly was.
The Navy was not a force pitted against just one crew here or there. They were the greatest power on the seas, standing against pirates worldwide.
After losing seven comrades, Roger finally understood the price of underestimating them.
He exhaled heavily and opened his mouth to comfort his crew when sudden cries broke out from aboard the Moby Dick.
The two Pirate fleets had retreated in close proximity. The Jackson and Whitebeard's flagship were still very near one another.
On the Moby Dick, pirates sobbed everywhere.
Kozuki Toki clutched Momonosuke's headless body with eyes full of tears, leaning helplessly against Oden, who was grievously wounded.
Marco knelt beside Whitebeard and spoke gently,
"Old Man, let me try again. Maybe your face can still be healed."
Whitebeard's face twisted in pain. He waved a hand weakly.
"No need, Marco. Go help the others."
Marco blinked away tears, nodded, then turned to tend to the injured.
Without warning, Roger leaped onto the Moby Dick. The Whitebeard Pirates barely spared him a glance before returning to their own grief. The scene was nothing like the last time Roger had stepped aboard here, full of swagger and confidence.
Now there was only exhaustion and sorrow.
Whitebeard was in no mood to speak. He turned, retrieved a large barrel of sake from the cabin, and returned to the deck to drink in solitude.
Roger followed and said quietly,
"Newgate, we need to talk."
Whitebeard drained the barrel in one long pull and responded,
"Speak, if you must."
Roger glanced toward Oden's fallen form, hesitating before continuing,
"Could you… let Kozuki Oden come with me?"
Crack!
Whitebeard crushed the sake barrel instantly in his fist. With furious strength, he reached for Murakumogiri and swung it toward Roger.
Roger lowered his gaze, folded his legs calmly, and did not dodge.
The blade froze suspended over his head.
Whitebeard's teeth ground together as he snarled through clenched jaws,
"Leave!"
Roger looked up into Whitebeard's eyes. Then, in a voice that made his expression twist abruptly with change, he spoke,
"Newgate, I'm not afraid of dying."
His words hung in the air, heavy with conviction.
After Lloyd and the others returned to Marineford, they were welcomed as heroes.
The World Government spread word of the battle across the world through every newspaper available.
The headlines called Lloyd a Legendary Navy, declaring that he had forced the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates alike into a desperate struggle.
Kuma, Lucia, Ginny, and others were granted the rank of Vice Admiral.
Akainu and Kizaru were immediately listed as candidates for Admiral.
Lloyd's personal reward was enormous — billions of Berries, which made Admiral Kizaru deeply envious.
Lloyd did not care much about money. He distributed part of the reward to Kizaru and the others, and dedicated the rest entirely to support the families of fallen soldiers.
Lloyd's actions and accomplishments boosted his prestige within the Navy to its peak.
Fleet Admiral Kong also took notice. If Lloyd were older, Kong might have seriously considered handing the title of Fleet Admiral over to him.
The World Government had already expressed its intention for Lloyd to become Commander‑in‑Chief of the Three Armed Forces.
But Lloyd himself was in no hurry. He had plenty of time, and given his current status, it did not matter whether he became Fleet Admiral now or later.
After spending some time at Marine Headquarters, the technology department built a special speedboat for Lloyd — its design similar to Ace's, with the same flame‑powered propulsion.
Lloyd had long wanted a vacation. When the ship was complete, he stored it in his dark bible and walked to the beach with Lucia and the others.
They tossed the speedboat into the water.
Then Lloyd leaped onto it with perfect balance.
Flames spread from his body into the power core of the speedboat. It roared to life with astonishing speed, cutting through the waves and racing out toward the open sea, disappearing from sight in an instant.
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