For Lloyd, Aokiji was unquestionably a valuable combat asset worth investing in. After all, he was a genuine Admiral candidate.
In the original flow of history, Aokiji had been deeply influenced by Garp. This time, however, Lloyd intended to intercept that influence early and subtly guide the young man toward his own side.
Encouraging words cost nothing.
Lloyd calmly offered a few more measured remarks, neither excessive nor emotional, yet precisely tailored. The effect was immediate. Aokiji was visibly moved and, after steadying himself, obediently retreated to the edge of the battlefield.
High above, Aramaki was recovering at an astonishing rate under the sunlight. As a Mori Mori Fruit user, regeneration came naturally to him. Of course, this was also because Lloyd had never fought seriously, deliberately leaving Aramaki room to recover.
Aramaki glanced toward the retreating Aokiji, a spark igniting in his eyes.
"So Lloyd values that ice idiot so highly," he thought grimly. "Then I cannot fall behind."
He turned his gaze toward Dragon, who hovered not far away.
Dragon's condition was far from ideal. His entire form was unstable, his body resembling chaotic currents of wind that refused to fully condense. The lingering effects of Shinra Tensei were obvious.
Aramaki curled his lips in disdain. He had disliked Dragon from the start.
Tolerance and equality?
Utter nonsense.
The world was divided by nature. Some were born rulers, standing above all living beings. That truth could never be changed.
Once Dragon barely managed to stabilize his form, Aramaki wasted no time mocking him.
"Hey, are you still standing? In your condition, you should just admit defeat."
Dragon shot him a cold glance.
"If you want to surrender, do it yourself."
"Tch. Still stubborn," Aramaki scoffed. "Fine, I will show you real strength."
His expression hardened. The massive dandelions on his back retracted into his body, and his form plummeted downward.
Mid fall, his body fully transformed. Wood expanded explosively, his size increasing at a terrifying speed. With a thunderous impact, a colossal tree giant tens of meters tall slammed into the ground.
"Forbidden Hatred, Mori Mori!"
Lloyd stood calmly with his arms folded, watching the towering figure with mild interest.
Suddenly, a violent tornado roared to life, swallowing Lloyd completely.
High above, Dragon allowed himself a faint smile.
"Getting distracted in battle is fatal."
"You are absolutely right."
"What?"
Dragon's pupils contracted sharply.
A dark vortex opened behind him without warning. Lloyd emerged from it in silence and drove a brutal punch into Dragon's lower back.
Dragon plummeted like a meteor, crashing into the ground and carving a deep, human shaped crater into the earth.
Lloyd landed beside the pit.
A massive shadow loomed overhead.
"Senior Lloyd, take this!"
Aramaki's enormous fist came crashing down. He did not even attempt a sneak attack and had openly warned Lloyd.
Lloyd did not move.
Kamui activated instantly.
Aramaki's fist passed through Lloyd harmlessly and smashed straight into the crater where Dragon lay, producing a deafening explosion.
Aramaki knew the attack would not hit Lloyd, but he continued hammering the ground regardless, his fists smashing again and again, enlarging the pit and sending dust flying everywhere.
After a while, a gentle breeze drifted upward from the crater.
Dragon emerged, disheveled and clutching his lower back. He glared furiously at Aramaki.
"Are you finished smashing already?"
Aramaki paused, blinking in surprise.
"Huh? You are tougher than I expected. I thought you were unconscious down there."
Dragon nearly lost control from sheer irritation. As a Natural System user, Aramaki's strikes could not truly injure him, but the constant shockwaves kept dispersing his form, preventing him from stabilizing at all.
Aramaki shrugged and lost interest, completely ignoring him.
Dragon clenched his jaw, forcing down his anger. He released a burst of wind to clear the dust, only to realize Lloyd was no longer there.
"Damn it," Dragon muttered. "Using the Dark Dark Fruit like this is disgusting. How am I supposed to hit his real body?"
Lloyd's voice sounded behind him once again.
"You want to hit me? Fine. I will give you that chance later."
Dragon's nerves were stretched to their limit. Without another word, he transformed into wind and fled into the distance.
Lloyd did not pursue him.
"So tense," Lloyd said calmly. "You are saved for last."
He turned his attention to Aramaki, who now stood nearby with a solemn expression.
"I will give you the same chance."
"Thank you, Senior Lloyd!"
Lloyd paused briefly.
For a fleeting moment, Aramaki's behavior reminded him of someone familiar, his number one subordinate, Spandine.
Aramaki slammed his massive fists together. Dark Armament Haki spread across both arms, coating them completely. The strain was obvious. Maintaining Armament Haki on fists of that size pushed him close to his limit.
He raised both fists high and brought them down with a roar.
"Heavenly Burial Tree Star!"
Lloyd narrowed his eyes. His expression finally grew serious.
Armament Haki surged forth, but instead of spreading across his body, it flowed entirely into his right arm.
To the untrained eye, the black sheen looked like an extension of the Dark Dark Fruit.
The veteran officers, however, were stunned.
Garp's eyes widened slightly.
"Flowing Armament Haki," he thought. "At this age? Unbelievable."
Under countless gazes, Lloyd, standing impossibly small before the giant tree man, threw a single right punch.
Before Aramaki's fists could even make contact, the Haki on Lloyd's fist condensed to a single point and detonated outward.
Crack.
Fine fractures spread across Aramaki's wooden fists before they shattered completely. The residual force slammed into his body, forcibly knocking him out of his transformed state.
He crashed onto the ground heavily.
Both arms hung limply at his sides, completely numb. Even with photosynthesis, recovery would take time.
Lloyd stepped forward and helped him up.
Aramaki stood shakily, arms dangling uselessly, yet his enthusiasm remained undiminished.
"Senior Lloyd, you are incredible. My arms were almost completely ruined."
Lloyd's mouth twitched faintly. He offered a few calm words of encouragement, just as he had with Aokiji.
Aramaki was instantly elated.
Afterward, Lloyd turned his gaze toward Dragon, who stood at a distance with a grave expression.
In a flash, Lloyd vanished.
Dragon reacted instantly. The moment Lloyd appeared before him, Dragon unleashed a Dragon Claw strike, hooking it around Lloyd's incoming fist.
The impact felt lighter than expected.
Dragon's eyes lit up with sudden hope.
"His stamina is dropping…"
Then Lloyd spoke calmly.
"No Sword Style, Extreme Control."