Regardless of Devil Fruit ability or raw strength, Dragon was originally slightly stronger than Aramaki. However, his body was now composed of Nika power. For ordinary people, possessing such a body would be equivalent to becoming a superhuman, but for someone of Dragon's level, it became a burden.
Although his body granted a certain degree of recovery, that regeneration had clear limits. Once subjected to overwhelming damage, the body would inevitably collapse.
Combined with Aramaki's relentless verbal attacks, each word striking at Dragon's core, his focus wavered repeatedly. That loss of concentration led to his complete defeat under Aramaki's full-force assault.
At this moment, Dragon's body had already dissipated up to his chest. He abandoned all resistance, his empty eyes staring into the darkened sky as he muttered,
"What have I done in this life…"
Bang!
Aramaki closed the distance and delivered a final punch, scattering the remnants of Dragon's body into countless points of light.
"If you're neither human nor ghost, then stop clinging to life!"
On another battlefield, a golden streak of light darted through the air at incredible speed. Teach stood atop a cloud of white flames, his pupils shifting rapidly as he tracked the movement of that light, his expression grim.
He had already used the power of the Baku Baku no Mi to reshape his physique into a muscular form, yet his bare upper body was riddled with glowing golden scars, their edges wrapped in the faint mist of Nika power.
Teach's strength was currently at an awkward level. At best, it could be compared to the upper tier of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
In his previous life, he had barely stepped into the threshold of Yonko-level strength by relying on his dual Devil Fruits and his abnormal body. Now, after being reborn, he had neither the Gura Gura no Mi nor that durable physique, causing his power to plummet drastically.
Facing Admiral Kizaru, who possessed overwhelming speed and mobility, Teach could do little more than endure the onslaught.
"Yo, what are you staring at?"
Kizaru's lazy voice sounded from behind him. With one hand casually pinching his chin, he delivered a light-speed kick straight into Teach's face.
The impact detonated instantly.
A thunderous explosion erupted as Teach's body was blasted away like an arrow released from a bow, his face engulfed in thick black smoke.
Kizaru slipped his hands into his pockets, his body dissolving into particles of light as he pursued. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Teach, who was still airborne.
At that very moment, Teach, who seemed completely helpless, suddenly erupted.
A massive mouth burst out from within the smoke, snapping shut toward Kizaru and swallowing him whole.
Kizaru remained utterly unfazed.
"Kowai ne…"
As he spoke, his body instantly dispersed into light particles. Teach's jaws slammed shut, but aside from swallowing empty air, he failed to catch even a single strand of Kizaru's hair.
"Damn it, Kizaru!"
"Hm? Who are you talking about?"
Puff!
Ama no Murakumo pierced straight through Teach's chest.
His eyes widened. Before the blade could split him apart, he twisted his body and lashed out with his elbow at the scattered light particles nearby.
Gritting his teeth, Teach forcibly pulled the blade from his chest. He no longer tried to track Kizaru's position. Instead, he crouched slightly, then launched himself upward with explosive force.
"Joy Boy-sama, save me!!!"
Kizaru had just reformed when he heard that shout, causing him to pause briefly.
High above, Joy Boy, who was confronting Lloyd, also froze for a moment as he watched Teach's massive figure rapidly approaching.
Teach had never cared about pride. Among everyone present, none could match his shameless adaptability. Survival came first.
However, he failed to reach Joy Boy.
Yasakani no Magatama descended faster than he could move.
A dense barrage of light bullets shot upward, striking Teach mid-air without mercy.
Explosions chained together in rapid succession. Moments later, Teach's body fell from the smoke like a broken kite.
His form was already on the verge of collapse, riddled with shimmering light wounds from the bombardment.
Joy Boy had intended to save him, just as he had wished to save Dragon and Garp earlier. But with Lloyd standing before him, he knew that the moment he acted, Lloyd would strike without hesitation.
At that point, not only would he fail to save them, he might suffer severe injury himself due to a moment of distraction.
Meanwhile, Lloyd stood with his arms crossed, observing everything with detached indifference.
"Joy Boy, have you fallen so far that you must rely on the dead to fight for you? Where is the charisma you once boasted of?"
Joy Boy chuckled lightly.
"Celestial Dragon, you're trying to provoke me. I won't fall for it again. Monkey D. Dragon just proved how foolish that would be."
Lloyd shrugged, unconcerned. His gaze shifted toward the members of the D. Clan surrounding Joy Boy.
"Are you not going to use your puppets? Or did you bring them here merely as shields? You seem quite afraid of death."
Joy Boy let out a quiet sigh.
These members of the D. Clan had been prepared to counter the forces of Mary Geoise. He had believed that Xebec and the others would be enough to handle the Admirals.
Now, reality proved otherwise.
Aside from Roger and Xebec, the rest were lacking.
Teach lacked sufficient strength, Dragon's defenses crumbled under psychological pressure, and Garp, who resisted control, could not even exert his full power and was the first to fall.
Seeing Kizaru, Aokiji, and Aramaki now free to reinforce the battlefield where Lucia and Akainu were engaged, Joy Boy understood that he could no longer delay.
Without hesitation, he sent the thirteen members of the D. Clan downward to join the battle.
Saint Nusjuro, stationed at Mary Geoise, witnessed this and spoke to Saint Saturn and the others.
"We should also…"
Before he could finish, Garling's commanding voice cut through the air.
"God's Knights, move out with me!"
"Yes!"
As his command echoed, several figures clad in golden armor surged forward, gathering behind him.
Clang!
Garling drew his sword. With a powerful step, the ground beneath him fractured as his figure vanished instantly, the God's Knights following close behind.
Saint Nusjuro and the other four exchanged glances. Now that the God's Knights had taken action, they hesitated, uncertain whether they should abandon Mary Geoise.
At that moment, a faint voice echoed directly within their minds.
"What are you four waiting for?"
Hearing Imu's voice, their bodies trembled.
All hesitation vanished.
Without another word, they turned and shot into the sky at full speed.