Floating in mid-air, Lloyd had fully transformed into a humanoid Black Hole, the surrounding Sea spiraling violently into the gravitational void he emanated.
As the water poured into him, Lloyd's body suddenly erupted with a dazzling white light. A spherical barrier flickered around him, glowing with blinding intensity.
The Whitebeard Pirates were thrown into commotion.
"Did he just absorb all that water? What is he trying to do?"
"Isn't he a Devil Fruit user? Won't the Sea harm him?"
"Damn it! That Navy brat is at it again!"
Whitebeard, standing at the bow, narrowed his eyes as the radiant light around Lloyd grew even more intense, like a brilliant Shirahoshi suspended above the waves.
Within the white brilliance, Lloyd's gravitational pull ceased. Slowly opening his eyes, he whispered:
"White Hole · Shinra Tensei."
Buzz.
A repulsive force radiated from Lloyd, pushing everything outward horizontally. The water he had absorbed erupted back into the Sea with terrifying force.
It all happened too fast. Several ships were shattered before Whitebeard could react. But the most terrifying effect was the invisible force itself.
Every ship except the Moby Dick, which had the sturdiest hull, was torn apart. Pirates onboard were crushed by the force, their bodies buried in the waves alongside their ships.
The Moby Dick withstood the attack, but fine cracks appeared across its hull. The entire ship was pushed miles away, disappearing from sight of the Navy vessels.
Whitebeard stood like a statue at the bow, one arm extended. His Haki had blocked most of the repulsive force, preventing disaster for his crew. Slowly retracting his numb arm, he frowned, eyes fixed on where the Navy warships had vanished.
Marco approached with a worried expression. "Pops, are you alright?"
The casualties had been unprecedented. Since the Whitebeard Pirates were founded, they had never suffered losses this severe. Marco feared for Whitebeard's state of mind.
Whitebeard shook his head, whispering, "Marco, any word on the other ships?"
"No… under those conditions, I fear…"
Marco trailed off, unable to finish.
Whitebeard lowered his head, grief etched on his features, before speaking again. "That Navy brat… his name is Lloyd, right?"
Marco's eyes filled with resentment. "Yes, Old Man! I heard it aboard the warship. He claims to be a student of the Navy School. His Devil Fruit should be a Logia Dark type."
Whitebeard's frown deepened. "A student… the Navy really sent a monster this time, A Logia Dark fruit?"
Before Marco could reply, a nurse rushed from the cabin. "Captain Oden has lost too much blood! Marco, hurry! We need your abilities!"
Whitebeard and Marco's expressions shifted instantly. Ignoring the injury in his shoulder, Marco dashed into the cabin to aid Oden.
---
Over the warship, the white light dissipated, revealing Lloyd. His face was pale, sweat covering his forehead, the effort of Shinra Tensei clearly draining him.
He had maintained his floating state only through extreme condensation of Dark gravity. Now, exhausted, he barely managed to Moonwalk, descending rapidly.
Lucia spread her black wings instantly, rushing into mid-air to catch him. Holding him in her arms, she felt her heart constrict at the sight of his weakness.
"Young Master, you…"
Lloyd extended a finger to her red lips, forcing a calm smile. "Did you forget to call me Cousin outside again? Don't worry, I'm fine. It's my first time using this move, I may have overdone it."
Taking a few deep breaths, his complexion returned to normal.
White Hole · Shinra Tensei was a technique he had long conceived. Drawing from his Earth memories, he knew of the White Hole, a celestial phenomenon opposite to a Black Hole. Black Holes attract, White Holes repel. As a Dark-Dark Fruit user, he could transform into one, repelling everything around him.
The technique, inspired in name by the Rinnegan's Shinra Tensei, was fundamentally a White Hole—a natural disaster embodied in his Devil Fruit power.
Lloyd and Lucia landed on the deck. His recovery was exceptional; he quickly regained full strength.
The crew, however, remained in shock. The destructive power of Shinra Tensei had been cataclysmic. Akainu and Kizaru, both Logia users, exchanged a look. Unspoken, the same thought crossed their minds:
"Can I ever reach that level?"
Zephyr recovered first, approaching Lloyd, examining him carefully. "Lloyd, how do you feel? You looked exhausted just now."
"Hmph, I didn't control the strength properly. If I push it further, I might collapse completely."
"Wait… you could use it again?"
Lloyd raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. "What is it, Zephyr-sensei? You don't want me to strike Whitebeard again, do you?"
Zephyr hesitated. "Uh, not that… you should rest first. Your performance was… excessive. Honestly, I don't even know how to report it to Fleet Admiral Kong."
Lloyd waved him off indifferently. "I did what was necessary. Sakazuki and the others contributed too. Without their support, taking down Kozuki Oden would not have been so straightforward."
He spoke the truth. Kizaru and Akainu's support had been vital, while Kuma and the others dispersed Whitebeard's forces. Everyone played a key role.
_____
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