Redfield's eyes finally showed a trace of solemnity.
Under normal circumstances, he would never place a newly promoted Admiral in his sight. However, the arrival of Lloyd had completely changed the balance of the battlefield. A combatant of Lloyd's level was enough to decide the outcome of this fight.
Fleet Admiral Kong was also momentarily stunned. The moment he saw the black wings and the flames burning behind Lloyd's neck, his heart skipped a beat.
But this was not the time to dwell on such details.
All that mattered was one thing.
The man who had arrived was on his side.
For the first time since the battle began, Fleet Admiral Kong laughed.
He looked at Redfield, whose expression had grown increasingly grim, and said loudly, "Redfield, do you finally understand the disadvantage of standing alone?"
Redfield did not answer.
Instead, his figure gradually became vague, as if it were dissolving into the air.
Fleet Admiral Kong's pupils shrank. He immediately realized what Redfield intended to do and tried to warn Lloyd above.
But Redfield was simply too fast.
Before Kong could utter a single word, Redfield had already appeared in front of Lloyd. The umbrella in his hand slashed horizontally, cutting straight toward Lloyd's waist.
"What?"
Just like everyone who encountered Kamui for the first time, Redfield felt pure disbelief.
His attack passed straight through empty air.
Below them, Fleet Admiral Kong first let out a sigh of relief, then could not help but curse inwardly. Lloyd's ability was far too shameless in actual combat.
Unwilling to accept it, Redfield swung the blue umbrella again, this time coating it heavily in Armament Haki. His movements were so fast that afterimages filled the air.
Every strike still hit nothing.
Realizing that continuing like this would only waste precious stamina, Redfield decisively aborted his attack and landed on the ground.
His current condition could no longer afford meaningless consumption.
The moment Redfield touched down, Fleet Admiral Kong charged forward like a heavy battle tank, slamming into him and sending him flying backward.
Before Redfield could stabilize his body, a thick pillar of flame descended from the sky, instantly engulfing him in raging fire.
Fleet Admiral Kong's eyes widened.
Flames of this magnitude made it believable even if Lloyd were a Flame Flame Fruit user.
But he was not.
Whoosh.
A terrifying aura erupted from within the flames, forcibly pushing them apart and creating an empty space.
Redfield stood in the center of the burning inferno, black smoke escaping from his nostrils.
At this moment, there was nothing left of his former elegance.
His flamboyant red cloak had been reduced to ashes, and several scorched holes had burned through his upper garments, exposing blackened skin beneath.
He frowned deeply.
"Flames?" he thought grimly. "Is this Black Dragon not a Dark Dark Fruit user?"
Lloyd answered him immediately.
Hovering in the air, Lloyd spread his arms. Endless darkness surged forth, pouring downward like a vast, crushing waterfall.
Redfield had barely endured the baptism of flames when he was swallowed whole by the darkness.
Compared to darkness, the flames from before were almost gentle.
When Redfield finally struggled free, his entire body was drenched in blood, his eyes filled with undisguised shock.
Unlike common elements such as fire or lightning, the true terror of darkness was something most people had never experienced.
Even after Lloyd's Devil Fruit ability was revealed, it was impossible to understand how horrifying it was without facing it firsthand.
For someone as powerful as Redfield, ordinary elemental attacks could scarcely break his defenses. Yet just now, he had nearly died within that darkness.
Darkness carried the authority to destroy everything, far beyond what human flesh could withstand.
If Redfield were still at his peak, he could endure burning flames for a long time with Haki activated.
But once swallowed by darkness, even he could not last long before being torn apart.
Now, Redfield felt as though his body were on the verge of collapse. For the first time in many years, regret crept into his heart.
He had been too arrogant.
Too dismissive of the Navy, this colossal power that ruled the seas.
Facing Fleet Admiral Kong alone had already pushed him to the brink. Adding Lloyd to the equation made the situation completely hopeless.
A man who had always fought alone was finally tasting the bitterness of isolation.
Even so, Redfield had no intention of fleeing.
Possessing Haoshoku Haki of such intensity meant that the word escape did not exist for him.
He straightened his back. Black and red lightning erupted around his body, crackling violently.
After brushing the dust from his clothes, he spoke softly, "Even if I die, I will take one of you down with me."
His gaze locked onto Fleet Admiral Kong.
Compared to Lloyd at full strength, Kong was clearly the easier target.
Fleet Admiral Kong understood Redfield's intent instantly. He forced his exhausted body to respond, terrifying Armament Haki condensing once more around his fists.
Just as both sides were about to move, Lloyd landed calmly in front of Kong.
Without even turning his head, Lloyd said, "Fleet Admiral Kong, you should rest for now."
As his words fell, the flames behind Lloyd's neck extinguished with a soft whoosh.
At the same moment, Redfield flashed forward.
Speed had always been Redfield's greatest pride.
Yet this time, before he could reach Lloyd, he was intercepted halfway.
Redfield's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! How can your speed be this fast?"
Even Fleet Admiral Kong stared in shock.
He knew better than anyone how terrifying Redfield's speed was. It was precisely because of this that he had been forced into such a grueling battle, relying on sheer endurance to survive.
And yet, Lloyd was matching him.
Even with Redfield in a weakened state, this was utterly outrageous.
Looking at Lloyd's black wings and the extinguished flames behind his neck, a long extinct race surfaced in Kong's mind.
The Lunarians.
As Fleet Admiral, Kong was privy to many hidden truths. He knew that when a Lunarian actively extinguished their innate flames, their speed would increase explosively.
In his eyes, this race was truly favored by the heavens.
Their natural gifts were no different from possessing a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit from birth.
Redfield, of course, knew none of this.
Seeing his assault blocked again, he attempted to reposition, trying to create distance and search for an opening.
But no matter where he appeared, Lloyd followed relentlessly.
Two figures, one crimson and one pitch black, flashed through the battlefield, colliding again and again.
The longer Redfield fought, the more unsettled he became.
He could not comprehend how such a monstrous existence could exist in this era.
Lloyd was only nineteen years old.
Redfield could not help but wonder what would have happened if his nineteen year old self had faced Lloyd.
Perhaps even ten of him would not have been enough.
At the same time, Lloyd was calmly evaluating Redfield's strength.
After enduring such an intense battle, Redfield was likely fighting at only half of his peak power.
Even so, his performance was astonishing.
It was no surprise that Redfield had once stood alongside Roger and Whitebeard.
Had he not insisted on remaining alone, forming an Emperor level pirate crew would never have been difficult for him.
____
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