Meanwhile, within the grand pool of Mary Geoise, Lloyd continued to lounge in leisure, enjoying Sugar's attentive service.
Behind his sunglasses, his gaze drifted toward the distant sky, a faint curve forming at the corner of his lips.
Lucia spoke softly beside him,
"Young Master, we have just received news. Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji have joined forces. If Joy Boy does not appear soon, the Giant Warrior Pirates will not last much longer."
Lloyd casually raised his hand, brushing aside Lucia's long purple hair, his tone indifferent.
"There is no need for concern. At most, the Giant Warrior Pirates serve as the vanguard. Joy Boy has yet to reveal himself. We only need to wait patiently, he will step forward on his own."
His fingers idly moved through Sugar's hair as he let out a faint chuckle.
"Until then, we may as well enjoy the calm before the storm."
Back on the battlefield at sea, the moment Admiral Aokiji arrived, he raised his hand and unleashed Ice Age. In an instant, the ocean froze over as far as the eye could see, sealing the battlefield and cutting off any possibility of escape for the giants.
Brogy's face had turned pale, yet he forced himself to stand, enduring the searing pain in his body.
Under normal circumstances, taking Akainu's Hell Hound head on would have meant certain death. However, his immense size had spared him from an immediate fatal blow. Even so, the attack had left him gravely wounded. The fact that he could still stand was a testament to sheer willpower.
Aokiji glanced at Brogy, his eyes lingering briefly on the gaping wound in his abdomen.
"You still intend to fight?"
There was no admiration in his voice.
"How stubborn."
As his words fell, Aokiji vanished in a flash, reappearing directly in front of Brogy.
Even at his peak, Brogy would have struggled to react to such speed. In his current state, it was impossible.
Though instinct drove him to raise his sword in defense, it made no difference against Aokiji's Logia ability.
Aokiji did not make any exaggerated movements. He simply placed his hand against the blade.
His breath escaped slowly, cold and biting.
"Ice Time."
Crack, crack, crack.
Thick ice rapidly spread from his hand, climbing across the giant sword and freezing Brogy's arm in an instant.
Brogy roared as madness overtook him. Watching the ice creep toward his shoulder, he gritted his teeth and struck his own frozen arm with his remaining hand.
The limb shattered instantly, breaking into countless fragments that scattered across the ground.
By sacrificing his arm, he managed to break free.
But it was only a temporary reprieve.
Aokiji remained where he stood, his gaze cold and unrelenting.
"Pfft!"
Nearby, Dorry spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was half scorched, half drenched in red as he staggered back to Brogy's side.
The two giants stood together once more, yet both were already at their limits.
Beyond their immediate battle, the situation was even more dire. Under the overwhelming force of the Navy, the number of Giant warriors was rapidly dwindling.
Though their ships were massive, they could not compare to the durability or firepower of Navy warships. While giants possessed immense individual strength, their straightforward nature was no match for the disciplined coordination of Marine Headquarters elites.
The Navy held absolute superiority.
Across the frozen battlefield, the cries of the giants echoed endlessly.
To Dorry and Brogy, those sounds cut deeper than any wound.
Brogy coughed violently, spitting blood again as his vision blurred, nearly losing consciousness.
Dorry quickly supported him, his voice urgent.
"Brogy, hold on. If you fall now, I will never let you hear the end of it."
Brogy forced his eyes open, his voice weak.
"The Navy's strength is too great... Our Giant Tribe... may fall here today..."
Sorrow and fury surged across Dorry's face.
He turned, glaring at Akainu and Aokiji as they advanced step by step.
After a brief silence, he roared with everything he had left,
"Loki! Are you truly going to stand there and watch the Giant Tribe be wiped out?!"
Akainu and Aokiji both halted at the shout.
Aokiji tilted his head slightly.
"Loki? Who is that?"
Akainu's expression remained cold.
"It does not matter. Any enemy of justice will be eliminated."
Aokiji gave a faint nod, unconcerned. Raising his hand once more, a chilling aura gathered as he prepared to release Ice Time Capsule and end the battle.
At that moment, his brow lifted slightly.
His figure vanished instantly.
At the same time, Akainu turned sharply, unleashing a massive magma fist that collided head on with a giant reddish gold fireball.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted, thick black smoke swallowing the already damaged warship.
When the smoke cleared, half of the vessel had been completely obliterated. The remaining structure was charred black, with reddish gold flames still burning along its fractured edges.
Akainu landed upon the frozen sea below.
He swung his magma covered arm backward, dispersing the molten form as he returned it to normal.
Beside him, an ice formation rose from the surface, taking shape as Aokiji.
Akainu frowned slightly, raising his hand.
The black glove had melted away, revealing reddened skin beneath.
Aokiji glanced over, his expression shifting with surprise.
Akainu, a Magma Logia user, had been burned.
Though the injury was minor, it was undeniably real.
Even Akainu himself found it unexpected.
His gaze lifted toward the sky.
There, a giant figure floated.
It was Loki, the prince of the giants.
He looked down at Dorry and Brogy with cold indifference.
"Pathetic. At this point, you should understand how fragile the Giant Tribe is without me, the Sun God."
Dorry no longer had the strength to argue. At this moment, Loki truly represented their final hope.
Drawing a heavy breath, he spoke in a deep voice,
"If you truly are the Sun God of our people, then prove it now. Do not stand there offering empty mockery."
Loki snorted, disdain evident.
"A crude attempt at provocation, but..."
"Ice, Pheasant Beak!"
Crack!
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