Shanks lay spread out on the deck, his entire body drenched in seawater.
Lloyd stood nearby, his expression calm but slightly exasperated. "Why didn't you try your abilities first? What were you in such a hurry to jump into the sea for?"
Shanks stared blankly at the sky. "Why can't I? Am I not a member of the Figarland Family?"
Lloyd let out a quiet laugh. "You can rest assured, you are a Figarland. Even Uncle Garling would become a landlubber if he ate a Devil Fruit."
"Then why can you?"
Lloyd opened his palm, and the demon blade Muramasa appeared out of thin air. He placed the sword into Shanks' hand. "Try jumping into the sea again."
Shanks looked at him suspiciously, then slowly got to his feet and walked back to the edge of the ship.
This time, he hesitated.
Lloyd stepped up behind him and kicked him forward without warning.
With Lloyd's strength, there was no resisting it. Shanks cried out as he shot into the sea like a bullet.
He flailed instinctively, but then froze.
The overwhelming weakness from before did not come.
Blinking, Shanks stared at the Muramasa in his hand, its blade shimmering with a dark glow. "This sword..."
Before he could finish, Lloyd snapped his fingers. The sword flew out of Shanks' grip instantly.
At once, the weakness returned.
Moments later, the blade flew back into his hand, and Shanks used the brief strength it provided to leap back onto the ship.
Standing on the deck again, Shanks fell silent, then looked at Lloyd with a wounded expression. "Brother, you tricked me..."
Lloyd shrugged. "Are you still upset about eating a Devil Fruit? That was the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model Azure Dragon."
"But I became a landlubber."
"It's not a problem. Once I understand the secret of Devil Fruits, I might be able to help you remove the curse."
Shanks paused, then asked, "What is that sword made of? Can I use the same material on my Gryphon?"
"I don't know. It belonged to an ancestor, and there are no records about how it was forged."
"...Alright."
Shanks sighed, clearly disappointed.
Lloyd glanced at him. "You haven't tested your Devil Fruit abilities properly yet. Try them first. If you're still dissatisfied, I can extract the Devil Fruit from your body."
Shanks' eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"Yes. But I'll need to beat you half to death first. Do you want to do it yourself, or should I?"
As he spoke, a dark aura began to rise faintly from Lloyd's body, his intent unmistakable.
Shanks swallowed hard. His entire time as an apprentice had been under Lloyd's overwhelming presence. Even now, that instinctive fear made it impossible to resist.
He quickly raised both hands. "Wait, wait! Let me try my abilities first!"
Lloyd nodded.
Shanks closed his eyes. His red hair began to shift, and two golden horns slowly emerged from his head.
They were bright and sharp, more radiant than those of Kozuki Momonosuke.
The horns lengthened into the shape of dragon horns, while crimson scales began to spread across his exposed skin.
His body grew larger, muscles expanding until they tore through his white shirt. Apart from his chest and abdomen, the rest of him was covered in red scales that gleamed under the sunlight.
Shanks, now taller than Lloyd, clenched his fists and felt the immense surge of power within him.
A Mythical Zoan, the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model Azure Dragon, granted overwhelming physical enhancement.
Lloyd observed him calmly. "A Mythical Zoan offers more than just transformation. You've seen Kaido fight before."
Shanks nodded. As one of the Four Emperors, he had clashed with Kaido and witnessed his abilities firsthand.
After a moment, Shanks stepped to the edge of the ship. He opened his mouth, releasing a blast of scorching dragon breath that instantly evaporated a large portion of seawater.
Then he swung his arms, sending out multiple wind blades that churned the sea into towering waves.
To wield such power immediately after eating the fruit demonstrated his exceptional talent.
Like someone given a fascinating new weapon, Shanks continued experimenting. Eventually, he tilted his head back and let out a deep roar.
His body shifted, transforming into a long crimson dragon as he soared into the sky.
Though smaller than Kaido's dragon form, his size was still impressive. Compared to Momonosuke's adult form, Shanks was noticeably larger.
As an Emperor, Shanks was well aware of awakening, but even without it, he was already satisfied.
Lloyd watched him from below, then spread his wings and shot upward as a streak of black light. He landed effortlessly between Shanks' horns.
With Lloyd seated on his head, Shanks spoke with clear excitement. "Brother, this Devil Fruit is incredible. I really like it."
Lloyd smirked faintly. "So you don't mind being a landlubber anymore?"
Shanks hesitated briefly, then laughed. "Compared to the sea, the sky feels even more vast. This... feels like freedom."
Lloyd rested his chin on his hand as they flew together for a while before eventually returning to the ship.
Before landing, Lloyd separated and descended on his own, avoiding any awkward positioning when Shanks reverted to human form.
Back on deck, Shanks still seemed energized.
Lloyd, however, shifted his attention to the remaining Devil Fruits placed along the side of the ship. His gaze settled on the Azure Dragon fruit, his expression turning thoughtful.