Joy Boy spoke with a solemn expression.
"So the current situation has already become this severe. If the Celestial Dragons continue expanding their influence like this, true freedom will completely vanish from this world!"
At that moment, Emet fully released the restrictions placed upon its body. The light within its eyes turned crimson, while faint red electrical arcs crackled around its metallic frame.
It raised both arms toward the heavens and roared,
"I will never allow something like that to happen!!!"
Buzz!
A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Emet's steel body, instantly spreading across the entirety of Egghead Island before sweeping outward into the surrounding seas.
Under the pressure of that monstrous Haki, the island shook violently as if struck by a catastrophic earthquake. The ground split apart continuously, forming massive fissures, while gigantic trees were uprooted from the earth one after another.
Even though Joy Boy had already suppressed the power of the Conqueror's Haki as much as possible, Nami and the others were still knocked unconscious by the residual shockwaves. Even someone as strong as Lindbergh felt his head spin from the pressure.
He glanced at the unconscious Gambo lying nearby and said with a pale expression,
"This level of Conqueror's Haki is absurd!"
Ahead of them, Joy Boy spread his arms wide as black and red lightning surged wildly around his body.
His aura skyrocketed explosively. The muscles across his body expanded dramatically, veins bulging beneath his skin like writhing serpents.
The drumming sound from Joy Boy's chest grew louder than before. The rhythm echoed across Egghead Island, causing the entire island itself to pulse and undulate alongside the beat.
Releasing the Conqueror's Haki barely affected Emet's energy reserves. It stared fixedly at Joy Boy below with burning excitement, shouting his name repeatedly like a loyal warrior welcoming the return of its king.
Meanwhile, at Marineford.
Lloyd, who had been reviewing documents inside his office, suddenly raised his head.
His abrupt movement startled Ginny, who had just entered while carrying another stack of paperwork.
Wisps of black energy flickered through Lloyd's eyes.
Ginny quickly asked,
"What's wrong, Lloyd?"
Lloyd calmly placed the document onto the desk before standing up.
"Someone finally exposed themselves."
He handed the approved document toward her.
"Take this to Admiral Kizaru. The funding request has been approved."
Ginny hugged the document tightly against her chest and nodded obediently.
"Then Lloyd, are you heading out?"
Lloyd gave a slight nod before gently patting her pink hair.
"That's right. It won't take long."
His cold eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'll return soon."
Ginny did not question him further. In her eyes, Lloyd was practically invincible. She could not imagine anyone in this world possessing the strength necessary to threaten him.
Lloyd gave a faint smile before walking toward the window.
Dark wings unfolded behind him.
In the next instant, his figure transformed into a streak of black light that shot into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon.
Back on Egghead Island, Joy Boy had already completed the recovery of the Conqueror's Haki.
When stored inside Emet, this power could only be unleashed once in a massive burst. However, things were completely different now that the Haki had returned to its original owner.
In Joy Boy's hands, this Conqueror's Haki acted like a seed.
Combined with Luffy's own Conqueror's Haki, it could rapidly elevate Luffy's power back toward the terrifying level Joy Boy once possessed during his prime.
With this restored strength, Joy Boy finally felt a considerable amount of confidence return.
He looked up at Emet and stretched out a hand with a smile.
"Emet, come with me. Leave this place together."
Emet's eyes flickered brightly.
Without hesitation, it replied excitedly,
"Okay! I can finally fight beside you once again!"
As it spoke, Emet bent down and extended a gigantic hand.
"Climb on. I'll carry you away from here!"
Joy Boy suddenly froze for a moment before helplessly rubbing his forehead.
"Alright, alright, I understand."
He sighed.
"Of course I'm not abandoning your companions."
Emet tilted its massive head curiously.
"Joy Boy, are you talking to Luffy?"
Joy Boy softly hummed in response before glancing toward the unconscious Straw Hats scattered across the ground.
"First, let's wake them up."
He focused slightly.
The Drums of Liberation echoed once more from within his chest.
Boom... Boom... Boom...
As the rhythm spread outward, Brook was the first to regain consciousness.
Soon after, Chopper, Franky, and Nami slowly woke up one after another.
The group looked around in confusion.
Nami stared cautiously at Joy Boy for several seconds. After confirming that the person before her was not truly Luffy, hostility once again appeared in her eyes.
Joy Boy casually waved his hand.
"Don't glare at me like that. I'll return this body to Luffy later."
His expression turned serious.
"The Conqueror's Haki surge earlier was far too intense. Marineford has probably already detected it, so we need to leave immediately."
The moment he finished speaking, Joy Boy suddenly stretched both arms outward.
Before Nami and the others could react, he scooped them all up at once and leaped directly onto Emet's enormous palm.
Seeing this, Lindbergh quickly grabbed the unconscious Gambo before jumping aboard as well.
Once everyone had boarded, Emet rose to its feet.
It turned toward the shoreline and began sprinting forward.
Despite its colossal size, its speed was astonishingly fast.
In mere moments, it reached the edge of Egghead Island.
Ahead of them stretched the endless sea.
Joy Boy clenched his fist tightly and shouted toward the horizon.
"Go, Emet! Let us run toward freedom once again!!!"
Emet roared excitedly in response and lifted one massive foot, preparing to charge into the ocean.
Suddenly, Joy Boy's expression changed drastically.
White flame-cloud ribbons instantly erupted around his body as he entered his Nika form.
His figure flashed upward.
Before Emet could even react, a deafening metallic clang exploded above its head.
Several bolts of black lightning crashed downward simultaneously, detonating monstrous waves across the sea surface.
Everyone immediately looked upward.
There, high above the sky, Joy Boy floated with both arms crossed defensively as he blocked a crescent-shaped jet-black sword slash.
The attack scraped violently against the Armament Haki coating his arms, producing showers of sparks.
Joy Boy gritted his teeth as the overwhelming force continuously pushed his body downward.
Only after red and black lightning burst wildly from his body did he finally roar and forcefully spread his arms apart, shattering the slash completely.
Even so, there was not the slightest trace of relief on his face.
Joy Boy flipped backward through the air before landing once again on Emet's palm.
He glanced down at the fresh red mark carved across his forearm.
Then he slowly raised his head toward the sky.
His voice became ice-cold.
"Celestial Dragons."
The moment those words left his mouth, Nami and the others instinctively trembled.
They followed Joy Boy's gaze upward.
Their faces instantly turned deathly pale.