"Excellent!" Judge slammed his scepter against the table. "Germa 66 is about to reclaim its former glory! This country is only the beginning. The North Blue... one day, the entire Grand Line will be under our rule!"
Judge looked at his prized "children." He had to admit that his technology was exceptional for the North Blue region. He had encountered no real challenge, which had made him believe that even the great pirates were nothing special. He was confident in his future. Confident in restoring the Vinsmoke family to its former glory.
In simpler terms, Vinsmoke Judge had become arrogant.
His eyes burned with madness. The power units of his battle suit hummed. "Those who mocked us for losing our kingdom. Those fools who looked down on the power of science... soon they will be on their knees begging for mercy!"
Outside the window, dozens of snail warships were assembling. Clone soldiers stood in neat formation. Judge spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire world.
"Remember this. You are princes of the 'Evil Army'! Make the whole world tremble with your strength!"
"Yes, Father!" Three voices answered in unison.
"Report!" A clone soldier rushed in frantically. "An unidentified vessel has been spotted in the waters ahead!"
Judge frowned. "Who dares block the path of Germa 66?"
The soldier swallowed hard. "The sails... the sails bear the symbol of the 'Mist Lord'!"
The entire meeting hall fell silent. Judge's expression shifted, then twisted into a sinister grin.
Judge narrowed his eyes. A screen was brought before him. He looked at the distinctive black sail ship in the distance. "Is that... the Bruma Jackson?"
The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile. "Interesting. The legendary 'Mist Lord' has come right to us."
Ichiji stood beside him, arms crossed, his face expressionless. "Father, should we annihilate them?"
"Not yet," Judge said, stroking his chin. "First, let's see what this 'Emperor of the Sea' is capable of."
Rhett: It's been a long time since anyone wanted to test me. Interesting.
Niji scoffed. "Emperor? They're just pirates. Our clone army is the strongest!"
Meanwhile, aboard the Bruma Jackson.
"Captain, Germa 66's fleet is ahead," Lena said, lowering her telescope. "It doesn't look like they plan to move aside. It's been a while since we've met pirates who didn't get out of our way."
Rhett lounged lazily against the railing. "Old Judge has been pretty cocky in the West Blue lately."
Enel snorted coldly. "Captain, does this god need to strike them down?"
"Not yet." Rhett yawned. "You two go play with them first. We're here to conquer, not to rob. Two nations meeting. Be civilized. Be gracious."
Moria rubbed his hands excitedly. "Kishishishi... Looks like the captain doesn't want to get involved. Interesting..."
As the two ships drew closer, Judge called out through a loudspeaker.
"This is Germa Kingdom territory! Identify yourselves!"
Rhett picked his ear.
A bolt of lightning struck precisely in front of one of the snail ships, forcing it to stop.
Judge's face darkened. "Rhett! Don't think you can act recklessly just because you're the 'Mist Lord'!"
Ichiji suddenly leaped up. Jets of hot air shot from his flame shoes. "Father, let me teach them a lesson!"
"Wow??" Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Old Moria, little Enel, deal with him. Show him how deep the New World really is."
Judge looked at his children. He suddenly noticed something. "Where is Reiju? It doesn't matter. The two of you are enough. Go show them what you've got, my children."
Just then, Reiju came running up. "Father, I'm here. I went to my room to get my custom poisons."
"What a good child." Judge laughed proudly.
Reiju, Niji, and Ichiji advanced.
Rhett: Judge is still too young.
Reiju, Niji, and Ichiji quickly rushed toward the Bruma Jackson. The battle began in an instant.
Reiju struck first. She leaped lightly into the air and waved her hands. Purple venom rained down on the deck like a storm.
"Try my new formula!" she sneered. But before the venom could fall, a black shadow barrier expanded and absorbed it completely.
Enel hovered in the air, picking his ear. His expression was full of contempt. "Just a little poison, and you dare show off in front of this god? Kid, how little do you think of me?"
Niji saw this. His body flashed and shot toward Enel like a blue bolt of lightning.
"Your lightning is just a toy in front of me!" he roared. Electricity gathered in his hand, forming a blade, and he swung it at Enel.
Enel's lips curled upward. He let the electricity pass through his body. It didn't hurt him at all. There was no way around it. The gap in strength was just too large.
"Mortal, you know nothing of the power of a 'god.' I am the god who controls lightning." He raised his hand. A stronger bolt of lightning fell from the sky and struck Niji hard, driving him into the sea.
Ichiji targeted Moria. Flames burst from both of his arms, forming a massive fireball that shot toward him.
"Burn to ashes!" he grinned.
Moria didn't panic. The shadow under his feet stirred and instantly formed a giant hand that crushed the fireball.
"Kishishishi... Fire? My shadows hold things far more terrifying, little one." He pressed his hands together. Countless shadow bats flew out of the darkness and surrounded Ichiji.
Reiju saw her brothers in trouble. She gritted her teeth and charged at Moria, trying to turn the tables with close combat.
But before her fist could reach him, Moria's shadows moved like living things and wrapped around her limbs. "Little girl, your poison is useless against me." Moria grinned darkly. The shadows tightened. Reiju's face turned pale.
Judge watched everything from his snail warship. His face was ashen. "Impossible... How can this be? My children are being suppressed?"
He gripped his scepter. Electricity crackled around its tip. He entered the battlefield.
Just then, Rhett's voice rang out.
"Old Moria, little Enel, stop playing. Beat this old geezer up for me. A bastard who experiments on his own children — I won't feel satisfied unless I beat him up."
Judge roared. The thrusters of his battle suit let out a deafening scream. His weapon was a spear, modified with technology to carry electric properties. When he attacked, electricity came with it. He shot toward the Bruma Jackson like a cannonball, his spear crackling with high-voltage electricity as he thrust it at Rhett on the deck.
"You're just a pirate! Don't get too cocky!"
Rhett: A scientist with a cattle prod charging in. Tsk tsk. A little pushover.