"Excellent!" Judge slammed his scepter onto the table. "Germa 66 is about to reclaim its former glory! This kingdom is only the beginning. The West Blue... and one day, the entire Grand Line will kneel before us."
He gazed proudly at his so-called children. To be fair, within the West Blue, his technology truly was a dominating force. Drifting freely without encountering any truly formidable opponents had given Judge an inflated sense of confidence. Even the Sea Kings no longer impressed him. He believed completely that the Vinsmoke lineage would rise to power once more.
In simpler terms, Vinsmoke Judge had become arrogant.
His eyes sparkled with manic ambition. The power units in his combat suit hummed louder. "Those fools who mocked us for losing our homeland, those idiots who scorn the power of science... they will soon be begging at our feet."
Outside the window, dozens of massive snail warships were assembling, and rows of cloned soldiers stood in perfect formation. Judge spread his arms as if embracing the world.
"Remember this. You are the princes of the Evil Legion. Use your power to make the world tremble."
"Yes, Father!" the three children answered at once.
"Report!" A clone soldier burst into the hall in a panic. "An unidentified vessel has been spotted ahead!"
Judge frowned. "Who dares block Germa 66's path?"
The soldier swallowed hard. "The ship... the flag bears the crest of the Lord of the Mists."
The entire council chamber went silent. Judge's expression shifted, then twisted into a sly grin.
A glowing screen materialized before him. He focused on the distant black-sailed ship with its strange silhouette. "That is... the Blumarine Jackson?"
A cold smile tugged at his lips. "Interesting. The infamous Lord of the Mists has come knocking on my door."
Ichiji crossed his arms, face emotionless. "Father, should we eliminate them?"
"Do not be so hasty." Judge stroked his chin. "Let us see what this so-called Emperor is capable of."
Ritter: It has been a while since anyone tried to test my strength. This could be amusing.
Niji sneered. "What Emperor? They are nothing but pirates. Our clone army is the strongest."
Meanwhile, aboard the Blumarine Jackson.
"Captain, Germa 66's fleet is ahead," Lina reported as she lowered her telescope. "Looks like they are not planning to give way. It has been a long time since a pirate crew refused to move aside for us."
Ritter leaned lazily against the rail. "Judge has been getting awfully cocky in the West Blue lately."
Enel snorted. "Captain, does this god need to wipe out every last one of them?"
"Calm down," Ritter yawned. "Go play with them first. We are here to conquer, not plunder. Negotiations between nations require... civility."
Moria cracked his knuckles excitedly. "Fos fos fos fos... sounds like the captain is not planning to interfere directly. How delightful."
As the two sides drew closer, Judge raised a loudspeaker.
"This is Germa Kingdom territory. Intruders, state your identities!"
Ritter casually picked at his ear.
A bolt of lightning crashed down in front of the snail ship, bringing it to an abrupt halt.
Judge's expression darkened. "Ritter! Do not think that calling yourself the Lord of the Mists gives you the right to act arrogant before Germa!"
Ichiji ignited his boots, flames erupting beneath his feet. "Father, allow me to deal with them!"
"What sort of circus act is this?" Ritter raised a brow. "Old Mo, little Enel, go teach him a lesson. He needs to learn how deep the waters of the New World can be."
Judge scanned the deck and suddenly realized something. "Where is Reiju? Never mind. You two will suffice. Children, go reap the consequences of their arrogance."
Just then, Reiju ran up. "Father, I am here. I went to fetch my latest poison."
"My good child," Judge said proudly.
Reiju, Niji and Ichiji charged forward.
Ritter sighed. Judge was still far too young.
Reiju, Niji and Ichiji stormed toward the Blumarine Jackson. The battle erupted instantly.
Reiju moved first. Her silhouette rose gracefully into the air as she flung her arms wide. Purple poison rained down upon the deck.
"Try my newest formula." Her voice was cold.
The droplets never touched the wood. A black shadow barrier expanded instantly and swallowed the toxins whole.
Enel hovered lazily in midair, still picking at his ear. His expression was pure condescension. "A handful of toxins, and you think you can posture before a god? Little girl, do you truly look down on me that much?"
Niji vanished in a burst of blue light and shot straight at Enel.
"Your lightning is nothing but a toy before me!" he roared. Electricity gathered in his hands, forming razor-sharp blades aimed at Enel's throat.
Enel smirked, letting the currents pass harmlessly through his intangible body. Their gap in strength was overwhelming.
"Mortal, you understand nothing of the power of a god. I am lightning incarnate."
He lifted his hand. A massive bolt crashed down, blasting Niji straight into the sea.
At the same time, Ichiji targeted Moria. Flames gushed from his gauntlets, forming a giant fireball.
"Burn to ash," he snarled.
Moria did not flinch. The shadows at his feet writhed and formed a massive hand that crushed the fireball like glass.
"Fos fos fos... flames? My shadows contain far more terrifying things. Come then, little brat."
Shadows erupted into a swarm of bats, engulfing Ichiji.
Seeing her brothers overwhelmed, Reiju gritted her teeth and rushed in, attempting close combat with Moria. But before she could land a strike, the shadows coiled around her limbs like serpents.
"Little girl, your poison is wasted on me." Moria's grin widened as the shadows tightened. Reiju's face paled.
Judge watched all of it from the snail ship. His face lost all color. "Impossible... that level of power... my children are being suppressed?"
He gripped his scepter. Sparks of electricity flickered dangerously as he leapt into the battle.
Ritter's voice drifted from across the ship.
"Old Mo, little Enel, stop playing around. Beat this old man properly. Anyone who experiments on his own kids deserves a thorough beating."
Judge roared as the boosters on his combat suit flared. His weapon, a technologically modified spear infused with electrical channels, crackled with high voltage. He launched himself like a cannonball toward the Blumarine Jackson. The spear thundered as he thrust it directly at Ritter.
"Filthy pirate! Do not overestimate yourself!"
Ritter: A scientist swinging an electric stick came charging in. Tsk tsk tsk. What a weakling.