Under a heavy sky, laden with dark clouds, the kingdom of Germa advanced, unified for the first time in ages. This landless kingdom, carried by immense giant snails resembling Den Den Mushi, formed a mosaic of floating islets, an architecture as strange as it was formidable. Today, they were converging into a single force, their massive outlines standing out against the tumultuous horizon of an emperor's territory.
At the head of this armada, Judge, the patriarch of the Vinsmoke family, scanned the ocean from the bow of the central castle. His eyes gleamed with devouring ambition: to conquer this hostile territory to establish Germa's supremacy and reclaim the North Blue. Facing him, a frail skiff cut through the waves, tiny in comparison to Germa's might. It was Nanami's ship, a man whose reputation as a shaman and warrior resonated even in these ruthless seas.
"Fire!" shouted Judge, his voice booming like a cannon shot.
Germa's cannons roared, spitting a rain of cannonballs towards Nanami's ship. The projectiles whistled, striking the water all around the vessel, sending up sprays of foam. Yet, aboard, Nanami remained still, his glasses reflecting the glow of the explosions. With one hand, he adjusted his lenses; with the other, he drew a singular weapon, part-machete, part-work of art.
"You shall not pass the Isle of the Virgin, Germa 66. Fire!" he ordered in a calm, almost casual tone.
His ship's cannons responded with a deep rumble. The cannonballs, surgically precise, struck Germa head-on, triggering a series of explosions that illuminated the floating kingdom. Flames erupted, engulfing entire structures. Judge, far from being intimidated, smirked.
"The weapons of that cursed Doctor Shoko," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the flames. "I was not mistaken. With this island, Germa will become the greatest technological power in the world and reclaim the North Blue."
A man with blue hair stepped forward, his smile brimming with confidence. "Father, shall I deal with this emperor shaman?"
Judge stared at him, choosing his words carefully. "Are you sure you want to go alone, Niji?"
A confident nod was his answer. "Very well. Show him how Germa 66 operates," commanded Judge, his tone as sharp as steel.
Niji leaped, his high-tech suit propelling him through the air like a comet. Behind him, his three brothers and sister watched from the castle. Yonji, with green hair, laughed unrestrainedly, his arrogance palpable. Ichiji, the eldest with red hair, remained stoic, arms crossed. Reiju, the only girl, wore an enigmatic, almost gentle smile, but her eyes betrayed a cold analysis.
"Hahaha, Niji is going to have fun!" exclaimed Yonji, oblivious to the tension.
"We haven't even passed the first island," grumbled Ichiji, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "This is going to take a while."
Reiju, still smiling, murmured, "No one has ever passed Hakai Island. Will we be the first?"
On the deck of his ship, Nanami observed Germa calmly, his machete resting on his shoulder. Suddenly, a blue flash struck the bow, raising a cloud of smoke. Nanami sidestepped it with a simple step, his expression unchanged. Niji emerged, a taunting smile on his lips.
"You'll be the first to fall," he taunted before disappearing in a blur of speed. "Stealth!"
A lightning-charged kick sliced through the air, aiming for Nanami. But with a swift motion, he parried with his Haki-covered machete. Niji's eyes widened, caught off guard.
"Is that all you've got, kid?" Nanami asked, pushing his opponent back with a brutal shove.
Furious, Niji vanished again. "Stealth! Henry Needle!" His knee, crackling with lightning, crashed against Nanami's forearm, protected by a Haki armor. The impact sent Nanami stumbling back, his feet sliding on the deck, but his face remained impassive.
"Don't underestimate me, shaman!" roared Niji, his anger palpable.
Nanami sighed, slightly bending his knees, his machete ready. "Let's finish this."
Niji charged, his entire body crackling with energy. He leaped, aiming for Nanami's face, but the latter struck in a flash. "Kuso Katto!" The blade plunged into Niji's abdomen, making him spit blood, his eyes wide with pain. Propelled backward, he crashed into Germa, unconscious, under the astonished gazes of his family.
"You're still just a kid," Nanami remarked, sheathing his machete without looking back.
Judge, leaning over his inert son, gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. Yonji burst into laughter, unaffected. "Hahaha, they really messed him up! Is that the third strongest shaman?"
"What's so funny?" barked Judge, furious.
Ichiji, a cold smile on his lips, interjected. "You knew the risks, father. No one has passed the first island. Looks like we're going to struggle too."
Reiju, more measured, added, "You're the one who made them this way, after all."
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the sky, accompanied by a rain of yellow torrents, resembling shooting stars. "Reverse Sort: Yellow!"
The projectiles rained down on Germa, triggering devastating explosions. Buildings collapsed, flames engulfed the kingdom, and the clone soldiers fell, pierced. Judge, petrified, watched the chaos, his mouth agape. Behind him, the castle burned, riddled with holes.
Reiju, a mocking smile on her lips, murmured, "There you go, huh?"
Ichiji, eyes raised, added, "Who would have thought he would come in person?"
Yonji, still laughing, clenched his fists. "Hahaha, we've attracted the big fish!"
Judge followed their gazes. Up there, a figure dominated the sky, surrounded by an overwhelming aura. "Eternal Eyes... Gojo..." he growled, his lance trembling in his hand.
On his ship, Nanami sheathed his machete, impassive. "We're done here. Back to the Isle of the Virgin."
"Are you sure?" asked a subordinate, perplexed.
"They have no way out," Nanami replied, pointing to the sky. "That's the path they've chosen."
Another sailor exclaimed, "Captain Gojo is here! What is he doing here?"
Another sighed, "He must have learned that Germa 66 had entered. He just wants to have fun, you know how he is."
Nanami's ship changed course, leaving behind a Germa in flames. In the face of Gojo, fleeing was futile.
In the heart of the ravaged kingdom, the Vinsmoke family stared at the sky. The indifferent brothers contrasted with Judge, whose anger simmered. In an instant, Gojo appeared twenty meters away from them, his smug smile illuminating his face.
"Do you understand, Vinsmoke?" he taunted, pointing a provocative finger.
"Attack!" roared Judge.
A hundred soldiers charged, but as they approached, Gojo's imposing silhouette, towering at three meters fifty, crushed them with his mere presence. With a single glance, he swept them aside. An invisible force sent them flying backward, their broken bodies scattering like rag dolls.
"Not very patient, huh?" mocked Gojo, his voice singsong. "Is this how you greet someone when you enter their home?"
A red lightning bolt pierced his abdomen, leaving an open hole... which closed instantly. Ichiji, the one behind the attack, furrowed his brow. "A wielder of devilish powers?"
"That was mean, kid," replied Gojo, feigning sadness. "What if you had actually injured me?"
"Don't mock me," retorted Ichiji, icy. "You dare set foot in a royal kingdom. That won't fly."
As he spoke, Yonji lunged from behind, aiming for Gojo's face. But the latter effortlessly caught his arm, an amused smile on his lips. "The famous suits of Germa 66. Interesting... but inadequate."
With a gesture, he hurled Yonji against the castle, where he crashed, spitting blood. Ichiji took his chance, his fists glowing with red light. "Sparking Figure!" he cried, triggering a massive explosion. But a hand emerged from the smoke, seizing his head and lifting him like a straw.
"Nice try," murmured Gojo, his body halfway reformed.
A punch to Ichiji's stomach unleashed a violent gust of wind. The eldest collapsed, doubled over. Judge, consumed by rage, thrust his lance into Gojo's belly, but it remained stuck, useless.
"You are weak," Gojo stated, his tone bored. "Those who don't use Haki have no business in the New World."
Grabbing Judge by the throat, he lifted him, ignoring his groans. Reiju, in the background, observed, her strained smile masking her nervousness. Any resistance seemed futile.