Yadis Kingdom.
Border waters.
The sky was overcast, and fierce winds howled across the sea, stirring up massive waves that crashed violently.
Along the kingdom's maritime border, tens of thousands of Yadis Kingdom soldiers stood in a loosely organized battle formation. Gripping swords and spears, they stared wide-eyed at the distant horizon where massive warships steadily emerged. Their faces were pale, and their hands trembled uncontrollably around their weapons.
One ship.
Two ships.
Three ships.
...
Ship after ship—like floating fortresses—cut through the storm-tossed sea as if it were calm, advancing with unstoppable momentum toward Yadis Kingdom.
Each warship flew a flag emblazoned with the number "66," waving ominously overhead.
The battleships, built from rock and metal, were dragged forward by enormous snails.
Leading the fleet was a colossal main battleship, vast enough to rival a small town. Atop its towering central fortress fluttered the imposing Cross Falcon flag.
The Saint Germain!
The flagship of Germa 66—the infamous "Army of Evil."
"Damn it! Have the Marines arrived yet!?"
King Yadis III, a portly middle-aged man wearing a golden crown and a curled mustache, stood in richly adorned robes, his layers of fat causing the luxurious fabric to bunch and wrinkle.
Staring at the approaching steel tide that was Germa 66's fleet—rolling in like dark storm clouds—his face was drenched in cold sweat.
That lunatic Vinsmoke Judge had threatened to take his head and demanded that Yadis Kingdom hand over its king—or else he would lead the "Army of Evil" to raze the entire kingdom to the ground.
Noticing the occasional sideways glances from his own soldiers, King Yadis III was like an ant on a hot pan, restless and panicked.
"Your Majesty, I've already notified Daren-sama. The 321st Branch has deployed and should arrive at any moment," replied Tyrell, the kingdom's Governor Minister, respectfully.
Tyrell was a handsome man in his early thirties, his features carrying a hint of androgyny. Even his ornate formalwear gave off a faint fragrance.
King Yadis III, upon hearing his governor's reassurance, felt slightly more at ease—but anxiety still showed plainly on his face.
Germa Kingdom had existed in the North Blue for over 300 years. Its military might was terrifying, and the nation held strength above all else. Nearly the entire population consisted of adult males trained as elite soldiers.
Faced with such overwhelming force, even though Yadis had the advantage in numbers, it was clear—if it came to battle, their lines would collapse within minutes.
...
On the St. Germain.
A towering, broad-shouldered figure stood at the bow like an iron colossus.
He wore a metallic helmet, his long golden hair cascading like a lion's mane. His expression was stern and cold.
A sharply pointed black beard angled upward from his jaw, which also bore a smaller goatee. Draped in an orange cloak, he wore a light gray combat suit emblazoned with the "66" insignia of Germa, black combat boots, and gripped a silver-white metal spear in his hand.
Vinsmoke Judge—the head of the Vinsmoke family, commander of Germa 66, and the reigning king of the Germa Kingdom!
"What a pathetic bunch of weaklings... For a kingdom this feeble to survive in the North Blue for so long—it's a disgrace to the region."
Vinsmoke Judge narrowed his eyes at the distant shoreline, where enemy troops lined the coast. A cold, arrogant smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"My lord, are we really going through with this? What about the Marines…"
A man in a butler's tailcoat stood respectfully behind him, speaking cautiously.
"Hm?"
Vinsmoke Judge raised an eyebrow.
The butler's pupils contracted.
Shk!
A jet of blood erupted—the tip of the spear pierced clean through his heart.
Drip... drip...
Scarlet blood streamed down. The light faded rapidly from the butler's eyes.
He looked up at his master, disbelief written across his face, before collapsing to his knees, powerless.
"Supreme Commander of the North Blue? Just a mere Captain... Who the hell does he think he is, sending me a letter with threats?"
Vinsmoke Judge stared coldly at the dying man.
"No one can stop Germa's glory and conquest."
With a flick, he yanked the spear free, sending a trail of blood streaking across the deck.
He didn't spare even a glance for the subordinate now lying lifeless behind him.
Germa had no use for cowards.
As for that letter from Daren? He had already tossed it straight into the trash.
That thought flashed through Vinsmoke Judge's mind as he looked out over the fleet.
Across Germa 66's warships, dense ranks of soldiers stood still.
Each one was tall and muscular, wearing sunglasses, their expressions blank and emotionless.
Even with war looming, not a single flicker of emotion crossed their faces.
Clone soldiers.
Vinsmoke Judge gazed at these "loyal" troops with satisfaction.
His collaboration with Vegapunk had granted him partial access to lineage factor technology.
By modifying the lineage factors of infants, he had mastered cloning technology—and used it to mass-produce clone soldiers for Germa 66.
These clones were physically formidable, absolutely obedient, and embedded with the programmed ideals of "no fear of death, no betrayal."
To Vinsmoke Judge, this was the most elite, most powerful army the world had ever seen.
The Marines? Worthless in comparison. Before a force that knew neither pain nor death, they would be crushed.
And the most important part—using current tech, it only took five years to produce a fully grown 20-year-old soldier.
In other words, as long as he had enough funding, he could endlessly mass-produce troops—building the largest military force on the planet.
Once he conquered Yadis and the rest of the North Blue's four kingdoms, he could harness the region's resources and multiply his army infinitely. Global domination would no longer be just a dream.
With that thought, Vinsmoke Judge raised his hand with a cold smile and gave a gesture.
At once, the scattered formation of battleships began to shift.
Driven by massive snails, dozens of warships swiftly and precisely aligned—locking together.
Before the terrified and stunned eyes of the tens of thousands of Yadis soldiers, the previously separate Germa 66 ships merged into a single, colossal structure floating atop the sea!
A towering military fortress.
Enormous black cannon barrels.
Tens of thousands of clone soldiers tightly packed, armed with blades and guns.
From a distance, the entire Germa 66 fleet had transformed into a monstrous war beast—fully armed, radiating ruthless, terrifying might.
This… was the Germa Kingdom!
"For the glory of Germa!! To dominate the North Blue!!"
Vinsmoke Judge raised his spear with a vicious grin and shouted loudly.
At his command, tens of thousands of cloned soldiers lifted their weapons in unison, their deafening battle cry shaking the sky.
"For the glory of Germa!! To dominate the North Blue!!"
Their thunderous roar crashed like a wave against the forces of the Yadis Kingdom on the shore, carrying a suffocating killing intent. Many young soldiers fell back in terror, their weapons clattering to the ground.
King Yadis III trembled uncontrollably and could barely stand, supported by several of his ministers.
"It's over… it's all over…"
He muttered, pale as a ghost.
Aboard the Saint Germain, Vinsmoke Judge burst into manic laughter at the sight of the crumbling Yadis forces.
"Kneel and submit!!"
"Germa… is the true overlord of the North Blue!!"
He raised his metal spear high, blue lightning crackling around it.
At his signal, the entire ironclad military fortress of Germa began advancing at full speed toward the coastline, a colossal force pushing forward. Its sheer mass churned up towering waves several meters high.
Vinsmoke Judge took a deep breath and grinned darkly.
"All units… prepare to attack—"
Before he could finish, a pitch-black cannonball suddenly came hurtling from the sky, slamming into the ground beside him.
Vinsmoke Judge's eyes narrowed in shock.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion erupted, flames and thick black smoke billowing into the air.
The abrupt turn of events brought the cloned soldiers to an instant halt, just as they were about to charge.
On the shoreline, the nobles and troops of the Yadis Kingdom stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before them.
"Damn it!! Who the hell did that!?"
As the wind blew the smoke away, Vinsmoke Judge crawled out of a deep crater, covered in dirt and seething with rage.
Sensing something, he turned his head sharply toward a distant point.
At the same time, the ministers and soldiers of Yadis turned to look as well.
Out on the surging sea, beneath howling winds and crashing waves, a massive warship slowly emerged.
Its towering mast bore the bold, sweeping black characters for "Justice."
At the bow stood a tall, imposing young man, his wide white cloak billowing fiercely in the wind.
"It's Daren!!"
"The Marines are here! We're saved!!"
King Yadis III burst into tears of joy, his face flushed with emotion.
By contrast, Vinsmoke Judge's face turned an ominous shade of gray.
Under the gaze of tens of thousands from both the Yadis and Germa Kingdoms, the Marine warship sailed swiftly into the contested waters, cutting between the two armies like an unbridgeable chasm.
Instantly, the entire sea fell into a tense, deathly silence.
Everyone's gaze shifted instinctively to the figure at the warship's bow.
Short black hair, sword-like eyebrows, sharp and commanding features—his presence radiated calm authority.
A smile tugged at the lips of the Marine Captain.
He looked up, his eyes fierce, locking onto Vinsmoke Judge's grim expression in the distance.
"In the name of justice…"
His voice echoed across the vast sea.
"I'm here to end this war."
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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