Facing Gurd's recruitment attempt, the Vinsmoke family members wore grim expressions. They were well aware of the Beasts' strength, but having dominated the North Blue for years, how could they submit to one of the Four Emperors?
"We're really being looked down on!"
Ichiji snorted coldly and was about to move when a figure suddenly flashed past him—so fast he couldn't react.
Smack!
All four siblings turned their heads in shock to see their father's head gripped tightly by Earth Calamity, the crushing force rendering him powerless to resist.
"The rest are yours!"
"Ooooh!"
With those words, Gurd flung Judge's head toward the island before launching himself after him in a single explosive leap!
The four siblings tried to give chase, but two dinosaurs lunged at them!
"We're your opponents, ya hear?!"
"And us!"
Speed drew her bow, aiming at the second son, Niji, while Chikara transformed into a muscular woman, blocking the fourth son, Yonji.
The rest of the pirates closed in as well.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted from the island.
Gurd landed, staring down at Judge lying in a deep crater.
"Alright, I'll give you three minutes. Show me everything your science can do. If you can make me take even half a step back, I'll leave."
"There's a limit to underestimating someone!"
Judge roared in fury, soaring into the sky. Accelerated by his Battle Suit, he dove at Gurd like a Weird Bird, thrusting his Electromagnetic Spear downward.
"Electromagnetic Thrust!"
Clang!
Gurd caught the spearhead barehanded.
"It's not over yet!"
Judge activated the mechanism, unleashing a surge of high-voltage electricity that engulfed Gurd's entire body.
Yet Gurd remained motionless, staring at him with cold indifference.
"How?!"
Judge couldn't believe it. Unable to pull back his spear, he channeled electricity into his right foot and lashed out at Gurd's head like lightning.
"Electromagnetic Smash!"
Thud!
It connected!
But the pain that shot through his foot made Judge's face contort—the bones in his ankle had cracked from the impact.
Gurd's left cheek was coated in Haki, completely unharmed. Even the high-voltage current only left a faint tingling sensation.
It was nothing compared to Hajrudin's Iron Thunder.
This was just high-voltage electricity. Hajrudin's Iron Thunder summoned actual lightning—yet even that couldn't bring Gurd down.
Gurd's gaze was full of disdain.
"This is your so-called scientific power?"
"..."
Blood vessels bulged in Judge's eyes.
Science was everything to him.
His entire life, all his efforts, had been dedicated to taking revenge on the North Blue nations and reclaiming his rule over them.
But facing an executive of the Four Emperors, he was nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter. How could someone like him ever hope to rule the North Blue again?
"Explosive Flying Kick!"
Attack. Keep attacking!
Judge fought like a madman.
Until—
"Time's up, Judge."
The demonic whisper snapped Judge back to reality. Instinctively, he activated his Battle Suit and shot into the sky, fleeing the battlefield.
Gurd's eyes turned icy.
"I hate it when people fly around in front of me!"
"Cliff Sword!"
A pillar of molten rock erupted from the ground, slamming into Judge's abdomen!
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion lit up the sky.
Moments later, Gurd returned to the shore, dragging Judge's charred body behind him.
"Father's been defeated?!"
Reiju's heart lurched at the sight of her father's defeat. That momentary distraction sealed her fate in battle.
"Quit lookin' around, ya hear?!"
"Gu Jiang defeating your king was only natural, wow!"
Ulti grabbed Reiju's shoulders, tilting her head far back before smashing her Haki-coated forehead into Reiju's skull with a whoosh!
"Ulti Headbutt!"
"CRACK!"
Reiju's eyes rolled back as half her sturdy cranium shattered.
K.O!
Not far away, Page One chased after Ichiji.
"Jumping around like a damn monkey!"
"I'm not a monkey—I'm Ichiji!"
Ichiji hovered midair, responding coldly.
"Shut up! I'll knock you down right now!"
Page One halted, muscles bulging as razor-sharp dorsal spines erupted from his back, extending all the way to his tail!
"Watch closely now!"
His tail slammed the ground, spinning his body like a top as countless flying spines whirled toward the sky!
"Flying Spine Spin!!"
"What?!"
Ichiji startled, dodging frantically midair.
"HAHAHA! No escaping this!"
Page One accelerated his spin, launching increasing volleys of spines while lecturing:
"This is how Spinosaurus hunted in ancient times!"
"Damn it, so that's how it works?!"
Ichiji zigzagged through the air until whistling projectiles disrupted his rhythm—the spines had completed their trajectory and were now boomeranging back!
"CLANG!"
A returning spine sawed against his cape like a circular blade, spraying sparks.
"GRIIIND—"
"Shit!"
Ichiji realized his peril too late.
The cape split. The spinning spine carved through his kidney before returning to Page One's back.
A crimson bloom.
Ichiji crashed earthward, struggling to rise—only for a massive dinosaur foot to pin him down.
Page One's bloodthirsty gaze tracked his reattaching spines, their mechanical clicks echoing.
To shred such formidable defenses, he'd gambled his life mastering the Spinosaurus' true hunting techniques!
With their king captured and royals defeated, Germa's ministers raised white flags.
Snail Ships rapidly assembled.
Germa Palace.
Swathed in bandages, Judge and his children were bound at the banquet table. Their confiscated Battle Suits lay before Gurd.
"Not bad here."
Gurd surveyed the palace—particularly the bevies of lovely maids—musing how kings truly knew luxury.
Perhaps he'd recruit his own maid corps.
Leaving all chores to Chikara was unfair; more beauties could share her burden.
Judge roared: "Earth Calamity! Germa Kingdom bears no grudge against the Beasts—why this?!"
"Why?"
Gurd side-eyed him.
"Germa boasts of being an Evil Army, annihilating countless nations. Did dead men's feelings concern you?"
"..."
Judge fell silent.
Ichiji's brothers spoke in turn:
"We're defeated. Words are pointless—stop humiliating yourself."
"True. With weapons and Battle Suits seized, no savior comes."
"Seems Germa falls today. Hahaha."
The trio showed no fear—only smiles.
"What's so funny about this?!"
Judge was furious.
Yet it was he himself who had stripped his sons of emotions like fear, and now he couldn't accept the consequences.
"Enough talk."
Gurd snapped coldly.
"Judge, make your choice."
"Submit or die!"
(End of chapter)