Yara's face remained pale, his eyes flickering with dread. Finally, he gritted his teeth, pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, and dialed.
"Buru buru buru…"
The Den Den Mushi rang several times before it connected.
Yara took the receiver, his voice firm despite the fear crawling under his skin.
"This is the P-5 Branch Base. Lieutenant Colonel Yara speaking—Commander of the P-5 Base."
The Den Den Mushi shifted expression, and a composed voice came through.
"This is Marine Headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Yara, please proceed."
"Well…"
Yara reported everything that had occurred on the island. As he finished, he spoke with grave urgency:
"I repeat, I am Lieutenant Colonel Yara of the North Blue's P-5 Branch Base. I am requesting immediate support from Headquarters. Donzik Island may be facing a major crisis."
A brief pause followed. Then the voice from the Den Den Mushi responded, still calm but carrying weight.
"Understood. We will escalate this to the higher-ups. Lieutenant Colonel Yara, please remain composed. Headquarters will immediately notify all branch bases near Donzik Island to dispatch reinforcements as soon as possible."
Click.
Yara hung up the Den Den Mushi. His face was still pale, haunted by his own speculation.
Though his assumptions were partially wrong—utterly wrong in some places—
…inexplicably, the outcome was eerily close to his worst fears.
For example—
The Vinsmoke family's fleet was indeed en route to Donzik Island!
Night passed.
Over the waves, ships surged forward against the wind, converging on Donzik Island.
But these were no ordinary ships.
Crafted from giant snails, each vessel bore a massive steel structure on its back, fitted with raised platforms and dark, furled sails. Complex gear-driven mechanisms at their sides could interlock the ships into a mobile maritime fortress—a moving kingdom.
This was Germa 66, the infamous "Evil Army"—a nation with no land, ruled by science and blood.
Atop the lead ship, a towering man stood at its highest point. A metallic helmet crowned his head, long golden hair flowing beneath it. An orange cape fluttered from his shoulders.
Vinsmoke Judge—Supreme Commander of Germa 66.
Behind him, four children stood in perfect formation, their postures straight, their eyes gleaming with distinct personalities:
Excitement.
Curiosity.
Ferocity.
Apathy.
Reiju, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji.
Despite their youth, they exuded a presence that silenced even veteran soldiers.
These were no ordinary children. They were the result of Judge's bloodline factor experiments—superhuman from birth, engineered through ruthless science. Their strength already far surpassed that of most grown men.
Judge narrowed his eyes toward the horizon, recalling the intercepted transmissions from the Quick Hand Pirates.
Then he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain.
"Hmph. Still keeping an eye on us? The World Government... Now that they've got Vegapunk under their thumb, do they still hunger for the scientific knowledge of the rest of us?"
He clenched a fist.
"Bastards."
Years ago, Judge had been part of the fabled science team known as MADS—a gathering of geniuses including Vegapunk, Queen, and Caesar Clown. Together, they pioneered revolutionary technologies and biological sciences—culminating in the discovery of bloodline factors, the genetic blueprint of life itself.
But when the World Government stepped in, MADS was dismantled.
Some were captured.
Some fled.
Some, like Queen, turned pirate.
Others, like Judge, built empires of their own.
The MADS scientists had gone their separate ways, but the madness of their research…
never ended.
Relying on his previous research from MADS, Vinsmoke Judge utilized the revolutionary science of lineage factors to engineer the Clone Army—a militarized force that quickly became infamous across the underworld as a mercenary unit feared by nations.
Later, Judge turned that same forbidden knowledge on his own children, transforming them into genetically enhanced superhumans—beings whose physical capabilities far surpassed those of ordinary people.
Though still in their teenage years,
they already wielded power on par with veteran warriors.
Even the World Government and Marine Headquarters hesitated to provoke Germa 66 lightly.
After all, Judge's clone army was a decisive weapon in any war.
But just yesterday, one of Germa's patrol units reported alarming news:
someone had targeted their core research facilities—
and had already made their move!
Judge was furious.
Someone dared to lay hands on Germa 66?
His first suspicion was the World Government.
Who else would covet the secrets of his genetic science?
At that moment, aboard the Germa ship cutting across North Blue—
"Father, where are we going now?"
The pink-haired girl, Reiju, stepped forward, trying to mask the tension in her voice.
Among the siblings, her personality had always been the softest.
"Ever since Sanji ran away from home, Father's temper has worsened…"
"Or is it because we didn't gain enough from the last war?"
"Either way… I have to tread carefully."
Judge shot her a sharp glance and snapped,
"Just follow orders. That's all you need to do."
"Yes…"
Even the most reckless among them, Yonji, didn't dare talk back.
From birth, they were conditioned to obey without question.
The idea of defying their father never even crossed their minds.
Standing at the bow, Judge's gaze remained fixed on the turbulent sea—
his thoughts unreadable, his fury simmering beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the ocean…
From P-3 and P-4 Marine Bases, warships were already en route to Donzik Island,
responding to a distress call issued by Headquarters.
And on another marine vessel sailing from the Grand Line to the North Blue—
Buru buru buru... click!
"This is Rear Admiral Bastille," said a calm voice.
A Den Den Mushi blinked as it echoed the words.
"Rear Admiral Bastille, this is Naval Intelligence. Are you still operating in the North Blue sector?"
The man beside the receiver was unmistakable—
a towering figure with wild red hair, a horned iron mask,
and a giant machete resting beside him, taller than most men.
"Mission's complete. I'm headed back to the Grand Line," Bastille replied casually.
"Sir… a situation has erupted on Donzik Island. Possibly linked to Germa 66."
At that name, Bastille's expression sharpened.
"Oh? Germa 66, you say?" he muttered with a glint of curiosity.
He had, of course, heard the rumors—
the so-called "Evil Army" that once held sway over North Blue.
"Well then," he said with a smirk. "I'm not far. I'll investigate personally."
"Understood, Rear Admiral. We're counting on you."
The Den Den Mushi clicked off.
Bastille rose to his feet and barked,
"Change course! Head straight for Donzik Island!"
At that same moment,
the skies above Donzik Island had already begun to darken.
Thunder rolled across the waves.
Storm winds howled in warning.
A violent tempest was coming—
and it wasn't just the weather.