Upon hearing this, Yara's expression darkened, but he forced down his fear and shouted coldly:
"King Judge, do you know what you're doing? This is a naval base! Attack it, and you'll provoke a full-scale hunt by the navy! Even you, a World Government affiliate, won't be spared!"
"The navy?" Judge sneered, his voice filled with disdain. "Let them come, if they dare!"
His glare sharpened, the same glare that once beheaded four kings, his notorious arrogance laid bare!
"Father, why waste time?"
From behind, Niji, clad in a glimmering blue Raid Suit, stepped forward with a cruel grin.
"Let's just start the war already!"
His voice was filled with unrestrained bloodlust. Among the Vinsmoke brothers, Niji was the most volatile, always the first to seek blood.
Not just him—Iji and Yonji were already itching for battle. Only Reiju, standing aside with a calm expression, seemed disinterested in the chaos.
Though young, the Vinsmoke siblings radiated a cold, battle-hardened aura. Their faces, devoid of empathy, reflected the cruelty bred into them from birth.
The arrogance on their faces made several navy soldiers clench their fists in anger. But no one moved—tension crackled like gunpowder.
Yara, the highest-ranking officer present, stared Judge down and spoke in a deep, calm voice:
"So this is it? King Judge, are you declaring war on the Navy itself?"
Judge scoffed.
"Don't insult me with empty threats. You're just a branch officer. If the Navy's top brass wants to stop me, they can come here themselves!"
His cape fluttered in the sea breeze, and with a commanding tone, he added coldly:
"You have three minutes. Hand over what I came for, or prepare to be reduced to ash by Germa's artillery."
Behind him, the Vinsmoke siblings stood at the front lines, backed by squads of Germa soldiers in black Battle Suits.
The countdown had begun.
The navy, though trained for war, could feel the intimidating pressure of Germa's might. None dared to speak out.
Yara gritted his teeth and prayed—prayed for reinforcements to arrive. But he could already see it: their side was cornered before a single shot had been fired.
Back in the town, panic exploded like wildfire.
"Did you hear that explosion just now? It came from the harbor!"
"It's the Germa! They're already here!"
"It's over—we're all dead!"
"Isn't there a naval base on the island?"
"It's just a small branch! They can't stop Germa 66!"
"Run! Run to the other side of the island!"
Despair flooded the streets.
Criminals, nobles, merchants—no one was safe.
Everyone was running, dragging their families and carrying what valuables they could. The harbor was in the security zone, the only port on the island—and it was now blockaded.
Then someone, breathless and bloodied, burst into the town square:
"The Germa troops have landed! They're clashing with the navy at the harbor!"
"A noble ship was sunk—hundreds dead!"
"The port's sealed—no one can escape!"
"War has begun!"
As the screams spread, so did chaos. It felt like the end of the world.
On the battlefield—
"Time's up," Judge said coldly. His tone was final.
"Do you fear death, or do you think I dare not strike?"
He raised his hand.
"Attack."
Boom!
Shells screamed through the air as Germa's fleet unleashed their opening volley.
The naval base, stunned but not broken, retaliated as Yara gave the counter-command.
The base's coastal guns thundered in return, lighting the harbor with fire.
The first exchange was brutal. Both sides took casualties, the port shrouded in smoke and flame.
Elsewhere, Niji could no longer hold back.
"Haha! Finally!" he roared, igniting the impact gas thrusters in his boots.
In a flash of blue, he rocketed down the front line, leaving a streak of light and a trail of cracked concrete behind him.
He moved like lightning—a living missile, plunging headlong into enemy lines.
"Germa people, who are you looking down on? You actually sent out a brat?!"
A burly Navy captain's face twisted with rage as he charged forward and threw a powerful punch at Niji.
The air howled with force—the captain intended to send Niji flying with a single blow and teach these Germa freaks a lesson. What did they think the Navy was?
Pushovers?
But the captain had grossly underestimated Niji. As a cyborg enhanced by Germa's bloodline modifications, Niji, despite his young age, possessed strength far beyond a normal adult.
"A brat? You'll learn what fear is!"
With a ferocious grin, Niji blocked the captain's fist with his arm. Sparks cracked and snapped as his fingers tensed—then came a sharp crack.
"Electric Shock Punch!"
Before the captain could even scream, Niji's electrified fist smashed into his skull. With a thunderous boom, the man coughed blood and flew backward, crashing across the ground for hundreds of meters before collapsing in a heap.
"Damn it! Open fire!"
A naval officer barked the order, and a storm of bullets rained down on Niji.
But Niji didn't even flinch. He stood still as the bullets clanged off his body, deflecting harmlessly.
"Bullets? Useless against me."
Arrogantly sneering, Niji burst forward, plunging into the ranks of Marines—and began a slaughter.
On the other side, Iji and Yonji also moved out, joining the fray.
Iji charged straight toward Yara, fists blazing.
"Marine captain, is this all you've got?"
Unlike Niji's arrogance, Iji was cold and merciless. Orange sparks danced in his hand before he struck with a blazing punch.
"You're underestimating me!"
Yara roared and counterpunched, but Iji's blow overpowered him, forcing him back several steps with a look of disbelief.
"Impossible...!"
Yara gasped. He couldn't even stand his ground against a child from Germa? He was being overwhelmed!
"Nothing's impossible. Your Navy's just weak. Sparks and Spins!"
Iji's voice was calm as flames ignited across his fist. He slammed it toward Yara's face, aiming to end it.
But Yara wasn't finished yet. A captain of the Navy wouldn't go down so easily.
"Sweeping Kick!"
Dodging at the last second, Yara twisted low and unleashed a sharp, spiraling kick that caught Iji cleanly, launching him back.
Yet Iji flipped mid-air and landed smoothly, completely unharmed.