~ Check my new One Piece Fanfic : One Piece: Lightning's Heir
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Meanwhile, Germa 66, having fled their attack on Noitem, regrouped to prepare for another assault.
They were gathered on their fleet of ships, some distance from Noitem.
The Germa Kingdom, ruled by the Vinsmoke Family, was unique in the world – a seafaring nation without a fixed territory.
Their forces typically operated in separate fleets, but when combined, their ships formed a mobile kingdom.
Within the most opulent castle among the assembled ships, the rulers of Germa resided.
In a spacious hall with a grayish-white base, a man wearing a helmet and golden armor sat regally on a throne at the far end of the room, his expression stern.
Below the throne, several young men and women, bearing a striking resemblance to each other and dressed in similar attire, knelt respectfully.
The ruler of Germa, Vinsmoke Judge, slammed his fist on the table, his voice filled with anger. "Even without Noir present, his subordinates are formidable opponents!"
Vinsmoke Ichiji, the eldest son, with his red hair and curled eyebrows, stated impassively, "If you hadn't ordered a retreat, Father, the outcome might have been different."
Niji, the second son, nodded in agreement, his voice equally devoid of fear. "We will complete the mission."
The youngest son, Yonji, with his vibrant green hair, laughed arrogantly. "That lightning guy was nothing but a weakling!"
Judge frowned, listening to his children's chatter.
Though he had modified their genes using "Lineage Factor" in their childhood, granting them superhuman physiques, he had also inadvertently stripped them of most human emotions. They were now practically living weapons, their eyes fixed solely on the mission, devoid of any fear of death.
Hearing her brothers' voices, Reiju, who had been standing silently with her head bowed, clenched her jaw.
As one of the only two of Judge's children to retain their emotions, Reiju felt a deep sadness whenever she witnessed Ichiji and the others' callous behavior.
But she was powerless to resist. Their fates were firmly in their father's grasp.
Judge ignored his sons' words, his grip tightening on his weapon, his heart pounding with anxiety.
The information he'd received from the Underworld suggested that the newly appointed Warlord, Noir, was merely an overhyped figurehead. But…
During their initial attack on Noir's stronghold, the man himself hadn't even shown his face, yet Germa's forces had nearly been wiped out by his subordinates.
A Logia user with the power of lightning, an Ancient Zoan with the ability to transform into a giant flying reptile, and a blind swordsman whose abilities bordered on natural disasters – the memory sent shivers down Judge's spine.
If they hadn't been toying with them, Judge and his children wouldn't have made it back alive.
Seeing Judge's somber expression, Reiju finally spoke up, her voice filled with concern. "Father, perhaps we should abandon this mission."
Assassinating a Warlord was a task few in the Underworld want to accept. Warlords typically commanded vast resources and possessed formidable personal strength.
Judge had been blinded by his ambition, underestimating Noir's power due to his recent appointment, and had taken on a mission far beyond their capabilities.
The truth was, even a new Warlord was not someone Germa 66 could easily handle.
Reiju's suggestion to retreat, however, was met with scorn from her brothers.
Yonji, in particular, shook his seaweed-like hair and scoffed, "Why should we retreat? He's just a Warlord!"
"One more attack, and we'll definitely win!"
His brothers echoed his sentiment, their voices rising in a chorus of agreement, filling the hall with their clamor.
Judge rubbed his temples, a headache forming. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to retreat, at least for now.
If Noir's subordinates alone could rout his forces, what about the man himself?
It was best to escape while Noir was still absent. If they waited until he returned, their chances would be even slimmer.
Judge clapped his hands, silencing his sons. He spoke with forced authority, "The mission difficulty is too high. We—"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!"
Before he could finish, a series of explosions rocked the fleet, the deafening roar nearly bursting their eardrums.
"What's going on out there?!" Judge shouted, covering his ears, his voice filled with a mix of anger and fear.
A soldier burst through the door, pointing outside with a trembling hand. "Someone… someone's attacking from the sky!"
"What?!"
Judge rushed outside, his children following close behind.
As soon as he stepped out, Judge was nearly paralyzed by the terrifying spectacle in the sky.
A giant, glowing golden sun hung in the clear blue sky, unleashing a barrage of meteor-like projectiles onto the sea and the ships below.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like a beautiful display of power. But to Judge, it was a vision of horror.
Each of those streaks of light was a devastating laser, capable of triggering massive explosions on impact.
From within the golden "sun," a figure slowly emerged, gradually taking the form of Noir.
Noir hovered in the air, a cold smile on his face as he surveyed the ant-like figures of the Vinsmoke family below. The laser barrage continued unabated.
This was a modified version of Kizaru's Yasakani no Magatama, with a wider attack range but, understandably, less accuracy.
Judge, recognizing Noir, was filled with a mixture of rage and terror. "What are you doing?!" he bellowed.
Noir scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Destroying your kingdom, of course."
Judge's heart pounded in his chest. He finally overcame his fear and charged towards Noir, screaming, "You bastard! Stop this!"
Seeing their father take the lead, his three sons, as if receiving a silent command, rushed after him.
Only Reiju hesitated, standing frozen on the deck, unsure of what to do.
She realized the utter foolishness of their actions. Germa 66 might be powerful in the North Blue, but they were out of their depth here.
As Reiju had anticipated, even though Judge and his sons charged into the air with fierce determination, Noir remained unfazed. He casually raised his leg, now enveloped in a blinding golden light.
Reiju watched as a flash of gold streaked across her vision.
Her father and brothers, who had just launched themselves into the air, were instantly kicked back down, crashing through the decks of their ships and plunging into the sea.
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~ Check my new One Piece Fanfic : One Piece: Lightning's Heir