OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#60+61: One Man vs. a Nation, Kuma of the Two Fruits! Law, Have I Been Kidnapped??

Jin could tell she had stopped because they were close to Germa 66's territory—close enough for reinforcements, but still within a safe enough buffer that she wouldn't lead danger directly to her family's doorstep.

She was probing him.

"Germa 66 was founded over three hundred years ago—" Jin began, his tone almost academic. "—They are an infamous family of assassins in the underworld, and long ago, they ruled the North Blue through sheer force of arms, dominating the sea with their powerful scientific combat units."

"To the world, they are known as the 'Army of Evil,' antagonists in a serialized picture book."

"The World Economic Journal once published a comic strip based on the real-life exploits of Marine heroes. It was called Sora, Warrior of the Sea."

"It told the story of the hero 'Sora,' who could walk on water, as he led his fantastic transforming robot and flock of seagulls against the evil army of Germa 66. Through Germa's constant defeats, the comic built up the image of the Marines as a powerful and just force. It also served as excellent propaganda for the children of the world, and the story has countless fans—"

"—But most people believe Germa 66 is a work of fiction. They have no idea they actually exist."

"Germa 66 was suppressed for a time, fell into decline, until Vinsmoke Judge appeared. He used science and technology to restore the kingdom to its former glory. Years ago, he took the heads of the rulers of four North Blue nations, an incident that became known as the 'Conquest of the Four Nations'."

Reiju was inwardly stunned. He knew everything. This only confirmed that his intentions were anything but friendly.

She had already called for backup.

The armies of Germa 66 were on their way.

Her job now was to stall for time.

"So," she asked, "what is it you really want?"

Jin smiled. "I was chasing you because I like you. For now, let's go with that..."

"..."

Reiju smiled back. "May I at least know your name?"

"First name is 'My'—and my surname is—'Lord'." Jin said, a perfectly straight face.

Reiju was speechless.

Even Robin couldn't help but roll her eyes.

He was spouting such nonsense with absolute seriousness.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw tiny pinpricks of light on the distant sea.

No—they were appearing from all directions.

Flickering.

Drawing closer.

It was too dark to see clearly, but Robin's experience told her exactly what it was. A massive fleet was encircling them.

Reiju, who had been cringing so hard she wanted to peel the deck plating off the ship, let out a long sigh of relief, her own smile growing wider.

She didn't know who this man was, but here, in the North Blue—their backyard—Germa 66 had no enemies.

Here, they were invincible.

But what Reiju didn't know... was that the enemy had come from far away.

—————————

Germa 66's base of operations was the Germa Kingdom—a nation unique in all the world, for it had no land.

It was a fleet of hundreds of massive snail ships, which normally operated independently.

When they merged, they became a kingdom.

And ruling over that kingdom was the Vinsmoke family. Its citizens were all clones, created from lineage factor technology. Almost all of them were male, and all of them were soldiers.

"If you know of Germa 66," Reiju said, a hint of kindness in her voice, "then you should know what happens to those who cross us. I suggest you run."

It was she, the one who had retained her emotions despite the genetic modifications, who had helped Sanji escape. But Judge had also encoded an unbreakable directive into their DNA: feel no fear of death, and never betray.

She could not defy her father's orders.

"Miss Reiju," Jin said, "you have just earned your family a sliver of a chance at survival."

Reiju froze.

The man's entire demeanor had changed. It was cold, and a powerful aura—an oppressive presence—radiated from him. It was a complete transformation.

In that instant, he seemed untouchable, a being that could only be looked up to.

'What's happening?' Her heart began to pound. A terrible thought surfaced in her mind.

Was he doing this on purpose? Was he waiting for Germa 66 to arrive?

The realization hit her like a physical blow. She wanted to shout a warning, but it was too late. The snail ships were closing in, their massive forms converging on them.

To the east, the central castle of the kingdom, a fusion of a hundred snail ships, appeared, the flag of Germa 66 flying from its highest tower.

—————————

Outside the castle, the Vinsmoke family stood, flanked by their soldiers.

Front and center was the patriarch, Judge, tall and imposing in his metal helmet, his long, golden hair flowing behind him.

To his left was the eldest son, Ichiji, his fiery red hair covering his right eye, his red uniform like a flame.

To his right was the second son, Niji, with wavy blue hair and metal gauntlets, his blue uniform crackling like lightning.

And behind him, the fourth son, Yonji, with a green, pointed hairstyle, his face strikingly similar to Sanji's, his frame large and powerful.

The castle moved forward, and the snail ships in its path merged with it, forming a solid "landmass."

Squadrons of soldiers moved into formation, the soldiers standing at attention like statues—the disciplined and fearsome Army of Evil.

The snail ships opened fire, bombarding the demonic carrier.

—————————

Jin glanced at the approaching fleet, then clapped his hands.

"Time to go to work!" he called out, summoning Maya, his thirty soldiers, and Law and his crew. "Group up! Let's get this done."

Law's face was a thundercloud. "Oi! King or whatever you are! I only agreed to treat the patient! No one said anything about fighting your battles!"

During the journey from the Polar Tang—which had been swallowed by the demonic carrier—to the southern port, Jin and Law had engaged in a "cordial, in-depth, and friendly" discussion, which had ultimately produced "constructive results."

Jin hadn't killed Law to take the Op-Op Fruit. He knew that a Devil Fruit's true potential, its "Awakening," could only be unlocked by the right person.

If he killed Law, who would he give the fruit to?

While developing the Munch-Munch Fruit's abilities, Jin had realized that his own energy was limited. He couldn't personally develop every fruit the carrier swallowed. That was why he had created the officer positions. Once granted one of the ship's abilities, it would be their job to develop it.

And any ability a crew member developed, Jin could also use.

In other words, the right crew members could increase both his and the carrier's combat power.

Furthermore, he had run an experiment with Kuma.

He had discovered that a crew member who had already eaten a Devil Fruit could still be granted one of the carrier's swallowed fruit abilities.

They could become a dual-fruit user.

Because the power was granted by the carrier, not by eating a second fruit, there was no conflict.

Faced with Law's protest, Jin simply said, "Just stay alive."

"Oi! That's Germa 66!" Shachi shouted, recognizing the flag.

Law was stunned. The Vinsmoke family? He looked out at the sea. They were completely surrounded.

A cannonball arced through the night sky, its trajectory elegant and precise, aimed directly at Law and his crew.

"Dammit..." Law cursed. He'd been shanghaied.

"ROOM!" he yelled. "Shambles!"

He had no choice but to use his ability, slicing the cannonball into a dozen pieces.

A snail ship closed in, and a squad of identical clone soldiers leaped onto the deck.

Jin didn't use the Munch-Munch Fruit's ability. He left the grunts to Law, Robin, Maya, and his own crew.

Cannon fodder was perfect for training.

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"Father!" Reiju said, rejoining her family.

"Reiju, what happened?" Judge asked, his arms crossed, his expression arrogant. "That ship, and those commoners on it... explain."

Reiju quickly recounted the events at Black Harbor, and how she had been followed by the mysterious ship. She also told him about her conversation with Jin.

"What?" Judge roared. "A commoner wants to pursue my daughter? Reiju, you should have killed them on the spot! Remember, we are rulers, royalty, the superior race! We were born to be served! They are nothing! Erase them from this world!"

He gave the order to Reiju and the soldiers.

"Yes, Father." Reiju could not refuse. She knew her father. He respected strength and despised "compassion" and "mercy." He had coldly modified his own children to eliminate their emotions. He had loathed Sanji, his "failure," had imprisoned him, had allowed his brothers to torment him...

"Ichiji! Niji! Yonji!"

"Father!"

"You go as well. Leave no survivors."

"Yes, Father."

The three sons leaped into action, their faces cold and emotionless. They were machines, following orders, their methods brutal.

They were Judge's greatest masterpieces.

—————————

The demonic carrier was now engaged with the "landmass" of Germa 66. Law, Maya, and the others were fighting for their lives.

A white-furred saber-toothed tiger roared, swatting away a dozen soldiers with a single paw. Maya rode on its back, directing its attacks.

Robin, in the midst of the clone soldiers, used her Flower-Flower Fruit and joint locks to defend herself. She was skilled, but outmatched.

Law and his crew were the real stars of the show.

"Germa 66?" Kuma said, coming up on deck. He was surprised to see the enemy.

"The lineage factor technology that Germa 66 possesses is one of the potential cures for Bonney's illness," Jin said.

And just like that, Kuma was filled with a new resolve.

Just then, Reiju and her brothers, now clad in their Raid Suits, landed on the deck.

Reiju launched a flying kick at Jin. Her suit was a skin-tight, revealing dress, with a butterfly-wing cape and pink and white thigh-high boots. It accentuated her powerful and beautiful figure.

"Kuma," Jin said, "they're all yours."

He leaped from the deck.

If you want to kill a snake, you cut off its head.

The core of Germa 66 was Vinsmoke Judge. Take him out, and the rest would follow.

"Hey! Don't run!" Reiju shouted, turning to pursue him. But the giant bear raised a paw and swatted her out of the air.

The blow was so powerful it sent her flying.

Then, Kuma moved to block her brothers.

"Get out of our way, you filthy commoner!" Ichiji sneered, abandoning his attack on Law. He was the very picture of arrogance and cruelty, a machine with no emotions. "Sparking Valkyrie!" Fire erupted from his hands as he struck at Kuma.

"Henry Blazer!" Niji, his blue suit crackling with electricity, attacked like a bolt of lightning.

"Winch Guillotine!" Yonji, his steel-like exoskeleton giving him the strength of a Zoan user, joined the assault.

The three attacks slammed into Kuma, the force of the explosions shredding his coat.

But the figure that emerged from the smoke was not the "bear." It was a massive, semi-bestial creature with three horns on its head.

Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Model: Triceratops.

A crew member with an assigned position could be granted a Devil Fruit ability. Kuma had been given the Triceratops fruit.

His Buccaneers bloodline, combined with a Zoan fruit, maxed out his defense and strength. He simply shrugged off the three brothers' attacks.

And, as he used the granted Triceratops ability, he was still able to use his own Paw-Paw Fruit.

With time to develop his abilities, aside from his "weakness" of will and spirit, the dual-fruited Kuma would be a top-tier, Yonko-level fighter.

He was completely unfazed by the attacks of Reiju and her brothers.

But Kuma was a pacifist. His offensive drive was low. His fighting style was entirely defensive.

Still, with him holding off Germa 66's main force, Law, Maya, and Robin were able to handle the endless waves of clone soldiers.

—————————

Outside the castle, Jin landed in front of Judge.

"Who are you?" Judge demanded, ordering, "Human wall!"

The surrounding soldiers quickly formed a wall in front of him.

But he could still feel a powerful, oppressive aura expanding, filling the area.

"The man who's taking over," Jin said, his own aura flaring, becoming sharp and fierce. Green flames began to lick at his body.

Judge heard a strange, mesmerizing ringing in his ears, and he felt an overwhelming urge to kneel, to submit.

He snapped himself out of it.

It wasn't his imagination.

A Devil Fruit? Could he influence others' emotions?

Judge immediately took out a light gray cylindrical canister marked with a "J" and activated it. In a flash, he was clad in a light gray Raid Suit with an orange cape, the Germa "66" emblazoned on it.

He wore white gloves and a golden belt, also marked with "66." Jet-powered boots were on his feet, and he held a long spear that crackled with electricity.

"Kill him!" he commanded.

"KILL!"

The clone soldier squadron charged.

Jin leaped into the air, smashing the chariots, his green-flamed feet sending the clone soldiers flying.

He landed, hooked two swords from the ground with his foot, and caught them. The green flames coiled around the blades, and he swung them in a serpentine arc.

Mythical Zoan, Hell's Red Serpent Fruit.

The powerful attack sent a hundred soldiers flying. And wisps of the green flame entered their bodies.

They stood up, struggling, their eyes glowing red, frozen in place.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?! Attack!" Judge commanded.

No one moved, as if they were under the influence of some strange power.

The Hell's Red Serpent fruit not only enhanced one's physical abilities, but it also had the power to bewitch the mind and incite desire. It had controlled Saga and the Marines on Asuka Island in the same way.

But the clone soldiers were encoded with an "unbreakable loyalty" directive.

The two wills, the two sets of programming, were now in conflict.

They were short-circuiting.

Jin, his two swords a blur, cut through them. He was so fast that no one could stand against him.

"Blaster!" Judge, enraged that his prized clones were malfunctioning, charged forward, his spear crackling with electricity, his boots propelling him at incredible speed.

The high-voltage current from his spear coalesced into a beam of light, a bolt of lightning that shot toward Jin.

"DIE!" he roared.

But when the light faded, Jin was standing there, unharmed. He slashed with his two swords, and Judge was sent flying.

He crashed to the ground a dozen meters away, screaming in pain. He struggled to sit up. The man with the two swords was walking toward him, wreathed in green flames.

Behind him, a massive, green-flamed serpent took shape, its two red eyes like two blood moons.

"What... the hell... is that...?" Judge whispered, terrified.

In his eyes, Jin was a demon from hell, come to reap his soul. His chest heaved, his mind filled with terrifying images.