The Kingdom of Germa was less a nation and more a mobile fortress its very existence forged in the fires of war. Every wall bore scars from countless battles, each mark a silent testament to its bloody history.
The kingdom's population consisted mostly of mercenaries and soldiers recruited from across the seas. Ordinary civilians were rare, confined mostly to the noble quarter at the center of the floating nation. There, amid towering marble pillars and opulent halls, the Vinsmoke family resided served by an army of silent attendants who lived only to obey.
That evening, after guiding Eli Winters and his companions around the fortress, Vinsmoke Ichiji returned to his lavish quarters.
He ordered his servants to prepare wine and a meal fit for a prince, then sank into his chair, his expression dark and brooding. His father's earlier instructions echoed in his mind, stirring both humiliation and rage. The great Ichiji Vinsmoke, heir of Germa 66, had been told to lower his head before a man barely older than himself. It was unbearable but even he knew there was no choice. Against overwhelming power, pride was meaningless.
A middle-aged maid entered, trembling slightly as she carried a silver tray. When she leaned forward to serve, a single drop of broth slipped from the bowl and landed on Ichiji's immaculate uniform.
That one mistake snapped what little restraint he had left.
"Useless woman!" he roared, kicking her to the floor. "You can't even serve soup properly? What are you good for?"
The maid whimpered, but before she could plead, Ichiji's small fist slammed down. Despite being only eight years old, he had been genetically modified by his father his blows carried the force of a grown man's. Within seconds, the woman was crying out in pain, her body curling under the assault.
He raised his hand for another strike only for a massive, fur-covered hand to clamp down on his shoulder like an iron vice.
Pain shot through his body. Ichiji turned, grimacing, and found himself staring into the calm yet intimidating face of Big Pan.
"Planning to beat her to death?" Big Pan's voice was low and cold.
"I no, of course not!" Ichiji stammered, forcing a nervous smile. "I was only… disciplining her."
Big Pan frowned. "Have her treated."
"Yes, yes, right away. Just… please, let go first. You're hurting me!" Ichiji winced.
Big Pan released him with a look of quiet disgust. The boy exhaled shakily, immediately shouting for other servants to carry the injured woman to the infirmary.
When the room was finally empty, he looked up cautiously. "Big Pan, did you come here for something?"
"Nothing serious," Big Pan said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I just noticed how full of energy you seem. Care to spar a bit?"
Ichiji's eyes widened in horror. "N-no need for that! I'm uh tired."
Big Pan's grin only widened. "That wasn't a request."
Ten minutes later, the two were on a training field. An hour after that, Ichiji lay face-down in the dirt, groaning, his pride and body equally bruised.
When Big Pan finally stood up, he patted the dust off his hands. "Same time tomorrow," he said simply, before walking away.
Ichiji could only stare blankly at the ground. Tomorrow? His lip trembled. "This is bullying…" he muttered miserably.
What he didn't know was that his brothers were suffering similar "training sessions" of their own.
Meanwhile, in her own chamber, Vinsmoke Reiju sat quietly before her vanity mirror, her violet eyes clouded with worry. Unlike her brothers, she had retained her emotions after her father's experiments. It was both a blessing and a curse she could still feel compassion, and right now, her heart ached for her youngest brother, Sanji.
Sanji, too, had kept his emotions after the genetic modifications. But unlike Reiju, he had never learned to hide them. His compassion for the weak and hatred for cruelty had made him an outcast among his brothers. Bullied, beaten, and despised, he'd grown up in misery until Reiju had secretly helped him escape during their father's campaign in the East Blue.
It had been six months since then, and not a day went by that she didn't wonder if he was safe.
She sighed softly, staring out the window.
A gentle tapping drew her attention. Reiju turned and blinked in surprise. Floating outside her window on a soft, white cloud were Felina and Chiyo, both smiling brightly.
"Felina! Chiyo! What are you two doing here?" she asked, startled.
Felina grinned playfully. "Oh, we were planning to rough you up a bit, but you look kind of down, so we'll let it slide for today."
Reiju blinked, confused. "Rough me up? Why?"
"Don't mind her," Chiyo said, giving Felina a side-eye. "We were actually wondering if you'd like to come out with us for a bit."
Reiju hesitated, then smiled softly. "Sure, I'd love to."
While Reiju enjoyed the company of her new friends, her brothers' luck was far worse.
In another part of the fortress, Vinsmoke Niji stormed through the corridors, his face twisted with rage. His fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged on his forearms. He didn't return home like usual instead, he headed straight for Germa's grand arena, his steps echoing like thunder.
Spotting a large, muscular soldier, Niji's lips curled into a vicious grin. Without a word, he launched himself forward.
His fists flashed like lightning, each blow cracking against flesh and armor with bone-shattering force. The soldier tried to defend himself, but Niji's relentless strikes tore through his guard like paper. Blood sprayed across the sand as Niji vented his humiliation through violence.
Forced to act like a servant earlier that day, to bow before Eli Winters it was an insult he could never forgive. Now, he poured that fury into every strike, determined to make someone pay for his wounded pride.
Just as the soldier collapsed, another figure appeared tall, broad-shouldered, calm as the sea. Dortai.
Catching Niji's incoming punch effortlessly, Dortai frowned. "Enough. I'll take it from here. Get him to the infirmary."
The soldier was carried away, leaving only the two of them.
Niji smirked coldly. "You want to fight me, fishman?"
"Why not?" Dortai replied evenly.
With a sharp click, Niji's combat suit activated, wrapping his body in electric-blue armor. "Don't hold back," he sneered.
He charged forward but before he could even react, Dortai seized his leg mid-kick and slammed him into the ground. Then again. And again.
Within five minutes, Niji's armor shattered, and his face was swollen beyond recognition.
Dortai dusted off his hands, smiling faintly. "Good match. I'll come by tomorrow for a rematch."
"You you're a monster!" Niji sputtered before collapsing unconscious.
At the same time, their youngest brother, Yonji, was having a much… different kind of evening.
Lounging lazily on his velvet couch, a glass of red wine in hand, Yonji wore a dreamy grin. His thoughts drifted to the three beautiful women he had met earlier Fiona, Felina, and Chiyo. Each time he remembered their faces, his heart fluttered shamelessly.
He didn't even notice Simon quietly entering the room.
Simon stood by the door, expression unreadable. The voices of the three women echoed in his mind: "Make sure you hit him hard."
Apparently, Yonji's flirtations had gone far enough to earn him a personal punishment order.
With a sigh, Simon walked forward and, without a word, grabbed Yonji by the collar, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"Simon?! What the hell are you doing?!" Yonji barked, face turning red.
Simon smiled, revealing sharp, serrated teeth. "Relax. I'm just here to beat you up. It won't take long."
The next half-hour was a blur of thuds, crashes, and pained screams. When it was over, Yonji dangled from his chandelier like a battered ragdoll.
"Simon, you bastard! I'll get you for this one day!" he shouted weakly.
Simon chuckled. "Looking forward to it. Oh, and I'll be back tomorrow."
Yonji's eyes went wide. "Tomorrow?! You can't be serious!"
"I am. Captain's orders," Simon said with perfect seriousness.
Yonji groaned. "Just end me already…"
With his crew handling the "training" of the Vinsmoke siblings, Eli Winters left the Germa Kingdom behind. There were bigger storms brewing across the seas and he intended to be right in the middle of them.
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