Amid the towering flames, even the sea seemed to catch fire, and the air was thick with a choking, gas-like stench.
The surface of the water was littered with burning warship wreckage and corpses floating among it. Cries for help rang out everywhere, turning the scene into a living hell.
On the only warship still intact, Yemu's burly figure stood at the bow.
In front of him, Vinsmoke Judge was half-kneeling on the deck.
Beside Judge lay the spear Yemu had snapped with a single kick, and the young Vinsmoke Reiju, clinging tightly to her father, terror filling her eyes.
"Well? Still thinking about resisting me?"
Yemu's voice was icy, like a devil from the depths of hell.
Cold sweat streamed down Judge's forehead. He grabbed the broken spear, forced himself upright, and spoke with a trembling voice.
"Everyone in this world underestimated you. The monsters of the New World, too. Sooner or later, they'll pay for it."
Why was it that, even with the Sky Pirates' enormous bounty and the fact that everything they'd done was vicious and unforgivable, there were still so many people with a death wish who dared to treat the Sky Pirates as prey?
There was only one answer: the Sky Pirates had risen too fast.
So fast that no one could understand why the Marines and the World Government would put such a high bounty on a small pirate crew that had only been around for a month.
On top of that, with the Marines and the World Government deliberately locking down information, people in this world simply had no idea what made the Sky Pirates truly terrifying.
For example, Chinjao hadn't even known that Yemu possessed Conqueror's Haki.
If Judge hadn't understood before, he understood now.
More frightening than that young Goro Goro no Mi user named Enel, who had managed to defeat the famous Chinjao, was the monster standing right in front of him: Yemu, captain of the Sky Pirates.
With just a single exchange, the technology Judge had always been so proud of collapsed completely.
Three warships were destroyed in an instant.
His greatest pride, the battle suit said to be harder than steel, now looked like nothing more than a child's toy.
Not only had his weapon been snapped by one kick, but he himself had been dropped by a single punch, unable even to stand.
That kind of power was already enough to be spoken of in the same breath as the monsters of the New World.
Yemu had no interest in how others saw him. There was only one thing he cared about.
"Hand over what I want, and I might give you, as a father, a little dignity, for your daughter's sake."
Judge wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He cast a cold glance at his daughter beside him, her eyes full of fear, then looked back at Yemu, who stood there unhurried and composed.
"Do you even know what you're asking for? The truth behind the Lineage Factor is something even the World Government and the Marines fear. And since death is unavoidable in the end, why should I hand it over to you?"
"You've thought this through pretty clearly. But do you really think you're the only one who understands the Lineage Factor? Vegapunk. Caesar. I know their whereabouts far better than you do."
"!!!"
Hearing those two familiar names, Judge froze, disbelief flooding his eyes.
"Impossible… How could you know they even exist? Do you have spies inside the World Government and the Marines?! No, you're lying! Even I can't find them. How could you possibly know?!"
Yemu shot him a disdainful glance.
"Whether you believe it or not is your problem. Now give me your final answer. Otherwise, you and your research will sink to the bottom of the sea together."
Judge could feel it clearly. Yemu was not joking. The moment he said no, he would be erased without hesitation.
And the more ambitious a man was, the more he feared death.
Especially someone like Judge, whose ambitions had yet to be fulfilled.
"No. The Vinsmoke family's dream of ruling the North Blue hasn't come true yet. I can't die here. There's only one option left."
With that thought, he reached into his coat. Under Yemu's watchful gaze, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and held it up.
"I wonder if this can buy me my life."
Yemu's brow tightened sharply.
"Are you trying to joke with me?"
"Of course not!"
Judge stared at the Den Den Mushi, his body trembling even more violently. Compared to Yemu, this little creature felt a hundred times more terrifying.
Looking at it, he spoke cautiously.
"The truth is, coming here wasn't my intention. Fifty billion Belly is a lot, but for the Vinsmoke family, it's not that tempting."
That made Yemu pause.
"The reason I tried to capture you, and even brought in Chinjao, was all because of the owner of this Den Den Mushi."
"!!! Explain yourself clearly!!!"
"I'm sorry. Unless I have her permission, even if you kill me, I can't reveal her name."
"Are you playing games with me?"
"Absolutely not. If you're willing to give me a chance, I can try to see whether that person is willing to respond."
At that moment, Judge's fear was unmistakably real. Yemu could feel it, a dread that went deeper than fear of death itself.
Even Yemu was caught off guard by this sudden, unknown enemy who had appeared out of nowhere.
"I understand."
As he spoke, Yemu sat down cross-legged on the deck.
"Go ahead. I want to see just what kind of monster is so interested in me that they sent you to capture me."
With Yemu's consent, surrounded by raging flames, Judge pressed the dial on the Den Den Mushi, cold sweat pouring down his face.
The Den Den Mushi activated, letting out a soft puru-puru sound.
The ringing dragged on. Waiting was the most terrifying part. Judge swallowed, though his mouth was already dry.
Finally, the call connected, and a low male voice came through.
"Vinsmoke Judge. Have you completed the task Mama assigned to you?"
"I didn't—"
Before Judge could finish, Yemu suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! I was wondering who it was. So it's BIG MOM, that old hag. Though… I don't recall us ever meeting."
Yemu's laughter echoed across the entire deck.
The moment those words fell, everything went silent. Not only Judge, but even the other end of the Den Den Mushi seemed frozen in shock. The Den Den Mushi itself went stiff, as if it had lost all color.
What terrified Judge even more was that after Yemu's laughter, the voice that came through was no longer the familiar male one, but a woman's chilling laugh.
"Mamamama~. You've got some nerve, kid."
"!!! B-BIG MOM!!!"
Judge felt his soul nearly leave his body, cold sweat streaming down his back.
Despite being the head of the Vinsmoke family, a man who dreamed of ruling the North Blue, in front of a king-level pirate like BIG MOM, he was no different from a frightened child.
What made it even worse was that BIG MOM immediately spoke his name.
"Vinsmoke Judge, was it? As expected, you failed. But that's only natural. If a piece of trash like you could capture this brat, there'd be no reason for us to meet at all."
Yemu's brow creased slightly.
"You seem to know me quite well."
"Ah!"
BIG MOM's voice rose excitedly from the Den Den Mushi, followed by words that stunned both Yemu and Judge.
"I watched you being born."
"What does that mean?!"
But BIG MOM offered no explanation, instead letting out a low, rasping laugh.
"Mama… mama. Yemu, was it? What a strange name."
"That's not your real name."
"If you want to know your true name, come to the New World."
"Come before me, and I'll tell you everything I know."
"Mama… mama. How exciting. Was the captain right after all? A miracle… does it really exist?!"
"Click…"