Judge nodded, feeling that this was Hera's true purpose; if she just wanted a few soldiers, it wasn't out of the question.
Then, Hera revealed a mysterious smile: "I hope you can bring Germa into the Navy; from now on, we'll be one organization."
"Fine, I can lend you 500 men—wait, what did you say?" Judge's voice trailed off, his eyes filled with disbelief as if he didn't trust his own hearing.
Hera repeated: "You heard me right. I'm going to incorporate you. From now on, you'll be working under me."
"Miss Hera, that joke isn't funny. At most, I'll support you with 500 Germa soldiers. You should know that the Marine cannot coerce member nations."
Judge's tone turned cold; he had realized that Hera had come with ill intent.
Hera's tone also turned cold: "Do you think I'm joking with you?"
Judge and Hera's eyes met, both gazes filled with hostility.
Hera acted as if she didn't see Judge's anger and continued: "Given your crimes, allowing you to join the Marine for labor reform is already doing you a favor for the sake of your two good children. How dare you have any complaints?"
Hearing Hera's words, Judge could no longer suppress his rage: "What an arrogant brat! Do you think defeating Moriah gives you the right to talk to me like this? Let me show you the true power of the Vinsmoke Family!"
With Judge's anger, he and his four children all brought out their transformation systems. Judge was prepared to teach this arrogant Marine a lesson.
Hera watched their transformations, her eyes sparkling: "So cool! I can't lose either."
The phantom of Zafkiel appeared behind Hera, its giant golden clock face rotating. Hera's military uniform transformed into a black and red frilled dress, and the hour hand and minute hand appeared in her hands. The clock face behind her gradually shrank and entered Hera's eyes.
Both sides were performing flashy transformations. Seeing Hera's childish behavior, Kuina couldn't help but cover her face: "Aren't you usually in your transformed state anyway? Why make such a big scene?"
Hearing this, Hera wagged her index finger in front of Kuina: "You don't understand. We can't let them outshine us!"
As the transformation finished, colorful explosions actually went off behind the five on Judge's side. Seeing this, Hera quickly reminded Perona: "Explosions! We need explosions too!"
Perona rolled her eyes at Hera, but she still created small exploding ghosts that detonated behind Hera.
Only then did Hera nod in satisfaction. That was more like it; how could a transformation be complete without explosions?
Judge grew even more furious seeing Hera's playful behavior. Electricity crackled on the spear he held as he charged at Hera with an 'Electromagnetic Spear'.
Nami's eyes lit up when she saw this move. Turning into a bolt of lightning, she reached for the spear and absorbed the electrical energy. Judge quickly shook Nami off and redirected his aim to thrust at her.
Hera's long gun, the minute hand, arrived just in time to block the now sparkless strike. She raised an eyebrow at Judge's gaze, as if to say: "Is that all?"
The enraged Judge stepped back, gathering power in his legs as he pulled away. "Electromagnetic Crush!" he shouted, slamming toward Hera.
Nami wanted to help Hera absorb the electricity again, but the transformed Ichiji, who was nearby, entangled her: "Don't think you'll succeed again! 'Sparking Figar'!" Flames erupted from his hands as he rushed toward Nami.
Kuina drew her blade to intercept Ichiji. The wado ichimonji clashed with Ichiji's hand, her Armament Haki blocking his attack. However, Kuina felt Ichiji's strength through her sword, and her expression turned serious.
On the other side, Yonji, who had launched an attack to deal with Nami at the same time, was intercepted by a prepared Ain. Her Observation Haki predicted Yonji's path, and with her hands coated in Armament Haki, Ain struck at Yonji's flank.
By the time Yonji noticed Ain's movement, it was too late. Mid-attack against Nami, he couldn't adjust his stance and was sent flying by Ain's punch.
Niji realized that the one causing the explosions was Perona. Wrapped in lightning, he intended to subdue her first. However, Nami sensed the current on Niji, her eyes brightened, and she flew toward him to intercept.
Hera's City of Devouring Time expanded. After Perona's spirit left her body, her physical form slowly sank into the shadows, and she began manipulating Negative Ghostss to interfere with the three brothers.
Immediately, the three brothers felt the suppression of the City of Devouring Time and the threat of the Negative Ghostss. Having to watch out for Perona while fighting their direct opponents put them at a disadvantage.
Hera played with Judge using her superior speed. Moreover, the special bullets hidden by Hera's Armament Haki made him afraid to block them directly; he instinctively sensed the threat within them.
On Hera's end, the 'Second Bullet' and 'Seventh Bullet' were fired continuously from her muzzles, the Armament Haki-coated rounds flying toward Judge.
Judge was careless and got hit by a round containing the 'Second Bullet'. His movements instantly slowed down. Feeling his thoughts grow sluggish, he cried out internally, "Not good!"
He was then frozen in place by a following 'Seventh Bullet'. In the last second before his consciousness solidified, he saw Reiju just standing to the side: "Reiju, why are you just watching?"
Hera signaled to Perona, and a Negative Ghosts passed through the frozen Judge. Once the time stop ended...
Judge lay on the ground with a look of utter dejection. "I'm a piece of trash... a failure who couldn't even compete with the Donquixote Family in the North Blue for so long..."
With Judge losing his will to fight under Hera and Perona's combo, the situation for the three brothers became even more critical. Hera's joining the fray increased the pressure on them exponentially.
"Sparking Valkyrie! Sister, why are you just watching?" After Yonji was also frozen by Hera and lost his combat effectiveness after being passed through by a Negative Ghosts, Ichiji used a massive explosion to clear a path through the ghosts and looked toward Reiju, who still hadn't moved.
By now, Niji realized something was wrong. Logically, with such a huge commotion here, the Germa soldiers outside should have come to investigate, but there was no movement from outside. He had an ominous premonition.
Looking at Reiju leaning by the door, Niji said: "Why haven't our soldiers come? Could it be you?"
Reiju nodded: "That's right. I spread toxins outside, forming a poison ring. No one can get in."
The two were filled with rage upon hearing that Reiju had actually defected, but they were soon passed through by Negative Ghostss and lay on the ground in an 'emo' state.
With Reiju's help, their specialty—the human wall tactic—had no room to be used. All four of them lay on the ground, unable to rise again.
Reiju looked at her three younger brothers with some concern. Perona said: "Don't worry, they're all fine. I just need to deactivate the Negative Ghostss."
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