"And another thing… with power like yours, what made you think you could ever attack me?"
Boom!
He drove another fist straight into Judge's stomach. The wounds that had been bleeding steadily now sprayed like a fountain, dyeing Grimm's entire fist crimson.
Boom!
Another heavy blow landed. This one sent fresh blood gushing uncontrollably from Judge's mouth.
"What's the matter? A moment ago you were so eager to kill me… now you lie there perfectly still?"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Punch after hammering punch rained down upon him. Anyone could see that Judge's face was growing paler and more ashen by the second.
Grimm lowered him slightly, dangling him in the air. "This is the power you thought was enough to conquer the entire North Blue? Is this all there is?"
With that, Grimm tossed him aside like garbage, throwing him heavily onto the mound of corpses below.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!!"
Suddenly, Ichiji — the eldest son — screamed at the top of his lungs. "GO SAVE FATHER, RIGHT NOW!!"
As he shouted, streams of tears were visibly running down his cheeks.
Hearing his cry, the soldiers — who had been frozen in terror — finally snapped back to their senses.
Seeing their commander beaten and tossed around like a dead dog, they charged forward in a mass frenzy.
Grimm narrowed his eyes and glanced at the soldiers rushing in from all sides. Instantly, a Holy Storm erupted around him.
Blades of sacred light sliced through everything, turning the charging men into nothing more than minced meat and gore.
When a severed hand landed near his foot, Grimm looked down at it and spoke with feigned surprise.
"Artificial beings… yet just like living humans, you bleed red blood and possess internal organs. I suppose I should expect no less from someone who once conducted research alongside Dr. Vegapunk!"
Whoosh!
Another Holy Storm was unleashed. In less than two minutes, every single one of Germa 66's "artificial soldiers" had been reduced to chunks of flesh and bone.
Among the Vinsmoke family members, aside from those still inside the buildings, the only ones left alive in the square were the five siblings, the thick‑lipped researcher, and Vinsmoke Judge — barely clinging to life.
Blood had sprayed everywhere during the massacre, splattering across the children's faces and clothes.
Though they had already witnessed the cruelty of war, what they were seeing now was far too bloody, far too horrifying for them to process.
"Cough… cough!"
Suddenly, Judge groaned and coughed from where he lay near Grimm's feet. Grimm looked down and saw that his eyes were now open.
"Oh? You're awake. Interesting… these suits of yours really do make you much more durable. Or perhaps… has your own body also been modified and rebuilt?"
Grimm released his grip, letting Judge fall backward so his head hit the ground hard. His helmet clattered loudly against the stone, and the impact nearly knocked him unconscious again.
"Not going to beg for mercy?" Grimm asked, seeing Judge covered in injuries but still refusing to speak.
"Hah… haah… haah…"
Judge gasped for air, taking several heavy breaths before managing to speak in broken sentences. "If… if I beg for mercy… will you stop?"
Grimm remained silent for two seconds, then smiled. "I honestly have no idea. Why don't you… try begging and find out?"
"Ugh… uwaah…"
Not far away, Ichiji and the others bit their lips hard, desperately trying to hold back their sobs, but they couldn't stop the large tears from rolling down their faces.
Sanji had almost completely lost faith in this family and this father of his. Even so, while a small part of him felt a grim satisfaction seeing Judge beaten, he still didn't want him to die like this. After all… he was still his father.
Meanwhile, the researcher stood firmly holding Ichiji, Yonji, Niji, and Reiju back, preventing them from doing anything reckless — for he knew that would only lead to certain death.
"Wait… I remember now!"
Suddenly, Judge's pupils dilated sharply as he stared at Grimm. "You are… a descendant of House Tilio! The heir to that North Blue noble family wiped out by my father's generation… You've come to take revenge, haven't you?!"
Judge finally recalled events from the past. He never imagined that the descendant of a clan destroyed by his own ancestors would return one day to settle the score.
Grimm looked slightly surprised that Judge had finally made the connection, then chuckled.
"Oh? You finally remembered. I was worried a man of your importance might have forgotten. Revenge? I suppose you could call it that… but it's not quite the whole truth."
As he spoke, Grimm summoned Ashbringer — his massive greatsword.
He pressed the blade against Judge's right foot, then smiled coldly. "I may not agree with the idea that children must pay for the sins of their fathers… but if I didn't do something about this, I'd be letting my own name down!"
Swish!
With a flick of his wrist, Grimm severed one of Judge's legs right in front of his five horrified children. A moment later, the arm on the same side was also cut clean off.
"There. Now I feel much better. Now then… let's talk about cooperation. I need the strength and technology of the Vinsmoke Family."
Three Days Later
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
In the Fleet Admiral's Office
"What a brilliant strategy," Admiral Tsuru said softly as she placed a report onto the desk before Fleet Admiral Kong.
Across the top, bold letters read: THE VINSMOKE FAMILY — NEARLY DESTROYED.
"We simply used Grimm, who happened to have an old grudge against them, to wipe them out completely. I doubt they will be capable of any major action for at least a decade."
"We only took temporary advantage of his background and history," Kong replied, though he couldn't suppress a satisfied smile from forming on his face.
"An opportunity this good won't come again. But why complain? We removed the nuisance of Germa 66 without shedding a single drop of Marine blood — that is a perfect victory."
"According to intelligence reports, Vinsmoke Judge survived… though his left leg and left arm were severed," Tsuru continued.
"That was quite unexpected. I honestly thought with Grimm's reputation for cruelty, he would have killed Judge outright."
She paused, then added: "Though… losing a limb or two may not matter much to them. Remember, the Vinsmokes were partners with Dr. Vegapunk before he joined the World Government. With their technology and knowledge, regenerating or replacing lost limbs is certainly within their capabilities."
"Speaking of Vegapunk…"
Kong's expression turned dark and grim. He lowered his head and spoke in a low voice. "That man… it seems he has come up with yet another outrageous invention or discovery."
"Is that so?" Tsuru frowned. In many respects, scientists like Vegapunk and Judge were far more valuable — and dangerous — than any Admiral.
"Never mind him for now… look at this."
Kong pulled a wanted poster from his drawer and placed it on the table. Tsuru took it and read:
SANJUAN WOLF
Bounty: 99,000,000 Berries
From the photograph, the man possessed an enormous face and appeared to have a body of unimaginable size. It was impossible to guess his true age — thirty? Forty? Either was possible.
"This man recently appeared in the Grand Line," Kong explained. "Vegapunk himself has requested that the Marines and World Government work together to capture him."
"Ninety‑nine million berries…"
Tsuru knitted her brows tightly. "That is an incredibly high bounty for a newcomer. Just what exactly has he done to deserve this?"
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