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"It seems you won't understand the Gap between us unless I show you some True Skill."

As he finished speaking, Nicholas reached out and clenched his fist towards the Sky.

Everyone instinctively looked up. Judge and Reiju Vinsmoke widened their Eyes, but even after straining their Eyes until they ached, they saw nothing happen.

Just as they thought Nicholas was bluffing, a smile appeared on Nicholas's lips as he looked up at the Sky and said, "It's coming!"

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

A thunderous sound suddenly erupted from the Sky above as Nicholas raised his head.

"This Power..." Sora murmured, looking up at the Sky, cold sweat streaming down her forehead.

Accompanied by the roar from the Sky above, the Air around Germa 66 War Castle seemed to grow heavy. Even the Sunlight was blocked, and a vast Shadow gradually enveloped Germa 66's War Fortress.

In the eyes of the Pink-Haired Girl, modified by Lineage Factor, she saw an object engulfed in raging Flame, comparable in size to Germa's largest Warship, hurtling from the Sky towards Germa's War Castle.

Its Speed was so immense that visible Air Waves rippled around it.

As the Giant Meteorite descended, Judge finally saw it clearly. It was a Celestial Body formed from various Minerals. Its Density and size, even after atmospheric Friction, meant the Power of its impact would be enough to destroy all of Germa 66!

"I'll take you down first!"

The best way to deal with an Ability User's Ability is to eliminate the Ability User!

Judge activated air jets in his feet, and gripping his Tech Spear, he swiftly charged towards Nicholas. Drawing back his Arm, he began to charge his Spear, "Electromagnetic Thrust!"

"Crimson Secret Technique: Hundred Machine Manipulation," Nicholas said calmly.

As Nicholas spoke, the Forms of many Germa 66 Clone Soldiers nearby suddenly froze. Their Actions stiffened for a moment, and then—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures shot up from the ground, transforming into streaks of light and hurtling towards Judge in the Sky.

"You Weapons! How dare you attack your Creator!"

Judge was instantly enraged that his own Clone Warriors dared to attack him. But seeing these Germa Warriors attacking him with Full Power, Judge knew this was not the Time to dwell on it.

"Damn it! Spear Blade Rampage!"

With Judge's roar, his Action of charging towards Nicholas faltered. Then, with another shout, he wielded his Long Spear with incredible Speed and Power, striking down the Germa Soldiers rushing towards him.

Bang!!!

A Bullet struck Judge directly in the back, creating a spark on his Combat Suit. If not for the Combat Suit's protection, that shot would have definitely injured Judge.

"Oh dear, what a pity."

Nicholas watched Judge shrug off the Bullet without a scratch and shrugged, saying with feigned regret, "You may be strong, but how long can you keep this up?"

"You bastard!"

Judge once again batted away the Germa 66 Clone Warriors charging at him, glaring at Nicholas with gritted teeth.

At the same Time, his Apprehension deepened even further.

If the previous situation led Judge to believe Nicholas was a Great Swordsman and an Ability User, the current situation left Judge even more bewildered. The variety of Abilities the opponent was displaying made it impossible to discern what kind of Ability User he truly was.

On the Grand Line, not knowing a Devil Fruit User's Ability can lead to a severe disadvantage in Battle if you're not careful.

After repelling another wave of Germa Clone Warriors, Judge activated his Puff-Puff Shoes again, the distinctive Sound accompanying his rapid retreat away from Nicholas's Side.

"Sora, get on an Evacuation Ship and leave now! Reiju Vinsmoke and I will find you later!"

Judge said to Sora beside him in a low voice. For him, as long as Sora was safe, his Research could be preserved. As for Germa's Clone Warriors and industries...

In Judge's Eyes, they were utterly insignificant. He saw himself as the Core of Germa. As long as he existed, he could create as many Clone Warriors as he desired!

Sora, who had initially intended to take Reiju Vinsmoke with her, could only reluctantly turn and leave after hearing Judge's words.

"Father, let's fight together!"

Reiju Vinsmoke, the Pink-Haired Girl, wearing Puff-Puff Shoes, came to Judge's Side and spoke to him.

"Very well, let's finish him together!"

Judge nodded. Golden Electric Current crackled around his Spear. He stepped forward, and his Puff-Puff Shoes propelled him into the air.

The Pink-Haired Girl also activated air jets in her feet, heading straight for Nicholas.

"Electromagnetic Thrust!"

Judge launched a frontal Attack, raising his Spear, which crackled with golden electromagnetism. Combined with the Speed from his Puff-Puff Shoes, he was like a golden arrow.

Reiju Vinsmoke circled behind Nicholas, gently placing her index finger to her lips. Then, puffing out her cheeks and pointing her finger at Nicholas, she spat a girlish pink Poison Arrow from her mouth.

"Pink Pufferfish!"

After launching the Poison Arrow, her Form continued forward, charging towards Nicholas's back. At the same Time, a large amount of Venom gathered on her fingernails. Even as she sprinted, her fingers left a faint Pink Trace in the Sky.

Caught in a pincer Attack from front and back, an Ordinary Person would have no chance of escape.

Judge's Attack and the Pink-Haired Girl Reiju Vinsmoke's Attack landed almost simultaneously.

Judge's Spear, the Poison Arrow from behind, and Reiju Vinsmoke's toxin-filled claw Attack converged on Nicholas in a unified assault.

Boom!!!

"Got him!"

A confident smile spread across Judge's face as he saw that both his and his Daughter's Attacks had struck their target.

Judge raised his head, but his confident smile froze. The Figure of the mysterious man they had struck flickered and then shattered like a Phantom.

"Well now." A faint Sound drifted from the distance.

These words made Judge's Figure freeze. He stiffly turned his neck to look into the distance and saw Nicholas's Figure standing there.

"That was quite an Attack. If I hadn't dodged quickly, I might have been finished." Nicholas said with feigned surprise, but his expression was undeniably irritating.

"But are you sure you don't want to deal with that Thing?"

Nicholas pointed a finger at the Meteorite hurtling down from the Sky. In just those few seconds, the Distance between the Meteorite in the Sky and Germa Headquarters was rapidly closing.

Looking at the Meteorite plummeting from the Sky, Judge stubbornly yelled, "It's just something falling from the Sky! We just need to smash it!"

Reiju Vinsmoke, standing beside him, watched Judge's boastful display and fell silent. As someone with Emotion, she was not as nonchalant about Death as he was.

She had always kept her rich Emotion a Secret. According to Judge's Theory, children modified by Lineage Factor should not possess Emotions. They were supposed to be perfect Weapons.

Judge's methods for dealing with failed Clone Warriors chilled Reiju Vinsmoke to the bone, and she was unable to disobey Judge's Orders.

Just as she was lost in thought, Judge re-engaged Nicholas in combat.

Bang bang bang!!

Germa Clone Soldiers continued to serve as Cannon Fodder, helping Judge deflect Attacks.

Finally, Judge realized that his Strength was no match for Nicholas.

"Electromagnetic Shattering Strike, Bursting Projectile Kick!"

After these two consecutive Attacks, using Nicholas's Power to propel himself, Judge rapidly flew away. The Cloak on his back swiftly transformed into Wings, providing jet-powered acceleration.

Even as he flew, he ordered the Pink-Haired Girl Reiju Vinsmoke.

"Reiju, stop him!"

"Yes, Father!"

Even knowing she was no Opponent for Nicholas, Reiju Vinsmoke charged towards him without hesitation.

Nicholas watched Judge, with Puff-Puff Shoes and a pair of jet-powered Wings formed from his Cloak, rapidly retreating, and was momentarily stunned.

His retreat Speed is almost as fast as a Light-Light Fruit Ability User, or even my own Rumble-Rumble Fruit Ability!

Could this be the legendary hidden "Cast Off" Mode of the Masked Rider?

(Mr. Hojo: Nodded seriously, indicating that there was a successor.)

(End of Chapter)