Time to Enforce "Tremor" Justice!

Somewhere in the waters of the New World, on an unnamed island.

The Rupture Pirates sat around a bonfire, tearing into roasted meat, with barrels of liquor scattered across the ground.

"Captain Doger, are we really going to join that guy?" a tall, skinny pirate asked quietly, his gaze wavering.

"Island-Splitter" Doger tore off a large chunk of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing as a cold sneer spread across his greasy lips.

"What else? You think we're strong enough to hold our own in the New World?"

He took a swig of liquor and continued, "We've only been in the New World for a month, and another pirate crew already nearly wiped us out.

"Now the Marines are after us too... without someone backing us, we're done for sooner or later."

His men exchanged glances. Another pirate couldn't help asking, "But we don't even know who we're joining..."

Hearing what was truly troubling his men, Doger burst out laughing, tossed aside the bone, and stood.

He was a burly man with bulging muscles and several hideous scars winding around his right arm.

Those were the origin of his name, "Island-Splitter"-he had once destroyed a Marine Branch base with a single punch.

"We're talking about the man they call the 'Flying Lion'!" A flicker of fervor flashed in Doger's eyes.

"Golden Lion Shiki! Once we join his Flying Pirates,

"Forget the Marines-even Whitebeard's or Roger's men will have to think twice!"

"The Golden Lion?!" The pirates' faces lit up with excitement.

The Golden Lion's name was legendary throughout the New World. His influence stretched across the Grand Line, and powerful fighters filled his ranks.

With someone that formidable sheltering them, they really could rest easy.

"But, Captain Doger, can we really join the Flying Pirates?"

"Why couldn't we?" Doger snorted, stood up, and kicked over the barrel in front of him.

"I'm 'Island-Splitter' Doger! A great pirate with a bounty of 360 million!"

He slammed a fist into the ground. In an instant, the earth for dozens of meters around him cracked like a spiderweb, sending rubble flying.

Awed by the sight, the pirates erupted in cheers.

"But..." another pirate said hesitantly, "we've never even met the Golden Lion. If we just rush into joining him, won't..."

"Relax! I've already contacted one of the officers under the Flying Pirates!"

Seeing their captain's confidence, as though he had everything firmly in hand, the pirates couldn't help smiling too.

But just then...

Boom!! A deafening blast suddenly erupted. The entire island shook violently, and the bonfire scattered in an instant, spraying sparks everywhere.

The pirates stumbled and fell, staring toward the source of the sound in terror.

"What's happening?! An earthquake?!"

"No!" Doger forced himself to steady his footing, his expression darkening. "This isn't an earthquake."

His eyes locked onto the coast. Only now did he notice a Marine warship sitting quietly on the distant sea.

From its bow, a tall, slender figure flew into the air.

"Marines sticking to us like leeches...

"They've sent someone dangerous this time."

Ten minutes earlier, aboard the Marine warship.

Gern lounged in a chair with a newspaper covering his face, seemingly unconcerned about the coming battle.

The Marine soldiers on deck, however, hurried back and forth nervously, continually reporting their reconnaissance findings.

"Report, Captain Gern! Target location confirmed. The entire Rupture Pirates crew is resting on the island's west side!"

"Report! No signs of other pirate crews in the surrounding waters!"

Hearing the reports beside him, Gern lazily raised a hand and lifted a corner of the newspaper, revealing one indifferent eye.

"Oh... finally found them." He stretched, slowly stood, and draped his justice cloak over his shoulders. "A whole week chasing them. They're pretty good at running."

As Gern strolled forward, a Marine petty officer beside him couldn't help asking, "Captain Gern, when do we move?"

Gern glanced at him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Move? No, you're staying here."

"Huh?!" The soldier froze.

"I'll go alone." Gern walked toward the bow, looking out at the distant island.

"Just get ready to take prisoners... though there might not be many left to take."

"Wait, Captain Gern! That's a pirate crew with a bounty of 300 million Beli!! Going alone might be..."

"You all know their bounty is practically over 300 million. So if you land on the island and a fight breaks out..." Gern raised a hand and pressed down the Marine's cap.

"I'd be heartbroken if even one of you died."

"Captain Gern, you..." At his words, every soldier aboard the warship covered his face and burst into tears.

"How... how can you be so kind?!"

They all knew about Gern's exploits beheading pirates, but they had never expected him to be so gentle with his own men.

That contrast struck straight into every soldier's heart!

"All right! Get yourselves ready too. Don't let any stragglers escape."

The soldiers exchanged glances. Before they could react, Gern had already leaped straight off the warship toward the sea!

"Wait! Captain! Our orders this time are to capture the target alive..."

Before the soldier could finish, a ring of white air exploded beneath Gern's feet. Under the control of his power, the air instantly compressed into solid matter, and space trembled faintly.

"Island-Splitter Doger..." Gern murmured as he flew into the sky.

"Bounty of 360 million, knows Armament Haki, a Paramecia-type Split-Split Fruit user...

"Yeah, shouldn't be a problem." As he finished speaking, his figure streaked through the sunlight in a sharp trail of white particles, heading straight for the island.

On the island, the Rupture Pirates were already braced for battle.

Doger stood at the front with his arms crossed, coldly watching Gern draw closer.

His first mate asked quietly, "Captain, the warship hasn't moved. Looks like it's just one man... should we take him out?"

Doger narrowed his eyes. "No... this guy's no pushover."

No pirate who made it to the New World was a fool. He could feel the oppressive presence Gern brought with him.

It was as though the very air trembled as that man approached.

At last, Gern, his justice cloak draped over his shoulders, landed lightly on the beach. The instant his soles touched the sand, an invisible shockwave spread outward.

"Hey, everyone." Gern looked up with a lazy smile. "I hear you want to join the Golden Lion?"

At Gern's very first words, Doger's pupils constricted. "How did you know?!"

"Can't help it." Gern shrugged. "The Marines' intelligence network is more interesting than you think."

With that, Gern slowly drew the Black Blade: Eight Desolations from his waist. Layer after layer of bandages peeled away, revealing its pitch-black blade.

"But... sorry! You'll have to change your plans."

"Heh." Doger sneered. "Just you... a Marine captain? They'd need to send at least a commodore to catch me."

"Heh, that's right! Just me." A cold glint flashed through Gern's eyes, and the instant his words fell-

"Tremor Flash: Glide Rail!" A ring of white air abruptly exploded beneath Gern's feet, and densely packed vibration particles condensed into a solid track below him.

The air was compressed to its limit, then propelled by a reverse shockwave.

Whoosh! Almost at that same instant, Gern flashed to Doger's side, his left leg raised high. Violent vibration particles coiled around his foot, their high-frequency tremors twisting and shattering the air.

"Time to enforce 'Tremor' justice!" With those words, he swept his left leg sideways!

Doger's pupils shrank sharply. Instinctively, he raised both arms, coated in Armament Haki, to block.

Boom!!! An explosive shockwave erupted!

The ground for dozens of meters around them collapsed instantly. Spiderweb cracks spread wildly, and rubble rose into the air, only to be pulverized a second later!

Doger's feet sank deep into the ground as he slid backward. He seemed to have blocked the blow, but blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with horror.

Every sign betrayed his terror!

This guy... is really just a Marine captain?!