Marine G-1 Branch Base — Harbor
At the edge of the pier stood the base commander, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Strawberry—the one with the unusually long skull—his expression grim and rigid.
His gaze was fixed on the warship drawing ever closer across the sea. In particular, his brow furrowed tightly at the sight of the lead vessel, its mast flying that unmistakable "Calamity" flag.
As the key gatekeeper of the New World's route to the Holy Land, Vice Admiral Strawberry was naturally a direct confidant of the World Government, a man of unquestionable political loyalty.
Raising a loudspeaker, he addressed the approaching fleet in a stiff, procedural tone devoid of any emotion:
"Admiral Gern! This is Marine G-1 Branch! Your unit has arrived at G-1 Base without prior notice. For what purpose have you come? State your intentions immediately!"
His voice boomed through the amplifier, echoing across the harbor waters.
At the bow of the warship, Gern Reginald Sigmar stood clearly in view.
As he listened to Strawberry's shout, a cold, mocking smile curved across Gern's face.
He didn't bother with any amplification device. He merely spoke—softly.
Yet through exquisitely controlled vibrations, his voice carried with terrifying clarity across the entire G-1 harbor, each word striking like a hammer against the heart:
"For what purpose?"
"I've heard that some reckless fools dared to attack the exalted 'World Nobles.'"
Gern's voice dripped with undisguised ridicule.
"As a Marine Admiral, maintaining the safety of the World Nobles and eliminating all threats—isn't that simply my duty?"
"Now, I suspect the culprits may be attempting to flee through G-1 Base toward Mary Geoise."
"Open the passage immediately. I am going up to 'protect' the Celestial Dragons—and… apprehend the criminals."
These grandiose, sanctimonious words—laden with naked provocation—left the Marines on the dock exchanging uneasy glances, uncertain how to respond.
Vice Admiral Strawberry's expression darkened completely. Though his face remained outwardly calm, his eyes sharpened into cold blades.
Protect the Celestial Dragons?Damn it—Gern saying that was about as believable as claiming Celestial Dragons enjoyed eating shit.
Suppressing the thought, Strawberry lifted the loudspeaker again, his tone turning hard and uncompromising:
"Apologies, Admiral Gern!I have received no orders from the Fleet Admiral or the World Government regarding this matter!Nor have I been instructed to request your assistance in defending G-1 or Mary Geoise!"
"According to regulations, I order you to turn your fleet around and depart immediately!Failure to comply will be regarded as a hostile provocation against G-1 Base!"
Without giving Gern any chance to respond, Strawberry slammed his hand downward in a sharp gesture.
Click! Click! Click!
On both sides of the harbor—and atop the defensive fortifications—countless black cannon barrels pivoted in unison!
Heavy loading mechanisms thundered as every artillery piece was armed in moments, their icy muzzles locking firmly onto Gern's fleet.
The message was unmistakable:Refuse cooperation—and force will be used.
At the bow of the ship, Gern regarded Strawberry's uncompromising stance and the cannons trained on him. The cold smile on his face only deepened.
"Just as expected," he muttered softly. "A well-trained dog of the World Government."
His patience for words had run out.
Turning slightly, he issued a single command to those behind him:
"Ignore them. Force a landing."
The warship didn't slow.
It accelerated.
Straight toward the G-1 harbor.
Strawberry's eyes flashed with killing intent. Without hesitation, he roared his order:
"Fire!!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Deafening cannon fire erupted instantly!
Dozens of massive shells streaked through the air, trailing smoke as they rained down upon Gern's fleet like a steel storm!
However—
Just as the shells were about to plunge into the waters ahead of the ship—
Two figures moved.
Like phantoms, they burst forward simultaneously.
One unleashed an utterly refined, ink-dark green slash that seemed capable of cleaving existence itself.
The other released a blazing, violent deep-crimson slash, wrapped in a strange, bewitching aura.
The two attacks crossed in midair, sweeping across the space before the fleet.
SHHHK! SHHHK!
The incoming shells—so fearsome moments before—were as fragile as paper before those strikes.
Each was split cleanly in half, silently and precisely.
Midair, they detonated into brilliant yet utterly meaningless fireballs.
In the flickering glow of the explosions, Dracule Mihawk calmly sheathed the black blade Yoru behind his back, his gaze indifferent.
Beside him, Torritoma elegantly withdrew her blade, leaning casually against the coiling body of a flame serpent, her stunning face wearing a trace of disdain.
G-1 Base's first show of force—had been effortlessly, casually annihilated.
Vice Admiral Strawberry's face twisted in shock and fury.
Just like that, Gern led the core members of the Calamity Faction, marching through the lingering smoke and falling debris, their steps unwavering as they set foot upon the G-1 pier.
Strawberry knew then—there was no room left to maneuver.
But as the World Government's appointed gatekeeper, retreat was not an option.
Drawing in a deep breath, he forcibly steadied his pounding heart and strode forward, planting himself directly in Gern's path, meeting his gaze head-on without flinching.
His eyes swept over the lineup behind Gern—a lineup so extravagant and lethal it bordered on absurd:
The world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk.The Revolutionary Army's Tyrant Kuma.The self-proclaimed god, Enel.The Devil's Heir, Douglas Bullet.The Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro.The Pirate Empress of Amazon Lily.The White Rabbit, Lipo…
Nearly every apex combatant under Gern's command—assembled in full force.
In that instant, Strawberry realized the gravity of the situation far exceeded his worst expectations.
This was no mere friction.No warning display.
Yet he still forced his voice to remain firm, his right hand gripping the hilt of his twin blades.
"Admiral Gern!Withdraw your forces at once and return to the sea! Do not advance further!Don't make this difficult for me! The World Government—"
He didn't get to finish.
Gern's low, even voice cut him off.
Gern didn't even glance at Strawberry's hand on his swords. He merely looked down at him, as though stating an obvious fact.
"Strawberry…"
"You're a Marine. Not a dog."
The words were merciless—razor-sharp, piercing straight through Strawberry's pride and dignity.
"Then forgive me!!!"
A fierce light flared in Strawberry's eyes. Negotiation was over—only force remained!
With a roar, his twin blades flashed from their sheaths, Armament Haki surging over the steel as he lunged forward, trying to seize the initiative and create chaos through sheer aggression!
But—
His movement had only just begun.
No one even saw Gern move.
There was only a dull, heavy thump.
An overwhelming, inescapable force slammed into Strawberry's chest.
It felt as though he'd been struck head-on by a sea train at full speed.
His vision went black.
All his strength—his Haki—meant nothing before that absolute power.
Before he could even register Gern's action, Strawberry was already being held by the chest with one hand—
And then hurled aside like trash.
His body smashed into the reinforced concrete wall of the base.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The wall caved inward, spiderweb cracks exploding across its surface.
Strawberry was embedded in the concrete, blood pouring from his mouth as his organs felt violently displaced. All resistance vanished instantly.
But it wasn't over.
Gern's figure appeared before him again—like teleportation.
An iron grip seized Strawberry's head.
The next instant—
CRAAAAASH!!!!!!!
Gern drove Strawberry headfirst into the dock.
The ground wailed under the impact, collapsing into a massive crater.
Stone fragments exploded outward.
Strawberry didn't even have time to scream—his eyes rolled back, and he went limp, unconscious, his fate unknown.
Gern straightened slowly, as if he had done nothing more than brush away a speck of dust.
He flicked his hand, as though shaking off nonexistent grime, then turned his cold gaze toward the surrounding G-1 officers and soldiers—who were already frozen in terror.
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet it carried an authority and pressure that allowed no resistance, reaching every ear present:
"Vice Admiral Strawberry bravely engaged the enemy and was unfortunately gravely injured."
"From this moment on, all defenses of G-1 Base are under my command—I, Gern Reginald Sigmar."
He paused—then his voice rose suddenly, exploding like thunder:
"IS THAT CLEAR?!"
A dreadful silence smothered the harbor.
Then—
"YES, ADMIRAL GERN!!"
"WELCOME, ADMIRAL GERN, TO G-1 BASE!!"
"WE OBEY THE ADMIRAL'S ORDERS!!"
Many Marines snapped to attention and saluted almost instinctively, shouting at the top of their lungs—some even wearing expressions of excitement and fervor.
Because standing before them was a living legend of the Marines.
The hero who had personally captured the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
The guardian of the New World, whose name alone struck fear into countless pirates—
Gern Reginald Sigmar.
Among the lower ranks, Gern's prestige was immense.
Especially after years of single-handedly suppressing the Sea Emperors in the New World, his reputation had reached near-mythic heights.
And besides—
A vice admiral defying an admiral's authority was, by regulation alone, already in the wrong.
Thus, through the most direct, the most tyrannical means possible—
Gern seized absolute control of G-1 Base in an instant.