New World — An Unnamed Island
Members of the Shatter Pirates sat gathered around a blazing campfire, tearing into roasted meat with their bare hands as empty barrels rolled across the ground.
"Captain Doger… are we really going to submit to that guy?"A tall, thin pirate asked in a low voice, unease flickering in his eyes.
"Island-Splitter" Doger ripped off a huge chunk of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, grease dripping down his chin as he sneered.
"Then what? You think we can survive in the New World with what we've got now?"
He gulped down a mouthful of alcohol and continued coldly,"We've only been here a month, and we already almost got wiped out by another crew. Now the Marines are on our tails too… If we don't find someone to back us, we're dead sooner or later."
The pirates exchanged uneasy glances.
"But… we don't even know who we're pledging ourselves to," one of them muttered.
Doger burst into laughter. He tossed the bone aside and stood up.
His towering frame was packed with muscle, thick scars coiling around his right arm—marks of the destruction that earned him the name Island-Splitter.
After all, he had once destroyed an entire Marine branch base with a single punch.
"That man is the one they call the Flying Lion," Doger said, eyes burning with fanatic excitement."Golden Lion Shiki! Once we join his Flying Pirates, even the Marines—hell, even Whitebeard or Roger's men—would have to think twice before touching us!"
"Golden Lion?!"The pirates erupted in excitement.
His name echoed like thunder across the New World. His influence stretched across the Grand Line, his ranks filled with monsters.
If they could climb that tree, they'd truly be safe.
"But Captain… can we really join the Flying Pirates?" someone asked hesitantly.
"Why not?" Doger snorted and kicked over a barrel."I'm Island-Splitter Doger! A pirate with a bounty of 360 million berries!"
He slammed his fist into the ground.
In an instant, the earth fractured outward in a spiderweb pattern, chunks of rock flying into the air.
The pirates erupted in cheers.
"Still…" another muttered, uneasy. "We haven't even met Golden Lion. Charging in like this—won't that—"
"Relax!" Doger laughed loudly. "I've already made contact with one of his officers."
Seeing their captain's unwavering confidence, the crew relaxed, grinning with renewed excitement.
But then—
BOOOOM!!
A thunderous explosion shook the island violently. The ground trembled, the campfire scattered in sparks.
The pirates staggered, panic flashing across their faces.
"What the hell?! An earthquake?!"
"No—!" Doger growled, barely keeping his footing. "This isn't an earthquake."
His gaze snapped toward the shore.
There, in the distance, a Marine warship sat quietly upon the waves.
And at its bow—
A tall figure leapt skyward.
"…Damn Marines," Doger muttered darkly."And this time… they sent someone dangerous."
Ten Minutes Earlier — Aboard the Marine Warship
Gern Reginald Sigmar lounged lazily in a chair, a newspaper draped over his face as though today's battle were nothing more than an inconvenience.
Meanwhile, Marines rushed about the deck, voices ringing with urgency.
"Report! Captain Gern! Target confirmed—Shatter Pirates are resting on the western side of the island!"
"Report! No other pirate crews detected in surrounding waters!"
Gern lazily lifted one corner of the newspaper, revealing one calm, indifferent eye.
"Oh… finally found them."He stretched and stood, draping his Justice cloak over his shoulders."Chased them for a whole week. They really can run."
Watching him stroll forward, a Marine sergeant hesitated before speaking."Captain Gern… when do we commence the operation?"
Gern glanced at him, lips curling slightly."Operation? No. You all stay here."
"Huh?!"
"I'll handle it alone." He walked toward the bow, gaze fixed on the distant island."You just get ready to arrest whoever's left… though there probably won't be many."
"W-Wait, Captain! That's a crew worth over three hundred million berries! Going alone is—"
Gern casually pressed a hand atop the soldier's cap.
"You already know their bounty," he said gently."If we fought them head-on on that island… every one of you might die."
The deck went silent.
"I'd hate that," he added softly.
The soldiers stared at him, eyes welling with tears.
"Captain… you're too kind…!"
They all knew of his ruthless efficiency against pirates—but this gentleness toward his own men pierced straight through their hearts.
"Alright," Gern said lightly. "Get ready. Don't let any escape."
Before anyone could react, he stepped off the ship.
"Captain—wait! The mission requires capturing them alive—!"
Too late.
The air beneath Gern's feet detonated in a burst of compressed force. Space itself shuddered as shockwaves condensed into solid footing beneath him.
"Island-Splitter Doger…" he murmured as he launched forward."Three hundred and sixty million. Armament Haki. Paramecia—Split-Split Fruit…"
A faint smile curved his lips.
"Yeah. I can handle that."
His body streaked forward, slicing through the air in a brilliant white arc.
Back on the Island
The Shatter Pirates stood ready.
Doger stood at the front, arms crossed, eyes locked on the approaching figure.
His first mate whispered, "Captain… the warship didn't move. It's just one man. Should we take him out now?"
Doger narrowed his eyes.
"No… this one's dangerous."
Anyone who could step into the New World wasn't a fool. And the pressure radiating from that man—
The air itself trembled as he drew closer.
Then, with a soft thud, Gern landed on the sand.
A shockwave rippled outward as his boots touched the ground.
"Yo," Gern greeted casually, lifting his head with a lazy grin."Heard you're planning to join Golden Lion."
Doger's pupils shrank. "How do you know that?!"
Gern shrugged."Marine intel's better than you think."
He slowly drew the black blade at his waist. The wrappings fell away, revealing its pitch-dark sheen.
"Sorry… but you'll need to change your plans."
Doger sneered. "Heh. Just you? A Marine captain? At least send a rear admiral if you want to catch me."
"Heh. Yeah," Gern replied coolly."Just me."
His eyes sharpened.
"Shock Step: Rail Slide."
The ground beneath his foot exploded in white force as compressed vibration solidified into a temporary rail.
In a blink, Gern vanished.
Crack—!
He reappeared beside Doger, leg already raised, violent vibrations coiling around it as the air itself warped and screamed.
"Commencing execution of Shock Justice."
His kick lashed out.
BOOOOM!!
A catastrophic shockwave detonated.
The earth caved in over dozens of meters, fractures tearing outward like a spiderweb as debris was pulverized into dust.
Doger skidded backward, his feet carving trenches into the ground. Though he blocked with hardened Armament Haki, blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
Terror filled his eyes.
"This monster… is really just a Marine captain?!"