Eastern Territory - Atlantis
Morning - Airport District.
Harald stood in front of a magnificent building with a curved roof that resembled the wings of a giant bird. Holographic letters shone above the main entrance:
[Atlantis International Skyport - Gateway to the Federation].
Upon entering the airport area, his body had shrunk back to five meters. The size adjustment sensors worked automatically, making the transition feel as natural as walking through an invisible waterfall.
"This... is an airport?" Harald muttered, scanning his surroundings.
In front of him, people of various races walked in an orderly fashion. There were humans, half-humans, creatures with pointed ears, and even a few humanoid robots walking side by side without any tension.
"You haven't seen anything yet, King Harald," said Tobirama, walking calmly beside him with his hands folded behind his back. His sharp white hair contrasted with his long blue robe.
Harald pointed to a large conveyor belt moving on its own, carrying suitcases at a constant speed. "What is that? How does it move without horses or human power?"
"It's an automatic conveyor," Tobirama replied briefly. "It's powered by electrical energy channeled through an underground network. It's basic Cybertron technology integrated into the city's systems."
"Electricity?" Harald repeated the unfamiliar word.
"It's an invisible energy that flows through the body like blood," Tobirama explained in his typical technocrat tone. "In the Federation, electricity powers almost all devices: Lights, machines even the plane we're about to board."
They walked through the security gate. Harald saw several passengers passing through a large metal frame that emitted a faint blue light.
"What is that?" he asked again.
"Metal and weapon detectors," replied Tobirama. "They ensure there are no threats boarding the plane. Don't worry. You are registered as a special guest of the Federation Council. You will go through the VIP lane."
Harald did indeed go through a separate lane. A female security officer in a white uniform bearing the Federation emblem simply nodded respectfully when she saw Harald and Tobirama.
"Good morning, Mr. Tobirama. King Harald, welcome. Your plane is ready at Gate 7."
Harald was fascinated. There was no fear. No condescending looks. Only professional respect.
They walked down a long corridor with white marble floors that reflected the light from softly glowing wall panels. Large windows on the left and right displayed a view of the runway, where giant metal planes were parked neatly.
As he walked down the corridor, Harald saw several shops and cafés. In the window of an electronics store, he saw various shiny devices on display, such as cell phones, laptops, and smartwatches. The price tags bore an unfamiliar currency symbol: "Arc."
"What are those things?" Harald asked, pointing to the window.
Tobirama glanced over. "Electronic devices. Cell phones, laptops, and smart watches. They're communication and information tools. I'll explain more on the plane. The trip will take about two and a half days."
"Two and a half days?!" Harald was surprised.
"We'll be traveling 23,000 kilometers," Tobirama explained flatly. "First, we'll travel about 10,000 kilometers from east to south. Then, we'll travel 8,000 kilometers west. Finally, we'll climb to the Central Highlands, Olympus, where the White Palace stands 5,000 kilometers away. Even though our plane can fly at 900 kilometers per hour, the engine has limits, and we'll need to refuel. We'll make two stops."
"That's very fast." Harald was surprised by how quickly we would arrive.
They continued walking until they reached a large window facing the runway.
"That huge thing..." Harald stopped, his eyes widening. "What is that?!"
A large, silver-white passenger plane with blue stripes on its sides was preparing for takeoff on the runway. Its engines roared softly and its wings spread wide, like those of a giant eagle.
"That's what we're going to board," Tobirama said flatly. "An A-7 class civilian aircraft. It cost around 600,000 Arc to manufacture. It's 80 meters long, can carry 400 passengers, and has a cruising speed of 900 kilometers per hour."
"600,000 Arc?" Harald repeated the unfamiliar number.
"If converted to foreign currency," Tobirama explained, "it's equivalent to 600 million Baileys. That's enough to buy two World Government Navy warships."
Harald was stunned. Two warships?
"Can it fly?"
"Of course," Tobirama said, almost smiling. "It combines Cybertron flight technology with Doraemon's anti-gravity system. This aircraft can fly through storms with minimal turbulence."
Harald recalled the rescue ship that had lifted him from the sea a few days ago.
"The ship that saved me back then..." Harald muttered.
"How much does it cost?"
"The Azure Horizon class cruise ship?" Tobirama thought for a moment. "About 400,000 Arc. That's the equivalent of 400 million Baileys. That doesn't include routine maintenance costs, fuel, or crew salaries."
Harald swallowed hard. $400,000 for a Azure Horizon class cruise ship?
He remembered walking around Atlantis the day before and seeing vehicles gliding smoothly down the road.
"The vehicles I saw yesterday," Harald said quietly. "How much do the ones driving without horses cost?"
"Civilian cars?" Tobirama looked at him. "About 50,000 Arc for a standard model. That's equivalent to 50 million Bailey. Of course, there are more expensive ones, like sports cars and off-road vehicles. Private planes can cost 600,000 Arc or more."
Harald fell silent. Those numbers were enormous.
He knew the World Government Navy's monthly military expenditure was around 20 billion Bailey. But in this Federation, it seemed that even that much money wasn't enough to buy a small fleet of civilian vehicles.
"How can ordinary people afford all this?" Harald asked in disbelief.
"They work," Tobirama replied simply. "The Federation's economic system is different from the outside world. The minimum wage here is 5,000 Arc per month, equivalent to 5 million Baileys. Technical jobs that require special skills can earn between 20,000 and 50,000 Arc per month. Members of the Supreme Council earn around 500,000 Arc per month."
Harald nearly choked. Five hundred thousand Arc per month? That's equivalent to 500 million bailey!
In fact, a Navy admiral's salary is only 100 million Bailey, and even with allowances, it amounts to only 150 million.
"So," Harald muttered softly, trying to understand the system. "What if someone wants to buy the cell phone you mentioned earlier?"
"Five hundred Arc for the lowest specifications," Tobirama replied, pointing back to the electronics store. Or the equivalent of 500,000 Bailey when converted." Smartwatches are cheaper at 250 Arc or 250,000 Bailey. A monthly internet connection costs around 40 Arc, or 40,000 Bailey."
Tobirama took a smartphone with a shiny black screen out of his pocket.
"With a cell phone or other electronic device," he said, touching the screen to display various colorful applications, "you can access the internet, a digital information network that connects the entire Federation. All knowledge, history, news, and even the personal data of important people is stored and can be accessed from anywhere."
Harald stared at the small object in awe.
"All the information that I will explain to you during this trip," Tobirama continued, "you can actually read for yourself if you have this device. The history of Cybertron, the clan wars, the establishment of the Federation even information about technology that left the Federation thousands of years ago is all here."
"Technology that left?" Harald frowned.
"I'll tell you on the plane," Tobirama said, putting his cell phone back in his pocket. "Unfortunately, you didn't bring any money or gold when you washed up on our shore. As an official guest of the Federation Council, however, all your needs will be taken care of while you are here."
He stared intently at Harald.
"However, if you decide to stay longer, or even settle down, you'll need to find a way to earn Arc, whether through work, services, or trading your assets. Our exchange system is simple: 1,000 Baileys equals 1 Arc. But it's much more profitable if you bring gold because 1 gram of gold equals 1,000 Arc."
Harald nodded slowly, trying to process all this information.
So, if I have one kilogram of gold, that's equivalent to one million Arc. Or one billion Baileys.
The numbers made his head spin.
"Come on," said Tobirama, walking towards Gate 7. "Our plane is ready."
---
Inside the aircraft.
VIP Cabin - Upper Deck
Harald could hardly believe his eyes when he entered.
The wide seats with soft cushions were neatly arranged in rows. Each seat had a flat screen on the back of the seat in front of it. Oval windows lined the side of the plane and displayed the view of the runway outside.
Most surprisingly of all, the air was cool and fresh, even though they were inside a giant metal box.
"Sit down," Tobirama said, pointing to a seat near the window. "You'll like the view."
Harald sat down carefully. As he sat down, he felt a slight tremor as the aircraft's size adjustment sensors automatically shrunk his body from five meters to two meters to fit the seat.
"Why did my body shrink again?" Harald gasped.
"Automatic sensors," said Tobirama, sitting down beside him calmly. "Every transportation vehicle in the Federation is equipped with Doraemon technology integrated with Cybertron. Your body will be adjusted for comfort inside the vehicle and return to normal when you exit."
A young female flight attendant in an elegant blue uniform approached them with a friendly smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Tobirama and King Harald. We will be taking off shortly. Please fasten your seatbelt."
Harald stared at the strange belt across his chest. Tobirama deftly fastened it for him.
"This is for your safety during takeoff and landing," he explained.
A few minutes later, the plane began to move.
Harald gripped the seat back as the plane sped down the runway. The engines roared, and then his body was pressed back as the plane lifted its nose and flew into the sky.
The view outside the window changed dramatically. The magnificent city of Atlantis quickly shrank. The tall buildings looked like toys. The vast blue sea stretched across the horizon.
"Amazing..." Harald whispered.
Tobirama looked out with a blank expression. "This is a routine trip for us. But I understand how you feel."
Once the plane reached cruising altitude, the seatbelts automatically unlocked. The flight attendants returned with trays of food and drinks.
"Please enjoy your meal, gentlemen."
Harald looked at the food in front of him: steaming roast meat, soft bread, fresh vegetables, and a glass of cold fruit juice. Everything was neatly arranged on a white ceramic plate.
He ate slowly, savoring every bite. It tasted much better than the rough food he usually ate on the battlefield.
After he finished eating, the screen in front of his seat suddenly lit up.
"Welcome aboard Federation Flight AF-701. The Real-Time Viewing System is now active."
Harald gasped. A moving three-dimensional image appeared on the screen, showing the view below the plane in astonishing detail.
"What is this?" Harald touched the screen. The image rotated with his touch.
"It's Cybertron sensor technology integrated with Doraemon's black technology," Tobirama explained, pointing to his own screen. "Sensors under the plane scan the landscape in real time and display it in 3D holographic form. You can zoom in, rotate it, and see the geological details of every area we pass over."
Harald was fascinated. He zoomed in and saw small trees, rivers, and animals moving on the ground.
"It's like the eyes of a god," he whispered.
"Technology," Tobirama corrected flatly. "Not a miracle. Just mastered science."
---
1 p.m.: Flight to the Southern Region
Tobirama finally spoke, his voice low and authoritative.
"King Harald, since we have a long journey ahead of us, it would be good for you to understand the history of this land."
Harald looked away from the screen. "I'm listening."
Tobirama stared straight ahead as if recalling a distant past.
"The Arcane Federation is no ordinary nation. We are the product of a long history filled with blood, war, and sacrifice."
He pointed to Harald's screen, which still displayed the view of the sea below.
"This is the Southern Territory we are about to enter. Eldoria is the oldest. Millions of years ago, during the era when giant asteroids collided with this planet, a group of mechanical beings from the Cybertron race fell to this land. They were giant robots living beings made of metal and energy. They survived, built colonies, and became the rulers of the region."
Harald frowned. "Robots... alive?"
"Yes," replied Tobirama. "They have consciousness, emotions, and even a culture. Their leader is now Megatron, a member of the Federation's Supreme Council."
Tobirama continued in a more serious tone. "What's interesting is that Cybertron technology is not completely isolated on this land. Thousands of years ago, some Cybertron robots escaped and explored the outside world."
Harald stared at him intently. "Leave? Where to?"
"No one knows for sure," replied Tobirama. "But there are ancient records that you can access through the Federation Internet if you have a cell phone. They mention that one of those robots, a giant robot, once accompanied a figure named Joyboy."
"Joyboy?" Harald repeated the name. He had heard it often, even in Elbaf. Joyboy was referred to as the sun god who brought smiles everywhere he went.
"It is said," Tobirama continued, "that the robot was built using Cybertron technology, though only at 40% capacity. But that was enough to store the King's Haki for hundreds of years."
Harald fell silent. A robot that could store Haki? For hundreds of years?
It sounded impossible. Haki is the power of will something alive and flowing from the human soul. How could something dead, like a robot, store it?
Tobirama saw the doubt on Harald's face. "I know it's hard to believe," he said. "But that is the true power of Cybertron technology. They don't just build machines; they create vessels for will, energy, and even souls. If that technology is fully mastered, who knows what could be done?"
He paused for a moment to let the information sink in.
"All of this information is stored in the Federation's digital archives. If you have a cell phone and an internet connection, you can access it at any time. But, since you don't have one yet, I'll tell you about it."
"Now," Tobirama took a deep breath. "Now, let's move on to much more recent events."
"Tens of millions of years after Cybertron fell, a goddess descended from the sky. Her name was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, also known as the Moon Goddess. She landed in the eastern region and planted a great tree that absorbed energy from the ground.
The tree gave her extraordinary powers. Kaguya became almost invincible. But her power led to a great war."
Harald listened intently.
"The southern region, ruled by the Cybertron robots, and the eastern region, ruled by Kaguya, had been at war for thousands of generations. Blood flowed like rivers. The land was nearly destroyed."
Tobirama paused for a moment, his breathing heavy. "Finally, Kaguya's two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura known as the Six Path Ascetics united with the ruler of Frostenheim. The Northern region is inhabited by an army of spirits under Commander Yamamoto. They succeeded in sealing Kaguya."
"But sealing her came at a price. Ever since she was sealed away, violent storms have raged between the regions. These storms are so powerful that the regions have been isolated from each other for thousands of years. No one can cross between regions without risking death."
Harald nodded slowly. "So you guys split up?"
"That's right," Tobirama confirmed. "East, west, south, north, all isolated. In the east, Kaguya's descendants split into various clans: The Senju, the Uchiha, the Uzumaki, the Hyuga, and others. We all come from the bloodline of the moon goddess Kaguya, which split over hundreds of generations."
His voice hardened.
"The Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki clans were the strongest. We fought relentlessly for hundreds of years. Children died on the battlefield before they could understand the meaning of peace."
Harald could sense the bitterness in Tobirama's words.
"Then how did the war end?"
"Hashirama," Tobirama replied simply. "My brother. He and Uchiha Madara, the head of the Uchiha clan, finally realized that the war was meaningless. They united, ending centuries of hostility, and founded the Leaf Village, the forerunner of Atlantis."
"That happened about a hundred years ago. About fifty years ago, Kaguya's seal began to weaken. The storms between the regions began to subside. We were finally able to communicate with the other regions: Those from the south, north, and west all met for the first time in hundreds of years."
Tobirama stared sharply at Harald.
"In the midst of all that, a man was born: A man who inherited the bloodlines of the Uchiha and the Senju. His name was Astraeus Ron. He united us all. He founded the Arcane Federation and built the White Palace in the neutral territory of Olympus, in the center of the continent, a place claimed by no territory."
Harald was silent. The information was too much to digest at once.
"What about the Western region?" he finally asked.
Tobirama frowned. "Solara. The Western Region is the most barren and dangerous place: It has vast deserts, deep ravines that seem bottomless, and mysterious creatures that roar at night. We rarely even send patrols there. It's like a forgotten land."
He looked at Harald's screen.
"But you'll see it all for yourself. We have a long journey ahead of us. First, we'll pass through the South, then the West, before finally arriving at Olympus."
---
It's five o'clock in the afternoon as we enter the southern region of Eldoria.
Inside the Aircraft - VIP Cabin
The view on Harald's screen changed drastically.
A dense green forest stretched endlessly before them. Giant trees towered above, some reaching heights of 200 meters. The green canopy was so thick that the ground below was almost invisible.
"Amazing..." Harald whispered. "Trees this big... I rarely see trees this big in Elbaf."
"Those trees have been around for millions of years," said Tobirama. "They thrive because of the energy leaking from Forge Mountain."
A dome-shaped mountain with a shiny black metal surface appeared on the screen. Thin smoke rose from its peak, and a faint red light pulsed from cracks in its surface.
"That... isn't an ordinary mountain," Harald muttered.
"That's Forge Mountain," Tobirama explained. "It's the headquarters of the Mechanical Dinosaur Faction, led by Grimlock, one of Cybertron's commanders. Hundreds of mechanical dinosaurs inhabit the mountain as a defense unit for the Southern Territory."
"Mechanical dinosaurs?"
Tobirama nodded. "There are several types of creatures here: First, there are the original dinosaurs that have been alive for millions of years. Second, there are modified dinosaurs. Their DNA has been mixed with that of strange creatures, making them much stronger than dinosaurs in the outside world. Third are mechanical dinosaur robots: metal creatures led by the Grimlock Faction."
Harald enlarged the screen, and his eyes widened.
Under the forest canopy, several large silhouettes moved. One of them stepped out of the shadows, a 3-meter-tall Velociraptor with a slender body and shiny blue-green scales. Its eyes were sharp and intelligent, its claws long like swords.
"That's a modified Velociraptor," said Tobirama. "Their genes have been mixed with the DNA of other creatures. The result is human-level intelligence, a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, and perfect hunting instincts. They are far more dangerous than ordinary dinosaurs in the outside world."
On another screen, Harald saw something different: an 18-meter-tall Tyrannosaurus Rex, but its body was made entirely of shiny black metal. Its eyes glowed red like lasers, and every step it took made the ground shake. Thin smoke came out from between the gaps in its metal armor.
"That's a mechanical dinosaur robot," Tobirama continued. "A Cybertron robot from the Grimlock faction that can transform into a dinosaur. They have no blood, feel no pain, and never tire. Their strength is equivalent to fifteen giants."
Harald swallowed hard. "How many of these creatures are there?"
"Real dinosaurs? Thousands. Genetically modified ones? Hundreds. Mechanical robots? Dozens, but they're the deadliest," Tobirama replied. "The Grimlock faction is responsible for all ground defenses in the southern region."
Harald's screen showed a faint shadow deep in the forest, something much larger, with a body that emitted a terrifying aura.
"That..." Harald pointed with a trembling finger.
"Indominus," Tobirama whispered seriously. "The most dangerous genetically engineered dinosaur. DNA from various apex predators mixed with the genes of strange creatures. Eighteen meters tall, capable of camouflage, with intelligence equivalent to that of an adult human, and strength that could destroy buildings."
Tobirama paused for a moment.
"Only a few were ever created. They were released deep in the forest as the last guardians of the southern region."
Harald stared at the screen in horror.
"Don't worry," Tobirama added. "All these creatures are under Grimlock's control. As long as we stay on the official flight path, they won't attack."
---
Several hundred meters above Harald's aircraft.
Air Escort Formation.
Four Cybertron fighter jets flew in a perfect diamond formation above Harald's aircraft, slicing through the sky. Their dark gray metal bodies had red accents, and their jet wings cut through the air silently.
Leading the formation was Starscream, Megatron's second-in-command and commander of the Seeker air squadron.
"Sector Seven clear. No threats detected," Thundercracker reported via the internal communicator.
Starscream looked down through his visual sensors. Harald's plane flew steadily through thick clouds, following the official flight path to the mainland.
"Maintain formation. VIP escort proceeding."
BEEP! BEEP!
Starscream's electromagnetic sensor alarm sounded softly.
His red eyes narrowed. His HUD screen displayed a single point of organic energy moving far below the clouds, above the forest canopy.
"Anomaly detected," Starscream muttered. "Large flying creature... organic energy pattern, but there are three high-energy signals on its back."
He zoomed in on the sensor.
A giant bird. Unnatural. There were three figures on its back with suspicious energy levels.
"What's the threat level?" asked Thundercracker.
"Unclear," replied Starscream. "But its flight pattern is too regular. This isn't ordinary animal migration."
Starscream opened the communication channel. "Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Dirge, maintain the escort formation. I'm going down to identify the target."
"Aye, Captain."
Starscream separated from the formation, his jet body slowly diving through the clouds as he followed the giant bird's trail from a safe distance.
---
The same time.
The ancient forest of Eldoria - above the tree canopy.
Far below Harald's flight path.
A giant bird, created with the power of the Arrow Fruit, flapped its wings powerfully as it flew about 300 meters above the canopy of giant trees.
Three figures in black robes sat calmly on its back.
The first figure is Gunko of the Manmayer family. His heterochromatic eyes shine beneath his robes: one red, one blue. His right hand rests on a black bow made of bandages. He created this giant bird using the power of his Arrow Fruit.
The second figure was Rosalia of the Nerona family. She held a long spear with a crescent-shaped spearhead and wore a rose in her hair. Her body was slender, yet she exuded a deadly aura.
The third figure is Saint Shanks of the Figarland Family. He sits at the front. Only three faint vertical scars beneath his cloak are visible on his left eye. The Gryphon Sword was sheathed at his waist.
Two God Knights and one God Sword.
"We've been flying for several days," Rosalia muttered coldly. "How big is this land?"
Gunko replied analytically, his heterochromatic eyes staring down. "When we first passed Atlantis, the port city in the east, I estimated that the port was about 100 meters above sea level. But the main city is about 500 meters above sea level."
"And now?" Shanks asked without turning his head.
"Now..." Gunko looked down. "We're at an altitude of about 5,000 meters. This land rises gradually, like a giant pyramid. The farther in we fly, the higher the ground gets."
Rosalia whistled softly. "No wonder the sea storms can't reach their center. They really are above the world."
"And this height is almost equal to that of the sacred land."
Shanks suddenly tensed. He narrowed his eyes and stared upwards.
"There's something..." he whispered softly.
Gunko and Rosalia immediately became alert.
"What?" Rosalia asked, gripping her spear more tightly.
Shanks activated his Kenbunshoku Haki at full intensity. His aura spread in all directions, piercing the clouds above and sensing every vibration within a radius of thousands of meters.
And he felt it.
About 1,000 meters above them, far above the clouds, something was flying at an almost impossible speed.
Something was flying at an almost impossible speed.
It wasn't a bird. Not an ordinary living creature. It had a cold metallic aura and an alien energy. Its speed was unbelievable.
"Above us," Shanks whispered in a serious tone rarely heard. "Far above the clouds. There is an object or a creature flying at an extraordinary speed."
Note: Kizaru, Aokiji, and Sakazuki have just been promoted to Admiral of the Navy.
He paused for a moment, his brow deeply furrowed. "Its speed is almost on par with Admiral Kizaru."
Total silence.
Gunko and Rosalia froze in their seats.
"What?" Rosalia whispered in disbelief. "As fast as the Pika Pika no Mi?"
"Impossible..." Gunko looked up, trying to see through the thick clouds. But nothing was visible. "Unless they also have a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, or technology equivalent to that power."
"How many?" Gunko asked, her heterochromatic eyes narrowing sharply.
Shanks focused his Haki more intensely. His brow furrowed. "Four. They're flying in perfect formation. Like a military patrol."
Rosalia swallowed hard. "Have they detected us?"
Shanks paused for a moment, sensing the flow of energy above. Then he slowly shook his head. "Not sure. But they haven't changed course. It seems like they're watching something else. Or..."
"Or," Gunko added in a cold tone that sent shivers down their spines, "they already know we're here but have chosen not to attack."
The three of them fell silent.
That thought was far more frightening. If the enemy knew of their presence but chose to only watch, it meant that the enemy was confident in their strength. Or worse, they were luring the intruders deeper into the trap.
"Descend," Shanks said firmly. "Now, we have to get into the forest and hide under the canopy of trees. We don't want to face anything that can fly that fast in open air."
The giant bird began to descend slowly, piercing the gaps in the canopy of trees.
The sight below left the three of them speechless.
Ancient Forest.
Towering trees, some hundreds of meters tall, stand like giant pillars. The green canopy is so dense that sunlight barely penetrates it. Large roots entwine the ground like frozen, sleeping snakes.
In the distance is a dome-shaped mountain, about 500 meters high with a faintly shimmering, black metal surface. Thin smoke rises from its peak.
"That's not a natural mountain," Gunko whispered. "It's... an artificial structure."
AUUUMMM!!!
A deep roar echoed from within the forest. The sound was so loud that the leaves trembled on the trees and small birds flew away in panic.
Shanks tensed his body. "There's something down there. Something big."
The giant bird landed softly among the thick bushes hidden under the giant canopy. The three of them quickly crouched down behind the bushes.
Rosalia slowly drew her spear, her eyes alert. "We're not alone."
Gunko activated his Kenbunshoku Haki. His eyes narrowed. "There are many large creatures around us. Some move like reptiles. But their aura is strange. It's like a mixture of metal and flesh. They're not ordinary living creatures."
CRACK!
A large tree fell nearby with a deafening sound. From behind the dark shadows of the forest, a giant silhouette appeared:
It was Indominus.
The 18-meter-tall creature had grayish-black, scaly skin and glowing red eyes like embers. Its teeth were as big as swords, and its claws could tear through steel. Its body radiated the aura of a perfect predator, the result of terrifying genetic modification.
Its red eyes stared intently at the bushes where they were hiding.
"A dinosaur?" Rosalia whispered in disbelief. "But...this aura..."
Shanks took a deep breath, his hand already on the hilt of Gryphon. "Don't fight unless you have to. We're here to gather information, not start a war."
The Indominus sniffed the air. Its large nose searched for the source of the foreign scent.
The three of them held their breath.
Then, slowly, the Indominus turned and walked away. Its heavy steps shook the ground as its body disappeared behind the giant trees.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
But they didn't realize...
Something was watching them from behind the trees:
White Zetsu.
A pale, white, humanoid creature whose body blended perfectly with the trees. Its face was expressionless, only its yellow, pupil-less eyes monitored the three Holy Knights' every movement.
---
1,000 Meters Above the Ancient Forest.
Starscream - Solo Surveillance
Starscream circled the ancient forest at low speed, his jet wings barely making a sound. His electromagnetic and infrared sensors locked onto the positions of the three intruders directly beneath the canopy of giant trees with perfect precision.
He enlarged the visual display:
Three figures in black cloaks. High energy levels. They moved cautiously, like professional intruders.
"Target has landed," Starscream murmured. "As I suspected, they are intruders."
He opens his communicator.
"Starscream to Commander Megatron," he says into the communicator. His voice was sharp but controlled. "Target confirmed: Three foreign individuals with high energy levels. Threat classification: high. They have landed in Sector 7-Delta, approximately two kilometers from the Forge Mountain perimeter."
There was a moment of silence.
Then, Megatron's deep, resonant voice boomed through the communicator:
"Do not engage."
Starscream furrowed his metallic brow. "Commander?"
"Just observe," Megatron continued in a cold, calculated tone. "Let them go deeper. I want to know what they're looking for here."
Megatron paused for a moment, then continued, "Inform Grimlock that the Dinosaur Faction must be on standby. Contact Lockdown and activate Zetsu for close surveillance. If they try to destroy Forge Mountain or steal our technology..."
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Destroy them."
"Understood, Commander," Starscream replied. Although his tone was calm, there was a hint of disappointment in it. He wanted to attack right then and there to prove his strength.
Starscream continued to circle at a high altitude, his metallic body barely visible behind the clouds. His glowing red eyes watched the three intruders below move.
He was like a patient eagle, waiting for the right moment to strike.