The Grand Line was rarely forgiving, and now it had taken notice of them.
Alpha and Beta sailed silently along a narrow channel, wind slicing across the bow, spray stinging their faces. Every ripple of the waves, every strain of the sails, and every creak of timber was catalogued instantly by Alpha's Observation Haki. Beta mirrored him, sensors scanning the horizon, servos tensed and ready, every mechanical component primed for action.
They are coming, Alpha thought. The currents whispered of approaching hulls, deliberate and coordinated. Not just pirates—Marines. Experienced, lethal, and precise.
Alpha adjusted the spear in his hand, weight perfectly balanced, Haki integrated through every centimeter. Beta's sensors tracked every movement of the frigates, calculating trajectories, angles, and attack vectors.
The first sign appeared: the silhouette of a Marine frigate, guns primed, cutting through the waves with disciplined precision. Another appeared, then another. Their formation was tight, overlapping fields of fire designed to trap, corner, and isolate.
Beta's visual sensors adjusted instantly. "Threat recognition: confirmed. Engagement probability elevated."
Alpha's lips curved faintly. "They think we are prey. Let's not disappoint them."
The first Marine boarding team leapt onto the deck. Iron surged through Alpha's arms and legs, reinforcing his balance as he twisted, deflecting gun barrels, and knocking the nearest soldier off balance. The spear extended his reach, transforming each encounter into a deadly dance of anticipation and precise Haki-augmented response.
Beta moved with calculated fluidity, striking from unexpected angles, intercepting attackers mid-assault with pinpoint accuracy. Its mechanical limbs coordinated with Alpha's spear in perfect harmony, turning the deck into a lethal chessboard where every motion was analyzed and exploited.
Above, Marine officers barked orders. "Contain them! No mistakes!"
Smoke rose faintly in the distance—the unmistakable presence of Captain Smoker, observing, assessing, weighing the anomaly that was Alpha.
Alpha felt the weight of his notoriety pressing down. A direct assault would be costly. Adaptation was essential.
He feinted a retreat, drawing a squad toward the starboard edge, then pivoted, spear spinning with controlled force, launching one Marine into another. Beta used the moment of chaos, moving in perfect tandem, disabling three more in rapid succession. The combination of Haki-enhanced precision and mechanical calculation suppressed reaction times, making each Marine miscalculate.
System Update:
Marine Threat Assessment: High
Combat Strategy Optimization: +10%
Team Synergy Adaptation: +7%
The final boarding team hesitated, reassessing the chaos before them. Alpha's presence radiated confidence and controlled power. Beta's silent efficiency amplified the psychological impact, creating a ghostly, inescapable threat.
Alpha exhaled, lowering his spear slightly. "Time to vanish."
Together, they leaped into the waters surrounding the ship, moving beneath the waves, currents and stealth carrying them out of detection range. By the time the Marines realized, the duo was gone, leaving only ripples and confusion behind.
From the frigate, Smoker narrowed his eyes. "Interesting," he muttered. "They've grown. This isn't just a rumor anymore. And they're quick learners."
On the ship, Alpha surfaced briefly, spear in hand, Beta hovering beside him. The Grand Line stretched endlessly ahead, each wave a new test, each horizon a promise of challenges. The chase had begun in earnest, and now the duo would evolve faster than the world anticipated.