The distant silhouettes of the Marine ships grew sharper against the horizon, their white sails emblazoned with the World Government's emblem. The golden glow of the afternoon sun reflected off their hulls, making them seem even more imposing. The air aboard the Going Merry was tense, but the Straw Hats had faced worse.
Nami, gripping the ship's wheel tightly, cursed under her breath. "They must have caught wind of what happened back there. There's no way they just stumbled onto us by chance." Her sharp eyes darted between the waves, looking for any possible escape route.
Zoro rested a hand on one of his swords, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Then what's the plan? Fight or flee?" His voice was calm, but the weight behind it made it clear that either choice needed to be made fast.
Usopp frantically scanned the approaching fleet through his goggles, his voice rising in panic. "There's three of them! And they look like they're ready for a full-blown naval battle! We don't stand a chance against a fleet like that!" His hands trembled as he tightened his grip on his slingshot, knowing it would do little against ships of that size.
Luffy, perched on the ship's figurehead, tilted his head as he watched the Marine fleet drawing closer. His grin widened. "Why not both?" The way his eyes gleamed with excitement sent a shiver down Usopp's spine.
Usopp nearly fell over. "Both?! We can't fight a whole fleet! That's crazy!" He grabbed Luffy by the shoulders, shaking him. "We need a real plan! One that doesn't involve getting blown to bits!"
Nami shot Luffy a glare. "This isn't the time for one of your crazy plans! We need to lose them before they surround us!" Her fingers twitched over the ship's wheel, already calculating their best route out of danger.
The Marine fleet was now close enough that the crew could see the figures standing on the decks of the lead ship. One figure in particular stood out—a tall man with a long navy coat, a stern expression, and a firm stance. His hands were clasped behind his back as he watched them with a commanding gaze. His presence alone was enough to confirm that this wasn't a standard patrol.
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Let's see what they're made of." His grin never faltered, and there was a glint in his eye that promised trouble.
Nami steered the Going Merry hard to the side, aiming to weave through the waves and break their line of sight. "Hold on! I'll try to get us out of here, but if they catch up, we're in trouble!" Her voice carried urgency, and everyone knew she meant it.
Zoro unsheathed his sword, his expression calm but ready. "Then we better make sure they don't catch up." He adjusted his stance, prepared for whatever was coming next.
A loud, commanding voice echoed from the lead Marine ship. "Pirates of the Straw Hat crew! By order of the World Government, surrender now, or face the full might of the Marines!" The voice was laced with authority, but there was no hesitation from the Straw Hats.
Luffy simply stretched his arms, his excitement growing. "Guess that means we're doing this the fun way."
The Marines called out commands, their ships adjusting formation. Cannons swung into place, their barrels gleaming in the sunlight as they aimed directly at the Going Merry. The air was thick with tension as the first round of cannon fire roared across the sea.
The chase was over—the fight had begun.
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