The sea returned to silence after the Marine ships withdrew.
But this silence felt heavier than before.
Carina sat on the deck, arms crossed.
"…So let me get this straight. We win the fight… and now we're officially more wanted?"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…Yes."
Carina groaned.
"…I hate how direct you are."
Kuina stood at the bow, watching the horizon.
"…They will escalate."
Kevin nodded once.
"…Confirmed."
Tashigi stood slightly apart.
Not shaken.
But thinking deeper than before.
"…They didn't try to convince me."
she said quietly.
Carina leaned back.
"…Yeah, that's kind of their whole thing apparently."
Tashigi lowered her gaze slightly.
"…Then everything I believed was only conditional."
Silence followed.
Kevin spoke.
"…You are no longer classified as recruitable."
Tashigi looked at him.
"…What does that mean?"
Kevin answered.
"…You are now classified as independent threat."
That phrase made the air shift slightly.
Carina blinked.
"…That sounds worse somehow…"
Kuina stepped forward.
"…So stronger enemies will come."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
Far away—
Inside Marine headquarters.
A Den Den Mushi rang urgently.
"…Captain Roderic's report confirmed."
"…Target resisted retrieval unit."
"…Combat synchronization observed between swordswomen."
"…Variable Tashigi declared independent anomaly."
A pause.
Then—
"…Order?"
A deeper voice responded.
Calm.
Authoritative.
"…Assign a Special Pursuit Officer."
Silence.
Then the name was written.
"…Let Vice Commander-level authority handle this."
Back at sea—
Kevin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Now it escalates properly."
Carina sighed.
"…Of course it does."
Kuina tightened her grip.
"…Stronger opponent."
Tashigi looked up.
"…Vice Commander?"
Kevin replied.
"…Higher tier than before."
Silence.
That night—
Training did not stop.
It intensified.
Kuina and Tashigi faced each other again.
But this time—
No hesitation.
No testing.
Only refinement.
Carina watched from a distance.
"…I feel like I'm watching two versions of the same person improve at the same time…"
Kevin observed quietly.
"…Synchronization deepening."
Their exchanges were faster now.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
Not copying.
But anticipating.
Kuina struck—
Tashigi redirected.
Tashigi countered—
Kuina adjusted instantly.
Carina gasped.
"…They're reading each other now…"
After a long exchange—
Both stopped at the same time.
Breathing steady.
Kuina spoke.
"…We are closer."
Tashigi nodded.
"…Yes."
But neither smiled.
Because they both understood—
This was not the peak.
Just preparation.
Kevin turned toward the horizon.
"…Next pursuit arrives soon."
Carina muttered.
"…I miss when our biggest problem was food…"
Far beyond the sea—
A new Marine vessel was being prepared.
Stronger.
Faster.
Structured.
And onboard it—
A higher authority had already begun reviewing Tashigi's file.
"…Confirmed anomaly."
"…Prior encounters escalated."
"…Potential classification: future disruption asset."
Tashigi stood alone at the side of the ship that night.
Looking at the sea.
Not confused anymore.
Not lost.
But aware.
"…I am already beyond their system…"
she whispered.
Behind her—
Kuina watched quietly.
Carina sighed.
"…I feel like everything is about to explode again…"
Kevin answered calmly.
"…Yes."
And the sea continued forward.
Unstoppable.