It was no secret that the relationship between the two sisters was far from warm. In fact, it was closer to a rivalry filled with hostility. Any meeting between them inevitably escalated into a heated argument or even outright conflict.
Alpha, freshly returned from a mission abroad, wasted no time when she learned about her sister's recent disgrace. According to their father, Khalifa had been removed from CP by the government and had since joined the Marines—a move Alpha considered humiliating.
Excited by the news, Alpha eagerly volunteered to visit her sister, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to deliver her own brand of "sisterly love."
At the gates of the Marine base, Alpha launched her verbal assault, her tone dripping with mockery.
"Oh, this is just too good! You, the so-called genius, actually failed so miserably at a mission that you got kicked out of CP? How embarrassing! And to think the Marines picked you up. They should rename themselves the 'Garbage Shelter' for taking in rejects like you!"
Her voice carried through the courtyard, drawing the attention of the Marines stationed nearby. It was clear that Alpha, in her excitement, had completely forgotten the fear Luffy's lightning strike had instilled in her earlier. She continued her taunts, oblivious to the growing unease among the onlookers.
Khalifa, however, was not one to back down. She crossed her arms, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Well, well. Look who's gotten bolder over the years. You've certainly sharpened your tongue, Alpha, but what about your skills? Have you actually mastered any of the Six Styles yet, or are you still floundering in CP8?"
Alpha's smug grin faltered slightly at the jab, but before she could retort, Khalifa raised her fist, demonstrating her progress. Her arm glowed faintly as she activated Armament Haki, covering her hand in the hard, dark sheen of mastery.
Though it had taken Khalifa considerable effort to achieve this level of skill, she concealed her struggle, pretending it was effortless. She swung her Haki-clad fist through the air with a flourish and smirked. "Look at this, dear sister. While you've been stagnating in CP8, I've been honing my strength. It's no wonder the government doesn't value you anymore."
Her words hit their mark, leaving Alpha fuming. Khalifa didn't stop there, adding with a sneer, "If the Marines are a garbage dump, as you so eloquently put it, then CP must be the trash factory. After all, we're the ones cleaning up your mess."
The double-edged insult struck a nerve. Alpha's face twisted with anger as her composure shattered. Her fists clenched, and without another word, she vanished from sight, using Soru to close the distance between them in an instant.
"Fingergun!"
Alpha's hands moved in a blur, her fingers darting toward Khalifa's vital points with deadly precision. Each strike was executed with the speed and accuracy befitting a seasoned CP agent.
But Khalifa was ready. She swayed gracefully, her movements fluid as she dodged each attack with ease. Her footwork was so effortless that she seemed to dance around Alpha's assault.
"Is that all you've got?" Khalifa teased, her voice calm and mocking. "Honestly, you've gotten weaker. I expected more from you, but I suppose that was my mistake."
Her words only fueled Alpha's frustration. Gritting her teeth, she poured more effort into her attacks, aiming for Khalifa's shoulder. But when her Fingergun finally landed, it slid off harmlessly, as if Khalifa's body were coated in something slippery.
"What the—?!" Alpha's confusion was evident as she staggered back, her balance momentarily disrupted.
Seizing the opportunity, Khalifa stepped forward, closing the gap between them. Her hand shot out, brushing lightly against Alpha's neck. The unexpected gesture froze Alpha in her tracks, a shiver running down her spine.
"What are you doing?!" Alpha demanded, her voice trembling with both anger and unease.
Khalifa didn't answer immediately. She tilted her head back slightly, taking an exaggerated sniff near her sister. A mischievous smile spread across her face as she commented, "Roses? Really? What a cliché. I thought you had better taste than to use such outdated perfume."
Alpha recoiled, her hands flying to her neck as she glared at her sister. "What's wrong with you, Khalifa?!" she snapped, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and fury.
Khalifa, however, seemed entirely unbothered. She ran a hand through her hair and smirked. "Oh, nothing. I was just checking to see if you'd grown up at all. Clearly, you haven't. Your skills, your taste, even your looks—everything about you is stuck in the past."
The jab at her appearance was the final straw. Alpha's face turned a deep shade of red as she struggled to form a coherent response. Her mind raced, searching for a comeback, but Khalifa had already turned on her heel, heading toward the base.
With a hand on her hip, Khalifa called back over her shoulder, "Don't take it too personally, Alpha. Some of us were just born to shine brighter than others."
Alpha stood frozen for a moment, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to regain her composure.
But Khalifa's parting words echoed in her mind, stoking the flames of her fury. "Shine brighter?" she muttered under her breath. "We'll see about that."
She stormed after Khalifa, determined to settle their argument once and for all. This time, she wasn't going to let her sister have the last word.
As the two women disappeared into the base, Darius, who had been standing awkwardly to the side throughout the exchange, let out a weary sigh. He lowered the hand he'd raised to intervene, realizing it was pointless.
"Did they seriously just forget I'm still here?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
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