Pain.
That was the first thing Kevin felt.
Not a sharp pain.
Not something quick.
But a deep, crushing ache that spread through every part of his body.
"…Still alive…?"
His voice was barely a whisper.
His vision blurred as he stared at the sky. Smoke drifted across it, dark and heavy.
The smell of burning wood filled the air.
Memories rushed back.
Pirates.
Screams.
The strike that sent him flying.
Kevin forced his body to move.
"…The village…"
He rolled onto his side.
Agony shot through his ribs.
"Ghh—!"
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Slowly… painfully… he pushed himself up.
His legs trembled.
His arms barely held his weight.
Step.
Step.
Each movement felt like his body was tearing apart.
But he kept walking.
The shoreline came into view.
And what he saw—
Made his chest tighten.
The pirates were still there.
Some were loading crates.
Others laughed as they dragged villagers toward the ship.
"…Too late…"
Kevin's fists clenched.
His nails dug into his skin again.
"I'm still… too weak…"
A voice echoed in his mind.
Cold.
Ancient.
"Then take it."
Kevin froze.
"…Where?"
No answer.
Only a feeling.
A pull.
His head slowly turned toward the forest behind the shore.
"…There."
Without thinking, Kevin turned away from the battlefield.
Not to run.
But to find something.
Something calling him.
He stumbled into the forest.
Branches scratched his skin.
Roots tripped his feet.
But the feeling grew stronger.
Step by step…
It guided him deeper.
Until—
He reached it.
A small clearing.
Silent.
Still.
And at the center—
Something rested on the ground.
A fruit.
Dark.
Twisted.
Covered in strange spiral patterns.
Its shape was unnatural.
Almost… alive.
Kevin's breath caught.
"…A Devil Fruit…"
His heart started pounding.
"This is it…"
He stared at it.
Every instinct told him this wasn't normal.
Even among Devil Fruits.
The air around it felt heavy.
Cold.
Like death itself.
Kevin swallowed.
"…If I eat this…"
He knew the cost.
He'd lose the ability to swim.
In a world of oceans—
That was almost suicide.
But without power—
He would die anyway.
"…No choice."
His hand trembled as he reached forward.
The moment his fingers touched the fruit—
His entire body froze.
A surge of freezing energy shot through him.
"WHAT—?!"
His vision went black—
And suddenly—
He wasn't in the forest anymore.
Darkness surrounded him.
Infinite.
Endless.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Tall.
Shrouded.
Holding a massive scythe.
Its presence alone made Kevin feel like his soul was being crushed.
"…What… are you…?"
The figure didn't move.
But its voice echoed everywhere.
"I am what waits at the end of all things."
Kevin's breath stopped.
"I am Death."
Silence.
Kevin tried to move—
But he couldn't.
"…So this is the fruit…"
"You are unworthy."
The words hit like a blade.
Kevin's eyes sharpened.
"…Then kill me."
Silence again.
"…If I'm too weak… then kill me."
His voice didn't shake this time.
"I won't beg."
"I won't run."
"If I die, I die."
"But if I live—"
His eyes burned with determination.
"I'll take everything."
The darkness trembled.
For a moment—
The figure remained still.
Then—
It laughed.
A deep, terrifying sound that shook the void itself.
"Interesting."
The scythe moved slightly.
"Then survive."
Suddenly—
Pain exploded through Kevin's body.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!"
It felt like his bones were breaking.
His blood boiling.
His soul being torn apart.
Visions flooded his mind.
Death.
Endless death.
Falling bodies.
Silent screams.
Shadows consuming everything.
"I—CAN'T—!!"
His body convulsed.
But he didn't let go.
He couldn't.
If he lost here—
He would lose everything.
"I… WON'T DIE…!!"
The darkness surged.
The figure raised its scythe—
And brought it down.
Slash.
Everything shattered.
Kevin's eyes snapped open.
He was back in the forest.
The fruit—
Was gone.
His body—
Was different.
Cold.
Heavy.
His heartbeat felt slower.
Deeper.
"…What… happened…?"
He tried to stand—
But his legs gave out.
"Ghh—!"
His body wasn't stronger.
Not yet.
But something inside him had changed.
Something dark.
Something dangerous.
A faint whisper echoed in his mind.
"You have taken the first step…"
Kevin clenched his fists.
"…Death Reaper…"
He didn't feel powerful.
He didn't feel invincible.
He felt—
Hungry.
A scream echoed from the village again.
Kevin's head snapped up.
"…Right."
This wasn't over.
He forced himself to stand again.
Step.
The pain was still there.
Step.
His body was still weak.
Step.
But now—
He had something.
Not strength.
Not yet.
But potential.
And that—
Was enough.
As he walked back toward the battlefield—
The air around him felt slightly colder.
Darker.
Unnoticed by everyone else—
A faint shadow followed behind him.
Like a silent reaper.
Waiting.