Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
The village had not fully recovered.
Burned homes still stood half-destroyed. The air carried the faint scent of ash, and the villagers spoke in lower voices than before.
Kevin noticed everything.
Fear lingered.
Not just fear of pirates—
But something else.
"…Me."
He didn't need confirmation.
The way some villagers glanced at him… then quickly looked away—
Was enough.
Kevin tightened his grip on his wooden sword.
"…Good."
If they feared him—
Then at least they wouldn't underestimate him.
But deep down…
He knew that wasn't entirely true.
"Late again."
Kevin looked up.
Shimotsuki Kuina stood in the training yard, already holding her sword.
"…I'm early," Kevin replied.
Kuina smirked.
"Then I'm earlier."
They didn't waste time.
Clack!
Their swords collided instantly.
This time—
Kevin moved differently.
More focused.
More controlled.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
But sharper.
Kuina noticed immediately.
"…You're thinking less."
Clack!
Kevin stepped in.
"Thinking slows me down."
Clack!
Kuina countered smoothly.
"Only if you think wrong."
Their movements accelerated.
Kevin didn't try to overpower her.
Instead—
He adapted.
Adjusted.
Reacted.
Clack!
Kuina's strike came from above—
Kevin sidestepped.
Barely.
"…!"
Kuina's eyes widened slightly.
That move—
Was new.
Kevin didn't stop.
He pressed forward.
Clack!
Clack!
Faster exchanges.
Less hesitation.
More instinct.
But still—
Not enough.
Thud!
Kevin hit the ground again.
Breathing hard.
"…Still… losing…"
Kuina stood over him.
"…But you lasted longer."
Kevin smirked slightly.
"…I'll win eventually."
Kuina shook her head.
"…Then hurry up."
From the side, Koushirou observed silently.
"…Progress."
But not the kind that came easily.
"Kevin."
Kevin sat up.
"Yes."
Koushirou stepped forward.
"You will train differently from today."
Kuina raised an eyebrow.
"…Differently?"
Koushirou nodded.
"Your strength will not come from the same path."
His gaze focused on Kevin.
"You must learn control."
Kevin understood immediately.
"…The fruit."
Koushirou nodded.
"If you cannot control it…"
His voice remained calm.
"It will control you."
Kevin stood up slowly.
"…What do I need to do?"
Koushirou pointed toward the forest.
"Follow me."
The forest was quiet.
Far from the village.
Far from distractions.
Koushirou stopped near a clearing.
"This is where you will train."
Kevin looked around.
"…Train what?"
Koushirou picked up a small leaf.
"Life."
He dropped it.
Kevin frowned.
"…That doesn't help."
Koushirou smiled faintly.
"Feel it."
Kevin sighed slightly.
But he closed his eyes.
"…Again…"
He focused.
Not on sight.
Not on sound.
But something deeper.
At first—
Nothing.
Then—
Faint.
Very faint.
Something…
Moving.
Kevin's eyes opened slowly.
"…I feel… something."
Koushirou nodded.
"That is enough."
Kevin looked confused.
"…That's it?"
"No."
Koushirou's expression sharpened slightly.
"That is only the beginning."
He stepped closer.
"Your ability connects to life itself."
"…Which means…"
Kevin's eyes narrowed.
"I need to sense it first."
Koushirou nodded.
"Before you take it."
Kevin's fists clenched.
"…I'm not planning to take it casually."
Koushirou didn't respond immediately.
"…Good."
But something in his silence said—
He wasn't fully convinced.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Training didn't stop.
Morning—
Sword practice with Shimotsuki Kuina.
Afternoon—
Control training with Koushirou.
Night—
Alone.
Trying.
Failing.
Trying again.
Kevin's progress was slow.
Painfully slow.
Sometimes—
He couldn't feel anything.
Sometimes—
He felt too much.
Once—
He accidentally crushed the life out of a small animal.
He didn't sleep that night.
"…I need control…"
Not power.
Control.
Meanwhile—
The world outside moved.
One afternoon—
A ship appeared near the village.
Not pirates.
Clean.
Structured.
Orderly.
Marines.
Villagers gathered nervously.
Whispers spread quickly.
"They're here because of the pirates…"
"Or something else…"
Kevin stood at a distance.
Watching.
Carefully.
A Marine officer stepped forward.
Tall.
Serious.
"We're investigating recent pirate activity," he announced.
His eyes scanned the area.
Sharp.
Observant.
Then—
For a brief moment—
His gaze stopped on Kevin.
Kevin felt it immediately.
"…He noticed…"
The Marine frowned slightly.
"…Strange presence…"
But he said nothing.
Yet.
Kevin turned away slowly.
"…The world is starting to look at me…"
This wasn't just about pirates anymore.
Not just survival.
It was about attention.
Dangerous attention.
Kevin looked at his hand again.
"…I need to get stronger… faster…"
Because now—
It wasn't just enemies he had to worry about.
It was the world itself.