The ship reached land by midday.
A small island appeared ahead—quiet, green, and deceptively peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Kevin stood at the bow as the crew prepared to dock.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This doesn't feel right."
The captain frowned.
"You feel it too?"
Kevin didn't answer.
But his grip on the railing tightened.
Something about the island's silence felt wrong.
Not danger from the sea.
Danger waiting on land.
The ship docked at a worn wooden port.
No Marines.
No flags.
Just empty structures and drifting wind.
The crew hesitated before stepping off.
"…Where is everyone?" someone muttered.
Kevin stepped onto the dock first.
Wood creaked under his boots.
He looked around slowly.
"…Abandoned."
But not recently.
Too many signs of rushed departure.
Broken crates.
Half-eaten food.
Torn nets.
Something had forced people out.
The captain followed.
"…We'll restock supplies here quickly and leave."
Kevin shook his head slightly.
"…We shouldn't stay long."
The captain frowned.
"Why?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't know yet.
But his instincts were loud.
Something had happened here.
Something recent.
They moved into the village area.
Empty houses lined the dirt paths.
Doors left open.
Windows shattered.
Then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Dragging.
Kevin immediately raised a hand.
"…Stop."
The crew froze.
From the shadows—
A man stepped out.
Rough appearance.
Torn clothes.
Eyes unfocused.
But alive.
The captain called out.
"Hey! Are you the only one here?"
The man didn't respond properly.
Just stared.
Then—
He laughed.
Not normal laughter.
Dry.
Broken.
"…You came too late."
Kevin stepped forward slightly.
"…What happened here?"
The man tilted his head.
"…He stayed."
The captain frowned.
"…Who stayed?"
The man pointed toward the forest.
"…The one who doesn't drown."
Silence.
Kevin's eyes sharpened.
"…Devil Fruit user."
The man nodded slowly.
"…He said he was a god."
The crew grew uneasy.
"…A pirate?" someone whispered.
Kevin's gaze stayed fixed on the forest.
"…Not just a pirate."
Then—
The ground trembled slightly.
A distant explosion echoed from deeper inland.
The man smiled again.
"…He's still playing."
Then collapsed to his knees.
Unconscious.
The captain stepped back.
"…What the hell is going on here?"
Kevin already started walking.
"…We're going to find out."
The captain grabbed him.
"Wait—!"
Kevin didn't stop.
"…If we wait, we lose control of the situation."
They entered the forest.
Thicker air.
Heavier silence.
Signs of destruction appeared quickly.
Trees burned.
Ground cracked.
Metal embedded in bark.
Kevin narrowed his eyes.
"…He's strong."
But not just strong.
Arrogant.
Then they saw it.
A clearing.
And in the center—
A man standing on broken stone.
Surrounded by floating debris.
Controlled by unseen force.
He smiled.
"I wondered when more would arrive."
The captain stepped back instantly.
"…That's him."
Kevin studied him.
Calm.
Controlled.
"…Devil Fruit user."
The man laughed.
"You understand quickly."
He raised his hand.
Debris lifted into the air.
Kevin's eyes narrowed.
"…Telekinesis-type ability."
The captain panicked.
"…We should run!"
Kevin didn't move.
"…You can't swim, right?"
The man paused slightly.
Then smiled wider.
"…Of course not."
Kevin nodded.
"…Then you're trapped here."
The man laughed again.
"And you think that matters?"
He snapped his fingers.
The debris shot forward.
Kevin stepped aside instantly.
Clang!
His blade blocked one piece.
The captain shouted.
"HE'S TOO STRONG!"
Kevin exhaled slowly.
"…Not strong."
"…Careless."
He moved forward.
Not rushing.
Not panicking.
Reading.
The man frowned slightly.
"You're different."
Kevin didn't respond.
He stepped through another attack.
Closer.
The man clicked his tongue.
"…Annoying."
The debris increased.
Surrounding pressure rising.
Kevin felt it.
Not just physical attack.
Control over space.
But still—
Human.
Still killable.
Kevin reached the edge of his range.
Then—
He saw it.
A faint mark on the man's wrist.
Seastone cuff.
Broken.
Partially melted.
"…So that's why."
The man frowned.
"…What?"
Kevin smirked slightly.
"…You've been weakened before."
The man's expression changed.
For the first time.
Kevin stepped forward.
"…You're not invincible."
The man snapped.
Debris surged directly at him.
But Kevin was already moving.
Inside the gap.
Close.
Too close.
The man tried to retreat—
But Kevin grabbed his arm.
And activated it.
The thread.
The connection.
Life.
The man froze instantly.
Eyes widening.
"…Wha—?"
Kevin pulled.
Hard.
The connection resisted violently.
Strong will.
Strong Devil Fruit user.
But not stronger than control.
The man screamed.
Not from pain.
From loss of control.
"…NO—!!"
Kevin tightened his grip.
"…This ends here."
The connection snapped.
The man collapsed instantly.
Debris fell from the air.
Everything went silent.
Kevin stood there breathing lightly.
The captain stared in shock.
"…You… killed him?"
Kevin shook his head slightly.
"…No."
"…He just lost his ability to fight."
The man lay unconscious.
Power gone.
Danger removed.
The forest slowly calmed.
Kevin looked at the broken Seastone cuff.
"…So Marines have been here."
The captain swallowed.
"…Who are you… really?"
Kevin sheathed his sword.
"…Someone still learning."
Then he turned toward the shore.
"…We're leaving."
The captain blinked.
"…That's it?"
Kevin nodded.
"…This island is finished."
As they walked back—
Kevin looked once at the unconscious Devil Fruit user.
"…So this is the world."
Power.
Weakness.
Rules.
Counters.
And control.