The sea had already stopped feeling calm.
It wasn't waves anymore—it was pressure.
Carina stood on the deck, arms crossed tightly.
"…I don't like this. At all."
Kuina didn't move from the bow.
"…Something is approaching."
Tashigi narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…No. Not something."
She paused.
"…Someone."
Kevin stood at the center of the ship, still and silent.
"…Confirmed."
Carina turned toward him.
"…You're doing that scary 'confirmed' thing again. That's never good."
Kevin didn't answer her directly.
His gaze was locked forward.
"…Marine vessel detected."
A long silence followed.
Then Kuina spoke.
"…Stronger than before."
Kevin nodded once.
"…Vice Commander-class."
That single phrase made the air heavier.
Carina blinked.
"…You say that like it's normal. It is NOT normal."
Tashigi's expression changed slightly.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"…Vice Commander-level authority means direct operational suppression."
Kuina tightened her grip on her wooden sword.
"…So they came serious."
Kevin answered calmly.
"…Yes."
Far across the sea, a massive Marine warship cut through the waves with unnatural precision.
No celebration.
No flags waving loosely.
Just structure.
Control.
Inside the command deck stood Vice Commander Varek D. Solen.
His presence alone made the room feel quieter.
A Marine officer spoke.
"…Target group confirmed. Four primary threats."
Holographic files displayed:
Kevin.
Kuina.
Tashigi.
Carina.
Solen studied them without emotion.
"…One anomaly. One swordswoman. One defector. One non-combat variable."
He paused.
"…And the source."
The officer hesitated.
"…Kevin?"
Solen didn't respond immediately.
Then:
"…He is the center."
He stepped forward.
"…We remove the center. The rest collapses."
Back on the sea, Kevin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…They are close."
Carina looked around nervously.
"…How close is 'close' exactly?"
Kevin answered.
"…Visual range soon."
Kuina stepped forward.
"…Then we prepare."
Tashigi drew a slow breath.
"…They will not negotiate."
Kevin nodded.
"…Correct."
Carina sighed loudly.
"…Why is no one surprised anymore?!"
The horizon changed.
A dark silhouette appeared.
Large.
Heavy.
A Marine vessel.
But different.
Not patrol.
Not escort.
Hunter ship.
It stopped at a distance that felt deliberate.
Measured.
Controlled.
A Den Den Mushi signal echoed across the water.
Then a voice.
Calm.
Deep.
"…Target group identified."
Silence.
"…This is Vice Commander Varek D. Solen."
Carina whispered.
"…That name sounds like bad news written in advance."
Kuina raised her sword slightly.
"…He's evaluating us."
Tashigi corrected quietly.
"…No. He's classifying us."
Kevin stepped forward.
"…Confirmed."
A pause.
Then Solen's voice again.
"…Final warning."
The sea itself felt quieter.
"…Surrender the anomalous assets."
Carina pointed at herself.
"…We are the assets, aren't we?! That's insulting!"
Kuina didn't lower her sword.
"…We are not property."
Tashigi's eyes hardened.
"…We are not controlled."
Kevin's voice was calm.
But heavier than before.
"…Refusal confirmed."
The air changed instantly.
From the Marine ship, something pressed outward.
Not visible.
But real.
Carina stumbled.
"…What is that…?!"
Tashigi's eyes widened slightly.
"…Haki pressure…"
Kuina steadied herself.
"…Strong."
Kevin didn't move.
He simply observed it.
"…Vice Commander-level authority confirmed."
From the Marine ship, Solen spoke again.
"…Then containment begins."
The pressure increased.
The ocean surface rippled unnaturally.
Carina dropped to one knee.
"…Okay—this is WAY worse than last time!"
Tashigi gritted her teeth.
"…He is controlling pressure output precisely…"
Kuina pushed forward one step.
"…I can still stand."
Kevin finally moved.
One step forward.
The pressure met him.
And stopped.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Even the ocean felt paused.
Solen's voice shifted slightly.
"…Interesting."
Carina looked up.
"…Wait… it stopped on Kevin?!"
Kuina stared.
"…He is resisting it."
Tashigi narrowed her eyes.
"…No. He is not resisting."
She paused.
"…He is absorbing the pressure pattern."
Kevin's shadow darkened slightly.
Something inside him reacted.
Not fully awakened.
Not stable.
But aware.
A whisper inside his mind returned briefly.
Cold.
Familiar.
Then disappeared.
Kevin exhaled.
"…Not ready."
Carina swallowed.
"…What does that mean?!"
Kuina tightened her stance.
"…Something changed."
The Marine ship shifted forward.
Solen's voice came again.
"…Target confirmed resistance capability."
"…Proceed."
The ship began to move.
Slow.
Controlled.
Like a predator stepping closer.
Kuina raised her sword fully now.
Tashigi took position beside her.
Carina stood up shakily.
"…Okay… okay… I guess we're doing this now?!"
Kevin's voice remained calm.
"…Engagement begins."
The first cannon fired.
The sea exploded upward.