Now~
Only one remained.
Solen.
He stood still, breathing steady, but the air around him had completely changed. There was no more underestimation in his eyes.
"…Threat level reassessed," he said.
Kevin stepped forward.
"…Confirmed."
Solen lowered his stance.
"…Then this ends now."
He moved.
Faster than before.
No restraint.
No hesitation.
Pure killing intent.
Kevin stepped forward to meet him.
Their clash shook the deck.
Strike—
Counter—
Impact—
Each collision distorted the air itself. Solen's movements were sharp, refined, perfectly controlled.
But Kevin—
Was adapting.
Not just reacting.
Predicting.
Solen struck from the right—
Kevin stepped into the angle before it completed.
Solen adjusted—
Kevin was already there.
Carina stared.
"…He's… ahead of him now…"
Kuina's eyes sharpened.
"…No… he's reading him."
Tashigi whispered.
"…He's learning mid-fight…"
Solen's expression hardened.
"…Then I remove the delay."
His speed increased again—
A full-force strike descended.
Kevin didn't block.
He stepped forward.
Into it.
At the last second—
His shadow surged.
Not large.
But dense.
Heavy.
The strike slowed—
Just enough.
Kevin's hand moved.
Contact.
The ripple exploded outward.
Cold.
Silent.
The same shadow formed behind him again—
Tall.
Holding a curved blade.
Watching.
Solen's body froze for a fraction of a second.
That moment—
Was enough.
Kevin spoke quietly.
"…Timing secured."
Then—
He struck.
A clean, precise blow landed directly at Solen's center.
The impact wasn't explosive.
It was controlled.
Perfect.
Solen's body lifted slightly—
Then crashed hard into the deck.
The ship trembled.
Silence fell.
Carina's mouth opened.
"…No way…"
Kuina lowered her sword slowly.
"…He's down…"
Tashigi didn't relax.
"…No… confirm it."
Kevin walked forward.
Step by step.
Solen didn't move.
His breathing was still there—
But faint.
Unconscious.
Defeated.
Kevin stopped in front of him.
"…Target neutralized."
Carina collapsed onto the deck.
"…WE WON… WE ACTUALLY WON…"
Kuina exhaled slowly.
"…Barely."
Tashigi stepped closer, eyes focused.
"…What are you doing?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately.
He crouched down beside Solen.
His hand hovered slightly above Solen's chest.
Then—
He placed it down.
The moment contact was made—
The air changed.
Carina blinked.
"…Wait… what now…?"
Kevin's shadow spread outward.
Not violently.
But quietly.
Like ink sinking into water.
His eyes darkened completely.
"…Accessing."
Tashigi's breath caught slightly.
"…That's not Haki…"
Kuina stepped closer.
"…It feels… different…"
Then—
Kevin's vision shifted.
Darkness.
Not empty.
Filled.
Fragments.
Movements.
Training.
Pain.
Endless repetition.
A young Marine trainee standing under harsh sunlight.
A voice shouting—
"Again!"
Feet striking the ground at impossible speeds.
Geppo.
Arms hardening, deflecting blades.
Tekkai.
Fingers piercing through solid targets.
Shigan.
Legs cutting through the air.
Rankyaku.
Movement vanishing in an instant.
Soru.
Defense shifting like paper.
Kami-e.
Six styles.
Endless training.
Endless discipline.
Endless control.
Kevin saw everything.
Not as an observer.
But as if he had lived it.
The pain.
The repetition.
The mastery.
Then—
Another layer.
Orders.
Structure.
Marine command hierarchy.
Battlefield decisions.
Kill protocols.
Everything.
Flowing into him.
Back on the ship—
Kevin's body remained still.
But his shadow trembled slightly.
Unstable.
Carina whispered.
"…Is he okay…?"
Tashigi watched carefully.
"…He's… taking something."
Kuina frowned.
"…No… he's learning."
Seconds passed.
Then—
Kevin exhaled.
His eyes returned to normal.
The shadow withdrew instantly.
Silence.
Carina leaned forward.
"…Kevin…?"
Kevin stood up slowly.
"…Data acquired."
Tashigi stared.
"…You just… learned from him…?"
Kevin nodded once.
"…Marine Six Style. Partial foundation obtained."
Carina's jaw dropped.
"…YOU CAN DO THAT?!"
Kuina's grip tightened slightly.
"…That power…"
Kevin looked down at Solen.
"…Memory extraction through soul contact."
Tashigi's expression changed.
"…That's not just ability…"
"…That's dangerous."
Kevin didn't deny it.
"…The more memories I access…"
He paused.
"…The more I understand human behavior."
Carina blinked.
"…Wait… isn't that a good thing?"
Kevin looked at his hand.
"…Unknown."
Kuina watched him carefully.
"…You're changing."
Kevin didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
Every memory he touched—
Every life he glimpsed—
Added something.
Emotion.
Understanding.
Weight.
Not power alone.
Humanity.
Tashigi spoke quietly.
"…Then don't lose yourself."
Kevin turned toward the sea.
"…I won't."
Behind him—
Solen remained unconscious.
Defeated.
The Marines had lost.
Completely.