The island had no name.
No flag.
No markings.
Just rock, trees—
and silence.
—
Their ship anchored just beyond the shore.
—
Carina looked at it.
"…Yeah. This looks like a terrible place already."
—
Kuina stepped onto the sand.
"…Stay focused."
—
Tashigi followed.
Same posture.
Same readiness.
—
Kevin came last.
Eyes scanning once—
then forward.
—
The orange-haired girl stood a short distance behind them.
Watching.
—
Not part of the formation.
—
Not yet.
—
"…They're here," she said quietly.
—
Kuina didn't turn.
"…We know."
—
The path inland was narrow.
—
Too narrow.
—
Carina whispered:
"…This is definitely a trap."
—
Kevin answered calmly:
"…Yes."
—
She blinked.
"…And we're just walking into it?"
—
"…Yes."
—
Carina sighed.
"…I hate this group sometimes."
—
They moved forward.
—
No rush.
No hesitation.
—
Just steady steps.
—
The trees thickened.
The light dimmed.
—
Then—
voices.
—
Rough.
Confident.
—
"…Told you someone would follow…"
"…Doesn't matter who…"
"…Everything they carry becomes ours…"
—
Kuina's hand rested on her sword.
—
Tashigi adjusted her stance.
—
Kevin stopped.
—
"…Three ahead," he said quietly.
"…More behind."
—
Carina muttered:
"…Of course there are."
—
They stepped into the clearing.
—
Pirates.
—
Not disorganized.
—
Not weak.
—
Watching them.
Waiting.
—
A man stepped forward.
Grinning.
"…Well now… didn't expect kids."
—
Carina crossed her arms.
"…We get that a lot."
—
Kuina didn't speak.
—
Tashigi didn't move.
—
Kevin looked at the man.
—
"…Where is your captain?" he asked.
—
The pirate laughed.
"…Straight to the point, huh?"
—
A pause.
—
"…You don't need to worry about him," the man said.
"…We're enough."
—
Kevin nodded once.
—
"…Understood."
—
That was it.
—
The pirates moved first.
—
Fast.
—
Coordinated.
—
Not reckless.
—
Kuina stepped forward.
One draw.
—
Steel flashed.
—
The first attacker's weapon dropped.
—
Before it hit the ground—
she had already moved past him.
—
Tashigi followed.
Same rhythm.
—
Different angle.
—
She redirected the second attacker's strike—
then disarmed him cleanly.
—
No wasted motion.
—
Kevin vanished.
—
Soru.
—
Reappeared behind two more.
—
A single strike—
both collapsed.
—
Controlled.
—
Carina stepped back.
"…Okay, yeah, I'm still not used to that."
—
More pirates rushed in.
—
From the trees.
—
From behind.
—
Kuina turned.
—
Tashigi matched her.
—
Back to back.
—
Same timing.
—
Same awareness.
—
Not planned.
—
Natural.
—
Blades moved.
—
Precise.
—
Efficient.
—
Every strike ended something.
—
Not lives—
—
Resistance.
—
Kevin moved through them.
—
Not fast for the sake of speed.
—
But exact.
—
Each step placed.
Each motion deliberate.
—
Within minutes—
it was over.
—
The clearing fell silent.
—
Pirates on the ground.
—
Disarmed.
—
Defeated.
—
Carina looked around.
"…Okay… yeah… that felt easy."
—
Kuina exhaled.
"…Too easy."
—
Tashigi nodded.
"…This wasn't their full force."
—
Kevin looked deeper into the forest.
—
"…No," he said.
"…It wasn't."
—
A slow clap echoed.
—
From ahead.
—
Someone stepped out.
—
Older.
Calmer.
—
Smiling.
—
"…I was wondering how long that would take."
—
Silence shifted.
—
Kuina's eyes sharpened.
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
—
Kevin didn't move.
—
The man looked at them—
then past them—
to the girl.
—
"…And you came back," he said lightly.
—
The girl didn't respond.
—
But her posture changed.
—
Slightly tense.
—
The man smiled wider.
—
"…You always were stubborn."
—
Carina frowned.
"…Yeah, I officially don't like this guy."
—
The man ignored her.
—
His eyes returned to Kevin.
—
"…You're the one leading them."
—
Kevin answered simply:
"…No."
—
A pause.
—
"…We move together."
—
The man chuckled.
"…Interesting answer."
—
Then—
his smile faded slightly.
—
"…You've caused a bit of trouble."
—
Kuina stepped forward.
"…Where are the others you captured?"
—
The man tilted his head.
"…Safe."
—
A pause.
—
"…For now."
—
The air shifted.
—
Not chaos.
—
Not yet.
—
But something heavier.
—
Kevin stepped forward.
—
"…Then we take them back."
—
The man's eyes sharpened.
—
"…You can try."
—
Silence.
—
The wind didn't move.
—
No one spoke.
—
The space between them tightened.
—
Carina muttered under her breath:
"…Here we go…"
—
Behind them—
the girl watched everything.
—
Quiet.
—
Observing.
—
Not helping.
—
Not interfering.
—
Just… learning.
—
And somewhere beneath that—
something hidden remained.
—
The first real opponent stood in front of them.
—
Not random.
—
Not weak.
—
And not alone.
—
The calm was over.
—
But they didn't rush forward.
—
They stepped into it—
together.