The clash didn't slow.
It intensified.
—
Steel met flesh—
—
and didn't cut as easily.
—
Kuina's blade struck—
—
the fishman blocked with his arm—
—
the impact held.
—
Her eyes sharpened.
"…Harder than before."
—
The fishman grinned.
"…Told you."
—
He swung—
—
heavy—
—
Kuina stepped back—
just enough—
—
the force split the ground beneath her feet.
—
Tashigi moved in.
—
Precise.
—
She aimed for joints—
—
control—
—
but the fishman twisted—
—
too flexible—
—
countered fast.
—
Her glasses shifted slightly.
"…Adaptation required."
—
Nearby—
Kevin reappeared mid-strike—
—
his attack landed—
—
this time—
—
it pushed the fishman back.
—
Not stopped.
—
But moved.
—
The fishman's grin widened.
"…Better."
—
Then—
—
water.
—
From nowhere—
—
a burst—
—
the ground itself shifted—
—
one of them stepped forward.
—
Long mouth.
—
Focused eyes.
—
"…Chew," he said simply.
—
Water gathered in his mouth—
—
compressed—
—
fired.
—
A high-pressure stream shot forward.
—
Kevin vanished.
—
The beam tore through the trees behind him.
—
Carina's eyes widened.
"…OKAY WHAT—"
—
Another voice cut in—
—
louder.
—
"…Move aside."
—
A massive figure stepped forward.
—
Blue.
—
Muscular.
—
Calm.
—
"…Kuroobi."
—
His stance lowered.
—
Solid.
—
Unshakable.
—
Kuina and Tashigi both shifted—
—
same time.
—
Same realization.
—
Different opponents.
—
Better to split.
—
They moved—
—
Kuina toward Kuroobi.
—
Tashigi toward Chew.
—
Perfect alignment.
—
Not planned.
—
Natural.
—
Carina stayed back.
"…Yeah no I'm not fighting water lasers."
—
Kevin moved again—
—
Soru—
—
He appeared before the six-armed fishman.
—
Hatchan.
—
All six swords drawn.
—
Calm smile.
—
"…You're the fastest," Hatchan said.
—
Kevin didn't answer.
—
They clashed.
—
Six blades.
—
One.
—
Speed against precision.
—
—
The island shook with impact.
—
Meanwhile—
—
Nami ran.
—
Through the trees.
—
Breathing uneven.
—
Not lost.
—
Never lost.
—
She knew this path.
—
Every turn.
—
Every step.
—
"…Damn it…" she muttered.
—
Ahead—
—
the structure rose.
—
Larger.
—
Dominant.
—
Unlike the rest.
—
And at its center—
—
someone waited.
—
She slowed.
—
Just slightly.
—
Then continued.
—
Inside—
—
water.
—
Deep.
—
Still.
—
And then—
—
movement.
—
A figure rose slowly from it.
—
Tall.
—
Massive.
—
Saw-like nose.
—
Eyes sharp.
—
Unbothered.
—
Arlong.
—
He looked at her.
—
Not surprised.
—
"…You came back."
—
Nami froze.
—
Just for a second.
—
Then forced a smirk.
"…Yeah. Don't sound so happy about it."
—
Arlong grinned.
—
Wide.
—
Dangerous.
—
"…Did you bring what I asked for?"
—
Silence.
—
Nami's hand tightened.
—
Not yet.
—
"…Working on it," she said.
—
Arlong stepped forward.
Water dripping from his shoulders.
—
"…You're late."
—
A pause.
—
"…And you brought guests."
—
Nami's eyes widened slightly.
"…What—?"
—
Arlong laughed.
—
"…You think I wouldn't notice?"
—
Outside—
—
the fight continued.
—
Kuina ducked under a heavy strike—
—
countered—
—
Kuroobi blocked—
—
barely moved.
—
"…Too light," he said.
—
Kuina didn't respond.
—
She adjusted.
—
Again.
—
Tashigi dodged another water blast—
—
her breathing steady—
—
calculating angles—
—
"…Range advantage…" she muttered.
—
Kevin and Hatchan blurred—
—
speed—
—
blades clashing repeatedly—
—
no clear advantage.
—
Carina crouched behind cover.
"…I hate everything about this."
—
Then—
—
Kevin paused.
—
Just for a fraction.
—
A shift.
—
Something pulled his attention.
—
A direction.
—
That structure.
—
The fragments in his mind—
—
aligned.
—
"…There," he said.
—
Kuina glanced briefly.
—
Tashigi followed.
—
Same timing.
—
They understood.
—
That was the center.
—
The source.
—
Kevin moved.
—
Past Hatchan—
—
ignoring the strike—
—
minor cut—
—
he didn't stop.
—
Hatchan blinked.
"…Oi—"
—
Too late.
—
Kevin was already gone.
—
Toward the structure.
—
Toward—
—
Arlong.
—
Inside—
—
Nami stood still.
—
Arlong stepped closer.
—
"…You're hesitating."
—
A pause.
—
"…That's new."
—
Nami forced a smile.
"…You're imagining things."
—
Arlong's grin widened.
—
"…Am I?"
—
The air tightened.
—
Then—
—
a sound.
—
Footsteps.
—
Approaching fast.
—
Arlong didn't turn.
—
"…Your friends are persistent."
—
Nami's expression changed.
—
Just slightly.
—
Cracked.
—
For a moment.
—
Then—
—
Kevin stepped into view.
—
Calm.
—
Steady.
—
And for the first time—
—
fully aware.
—
Of everything.
—
Silence fell.
—
Heavy.
—
Complete.
—
Arlong finally turned.
—
Eyes locking onto Kevin.
—
"…So," he said slowly.
—
"…you're the one."
—
Kevin didn't respond.
—
But something inside him—
—
shifted again.
—
Not calculation.
—
Not logic.
—
Something sharper.
—
Something… closer to anger.
—
And it stayed.
—
This time.
—
It didn't fade.
—
Outside—
—
the fight still raged.
—
Inside—
—
something far more dangerous had just begun.
—
And now—
—
there was no turning away from it.