The village didn't sleep peacefully.
It just didn't know it was in danger yet.
—
The sky darkened slowly.
Clouds covering the moon.
Not naturally.
Deliberately.
—
Kevin stood outside the mansion.
Watching.
—
"…They're moving now," he said quietly.
—
Kuina stepped beside him.
"…From multiple directions."
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…Ambush formation."
—
Carina stretched.
"…Ah yes. The part where relaxing becomes illegal."
—
Nami stepped out from inside.
"…Kaya is resting."
—
A pause.
—
"…Don't let anything reach her."
—
Kevin nodded.
"…They won't."
—
At the edge of the forest—
—
shadows moved.
Fast.
Silent.
—
Then—
—
a figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Thin.
Strange posture.
—
He swayed slightly.
Like he wasn't fully awake.
—
Jango.
—
He lifted his hand slowly.
"…One… two…"
—
Carina blinked.
"…Why is he counting like that?"
—
Tashigi's eyes sharpened.
"…Do not look directly at him."
—
Too late.
—
Jango's glasses glinted.
"…Hypnosis."
—
He snapped his fingers.
—
"…Sleep."
—
Silence.
—
Carina blinked.
"…Did anything happen?"
—
Jango blinked back.
"…Why are you still awake?"
—
Carina crossed her arms.
"…I don't listen to strangers."
—
Kuina stepped forward.
"…Your technique is ineffective."
—
Tashigi added calmly:
"…We were warned."
—
Jango frowned.
"…That's not how this usually goes…"
—
Then—
—
laughter echoed from the trees.
—
Heavy.
Wild.
Unstable.
—
Two figures dropped down.
—
Large.
Cat-like.
Violent energy.
—
The Nyaban Brothers.
Buchi and Sham.
—
"…So these are the ones?" Buchi growled.
—
Sham cracked his neck.
"…They don't look strong."
—
Carina pointed immediately.
"…They look like they bite."
—
Kuina drew her sword.
—
Clean.
Silent.
—
"…Then we cut them before they try."
—
Tashigi stepped beside her.
Same timing.
Same stance.
—
Sham grinned.
"…Oh? Two swords?"
—
Buchi laughed.
"…We'll break them."
—
They moved—
—
fast.
—
Much faster than normal pirates.
—
Claws slashing—
—
wild—
—
unpredictable.
—
Kuina stepped in.
—
Blocked.
—
Countered.
—
Clean.
—
Tashigi moved behind—
—
precise strike—
—
forcing distance.
—
Sham laughed.
"…They're good."
—
Buchi grinned wider.
"…Good means fun."
—
Meanwhile—
—
Jango stepped forward again.
—
"…Then I'll handle the rest."
—
He spun his ring slowly.
—
"…Power enhancement."
—
His eyes glowed slightly.
—
"…Wake."
—
The pirates behind him—
—
suddenly surged.
—
Stronger.
Faster.
Reckless.
—
Carina blinked.
"…Oh great, he's a buff machine."
—
Nami stepped forward.
"…I'll handle the small ones."
—
Carina pointed.
"…Wait since when do you fight—"
—
Too late.
—
Nami moved.
—
Fast.
—
Not strongest.
—
But smart.
—
Striking weak points.
—
Dodging before impact.
—
Carina followed.
"…Okay fine I'll support chaos!"
—
Inside the mansion—
—
Usopp stood trembling.
Holding a slingshot.
—
"…I… I can't run…"
—
A pause.
—
"…I can't lie about this one…"
—
He stepped outside.
—
Shaking.
—
But moving forward anyway.
—
Kevin noticed.
"…You are staying."
—
Usopp swallowed hard.
"…This is my village…"
—
A pause.
—
"…I have to."
—
Kevin nodded once.
"…Then stand behind me."
—
Outside—
—
Kuina clashed with Buchi—
—
raw force—
—
she redirected it—
—
cut—
—
his shoulder opened slightly.
—
Tashigi faced Sham—
—
fast—
—
precise—
—
predicting his erratic movements.
—
Jango frowned.
"…This isn't efficient…"
—
He turned—
—
toward Kevin.
—
"…Then I'll end it directly."
—
Kevin stepped forward.
—
Calm.
—
Silent.
—
Jango spun his ring again.
"…Sleep."
—
Kevin didn't even blink.
—
"…I am already awake."
—
Jango froze.
"…That line was cooler than expected…"
—
Then Kevin moved.
—
Not Soru.
—
Just—
—
step.
—
But it was enough.
—
Distance closed instantly.
—
Jango panicked.
"…Wait—"
—
Kevin struck.
—
Clean.
—
Direct.
—
Jango dropped.
—
Unconscious.
—
Carina blinked.
"…Okay that was unfairly simple."
—
Kevin turned.
—
Toward the forest.
—
Toward the real presence.
—
Still not moving.
—
Still watching.
—
Kuro.
—
"…You are still waiting," Kevin said quietly.
—
And from the shadows—
—
a faint voice answered.
—
"…Of course."
—
A pause.
—
"…This is just preparation."
—
Silence fell again.
—
But now—
—
the battle had begun.
—
Fully.
—
Kuina and Tashigi pressed forward.
—
Nami and Carina held the line.
—
Usopp stood—
—
shaking—
—
but not running.
—
And Kevin—
—
stood at the center.
—
Waiting.
—
Because the real enemy—
—
hadn't stepped in yet.
—
And when he did—
—
everything would change again.