The inherenter of jin mori

Chapter 10: Instinct Unleashed The officer charged.

Yuta barely had time to react before the massive club swung toward him, the air howling from the sheer force behind the strike. His body moved on its own—he dodged.

Not with brute speed, not with sheer reflex, but with fluidity. His body bent and twisted, slipping through the attack like water.

It felt… effortless.

Like he had done this before.

His eyes widened. What the hell is happening to me?

But there was no time to question it. The officer roared in frustration, bringing his club down again—this time even faster.

Yuta exhaled sharply, his instincts taking over. Move.

His feet shifted, his body tilted—and then, before he even realized what he was doing, he leaped.

Not just a simple jump.

A bounding, gravity-defying vault that sent him soaring over his opponent's head, flipping once in the air before landing lightly behind him.

He barely made a sound as he touched down.

The officer stumbled, confused.

Varro, still recovering from the shockwave, stared at Yuta like he had grown a second head. "Kid… what the hell was that?!"

Yuta had no answer.

The officer recovered, whirling around. "Tch. Stupid tricks won't save you."

He raised his club again, but this time, Yuta didn't wait.

His body moved—no, flowed—as he dashed forward, faster than before. He slid beneath the officer's swing, twisted to the side, and struck.

A quick palm strike—nothing too strong. But the moment his hand connected, something changed.

A strange force rippled through his body, through his palm—like an echo of power trying to awaken.

The officer staggered.

It wasn't a devastating attack. It shouldn't have even fazed him.

But Yuta saw it in his eyes—the flicker of confusion, the moment of hesitation. He felt it too.

This Devil Fruit… it's not just speed.

Something was unlocking within him.

Something deeper.

But before Yuta could press the advantage, an ominous voice rang out.

"That's enough."

The air shifted.

Smoothie stepped forward, her eyes still locked on Yuta—but this time, they held interest.

Real, dangerous interest.

"You," she said, voice smooth as silk. "You're not just some prisoner, are you?"

Yuta swallowed hard. His body was still thrumming with this strange new energy, but under Smoothie's gaze, it felt fragile.

He had escaped her once.

He wasn't sure he could do it again.