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31.57% Adventures in One Piece's world / Chapter 6: The first real combat

Chapter 6: The first real combat

The moment of battle finally arrived. The two ships collided with a thunderous crash, splintering the wooden bows. Pirates leaped into the water with deafening shouts, eager to board and plunder.

Lauro, with a powerful voice, shouted encouragement to his sailors, and they all plunged into the fight without hesitation.

Ethel wasted no time. He leaped toward the first pirate he saw, drawing his katana with precision. The metal of his blade clashed against his opponent's, producing a sharp, metallic ring.

"Damn kid, stop fighting! You'll be dead soon enough!" the pirate roared, glaring at him with a cruel smile.

Ethel, instead of responding to the taunt, remained silent. With a swift movement, he dodged a careless slash from the enemy and countered with a precise cut to the abdomen. Ethel's katana sliced through the pirate's flesh, spilling blood and dropping him dead to the ground instantly.

The young man paused for a brief moment, surveying the scene. It was his first time in such a brutal situation, but he managed to stay focused. The sight of death didn't deter him; it kept him sharp.

The first enemy had fallen, but the fight raged on around him. Ethel scanned the area: the sailors were fiercely battling the pirates. He noticed that Leandro was locked in a particularly tough fight against what appeared to be the enemy captain. The man was tall and robust, with a wooden eye that swiveled incessantly in its socket. Despite his intimidating appearance, he seemed to have the upper hand, cornering the lead sailor.

"I need to help him; at this rate, he'll die," Ethel thought, hurrying toward the fight. However, another pirate blocked his path, preventing him from reaching Lauro in time.

Ethel prepared to face him. He took a defensive stance, and soon their swords clashed. He followed the same strategy as before: he waited for the enemy to attack and then seized the moment to counter with precision.

The second pirate fell in the same manner, with a fatal wound that left him lifeless. Ethel wasted no time in contemplation; he quickly readied himself for the next confrontation, knowing there was still much to be done amidst the ongoing battle.

Before the enemy captain's final strike could reach Lauro, Ethel appeared like a flash, intercepting the blow with his katana. The metallic clash echoed through the air as the captain, startled, stumbled back just in time to avoid Ethel's attack.

"You defend yourself with a kid!" the captain exclaimed, his face reddened with rage. His name was Crazy Eye, and frustration consumed him. The raid hadn't gone as planned. The sailors proved to be stronger than expected, and he had already lost half of his men. Yet, before retreating, he was determined to kill Lauro.

"This kid will send you to the other world!" Ethel shouted, approaching the captain with fierce determination. "Don't worry about the others and raise your sword!"

"Damn arrogant kid! I'm Crazy Eye. You can't kill me!" roared the captain defiantly, his pride intact despite the desperate situation.

With his katana held vertically, Ethel prepared for the decisive attack. The three months of training at the dojo had given him significant experience. Each day he had fought against skilled swordsmen, and his body had developed a unique technique. Although initially challenging to use, he had mastered and frequently employed it over time.

Walking slowly toward the pirate captain, Ethel tensed every muscle in his body, building up supernatural strength. With a nearly imperceptible movement, he vanished from Crazy Eye's sight like a flash. In an instant, Ethel reappeared behind the captain and delivered a lightning-fast cut to his torso. Crazy Eye fell to the ground, dead, without even understanding what had happened.

Seeing their leader's death, the remaining pirates surrendered, dropping their weapons in despair. The sailors, who had been waiting for this moment, quickly bound them with chains they had prepared in advance.

The battle was over, and the ship was now under the sailors' control. Ethel, exhausted but satisfied, watched as his comrades dealt with the prisoners.

Lauro approached Ethel, offering his help to stand up. The young man was visibly worn out, his muscles strained to the limit during the fight.

"Spectacular, I don't know how you did it, but what a great sword technique. Thank you so much for saving my life; I think we all owe this victory to you," Lauro said, his voice filled with admiration and gratitude.

Ethel, still panting, offered a weak smile as he looked at the survivors gathering around. "Don't worry; what matters is that most of us survived," he responded with humility.

Those who had stayed hidden during the battle emerged when they heard the fight had ended. They hurried to get the wounded medical attention. The tension of the moment began to dissipate as chaos turned into relief.

The ship's owner, an elderly man, descended from the captain's cabin to congratulate the crew. He approached Ethel, who was still catching his breath.

"You must be the young man who took down Crazy Eye. You can be glad because you've just earned two million berrys for getting rid of him. If you present his body at any Marine base, you'll receive the reward," the old man explained with a smile.

Ethel nodded, grateful. "Thank you. I was wondering if you could claim the reward later and pay me now. I'm in need of funds. Also, it would be good publicity for you, as eliminating these pirates is always well-received by the public."

The old man pondered for a moment, evaluating the proposal. Finally, he agreed with a nod. "We have a deal."

With the arrangement made, Carmen prepared a meal for all the brave souls who had defended the ship. Ethel enjoyed a well-deserved meal with his comrades, sharing a moment of camaraderie after the battle. Though tired, the celebratory atmosphere and good food provided a fitting comfort.

Ethel returned to his cabin, feeling exhausted from the intense day. The old man had already given him the promised two million berrys. The company would keep the pirate ship and convert it into their own asset once they reached port.

With fatigue finally overtaking his energy, Ethel settled into his bed, the sleep enveloping him as the ship sailed smoothly toward its next destination.


Chapter 7: Meeting the future king of shooters

The noise outside his room woke Ethel, who had been sleeping soundly. After a night of rest, he felt rejuvenated and full of energy. He stretched and, before leaving his small room, decided to open the interface shop he had acquired during his first encounter on the mysterious island. The digital shop projected an endless list of items, tools, and resources that he could purchase with the two million berries he had just earned.

"Now I've got two million to spend. With this, I could at least buy a small ship to start my journey," he thought excitedly as he browsed through the options.

Ethel spent quite a while exploring the entire list, surprised by the variety of items available. Some particularly caught his eye.

"I can't believe I could buy an Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale, though the price is outrageous. I couldn't save up that much money in a lifetime. Four times Kaido's bounty, and I'd still be short," he mused, looking at the price in disbelief.

He laughed at the irony of trying to save up so much money just to reach the last island. "I'd get to Laugh Tale faster by following the Straw Hats than by saving up all that money."

As he continued to browse the shop, he found something that made him pause: Devil Fruits. The prices were exorbitant, starting at a hundred million berries, an amount that would take him a long time to accumulate. However, it was another item on the list that truly captured his attention.

"'Devil Radar: A device that scans the environment within a one-kilometer radius to locate Devil Fruits,'" he read aloud, intrigued.

The price of the radar wasn't as high as the fruits themselves, but it was still beyond his current reach. Even so, the idea of having a tool that could help him locate Devil Fruits nearby was tempting. It could be an incredible advantage on his journey, especially if he managed to find a Devil Fruit on his own to either sell or use.

"This could change everything," he thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

The temptation to buy the radar was strong, but he also knew he needed a ship to continue his journey. Besides, without a guarantee of finding a Devil Fruit with the radar, spending all his money on that tool would be a huge risk.

"Maybe it's better to save up a bit more and consider my options carefully. The journey is long, and who knows what opportunities I'll find on the islands we visit," he decided, closing the shop for now.

As he left his room, he bumped into one of the brothers he had met at the start of the journey.

"Good morning, sleepyhead! We've arrived at Gecko Islands. Hurry up, we're about to start unloading the cargo," the man said as he walked quickly, not stopping to chat.

Ethel nodded and followed him, though at a more leisurely pace. As he stepped onto the deck, the sunlight made him shield his eyes for a moment. He had spent too much time in the dark, and the brightness dazzled him. After adjusting to the light, his eyes took in the breathtaking landscape before him.

"I'll never get tired of these views," he murmured to himself, admiring the vast ocean and the island that stood majestically before him.

Lauro, who was on deck with the ship's owner and Carmen, greeted the young man with a smile.

"Hey, kid! Don't just stand there, come here," he said in a friendly tone, his smile never fading.

Ethel walked over to them. Carmen greeted him with an amused expression.

"Here comes our hero. And to think I wanted to take you on as an apprentice. I never imagined you were so strong."

Ethel laughed modestly.

"It was nothing. The pirate was already weakened from fighting Lauro. I just took the opportunity to finish him off," he replied humbly.

"Don't be so modest, kid. At your age, you should have more confidence in yourself," the ship's owner interjected.

"I'll keep that in mind, sir," Ethel responded respectfully.

Carmen burst out laughing at the formality in Ethel's tone.

"Old man, look at the respect he has for you. Little does he know the shark standing before him," she teased.

"Shark? I'm just a small fish now. Age doesn't forgive, and I'm having to delegate more and more of my projects. The day when I'm stuck on an island is approaching," the old man said with a mix of resignation and serenity.

"You may no longer be a shark, but I'd still consider you a great swordfish. You still have the means to be one," Carmen remarked with a sly smile.

Lauro, who had remained silent, chimed in.

"Well, changing the subject. Mr. Miyako, we're ready to start unloading," he announced as he prepared for the task.

Before Lauro could walk away, Mr. Miyako took Ethel by the arm, signaling that he wanted to speak privately.

"Young man, I've heard you're getting off here. Before we go our separate ways, I'd like to give you this as a thank you for everything you did. Consider it your pay for these intense days of work," the old man said, handing him an envelope stuffed with money.

"Thank you very much, sir. I accept your payment with gratitude," Ethel replied, bowing his head respectfully.

"Good, that's how hardworking people should be. It's been a pleasure meeting you. I'm sure we'll meet again," Miyako said with a smile before walking away across the deck.

Ethel glanced at the contents of the envelope and quickly counted five million berries. A considerable sum, which, combined with the reward for the criminal's head, gave him more than enough to buy a decent ship.

Before disembarking, he slung his backpack of supplies over his shoulder. Several crew members approached to thank him for his help during the incident, which Ethel acknowledged with a slight nod and a smile.

"Carmen, it's been a pleasure working with you. I'm getting off here," he said, raising his hand in farewell.

"The pleasure was mine, young man. Take care. We might meet again," the chef replied with a smile.

"I have a feeling we will," Ethel added before jumping into a small boat that would take him to the shore.

As he set foot on land, he paused to admire the landscape. The island was just as he remembered from the series—the very one where Usopp had grown up. It wouldn't be surprising if he encountered him along with the local villagers who had likely come to collect goods from the ship.

"Some of this cargo is probably for Kaya. With her family's money, she must have bought plenty of supplies. I might meet her, but I'd rather not get too involved in the canon events, at least not yet. I'm also not interested in trying to recruit the Straw Hat crew members. I'd feel bad interfering with their destiny," Ethel thought as he walked inland, away from the beach.

Upon reaching the village, his eyes landed on the grand mansion on the hill, but he knew that wasn't his destination, at least not for now. He decided to enter the tavern for something to eat. He ordered a variety of dishes, and since it was uncommon for an outsider to arrive in the village, his presence attracted the attention of the locals.

While he ate, shouts from outside triggered chaos inside the tavern.

"Pirates are coming! Look out, pirates are coming, and they're armed!" Usopp yelled repeatedly.

People rushed out of the tavern in search of the troublemaker to give him what he deserved.

"Phew. He's not my favorite character, but I have to admit, he's a genius at stirring up trouble," Ethel thought as he took a sip of his drink.

After about ten minutes of chase, Ethel saw Usopp slip into the tavern to hide.

"Hey, kid, it seems the whole town is after you. You must be quite the celebrity," Ethel said, gesturing for him to come over to his table.

Usopp, startled by the voice, exclaimed, "You scared me! I thought no one was here. You must be the stranger who arrived with the cargo ship."

"That's right, it's me. I'll be around for a few days; I need a ship," Ethel replied calmly.

Upon hearing that, Usopp became defensive.

"You're not a pirate, are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Ethel looked at him for a moment and then burst into laughter.

"A pirate? No, I'm not. Are you afraid of pirates, kid?" he asked teasingly.

Usopp, trying to hide his nervousness, straightened up, attempting to appear braver.

"I am the great Captain Usopp! I fear nothing. I am a brave warrior of the sea!" he declared proudly.

Ethel laughed heartily before replying.

"Well, I wouldn't expect anything less from the son of the great marksman of the Red-Haired Pirates."

Usopp was stunned to hear his father mentioned. He quickly approached the table again.

"You know my father?"

"How could I not? Your father is famous worldwide. He's reputed to be the best marksman."

"That's right, my father is incredible! I'll surpass him!" Usopp said enthusiastically.

"You're quite confident. Go ahead, pursue your dreams; at least that's in your blood," Ethel said, motioning for Usopp to sit at the table and share the meal with him.


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