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.