A Blood-Soaked Path Forward

Ethan unsheathed his cutlass and began making shallow cuts on the bandit's skin. He smeared dirt and blood into the wounds, his actions slow and calculated.

The bandit screamed in agony, his pleas growing more desperate.

Bandit 2: Please! End this! I can't take it anymore!

Ethan Cross: Unfortunately, my friend, you have much more to endure.

An hour later, the ordeal ended with Ethan slashing the bandit's throat. A grim satisfaction crossed his face as he examined his blade, now coated with blood, sweat, and tears. For a brief moment, he felt a dark, ominous energy emanating from the sword, only for it to vanish instantly.

Ethan Cross: Interesting. So, that's how you forge a demonic sword—

by feeding it the intense negative emotions, blood, sweat, and tears of its victim's, combined with their essence.These remnants stay with the blade until they reach a critical threshold, transforming it.

He looked at his blade with newfound appreciation.

Ethan Cross: From now on, your name will be Cross, after my surname.

Hank's voice broke the eerie silence.

Hank Xander: Ethan… are you alright? You're scaring us.

Ethan Cross: I'm fine, mentally speaking. I've just discovered one of this world's power systems: swordsmanship.

Hank Xander: Well… as long as you're okay.

With the area secured, Levi asked an important question.

Levi York: So, are we going to live here now?

Ethan Cross: Yes. This hut will serve as our base of operations. But first, we'll need to start physical training immediately after organizing the place.

The group worked tirelessly to clear and organize the hut. After an hour of exhausting labor, they finally finished.

Rosalie Xander: Finally! I'm so tired.

Ethan Cross: Now that we've settled, I want to share some critical information about this world, specifically about devil fruits.