A mysterious island

In the open sea, Ethel was engrossed in reading a book. Alone, with nothing in sight but the endless horizon, there were few activities to pass the time. It had been half a day since he left Syrup Village, and he couldn't help but feel pleased with his new ship. The vessel was splendid, far exceeding his expectations. Its cabin was spacious, with a comfortable bed offering a much-deserved rest after days of hard work. The other cabins, though smaller, also provided privacy and were furnished with quality beds. The kitchen was fully equipped with everything necessary for long sea voyages. Nothing was lacking, except perhaps the company of a crew.

As he delved into the book's plot, Ethel noticed the sunlight beginning to fade. He looked up to see that the previously clear sky was now covered with thick, dark clouds darkening the horizon.

"Storm clouds, and it looks like it's going to be a strong one," Ethel murmured to himself with a mix of concern and adrenaline as he quickly stowed his chair and secured the deck.

The wind began to blow fiercely, stirring the sea into waves that grew in size and intensity. The ship, which had been a bastion of calm in the vast ocean, started to sway dangerously. Understanding the severity of the situation, Ethel dashed to the sails. If he didn't secure them in time, the gale could tear them to shreds.

Rain soon followed, accompanied by thunder and lightning that split the sky. Each clap of thunder boomed like cannon fire, making the entire ship tremble. The raindrops fell heavily, almost like bullets, drenching Ethel within seconds.

"Ugh, this is going to get ugly," Ethel shouted over the roar of the storm, struggling against nature's forces to secure the ship. "What a bad omen that this happens on my first day out."

Soaked and with the wind battering his face, Ethel remained resolute. He knew this was only the beginning of his journey and that he needed to overcome this first challenge if he wanted to reach Loguetown and beyond.

The storm raged on for two interminable days. The wind and waves battered the ship, driving it off course. Despite Ethel's efforts to maintain control, he soon realized he was completely lost. His limited navigation skills were insufficient to handle a storm of such magnitude. He had resigned himself to being at the mercy of the sea's fury, trusting in the sturdiness of the ship built by the elderly carpenter.

Fortunately, the ship was well-stocked. The pantry was filled with food, and there was enough fresh water for several days. However, uncertainty about his location and the constant pounding of the sea against the hull kept Ethel on constant alert.

Suddenly, a fierce impact resonated against the side of the vessel, jolting him from his exhausted concentration.

"What the heck was that?" Ethel yelled as he jumped up, his heart pounding in his chest. He ran to the deck to see what had happened.

Outside, under the gray and storm-laden sky, Ethel saw that the ship had collided with some rocks. To his relief, the impact had been cushioned by the metal plating covering the sides of the ship. There were only a few superficial scratches, nothing that compromised the vessel's integrity.

"Luckily, this ship is tougher than it looks," he murmured to himself, letting out a sigh of relief as he assessed the minor damage.

It was then that he noticed the landmass ahead. An unknown island emerged from the turbulent sea like an unexpected refuge.

"What island could this be?" Ethel wondered, realizing he was completely lost, with no idea where the storm had brought him.

The wind, which had been his enemy for the past two days, now seemed to be working in his favor. It pushed the ship toward the island's shore, and with a final effort, the waves left it stranded on the sand. The ship's hull settled with a creak, firmly on the shore, as if the sea had finally granted him a reprieve.

Ethel looked around with curiosity and caution, aware that he was in unfamiliar territory. With the storm now subsiding, he knew his next step was to explore the island and find out where he was.

As he set foot on solid ground, Ethel surveyed the surroundings with care. The sky remained dark, covered by thick clouds blocking most of the light, making visibility limited. Before him, the beach led to a dense jungle, its vegetation seemingly consuming everything around it. The plants, vines, and trees were tangled in a thick green chaos, barely allowing a glimpse of what lay beyond.

He decided not to venture into the impenetrable tangle just yet. With the storm still raging over the island, he opted to stay on the ship until the weather calmed down. Fortunately, the vessel had weathered the sea and rock assault well. It only needed to be pushed free from the sand, but that would have to wait until conditions improved.

The rain continued to fall heavily, and thunder rumbled in the distance, but Ethel remained patient, taking refuge on the ship's deck. Several hours passed before the storm began to subside. Gradually, the wind lost its intensity, and the rain turned into a light drizzle. Finally, the sun managed to break through the clouds, casting a golden light through the layers of gray.

The change in the environment was immediate. The oppressive darkness that had dominated the island began to retreat, giving way to a clearer and more welcoming landscape. The jungle, though still dense and mysterious, appeared less threatening under the sunlight.

Ethel stood up and took a deep breath, feeling the fresh, damp air fill his lungs. With the storm now retreating, he knew it was time to explore the island and learn more about this unknown place. But before that, he needed to ensure his ship was secure and that he could return to the sea when ready to depart.

With the sky clear and sunlight illuminating the surroundings, Ethel prepared to face whatever the island might offer.

Equipped with his usual belongings, Ethel ventured into the dense jungle that extended beyond the beach. Each step enveloped him in a new world of shadows and unfamiliar sounds. Skillfully using his sword, he cut through the vines blocking his path, clearing the way as he progressed. The leaves, a deep green almost black, glistened with the residual moisture from the storm, and the air was thick with earthy, damp aromas.

"I need to be cautious of the island's fauna," Ethel murmured, aware that danger could lurk around any corner. He knew that a snake bite or an attack by a venomous creature could mean certain death in such a remote place.

As he advanced, the vegetation seemed to grow even more impenetrable. Giant trees towered into the sky, their canopies forming a natural roof that blocked most of the sunlight, casting the jungle in perpetual twilight. Roots jutted out from the ground, intertwined and creating natural traps for the unwary. The silence was nearly absolute, broken only by the occasional whisper of leaves stirred by an invisible breeze.

Suddenly, a noise behind him snapped him out of his thoughts. Ethel spun around, muscles tensed and sword at the ready. Emerging from the thick foliage was a large boar, its body scarred and its dark fur bristling. It was an imposing beast, over a meter tall, with sharp tusks gleaming in the scarce light.

Without warning, the boar charged at him with surprising speed and force. Ethel, with reflexes as quick as lightning, leaped agilely over the beast's attack, barely grazing its back as he passed. The boar, propelled by its own momentum, could not stop in time and crashed into a thick tree trunk.

The impact reverberated through the jungle, and the beast was dazed, staggering as it tried to regain its balance. Ethel wasted no time; with a fluid motion, he landed gracefully behind the boar and, taking advantage of its confusion, swiftly slashed its neck with a clean, precise cut. Blood gushed forth, and the boar collapsed onto the ground with a final grunt.

Ethel observed the carcass for a moment, his breath still quickened by adrenaline. The jungle, once so silent, seemed to come alive again, with the sounds of nature filling the air. The victory gave him a sense of relief but also reminded him to stay alert. This island was not a place to let his guard down.

"This is no place to relax," he told himself as he wiped his sword blade with a cloth. "If this is just a sample of the local wildlife, I'm sure there are even greater challenges awaiting me."

With the immediate danger neutralized, Ethel sheathed his sword and continued through the jungle, now with heightened caution. The dense vegetation and oppressive atmosphere still made each step a struggle, but he was determined to explore further. He knew he needed to understand the terrain and find any resources that might be useful for surviving on this unknown island.

After what seemed like hours of trekking, the landscape began to open up. The dense tangle of plants and trees gave way to a clearing surrounded by tall trees whose canopies intertwined high above, allowing only small beams of sunlight to filter through. In the center of the clearing, a crystal-clear spring bubbled up between the rocks, forming a stream that meandered into the depths of the jungle.

Ethel crouched by the spring, watching the water flow calmly and clearly. After ensuring there was no immediate danger, he took a drink. The water was fresh and pure, a welcome contrast to the stifling humidity of the environment.

As he drank, he began to consider his options. This clearing, with its fresh water source and relative seclusion, could serve as a good temporary campsite. Additionally, the boar's meat would provide sufficient food for the coming days, allowing him to focus on exploring the island without worrying about provisions.

"This place will do, at least for now," he said quietly, as if to reassure himself of his decision.

Keeping the clearing in mind as a temporary refuge in case night fell, Ethel resumed his journey through the dense jungle. It had been nearly four hours since he ventured into the island's interior, and the vegetation remained as impenetrable as ever, if not more so. With each step, the shadows lengthened, and the sounds of the jungle intensified, filling the air with the murmur of hidden creatures and the rustling of leaves underfoot.

Suddenly, something caught his eye. The vines began to give way to an ancient stone path, its edges covered with moss and grass but still recognizable. Looking up, he saw that the path was flanked by a large stone wall, though in a pitiable state, eroded by time and overgrown with vegetation. The discovery made him frown, wondering what could have led someone to build such a structure in such a remote location.

"At last, something man-made. Though these walls and paths are in dreadful condition. Perhaps ruins," he thought, examining the surroundings with astonishment.

With caution, Ethel continued along the stone path, which seemed to lead him toward something greater. It wasn't long before he arrived at an imposing structure: a pyramid, built entirely of large stone blocks. The pyramid, though clearly a human creation, was so covered with dense vegetation that it would have been impossible to detect from a distance.

He approached the base of the pyramid, where what seemed to be the entrance to a temple lay before him. The entrance was adorned with ancient inscriptions carved into the stone, warning anyone who ventured there of great danger. Ethel paused to read the words, surprised to find that he could understand them.

"How is it possible that I can read these words?" he wondered aloud as he carefully deciphered the text.

The inscriptions spoke of a cursed sword sealed within the pyramid.

"'Those who draw the sword must be wary. The sword is cursed, and those who wield it will fall into its darkness,'" he read aloud, whispering the last words.

The main text, engraved with chilling precision, made his blood run cold. A sword so feared that its former guardians had built a pyramid to seal it away.

"A sword that frightened people so much they built a pyramid to seal it?" Ethel murmured, intrigued and cautious at once.

Just as he was about to enter the dark interior of the temple, a deep and unfamiliar voice startled him from behind.

"Who are you, and how did you find this place?" the voice said, laden with distrust.

Ethel, startled, quickly turned around, cursing himself internally for not having perfected his Observation Haki yet, which would have spared him surprises like this. Standing about twenty meters away was a figure in a long brown coat, tattered and dirty from the jungle trek but still retaining its shape. His body seemed to have endured much, perhaps due to the jungle's hostility, but what struck Ethel most was the man's face, which seemed oddly familiar.

The man held a sword firmly, his piercing gaze fixed on Ethel. However, the surprise was mutual; the man also seemed shocked to see Ethel there.

"My name is Ethel, I'm an adventurer. I mean no harm," Ethel said, raising his hands in a peace gesture, trying to show that he had no ill intentions.

The man maintained his gaze on Ethel, evaluating him. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"I am Saga. What's inside the temple is not something you want to handle," the man said with a serious voice, as if warning him.

Upon hearing the name, Ethel immediately remembered who this man was. Saga, a disciple from the same dojo as Zoro, had appeared in one of the movies from the series. The cursed sword sealed in the temple must be the very same powerful sword he had wielded, a sword with a dark and fearsome history.

"Saga… of course, now I remember. This is where the cursed sword was sealed," Ethel thought, realizing that the danger he was facing was much greater than he had imagined.

Saga's presence confirmed that what he was about to uncover was not merely a lost treasure but something far more dangerous with a dark past.