Chapter 12: The Island of the Cursed Blade

As I stepped off the ship onto the dark shores of Cursed Sword Island, a strange energy seeped into my skin.

The air was thick, heavier than anywhere I had been before. The moment my foot touched the ground, I could feel the weight of something powerful watching me.

The mist drifted low across the land, curling around my legs as if the island itself was alive. The pirates refused to follow, staying near their ship like frightened animals.

They didn't need to say it.

This was not a place for weak men.

I took my first step forward, leaving the shoreline behind.

This was my trial now.

The Island's Atmosphere

The deeper I walked into the island, the more unnatural it became.

The trees were twisted and ancient, their bark dark like scorched wood. Some of them had deep claw marks, as if something massive had torn through them.

The air carried a faint scent of iron—blood.

Everything was silent. No birds. No insects. Just the low howl of wind that seemed to whisper through the trees.

I could feel it.

Something was here.

Something old and hungry.

I clenched my fists, keeping my Observation Haki stretched out as far as it could go.

At first, there was nothing—just empty land and the occasional rustling of leaves.

But then—

I felt movement.

Somewhere deeper in the forest. Something massive. Something that wasn't human.

I pressed forward.

Discovering the Ruins

After walking for hours, I came across ancient ruins, half-buried beneath vines and moss.

Massive stone pillars, cracked and crumbling, stood like remnants of a long-forgotten civilization.

At the center of the ruins was a monument, a giant slab of stone covered in faded inscriptions. The carvings looked like warriors—swordsmen battling something monstrous.

I ran my fingers over the worn surface, trying to make out the symbols.

This wasn't just a place where a sword was left behind.

This island had a history of war.

And whatever battle had been fought here… it wasn't over.

I stepped away from the monument, glancing around.

The silence was too perfect now.

My instincts screamed at me—

Something was coming.

And then—

CRACK.

A branch snapped.

I turned just in time to see a massive figure moving in the shadows between the trees.

Then another.

And another.

Red eyes glowed in the darkness.

I had found the beasts of this island.

And they were nothing like the ones I had fought before.

The Beasts of the Cursed Island

They emerged from the trees, one by one, surrounding me.

Twice the size of any predator I had fought on my training island.

Massive wolf-like creatures, their fur black as shadows, their teeth as long as daggers. Their eyes burned crimson, glowing with something unnatural.

There were at least four of them.

One of them let out a low growl, its muscles tensing, ready to strike.

I could feel it in my bones.

These weren't normal beasts.

The island's energy had changed them, twisted them into something else.

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders.

The monsters weren't going to let me pass easily.

Fine.

If this was the first trial to claim the sword,

Then I would crush it.

I lowered my stance, my Haki igniting around me, the air crackling with power.

The wolves tensed.

And then, they attacked.