Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Beneath the cliffs west of Pike Place City, on the rubble beach, the sea roars and the salty wind is like a knife. Each wave crashes against the jagged black reef, stirring up white foam and a deafening roar. In this perilous place that mortals would hesitate to tread, young Euron Greyjoy is undergoing near-brutal combat training with Balf, the fierce instructor of the Iron Islands.

Balf, nicknamed "The Bonebreaker," wields a heavy training axe with sweeping, powerful movements, brimming with the ferocity and savagery inherent in the Ironborn. Each strike rips through the air with a dull thud, each sweep kicks up shards of gravel and debris like a miniature tsunami. His fighting philosophy is simple and direct—overwhelming force, a fight to the death!

"Ha!" Balf roared, his wooden axe cleaving with the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, slashing fiercely from the upper left to the lower right! The target was Euron's thin shoulder.

Euron, short in stature yet as agile as a ghostly octopus among the rocks, knew that a direct confrontation would be certain death. In the instant the wooden axe whistled through the air as it approached, his left leg slid backward with lightning speed, his body tilting to the right like a reed being pulled by an invisible giant hand! The heavy wooden axe, carrying the aura of death, slammed down with a deafening crash, cracking the hard basalt rock beneath his feet and sending fragments of rock flying!

Taking advantage of the slight gap in Balf's strength, Euron sprang up like a spring compressed to its limit! His short wooden sword, like a viper's tongue, stabbed towards Balf's right rib, which was wide open due to the exertion of force! The angle was tricky, and the speed was as fast as lightning!

"Cunning!" Balf growled, his massive body twisting with astonishing agility, his thick leather gauntlets narrowly deflecting the fatal thrust, the wooden sword scraping against the leather armor with a grating sound.

Euron took a few steps back, panting, sweat mingling with the icy seawater that splashed onto him, dripping down his taut jawline. His heterochromatic eyes—his left eye like an abyss swallowing defeat, his right eye like an icy sea freezing resentment—were fixed on Balf.

Dagmore stood between the two, stopping Euron from continuing his training, and said, "Your mind is as fast as lightning, young master! But your body... can't keep up! Lord Balf's fighting style is for those who can withstand the first axe blow and deliver the second! If you keep training like this, your bones will break first!"

Power! This five-year-old body is the greatest constraint! The barbaric path of the Balfna Iron People, the path of brute force overcoming skill, is a dead end for him.

“You’re right, Dagmore. I need… a sword of flowing water.” Euron gasped, his voice carrying the chill of the sea wind. His gaze passed over Balf and Dagmore, settling on the turbulent Narrow Sea. “I’ve heard of the water swordsmen of Braavos… their swords are light, agile, and all-pervasive, using technique to overcome force. Dagmore, has Mario returned to the Free Cities?”

Dagmo thought for a moment and replied, "Judging by the distance, it will take at least three more days."

Euron nodded and said, "Give Mario a task: help me find a suitable Braavos Water Dancer Swordsman."

"I think he will do his best!"

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Combat training was only one part of Euron's life. He devoted more of his energy to exploring every inch of the unlit mists of Pyke Island, scrambling for those precious "exploration points." This was no leisurely stroll, but a journey fraught with challenges and dangers.

Flint Cliffs, a daunting cliff on the northeastern corner of Pike Isle, are steep, black basalt pillars that seem like spears thrust into the raging, dark green sea in the fury of the drowning god. The sea wind here is compressed into a piercing shriek, the swirling salt grains whipping against the face like sandpaper. Euron refused the guards' help, carrying only a sturdy rope and specially made hooked boots. His small body pressed against the cold rock face, his fingertips digging into narrow crevices, the toes of his boots grinding into wind-eroded holes. Each upward movement was accompanied by a pounding heart and the roar of the waves from the abyss below, like the panting of a giant beast. Salt crystals seeped into his fingernails, causing excruciating pain. When he finally reached the top, the gale nearly blew him away! Standing on this tiny patch of land, seemingly at the edge of the world, looking down at the shattering waves below, a tremor of conquest and awe of the power of heaven and earth intertwined within him. The fog map in his mind instantly illuminated this perilous place, marking a hidden seabird nest, an ancient Ironborn rune weathered by the wind, and the entrance to a tidal cave that had been almost hollowed out by the waves and could only accommodate one person at a time.

[Exploration: Discovered Flint Cliffs, earned 20 points.]

The Blind Lord's Ghost Tower sits on the edge of a desolate salt marshland in the heart of Pyke Isle. Legend has it that centuries ago, a Greyjoy lord, blinded by his brother, was imprisoned in this isolated tower until he went mad and died. The tower is constructed of massive black stones, its surface riddled with honeycomb-like holes from years of weathering and salt erosion, resembling the rotting skeleton of a colossal beast. Inside, a thick, unbearable musty stench, the bitterness of sea salt, and an indescribable, decaying aura, as if steeped in countless despairs, permeates the air. Light streams in through narrow arrow slits, forming ghastly beams that illuminate the swirling dust, amplifying the eeriness. The wooden staircase is long since rotten; Euron, aided by Lisa, can only climb with ropes and rock spikes. The cell at the top is empty, save for walls covered in frantic scratches and dried, blackened stains resembling ancient blood. A silent wail seemed to still echo in the air. When Euron's hand traced the claw marks, the icy touch seeped straight to his bones. The system map not only illuminated this forgotten ghost tower, but also marked a very secretive, narrow cellar entrance deep within its base, sealed off by salt crystals and rubble!

[Exploration: Discovered the Blind Lord's Ghost Tower, gained 20 points.]

It was these lands, measured by footsteps, sweat, and even risk—every hidden corner of Pike City, the rugged reefs and islets of the Westeros coast, the dangerous and complex waterways of Ironman's Bay—that accumulated his substantial capital.

At dusk, Euron stood alone in the Eagle's Nest, the tallest tower in Pyke City, having dismissed his attendants.

Consciousness sank into the boundless void deep within the mind. A massive screen of light, interwoven with stars and deep blue seawater, unfolded—the One Piece System. On the central map, Pike Island was displayed in exquisite detail, like a thoroughly dissected specimen: from the precipitous outline of Flint Cliffs to the hidden entrance to the secret cellar deep within the Blind Lord's Ghost Tower; from the distribution of every drying pond in the salt fields to the most concealed berth in the dockyard; even the musty, pungent underground tunnel beneath the old main castle leading to the unknown… Large swaths of the fog over Ironwood Bay and the west coast were also dispelled, marking shipping lanes, reefs, and hiding caves.

Exploration Points: 420/100.

The number, flashing in a deep blue at the top of the screen, represents the wealth he earned through his footsteps, courage, and wisdom.

All eyes were focused on the ever-spinning [Lottery Wheel] in the center of the light screen, radiating an alluring starlight. Countless tiny fan-shaped areas were shrouded in mist, with only a few faint lights indicating possibilities: skills (deep blue), items (emerald green), mounts (gloomy purple), and the unknown (chaotic gray).

"Draw a lottery." The command was calm and firm.

The roulette wheel suddenly burst forth with dazzling starlight, its pointer transforming into a streak of light as it spun wildly! The misty region seemed to come alive, countless blurry runes, strange creature phantoms, and weapon outlines flashing by like fleeting glimpses in the river of fate. A sense of tension permeated the void.

The hands of the clock slowed, carrying a heavy sense of destiny, skipping over the fading light, one tick at a time...

Ding!

A crisp beep sounded, and the pointer stopped in the area of ​​deep blue ocean light.

Congratulations on obtaining the skill: Basic Navigation.

A refreshing stream of information, like a gentle sea breeze, flooded his mind! Star navigation (requires calibration of the Westeros star map), seabird tracking for land navigation, subtle ocean current perception, cloud formations foreshadowing storms, efficient boat control with wind and tides… knowledge was imprinted on him like instinct. He felt as if he had established an invisible umbilical cord with the roaring sea beneath his feet, and the whispers of the tides echoed deep within his soul.

"continue."

The roulette wheel spins again, and starlight flows.

Ding!

The pointer stopped in the deep blue area of ​​abstract waves and fist imprints.

Congratulations on obtaining: Skill - Fishman Karate - v1

A scorching stream of energy rose from his dantian, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones! His muscle fibers were stretched and tempered invisibly, becoming supple yet bursting with explosive power. A strange power-generating technique emerged: condensing force like compressing a wave into a single point (inch force), deflecting force like flowing water transforming a massive impact, navigating waves and maneuvering a boat as if on flat ground… This was a technique tailor-made for him, a method of overcoming strength with softness! He instinctively threw a punch into the air, the trajectory fluid and strange, even creating a faint vortex of air!

"Again!"

The roulette wheel spun for the third time, and the light dimmed slightly.

Ding!

The pointer stopped on the fan-shaped area radiating a vibrant green light.

Congratulations on obtaining: Item - Life Card (Sub-card x1)

A faint light flashed, and a palm-sized black card, its texture like a tough biological membrane, appeared in his hand. Its edges were inlaid with eerie green runes. Information flooded in: "Drip blood into the central groove. The life mark of the main cardholder (bright, life, decay, death) will appear, and the secondary card will forever point in the direction of the main card!" Euron didn't hesitate to bite his fingertip, letting a drop of crimson blood seep in. The blood instantly seeped in, and the card glowed faintly, revealing a tiny yet clear Greyjoy sea monster totem composed of green stardust, brimming with life.

It's a good thing, but we don't need it right now. And such a mysterious item can't be given to just anyone—explaining its origins alone would take a lot of explaining. Youlun carefully placed it in the inner lining of his clothing.

This is your last chance to win a prize!

The wheel spins, its light dimming.

Ding!

The pointer stopped in the dark purple area of ​​the abstract galloping horse outline.

Congratulations on obtaining: Mount - Faruru (Juvenile Form)

The light faded, followed by a childlike, bewildered yet clear, bell-like cry—"Hiss!"

Euron looked down, and a small pony was gently nuzzling his leg with its warm nose. Smaller than a Westeros pony, it was exceptionally magnificent! Its snow-white coat flowed like velvet, and its hooves were long and powerful. Most captivating were its large eyes, deep within which burned two vibrant golden flames, full of wisdom and wildness, its mane and tail swaying gently like flowing night. Though young, its hidden nobility, speed, and power were already evident.

System Information: Faruru, a divine and extraordinary steed of ancient Eastern lineage. Exceptional even in its youth, it possesses unparalleled speed and stamina as an adult, and is highly intelligent, capable of telepathy. Requires special care during its growth (to be explored). The mount of Cavendish, the popular One Piece character known as "White Horse," it combines elegance and ferocity, loyally protecting its master and fearlessly brave in battle.

Faruru nuzzled against Euron affectionately, his golden eyes filled with trust and curiosity.

Euron gently stroked Faruru's smooth, warm neck, feeling its vibrant life force. It was a suitable pony for him now, and it would grow up alongside him.

While he didn't get the Devil Fruit he most wanted to see, the rewards from all four draws were quite useful. Euron was satisfied and looked forward to an even better next time. Looking at Faruru, he felt a headache coming on: "Uh, suddenly there's a pony... how do you explain that?"

Oh well, whatever, let's just say we saw it in the stable and don't know which mare gave birth to it.

Now, we need to think carefully about how to create a beautiful outer packaging for Platinum Sands and then boast about it everywhere, how to use salt to open up trade routes, how to use salt to revitalize the ports, and how to use salt to control those disobedient lords...