Increased choices were always a good thing. Ethan had no way of predicting the future, and having more options meant greater security.
"I wonder what the output power of this thing is?"
A self-regenerating energy source wasn't necessarily perfect. Ethan needed to determine its maximum output capacity and whether its regeneration rate could sustain a high-power draw. Could it maintain balance at peak output?
If it met all the necessary conditions, it would be the ideal core energy source. To confirm this, Ethan slowed the ship's speed over the next few days and dedicated more time to testing the object.
The results surprised him. Despite its faint and barely detectable energy fluctuations, its output was remarkably powerful. Moreover, it could maintain a stable equilibrium when operating at half capacity—at that level, its energy never seemed to deplete.
The value of this discovery far exceeded his expectations. If the test data was correct, this object was no longer just one of many options, it was the best choice.
"Something this valuable needs to be stored carefully."
The workshop was no longer the safest place for it. Initially, he had left it there because he hadn't realized its worth. But now that he understood its significance, he could only feel at ease if it remained in his personal collection.
Without hesitation, Ethan stored the object inside the spatial ring he always carried. At present, there was no safer place.
With this matter settled, Ethan had nothing pressing to handle. His spiritual power had fully recovered, meaning he could now operate at full strength without any concerns. Instead of returning directly to the Central Island, he decided to find an open area and travel to a new world.
He initially planned to bring Auriel with him, but the little creature had disappeared somewhere on the ship. Small, fast, and incredibly agile, Auriel treated the Goddess of Dawn like a massive playground. Finding him wasn't easy.
"Leaving and returning only takes a moment for me anyway. It doesn't matter if I don't bring him along."
Ethan packed his usual spare clothes, placing everyday essentials in his backpack while keeping weapons stored in his spatial ring.
As the familiar light flashed, he activated the space-time magic circle. Having grown stronger and more proficient in its use, he was completely unaffected by the transition, arriving in the new world fully conscious.
As the glow faded, the first thing Ethan did was observe his surroundings.
The air carried a familiar scent, the distinct smell of seawater. That meant he was near the ocean. But was he on an island or the mainland coast?
He spotted a higher vantage point nearby and began walking toward it. The sun hung high in the sky, and the air was warm and humid. After a short distance, sweat clung uncomfortably to his skin.
The real question was: What era was this world in?
If it was a modern society, he'd need to change into the appropriate clothes from his backpack and establish a suitable identity for himself.
Reaching the high ground, Ethan spotted a town not far away. A single glance at the buildings, the residents' attire, the bustling port, and the docked sailing ships told him everything he needed to know.
This world closely resembled the one he had just left.
"I wonder if this is Earth… or somewhere else entirely."
Countless literary works shared similar settings, and many of them weren't even based on Earth. To confirm where he had arrived, Ethan used a telescope to observe the town for a while before deciding to go down and interact with the locals.
Dirt. Chaos. Disparity.
Even before entering, just approaching the town gave Ethan a strong impression of its state.
He had read about historical city life before, how medieval times were far from the idyllic portrayals found in fairy tales. But experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. The reality was much worse than he had imagined.
If not for the occasional sea breeze, the stench in the air would have made him feel like he had walked into a public latrine.
The streets were far from clean, with garbage scattered everywhere. The town's main road, a simple gravel path, was the cleanest part. As for the narrow alleys between homes? Ethan didn't even want to go near them.
The sight made him reflect on his own world. Though it existed in a similar time period, its towns were far better developed. Public sanitation, in particular, was well-maintained, comparable to some modern cities from his past life.
Shaking off that thought, Ethan continued walking, gathering information as he went.
Hearing English spoken around him, he quickly deduced that this world had Earth as its foundation. But when he overheard mentions of the British Empire and Port Royal, he confirmed his suspicion, this was definitely a world based on modern Earth's history.
"The British Empire… sailing warships… this should be around the time when Britain was rising as the Empire on which the sun never sets."
The peak of the Age of Sail was also the period when the British Empire cemented its dominance over the seas. But had they already defeated Spain to claim that title? Or were they still in the process of expanding their power?
More importantly, which world had he entered?
Was this a purely historical setting? A world from a film or television series? Or a novel?
"Port Royal… Port Royal…"
The name felt familiar. Ethan searched his memory, trying to recall where he had heard it before.
Then, something clicked.
"Pirates of the Caribbean?"
To confirm, Ethan wandered around town for a while, carefully observing his surroundings. Eventually, he verified that he was indeed in Port Royal, Caribbean.
That meant there was a high probability he had entered the Pirates of the Caribbean world.
"Port Royal was featured heavily in the movies. Does this mean I've arrived at the beginning of the film's timeline?"
He couldn't be certain. His past experiences had often thrown him into worlds at unpredictable points in their timelines. Who knew what would happen this time?
Fortunately, he had brought plenty of gold with him. Gold was a universal currency here, so he wouldn't have to worry about securing food or lodging.
Ethan spent the next few days in Port Royal.
He found a decent inn in a good location, far from the slums, then spent his days familiarizing himself with the area, gathering information, and preparing for his next move.
"I was just thinking about Blackbeard's black magic… and now I've ended up in the Caribbean."
"Is this really just a coincidence?"
Ethan looked down at his left hand. He doubted this was all just a coincidence. There were still many secrets within the space-time magic circle that he had yet to uncover.
"In addition to the magic that can shrink a ship into a bottle, there's also the Fountain of Youth, definitely worth exploring."
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much this world had to offer. A year might not even be enough to dig through all its secrets.
"First, I should confirm that this is the beginning of the first movie."
Determining the timeline wasn't difficult. Ethan only needed to inquire about the blacksmith shops in Port Royal and their reputations. That would lead him to one particularly notable figure.
Will Turner—the young blacksmith with close ties to the Governor of Port Royal. A commoner having frequent interactions with the governor was bound to stir up gossip.
In an era lacking entertainment, rumors about notable figures were a favorite pastime. Many envied Will Turner for his ability to visit the governor's residence so often. As a result, he was a well-known figure, and Ethan could easily gather a wealth of useful (and useless) information just by asking around.
After digging through local chatter, Ethan confirmed two things. First, he had indeed arrived in the Pirates of the Caribbean world. Second, the plot had yet to begin, though the news of Norrington's upcoming promotion to brigadier general was already spreading.
That meant the story was about to unfold.
"So, what should I do?"
With the information in hand, Ethan now needed to decide on his next move.
The Pirates of the Caribbean plot was relatively straightforward. Jack Sparrow, betrayed and left without his beloved Black Pearl, was now seeking to reclaim his ship.
Meanwhile, Barbossa, who currently commanded the Black Pearl and his crew were cursed. To lift the curse, they had to return every piece of Aztec gold they had taken and spent. At present, only one gold coin remained missing.
That final coin was in the possession of Elizabeth Swann, the governor's daughter and the main heroine of the first three films.
This set the stage for Will Turner, the young blacksmith who harbored feelings for Elizabeth. Soon, Barbossa would sail the Black Pearl into Port Royal, kidnap Elizabeth, and set everything in motion.
In response, Will Turner and Jack Sparrow, each with their own motives would join forces against Barbossa.
Norrington, newly promoted to brigadier general, would serve as a persistent obstacle to the protagonists, only for them to overcome every challenge, defeat Barbossa, and resolve the curse.
By the end, Jack Sparrow would reclaim his ship, and Will Turner would rescue Elizabeth, wrapping everything up neatly with a happy ending.
A simple story, unfolding over a short period of time.
That meant Ethan had to make a decision quickly, whether or not to get involved.
In reality, there was no need to hesitate. If he wanted to achieve his goals faster, he had to participate and establish a connection with Jack Sparrow.
After all, whether it was Blackbeard or the Fountain of Youth, Jack Sparrow was the key to finding them.
***
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