---
The Eclipse sailed steadily through the Grand Line, but its path was no longer one of mere survival. Michael's crew had embraced a new purpose, their strength and ingenuity turned toward hunting the most dangerous prey: pirates and corrupt marines. The sleek, silent pistol they had created, paired with Michael's unparalleled skills and precise aim, made him a ghost—a shadow that struck without warning and left nothing but whispers of terror in his wake.
Michael had transformed himself into a bounty hunter feared by even the most hardened criminals. With Lia's innovative designs and Amara's relentless support, the crew operated with precision, moving from target to target with terrifying efficiency.
---
Their latest hunt brought them to an isolated island where a notorious pirate captain known as "Black Claw" and his crew had been terrorizing local villages. The bounty was high, but so was the risk. Black Claw was infamous for his armament haki and brutal strength, but Michael wasn't deterred.
The crew anchored the Eclipse just beyond the island's cliffs, hidden from view. Michael stood on deck, checking his weapons. His signature pistol gleamed under the sun, its suppressor attached, and each bullet meticulously coated in armament haki.
Lia handed him a freshly crafted magazine. "Twenty rounds. Each one reinforced with the strongest alloys I've got. They'll pierce through anything short of a monster like Kaido."
Michael nodded, loading the magazine with smooth precision. "It's not about how many I fire. It's about how many hit."
Amara smirked from her spot by the railing. "And you don't miss."
Michael returned her smirk. "Exactly."
With a nod, he vanished, using his mastered Soru to disappear into the dense jungle before anyone could blink.
---
The pirate camp was a chaotic sprawl of makeshift tents and drunken revelry. Black Claw's crew, numbering over fifty, lounged carelessly around the campfire, their guard lowered in the false safety of their remote hideout.
Michael moved like a shadow, his Observation Haki detecting every movement, every breath. He perched silently on a branch overlooking the camp, his pistol raised. His aim was steady, his breathing slow. The first shot fired—a faint whisper in the night. A pirate fell, the bullet piercing his temple, the armament haki rendering him lifeless in an instant.
The next shot followed, and then another. Each was precise, deadly, and silent. Panic erupted in the camp as the pirates began to fall one by one, their comrades dropping without a sound.
"Who's there?" Black Claw roared, his voice echoing through the jungle as his haki flared. "Show yourself, coward!"
Michael dropped from the trees, his form a blur as he used Soru to close the distance. The remaining pirates barely had time to react before they, too, fell to his bullets, their defenses useless against his speed and precision.
Black Claw turned, his massive fists coated in armament haki as he charged. "You think you're something special, bounty hunter? You're nothing!"
Michael didn't respond. He moved faster than Black Claw's eyes could follow, his Observation Haki predicting every move. A single shot rang out, the bullet piercing Black Claw's shoulder and forcing him to his knees.
The pirate captain gritted his teeth, his haki flaring as he tried to stand. But Michael was already behind him, his pistol aimed at the base of his skull.
"Nothing personal," Michael said quietly before pulling the trigger.
Black Claw fell, lifeless, and the camp was silent once more.
---
When Michael returned to the Eclipse, the crew was waiting. Lia gave him a once-over, her expression a mix of relief and admiration.
"Not a scratch," she said, crossing her arms. "How do you do that every time?"
Michael smirked, placing the pistol on the table. "It's not about the weapons. It's about control. Precision."
Amara raised an eyebrow, leaning against the mast. "And being terrifyingly fast doesn't hurt."
Michael chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's get the bounty and move on."
---
The pattern repeated across the Grand Line. Michael's crew would receive word of a dangerous pirate or corrupt marine, and the Eclipse would set sail. Villages and towns, plagued by those who thought themselves untouchable, whispered of the bounty hunter who never missed—a shadow who struck without warning and disappeared without a trace.
Michael's reputation grew, spreading like wildfire. He became known as "The Boogeyman," a name spoken in hushed tones by criminals and whispered in awe by those he saved. The World Government began to take notice, their curiosity and unease growing with each report.
One day, the crew docked at a small coastal village where they were met with tearful gratitude from the locals. The mayor, a frail but determined man, approached Michael with an unusual request.
"There's a marine stationed nearby," the mayor said. "A captain who was supposed to protect us but has been extorting us instead. He's worse than the pirates. Please… we can't pay much, but—"
Michael cut him off with a raised hand. "We'll take care of it."
The villagers' relief was palpable, but Amara's expression darkened as she watched Michael prepare for the mission. "You know this will put us on the World Government's radar."
Michael holstered his pistol, his gaze steady. "They're already watching. This won't change that."
Amara nodded, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Then let's make it worth it."
---
The corrupt marine captain didn't last an hour. Michael's precision and speed turned the once-arrogant officer into another name on the growing list of those who had underestimated him. The villagers cheered as the crew returned, their gratitude etched into every smile and tear.
But with the marine's death came consequences. Days later, the Eclipse received a package: Michael's wanted poster. The bounty wasn't the highest, but the message was clear—the World Government considered him a threat.
Michael studied the poster, his expression unreadable. Lia leaned over his shoulder, her excitement barely contained.
"'The Boogeyman,'" she read aloud. "That's got a nice ring to it."
Amara crossed her arms, smirking. "Congratulations, Captain. You're officially infamous."
Michael folded the poster, slipping it into his coat. "It's not about the fame. It's about the work."
"And you're damn good at it," Amara said, her voice filled with both respect and pride.
---
The Eclipse sailed onward, its crew united by their purpose and driven by their captain's growing legend. Michael's name spread across the Grand Line, striking fear into the hearts of criminals and corrupt officials alike. With every shot, every mission, the myth of the Boogeyman grew, casting a long shadow over the seas.
The Grand Line was vast, its challenges unrelenting, but Michael and his crew were ready. They weren't just surviving anymore—they were thriving, their legend carving a path through the chaos.
And the world was watching.
---