OP: Sovereign of Blood and Seas

The fleet's return to Skull Reef was triumphant. The crew bustled with energy as the spoils of their raid on the Emerald Archipelago were unloaded—crates of weapons, barrels of food and ammunition, and a trove of Marine documents that promised valuable intelligence.

Eric watched from the cliffs as the operation unfolded below. The island felt alive in a way it hadn't before. For the first time, their defenses were more than just makeshift barriers. They had resources, momentum, and a growing reputation.

But with success came scrutiny.

"Word's already spreading," Nami said as she joined him, holding a freshly printed Marine wanted poster. She handed it to him without a word.

Eric unfolded the paper, his sharp eyes narrowing as he read.

"BLOOD SHADOW COMMANDS A FLEET!"

New Bounty: 60,000,000 Berries

The illustration beneath the headline depicted Eric mid-battle at the Emerald Archipelago, his blood blade gleaming as chaos unfolded around him.

Eric smirked, folding the poster and tucking it into his coat. "Guess they're starting to take us seriously."

Nami crossed her arms, her expression sharp. "You should, too. Sixty million isn't just a number—it's a challenge. Every bounty hunter, pirate crew, and Marine captain in the East Blue is going to be coming for you now."

"Good," Eric said, his voice steady. "The more they chase me, the bigger my legend becomes."

Nami sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here you are," he replied, his smirk widening.

The days that followed were consumed by the logistics of their growing operation. The crew worked tirelessly to organize their supplies, fortify the island's defenses, and prepare for the inevitable retaliation from the Marines.

Eric spent much of his time poring over the documents they had seized from the supply base. Among the manifests and patrol routes was a single sheet of parchment that caught his attention.

Operation Iron Grip

Objective: Eliminate the Blood Shadow

Details of the operation were sparse, but the list of participating officers included some of the East Blue's most notorious Marine captains.

"They're organizing," Eric muttered, his fingers tightening around the parchment. "They're not just coming after me—they're coming after all of us."

Nami leaned over his shoulder, her sharp eyes scanning the document. "They're treating you like a real threat now. That means they're not going to stop until you're dead."

Eric's smirk was faint but unyielding. "Then we hit them first."

The target was clear: Captain Silas Cain, a Marine officer known for his brutal tactics and unwavering loyalty to the World Government. According to the documents, he commanded a heavily armed vessel, the Steel Vow, which patrolled the waters near Loguetown.

"This won't be like the supply base," Aran said during the planning meeting, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Cain's crew is battle-hardened, and his ship's got more firepower than both of ours combined."

"Then we don't fight him head-on," Eric replied, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We draw him out, separate him from his defenses, and take him down before he knows what hit him."

Nami frowned, her arms crossed. "You're planning to bait him? That's risky."

"All good plans are," Eric said.

She sighed. "And what happens if he doesn't take the bait?"

Eric smirked. "Then we make him."

The plan began with a calculated risk. The fleet sailed close enough to Loguetown to be spotted by Marine patrols but remained just out of cannon range. They left behind a trail of destruction—abandoned merchant ships, burning debris, and the occasional captured Marine skiff—all designed to provoke Cain into action.

It didn't take long.

On the third day, the Steel Vow appeared on the horizon, its massive silhouette cutting through the waves like a predator stalking its prey.

"He's coming," Nami said, her voice tense as she watched from the helm.

Eric stood beside her, his blood dagger forming in his hand. "Good. Let's show him why that's a mistake."

The battle unfolded in the shadow of a jagged archipelago, the natural formations providing cover and complicating the Steel Vow's superior firepower.

Eric's fleet moved with precision, their smaller, faster ships darting in and out of the rocks to harass the enemy vessel. Arrows and cannon fire rained down on the Steel Vow, forcing Cain's crew to focus on defense.

Eric led the charge, his sharp eyes tracking the movements of the Steel Vow's crew. He leaped onto a Marine skiff, his blood blade carving through the soldiers with ruthless efficiency.

"Blood Puppeteer," he muttered, focusing on a fallen Marine.

The lifeless body jerked upright, its movements controlled by Eric's will. He sent it charging into the enemy ranks, sowing chaos and confusion.

Aran fought nearby, his cutlasses flashing as he cut through the Marines. "You've got a flair for the dramatic, Captain!"

"Just keep them busy," Eric replied, his smirk sharp.

The turning point came when Eric and a small team boarded the Steel Vow. The ship was a fortress, its decks bristling with cannons and its crew fiercely loyal to Cain.

Eric cut through the defenders with brutal precision, his blood blade flashing as he pressed toward the captain's quarters. The hunger surged within him, sharpening his focus and driving him forward.

When he reached the captain's quarters, the door burst open, and Captain Silas Cain emerged. The man was massive, his armor gleaming and his greatsword resting on his shoulder.

"You've made a mistake, pirate," Cain growled, his voice like thunder.

Eric smirked, his blood blade shifting into a curved saber. "I've made plenty. Let's see if this is one of them."

The clash was brutal, the sound of steel ringing out across the deck. Cain's strength was immense, each swing of his greatsword threatening to overwhelm Eric's defenses. But Eric's agility and precision kept him one step ahead, his blood blade parrying with deadly accuracy.

"You're strong," Cain admitted, his breath coming in short bursts. "But strength won't save you."

"Good thing I've got more than that," Eric replied, his grin sharp.

With a roar, he lunged, his blade slashing across Cain's side. Blood sprayed, and Eric felt the familiar connection snap into place.

"Blood Puppeteer," he muttered.

Cain resisted, his willpower immense, but Eric poured every ounce of his strength into the connection. The struggle was fierce, but in the end, Cain faltered.

Eric's blade struck true, and the massive Marine captain fell to his knees.

"You're finished," Eric said, his voice cold.

Cain's glare didn't waver. "You think this changes anything? The Marines will never stop coming for you."

Eric smirked. "Let them try."

With a final, brutal strike, he ended the fight.

The Steel Vow burned as Eric's fleet sailed away, its wreckage a testament to their victory. The crew's cheers echoed across the waves, their morale bolstered by the fall of one of the East Blue's most feared Marine captains.

Eric stood at the helm, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The battles were only growing harder, but so was his resolve.

He wasn't just surviving anymore.

He was conquering.