Blackwood

In the azure waters of the East Sea lies a secluded haven known as Sheep Island, a notorious haunt for pirates seeking respite from the tumultuous seas. Among them lurks the infamous One-Eyed Jack, a pirate whose name strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it. Renowned for his barbaric custom of claiming the eyes of his victims as trophies, his reputation precedes him like a shadow cast by the moon.

Presently, within the dimly lit confines of a weathered tavern, One-Eyed Jack revels in the company of his loyal crew, the air thick with the scent of salt and the echoes of raucous laughter. At the head of the gathering, Jack sits, his lone eye gleaming with a sinister glint as he regales his comrades with tales of plunder and conquest.

With a sinister chuckle, One-Eyed Jack leans back in his chair, his one remaining eye glinting with malice as he revels in the tales of their plunder. "Indeed, my comrades," he boasts, his voice dripping with venomous pride, "we have left our mark on more than ten villages in this accursed sea. Our name is whispered in fear across the waves."

The crew erupts into cheers, their mugs raised high in a toast to their notoriety. Amidst the fervent celebration, one of Jack's loyal minions eagerly interjects, "Boss, when shall we descend upon this hapless village?"

Jack's grin widens, his laughter echoing through the tavern like a harbinger of doom. "Patience, my friend," he replies, his tone laced with sadistic amusement. "First, let us indulge in the pleasures of the flesh and wine. But fear not, for when the moon hangs high in the sky, we shall unleash our wrath upon the unsuspecting villagers."

As he speaks, a chilling silence falls over the bar, broken only by the sound of Jack's cruel laughter. "We shall slaughter the men, claim their women for our own, and sell their children into bondage," he declares, his words dripping with depravity. In response, the tavern erupts into a cacophony of evil laughter, a symphony of malice that reverberates throughout the island, a grim prelude to the horrors yet to come.

As the panicked villagers sought refuge within the ancient temple of the Sun God, their prayers echoed off the walls, a desperate plea for divine intervention. "O Sun God, protector of our island for generations, hear our cries and deliver us from this terror," they beseeched, their voices trembling with fear and faith.

But before their supplications could reach the heavens, a deafening gunshot shattered the sanctity of the temple, the bullet piercing the head of the revered statue of the Sun God. One-Eyed Jack's laughter reverberated through the sacred halls, a cruel mockery of their prayers. "Hahaha! What god?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "I am the only god you should pray to now."

Outside, the pirates closed in on the mountain, their shadows casting a dark pall over the once-tranquil sanctuary. With mounting dread, the villagers hurriedly barricaded the temple doors, their trembling hands struggling to hold back the inevitable tide of terror. "What do we do now?" they cried, their voices choked with despair. "The door won't hold them for long!"

With a scowl of frustration, One-Eyed Jack surveyed the stubborn temple gate, seemingly impervious to the onslaught of cannonballs. "Bring out the cannons, lads!" he bellowed, his voice laced with fury. In a frenzied rush, the pirates retrieved their artillery from the ship, their grim determination palpable as they aimed the weapons at the sturdy gate.

"Fire!" Jack commanded, his tone dripping with venom as the cannons roared to life, unleashing a relentless barrage of cannonballs upon the temple gate. Yet, to the dismay of the pirates, the gate remained steadfast, refusing to yield to their onslaught.

"Gah! We're out of cannonballs!" one of the pirates exclaimed, his frustration mirroring Jack's own. Seething with impatience, Jack's gaze fell upon their secret weapon – the massive super cannon, a behemoth of destruction that required a small army to operate.

"Bring forth the super cannon!" Jack roared, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. With a concerted effort, the crew maneuvered the colossal weapon into position, a testament to their desperation to breach the temple defenses. Ten men strained to position the cannon, while another five feverishly loaded the cannonball into its gaping maw.

"Fire!" Jack shouted, a wicked grin spreading across his face as the super cannon unleashed its devastating payload. With a thunderous roar, the cannonball hurtled through the air, its trajectory true as it collided with the temple gate, shattering the sturdy barrier into splinters.

As the gate crumbled before their eyes, a wave of terror washed over the villagers, their cries of fear echoing through the temple halls. In the face of overwhelming firepower, their last bastion of hope was shattered, leaving them at the mercy of the merciless pirate horde.

In the midst of the chaos and terror, a small boy named Rony found himself at the forefront of the impending tragedy. Tears streaked down his cheeks as he clung desperately to his father's collar, his young voice trembling with fear and anguish. "Mom, Dad, I begged you to let me train on my own," he sobbed, his words choked with emotion. "But you insisted I learn to pray to the Sun God. Where is the Sun God now?"

As the boy's cries pierced the air, a shadow loomed over him, a grim specter of death embodied by the looming figure of One-Eyed Jack, his axe poised to strike. Terror gripped Jack's heart as he stared into the abyss of his impending demise, the cold steel of the pirate's weapon glinting in the dim light of the temple.

But just as death seemed inevitable, a sudden crack shattered the silence, the sound of a bullet tearing through the air like a vengeful wraith. In an instant, One-Eyed Jack's skull burst open, his lifeless body collapsing to the ground in a heap of death.

Amidst the stunned silence that followed, the villagers turned their gaze towards the source of the miraculous intervention. There, standing amidst the swirling cloak of shadows, was a figure cloaked in mystery – a man draped in a dark cloak, his face concealed behind a ghostly mask. In his hand, he wielded a long sniper rifle, the instrument of death that had delivered them from the jaws of destruction.

As the menacing figure of the bounty hunter Ghost emerged from the shadows, a palpable wave of fear swept through the ranks of the pirates. His reputation preceded him like a shadowy specter, whispered of in hushed tones throughout the East Sea. Clad in his signature dark cloak and ghostly mask, he was a harbinger of death, a specter of vengeance that struck fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals.

With a speed and agility that defied comprehension, Ghost descended upon the retreating pirates with a lethal precision that left no room for escape. In each hand, he wielded a mace, twin instruments of destruction that danced through the air with deadly grace. With each strike, the pirates fell, their screams of agony drowned out by the relentless onslaught.

The air filled with the metallic scent of blood and the anguished cries of the doomed as Ghost moved with a fluidity that defied mortal comprehension. Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off his cloak as he moved like a phantom amidst the chaos, his every movement a blur of death and destruction.

In a matter of moments, the massacre was over. The once-proud pirates lay strewn across the temple floor, their lifeless bodies serving as a grim testament to the unstoppable force that was Ghost.

As the chaos subsided and the villagers gazed upon the aftermath of Ghost's devastating display, their eyes widened with awe and fear. To them, he seemed more demon than man, a spectral apparition bathed in the blood of his fallen foes. Yet amidst the horror, one brave soul dared to approach the enigmatic bounty hunter.

Rony, a small figure amidst the carnage, summoned the courage to address Ghost directly. "Hey, mister Ghost, wait!" he called out, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Ghost, towering above him like a titan, turned to regard the diminutive figure with an inscrutable gaze.

As Rony met Ghost's gaze head-on, he spoke with a determination that belied his size. "Thank you for saving me," he began, his voice steady despite the tremor in his heart. "And if you don't mind, can you please tell me how I can become like you, Mr. Ghost?"

Ghost's expression remained unreadable as he pondered Rony's request. "Why do you want to become like me?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo through the silence.

Rony's eyes shone with unwavering resolve as he replied, "I want to be able to protect myself and become a person like you, Mr. Ghost. Strong, fearless, and awe-inspiring."

A hint of admiration flickered in Ghost's eyes as he regarded the young boy before him. "You've got guts, kid," he acknowledged, a grudging respect evident in his tone. "If you truly seek to follow in my footsteps, you must be prepared to face your fears and endure hardships beyond imagination."

With a solemn nod, Rony vowed to heed Ghost's advice and train relentlessly to become a force to be reckoned with. Ghost, moved by the boy's determination, reached into the depths of his cloak and produced a ghostly mask, placing it gently upon Rony's face.

"Don't let me down, kid," Ghost intoned, his voice tinged with a rare hint of warmth. "You've got guts. Train hard, and one day, you may become even greater than I."

[Ding....]

[Congratulations on completing the task]

[Reward: Fire Horse{Ghost Rider}]

As the ethereal voice echoed through the air, Ghost turned to behold the magnificent creature that materialized beside him – a fiery steed, its mane ablaze with otherworldly flames. With a nod of acknowledgment, Ghost mounted the Fire Horse, his ghostly form melding seamlessly with the supernatural beast.

"Farewell, till then, kid," Ghost spoke, his voice carrying a hint of mystery and anticipation. "One day, when you are worthy enough, I will ask you your name."

With that enigmatic promise hanging in the air, Ghost urged the Fire Horse onward, its fiery hooves igniting a trail of flames as they thundered toward the sea. Rony watched in awe as Ghost and his spectral mount raced into the distance, leaving behind a wake of blazing glory.

"One day, I will be even stronger than you, Mr. Ghost," Rony vowed, his determination burning as brightly as the flames that danced upon the surface of the sea. With newfound resolve, he turned his gaze towards the horizon, ready to embark on his journey of self-discovery and strength.