One piece :I open the locks of the heart

A few moments earlier…

After assuming Sora's appearance, I extended my hand to open a shadowy passage beneath Luffy. The ground suddenly opened under his feet, and before he could react, he was sucked into a vortex and ejected at my side. I watched as he got to his feet, visibly disoriented by the forced teleportation.

"It's time, Luffy," I said calmly, swiftly removing his disguise as Garp. The shadows forming his appearance dissipated into dark wisps, revealing his straw hat once again. "Go find Nami and Koby while I take care of unlocking this island's keyhole."

Luffy shook himself off, regaining his sharp and determined look. A wide grin spread across his face, undeterred by the urgency of the situation. "No problem, Jordan! I'll meet up with them, and after that, we're gonna beat the crap out of that jerk Morgan!" he declared enthusiastically before dashing off, his steps echoing in the alleyway.

A faint smile crossed my lips despite myself. Always so confident, that captain. Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention to the primary objective: the island's keyhole. It was located at the very center of the town square, a small, unassuming monument that wouldn't catch anyone's attention unless they knew what to look for.

However, I could already sense the rising tension. The sudden disappearance of the faux Garp had thrown the crowd into confusion and panic. Whispers of fear and uncertainty spread quickly, and I needed to act before the chaos escalated.

I raised my Keyblade, summoning a Darkside in a burst of shadows. The ground shook under its massive weight as it emerged from the darkness, its colossal silhouette casting a foreboding shadow over the square. Its inky black body seemed to absorb the surrounding light, and its glowing blue eyes added a chilling presence to the scene.

With a fluid motion, I leaped onto its shoulder, using its massive movements to gain height. "Move forward, but don't harm the civilians," I ordered. The Darkside tilted its head slightly in acknowledgment before it began advancing steadily toward the center of the square.

The townspeople, terrified by the sudden appearance of the colossal creature, screamed and scattered in all directions. Some stumbled in their haste, while others tried to protect their loved ones. The soldiers present hesitated, their weapons trembling in their hands. They exchanged nervous glances before a few turned and fled, unable to withstand the pressure.

The Darkside stopped in front of the central monument, its enormous fists slamming into the ground with a resounding thud that made the square vibrate. A pool of darkness spilled from its massive arms, summoning Shadows that began to spread through the town like a creeping black tide. These Shadows, though small and familiar, seemed almost innocent compared to the modified versions from the harder difficulty settings. This made me realize that only the ones I stored were truly altered—something that wasn't a problem for now.

I raised my Keyblade, pointing it toward the keyhole. The distinct click that echoed when I unlocked it was followed by a burst of dark energy. A flood of Heartless immediately poured forth, cascading into the town in waves of colorful creatures: Flying Soldiers, Red Nocturnes, Yellow Operas, Blue Rhapsodies, and the inevitable Green Requiems. Their presence seemed almost choreographed, a strange ballet that lit up the streets with bursts of magic in places.

Standing on the Darkside's shoulder, observing the scene, a faint smile appeared on my face. My attention was drawn to a surprising sight: the little girl from the restaurant owner had latched onto a Red Nocturne as if she mistook it for a stuffed toy. The creature, surprisingly, didn't react aggressively. Her mother, though visibly concerned, stood nearby, unsure how to act but noticing that the creatures showed no hostile intent.

I gently leaped down from the Darkside's shoulder and disappeared briefly to revert to my normal appearance. Approaching the duo, I ensured my steps were soft, careful not to frighten them further. The little girl looked up at me curiously, still clutching the Red Nocturne tightly.

"Are you not scared?" I asked softly, a warm smile on my face.

She shook her head confidently. "No, he's soft. He's warm, like my teddy bear."

Her mother, however, kept a wary gaze. "These creatures… they won't hurt her, will they?"

I shook my head firmly. "No, they only harm bad people. If they're ignoring you, it's because they know you're good."

The woman seemed to relax slightly, though her cautious eyes still darted between the creatures and me. Finally, she focused on me intently. "Who are you? How do you know all this?"

Straightening slightly, I offered a disarming smile. "My name is Jordan. I'm a wanted pirate, but not the kind that terrorizes innocent people. These creatures appeared on my home island, and I've been traveling from place to place, informing people while exploring new lands." My charming smile brought a faint blush to her cheeks.

The woman froze for a moment, her wide eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. "A… pirate? But you… you seem so kind."

"Are you a bad guy like the men in uniforms, big brother?" the little girl asked, now surrounded by a group of Green Requiems. They were casting healing spells on a small cut on her cheek.

I let out a light laugh and turned away. "I'm not a bad guy, even though I'm a pirate. And tomorrow, you'll see that there won't be any more bad men on this island," I declared as I walked away.

Behind me, I could hear the woman murmuring to herself, clearly confused. "A wanted pirate, really? How can someone so kind be a criminal…?"

Morgan's Office

Taking advantage of the general confusion, Eisah slipped out of Morgan's office with practiced ease, his expression impassive as though every detail of this chaos had been meticulously planned. Once in an isolated corridor, he retrieved a black Den Den Mushi, his movements precise and devoid of any nervousness.

"He's heading to the back, carrying everything he has," he murmured, his voice calm and cutting. "Do what needs to be done."

He hung up immediately, leaving no room for a response or further questions. His cold eyes scanned the scene as gunfire and screams echoed throughout the base. Approaching a nearby window, he carefully parted the curtain with his gloved fingers and observed the chaos unfolding outside.

The blue-eyed creatures, these so-called Heartless, moved in a strange yet organized dance. Eisah noticed that they didn't attack everyone. Instead, they seemed to carefully select their targets, ignoring some terrified soldiers while relentlessly overwhelming others. Their movements were precise, almost methodical, and Eisah found himself both fascinated and unnerved by the eerie efficiency of the mysterious creatures.

Back to Jordan

I soared swiftly toward the base, scanning the area for my companions. I spotted Nami skirting the building, her focused expression and precise, silent movements blending seamlessly with the darkness. Satisfied that Luffy and Koby were likely inside, I held back, watching Nami from above, curious about what she was searching for around the perimeter.

Suddenly, a concealed door burst open, breaking the night's calm. A man with a determined expression and a cruel smile emerged, charging straight at Nami. She barely had time to turn, but I reacted before he could reach her. A spike of ice erupted from the ground, forming a massive pillar that violently hurled him backward, his body hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

I quickly descended, landing in front of Nami, Keyblade at the ready. She instinctively positioned herself behind me, adopting a defensive stance despite her surprise.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice trembling but tinged with gratitude.

I didn't respond immediately, my eyes fixed on the man as he struggled to his feet, shaking his head to regain his composure. "Not very sportsmanlike to go after an unarmed woman," I said coldly, the Keyblade gleaming faintly in my grip.

The man laughed, his sneering smile widening. "Unarmed, huh? Pirates really are naive." He stood upright slowly, exuding a menacing aura. "I'm no marine, kid, and I didn't expect to stumble upon such an interesting bounty in this backwater."

His gaze settled on me, his eyes glinting with a strange light. "Heartless D. Jordan. 80 million berries… They say you've even escaped Garp. I'll admit, I'm curious. Are you worth that bounty, or is it just hot air?"

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice calm but tense, my muscles coiled to react to any provocation.

"I'm Eisah, second-in-command of the East Blue bounty hunters' branch," he replied with a predatory grin, drawing a black blade that seemed to absorb the light around it. "Now that I'm free to act, I can't wait to see if the legend is true."

Before I could respond, he lunged at me, his blade flashing dangerously. I raised my Keyblade to block his attack, the clash ringing out in the night like a thunderclap.

Behind me, Nami took a few steps back, her hands beginning to shimmer with magical energy. "Jordan, be careful," she warned, her voice tinged with genuine concern.

"Go find the others. I'll handle him," I instructed, glancing at her. She hesitated briefly before nodding and vanishing into the shadows. Turning my attention back to Eisah, a determined smile spread across my face. "Now, you want to test my strength? No problem. Let's see who can endure longer."

I launched into the attack, my Keyblade carving arcs of light through the air as I struck with all my might. But with each blow I delivered, Eisah dodged or blocked effortlessly, his black blade seeming to anticipate my every move.

He smirked mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain. "What was I thinking… A pirate from East Blue isn't worth anything."

His words ignited a fire within me. My blood boiled as I pushed harder, combining rapid strikes with bursts of magic. Still, Eisah remained unyielding. He circled me like a predator toying with its prey, his black blade landing precise strikes at every opportunity.

One of his attacks slid along the length of my Keyblade, sending sparks flying before slicing into my side. A sharp pain flared, and I grimaced as blood began to seep through my shirt.

I stepped back, realizing that this man had likely awakened some form of Haki, explaining his uncanny ability to anticipate my movements. My mind raced, searching for a way to break through his defense. But before I could act, he went on the offensive, delivering a flurry of rapid strikes. I managed to parry some of his blows, but each impact forced me further back.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the distance. "Eisah, what are you doing? We're already done!"

Eisah cast a quick glance in the direction of the voice, then turned back to me with a smug smile. "Sorry, kid. Looks like our fight ends here." Before I could react, he surprised me with a powerful lateral strike, his blade colliding with my Keyblade and sending me flying violently against the base's wall.

I hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of me, as a swarm of Heartless surged over the base, heading straight for Eisah. He immediately shifted his attention away from me, effortlessly dodging the creatures' attacks with an eerie grace. His movements were precise, almost like a dance, his blade cutting through the shadows that came too close.

My wounded pride refused to let him walk away unscathed. Ignoring the pain in my side, I forced myself to my feet and began bombarding Eisah with spells: lightning bolts, icy blasts, and even spheres of darkness. Yet, he evaded each attack with disconcerting ease, his movements perfectly synchronized with a mastery that seemed almost untouchable. The Heartless, unable to match his speed, only managed to slow him down slightly.

"You're even more pathetic than I thought," he called out over his shoulder, his voice dripping with disdain, as he disappeared into the night. His mocking laughter echoed in the air, leaving a bitter sting in its wake.

I stood motionless for a moment, gripping my Keyblade tightly, the bitter taste of defeat lingering on my tongue. This man wasn't just any opponent; he was on an entirely different level of danger than anything I'd faced before. But one thing was clear: this fight wasn't over.

A dark anger began to stir deep in my heart, but I forced myself to calm down. I summoned high-level Requiem Verts to heal me, conserving my magic in the process.

I took to the skies, flying at an altitude of 500 meters to ensure he couldn't see me, while the Heartless halted their assault as soon as he left the island. From above, I watched him board a small rowboat, which carried him to a larger ship anchored nearby.

From the deck of the ship, I could see Morgan and his son, chained and bloodied, their faces battered. Though I couldn't hear their words, I watched as Eisah made grand, mocking gestures before striking Morgan, knocking him unconscious.

(Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Feel free to leave a review if you've enjoyed the story so far. I'd like to thank ssdxd, the top contributor for the Power Stones, followed by myself ^^, and Daoisth7duib in third place.)