The island was in sight, its silhouette forming on the horizon. We thought we were finally about to dock and explore this new territory, but our hopes were brutally shattered by a sudden explosion.
BOOM!
A cannonball struck the Excalibur head-on, tearing through the ship's hull like paper. The impact shook the entire vessel, and water immediately began flooding into the hold.
"We're under attack!" Nami shouted, gripping the railing to avoid being thrown off balance.
"Who the hell are these guys?!" Koby yelled, scanning the horizon.
Luffy clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at the gaping hole in the ship. "My ship…!"
I quickly turned my eyes toward the direction of the shot and spotted a shadowy silhouette of an unknown ship. No visible flag, no identifiable banner… A ghost ship or cowards who didn't want to be recognized?
BOOM!
A second shot was fired, then a third.
I reacted instinctively, raising my hand and generating a massive wall of ice to intercept the incoming cannonballs. The impact shook the air, and the ice shattered under the force of the blasts, but it at least bought us a few precious seconds.
"We can't stay here!" I shouted, analyzing the situation. The Excalibur was done for. With a hole that big, there was no way we could repair it in the middle of the ocean.
"Luffy, Koby, Nami! Grab everything important!" I ordered.
With a swift motion, I opened a dark portal beneath the deck, leading directly to a safe location on our home island.
"Throw in the supplies, the gold, and your belongings!" I continued, as the water was already rising to our ankles.
Koby was the first to react, grabbing sacks of provisions and tossing them through the portal.
Nami, far too experienced in escape and salvage situations, stacked a mountain of items into Luffy's arms before giving him a well-placed kick, sending him through the portal.
"Nami, not so hard!" Luffy protested as he vanished into the opening.
"Shut up and move!" she snapped, throwing in the last of the treasure.
Finally, she and Koby dove through the dimensional rift as well, leaving me alone on the doomed ship.
I looked around, feeling the water rapidly rising.
My gaze settled on the Excalibur, my first ship, my traveling companion.
"I'm sorry, Excalibur…" I murmured, placing a hand on the trembling hull.
The wood creaked under the pressure of the water violently rushing into the ship's depths.
If I had been able to turn this ship into a Heartless, maybe I could have saved it.
But it was too late.
With one last look at the Excalibur, I slipped through the underwater breach, finding myself in the ocean, floating amidst the wreckage.
Beneath me, the ship slowly sank, disappearing into the depths, swallowed by the sea.
I clenched my fists, my gaze lifting toward the unseen enemy.
"I'm going to make them pay for this…" I thought, propelling myself underwater toward them.
Gliding silently beneath the surface, I snuck my way to the back of the enemy ship, hovering like a ghostly shadow. The vessel was a lighter model than a full war galleon, likely designed for trade but well-armed.
As I landed discreetly on the deck, the voices of the crew reached me clearly.
"Captain, are you sure that was the ship with the two big bounties?" one man asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"Of course, you idiot," replied a deeper voice, irritation lacing his tone. "The flag matches the Straw Hat kid, and the other guy created an ice wall right before our eyes. Who else do you think it was? A bunch of frozen fishermen?"
Another man burst out laughing. "We really got lucky, huh? One cannon shot, and boom, the little rookies are done for. We're gonna make a fortune off their bounties!"
The captain grunted. "Not so fast. Boss Mirks wants them alive. If we show up with corpses, we'll be in serious trouble. So keep your eyes open and find them."
The crew began scanning the sea, searching for survivors among the floating debris of my poor Excalibur.
So, they wanted us alive?
A cold smile crept across my lips. This was going to be even more interesting.
Subtly, I lifted my hand, opening a dark portal at the rear of the ship.
In an instant, Luffy, Nami, and Koby emerged from it, all ready for battle.
"So these are the guys?" Luffy asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Nami adjusted her staff, shooting a sharp glare at the pirates. "They sank our ship? Oh, they're going to regret that."
Koby gripped his scimitar tightly, a focused determination in his gaze.
I raised a finger, signaling them to wait.
"I can sense a keyhole on this ship," I explained calmly. "So try not to damage it too much—I'll need it."
Luffy cracked his knuckles, flashing a predatory grin.
"No problem! We'll just knock 'em out!"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Luffy, the last time you said that, there were pirate body parts scattered everywhere."
He burst into laughter, not even bothering to deny it.
"Well, they were still moving, weren't they?"
Nami sighed in exasperation.
"Let's do this cleanly, alright? And I definitely want to see if they have any treasure."
Koby took a deep breath before locking eyes with the enemy crew, who had just realized our presence.
The pirates froze, staring at us as if we were specters emerging from the shadows.
"WHAT?!?" a sailor shouted, dropping his musket.
"IT'S THEM!" another screamed, his eyes wide with horror.
The captain turned toward us, furrowing his brows, though he didn't seem as panicked as his men.
His gaze flicked over me, then Luffy, then Koby and Nami.
Then he smirked.
A confident, condescending smirk.
"So, you're tougher than expected. Not bad."
He unsheathed his saber, spinning it between his fingers with a nonchalant air.
"But it doesn't change a thing."
He pointed his blade at us.
"I suggest you surrender. It'll spare you a lot of suffering."
I let out a small chuckle.
"Surrender, huh?" Luffy grinned. "Not a chance."
The ship's deck erupted into chaos as reinforcements surged from below deck, armed to the teeth.
Around a hundred men flooded the battlefield, wielding rusty knives, worn sabers, and flintlock pistols. The clash of blades, the shouts of pirates, and the thunder of gunfire filled the air.
I cast a quick glance at Luffy, who, wielding his shield, violently knocked back a group of attackers.
One of them lunged at him, sword raised, but Luffy pivoted at the last second.
"Gum-Gum... SHIELD SMASH!"
With a brutal swing, he sent his opponent crashing into the main mast, which shuddered from the impact.
More pirates tried to surround him, but it was futile. Every strike they attempted was either deflected by his shield or absorbed without him even flinching.
Meanwhile, Koby moved with surprising fluidity.
Instead of attacking head-on, he aimed for joints—wrists, ankles, knees. Every pirate he struck collapsed with a cry, unable to get back up.
"Koby, you're not leaving a single one standing!" I laughed as another pirate tried to attack him from behind.
Koby pivoted gracefully, striking the back of his opponent's knee before delivering the flat of his scimitar to the man's temple.
"I'd rather avoid unnecessary injuries!" Koby replied, skillfully dodging another attacker.
But another problem was arising.
Several of the enemies were wielding pistols, taking shots at us from the back of their ranks.
I turned to Nami, who was already casting bolts of lightning, taking down the gunners one by one.
"Nami, let's take them out first!" I shouted, raising my hand as a sphere of energy began to crackle.
She nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"Got it! Time to teach them why they shouldn't mess with me!"
With a fluid motion, she pointed her staff towards the sky.
"Thunder!"
A monstrous bolt of lightning tore through the heavens, striking the group of gunmen, sending them collapsing to the ground under the electric surge.
I took the opportunity to chain my own attack.
"Piercing Glacier!"
Sharp icicles shot from my hands, freezing the pirates' weapons on impact.
"Damn it! My fingers are frozen!!" one of the pirates screamed, dropping his weapon.
Another one stumbled back, trembling. "They're not normal!"
The battle, despite its chaos, had already swung heavily in our favor.
Even the enemy captain, who had been hanging back so far, didn't get the chance to shine.
Luffy spotted him and dashed towards him before he could even draw his weapon.
"Wait…!" the captain tried to protest.
"Too late!" Luffy grinned, slamming his shield full force into the man's chest.
The bearded captain was sent flying several meters back, crashing hard against a barrel before collapsing, completely out of commission.
Silence fell over the entire ship.
Only we remained standing, surrounded by a pile of groaning, unconscious pirates.
I straightened up, scanning the battlefield.
"Well… that's that." I said, crossing my arms.
Luffy, still pumped with adrenaline, struck his fist against his shield with a wide grin.
"That wasn't even a real challenge!"
Nami stowed her staff, eyeing the defeated pirates with satisfaction.
"They attacked our ship… they got what they deserved."
Koby wiped his forehead, catching his breath.
"So, what now, Jordan?" he asked.
I glanced around at the unconscious pirates scattered across the deck. Cracking my neck, I smirked slightly.
"I'll handle them and interrogate the captain." My voice was calm but tinged with amusement.
Luffy crossed his arms, curious. "Why question someone we already beat up?"
I lifted a finger, grinning. "Because sometimes, even idiots have interesting information."
Nami, already gazing out at the sea towards our next destination, nodded.
"Fine. While you play with your new toys, we'll take care of getting this ship to shore." She shrugged.
I turned to her, tilting my head slightly with a smile.
"Nami, would you mind guiding Luffy and Koby to dock while I handle this? Please?"
She raised an eyebrow, giving me a look that was both amused and suspicious.
"It's rare for you to be this polite..."
Luffy threw a fist in the air with enthusiasm. "Yeah! Sailing on a ship we just wrecked is awesome!"
Koby, a little more hesitant, glanced around before shifting his gaze toward the ship's helm.
"I... I can help if needed. But I've never steered a ship like this before."
Nami patted Koby's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll explain everything. We won't sink… probably."
"Probably?" Koby repeated, a drop of sweat forming on his forehead.
Luffy laughed joyfully and grabbed a random rope.
"What does this one do?" he asked, pulling on it enthusiastically.
The rigging groaned ominously, and suddenly, a sail collapsed, nearly toppling the mast.
"LUFFY, STOP TOUCHING THE ROPES BEFORE I KILL YOU!!" Nami screamed, veins pulsing on her forehead.
Luffy immediately let go of the rope, raising his arms innocently. "Okay, okay! You're the navigator!"
I shook my head, amused, before focusing on the unconscious men sprawled across the deck.
With a fluid motion, I activated my Keyblade, making it glow with a dark and intriguing aura.
One by one, the pirates' bodies dissolved into a dark mist, transforming into Heartless, granting me a slight boost in power.
Some of them immediately evolved into hard mode versions of the creatures I already controlled.
But what caught my attention the most was a new type of creature—an odd barrel with legs.
Its clawed feet clicked against the wooden deck as it straightened up, revealing a sinister, twisted silhouette.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh… interesting."
The Barrel Spider.
A creature that could blend into its surroundings, disguising itself as a simple wooden barrel to trap its prey. I quickly commanded it into my shadow.
A smile stretched across my face as I felt a new ability awakening within me.
I decided to test it out, and my body was instantly covered by an illusion, making me appear as nothing more than a harmless barrel sitting on the deck.
Koby, who had just returned after leaving Nami to deal with Luffy, stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing a random barrel where I had been standing seconds ago.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Uh… Jordan?"
I instantly reverted to my normal form, chuckling.
"Right here, Koby."
He jumped back. "Damn! What was that?!"
I patted the Heartless that had just gifted me this new ability.
"Just a little trick for infiltration. You never know when it might come in handy."
Koby sighed, shaking his head.
"You're getting seriously creepy sometimes…"
I winked at him.
"That's why I'm the most wanted one between us, right?"
As my new Heartless integrated into my army, the ship continued its course under Nami's command, now confident that Luffy wouldn't accidentally destroy the rigging.
I cracked my knuckles as I approached the unconscious captain on the deck. His bruised face and split lip were clear signs of the absolute beating he had just suffered.
Leaning in slightly, I smirked before pressing my foot against his chest and sending a small electric shock into him.
His body jolted violently, and he awoke with a start, gasping for breath.
"Argh…!" His terrified gaze locked onto me as sparks crackled at the tip of my Keyblade.
"Hey there, captain." I said, my tone falsely friendly.
He grimaced, trying to move, but I pressed my foot down slightly, keeping him pinned.
"There, there, stay still. I just want to talk."
He spat to the side, hatred burning in his eyes. "I've got nothing to say to you, bastard!"
I twirled my Keyblade between my fingers before pressing its tip against his arm, releasing a small arc of electricity.
ZZZT
The pirate let out a strangled cry, his body twitching from the jolt.
He growled, gritting his teeth. "You... bastard...!"
I tilted my head, feigning curiosity.
"Are you sure you want to keep that tongue tied?"
ZZZT
Another shock.
The captain arched slightly under me, gasping. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He shot me a defiant glare, then groaned in frustration.
"Tch... Fine, fine!" He took a deep breath before glaring at me bitterly. "The boss of the bounty hunters in East Blue hired us to track you and the kid with the straw hat."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And why so much interest in us?"
He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with resentment.
"Are you stupid or what?! A combined bounty of 110 million isn't nothing!"
I let him keep talking, my foot still firmly pressed on him.
"This guy, Mirks, he wants you both captured at any cost. He's set up groups all over East Blue to hunt promising pirates… But you, you're his top targets."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Mirks, huh…?"
The captain caught his breath and added with a mocking tone:
"You can kill me if you want, it won't change a thing. You're a dead man, kid. He's got resources you can't even imagine…"
A heavy silence settled, my gaze darkening.
Then, slowly, a smile stretched across my lips.
I withdrew my Keyblade from the captain's unconscious body, watching his transformation with detached interest. Dark energy surged from him, condensing into a large, imposing shape. A Hard Mode Fat Bandit emerged in his place, its massive form already far surpassing his former human strength.
I let out a small whistle of admiration.
"Well… it's always fascinating to see that."
Beside me, Nami crossed her arms, pouting slightly.
"Yeah, yeah, fascinating and all… but I hope you at least found some Berries on this damn ship."
I sighed, shrugging.
"Water, food, cannonballs, and gunpowder…" I paused before looking at her with a teasing smile. "But no treasure."
A heavy silence followed.
Nami froze, her eyes widening in shock before her face twisted into a furious grimace.
"WHAT?!" Nami screamed, grabbing me by the collar.
Luffy burst out laughing, slapping his stomach. "Aaaah, this is too funny! Nami wanted money, and there's none!"
Nami shot him a death glare, her fist already raised.
"YOU, SHUT UP!"
While she was still lamenting the lack of riches, I focused on the captured ship.
My Keyblade began to glow with a dark aura, and I drove it deep into the lock on the ship's deck.
A shiver ran through the entire structure, as if the very wood was pulsing with a wave of darkness.
The planks groaned and cracked, as if the ship was taking its first breath.
Dark veins slithered across its surface, reinforcing its hull. Metallic plates fused seamlessly with the wood, forming an eerie living armor.
Massive, shadowy wings erupted from the ship's sides, unfurling slowly with an unsettling squelching sound.
The Heartless Galleon lifted slightly above the water, hovering a few meters off the shore, floating in the air with an ominous grace.
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement as he watched.
"Waaaaaah! Jordan, you made a FLYING SHIP!! This is so cool!!"
Koby, on the other hand, was frozen in shock, staring at the nightmarish vessel with wide, uneasy eyes.
"A… a ship that floats without touching the water?" He swallowed hard. "Isn't that… a little terrifying?"
Nami, still fuming about the lack of money, froze as she took in the towering airborne ship.
Her mouth opened… closed… then opened again.
"…It's creepy… but if we can use it to travel, that means we won't have to buy another ship."
I smirked before shaking my head.
"Personally, I prefer keeping the Heartless I create for emergencies." I stated, knowing that relying too much on them could drag the crew into a downward spiral. "Sailing the old-fashioned way will be way more fun."
Luffy thought about it for a second before grinning. "Yeah! That makes sense! Let's keep sailing like real pirates!"
As we admired our newly tamed vessel, I suddenly felt a pair of eyes watching us.
I turned slightly, spotting a furtive silhouette hiding among the bushes.
A skinny, lanky boy, accompanied by three younger kids, was watching us with wide, astonished eyes.
The second he met my gaze, his face paled.
"RETREAT!" he shouted, turning on his heels and sprinting into the forest, his companions scrambling to follow.
I let out a slight smirk."Looks like we made quite an impression."
Koby glanced in the direction where the kids had fled."Who were they?"
"We'll find out soon enough, but first, we need to tackle the dungeon and store our things at our base," I said as I absorbed the galleon into my shadow, its form distorting and twisting as it was swallowed like magic.
With a flick of my wrist, I opened a portal, leading us back to our supplies, which had been safely stored away by the Heartless soldiers.
"Luffy, this is a hard-mode run, so I want you to come along. We already know the paths, so the real challenge will be the Trickmaster and that damned Queen with her cards."
(Author's Note: Just clarifying some details here.
Heartless spawned from island locks: Infinite but stuck at easy mode. Heartless created from people: Updated based on dungeon levels. Dungeon rewards: Scale according to dungeon difficulty.)