One piece :I open the locks of the heart

I left Luffy with Nami, knowing she would be safe by his side, and quickly changed into my disguise. A dark, discreet outfit, perfect for blending into the night. The sky was moonless, making the night ideal for my covert actions. Once ready, I silently dove into the water, moving beneath the surface with the grace my acquired abilities granted me.

Underwater, I circled the port, observing every corner. The ships, large dark silhouettes against the horizon, were calm at this hour. Most of the crews were likely asleep or occupied in the nearby taverns. When I finished my reconnaissance, I emerged from the water without making a sound. Rather than walk, I focused my mind and, in an instant, I lifted off the ground, floating through the air with the lightness of Peter Pan. I rose above the buildings, my aerial movements fluid and silent.

From the air, I could see the entire island spread out beneath me. At its center, a lock glowed faintly in the darkness, a strategic point that deserved my attention. But it wasn't time to deal with it just yet. My goal for the night was to grow stronger.

I glided gently over the dimly lit streets. At every corner, I could see hearts floating above the inhabitants: black hearts, saturated with malice, and a few red hearts, burning with anger. No grey hearts, the symbol of lesser corruption, and certainly no pure white hearts like mine, or gold hearts like those of Luffy and, strangely enough, Nami.

I landed softly on a rooftop, watching the alleyways below. A group of pirates, dead drunk after a night of debauchery, were sprawled across the street, unconscious and vulnerable. It was the perfect opportunity. Taking advantage of the low light, I descended silently, hovering above the ground to make no noise. These pirates had no idea what was about to happen to them.

I bent over the first pirate, pulling out my Keyblade and plunging it directly into his heart. He didn't even stir, lost in his drunken stupor. His body was enveloped in a black shadow, twisting and deforming as it changed into a Soldat Sans-cœur. The familiar black orb merged into my body, strengthening me. With a satisfied smile, I made it disappear into my shadow.

I repeated the process with each pirate lying in the street, turning them one by one into Ombres or Soldats Sans-cœur, which I immediately stored. They offered no resistance, completely unaware of their fate. In just a few minutes, I had gathered a dozen new recruits, weak but numerous.

"This is a good start," I murmured, continuing my exploration of the town.

I repeated this process with every isolated or unconscious pirate I found. My movements were fluid as I hovered just above the ground, gliding through the shadows without making a sound. With each transformation, I gained a new Sans-cœur that I stored, and before long, I had accumulated nearly a hundred of these creatures, mostly Ombres and Soldats. Although they weren't particularly powerful individually, their growing numbers more than made up for this weakness.

But more importantly, I could feel the effects of these transformations on my own body. Each time I absorbed a black orb, I felt my muscles grow stronger, my endurance increase. My body was adapting to the darkness I manipulated, becoming tougher and faster.

When I first met Luffy, he had easily outmatched me in strength and speed. But I had managed to defeat him with a few tricks. Now, my physical strength had developed to the point where my punches were more powerful, my movements more precise, and my ability to take hits had significantly improved. I was still not on Luffy's level in terms of raw resilience, but the gap was much smaller now. Every Sans-cœur I created made me stronger, more efficient—but I had to be careful not to get lost in this euphoria.

After sweeping through every street and alley, I turned my gaze toward the ships. I spotted Marlo's ship about two kilometers from the port, calmly floating in the distance as I observed it.

After a moment of hesitation, I approached the brigantine that Luffy had defeated earlier in the day. The ship had drifted slightly away from the port, floating calmly on the waves. I noticed only one crew member standing guard, a lone figure in the night.

I slowly rose into the air, gliding silently toward the ship. I landed on the deck with the stealth of a shadow, ready to neutralize the guard. A quick Scan revealed that he was just a standard pirate. I swiftly knocked him out with a well-placed blow, making sure not to wake the others.

Once the guard was neutralized, I got to work. The crew was deep asleep, and I proceeded methodically, turning each pirate into a Sans-cœur. The Soldats emerged one by one, joining my shadow, until I reached Marlo the Snitch, their captain.

Marlo's transformation was different from the others. As his body twisted under the influence of the darkness, he let out a Rondouillard, a more imposing and resilient creature than the simple Soldats I had obtained so far. But that wasn't all. To my surprise, a Simili also appeared, gently floating in the air before me. It had the appearance of a Reflet, a humanoid figure with pale skin and no expression, its movements strangely fluid and silent.

I frowned, watching the creature with some suspicion. Unlike its predecessor, the Simili showed no sign of aggression. It simply floated there, staring at me with its empty eyes.

"Come here," I ordered, pointing to a spot in front of me.

To my surprise, the Reflet obeyed immediately, gliding through the air to position itself exactly where I had commanded. However, a problem quickly presented itself: I had no way to store it, as I did with my Sans-cœur. I sighed in frustration, sending the Rondouillard back into my shadow, still standing, ready to obey my commands.

That's when I noticed the Simili slowly deforming, its body transforming into a small white orb that floated in the air. I watched intently as it moved without any input from me toward the keychain of my Keyblade. The moment the orb touched the keychain, an immediate change occurred.

The once modest keychain of my Keyblade changed to take the shape of the Simili logo, a sharp and enigmatic geometric form, symbolizing their heartless existence. And that wasn't all: the Keyblade itself transformed before my eyes, taking on a much more menacing appearance. It was no longer a golden or shiny weapon. It had now become a black sword, adorned with silver lines, with a thin, dark blade that looked almost terrifying in its design, as if it had been forged from darkness itself.

I observed it in silence, fascinated by the transformation. "Interesting..." I murmured, giving the newly formed Keyblade a slight twirl in my hand. It felt lighter, more dangerous, ready to tear through anything in its path.

After a moment of marveling, I shook my head to refocus. There was still work to be done. I methodically searched the ship, moving from cabin to cabin, looking for anything useful. In the kitchen, I found several crates of provisions: fruits, dried meats, vegetables, and drinkable water. Perfect to keep our supplies stocked for the coming days.

I also discovered a few bags of silver, probably the loot from small raids Marlo and his crew had carried out. I took them without hesitation, knowing they'd serve my purposes far better than staying in the hands of those pirates. Lastly, in the hold, I found several cannonballs and a few barrels of black powder. Not enough to arm a warship, but sufficient to have some ammunition on hand should we ever need it.

With my inventory complete, I cast one last glance around, satisfied with my findings. With my new Keyblade and the resources I had gathered, I felt more confident.

I left the ship emptied, without a trace of battle. The deserted deck, the abandoned cabins—it was as if the crew had vanished into the night. This vessel became the first ghost ship in the harbor, a silent warning to anyone who dared raise a hand against the innocent. But my work wasn't finished. I silently floated toward the galleon docked right next to it, gliding through the air like a shadow.

No one detected me. The lookout, half slumped over his post, slept soundly, making my task easier. I quietly landed on the deck of the galleon, ready to repeat the operation. This ship was larger, and inside, I could sense the presence of a lock—a detail of interest, but one to be dealt with later. For now, I focused on my mission: clearing the crew.

I slipped through the corridors, moving from cabin to cabin, turning the pirates into Sans-cœur without them even noticing. Some transformed into simple Ombres, but my true reward came when I encountered the gunners. By plunging my Keyblade into their corrupted hearts, I summoned several Nocturnes rouges, Sans-cœur specialized in fire magic. A valuable gain for my growing army.

I quietly made my way to the captain's quarters. Upon entering, I was struck by a sight that immediately ignited my anger. The captain, a massive man with a black beard and the stench of sweat mixed with alcohol, slept peacefully in his bed.

But next to him, tied up and unconscious, were three women, clearly mistreated. Their skin was marked with bruises and cuts, their clothes torn. One of them had dried blood on her face, her hair disheveled; another was trembling slightly, even in her sleep—a sign of the trauma they had endured.

A quiet rage rose within me, burning in my chest. This captain, this vile man, had dared to do this. My grip tightened around my Keyblade, and without hesitation, I approached him. He deserved no other fate than the one I was about to give him.

I plunged my Keyblade into his heart with cold determination. His body tensed briefly before twisting under the influence of the darkness. A large black orb of reinforcement escaped from him, and his form shifted into a Gros bandit, a massive and formidable creature. But to my surprise, a Simili assassin suddenly appeared in the room, swift and silent, attempting to attack me. Before I could react, the Gros bandit opened its wide mouth and spat several fireballs, taking down the Simili with deadly precision.

The Simili disintegrated into shards of light that flew toward me, and a notification echoed in my mind.

"You have obtained control of the Similis: Assassins."

"Skill acquired: Infallible (Throws a seized enemy to the ground, damaging nearby foes)."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage still boiling inside me. The captain was no more, and his crew had paid for their crimes. But the three women remained. I turned to them, still unconscious. Even after all the noise, they hadn't stirred, which worried me for a moment.

I approached, carefully examining their injuries. One of the women, with pale skin and curly brown hair, had a nasty cut on her leg. Another, younger with tangled blonde hair, had red marks around her wrists where the ropes had been too tight. The last, a woman with long black hair, seemed to have taken several blows to the face; her right eye was swollen, and traces of dried tears marked her cheeks.

Gently, I placed my hand on each of them, using my Cure spells to heal their wounds. Slowly, the cuts and bruises faded, and soon they began to stir, their eyes opening gradually. peut tu me traduire ce passage en français

I lifted a finger to my lips, a gesture visible beneath my hood, signaling them to stay quiet. They were still terrified, their eyes darting around the room in confusion, but as I motioned to assure them they were safe, they began to relax slightly. I gestured for them to follow me. They stood up, still shaky and traumatized, but they followed without a word, their steps hesitant.

We made our way off the galleon, crossing the deck in silence. When we reached the dock, I pointed toward a small boat nearby, a way for them to escape unnoticed. I retrieved some supplies from my inventory: food, a compass, and a map. I handed these over, along with a final reassuring look.

As they boarded the small vessel, one of them, the woman with black hair, hesitated before speaking in a quiet voice, "Thank you… You saved us. I can navigate... I know the sea."

Another woman, the younger blonde, whispered, "Who are you?"

I remained silent, simply giving a nod before stepping back into the shadows.

Tears welled up in their eyes as they murmured their gratitude, the brunette managing a soft, "We will never forget this."

They began rowing, still trembling but filled with hope, slowly disappearing into the darkness of the sea, sailing toward a new chance at freedom.

After helping the women escape and securing the galleon, I soared one last time into the air, gliding back to the ship to ensure I hadn't left anything useful behind. I combed through the galleon thoroughly, searching every nook, every cabin. My efforts were rewarded: chests filled with gold coins and jewels, ammunition, barrels of gunpowder. Every valuable item, every useful resource, I quickly stashed in my trunk, careful not to overlook anything.

But the true target of this expedition still lay ahead: the ship's lock. I had sensed it the moment I boarded, and now it was time to unlock it.

I made my way to the center of the galleon, where the lock faintly glowed in the darkness. It was hidden inside an empty cabin, almost invisible unless you knew precisely where to look. With my Keyblade in hand, I approached and inserted the blade into the lock. The air around me seemed to hum slightly as I turned the Keyblade, releasing the power contained within.

Immediately, a wave of darkness surged from the lock, spiraling around the ship. Shadows spread along the walls and the deck, covering every wooden plank in a palpable darkness. The entire ship was engulfed in a matter of seconds. But this wasn't destruction. No, it was transformation. I could feel the power of the darkness infusing the galleon, as if the ship itself were becoming a creature.

I quickly stepped out onto the deck, watching the ship's evolution unfold before my eyes. Unlike what I had seen before, the galleon didn't change in size. It remained a formidable pirate ship, imposing and threatening, but its transformation into a Heartless galleon was undeniable. The sails had blackened, now adorned with the symbol of the Heartless. The wood, once worn by time, had darkened to an almost black hue, shimmering faintly in the weak moonlight. Wisps of darkness swirled around the ship, creating a thick, oppressive fog that seemed to absorb the light around it.

The darkness briefly retracted before Heartless began to emerge from the shadows. But something immediately caught my attention: their eyes. Unlike the usual yellow-eyed Heartless I had seen elsewhere, these, like all those under my command, had glowing, icy blue eyes. They gathered around me, their blue gazes tracking my every movement with silent obedience.

I saw Shadows sliding along the deck, their blue eyes softly glowing in the darkness. A few Soldier Heartless appeared, accompanied by Red Nocturnes, floating slightly above the ground, their bodies illuminated by a reddish glow, but their eyes still displaying that distinctive blue hue.

I walked across the deck, observing every detail. The ship hadn't changed in size, but it had clearly undergone a transformation. It had become a Heartless galleon, a dark and powerful vessel, yet incredibly menacing in its form. It retained the same dimensions as before, but every part of the ship, from the mast to the sails, now emanated a palpable aura of danger, as if the ship itself was a malevolent entity, ready to devour anyone who dared approach.

You have obtained a Heartless galleon and a Heartless crew: 100 Shadows, 50 Soldiers, and 20 Red Nocturnes.

I felt a presence manifesting in the darkness of the ship: the Heartless galleon was now a living vessel, ready to follow my commands. It was not merely a wooden shell but a weapon, an extension of my own power. The blue-eyed Heartless that populated the ship were my soldiers, my servants, and I could feel that their combined strength was enough to overpower any other pirate crew.

I looked up at the black sails, contemplating the Heartless emblem now etched upon them. This galleon had become a fortress of darkness, ready to sail under my command. With this ship, I could dominate the seas, venture into uncharted territories, and conquer the most dangerous islands, all while maintaining complete control over the darkness that surrounded me.

(Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this little grind session. I'll continue working on my chapters, but I don't think I'll be able to publish anything before next weekend. Thank you for your support, and feel free to leave gifs or images related to the story.)