As we watched Kuroobi vanish, transformed into a Roundy that began to slowly wander across the sand, I turned toward Hachi and pointed out toward the sea.The creature stumbled awkwardly in the sand, then, as if guided by some aimless instinct, began pacing in slow circles — its peaceful movements a stark contrast to the violence that had preceded.
I turned to Hachi, who seemed torn between discomfort and deep relief.I pointed at the ocean, glittering under the first morning light."MooMoo's over there, near the coast. She's with my aquatic companion — a giant crocodile."I gave him a serious look."Don't attack him, alright? He's got a bad temper, but he's been keeping watch over MooMoo since yesterday."
Without another word, Hachi rushed toward the water, his figure merging into the waves with almost unreal speed.
I stayed behind, watching as Nami gently rubbed Nojiko's back.Nojiko was looking at the Roundy with a calm, almost serene gaze.Her eyes shimmered — not with tears, but with a new sense of peace.
I approached slowly and placed a light hand on her shoulder."Nojiko..." I said softly, "would you like to stay in Fuschia?I can set up a quiet place for you there.You'd be with Grandma Heartless and Léa."
She turned her eyes to me slowly, thoughtful.Then, drawn by a glimmer on the water, she lifted her head.Far off, Hachi was re-emerging, triumphant, riding on MooMoo's head as she slapped the water with her tail, visibly euphoric.Seeing him alive seemed to awaken something in her.
"Can I stay here… with Hachi?" she asked gently, almost shyly."I feel… safe with him."
Nami nodded instantly.I crossed my arms, looking around us."This isn't really my island…" I said with a tired smile."If you want to stay here, of course you can.But to be honest — there's no house yet. Just the crew's stuff, piled under a tarp."
I pointed to an area not far off, where a large dark sheet covered our chests, tools, and a few supplies.
At that moment, Hachi returned on foot, dragging behind him a still-cheerful MooMoo.He walked over to Nojiko and placed a massive yet gentle hand on her shoulder.
"A house?" he said brightly, his sincere smile lighting up his face."I can do that.Give me a few tools, a patch of shade, and some wood — and I'll have you a solid cabin built by sundown."
He turned to me."You okay with that?"
I held out my hand, palm up."I'll get you the tools. And the wood.This is your space just as much as ours, Hachi."
He shook my hand without hesitation — a firm grip, but not aggressive.
Nojiko gave a small smile — her first in a long time — and murmured:"As long as I have a roof… and you guys… that's enough for me."
After leaving Nojiko and Hachi to talk about building plans, I slipped away for a quick round trip to Fuschia.There, I made a few discreet purchases: sturdy tools for Hachi, food and marine supplements for MooMoo — dried fish, seaweed, fruits she seemed to enjoy.
The Heartless didn't need food or rest.But MooMoo… MooMoo was a living being, loyal and kind.And she deserved the care of a companion like Hachi.
I returned to the island about twenty minutes later.The sun was already high in the sky, warming the stones and sand of the beach.The calls of a few seabirds drifted through the air, and a light breeze rustled the leaves around our base.
I handed the tools to Hachi, who thanked me enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming."You even got reinforced steel nails?"He gave me a look that was almost emotional."You don't mess around when it comes to quality, huh?"
"I'm a man of taste, what can I say," I replied with a shrug and a smile.
I also placed a large basin full of food next to MooMoo, who greeted me with a joyful low and nearly licked my arm — forcing me to stumble back under Nojiko's laughter.
"She's adopted you. You'd better watch out, Jordan," Nami called from the small clearing.
Meanwhile, I summoned ten guardian-armors to surround the new settlement area.Unlike the wild Heartless spawned from the locks, these creatures were entirely loyal to me.Each of them — massive and silent — stood at the tree line, forming an invisible barrier.Their presence alone would be enough to deter any intruder… human or otherwise.
Hachi and I worked together for a good two hours.He led the construction effortlessly, handling beams like they weighed nothing, his arms tireless.I assisted by summoning a few shadow soldiers to carry wood, fix the structure, and adjust the foundations.
Not far off, under the shade, Nami and Nojiko had started cooking.The scent of a fragrant stew drifted through the air, mingled with the light laughter of the two sisters.It was perhaps the first time in weeks that Nojiko truly laughed.
Before the afternoon ended, the cabin stood finished: solid, rustic, but charming, with a small wooden terrace facing the sea.
I made one last trip to Fuschia to pick up a few pieces of furniture: a comfortable bed, a shelf, a table, two chairs, and some embroidered cushions.Everything was installed quickly.
I placed the little shadow kitten inside.It trotted over to Nojiko immediately, circling her legs and purring loudly.She bent down to pick it up and held it close to her chest, her eyes shining — not with sorrow, but calm.
The moment was peaceful.Too peaceful.
I turned to Nami, my expression more serious."Nami, it's time. We need to rejoin the others."I paused, my gaze fixed on the horizon."I think they've dealt with the last pirates in the area… but we can't wait.If we delay, Arlong might strike the villages around Cocoyashi."
She nodded at once, any trace of her smile erased by cold determination."You're right. Let's go."
She hugged her sister tightly, exchanged a few words with Hachi, then joined me.
As we walked away, I glanced back one last time at the cabin.A golden light bathed the wooden facade.Nojiko sat on the steps, the kitten in her arms, waving softly.
With a precise gesture, I opened a portal — directly into Kaya's mansion hall.The room was bathed in afternoon light, filtered through tall white curtains.
As we entered, Nami and I were greeted by an unexpected scene:Kaya, focused and gentle, was leaning over Usopp's back, carefully dabbing disinfectant onto a long gash across his shoulder blades.The poor guy was trying not to scream, but his clenched teeth and soft grunts betrayed the pain.
"Don't move, Usopp! Almost done…" Kaya murmured, her voice sweet but firm.
In the corner of the room, Luffy and Koby sat casually, shamelessly devouring a generous meal served by Merry and the other staff.
The moment Luffy saw me, he jumped to his feet."Finally! You're back!" he said with his usual enthusiasm.
He grabbed me by the arm before I could answer and dragged me straight to Usopp, who was still groaning.
"Jordan, heal him, please! He threw himself in front of Kaya when Django tried to kill her. Koby took him down right after."I nodded calmly as I approached."No problem. Let me handle it."
I gently placed my hand on Kaya's shoulder, inviting her to step back.She obeyed without protest, though her eyes remained fixed on Usopp, visibly worried.I silently recited the incantation, and a soft green glow wrapped around the wound.In seconds, the gash closed, leaving behind only a faint, barely visible white scar.
"There. All done," I said with a reassuring smile.
Usopp let out a long breath of relief and slowly sat up."Ahhh… feels like I just slept ten hours straight! Thanks, man!"
I turned toward Koby, still calm and composed."Where are the remaining pirates?"
He pointed confidently to the southern coast of the island."Luffy and I cleared most of the shoreline. Thirty of them are unconscious near the cliffs. The three big guys are still tied up."
I gave him a quick nod and glanced at Nami."Explain the situation to them. I'll handle the rest."
"Got it," she said, already beginning to speak with Koby and Luffy.
I turned sharply and took off toward the battlefield, the wind whipping through my clothes.
When I arrived, the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder and smoke.The terrain bore clear signs of improvised traps: scorch marks, charred debris, fragments of metal.Usopp had definitely left his mark — blood and shrapnel were scattered across the field.
Pirates lay sprawled everywhere, some half-buried in bushes, others stacked like sacks of potatoes.Only thirty were still alive — unconscious or otherwise neutralized.
I quickly spotted Sham, Buchi, and Django, all bound with reinforced rope and unconscious.I approached them one by one, planting my Keyblade into each.
Dark energy enveloped me as I turned them into Heartless, each with a black, vaporous sigh.A shiver ran down my spine when I absorbed Django's essence.A strange Heartless emerged from his transformation — humanoid and slender, with an oval-shaped head reminiscent of old sci-fi aliens.
A pale, oversized skull and wide blue eyes.Around its neck floated a spinning hypnotist's ring, like a distorted halo.
I dismissed it into my shadow, feeling its essence merge with mine.Hypnosis… let's see.
I walked up to one of the unconscious pirates and gave him a light kick to the ribs.He woke up with a jolt, blinking and dazed.
I summoned the pendulum into my hand and began to swing it slowly in front of his eyes."Look at me. You're a chicken. And you're very, very hungry."
He stared.Then blinked."...What?"
I immediately felt ridiculous.He looked at me like I'd escaped from a street theater troupe.My desire to dig a hole and disappear into it was... intense.
I sighed and, with a precise motion, drove my Keyblade into his chest, converting him into a docile Shadow."Never mind."
I summoned the Hypnotist Heartless again, curious about its actual abilities.I woke another pirate.
This time, the Heartless approached him silently.Without a word, it began to swing the pendulum.
The pirate slowly weakened… his legs giving out until he struggled to stay upright.I raised my hand to stop the Heartless and made a subtle upward motion.
The pirate seemed to regain strength — even a surge of energy.
Perfect. A kind of physical buff and debuff.
I dismissed the Heartless back into my shadow, then continued converting the remaining pirates, one by one.
When I was done, I turned toward the coast.Debris, ropes, bloody clothes, and some less pleasant remains littered the ground.
I raised both hands and cast a series of ice spells.Frozen blocks rose from the earth, trapping the organic waste, cleansing the area without me needing to touch it.I hurled the frozen blocks into the sea with ease.
The sun was already beginning to dip, casting long golden shadows across Kaya's mansion.
I reappeared quietly in the courtyard through a discreet portal, still surrounded by the salty coolness of the sea breeze.
As I stepped through the back door, I found only calm: the servants were tidying up the remains of the meal, Merry was giving instructions to a young attendant, and in the distance, the soft hum of cicadas accompanied the mansion's quiet atmosphere.
I descended the stone steps leading to the basement.The lock had been calling to me for some time now — a quiet presence, buried, forgotten behind years of dust and thick walls.
I placed my hand on the old wooden shelf that concealed part of the wall and moved it aside.The lock appeared, engraved into the stone like an ancient ornament.
I slowly unlocked it.A contained black wave rippled out in silence.Arachnobarils and pirates emerged, accompanied by shadows that teleported directly in sharp bursts of darkness.Only a few arachnobarils camouflaged themselves in the cellar.
Upstairs, I ran into Luffy.He was leaning against a column, arms crossed, his gaze fixed straight ahead.His face — usually open and carefree — was grim.
"You done with your stuff?" he asked in a calm but firm tone.I nodded.
He straightened instantly, slamming his fist into his palm with icy determination."Good. Then let's go finish Arlong.It's time… to honor a promise."
I was about to answer, but a soft voice rose from the sitting room, slicing through the atmosphere like a gentle caress."Not just yet, please."
Kaya stepped into the room, her pace still slightly slow, but steady.She wore a light dress, and despite her paleness, she stood tall.A soft light shone in her eyes.
"I'd like you to stop by again once you're done.There's something… I want to give you."She paused."A thank-you. And something that might… be useful."
Luffy raised an eyebrow, briefly breaking the tension."A gift? What is it? A giant roast?"
Kaya let out a small, sincere laugh — fragile, but real."Not quite."
Her gaze then shifted to Usopp, who stood off to the side, visibly conflicted.He was staring at the floor, unsure.Then, as if driven by an inner force, he lifted his head.His hands slowly clenched into fists, and he stepped forward.
"I want to come too," he said.All eyes turned to him.
"I want to fight by your side.To help those who can't protect themselves.And… to give back what you've given me."
He glanced briefly at Kaya, almost seeking silent approval.She slowly shook her head… and smiled gently.A sad, but proud smile.
Luffy stepped forward and placed a hand on Usopp's shoulder, his own smile returning — tempered, but strong."You wanna join us, Usopp? For real?"
"Yeah. I do."
Luffy nodded simply."Then you're one of us."
Koby, standing nearby, gave a nod and a smile, realizing we had just welcomed a new crewmate.
I placed my hand on Usopp's shoulder too, looking him straight in the eyes."Then get ready, sharpshooter.We're going to take down an empire."
Nami summoned her staff into her hand."Luffy… I want us to head straight to Arlong Park. No detours."Her voice was sharp. Resolute. It didn't waver.
I turned to her more slowly."Nami… You already know what I'm going to say.Same as with Nojiko.I won't let you deliver the final blow."
She lowered her eyes slightly, fists clenched.A short breath. A sigh. Then she nodded reluctantly."You're right. I'll let you do it. But…"She lifted her eyes to meet mine, a spark of resolve flashing within."I want you to let me speak to him before it's over."
"Deal," I replied, and with a precise motion, I opened a portal that led us to a path near the enemy base.
(Author's note: That's it for this week — next week promises some big twists ^^ Attached: the image of the new Heartless.)