Chapter 25: A Fourth Power

(According to my theory: Pirate/Marine/Revolutionary Army)

A sudden message appeared in my mind:

Luffy upgrades the ability Goofy Tornado to Luffy Tornado (creates a tornado that pulls enemies in while dealing damage).Luffy gains the ability Last Stand (enables him to survive a fatal blow with 1 HP remaining).Nami earns the ability Gale Shield (creates a wind shield around the caster).Nami earns the ability Abundance (enemies generate HP orbs, MP orbs, and Munny visible only to teammates) (1 Munny = 100 Berries).Jordan gains 600 Soldiers, 120 Rondouillard, 120 Nocturnes Rouges, 120 Opéras Jaunes, 120 Rhapsodies Bleues, 120 Requiem Verts, and 4 Armures Gardiennes.The Soldiers, Rondouillard, Nocturnes Rouges, Opéras Jaunes, Rhapsodies Bleues, Requiem Verts, and Armures Gardiennes under your command have been leveled up to Hard Mode.Expert Mode will remain locked until 5 dungeons are completed in Hard Mode.

Barely had I finished reading the victory message when Nami suddenly threw her arms around me. Her embrace was strong, but I could feel a slight tremor in her body.

"Thank you, Jordan," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mixture of relief and fear. "I don't know what would've happened if I'd been caught in that tornado…" A shiver ran through her as the adrenaline of the fight subsided, and she fully realized the danger she had narrowly escaped.

I returned her embrace warmly, placing a reassuring hand on her back. "Nami, I'll always be there to protect you," I said softly, my words full of sincerity. "You're my friend, and I see you as a little sister. I won't fight all your battles for you because I want to see you grow stronger. But you can count on one thing: I'll always have your back."

I felt Nami smile slightly against me, and her shoulders relaxed a little. Gently, I ran a hand through her silky hair, hoping to offer her a little more comfort. "You're not alone in this," I added with a smile.

"Thank you, Jordan," she replied softly, her voice steadier now, a sign that she was regaining her composure.

But the moment was suddenly interrupted by a booming exclamation. "Coooool!!" shouted Luffy, shattering the calm and warm atmosphere.

Nami and I both jumped slightly, quickly pulling apart, our cheeks slightly red under his bright and carefree gaze.

"Seriously, Luffy?" Nami grumbled, crossing her arms with a mock-annoyed expression, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

I turned to Luffy, ready to throw a playful jab his way, but my mouth froze open in surprise. "Luffy… what are you doing?"

Luffy, a few meters above the ground, was chaotically navigating through the air. Unlike my smooth flight or Peter Pan's graceful movements, he seemed to bounce about one meter at a time, unpredictably floating with his shield. He laughed joyfully, his erratic movements making his position nearly impossible to predict.

"I'm flying! Well, sort of!" he exclaimed, brimming with enthusiasm, his arms spread wide in an attempt to maintain balance. He tilted slightly to the side, narrowly avoiding a crash before righting himself with a broad grin.

Nami placed a hand on her forehead, shaking her head with an amused sigh. "Luffy… that's not flying. That's improvisation! You look like a fish out of water."

I couldn't help but laugh at his mixture of bewilderment and pride. "Hey, Captain, if you really want to fly, you'll need to work on your fluidity! Right now, you look like a balloon drifting on the wind."

Luffy stuck out his tongue, pouting. "You guys just don't get it. This is super cool!"

Nami and I exchanged a knowing glance before bursting into hearty laughter. "Keep practicing, Luffy," I said with a grin. "Who knows? Maybe one day you'll really fly. But in the meantime, try not to break anything."

"Got it!" he replied with his usual radiant smile, before bumping into an invisible wall created by the protective circle. We all burst out laughing as he rubbed his head, laughing along with us.

"All right, let's head back. Koby should be returning soon," I said as we exited the dungeon with Luffy and Nami, the air still heavy with the memories of our intense battle. We found ourselves back in the forest where we had entered, the calm contrasting sharply with the chaos we had just survived.

"By the way, in addition to Aeris' gift," I said, pointing at Nami's staff and Luffy's new shield, "you've also gained some pretty interesting abilities. Luffy, I think you've already figured out your tornado, but be cautious with Last Stand. It might let you survive a fatal blow, but it won't save you from a chain of attacks. So think carefully before relying on it, okay?"

Luffy nodded, his expression unusually serious. "Got it, Jordan. I'll be careful."

I turned to Nami next. "For you, you've inherited Aeris' ability to manipulate wind with that staff. You've gained the Gale Shield spell, which is very useful. I'd like you to get in the habit of activating it at the start of a fight for protection. Luffy and I can take a few hits, but your current physical strength isn't enough for close combat."

Nami gave me a slightly annoyed look, crossing her arms. I quickly added, with a conciliatory smile, "But don't worry, you'll keep improving. No one becomes a master fighter overnight."

She raised an eyebrow before smiling softly. "Fine, I'll let it slide this time. But you're right—I'll try to get used to casting Gale Shield automatically."

Luffy looked at her staff with curiosity. "That's so cool, Nami! Can you make little tornadoes with that now?"

"Maybe," she replied with a small smile, clearly proud.

I continued, "As for the Abundance ability, we're not sure yet if it works only in dungeons or everywhere. We'll need to test if you, Luffy, or I can generate orbs in regular fights, or if it only applies to you."

Nami nodded, pondering. "We'll see later, but for now…" She raised her eyes and pointed. "I think I see Koby."

We all turned in the direction she indicated. Koby was sprinting toward us, clumsily dodging bullets that whizzed past him. His clothes were dusty, and his face showed genuine panic.

"You're crazy!" Koby shouted, nearly tripping over a root before catching himself. "I just killed a wolf that was attacking an old lady!"

I frowned. "Luffy, Nami, stay here. I'll handle this."

I ran to meet him, arriving just in time to position myself between him and the two Marine soldiers still firing. With my Keyblade, I deflected the two remaining bullets, sending them harmlessly ricocheting away.

The two soldiers froze, staring at me with a mix of fear and confusion. They clearly weren't prepared to face someone like me.

"Now, I'd like to know," I said in a cold, authoritative tone, "why the proud soldiers of the Marines are chasing a young man for defending an elderly woman."

One of the soldiers, visibly uncomfortable, hesitated before answering. "We… we're just following Helmeppo's orders. He's Colonel Morgan's son, and… we're obligated to carry out his commands."

I silently examined their hearts—a skill I rarely used since the Heartless usually handled such matters. Their hearts were a dark gray, betraying guilt and harmful actions, even under the guise of following orders.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke again, my voice even colder. "Luffy, cover Koby's eyes."

Luffy, surprised, nodded and stood in front of Koby, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulders. "Don't worry, Koby. Jordan knows what he's doing."

I turned back to the soldiers, my expression unyielding. They crumbled under the weight of my presence, frozen in place.

Without hesitation, I plunged my Keyblade into their hearts, swiftly transforming them into enhanced Soldier Heartless. The creatures materialized in a dark burst, silent and obedient. I stored them in my shadow before turning back to my companions.

Koby, though shielded by Luffy, managed to catch a glimpse of the scene, his expression a mix of fascination and unease. "Jordan… what did you do?"

I met his gaze, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Those men lost their humanity long before today, Koby. They followed corrupt orders and harmed the innocent. We can't allow people like that to continue. But don't worry—you did the right thing by protecting that woman."

Nami nodded, standing beside me. "This world is unfair, Koby. If you really want to change it, you'll need to learn to distinguish the good from the bad, even among those in uniform."

Koby remained silent for a moment before clenching his fists. "I want to become stronger. I want to protect people without needing someone to rescue me."

A faint smile crossed my face. "Then keep training. We'll make you into someone truly capable, Koby."

After recovering from his emotions, Koby began sharing what he had learned in the town. We walked calmly through the forest, listening to his words intently.

"The colonel, Morgan, is a real scumbag," Koby said, his voice still tinged with indignation. "He's a tyrant who openly steals money from the people. Everything he does is for his own comfort. And his son..." Koby clenched his fists, visibly upset. "Helmeppo is even worse. A true monster. I've heard rumors that he brutalizes the townspeople, commits... horrible acts. Things like rape and maybe even murder."

Luffy grimaced, his fists instinctively tightening. "That guy, Helmeppo—he's going to get a taste of my Gum-Gum Bazooka, for sure!" he said, his tone serious but full of determination.

I nodded, my face dark. "And Morgan? He hasn't done anything to stop it?"

Koby shook his head. "No, he lets it happen. He might even encourage it. I mean, all Morgan wants is power and money. The whole town lives in fear."

"This kind of filth needs to be purged," I said calmly, my voice betraying a cold anger. "And what about Morgan's second-in-command?"

"Oh, him," Koby replied with a raised eyebrow. "He's a bounty hunter who was disavowed by the bounty hunter association. He's only here because Morgan lets him hunt his own targets in exchange for loyalty."

Nami, who had been silent until now, interjected with a raised eyebrow. "The bounty hunter association?" she said with an ironic smile. "You know, that organization operates worldwide. It manages information about bounties and acts as an intermediary between hunters and the Marines. In theory, it's meant to ensure that corrupt officers don't steal bounties from hunters. But..."

She paused, crossing her arms with a disdainful look. "In reality, it's just as corrupt as the Marines. That association also runs the black market, making it a double threat."

Luffy looked at her, intrigued. "The black market? Like the one we raided in Lamini?"

Nami nodded. "Exactly. We already made enemies there, even if we didn't realize it at the time. They have ties to two Warlords of the Sea and, according to some rumors, at least one Emperor from the New World."

I frowned. "Two Warlords and an Emperor? No less?"

Nami shrugged. "Those are just rumors for now, but they're credible. This kind of organization plays on all sides to maximize profits. And now, thanks to you and your raid in Lamini, we can be sure they're keeping an eye on us."

Luffy burst out laughing. "Good! That means we're real badass pirates now!"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "We're going to have to be careful, Luffy. These people aren't amateurs. They'll stop at nothing to protect their interests."

Nami nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. And if we ever have to face this association, we'll need to be prepared. And we'll need more crew members than we have now."

Koby, still impressed by our exchange, clenched his fists. "Luffy, I want to join your crew. I know I'm not strong enough yet, but I want to help make this world better," he said with firm resolve.

Luffy gave him a friendly pat on the back, nearly causing him to stumble. "Haha! That's the spirit, Koby! Don't worry, we'll all get stronger together!"

Because of Morgan, Koby joined the crew much earlier than planned, but it wasn't a bad thing. "All the better," I thought, observing Luffy and Nami, who nodded silently, sharing my sentiment.

I turned to Koby with an encouraging smile. "Koby, listen to me. I'm going to give you training similar to what Luffy, Nami, and I are doing. It's intense, focused on pure combat. So prepare yourself mentally and physically because it's not going to be easy."

Koby clenched his fists, determined. "I'm ready, Jordan. I'll do my best."

I nodded before turning to Luffy. "Luffy, Nami, I'll leave you two to handle things in the town while I train Koby. But to avoid any problems, we're going to disguise your appearance a bit."

I summoned a Shadow and let it merge with Luffy. Before our astonished eyes, his silhouette gradually shifted, transforming into a spitting image of Garp. When the transformation was complete, I couldn't suppress a burst of laughter at the sight of Luffy, with his childlike face, wearing his grandfather's stern but caricatured expression.

"Luffy, you're officially the spitting image of your grandfather," I said, laughing. "But avoid talking—your voice is still the same, and it could ruin the illusion. With this appearance, I think you'll be able to keep Morgan and his son in check while you enjoy a good meal."

Luffy opened his mouth to protest, but the contrast between Garp's face and his childlike voice sent everyone into fits of laughter, myself included. Nami doubled over, and even Koby, usually more reserved, couldn't hold back his laughter.

"That's not fair!" Luffy grumbled, pouting, his words coming out of Garp's mouth. This triggered another wave of uncontrollable laughter.

After catching our breath, we split up. Nami and Luffy headed to the town to "play their roles," while I trained Koby, leading him to the portal for the Destiny Islands dungeon in easy mode.

Upon entering, I immediately noticed that the Shadows moved much slower than in higher modes. "Koby, here's your challenge," I said, gesturing to the Heartless wandering the field. "You're going to hunt them. This will train your combat skills and give you a chance to earn useful rewards."

Armed only with an iron bar we found on the ship, Koby nodded. "Understood, Jordan."

He charged at the first group of Shadows, attacking clumsily but with unwavering determination. The Shadows frequently dodged his strikes, forcing him to pivot and react quickly. He managed to take down a few, but the task was clearly grueling for him. Several times, he stumbled or was caught off guard, and I had to step in to fend off Shadows threatening to overwhelm him.

"Take a breath, Koby," I said, helping him up after a missed attack. "Focus on your movements and anticipate theirs. Shadows always attack from below or from the side. Keep your eyes open."

Encouraged, Koby redoubled his efforts, gradually improving his precision and timing. After an hour of hard-fought battles, he successfully eliminated the required 150 Shadows, though his breathing was heavy and his arms trembled.

As we approached the dungeon's final stage, the ground shook, signaling the arrival of the Darkside. Koby gulped, staring at the massive creature emerging from the darkness. "Jordan... what is that?"

"A Darkside," I replied calmly. "This is your first real test. Strike its hands when it attacks, but keep moving."

Despite his exhaustion, Koby tried to approach and attack the Darkside's massive hand. His iron bar bounced off the creature's dark skin without causing any real damage, forcing him to retreat quickly.

"Jordan, I… I don't think I can beat it," he admitted, his eyes fixed on the giant.

I smiled at him. "You don't have to beat it alone. That's why I'm here. Watch and learn."

Limiting my abilities to make the fight a learning opportunity for Koby, I launched into action. I leaped into the air, my Keyblade glowing as each precise strike pushed the Darkside back. It retaliated with energy projectiles, but I deflected them skillfully, creating openings for Koby to strike again.

Together, we coordinated our efforts—I covered the Darkside's main attacks, while Koby took advantage of openings to strike its hands with determination. After several minutes of intense combat, the creature dissolved into a burst of darkness.

Exhausted but elated, Koby collapsed to his knees. "I did it... I mean, we did it!"

I extended a hand to help him up. "Good job, Koby. You've learned a lot today. Keep it up, and you'll become someone truly formidable."

A sudden message appeared in my mind:

Koby earns Scimitar (Aladdin weapon + standard handling ability).

Koby gains the ability Lucky Strike (Increases the chances of obtaining rare items. The effect increases with multiple activations).

Jordan gains 150 Shadows and 1 Darkside (Hard Mode).

(Author's Note: I hope you'll enjoy the continued development of Koby. I had initially considered Mulan, but I decided against it since it felt too predictable, and I've thought of something else for him instead ^^)