One piece :I open the locks of the heart

In the Grey Terminal, life was nothing but a blend of misery and survival. Those who wandered this forsaken place were doomed to fight over the smallest scraps, desperately searching for something to sustain themselves. For a frail child, the world here offered no mercy. A sixteen-year-old boy, with a gaunt appearance despite his lightly sculpted muscles, lay in a makeshift shelter, hidden away from prying eyes. Hunger had consumed him, leaving his body emaciated and his face marked by suffering. He was on the verge of taking his last breath.

The young boy was nearly two meters tall, which only made his skinny frame more striking. His brown hair fell in messy strands across his forehead, and his eyes, a dull amber, were half-closed, slowly sinking into darkness. He no longer moved, his breathing growing shallower and barely perceptible.

In the silence of his dilapidated shelter, something strange happened. His once skeletal body, so thin it seemed like the wind could blow it away, began to change. His muscles firmed up, his pale skin took on a healthier pink hue, and his breathing became deeper, steadier. His eyes, which had just closed moments earlier, opened again, and the vigor they once held seemed to have returned.

Jordan's point of view

"My head!" I grimaced, rubbing my temples as if they were going to explode. It took me a moment to realize I could move... that my body was responding again. None of this made sense, not with what I remembered.

Two distinct memories battled in my head, and I struggled to sort them out. In one of them, I was bedridden in a hospital, surrounded by machines that kept me alive, unable to move. In the other, my body was so weakened by hunger that I couldn't even walk. Two different realities, two different hells.

The only explanation that came to mind was something straight out of the light novels I used to read. I must have died in my old body, and my mind ended up here, in this boy's body, who had also just died. Some sort of transfer, like in those Isekai stories. It sounded completely insane... but it was the only logical conclusion.

Congratulations on discovering what has happened to you.

You accumulated incredibly positive karma through your actions in your previous life. By donating your organs and offering your body to science, you saved countless lives. A wealthy parent, whose son was saved thanks to your donation, invested heavily in the medical field, prompting other magnates to do the same, drawn by the potential profits. This event was called "The Medical Gift" and allowed medical research to progress by 50 years in the fields of prosthetics and organ replacement.

Due to this exceptional karma, we have taken care to analyze your subconscious desires to offer you a new life tailored to you. You have been granted certain abilities from the Kingdom Hearts universe, which we've slightly adjusted for you. You are now in the world of One Piece, five months before Luffy's departure from Fuschia Village. Your mission? Eradicate as many bad people as possible.

Here's what you gain:

Ability to unlock a location's lock and release a flood of Heartless (the number depends on the island and its inhabitants).

Ability to unlock the heart of a defeated opponent (only bad people or animals) to transform them into Heartless. You can gain bonuses based on the opponent.

A starter pack including:

A trunk (capacity: non-living storage slots)

Lock Sensitivity: allows you to detect the location of a lock.

Scan: lets you see the target's health, main abilities, and heart.

A Keyblade with a Royal Chain Keychain (can open all locks).

Peter Pan's ability: you can fly!

Darkness Portal: allows you to instantly travel to any previously visited location.

Shadow Storage: allows you to store Heartless that haven't been released by unlocking the island's locks.

Good luck.

I absorbed the information about my previous life, and though I was happy about the positive effects it had, it wasn't really my concern anymore. However, I already felt the effect of the Lock Sensitivity. I had the impression of seeing a blurry image of a lock somewhere in the town, a certain distance away, but that's all I could say since my predecessor had never entered it.

Ignoring that lock for now, I continued examining my new body before glancing down at my hands.

"Scan," I said to see what I could discover about myself.

Character: Jordan

Health: Can still take a few hits

Strength: As strong as an ox

Defense: As tough as a wooden plank

Speed: Fast as the wind

Specialty: Stealth… as sneaky as a ninja. Flight, but watch out for gusts of wind!

Heart: Brighter than a Christmas tree on steroids.

Alright, no numbers, but that's probably for the best since I wouldn't know what to compare it to. The comment about being able to take a few hits makes sense given the memories of the beatings I've taken. As for strength, in this world, it's normal for some people to easily lift over 100 kg, so no advantage there.

"Defense," I said with a smirk. A memory flashed back to me of trying to block a punch with a plank of wood before it shattered, followed by a vicious beating. Yeah, as solid as a wooden plank.

My specialty made sense given my past memories of running after pulling off a heist in the Grey Terminal since everyone would try to rob you. Even though most of the people who lived here disappeared during the fire, there were still a few scumbags who'd slit your throat for a trinket they could sell.

The ability to levitate must be a gift from Peter Pan. I focused for a moment, and to my surprise, it came easier than expected. I floated about 30 cm off the ground and could move easily in any direction. Just a thought, like walking.

"Awesome!!" I exclaimed before quickly covering my mouth with my hands, relieved that no one seemed to have heard me. I peeked outside and decided to take advantage of the night to flee the Grey Terminal by air, heading toward the mountain near Fuschia Village to hunt a few small animals and fill my belly.

After some struggle, I managed to catch a few rabbits, but I quickly realized I had no idea how to prepare them. I sighed, taking out my Keyblade to test the ability to transform them into Heartless.

When I touched the rabbits with my key, three Shadows appeared. Their eyes were blue instead of the usual yellow. After observing them for a moment, they slipped into my shadow and disappeared.

The good news was that the three rabbits were still there. I picked them up and flew toward the village outskirts. "If I give these to Makino, maybe she'll trade them for a meal," I thought with a smile as I quickly made my way toward Fuschia Village.

I landed quietly at the village edge, my feet touching the ground without a sound. The warm light from Makino's bar drew me in like a beacon in the night. My stomach growled, and the three rabbits I carried would hopefully serve as barter for a decent meal.

I pushed open the bar's door, glancing around inside. It was a simple but welcoming place. A few villagers were quietly chatting, and the smell of food lingered in the air. My eyes briefly landed on a boy slightly older than me, wearing a straw hat, sitting at a table. He was devouring his meal with such focus that he seemed oblivious to everything around him. A smile crossed my lips, but I refocused on my purpose for being here.

I approached the counter where a woman with a kind smile and brown hair tied back was wiping down a glass. Her gaze landed on me, her expression gentle and comforting.

"Good evening," I said, a little nervous. "My name's Jordan. I'm new around here."

She smiled back, setting the glass down gently. "Good evening, Jordan. I'm Makino, I run this bar. Nice to meet you." She glanced at the rabbits I was holding. "Did you catch these yourself?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but... I don't really know how to prepare them. So, I was wondering if I could trade them for a meal." I felt a little awkward but quickly added, "I'm pretty hungry, and I didn't want to come empty-handed."

Makino looked at the rabbits, then at me, before smiling again. "They look nice and plump. You did a good job. But you know, even without those rabbits, you could've just asked for a meal." She gave me a kind look. "We don't let anyone go hungry here."

I felt a bit foolish for thinking I needed something to offer. "Thanks, that's really kind. But I'd rather give something in return. I don't want to take advantage of your generosity."

She nodded, understanding. "I get it. Well, I'll fix you something in exchange for these rabbits, then." She gently took the animals and headed to the kitchen. "It won't take long, have a seat."

I settled at a table near the counter, glancing at the boy in the straw hat who was still eating, eyes glued to his plate. He must've been really focused on his meal, but I wondered who he was. He didn't seem like an ordinary villager, but I decided not to dwell on it for now. My stomach had priority.

A few minutes later, Makino returned with a plate of grilled meat and vegetables, along with a slice of fresh bread. The smell made my mouth water before the plate even hit the table.

"Here you go. Enjoy, Jordan," she said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Makino," I replied before eagerly digging into my meal. Every bite was a real treat, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten something so good. I glanced at Makino, still busy behind the counter, then over to the boy, who, to my surprise, was still eating.

I relaxed, savoring this unexpected moment of peace. Maybe this village, with its kind-hearted people, could be a good starting point for my new life.

Though I had some knowledge about this world, it was mostly limited to East Blue, and even then, it was pretty fragmented. I only had glimpses, and I preferred to spend my time playing Kingdom Hearts 1 on repeat rather than studying the details of this universe. It was my way of unwinding, even if it didn't help me much here.

According to the voice, I had five months to prepare if I decided to join Luffy. That seemed like enough time, so I figured I should start by strengthening this body. After all, if I wanted to have options when the time came, I needed to be ready. A bit of training couldn't hurt.

I was sipping my water, lost in thought, when Makino's voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"By the way, Jordan, do you have a dream?" she asked after finishing up with the other customers. Her tone was soft, almost curious.

I paused for a second to think. A dream? Honestly, I didn't really have one. "Not really," I replied, setting my glass down on the table. "I was given a direction, but it's not mandatory. I think I'll travel and try to stop injustices when I'm able to." I looked up at her, watching her smile kindly at me.

She nodded, seeming to appreciate my answer. "So, you're going to join the Marines?" she asked with an innocent smile.

That comment caught me so off guard that I swallowed wrong, my eyes widening in shock. I started coughing violently, hitting my chest with my hand to try to clear the water from my throat. A strangled gurgle escaped, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

The bar's quiet atmosphere was shattered by a collective burst of laughter. All the customers around, amused by my reaction, erupted into laughter as they watched me struggle to catch my breath. One of them even called out, "Oh, the new guy wants to join the Marines! Good luck, kid!" followed by more laughter.

I glanced around, feeling awkward, my throat still irritated from the water I'd swallowed wrong. Makino, looking a bit flustered herself, bit her lip slightly, realizing she'd caused my reaction.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Jordan!" she said, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "I didn't mean to make you choke. I didn't think it would surprise you that much."

I finally managed to calm down, taking a deep breath to regain my composure. "It's... it's fine, don't worry," I replied, still a bit red from the embarrassment. "But the Marines, that's not exactly what I had in mind," I added with a sheepish smile.

The laughter in the bar began to die down, and Makino, still a little embarrassed, looked at me with apologetic eyes.

"It's just that you said you wanted to stop injustices... and that's what the Marines do, right?" She smiled at me, a bit more timidly this time, trying to smooth things over.

I shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "Sorry, Makino, but I've heard stories about two high-ranking officers in the East Blue who make some pirates look like choir boys." I said the comment lightly, hoping to keep things casual, but when I looked at her, I saw her face darken.

Uh-oh.

I cleared my throat, feeling a sudden rush of stress. "Wait, I'm not saying the whole Marines are bad, okay!" I quickly added, raising my hands in surrender, as if I were trying to defuse a bomb. "It's just that some individuals inside are... you know, corrupt. It's human nature, after all."

My heart was racing faster than it should've been for such a simple situation. Which was ridiculous, considering I was at least two heads taller than her, and Makino looked way more frail than dangerous. But oddly enough, at that exact moment, I was more afraid of her gaze than of any sword-wielding pirate.

She stared at me for what felt like an eternity, then finally, a smile appeared on her face. I felt my whole body relax at once, realizing I'd been holding my breath since the conversation started. I let out a sigh of relief, almost as if I'd survived a battle.

Makino, still smiling, shook her head gently. "I understand what you mean, Jordan. You're right, there are always exceptions, even in the Marines."

I straightened up, trying to regain some semblance of dignity after practically melting in front of her. How could I be afraid of a woman who, at worst, smiles too hard? And yet, I'd just felt fear in my bones.

The bar's customers, still sipping their drinks quietly, cast a few amused glances in my direction, probably guessing that the "big guy" had just gone through an embarrassing moment with sweet, gentle Makino.

"Remember this, kid," an old man said as he approached me with a glass of wine. "If a woman isn't your enemy but she judges or punishes you, you'll suffer more than you ever would at the hands of your worst foe. That's a universal truth every man knows," he said with a grin.

"Oh really, am I that terrible, Jacques?" Makino asked, her smile tightening, which sent the old man fleeing with a quick apology and a small bundle of Berry on the table.

"Take this, Jordan," she said, gesturing toward the Berry. "It'll make up for the difference with the rabbits, and you can use it to buy yourself some decent clothes."

I looked down at my tattered clothes, understanding exactly what she meant.