One Piece: A Side Story – The Forgotten Isle

The chamber trembled violently, as if the very island was reacting to the artifact's awakening. Robin gripped the orb tightly, her senses overwhelmed by the surge of ancient energy that flooded through her. The runes on the walls pulsed with an eerie light, and the air crackled with power, making it difficult for anyone to move freely.

Luffy's eyes widened in excitement. "Whoa! This thing's crazy!" He was about to charge at the cloaked man again, but Robin held up a hand, her face focused and serious.

"Don't," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them. "This isn't just some treasure. It's a key to something much darker. Whatever's inside the artifact... it's not something we can easily control."

The cloaked man seethed, his dark energy swirling around him like a storm. "You think you understand? You know nothing of the forces you meddle with. This island was cursed long before you ever arrived!"

Zoro raised his swords, his eyes sharp. "Sounds like another villain ranting. But whatever's going on, we're not backing down."

Sanji, who had been standing guard beside him, flicked his cigarette away, ready to fight. "You'll have to get through all of us first, pal."

The woman with the jagged spear slowly rose to her feet, glaring at Robin. "You should have left when you had the chance," she spat. "You are nothing but intruders to the island's ancient curse."

Robin's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the visions she had seen through the artifact. "The island's fall… it wasn't the result of a war or some disaster," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "It was the artifact. It was meant to keep something sealed away, something far more dangerous than we realized."

Luffy narrowed his eyes, a grin slowly forming on his face. "So, if it's dangerous, it's even more reason to get rid of it, right?"

Robin hesitated, but then she nodded. "Yes. But we can't just destroy it—at least, not yet. We need to understand it before we act. Whatever's trapped here is a threat to the entire world."

The cloaked man's eyes flared with fury. "You are fools. The power of the artifact will consume you, just as it consumed the island's people. You cannot stop it."

As the tension in the room grew, the artifact began to vibrate more intensely, the energy from it now affecting the entire chamber. Suddenly, the ground beneath them cracked wide open, a dark whirlpool of energy forming in the center of the room.

The woman with the spear raised her weapon, her voice sharp and commanding. "No more talking! You will never leave this place alive!"

In an instant, she lunged, her spear crackling with energy as it shot toward Robin. The attack was fast and deadly, but Robin was ready. With a swift movement, she summoned multiple hands, using her power to catch the spear's tip and redirect it to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

"That was close," Robin murmured, her body still tense from the close call. "We need to act quickly."

Luffy cracked his knuckles, jumping into action. "Alright! Time to finish this!" He stretched his arms back. "Gomu Gomu no… Jet Pistol!" His fist shot forward at lightning speed, but the cloaked man intercepted it with a wave of dark energy, causing a shockwave that sent Luffy skidding back.

"You still don't get it, do you?" the cloaked man sneered. "You can't defeat us. We are bound to this island just as much as that artifact. If you destroy it, you will doom us all."

Zoro gritted his teeth. "If you want to die with this island, fine by me."

Sanji smirked, kicking off the ground. "We'll take our chances. You're going down!"

But Robin, still holding the orb, felt the strange energy calling to her, pulling at her senses. She could feel the heartbeat of the island, the ancient force contained within the artifact, and the powerful secrets it guarded.

Suddenly, her body went rigid as the visions she had seen earlier became clearer—images of the ancient civilization that had built the artifact, their arrogance leading to their downfall. They had been trying to control a force they couldn't comprehend, and the artifact was their final attempt to contain it. But the power inside it was too much, and they had sealed themselves away with it. Now, that same power was trying to break free once more.

"Robin, look out!" Luffy shouted, realizing the danger as the woman with the spear rushed toward her again.

Before she could react, Zoro was already in motion, intercepting the spear with a deadly slash. "You're not getting through us that easily."

But the woman simply smiled, her eyes glowing with dark power. "You do not understand. The moment you touch the artifact, you've already sealed your fate."

With a final surge of energy, the ground shook violently, and a dark shadow began to rise from the depths of the chamber. A massive, writhing shape formed from the energy released by the artifact, a creature made of pure darkness, its eyes burning with malice. It had been contained for centuries, but now, it was free.

The Straw Hat Pirates stared in shock as the creature rose, its form massive and twisting, its very presence filling the room with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Robin's heart pounded in her chest as she realized the truth. "This is what was sealed away… an ancient evil. We need to stop it—now."

The battle was far from over. A new and terrifying force had been unleashed, and the Straw Hat Pirates would need every ounce of their strength to survive.

To be continued…

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