One Piece: A Side Story – The Forgotten Isle

The dark creature loomed before the Straw Hat Pirates, its massive, shadowy form writhing and pulsating with an eerie energy. It seemed to feed on the very power of the artifact, growing stronger as the glow from the orb intensified. Its eyes, like burning coals, locked onto the crew, and the air itself seemed to chill with a malevolent presence.

"This… this thing!" Zoro shouted, gripping his swords tightly. "What the hell is that thing?"

Luffy's usual enthusiasm was tempered by the sheer scale of the monster before them. "We have to fight it, right? This is our kind of thing!" He grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's do this!"

Sanji's expression was grim as he analyzed the creature. "That thing's not gonna go down easy. We'll need to be strategic."

The creature let out a deafening roar, a deep, guttural sound that shook the entire chamber. The ground cracked beneath its immense weight as it slithered forward, its dark tendrils reaching out toward the crew like grasping hands.

Robin quickly analyzed the situation. "We don't know how strong it is, but it's definitely linked to the artifact. The more power it absorbs, the stronger it becomes."

The woman with the spear, who had been observing the scene from the background, finally spoke again. "The creature is the true guardian of this island. It was created to protect the power contained within the artifact. It cannot be defeated by normal means."

Luffy narrowed his eyes at the woman. "If that's the case, then we'll just have to find a way to destroy it!"

"Hold on!" Robin shouted, stopping Luffy in his tracks. "The creature is not just a guardian—it's the result of the artifact's power. If we destroy it, the energy inside the artifact may be released in an uncontrolled explosion. We could end up destroying the entire island!"

Luffy blinked, his face filled with confusion, but then he nodded, his determination unwavering. "So, what do we do?"

Zoro gritted his teeth. "We can't just let that thing destroy everything. Let's try to weaken it first and then figure out a way to stop it."

With a battle cry, Zoro rushed forward, his swords flashing through the air as he aimed for the creature's tendrils. Each slash seemed to cut through the darkness, but the creature only seemed to regenerate, its form shifting and contorting as it absorbed more energy from the artifact.

Sanji followed close behind, his legs bursting into flames as he launched into the air. "Diable Jambe—Collier!" he shouted, kicking the creature's massive tendril with a fiery blast. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the creature merely recoiled before it struck back with a terrifying force.

"That's not working!" Sanji yelled, flipping backward to avoid another tendril strike.

Robin's mind raced. "There has to be a weakness. It's tied to the artifact—it must have a core somewhere. If we can find it, we can destroy it."

"Leave that to me!" Luffy yelled, ready to spring into action. "I'll go find the weak spot! You guys keep it busy!"

Without waiting for a response, Luffy stretched his arms and shot forward at lightning speed, heading straight toward the creature's heart. His rubbery body stretched and twisted through the air as he aimed for a vulnerable spot, but the creature's massive form was constantly shifting, making it difficult to get close.

Meanwhile, the cloaked man and the woman with the spear had not been idle. They watched from the sidelines, their expressions tense.

"You fools," the cloaked man hissed. "Do you think you can defeat the creature you've released? The island's doom is inevitable."

Robin's eyes narrowed. "You're not going to stop us. This island's cursed history ends here."

The woman with the spear raised her weapon again, her eyes glowing with an intense light. "No one can change fate. The power inside the artifact is too great to be contained forever."

But the Straw Hat Pirates were not about to give up.

As Luffy barreled toward the creature, he could feel the power of the artifact calling to him, urging him to push forward. His eyes locked onto a dark, pulsating core deep within the creature's chest—this was the weak point Robin had spoken of.

"Alright! I found it!" Luffy shouted. "Time to finish this!"

He stretched his arms back, charging up for one final, devastating blow. "Gomu Gomu no… King Kong Gun!"

With all his strength, Luffy launched a massive punch, his arm slamming into the creature's core. The impact was immense, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze in place.

Then, with a deafening explosion, the creature's body shattered, the dark energy within it splintering and cascading throughout the room. The force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the chamber, knocking the crew off their feet.

"Is it over?" Sanji asked, his voice strained as he struggled to stand.

The ground continued to rumble, and the orb in the center of the room began to crack, its light flickering ominously.

"No…" Robin said, her voice filled with dread. "The artifact—it's collapsing."

As the artifact's energy began to destabilize, the walls of the chamber trembled violently, and the ceiling cracked open, revealing the sky above. The island itself seemed to be groaning in pain, as if it were about to collapse in on itself.

"We need to get out of here—now!" Luffy shouted, his eyes wide with alarm.

The crew scrambled to their feet, rushing toward the exit as the ground beneath them began to crumble. The woman with the spear, her expression now one of desperation, turned to the cloaked man.

"You… you've doomed us all," she whispered.

The cloaked man's face was filled with fury and regret. "It was never meant to end like this."

But it was too late. The island was already beginning to collapse, and the Straw Hat Pirates knew they had no choice but to escape.

With the ground falling away beneath them, the crew raced toward the exit, narrowly avoiding falling debris and the collapsing walls of the ancient structure. They burst through the entrance just as the entire chamber crumbled behind them, the island shaking violently as the energy from the artifact was unleashed.

As they sprinted across the island, Luffy called out, "Let's get to the ship! We've got to get out of here!"

The island behind them continued to collapse, its ancient secrets now exposed, but the Straw Hat Pirates had made it out in time. The artifact, and the terrifying creature it had held, were gone—but at what cost?

To be continued…

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