One Piece: A Side Story – The Forgotten Isle

The cavern shook as Luffy's Gear Second filled the air with explosive force. His fists collided with the guardian, sending shockwaves that reverberated throughout the room. But the stone creature, though massive, was incredibly swift for its size, dodging and countering with a powerful swing of its jagged spear.

"Take this!" Luffy shouted, launching a barrage of punches that broke through the air like thunderclaps. Each hit left cracks in the guardian's stone body, but it quickly repaired itself with a burst of energy, its glowing symbols pulsating with every movement.

"That thing's tough!" Luffy exclaimed, leaping back to regroup. "But not tough enough for me!"

Zoro wasted no time. With his swords drawn, he rushed in, slashing at the guardian with precision. "I'll cut through this thing! Onigiri!" he yelled, his blade slicing through the air with incredible force. The guardian staggered, its massive arm cleaving through the stone floor as Zoro's strike landed. But the creature's regenerative powers immediately began to heal the damage.

Sanji, who had been circling overhead, spotted an opening. "Time for a little heat!" he called, landing gracefully on the ground before unleashing a barrage of kicks. "Diable Jambe—Flame Dance!" His legs glowed with intense heat as he kicked into the guardian's chest, causing it to flinch as the fiery impact scorched its stone hide.

Robin stood back, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "It regenerates too fast. We need to find its weak spot," she said, as her hands sprouted from the walls, anchoring herself in place while she observed the creature. "But this isn't just a stone creature… It's alive, and its energy is connected to the island itself."

The guardian roared in defiance, its spear crackling with an electric aura as it swung downward with tremendous force. "We need a plan," Nami said urgently, her eyes darting between the crew and the creature. "We can't just keep attacking blindly. There has to be a way to stop it from regenerating."

"Leave it to me!" Luffy grinned, his body expanding with more power as he entered Gear Fourth. "This time, I'm going all out!"

The room trembled as Luffy's transformation filled the cavern with raw, overwhelming energy. His form became larger, more muscular, his Haki swirling around him like a storm. "King Kong Gun!" Luffy shouted, his arm winding back before launching a massive punch straight at the guardian.

The impact was cataclysmic. The force of Luffy's attack sent a shockwave that cracked the stone floor and made the walls shudder. The guardian staggered, its stone body groaning under the pressure as cracks spread across its surface. But even as the cracks deepened, it didn't fall. Instead, it roared, its form vibrating with a surge of power.

"Not enough!" Zoro shouted, rushing in with his swords blazing. "I'll finish this!" He delivered a series of rapid strikes with unparalleled precision, aiming for the creature's joints, where the stone seemed weakest.

The guardian's spear surged with lightning as it swung once more, desperate to keep the crew at bay. "It's too strong," Sanji grunted, evading another of the creature's deadly strikes. "How do we stop it?"

At that moment, Robin's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute… its core. It has a core at its center—a vulnerable point!"

Nami's eyes widened as she saw what Robin was talking about. The guardian's glowing symbols had faded around its torso, revealing a small, pulsating gem embedded within its chest, surrounded by the intricate stone carvings. "That's it! That's the core!"

Luffy, now using his Haki to focus his senses, spotted the gem. "I see it!" he called out. "I'll break it!"

But the guardian wasn't going to make it easy. With a final, desperate cry, it released a massive burst of energy from its spear, forcing the crew to jump back and brace themselves. The entire room shook violently, and chunks of stone fell from the ceiling.

"Everyone, move!" Nami shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to get in close!"

Robin used her powers to spring herself forward, launching her limbs at the creature's joints to destabilize it. "Keep it off balance!" she ordered, as Sanji joined her, using his speed to deliver precise kicks to the guardian's limbs.

Zoro, never one to back down, launched himself directly at the guardian, determined to land a final blow. "This ends now!"

With a final burst of power, the crew converged on the guardian, their combined efforts overwhelming the creature. Luffy, with one last push of strength, launched himself at the core, stretching his arm far back before delivering a punch that resonated through the entire cavern.

"Gear Fourth: Kong Organ!" Luffy shouted as his punch struck the gem.

The entire room exploded in a burst of light. The stone guardian shattered into countless pieces, its core collapsing and disintegrating into dust. The crew fell back, panting from the intensity of the battle.

As the dust settled, the once imposing guardian was no more. The stone pieces crumbled away, leaving the chest on the pedestal unguarded, glowing faintly in the aftermath.

Nami wiped the sweat from her brow and grinned. "We did it. It's over."

Luffy, ever the optimist, rushed to the chest with a smile. "Now, let's see what's inside!"

The chest slowly creaked open, revealing a dazzling light. But as the crew peered inside, they saw something unexpected—an ancient, intricately designed scroll, tied with a golden ribbon.

Robin stepped forward, her eyes widening in recognition. "This… this is no ordinary treasure. It's a map—a map to something even more significant."

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "A map to what?"

Robin glanced at the scroll, her expression grave. "A map to the True Treasure of the Forgotten Isle… the key to unlocking a deeper mystery of the world."

The crew exchanged curious glances. They had come for treasure, but what they had uncovered could change everything. The island's trials had been only the beginning.

To be continued…