*One Piece: A Side Story – The Forgotten Isle (Part 37)*

The next morning, the Straw Hat Pirates found themselves cruising peacefully on the Thousand Sunny. The island behind them had completely disappeared beneath the waves, leaving no trace of the ancient ruins they had just escaped. Despite the calm, a sense of unease still lingered among the crew. The events of the previous day had shaken them all, and the mystery of the artifact and the ancient creature remained heavy on their minds.

Luffy stood at the front of the ship, his arms stretched out as he grinned at the open sea. "Another day, another adventure!" he exclaimed, completely unaware of the tension in the air.

Sanji, polishing the railing while lost in thought, spoke up. "I don't know about you guys, but I've got a feeling that this whole mess with the artifact is only the beginning. We've stirred up something big, and now people are gonna be after us. Mark my words."

Zoro leaned back against the mast, arms folded. "Doesn't matter. Whoever comes after us is gonna have to get through me first."

"Let's just make sure we're ready for whatever comes," Robin added, still holding the broken artifact close to her chest. She had barely let go of it since they had escaped the island. Her face was calm, but her mind was working through everything that had transpired. She had studied the artifact long enough to know that it was far from ordinary, and something told her that their path would soon cross with powerful enemies who sought it.

Nami approached, looking at the map with a sense of urgency. "We should be coming up on the next island soon. Maybe we can restock and get some answers. But we've gotta keep our guard up. Who knows what kind of people will be waiting for us there."

Just as she spoke, the ship's lookout, Chopper, came running from the crow's nest. "Captain! We've got company!"

Everyone immediately tensed. Luffy, always eager for action, shot to his feet. "Who is it? A ship? Pirates?"

Chopper nodded, his voice filled with worry. "Yeah! There's a ship approaching fast! It looks like they're coming straight for us!"

Sanji gritted his teeth. "Great, more trouble."

Zoro unsheathed his swords. "Let's see what they're made of."

Robin's expression darkened as she turned toward the approaching ship. "We need to be careful. If they're after the artifact, they might not be the friendly type."

The ship that approached was unlike any they had seen before—its dark sails billowing in the wind, and its black hull gleaming ominously under the morning sun. It was a sleek, fast vessel, with no markings or symbols to identify it. As it drew closer, the Straw Hats could see several figures on deck, all dressed in dark clothing and armed to the teeth.

"Pirates, alright," Luffy said, his grin wide. "Let's see what they've got!"

The mysterious ship came alongside the Thousand Sunny, and a figure with a long, flowing cloak appeared on deck. The person's face was hidden in shadow, but the cold aura around them made the crew uneasy. A chilling silence hung in the air as the figure stepped forward.

"You're the ones who have disturbed the peace of the Forgotten Isle," the cloaked figure said, their voice smooth and menacing. "And you've taken something that doesn't belong to you."

Robin's grip on the artifact tightened as she stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The figure slowly removed their hood, revealing a face that was strangely familiar. The man's piercing eyes met Robin's, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. He was tall, with dark, slicked-back hair and a scar running across his cheek. There was an unmistakable aura of danger about him.

"I am Sable," the man said, his voice as cold as ice. "And I've come to reclaim what you've taken."

Robin's heart skipped a beat. She had heard the name before. Sable was a notorious mercenary, known for his ruthlessness and his connections to powerful factions seeking to control the world's greatest secrets. If he was here, it meant they had stirred something much darker than they had anticipated.

"You're with them, aren't you?" Robin whispered, her face pale. "The ones who seek to control the ancient power."

Sable smirked, his eyes never leaving Robin. "It seems we've got a scholar among us. Yes, I've heard the rumors of the artifact's power, and now you've made the mistake of involving yourself in matters far beyond your understanding."

Luffy stepped forward, his grin widening as he cracked his knuckles. "So, you want the artifact? Well, you'll have to go through us to get it!"

Sable's expression darkened, and he raised his hand. Without warning, the men and women on his ship leapt into action, drawing weapons as they prepared to board the Thousand Sunny.

"Very well," Sable said, his voice filled with malice. "If you want to make this difficult, I can oblige. But you should know, the consequences of opposing me will be severe."

The Straw Hat Pirates braced themselves for the fight, but they knew that this would be unlike any other battle they had faced. Sable was no ordinary enemy, and his pursuit of the artifact meant they were now caught in a much larger game—a game with higher stakes than ever before.

As the two ships collided, the crew readied themselves for the clash that would determine not just their survival, but the fate of the artifact they had unwittingly set free.

To be continued…