One Piece: A Side Story – The Forgotten Isle (Part 56)

The Thousand Sunny slowly closed in on the mysterious, abandoned ship. The crew could now make out more details: its hull was scarred with deep gashes, and its sails were tattered, fluttering weakly in the wind as if the ship had been drifting for years. The ship was anchored, seemingly waiting for them, as though it had been expecting the Straw Hat Pirates' arrival.

"Something's off about this place," Nami muttered, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "There's no sign of life on board, but that ship definitely looks like it's been through hell."

"Let's check it out," Luffy said, grinning from ear to ear. "If it's abandoned, that means there might be treasure! Or maybe something cool to fight!" His excitement was infectious, even though a sense of unease lingered among the rest of the crew.

"I'm with Luffy!" Usopp said, clutching his slingshot. "An abandoned ship means adventure! And I'm sure there's some kind of hidden treasure!"

"Don't forget we need to be careful," Robin reminded them, her eyes scanning the ship as she moved to the side of the Sunny. "There's something strange about the atmosphere. It's too quiet."

Zoro, who had been quiet up until this point, sheathed his swords and gave the ship a hard look. "Something feels off. But if we're boarding it, let's do it quickly. Who knows what's waiting for us."

"Agreed," Sanji said, adjusting his cigarette in his mouth. "Let's make this quick. I don't like the way this place feels."

The crew approached cautiously, but Luffy couldn't contain his energy. He jumped off the side of the Thousand Sunny and stretched his arms out to latch onto a rope hanging from the ship. "I'm going in!" he shouted, before swinging himself onto the deck with a carefree laugh.

"Luffy, wait!" Nami shouted, but it was too late. He had already landed with a loud thud on the ship's creaking deck. "Now what do we do?" Nami sighed, shaking her head.

"I guess we follow him," Zoro said, shrugging as he drew his swords and prepared for anything.

The rest of the crew boarded the abandoned ship, with Chopper, Robin, and Usopp hanging back, surveying the surroundings, while Sanji and Zoro led the way, ready for any potential danger. The deck felt like it had been deserted for decades. A thick layer of dust covered everything, and the once-pristine wood was now warped and broken, as though it had endured countless battles or storms.

"Luffy, stop messing around!" Nami called from behind. "This place is a wreck!"

Luffy, who had already wandered deep into the ship's corridors, didn't respond. He was too busy investigating. He passed through dimly lit halls, each step creaking beneath his feet, and the ship seemed to groan and shift with the wind.

"Luffy, where are you?" Usopp called out, but there was no response.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the darkened halls of the ship. The crew froze, and a tense silence fell over them. Luffy's voice rang out from the shadows, his tone suddenly serious.

"Guys... you need to come here," he said, his usual cheerfulness replaced with an unusual urgency.

Without hesitation, the crew followed his voice. They rounded a corner to find Luffy standing in front of a massive door, which was slightly ajar. His eyes were wide with curiosity, but there was something else in his expression—something that made even Zoro pause.

"What did you find, Luffy?" Robin asked cautiously as they gathered around him.

Luffy pointed to the door. "This… this door feels like it's been waiting for us." He slowly pushed the door open, the ancient wood groaning under his touch. As it creaked open, a chill ran through the air, as if the room beyond had been sealed for centuries.

Inside, the crew was greeted by a room unlike anything they had seen before. It was filled with ancient relics, strange carvings on the walls, and hundreds of dusty scrolls stacked high on stone shelves. In the center of the room, an ornate pedestal stood, and upon it lay a large, glowing crystal.

"Another crystal?" Sanji muttered, narrowing his eyes. "But this one's different."

Luffy's eyes shone with interest. "This is it! There's something special about this one! I can feel it!" He stepped forward, but Robin stopped him with a raised hand.

"Wait, Luffy," Robin cautioned, her eyes scanning the room carefully. "This could be a trap. We don't know what kind of power this crystal holds."

As if on cue, the ship suddenly groaned, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. A low, guttural sound reverberated throughout the room, and the shadows in the corners began to stir. The crew looked around in alarm, realizing that they weren't alone.

From the shadows, dark figures began to emerge—strange, ghostly figures with glowing eyes, their forms flickering like smoke. They seemed to be drawn to the crystal, their movements erratic and unsettling.

"Here we go again," Zoro said, drawing his swords. "Looks like we've got company."

Usopp gripped his slingshot tightly. "What are these things? Ghosts?"

"They don't look like anything we've fought before," Robin said, her hands ready to spring into action. "But they're definitely not friendly."

Luffy cracked his knuckles, his usual grin returning to his face. "Doesn't matter. Let's smash them!"

Before the crew could react, the ghostly figures lunged toward them, their eerie wails filling the air. The Straw Hat Pirates braced for battle once more, knowing that whatever was guarding this ship, they would face it head-on, as they always did.

The true nature of the abandoned ship—and the powerful crystal at its heart—was about to reveal itself.

To be continued...

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