The stone door groaned as it creaked open, revealing a vast, hollow chamber bathed in a strange, golden light. The mist swirled around the edges of the room, but the air inside felt lighter, more breathable—almost like a different world entirely.
Luffy's eyes shone with anticipation. "This is it! I can feel it!" He bounced forward, eager to discover what lay beyond.
The cloaked figure stepped aside, allowing the crew to enter. "Be cautious," they warned, their voice now carrying an ominous tone. "This is not a place for recklessness."
As the crew entered the chamber, the first thing they noticed was the sheer scale of the room. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of ancient symbols, and the ceiling stretched far beyond their sight, obscured in shadows. At the center of the room stood a massive pedestal, bathed in the golden light. Upon it was a strange, pulsating orb—similar to the one they had shattered earlier, but much larger and glowing with an almost unnatural energy.
Robin, her eyes widening with understanding, stepped closer. "This is what I feared. This is the heart of the island's power."
Luffy grinned, not fully grasping the gravity of the situation. "It's huge! This is definitely the treasure!" He reached out, his hand moving toward the orb.
"No!" Robin shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "Don't touch it!"
But it was too late. As Luffy's fingers made contact with the orb, a deep, resonant hum filled the chamber. The ground beneath them trembled, and the walls began to glow, their runes lighting up like a network of veins.
The cloaked figure stepped forward, their eyes wide with concern. "You have awakened it."
Suddenly, the orb's light flared brighter, casting a blinding glow across the room. The stone around them began to crack, and the ground split open, revealing an immense, swirling vortex of energy beneath them.
"Get back!" Zoro yelled, grabbing Luffy by the arm and pulling him away from the pedestal. But the force of the energy was already overwhelming.
From the vortex, a dark shadow began to emerge—something massive, ancient, and powerful. Its presence sent waves of fear through the crew. It was like the island itself was alive, and it was waking up.
"This is it…" the cloaked figure whispered, their voice barely audible. "The island's true power… and the test of your resolve."
The figure fell silent, as the shadow began to take shape, towering over them.
To be continued…