Kikidori leaned casually against the stone wall, looking bored. "Why are these islands always so dramatic? Can't we just find a map that says 'X marks the spot' or something?"
Suddenly, the wall shifted under his weight with a loud *click.* Before anyone could react, the section of the wall slid open, revealing a dark passage.
"Whoa—!" Kikidori yelped as he lost his balance and fell forward. At the last second, he grabbed onto the edge of the passage and dangled there, his feet swinging above the dark abyss.
"Kikidori, you idiot!" Nami shouted, running over to help.
With a grunt, Kikidori pulled himself up and collapsed onto the floor. He gave the crew a sheepish grin. "Heh. Secret doors are my specialty."
*Whack!*
Nami's fist came down on Kikidori's head. "Don't lean on random walls! What if that was a trap?!"
"Ow, ow, I get it!" Kikidori whined, rubbing his head. But then, something strange happened. His body shimmered briefly, and before he could stop it, he transformed into his girl form.
The now-female Kikidori stumbled backward, losing her balance. "Ugh, not again!" she groaned, landing on her butt with an audible *thud.*
The crew stared in surprise as Kikidori turned to see what she had landed on. Beneath her was an enormous stone slab. Robin's eyes widened as she approached.
"It's a Poneglyph," Robin said, her voice tinged with excitement. She knelt down and began to read the ancient writing etched into its surface.
"What does it say, Robin?" Luffy asked, his voice full of curiosity.
Robin's brow furrowed. "'Raftel is...'" she read aloud, her voice trailing off. She ran her fingers over the stone. "The rest of the message is scratched out. Whatever it was meant to say, someone didn't want anyone to find out."
The crew exchanged disappointed glances.
"So close," Zoro muttered, crossing his arms.
"Why can't these things ever just give us the answers?" Usopp complained.
Before anyone could respond, a chilling sound echoed through the passage: a faint *skittering.*
"What... what was that?" Chopper asked, his voice trembling as he clung to Franky.
From the shadows, a massive spider emerged, its many eyes glinting in the dim light. Its long, spindly legs clicked against the stone floor as it moved toward them.
"A GIANT SPIDER?!" Usopp screamed, scrambling to hide behind Zoro.
Kikidori, now back in his boy form, froze. His face paled as the spider's legs twitched menacingly. Without thinking, he lunged toward Nami and clung to her.
"Save me, Nami!" he cried.
"Get off me, Kikidori!" Nami shouted, trying to push him away.
But Kikidori's hand accidentally grabbed something it really shouldn't have.
"...Did you just grab—?!" Nami started, her voice rising in fury.
Before she could finish her sentence, Sanji was already in motion, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Kikidori!" Sanji yelled, spinning into the air. "*Collier Strike!*"
Sanji's flaming kick sent Kikidori flying into the wall, where he slid down with a groan.
"Ow... what was that for?!" Kikidori whined, rubbing his head.
"You know *exactly* what that was for!" Sanji snapped, his nose bleeding as he turned back to Nami. "Nami-san, are you alright?!"
Nami crossed her arms and huffed. "Let's just deal with the spider!"
The spider let out a screech and lunged at the crew, its fangs dripping with venom.
"Enough of this!" Zoro said, drawing his swords. "Let's take it down!"
The crew jumped into action, their attacks coordinated as they fought off the monstrous arachnid. Kikidori, still recovering from Sanji's kick, got back on his feet and summoned his energy serpent to help.
After a fierce battle, the spider finally collapsed, its body crumbling into dust.
"That thing was gross," Usopp muttered, panting.
Robin returned her attention to the Poneglyph, deep in thought. "Whoever erased this message didn't want anyone to find Raftel. But why?"
The crew exchanged uneasy glances. Whatever secrets Lodestar held, they weren't going to give them up easily.
End of Chapter 94