Chapter 25: The Power of the Mosasaur
"Hahaha! Boss, looks like there's another powerhouse rising in the East Blue! Should we invite him to join our crew?"
On the surface of the East Blue, a massive pirate ship sailed proudly, its mast flying a black flag marked with a skull—three long claw-like scars slashed across the skull's left eye.
On deck, a sturdy man with gray hair, a long face and pointed chin, and a scar running down his arm stood laughing heartily. A cigarette hung from his mouth, a black shirt clung to his muscled frame, and a rifle rested at his waist beneath a swirling-patterned cloak. In his hand was a wanted poster.
"Our crew isn't that easy to join," Yasopp said with a lazy grin, leaning against the deck rail and puffing out a thin stream of smoke. "We'll have to see how strong he really is. After all… a bounty doesn't necessarily mean power."
"Hahaha, true enough."
"Our goal isn't here anyway. If he makes a name for himself on the Grand Line, we can always recruit him later."
The young Shanks replied calmly, his face still carrying a trace of youth, yet his presence already exuded a quiet authority.
"Right—our destination is the New World! Hahaha…"
"Can't wait to see it!"
…
The Calm Belt.
"Raaahhh!"
The Raptorex on deck roared furiously at the sea below, its hooked claws flexing with killing intent.
Ahead, two massive shadows twisted and rolled beneath the waves, churning the waters into a frenzy.
Below the surface—
A hundred-meter-long sea serpent had coiled itself tightly around the Mosasaur, its enormous body contracting with brutal force, scales grinding against scales as it tried to crush the beast to death.
But the Mosasaur's body was covered in countless small, razor-sharp spines. The harder the serpent constricted, the more its own flesh tore apart. Blood poured from its wounds, turning the sea a deep, murky red.
"ROAR!!"
The Mosasaur opened its colossal jaws and bit down on the serpent's thick, coiled body.
"SKREEE—!"
The serpent let out a shrill, unnatural scream as agony exploded through its body.
Crunch! Crunch!
The Mosasaur's terrifying bite strength came into play. Each of its ten-centimeter-long teeth sank deep into the serpent's meter-thick flesh, piercing straight through it.
Blood gushed wildly, dyeing the surrounding water crimson.
The serpent thrashed in pain, twisting violently as it tried to retaliate. Its massive head lunged forward, fangs bared, and clamped down on the Mosasaur's side—
Clang!
Crack!
Both of the serpent's venomous fangs snapped clean off without even breaking the Mosasaur's skin.
The Mosasaur bit down once more, muscles rippling.
Crunch!
The serpent's thick body was instantly torn apart. The rest of its coils loosened, drifting limply downward through the dark sea.
Blood spread in thick clouds, staining the ocean red as the heavy scent of it radiated outward.
"ROARRR!!"
All around, the nearby Sea Kings froze, their glowing eyes widening as the scent reached them. Then, one by one, they turned and charged toward the source.
"ROAR!"
The Mosasaur let out a thunderous bellow, its tail lashing the water as it flashed forward like a streak of gray light. It clamped its jaws on the falling serpent's corpse and began to devour it whole.
Then—
Two enormous pairs of vertical pupils, bright as twin moons, appeared in the darkness beside it.
The Mosasaur paused, its intelligent, dragon-like eyes flicking toward the sides.
From either flank emerged two colossal Sea Kings—one with the head of a crocodile and the body of a frog, the other a serpentine beast with writhing tentacles extending from its skull. Their monstrous bodies blotted out half the light of the deep sea.
Compared to them, the twenty-meter-long Mosasaur looked no bigger than a fish.
But it showed not a trace of fear. Its eyes glowed with fierce determination.
"ROAR!!"
It swallowed the last of its meal, then whipped its tail sharply. Activating its tenfold speed boost, the Mosasaur became a blur of gray light—charging straight toward one of the towering Sea Kings.
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