Chapter 26: The Great Route's Predicament
As the Mosasaur neared the Crocodile Sea King, a layer of black Armament Haki spread over its head, a streak of black light flashing across it.
The Crocodile Sea King froze for a moment, and when it realized what was happening, it opened its massive jaws, trying to bite down on the Mosasaur.
But the Mosasaur was faster—like a razor-sharp arrow, it rammed straight into the Crocodile Sea King's eye, which was more than ten centimeters wide.
"Pfft…"
The Mosasaur pierced into its eye, and a fountain of blood gushed out in torrents.
"Rooaaar~!"
The Crocodile Sea King howled in agony, its enormous body thrashing and churning the seawater until a small whirlpool began to form.
The Serpent-Head Tentacle Sea King was startled by the sight, though its thick, long tentacles instinctively stretched toward the wounded Crocodile Sea King.
Just then, the Crocodile Sea King's abdomen suddenly bulged outward—and in the next instant, like a cracking eggshell, a small tear split open and blood poured out.
The wound widened rapidly.
"Splurt!"
From within, a huge, ferocious head burst out.
It was the Mosasaur.
"Rooar~!"
The Crocodile Sea King let out a final, miserable cry before its voice was abruptly cut off.
Its enormous body stopped moving entirely, lifeless, as the Serpent-Head Tentacle Sea King coiled its tentacles around the corpse.
Having torn through the Crocodile Sea King's belly, the Mosasaur swam free. Its blood-red eyes glanced briefly at the remaining Sea Kings—but it made no further move to attack.
With a heavy slap of its massive tail, it shot upward toward the surface.
The Serpent-Head Sea King froze, watching motionlessly as it ascended, and only after the Mosasaur vanished did it begin devouring the Crocodile Sea King's carcass.
…
"Splash…"
The Mosasaur's massive head broke through the surface, sending up a great burst of seawater.
On the ship, Jiang Qize watched it.
"Now that you're full, let's keep moving," he said calmly. "If we attract an even bigger Sea King, we won't be able to get away."
They could handle Sea Kings a few hundred meters long, but if something larger showed up—one flip of its body could send a wave big enough to capsize them. Escaping would be impossible.
"Rooar~"
The Raptorex roared back at the Mosasaur, as if complaining, "You're eating alone and not sharing any with me!"
"Rooar~"
The Mosasaur responded with a roar of its own, glanced at the Raptorex, then slipped back beneath the waves.
Boom.
The ship gave a slight tremor, then began to move quickly forward, vanishing from the spot.
…
Two days later—
Out at sea.
"Captain, if we can't find an island soon, we'll run out of fresh water. We've only got enough for two more days!"
Camon's voice was full of anxiety.
Only after passing through the Calm Belt did he realize just how chaotic the magnetic fields of the Grand Line truly were. The compass didn't work at all, and the weather shifted unpredictably.
His meager navigation skills were utterly useless in this vast ocean.
They had started out with little food and even less fresh water—and now, they were on the brink of crisis.
Jiang Qize's expression darkened.
When he used to read novels, the protagonists always sailed smoothly across the seas, going wherever they pleased. He hadn't expected reality to be so different.
On the Grand Line, you needed a Log Pose to find islands.
Without one, even a nautical chart was useless—and they didn't even have that much.
"Yaa~"
Just then, the Wukong Pterosaur he had sent out returned.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept across the deck as the Pterosaur landed, folding its wings neatly.
"Yaa yaa~" it cried to Jiang Qize.
At its call, Jiang Qize's grim face broke into a smile.
Ten kilometers ahead—there was a merchant ship.
"Mosasaur! Follow the Wukong Pterosaur!" Jiang Qize shouted, patting the creature on its head.
"Yaa~!"
The Pterosaur spread its wings wide and took off with a flap.
Beneath the waves, the Mosasaur let out a deep rumble in response and followed close behind.
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