Chapter 13: Ten Thousand Snakes

Orochimaru then leapt into the air, biting his right thumb in midair, blood droplets flying.

"Summoning Technique!" He rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, shouting low.

As soon as the words fell, a massive cloud of smoke abruptly billowed up, spreading in an instant to envelop the entire area.

When the smoke gradually dispersed, a colossus appeared starkly before everyone's eyes. It was a giant python a full hundred meters long, scales gleaming with a dim luster, resting on the water surface like a small mountain.

Orochimaru then landed steadily atop the giant python's head.

The surrounding pirates stared with disbelief, eyes wide. They gaped, yet could not utter a sound, utterly awestruck by the sight before them.

At this moment Crocodile's pupils also contracted slightly, his gold hook tapping lightly against his palm, emitting a crisp sound. He gazed at that giant python, a trace of surprise showing in his eyes.

"Orochimaru, what did you do?!" Manda's voice suddenly rang out, carrying clear bewilderment and unease: "Where is this place! I just felt."

Suddenly, Manda's voice cut off abruptly, as if something had choked his throat.

Orochimaru frowned slightly, about to speak and ask, but abruptly discovered Manda's massive body was actually trembling faintly.

"What's going on?" Orochimaru's brows knitted tight, a foreboding premonition rising in his heart. What existence could make Manda feel fear? He raised his head, gaze sweeping the surroundings, trying to find the source of Manda's fear. However, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing abnormal.

"Manda, what did you sense?" Orochimaru asked in a deep voice.

However, Manda did not answer directly, instead saying in a panicked tone: "Why? Why can't I unseal the summoning?!"

Faced with Manda's panicked questioning, Orochimaru froze for a moment. He thought rapidly; aside from that mysterious and unfathomable "Main God", he really could not think of anyone else who could achieve this.

It seems that, without his own permission, Manda cannot return to Ryuchi Cave.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru's mouth corners couldn't help but curve into a trace of a smile. The relationship between him and Manda had always been subtle; this beast was not always willing to obey his orders.

And now, the Main God had unwittingly fulfilled him, letting him completely control Manda.

"Manda, right now you and I are in a different dimension, afraid we can't go back for a good while." Orochimaru lowered his voice, tone carrying a hint of helplessness, yet also faintly bearing a few parts of pleasure: "Since that's the case, you might as well obey my orders, lend me a hand, only then can we go back."

Manda fell silent, massive body still trembling, clearly still immersed in the shock and panic of being unable to unseal the summoning.

Seeing this, Orochimaru's eyes turned cold: "If you're unwilling to cooperate, then stay here forever!"

Hearing these words, Manda's massive body visibly shuddered. A moment later, it seemed to have made up its mind, finally speaking: "I sense a monster under the sea."

Orochimaru was startled at these words, then asked gravely: "What did you say? A monster under the sea?"

Manda's voice carried fear impossible to conceal: "Although the distance to the seabed is still very far, I can still sense the other party's aura. That power. is simply too terrifying, before them I am as fragile as an infant."

Hearing this, Orochimaru's face darkened. As the king of snakes, Manda's perception is extraordinarily keen; if even it fears so, one can imagine how powerful the "monster" at the bottom of the sea truly is.

"This sea. is probably far more dangerous than I imagined." Orochimaru's brows knitted tight, gaze sweeping the boundless sea level, eyes growing ever more gloomy.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, turned to look at the prisoners behind: "Those who feel their strength is no problem, climb onto Manda's body, I sense Marine warships ahead, that is our only way to leave."

Finished speaking, he pointed at Manda's massive body, signaling everyone to hurry and act.

The pirates looked at each other in dismay, clearly somewhat resistant to the idea of climbing onto Manda. Crocodile coldly snorted, the first to leap onto Manda's back ridge. He steadied his footing, looking down at the crowd: "What, don't even have this much courage?"

Words aside, Crocodile's gaze toward Manda was full of curiosity. A Sea King that can speak human language, this is an unheard-of wonder even on the Great Route.

What surprised him even more was that Orochimaru could actually directly summon such a colossus, just like performing a space conversion.

"Just who is this guy?" Crocodile pondered inwardly.

Driven by Crocodile, the pirates finally mustered courage, pushing and shoving as they climbed onto Manda's body.

"All hold tight." Orochimaru said briefly.

Manda let out a low roar, massive body soaring into the air, swimming swiftly toward the warship's direction. Its massive snake body flew past the sea surface, stirring up waves of tsunamis.

The pirates clung desperately to Manda's back, facing the howling sea wind, each face pale, holding their breath. This speed and height were a completely new experience for them.

On the Marine warship, a soldier on lookout suddenly discovered something unusual on the sea surface ahead. He hurriedly took out a telescope to observe carefully, a moment later, his face changed drastically.

"Report Vice Admiral! A Sea King is charging straight at us!" The soldier reported loudly, tone carrying panic impossible to conceal.

"What?!" Vice Admiral Ghost Spider heard this, slamming to his feet.

Originally just received the task of escorting Ace, result was a sudden jailbreak incident, he could only wait for Headquarters support, didn't expect a Sea King would now appear to stir up trouble.

"Damnable."

He strode to the bridge, snatched the telescope from the soldier's hand, gazing ahead.

In the telescope, a massive figure was approaching the warship at astonishing speed. It was a giant purple python, a full hundred meters long, rushing about on the sea surface like a moving island.

"All hands battle stations!" Vice Admiral Ghost Spider decisively ordered, turning to face the Marine soldiers behind: "Prepare cannon fire, target that Sea King! Must stop it from approaching the warship!"

"Yes!" The soldiers answered in unison, loading shells with practiced movements, cannon muzzles aimed precisely at the giant python on the sea surface.

"Fire!" At Vice Admiral Ghost Spider's command, dozens of large cannons fired simultaneously, shells tearing through the sky, streaking straight for the giant python.

However, just as the shells were about to hit, the unexpected happened.

Only to see shell after shell, before even touching the giant python, all fell into the sea, splashing up huge water columns.

"What?!" Vice Admiral Ghost Spider's eyes widened, staring at the scene before him in disbelief.

Just as he was shocked, a soldier standing beside him suddenly cried out: "Vice Admiral, look! There are people on that Sea King's back — they're prisoners!"

Vice Admiral Ghost Spider heard this, hurriedly raised the telescope, looking toward the giant python's back. Only to see those figures' bodies, starkly all wearing prisoner uniforms! "They're the escaped prisoners! They rode a Sea King to escape!" Another soldier also recognized the prisoner garb, face instantly turning deathly pale.

Vice Admiral Ghost Spider's face instantly darkened, eyes angry as if about to spout fire. Things were worse than he imagined, those damn prisoners, actually tamed a Sea King!

"Bastards!" Vice Admiral Ghost Spider roared, violently drawing the sword at his waist, blade gleaming with cold light in the sunlight. "Sink that damn Sea King for me! No matter what, cannot let them approach the warship!"

(Chapter End)