Chapter 7: Crocodile

Just as Orochimaru was shocked, suddenly, a pool of red liquid spread across the ground. Wherever that liquid flowed, the ground was instantly eroded, emitting a piercing "hiss-hiss" sound and puffs of white smoke.

At the same time, a cloud of red smoke abruptly billowed out from Magellan's position just moments ago. That smoke carried an eerie red glow and exuded a pungent stench that made one want to vomit upon smelling it.

Orochimaru's face changed, his pupils shrank sharply; seeing the situation was bad, Orochimaru abruptly leaped out from the snake's mouth and jumped backward rapidly, trying to pull away distance from Magellan.

However, the very moment he leaped out, a blood-red bubble abruptly shot out from the red mist, carrying corrosive poison, heading straight for Orochimaru. The bubble's speed was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye it closed in on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru flipped in mid-air, dodging with all his might. But his right foot was still grazed by the bubble. Instantly, a burst of intense pain transmitted over; Orochimaru's face instantly turned pale.

"Damn it!"

Only to see a black-red wound appear on his right foot; the skin around the wound rapidly ulcerated, emitting wisps of white smoke. That deadly poison spread along the wound, beginning to erode Orochimaru's flesh and blood.

"Ugh ah!" Orochimaru groaned dully, sweat pouring down his face like rain.

The next moment, Orochimaru abruptly opened his mouth wide, and a new body surged up from deep within his throat.

That was a brand-new Orochimaru, separating out from the original body. He was wet all over, curled up in a ball like a newborn infant.

The new Orochimaru landed on the ground, while the original body turned into a pile of white bones, collapsing on the ground, rapidly eroded and dissolved by the poison.

Although the Snake Skin Body escaped the fatal crisis, the right foot was still rapidly rotting. That purple-black toxin spread along the blood vessels, like the curse of the god of death.

Orochimaru's face was pale, breathing rapid. He lowered his head to look at his right foot, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes.

The next moment, he gripped the Kusanagi Sword and viciously stabbed it toward his own knee.

"Puchi!"

Fresh blood splattered; Orochimaru severed his own lower leg with one slash, completely cutting off the part eroded by the toxin.

Afterward, a python thick as a thigh emerged from the wound, temporarily supporting Orochimaru's body.

Orochimaru raised his head to look, only to see blood-red mist already beginning to permeate the entire prison. That eerie red mist was like hellfire; wherever it reached, all life wailed and struggled.

The surrounding prisoners and Prison Guards contacted the mist and immediately let out miserable wails. Their skin rapidly ulcerated, flesh and blood blurred.

"Help! It hurts! It hurts!"

"I don't want to die! Someone come save me!"

Wails rose and fell in succession; the entire prison was like a human purgatory. Those once ferocious prisoners were now merely fragile ants under the mist.

However, just at this time, a large number of blood-red bubbles emerged from the mist, shooting rapidly toward Orochimaru like shells.

Corrosive poison on the surface of those bubbles dripped down; wherever they passed, the ground hissed and smoked, rocks instantly dissolved, and in the blink of an eye Orochimaru's escape routes were sealed off.

However, just at this critical moment, Orochimaru suddenly formed a hand seal.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" A gale suddenly rose up, airflow mixed with Orochimaru's chakra howling toward the bubbles and mist.

The bubbles were instantly blown back; even the mist began to dissipate.

"Transformation, Summoning, control of earth and wind... just what kind of ability user are you?"

Along with Magellan's low, hoarse questioning, the red mist originally blown away by Wind Release suddenly stopped retreating. They seemed to have received some invisible summons, beginning to frantically converge toward the center, churning and roaring.

In the center of the mist, a huge figure gradually emerged. That was a giant composed of blood-red poison, height a full dozen meters, stature burly, aura terrifying. Every breath it took exhaled corrosive poison mist, dissolving surrounding rocks and ground, emitting a piercing hissing sound.

Orochimaru looked up, only to feel an unprecedented oppressive feeling assault his face. His breathing became rapid, cold sweat seeping out on his forehead,

"This guy can actually condense such a massive amount of poison." Orochimaru tightly furrowed his brows, face gloomy; he had never felt such a terrifying presence. If this guy appeared on the Ninja World battlefield, he could probably decide the victory or defeat of a battle in an instant...

"Come, intruder!" Magellan's voice transmitted from the giant's mouth, low and hoarse, like a demon's whisper. "Let me see what other tricks you have!"

"Poison Giant Soldier, Poison Dragon!"

Magellan roared; only to see the poison giant violently swing its right arm, the limb instantly transforming into a huge poison dragon, howling toward Orochimaru.

The poison dragon's speed was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye it closed in on Orochimaru. It opened its bloody mouth wide, sharp fangs dripping corrosive poison, emitting a suffocating stench.

Orochimaru's pupils shrank; facing this sudden fatal attack, he had not the slightest hesitation, immediately biting his right finger and pressing it on the ground, shouting loudly: "Summoning Technique, Triple Rashomon!"

As soon as the words fell, the earth trembled; three huge city gates rose from the ground, blocking in front of Orochimaru, directly sealing off the entire Passage. Those gates were pitch-black all over, their surfaces covered in ancient Runes, emitting a mysterious and powerful aura.

The poison dragon crashed into the gates, emitting a deafening rumble. Rolling poison mist enveloped the entire Battlefield; the air permeated with a nauseating stench.

However, what shocked Orochimaru was that that corrosive poison actually began to erode the Rashomon. Only to see cracks appear on the gate surfaces; the black Runes began to twist and deform, emitting bursts of black smoke.

Orochimaru's face changed drastically; he hurriedly circulated chakra, trying to maintain the Rashomon's stability. His hands gripped tightly, blue veins bulging, bean-sized sweat beads seeping on his forehead.

But the poison's erosion speed was too fast; Orochimaru's chakra was like a bottomless pit being continuously devoured. He felt an unprecedented sense of fatigue assault him; breathing became rapid and heavy.

The next second, with a loud boom, the first layer of Rashomon shattered in response. Pitch-black fragments splattered like black raindrops, landing on the ground, hissing with green smoke.

"Just this little ability, and you dare invade Impel Down? You overestimate yourself!"

Magellan shouted angrily.

The poison giant raised its right arm again and fiercely smashed down on the remaining two layers of gates. This time, its force was even more violent; spider-web-like cracks even appeared on the ground.

Orochimaru frowned tightly, his mind rapidly searching for a countermeasure. He knew that if he couldn't find a method to crack the poison as soon as possible, he would certainly be defeated.

Just at this time, a low voice suddenly came from behind: "Let me out, I'll help you."

Orochimaru abruptly turned his head, only to see a tall man standing in the Cell, his left hand inlaid with a golden hook, flashing with cold light.

(Chapter End)