Chapter 271 A Narrow Escape
Is that a formidable alligator lurking in the depths?
Such an enormous reptile, reminiscent of a crocodile of epic proportions!
Sun Zhou was taken aback, its eyes widening as it drew closer to inspect the creature. Beyond any doubt, it was an immense crocodile, its length estimated to be no less than seventy meters based on its visual assessment.
Jiang Botao, the first officer beside Sun Zhou, seemed to sense something amiss and asked, "Old Sun, what's troubling you?"
Sun Zhou passed it the binoculars, its tone grave as it declared, "Look in the direction of two o'clock, roughly 600 meters away. There lies an enormous crocodile gliding upon the water's surface."
As Jiang Botao received the binoculars, thoughts of a crocodile venturing into the open sea hardly struck it as extraordinary. It failed to comprehend its significance even if it were a colossal saltwater crocodile.
Nevertheless, as it peered through the binoculars, its countenance transformed into sheer horror, its mouth agape in disbelief.
Great heavens!
What manner of the world is this, harbouring a behemoth of a crocodile stretching at least seventy meters in length?
"Old Sun, we must alter our course to avoid it," Jiang Botao urged.
Sun Zhou nodded, sweepingly commanding, "Change our heading and increase our speed!"
The mammoth vessel initiated its turn with a coordinated effort, deftly evading the colossal crocodile that loomed ahead at the two o'clock position.
Observing its vessel successfully maneuvering away from the reptilian menace, Sun Zhou exhaled a silent sigh of relief.
Narrow escape, indeed!
The distant crocodile appeared content, basking lazily under the sun's rays, exhibiting no inclination to give chase. Sun Zhou discreetly wiped beads of cold sweat from its forehead, acutely aware that a large Risheng Ocean Shipping Group vessel had recently met its demise, allegedly attacked by a substantial 100-meter-long crocodile.
Haunted by this unnerving recollection, Sun Zhou couldn't help but contemplate the possibility of another 100-meter-long titan prowling these waters alongside the current 70-meter-long leviathan.
This portended no good fortune. If a 70-meter-long crocodile had made its presence known, it was highly likely that the 100-meter-long behemoth was not far off.
An ominous sign indeed.
Sun Zhou refused to underestimate the situation, promptly reaching for the satellite phone to relay the alarming news to the company.
Meanwhile, in the office...
Liu Yong sat in his boss's chair, perusing news articles on its computer, hoping to chance upon reports regarding the two colossal crocodiles.
However, despite the passage of several days, no such reports surfaced. Liu Yong couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret. How had these two massive reptiles vanished into thin air?
Knock, knock, knock!
A firm knock on the door interrupted its musings. Hu Shijun entered, expression grave, as it delivered the news, "Brother Yong, the situation is dire."
"Oh," Liu Yong responded, his demeanour instantly serious. "What has occurred?"
Hu Shijun proceeded to describe the phone call they had received from Sun Zhou, captain of the cargo ship named "Blessed." They had sighted an enormous crocodile in the waters of the Western Pacific.
In brief detail, it relayed the account, its words infused with genuine concern.
Hu Shijun, well aware that not long ago, a vessel from the Risheng Ocean Shipping Group had met its tragic fate in the Pacific Ocean, claimed by a 100-meter-long giant crocodile, understood the imminent danger faced by the "Blessed." If this enormous reptile were to attack them, the consequences would be dire.
What!
The freighter "Blessed" had encountered a colossal crocodile at sea.
Such impeccable timing! The search had proven futile, as if the crocodiles had intentionally eluded their pursuers, only to resurface at this precise moment.
Liu Yong's excitement surged as it consoled Hu Shijun, "Old Hu, fret not. I find it highly unlikely that our 'Fu' would suffer such misfortune. I will personally handle this matter."
Relieved by Liu Yong's reassuring words, Hu Shijun departed, confident that the situation would be resolved under its capable guidance.
Once Hu Shijun had left, Liu Yong turned its attention to the pet panel, meticulously examining Bawang's attributes, including its weight.
The weight now exceeded a staggering 500 tons, precisely 507 tons, surpassing its previous size.
Correspondingly, various attributes have undergone remarkable enhancements. The strength attribute had surpassed the 30,000 mark, while constitution and agility closely trailed, nearing the same milestone.
Considering that an adult's strength attribute typically hovered around 30 to 50 points, Bawang's strength, surpassing 30,000 points, was equivalent to the combined might of 1,000 adults.
Such prodigious power, bolstered by a 240-ton colossal spear and its lightning-fast sprint, promised unparalleled lethality. Liu Yong eagerly anticipated witnessing its true potential.
However, Liu Yong couldn't help but harbour a hint of regret. With Bawang's weight surpassing 500 tons, the efficacy of consuming prehistoric wide-mouthed giant fish had diminished. No longer would the weight surge by ten or twenty tons daily; a mere two to three tons now constituted a daily gain.
Three days had passed since Bawang's weight crossed the 500-ton threshold. In that time, its weight had increased by a mere 7 tons, resting at 507 tons.
Liu Yong reflected upon the situation, recognizing that despite the slowdown in weight gain, Bawang's growth persisted beyond the 500-ton mark. A steady increase of two to three tons per day remained commendable.
"Overlord, duty calls. Where are you?"
Startled back to reality by the mention of work, the Overlord promptly responded, "Master, I departed the vicinity of the Tonga Trench two days ago. I've been meandering across the Western Pacific, covering thousands of nautical miles."
Having realized that feasting on prehistoric wide-mouthed giant fish yielded minimal returns, as their weight gain became indistinguishable from regular fish, the Overlord temporarily relinquished hunting those gargantuan creatures residing in the Tonga Trench.
Although the taste of such colossal fish remained exquisite, Bawang had grown weary of consuming them exclusively. It craved a change of palate.
Upon hearing that Bawang had ventured into the Western Pacific Ocean, Liu Yong's countenance lit up with excitement as he promptly relayed the " Blessed " location to the Overlord.
"Overlord, our cargo ship 'Blessed' has encountered a predicament. Swiftly make your way there and protect it. If you encounter those two colossal crocodiles, eliminate them both."
With an Overlord weighing 507 tons, boasting attributes surpassing 30,000, and wielding a new 240-ton weapon, Liu Yong firmly believed it could defeat the two monstrous crocodiles.
Bawang responded dutifully, "Master, I shall depart immediately. The distance is not substantial, and I will arrive within slightly over an hour."
Setting off with its newfound weapon, the Overlord's incredible speed allowed it to traverse at approximately 300 nautical miles per hour.
Within an hour and a half, it had closed in on the "Blessed," sailing merely two to three nautical miles away. It swam parallel to the cargo ship, maintaining a distance of three to five hundred meters to safeguard it.
Suddenly, the Overlord noticed a colossal figure merely a few hundred meters away.