The collective commotion seized the occupants of the fishing vessel, engulfing them in a wave of panic. Even under the unforgiving rays of broad daylight, the intensity of their terror would have been magnified tenfold had the incident occurred in the shroud of night. The sight they had just beheld was undeniably petrifying, an image etched deep within their souls.
This encounter outright subverted their collective understanding, leaving no room for doubt. Their fishing boat surged forward, propelled by the full might of its engines, emitting a deafening roar. As it executed a sharp turn, an arc-shaped frothy wake painted the ocean's canvas, stretching across thousands of meters. The crew, including He Jianshe, still bore the weight of lingering dread.
"By the heavens, I am utterly terrified!" gasped one crew member, his voice fraught with fear.
"It is unfathomable that such gargantuan crocodiles exist in this world," exclaimed another, his disbelief apparent.
Indeed, before their eyes, they had witnessed a super-sized crocodile dwarfing ordinary saltwater crocs countless times.
"Old He, that crocodile must have been a hundred meters long," ventured one member, his voice trembling.
Observing the boat's relentless velocity and the distance they had put between themselves and the behemoth, He Jianshe breathed a sigh of relief. He spoke slowly, his voice laden with dread, "It may not have been a hundred meters, but it was at least eighty or ninety meters. It was an utterly terrifying sight."
"Fortunately, that gigantic crocodile appeared to be merely sunbathing on the sea's surface, indifferent to our presence. Otherwise, we would have been in grave peril. I believe it could have cleaved our boat in two with a single bite," He Jianshe stated, his gaze still fixed upon the direction of the colossal reptile as if harbouring a persistent fear that it might give chase.
The fishing boat surged forward at full throttle for nearly an hour before gradually tapering back to an average pace.
"It did not give pursuit," one of the crew members muttered in a relieved tone.
"Terrifying... unbelievable... the existence of such a massive crocodile," echoed another voice.
"What has become of this world? How could such a monstrous reptile exist?" questioned a fisherman, the words slipping out in hushed whispers. The crew exchanged hushed murmurs, realizing that recounting their encounter to others would invite incredulity unless they had witnessed it firsthand.
A creature measuring eighty or ninety meters, perhaps even a hundred meters long—what an inconceivable notion! Their preconceptions had indeed been ruthlessly overturned, leaving them reeling in astonishment.
More than anything, they yearned to return to Huahai City and dock safely in port. The sea had become a treacherous domain, harbouring titanic crocodiles of unimaginable proportions.
Meanwhile, in an office, Liu Yong reclined in his chair, resting his feet leisurely upon an expansive desk, engrossed in the news displayed on his mobile phone. After perusing international and domestic news for a while, he redirected his attention to local reports.
Suddenly, a local news article caught his eye—an exposé by local fishermen claiming to have encountered an immense crocodile measuring nearly one hundred meters in length. Accompanying the article was a photograph.
The photograph, albeit lacking a reference point for scale, appeared impressive. A crocodile graced the sea's expanse, basking under the sun's gentle caress. Liu Yong's intrigue was piqued. Could such a colossal creature indeed exist?
If the reported length of nearly one hundred meters held, this creature would surpass the Overlord in sheer magnitude. Even if this mammoth crocodile didn't exceed a thousand tons, it would easily eclipse seven or eight hundred tons.
The comment section beneath the article brimmed with disdain, criticizing the editor for engaging in sensationalism and deceiving the masses.
"Unscrupulous editor, prioritizing profits over integrity."
"Can we truly trust self-proclaimed media when they disseminate such news?"
"I'd sooner believe in ghosts than in the words of this editor."
Amongst the barrage of comments, Liu Yong found solace in the minority view. He surmised it had no basis for truth, and the editor would not have dared to fabricate such a story.
The vast ocean held countless wonders—unthinkable phenomena that would defy belief. Who could fathom the existence of white deep-sea monsters weighing several hundred tons or the colossal, clawed appendages spanning forty to fifty meters, weighing in at two to three hundred tons? And what of the enormous, ethereal-haired jellyfish?
Having absorbed the news, Liu Yong pondered whether a colossal crocodile of such proportions truly existed. If the Overlord were to cross paths with such a behemoth, retreat would be the only sensible choice.
The Overlord, weighing over two hundred tons, would be utterly outmatched by a crocodile of seven to eight hundred tons, let alone one weighing a thousand tons or more. Liu Yong contemplated this realization; perhaps the Overlord was not the unparalleled ocean monarch.
Regretting that he had not communicated with the Overlord in several days, Liu Yong opened the pet panel and checked its well-being.
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Pet name: mutant snapping turtle
Strength: 14568
Physique: 14021
Agility: 13839
Weight: 246.5 tons
Swimming speed: 285 knots
Skills: Tortoise Shell (Level 3), Turtle Breath (Level 3), Super Vision (Level 2), Super Perception (Level 2), Sprint (Level 1)
-----------------------------------
Liu Yong felt a surge of gratification as he observed the Overlord's steady growth. It had already surpassed a weight of 250 tons, adding approximately two tons to its mass each day.
"Overlord, you are thriving," Liu Yong smiled.
"Master, I have no desire to leave this place. The peculiar white fish dwelling in the deep trench is truly delectable. Look at my reserve—I have secured several large fish," responded the Overlord.
Observing through a third-party vision, Liu Yong noted the presence of two or three strange white fish within the cave. The area outside the cave seemed sparser, with fewer remnants of colossal fish bones scattered across the flat ground.
The Overlord explained, "All those colossal fish bones were obstructing the way, so I tossed them one by one into the deep trench. Additionally, I made an intriguing observation: these large white fish, once killed, remain fresh and free from decay for up to half a month."
Such a peculiar phenomenon, Liu Yong mused, implying that these strange white fish defied conventional categorization. They were indeed extraordinary creatures.
"Overlord, today I came across a report of fishermen sighting a giant crocodile measuring nearly one hundred meters in length and weighing a thousand tons somewhere in the Pacific Ocean," Liu Yong shared, recounting the situation before issuing a cautionary instruction. "Be cautious, my friend. If you encounter a creature larger than yourself, engage if victory is plausible, but retreat if defeat looms. It is unwise to endure unnecessary harm."
"Fear not, master. I am well aware of this principle," assured the Overlord.
The Overlord currently found itself over a thousand nautical miles away from Huahai City, having ventured beyond the purview of the East China Sea, drawing closer to RB.
No ships dotted the vast expanse of the ocean; the Overlord had strayed from the usual shipping lanes. A colossal crocodile, nearly one hundred meters long, swam swiftly upon the water's surface, attaining speeds of at least fifty knots.
In the distance, a group of whales frolicked, their exhalations forming columns of mist above the water as they surfaced for air.
Unbeknownst to the whales, a vast entity approached from afar.
-Boom!
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