C5
Bang!
A tremendous force surged through the axes, nearly wrenching them from his grasp.
"Such incredible strength!"
The wolf was taken aback, staring at the dinosaur in shock.
The Australovenator didn't relent, roaring as it lunged with gaping jaws, a foul stench spewing forth.
The wolf's eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light as it boldly confronted the assault.
Stanley, having already stepped aside, watched the scene unfold with utter amazement. Was this young man's 'pet' really that powerful?
A flicker of hope sparked within him.
"It's time I got some practice in, too."
Esaki, perched atop the shattered vessel, observed the clash between the Australovenator and the wolf, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
Only those who have faced bloodshed are true warriors.
Buzz!
He crouched deeply, then leaped with explosive force.
Bang!
He landed squarely amidst the throng of pirates.
The pirates exchanged glances, their expressions twisting into snarls. "Kill him!"
"To your doom..."
They brandished their swords and swung at Esaki.
To Esaki, their strikes were sluggish.
He shifted, delivering a crushing punch.
"Puff!"
The impacted pirate's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull as he coughed up blood and crumpled to the ground.
Esaki weaved past their swords, his leg whipping out like a shell from a cannon.
Buzz!
"Ahhh..."
Bang!
Two pirates were hurled away, their bodies contorted, eyes rolling back in agony.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Esaki's silhouette darted among the pirates, sending them flying one after another, their cries of pain echoing.
Within two minutes, all the pirates lay defeated, save for the wolf.
"Power feels good, even if it's tough on the clothes."
Esaki's eyes twinkled like stars, his face alight with a satisfied grin.
His hand was stained crimson, blood dripping steadily.
His clothes, too, were splattered with the scarlet evidence of battle.
Meanwhile, the wolf was on the brink of death, its left hand severed, its body marred by deep, bloody gashes.
In contrast, the Australovenator's presence grew more menacing, its injuries seemingly inconsequential to its combat prowess.
The Australovenator snapped its jaws wide, aiming for the wolf's head with a gaping maw.
The wolf dodged swiftly, only to be confronted by a thick tail.
Bang!
"Ah..."
Struck by the tail, a surge of pain shot through his head, eliciting a wrenching scream.
"Puff..."
A geyser of blood erupted, silencing all other sounds.
The Australovenator relaxed its bite, and a section of the corpse tumbled down. Blood seeped from its teeth as it issued a low growl, fixing its gaze on Stanley.
Stanley gulped and stepped back twice.
He also felt somewhat queasy.
He had seen death before, but never brutality like this.
The ship's deck was soaked in a crimson tide.
"That's enough, Australovenator," Zhe murmured.
"Roar..."
The Australovenator let out a cry and returned to his side.
"Uncle, got anything to eat?" he approached Stanley, asking with a grin.
"Yes, of course."
Stanley hastily instructed the sailors, "Fetch some food, quickly!"
Snapping out of their shock, the sailors scrambled toward the kitchen.
...
A few minutes passed.
"Little brother, where are you headed?" Stanley inquired, watching Esaki devour his meal.
His daughter Sarah stood by, eyeing Esaki with curiosity.
Esaki paused, then replied, "I'm heading to a town with a naval outpost to trade pirates for cash."
He was intent on earning money to enhance his dinosaur summons, and with two bountied pirate crews now dead by his hand, he wouldn't pass up the chance for profit.
"By the way, uncle, what year is it? And which sea are we in?"
Esaki turned to Stanley with the question.
"We're in the year 1500 of the Sea Circle Calendar, in the Eastern Sea's Dali waters. If you're looking to exchange for gold, there's a town called Dama about two hundred nautical miles from here with a naval outpost," Stanley explained softly.
"Oh, thanks a lot," Esaki said with a smile.
"Don't mention it. I'm the one who should be thanking you. If it weren't for you..."
"Are you a Pirate Hunter?" Sarah suddenly chimed in.
