C8 Strengthen the Mosasaur!

Witnessing the Australovenator's power leap from captain to lieutenant colonel was like crossing a major threshold.

A smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Simultaneously, a surge of energy materialized, fortifying his body—his skin grew tougher and whiter, his features more defined, his whole presence more charismatic.

Buzz!

His mind quivered, sending an invisible ripple outward. The surroundings flashed through his thoughts, then vanished in an instant.

"Kid, your pet..."

Marley, with a nervous edge, spoke through clenched teeth.

"I'll make it right."

Esaki gave him a brief look and spoke softly.

Marley recoiled under his piercing gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks, kid."

With that, he hurried off, feeling the pressure of Esaki's company.

Esaki's brows arched in puzzlement. Was he really that intimidating?

Unbeknownst to him, his newfound strength had transformed his aura and demeanor.

The Australovenator approached with thunderous steps, nuzzling his hand with its massive head.

He smiled, affectionately rubbing its head.

"The boost this time was impressive. I can only imagine what intermediate strengthening would do!"

Esaki's eyes gleamed with excitement for the future, eager to slay a few hundred-million-Belly pirates and max out the Australovenator's potential.

But that was just wishful thinking; he wasn't yet capable of taking down such formidable pirates.

"Tomorrow, we set out to hunt pirates!"

Esaki grinned, gave a final pat, and retreated to his room.

...

"I need to enhance the Mosasaur's power too, or it might not stand a chance against a sea-king-class opponent."

Inside, Esaki pulled up the Mosasaur's enhancement interface.

With 10,800,000 Belly at his disposal and 800,000 set aside for supplies, he had 10,000,000 Belly to work with.

After some deliberation, he opted to boost its physique, skin, bite force, teeth, strength, and Busoshoku Haki.

Given the Mosasaur's keen sense of smell and hearing, there was no need for Kenbunshoku Haki. Speed and tail strength could wait—better to focus on enhancing its power and teeth, coupled with defense, making it an excellent tank.

Despite the money, it simply wasn't enough. The initial strengthening of just two dinosaurs had already burned through 30 million, and that wasn't even for a full enhancement.

...

Deep in the azure sea.

The expansive ocean, teeming with a multitude of species, lay a dozen miles from Mosha Town. There, a colossal gray shadow darted towards a ten-meter-tall bovine sea creature with the speed of lightning.

The sea beast bellowed in terror, desperate to flee.

But the mosasaur was too swift, closing in instantly, its gaping maw ready to clamp down on its prey.

A geyser of blood erupted from the sea beast's neck, swiftly staining the waters crimson.

Then, the mosasaur's body whirled abruptly.

Buzz!

The sea churned into a frenzy, swirling into a vortex tinged with blood.

With a sickening twist, the sea beast's head was rent in two, plummeting towards the ocean floor.

The mosasaur, poised to savor its catch, halted abruptly as a powerful aura burst forth from its being. Its teeth fell away, only to be replaced by longer, sharper ones. A fleeting black glow flickered across its head, vanishing in an instant.

Seconds later, the mosasaur unleashed a thunderous roar, seizing the sea beast's head and shredding it to pieces in mere bites.

Having devoured its meal swiftly, the mosasaur flicked its tail, propelling its massive form upwards like a streak of gray lightning, vanishing in the blink of an eye.