Chapter 39: The Surrender of the Snake
Outside the ship, Redding gripped his massive weapon tightly and swung down with thunderous force. A colossal sea serpent—its scales a venomous shade of green—rose from the depths, fangs glistening with poison as it roared and lunged to devour him.
Clang!
The impact echoed like thunder. Redding's blade struck the serpent head-on, sending the monster reeling backward. Its jagged fangs shattered under the force of the blow, scattering like broken glass.
Roy stepped out from the cabin just as Redding unleashed another strike. A brilliant shock wave rippled outward, cleaving through the air and slamming into the serpent's skull.
Boom!
The creature's head exploded under the pressure, its massive body collapsing into the sea with a thunderous crash that sent waves rolling across the Calm Belt.
But before the waters could settle, seven more shadows surged upward from the depths—each one a Sea King of a different color and shape, their eyes burning like lanterns as they fixed on the giant ship.
Redding straightened his back and gave a fierce grin. He had always boasted to Roy about his glory days with the Giant Pirates—and now, he was proving that his words weren't empty.
Around him, the other giants raised their weapons, the air trembling under their collective fighting spirit.
"Watch closely, Roy!" Redding roared, his voice shaking the clouds. "This is the battle of Elbaf!"
The giants charged. Their massive weapons tore through the air, clashing with the Sea Kings in a storm of steel, waves, and blood.
Roy remembered the stories Redding used to tell—how the Giant Pirates once hunted Sea Kings for sport, roasting their flesh for feasts, and how their captains would compete to see who could catch the largest one.
These giants weren't afraid. They thrived on challenges like this.
"Master! Catch a few alive! We can use them as tugboats!" Roy shouted.
"Sea Kings can't be tamed, boy!" Redding replied with a booming laugh. "I'll catch you a different one later!"
Toki clutched Roy's hand tightly, her eyes wide with fear as she watched the battle unfold.
The giants were towering—ten meters tall at least—but even they looked small compared to the monstrous Sea Kings that surrounded them. Yet strength wasn't measured by size alone.
"Roar!"
A blue-spotted Sea King lunged, only to be met by Redding's blade. The resulting shock wave tore a gaping hole through its midsection. The beast screamed, thrashing wildly before its body went limp and sank beneath the surface.
Splash!
Another giant leapt high into the air, bringing his massive axe down on a crocodile-headed Sea King. The blade cleaved straight through its neck. He then landed on the skull of a frog-like creature, twisting his weapon before driving it deep into the monster's head.
Blood sprayed across the sea, dyeing the waves crimson.
The victorious giant landed back on deck, the impact shaking the entire ship. Toki stumbled, nearly losing her balance, and gripped Roy's hand tighter.
He looked up at her, then turned his gaze back to Redding and the others.
By the time the chaos settled, four Sea Kings lay dead. But then, from the still waters below, three enormous shapes rose—long, sinuous bodies gliding through the waves like shadows.
They weren't Sea Kings.
Redding struck one across the head with his weapon, but instead of retaliating, the creature lowered its massive head submissively, its vertical pupils contracting in fear.
These weren't Sea Kings at all—they were colossal venomous water serpents, predators so fierce that even the Sea Kings feared them.
"I'll get some rope!" a giant shouted with a hearty laugh.
They had stumbled upon a rare miracle—living serpents of the Calm Belt, powerful enough to pull their ship across the most dangerous waters in the world.
"If we can tame them, we'll cross the Calm Belt without a single Sea King daring to stop us!" Redding bellowed proudly.
As if to test their luck, another massive shadow began rising from the depths. Without hesitation, Redding raised his sword and swung.
Boom!
The ocean itself split apart as his shock wave tore through the water, obliterating the rising creature.
Roy's eyes widened. "Master! Is that what they call Hegemony?"
Redding shook his head, lowering his sword. "Not yet. I'm strong, but I'm nowhere near that level. If you want to see true Hegemony, you'll need to meet Captains Dorry and Brogy—the pride of Elbaf!"
He paused, then added with a smirk, "Or perhaps the old captains Jarul and Jorul. But they're far too old now to join forces like they used to."
As he spoke, the giants roped up the three massive serpents, tying them securely to the ship.
"These three will pull us through the Calm Belt," Redding declared.
Roy grinned. "Then let's head straight for the West Blue!"
"Fine by me!" Redding laughed. "Anywhere you want to go, boy!"
He patted the serpents' heads with the flat of his sword, sending a warning through them. The three monsters hissed, their pupils narrowing dangerously.
"Be quiet and behave, or I'll roast you alive!" one of the giants barked.
Roy smirked. "Yeah, roasted giant snake. Crunchy, like chicken skin!"
"Crunchy!" another giant echoed with a grin.
The serpents glared coldly but didn't resist. They bent their heads low, gnawing on the corpses of the fallen Sea Kings.
"Eat your fill, then take us to the West Blue," Redding ordered.
The serpents raised their heads, meeting his gaze with defiant eyes. They were not happy, but they dared not rebel.
"Hey, can you guys understand me?" Roy asked curiously, waving at them.
Three pairs of golden pupils swiveled to glare at the small red-haired boy.
Hissss!
The serpents hissed in unison, clearly annoyed.
"Hit them!" Redding said with a grin, lifting Roy up in one massive hand and presenting him to the serpents like an offering.
The serpents froze.
Was this giant serious? Sending the kid straight to his death?
But as Roy stepped closer, the serpents lowered their heads slightly, wary of Redding's presence.
Roy clenched his fist and slammed it down on the forehead of the green serpent.
Thud!
"Hissss!!" The serpent shrieked, its massive body coiling in pain. Its strength was overwhelming, but this small boy's punch hurt far more than it should have.
"And you!" Roy pointed at the black serpent beside it. "Don't you dare glare at me!"
Redding laughed, lifting him toward the second serpent.
Roy punched again. The black serpent roared furiously and snapped its jaws, fangs bared—until crack!
Its fangs shattered on contact with Roy's steel-like skin.
The beast recoiled, stunned.
From the deck, Toki's eyes widened. Even now, she was still discovering the terrifying depth of Roy's power.
"And you too!" Roy turned to the white serpent. The creature whimpered, shrinking back as Redding moved closer.
Roy gave it a light punch on the head—not enough to harm, but enough to humiliate.
The damage was minor, but the insult was immense.
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