on Rongrong Island
Mushroom Web Binding!
Morris activated his ability!
Where his palms touched, the natural mycelium networks that had been quietly crawling on the ground and several types of small climbing ground mushrooms seemed to be instantly injected with wild vitality!
The grayish-white mycelium thickened at a speed visible to the naked eye and suddenly shot up from the ground!
The slender stalks of several nearby Ghost Vine Mushrooms also whipped violently, working with the proliferating mycelium to wrap layer upon layer around the giant pig's injured and bleeding hind legs!
These instantly activated and strengthened mycelium and mushroom bodies were exceptionally tough. Although they couldn't completely block the giant pig's frantic momentum, they greatly restricted its speed, causing it to struggle and twist madly in place in anger, sending mud and broken mycelium flying everywhere.
"Well done, Captain!"
"It's been stopped! As expected of Captain Morris!"
The pirates, their nerves slightly settled, cheered at the sight and were about to muster the courage to step forward and help the Captain subdue this heavily injured giant beast.
Just then—
A swift figure chased from the direction the giant pig had charged out from at an even faster speed, landing lightly on the thick stalk of a nearby mushroom after a few leaps.
The newcomer was Marcus.
He frowned as he glanced at the giant pig entangled by the mushrooms, then his gaze coldly swept over the group of disheveled, unfamiliar faces below.
Islanders? No, this getup... Pirates?
"Tsk, its vitality is quite tenacious. It managed to run this far after taking so many slashes."
Marcus muttered to himself, his tone carrying a slight dissatisfaction that the prey wouldn't just collapse obediently.
He completely ignored Morris and the others, his gaze locked only on the giant pig.
His figure flickered again, disappearing from the mushroom stalk, and in the next moment, he appeared at the side of the struggling giant pig.
"This farce should end now."
He gave a low shout and pushed the sword guard with his thumb.
Swish—!
A silver line so thin it was almost invisible flashed through the air in an instant, appearing on the giant pig's exposed neck.
Thud!
The giant pig's massive body shuddered violently, its crimson eyes quickly losing their light. Without even a grunt, it crashed to the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust mixed with spore powder, completely losing consciousness.
Only then did Marcus land softly, brushing off non-existent dust. Looking at the fallen trophy, a satisfied expression appeared on his face.
He turned and shouted to the panting team members behind him.
"Hurry up—! Hahaha! See that? This pig is enough to feed the whole ship for at least two days. That kid Aldo definitely didn't catch one this big. Drag it back; we're having an extra meal tonight!"
"You... you guys!"
Morris snapped back from the series of lightning-fast shocks. Looking at the fallen giant pig and his injured subordinates, and then seeing Marcus's attitude of completely ignoring them, a surge of wicked fire rose within him.
He was Mushroom Tyrant Morris! A Great Pirate with a bounty of forty-three million Berries! The future monarch of the Mushroom Kingdom!
These guys who popped out of nowhere dared to... "Are you blind?! Didn't you see us here? Injuring my men and stealing my prey—you've got a lot of nerve!"
"Exactly! You bastards have no eyes? Your prey ran into our people! Do you know who our Captain is?"
"Kneel and apologize! Leave the pig! Only then might Captain Morris show mercy and spare your lives!"
"Hmm?"
Marcus seemed to only notice them now, his cold gaze sweeping over Morris and his group of shaken subordinates.
"You? Judging by your appearance, you must be pirates too! We were the ones who hunted and wounded this pig first. As for the collision..."
He glanced at the two pirates groaning on the ground.
"I don't need to explain anything to you. If you hear this kind of commotion in the forest and don't know how to evade in advance, you can only blame your own slow reactions."
"Hahaha..." The team members behind him also started laughing.
These matter-of-fact words, which even carried a bit of a lecturing tone, completely enraged Morris.
"Bastard! Do you know who I am? I am a Great Pirate with a bounty of forty million, Mushroom Tyrant Morris! This forest, this island, will all be my territory soon! Who do you think you are?!"
"Hahaha! There's actually someone who calls himself a Great Pirate? How thick-skinned!"
A murderous light flickered in Morris's eyes, and the surrounding air seemed to warp slightly with his anger. The quiet mushrooms on the ground and trees also seemed to be faintly restless.
"It seems if I don't show you some color, you won't know who the master here is! Give me..."
Just as Morris was about to activate his ability to attack, the scarred Executive beside him hurriedly grabbed his arm tightly.
"Captain Morris! Calm down! Our current state is too poor. Don't forget our primary goal! Getting entangled with these people of unknown background—if we get delayed and the main force lands on the island, it'll be trouble! Besides..."
The Executive looked warily at the sword sheathed at Marcus's side and the team members behind him, who, though panting, had already taken up advantageous positions.
"They look like they're not to be trifled with."
Morris's chest heaved violently. He glared fiercely at Marcus, then looked toward the center of the island, forcibly suppressing the urge to strike immediately.
"Hmph! Consider yourselves lucky! I have more important things to do right now! However, everything on this island, including the pig you hunted today, will be mine sooner or later! Let's go!"
He gave Marcus one last sinister look, as if trying to memorize his face, then waved his hand and led his subordinates around the fallen giant pig and Marcus's squad, hurrying toward the towering giant mushroom in the center of the island, quickly disappearing into the depths of the mushroom forest.
Marcus watched them leave, his previous mockery slowly fading. His brow furrowed imperceptibly, and a flash of thought crossed his eyes.
"Mushroom Tyrant Morris? Never heard the name. His ability is... controlling mushrooms? On this island, that's a bit of a nuisance."
"Big Brother Marcus, those people seem to be heading for the center of the island. They're acting suspicious. Should we follow them and take a look?"
"No need to bother with them. Our mission is to hunt for supplies. Our priority is to complete our task first."
Marcus withdrew his gaze and instructed, "Process the prey first and transport it back to the ship as quickly as possible. As for other matters, we'll report them to the Boss when he returns."
The scene shifts back to Mushroom Village.
Under the direction of Village Chief Old Mushroom Head, the villagers had completed their defensive preparations.
"Chief! Latest news!"
A young villager responsible for outer reconnaissance came running back.
"That group of pirates that landed from the west, about thirty or forty of them—they didn't stop at all after landing and headed straight into the mushroom forest. Looking at the direction... they're heading for the center of the island!"
"The center of the island?" Old Mushroom Head's brow furrowed tightly. "There's nothing there! What are they going there for?"
"Chief, there's more good news! Not long after that pirate ship docked, a Marine warship arrived! It's now anchored at the Western Reef Bay, and Marine Soldiers are coming ashore! They must be here to catch those wicked pirates!"
"The Marines are here?!"
"Really? That's great!"
"It's the Marines! We're saved!"