Ocean Master

Chapter 168 - The Oriole Stalking The Mantis.

The battlefield seemed to have fallen under the effects of a space amber.

Sebastian's sharp rows of teeth were still embedded inside the head of the white sparkling fish as it struggled, but its struggles were now extremely slow like it was under the influence of a real space amber.

The angry toad was still rapidly swimming from afar while his long lethal weapon in the form of his tongue wreaked even more havoc on the fish.

At this moment, the originally rapid and swift whip-like attacks of the tongue adaptation now seemed slow and dragged-out also.

The last scene in this slow world depicted the black Praying Mantis as it pushed itself out of Sebastian's shadow. This shocking scene was imprinted into the eyes of the other 3 predators on the battlefield, and their reactions were extreme.

Sebastian was shocked as he saw a predator coming out of his own shadow, the toad's rapid swim slowed down a bit as he watched in shock, while the struggling fish's eyes revealed a look of despair.

The implications of this god-like skill were numerous. Not only did it mean that the terrifying praying mantis could ambush them at leisure and at the deadliest angle possible, but it also meant that escaping from the mantis was literally impossible.

This impossibility was at this point not only for the struggling fish but also for Sebastian and the old toad if the Praying Mantis proved stronger than them.

"You actually created a new trump card skill?" After the momentary silence, the old toad finally spoke in a tone filled with regret, anger, and indignance.

It hesitated, clearly no longer wanting to vie for this jackpot encounter with the terrifying Praying Mantis but as soon as his orange-red eyes laid upon the struggling fish, a raging fire of desire spread in his heart.

Boom!

He didn't escape, he may be cautious but was not a coward, he would compete for this treasure till the end. With one powerful flap of its hind strangely webbed feet, it propelled itself forward faster.

The Praying Mantis heard what his old enemy said, he also detected the old toad rapidly swimming towards them resolutely, but still, he couldn't reply nor be distracted because Sebastian lashed at him the next moment.

Sebastian already used the mass magic manifestation strategy once on the Basking Shark, then all the battling since then, and the short speed burst with his supersonic speed skill already used up his mana points a lot.

His mana recovery speed kicked in but was not enough.

He was in a situation where he could no longer be as extravagant, but Sebastian still pounced at the praying mantis, completely abandoning the bleeding sparkling fish.

He knew even more about the dangers of a skill like the one the Praying Mantis just used. If left alone, he may not even know how he died, this mantis needed to be focused on.

He could go unrestrained because none of his team members were on the battlefield anymore. Before going for the fish hunt, through his sound control skill, he already ordered his surviving team members to escape and leave the battlefield.

At this moment, he erupted with force at the Praying Mantis.

[You have activated skill: Battering Ram.]

[You have activated unique skill: Water Transmutation.]

[You have created a magic manifestation: Lightning Axe!]

Boom!

Due to the close proximity after appearing, the Praying Mantis was unable to react on time as Sebastian's considerably larger and heavier body slammed against his small body. He was not crushed but he suffered.

Sebastian also suffered, the praying mantis could not dodge but it retaliated, using the ideology of an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.

Sebastian's large body slammed into his body, while his sharp hands like those of the blade of a katana ruthlessly sliced through Sebastian's huge body.

Its compound eyes suddenly stared in surprise as whisps of lightning magic seemed to descend, accompanied by a large pitch-black ax.

Ptui!

It dodged but was still a little slow as it lost a hand to the ax. While crying out in rage, its shadow domain magic rampantly spread into the surroundings, forming giant shadow spikes that shot at Sebastian's body.

Only rough bam sounds were heard as Sebastian's magic shield held most of them at bay. Before the magic shield was breached completely, Sebastian already materialized the tower shield magic manifestation.

While the both of them duked it out, they soon forgot the concept of time, even forgetting that they had a prey to catch as the battle instincts of a predator in their blood kicked in.

Seeing this from afar, the old toad was excited as schemes started forming in his intelligent eyes. He looked at the severely injured fish that was escaping. With gleaming eyes, he went in pursuit while trying hard not to startle the 2 competitors.

To its surprise, the fish only escaped a few meters before it was engulfed.

The fish was engulfed by a familiar cluster of black gas that started strangling it immediately. From this black gas, a new predator emerged that dug its sharp fangs into the fish's already damaged head.

The old toad's eyes constricted. "Another shadow domain expert!"

This new emergence clearly had a skill to hide its aura, which enabled it to remain hidden since. Not even Sebastian's electroreceptors detected it, which was something that already left Sebastian feeling spooked.

This new predator was a snake, a Devouring Cobra!

This adult Devouring Cobra was enormous, its tail extending so far that the old toad could not see its end. Devouring Cobras loved swallowing and devouring their prey, but this adult cobra didn't do it immediately.

While removing its 2 deadly fangs from the fish, an ominous dark purple liquid flowed as the Devouring Cobra turned to face the old toad. 

The fish was already poisoned, now all it had to do was protect the fish from the other's attack while letting the poison do its work. With this in mind, the Cobra aimed at the next closest opponent who was the old toad.

Hiss!

What seemed like a spray of the purple liquid was ejected, mixing through the water while spreading towards the direction of the old toad.

Feeling the danger, the old toad dodged, leaping away.

With this unknown figure gone, the enormous Devouring Cobra that looked like an Armageddon figure turned to feast on its prey. Its predatory eyes revealed an excited look as it turned to feast on its prey.

Before it could do this though, its shadow suddenly twisted.