The sea monster "Chupacabra" actually performed an abrupt stop on the ocean surface, then thrashed the waves recklessly and turned tail to flee for its life.

The pirates, faced with such an unbelievable sight, naturally paused in stunned silence for a moment. However, Fang Senyan and his crew had witnessed far stranger things and reacted immediately, unwilling to let slip such a perfect opportunity to strike a downed dog. They unleashed a frenzy of attacks while simultaneously cursing loudly to drive the pirates to keep the ship in hot pursuit.

Although the final result of the chase did not see the Chupacabra slain on the spot, a well-aimed shot at the hinge of the enemy's mast proved fortuitous, managing to shatter the creature's long, crocodile-like tail!

Amidst the Chupacabra's piercing shriek, blood instantly stained the surrounding seawater crimson. It took the opportunity to dive into the deep sea, while the crew erupted in cheers and hauled the severed tail back onto the ship.

The thickest part of this bloody, long tail was the size of a wine barrel, and the tail itself stretched nearly six meters in length. Its surface skin was remarkably tough and thick; judging by the cross-section, it appeared to be at least two centimeters deep. Within, the fibrous, bright red muscle still twitched and trembled continuously, betraying the enormous explosive power it harbored.

The moment Fang Senyan's fingers brushed against the appendage, he received a system prompt: Unknown item awaiting identification. He knew then that although the battle seemed to have ended without total victory, it certainly hadn't been a pointless endeavor.

Next, Fang Senyan arranged for several stout, skilled sailors to take the lifeboat ahead to clear the path. No longer gripped by the fear of previous legends, they eagerly jumped into the sea, using their knives to hack through the tangled, black-net-like giant sargassum weed. One-Eyed Black Sail was put in charge of this operation; if any complication arose, he should be able to handle it easily.

It was worth noting that these giant sargassum weeds possessed incredibly tenacious vitality. Thus, if they were merely cut through casually, they would quickly re-tangle and intertwine within minutes. This ensured that those following behind Fang Senyan wouldn't reap any easy rewards.

As someone proficient in maritime management, Fang Senyan was fully aware of the necessity for measured pacing. Taking advantage of the Sam being forced to proceed at a slow crawl, he left behind the minimum required watch personnel and brought out the plundered rum, dried meat, and other provisions to host a brief celebration feast, allowing the pirates a chance to rest and relax.

This order was naturally met with unanimous approval from all the pirates. They began to cheer before quickly settling into a state of respite. Roasting the delicious dried meat until it sizzled in the damp weather, taking a bite, and then chasing it with a swig of rum—the fiery sensation spreading from the tongue throughout their entire bodies... that sheer pleasure was something that could only be understood implicitly, not verbally described.

Fang Senyan circulated through the crowd, occasionally stopping to share a drink and tell a few bawdy jokes that elicited lewd chuckles from his subordinates, all while gently reminding them not to get too drunk now, lest they be forced to remain on the ship as guards when they reached Tortuga. Seeing that all conditions were optimal, he decided to head to the cabin to formulate plans for their arrival at Tortuga.

A few steps toward the cabin, just as Fang Senyan was about to open the door, he heard a burst of loud laughter erupt from a cluster of pirates nearby, quickly followed by one man, his tongue fumbling, his face flushed, stating earnestly:

"You... you lot are absolute blockheads! I genuinely, truly know the method the Captain used to drive that beast away!"

"Hah! Stop bragging. You were up on the mast watching, weren't you? You didn't even manage to chip a single scale off that monster!" several pirates immediately mocked him.

The lookout became quite indignant: "Precisely because I was on the mast, I saw clearer than any of you! The Captain used some unknown method to summon Paul! Or at least, an illusion of Paul!"

"Paul?" one pirate questioned skeptically. "Damn it, there are at least a million Pauls in this wretched world; who are you talking about?"

"Could it be that Paul?" one pirate’s drunkenness seemed to suddenly clear, his voice turning conspiratorial: "Nightmare Paul? Davy Jones's Paul?"

The group fell silent, their eyes now filled with dread. Any pirate who had spent significant time at sea would have surely heard the legend of that terrifying giant octopus in some tavern. In the Caribbean, this creature was mentioned far more frequently than the Flying Dutchman, because, after all, the Flying Dutchman was still a ship—albeit a powerful and bizarre one—but the sea monster Paul, attacking from the crushing depths, was the very symbol of invincibility!

The lookout swelled with pride: "Exactly! Olite, I think it's necessary for me to correct your terminology; please refer to him as Guardian Paul! To other unfortunate pirates, this colossal octopus monster remains an unsolvable nightmare, but to us, he has now transformed into our guardian deity!"

Saying this, the lookout realized he had successfully captured the attention of his comrades. After taking a large gulp of rum, he began gesturing excitedly: "I saw it with my own eyes from the mast. Just as that Chupacabra was about to capsize the ship, the Captain pulled out a single-barreled flintlock pistol from the water—it looked incredibly formidable—and aimed it at the creature. At that instant, the water around the Captain actually condensed miraculously. Uh, it's hard to describe the feeling, as if the seawater suddenly turned into a solidified, transparent gelatin! I swear on my mother's and father's graves, the shape of that mass of water was a gigantic octopus!!"

"Wow! That's incredible!" "No wonder that monster fled in panic!" "Paul's powerful tentacles could suck the brain right out of the Chupacabra with one sucker!" "..."

Hearing this, Fang Senyan also experienced a moment of sudden realization. He knew the pirate was likely telling the truth. This was the only explanation for the Chupacabra's swift departure. Based on Fang Senyan's analysis, Octopus Paul had likely surpassed the seventh tier of legendary creatures and was an eighth-tier entity, potentially manifesting ninth-tier strength in the water!

Therefore, when a mere third-tier legendary creature encountered such an overwhelmingly powerful being, even if it was just an illusion, it would naturally soil itself and flee in terror—it was the same principle as a dog collapsing at the scent of a tiger's urine.

The appearance of Octopus Paul's illusion could ultimately be traced back to the weapon "Ambition." When Fang Senyan acquired it, he had won the weapon through the Octopus Paul roulette.

At that time, having just joined the Flying Dutchman, he could not have gained Davy Jones's complete trust. Thus, out of caution, it was entirely possible that Davy Jones or Octopus Paul had left their mark, or some form of contingency, within the gun. Should Fang Senyan be discovered as a spy or someone planning harm against the Flying Dutchman, the weapon could be recalled at any moment.

Evidently, the immense power of the System had severed the soul-imprint within the gun. So, when Fang Senyan returned to this world and drew Ambition again, he naturally activated Davy Jones's prior arrangement. Furthermore, with Davy Jones's and Paul's power likely stronger now, even the mere leaking aura was enough to make the Chupacabra flee in terror.

Objectively speaking, Fang Senyan had a clear conscience; he had served Davy Jones well, and at a critical juncture, his warnings nearly caused their entire scheme to fail. Because of this, during his current entry into this world, he dared to operate openly under the guise of the Flying Dutchman.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Fang Senyan felt a wave of relief wash over him. He made no move to stop the lookout from embellishing his account, as this narrative was undoubtedly beneficial for maintaining his authority aboard the ship.

Just then, Black Sail returned, leading the few pirates who had been clearing the path. He was soaked from head to toe, and his skin bore grayish-black marks where the giant sargassum had coiled around his limbs, the edges already red and swollen—clearly, he had endured considerable hardship. Black Sail then presented a clean, white plate to Fang Senyan. Resting on the plate were six black, thorn-like fruits that emitted a faint green glow; it was immediately apparent that these were no ordinary items.

"This is the fundamental reason why the giant sargassum is blocking the shipping lanes at this time."

Black Sail bowed slightly, respectfully addressing Fang Senyan.

"During this season, the Thetmys Current brings vast amounts of plankton, fish, and shrimp to these nearby waters, which means abundant food, rich nutrients, and warm water temperatures. This relatively stable warmth is also highly conducive to plant reproduction. Therefore, these 'Hair of the Dead' choose this moment to rise high to the surface and rapidly bear fruit to propagate their lineage. As everyone knows, organisms in their prime are always prone to being irrational and frantic."

Fang Senyan smiled and asked: "Are these their fruits?"

Black Sail nodded: "In the entire Caribbean, very few people know this secret. I am one of them, and now, my Lord, you have joined that number."

Fang Senyan mused thoughtfully: "Then, was that monster they called the Chupacabra also here for these fruits? Did it view these fruits as its exclusive prize, and attack us because we trespassed into its feeding ground?"