Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Battle Against Mud Dragon
In the murky depths of the Island Wasteland, where the lower wetlands shimmered under a twilight canopy, the Mud Dragon reigned over the area. This particular sub dragon species, evolved to lead as the undisputed lower apex predator, typically posed a challenge rated at “lower three stars.” However, fortune and the creature’s unique adaptations had bolstered it to an extraordinary level of threat.

The Mud Dragons thrived in their muddy havens, using the sludgy terrain to ensnare unwary prey and form a formidable natural armor. When enshrouded in this wet cloak, their defenses were near impenetrable. Yet, vulnerability crept in as their scales dried, weakening their structure and impairing their cutaneous respiration. Additionally, their spit, a viscous mud, could trap anything it touched, severely hindering movement. An ominous warning was a reminder of that with the panel flickerwith the text: beware the ensnaring mire.

Ryan, a seasoned adventurer, eyed the description of the “Mud Dragon” scrolling in a muted gray font across his visual pane. A smirk played at the corners of his mouth despite the grave warning that pulsed at the bottom of the screen: “You feel heavy pressure.” To Ryan, the Mud Dragon, though formidable at “lower apex,” lacked the sheer terror instilled by the Male Fire Dragon Leader, the pinnacle of draconic might.

Danger levels on his panel interface were clearly delineated: no prompt indicated manageable threats; “You feel heavy pressure” signaled significant danger; and the direst warning, “This person is much stronger than you, you can’t fight him, please stay away as soon as possible,” spelled certain doom. In Ryan’s experience, the latter usually meant a swift and brutal end, with no room for escape.

Although the Mud Dragon and the Male Fire Dragon Leader shared the “lower apex” classification, vast differences in their inherent danger were palpable. The fire dragon was a monstrous challenge, whereas the Mud Dragon, albeit deadly, was considerably less daunting, a fact that Ryan found mildly reassuring.

The creature itself was an impressive spectacle, its bulk parting the thick mud as it repositioned within its swampy lair. At nearly three meters in length, it was formidable but it lacked the aerial majesty and sheer size of its draconic cousins. Yet, in the wilds, size was not the sole determinant of a creature’s lethality.

With a guttural roar, the Mud Dragon launched a glob of mud towards Ryan. Agilely, he leapt back, creating a three-meter gap between himself and the impending splatter. The mud bomb hit the ground, exploding into a sprawling patch of sticky terrain. Ryan frowned as he inspected his mud-spattered boots. The projectile had been slow, but its range and the treacherous terrain it created posed a significant tactical disadvantage. Should the dragon continue its muddy assault, the challenge of this encounter would escalate quickly.

As the Mud Dragon geared up for another salvo of its mud-spewing assault, Ryan recognized the urgency of halting its actions. With a flicker of light, his space ring shimmered, and the [Light Crossbow·Ice Crush] materialized in his grasp. As the beast unleashed a torrent of mud, Ryan, with reflexes honed by countless battles, took aim and fired.

The crossbow hummed, the string vibrating intensely as the ice-blue bolt sliced through the air. It struck true, lodging itself into the gaping mouth of the Mud Dragon just as it was mid-spew.

A guttural cry of agony echoed through the wetlands as the Mud Dragon recoiled. The icy projectile, capitalizing on the slurry of mud and saliva, triggered an intense reaction, encasing the creature’s mouth in a chilling frost. Writhing in pain, the dragon desperately rolled, attempting to douse the biting cold by gulping down clumps of wet mud.

Seizing the moment, Ryan surged forward with athletic grace, his greatsword gleaming ominously on his shoulder as he gathered his strength for the next strike. The Mud Dragon, frantic to rid itself of the frost, reared its head, only to meet the full force of Ryan’s accumulated power.

With a resonant “Bang,” the silver-blue blade met the mud-hardened armor of the dragon’s head. The impact sent shockwaves through Ryan’s arms, reverberating with a dull thud. The Mud Dragon, overwhelmed by the force, was catapulted backwards, its body momentarily leaving the protective embrace of the mud.

Ryan staggered back, his hands tingling from the recoil, his gaze fixed on the beast as it shook off the impact and rose again, resembling a slick fish freshly plucked from water. The sword strike had stripped large swathes of the mud armor away, revealing the vulnerable, pale scales beneath, a stark different to the robust hide of a Red Tyrannosaurus.

This reinforced the introductory notes he had read: “When protected by wet mud, the Mud Dragon’s defenses are formidable.” Initially, Ryan had struggled to grasp the full meaning of these words, but the battle laid everything bare.

He concluded swiftly, “To truly wound the Mud Dragon, one must first shatter its muddy carapace and then press the attack without respite.”

As he watched the dragon dive back into the mud, resurfacing with its head armor seemingly restored, Ryan realized that unlike the defenseless [Upper] unicorn, the Mud Dragon’s formidable protection was still breakable.

A smirk crossed his lips. “Then this won’t be too difficult after all.”

With renewed vigor, Ryan dashed forward, his steps quick and purposeful. As he moved, he reached into his pack, retrieving a strip of jerky which he chewed thoughtfully, readying himself for the next phase of the battle.

Red flames enveloped Ryan’s greatsword, its glow intensifying as his speed surged to match. With the activation of [Food War·Male Fire Dragon’s Sorrow], Ryan became a blur on the battlefield, his movements swift and decisive.

Anticipating another confrontation, the Mud Dragon braced itself more adeptly than before. It filled its mouth with a thick slurry of mud, fortifying its defenses against Ryan’s relentless assaults.

In an unexpected tactical shift, the dragon didn’t target Ryan directly but instead unleashed a torrent of mud beneath itself. The mud erupted, swiftly coalescing into a formidable barrier as tall as a man, spreading outward in a protective circle. This defensive mud wall not only thwarted Ryan’s immediate advance but also cloaked the Mud Dragon’s movements, making it difficult for Ryan to track its position.

The soft, sticky nature of the mud made it a treacherous trap that threatened to ensnare Ryan if he came too close, hindering his movements and adding a layer of grim discomfort to the fight.

Stepping back, Ryan maintained his distance, his eyes scanning for any sign of the beast as the ground beneath him trembled with hidden movements.