Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Azure Medal!
Icy blue and crimson streaks sliced through the air, mercilessly striking the unprotected head of the mud dragon, where its “mud armor” had failed. The impact, resounding like a fierce clap of thunder, crushed the creature’s upper body back into the swampy earth with a deafening crash.

The heavy blade remained embedded in the skull of the mud dragon as the fiery red life points that glowed around the beast under Ryan’s assault began to fade. The once vibrant spots dimmed until they snuffed out entirely, the mud dragon’s life extinguished.

Ryan let out a weary sigh, easing the tension in his shoulders as he withdrew his sword from the now still creature. He glanced at the lifeless form and shook his head ruefully.

“Without entering the ‘Red Flame Rage’, overcoming this beast would have demanded far more from me,” he muttered to himself.

As he spoke, a peculiar, sac-like object emerged from the carcass, shimmering with a rich bronze luster, a striking contrast to the dull mud around it.

[Mud Dragon’s Big Water Bag]: A bronze-level trophy. This special organ, unique to the mud dragon, stores its vital essence. Attached special skill [Switch Defense to Attack lv.1]: Increases damage by 5% for the next 20 seconds following a successful defensive weapon parry.

“A new special skill?” Ryan mused, his eyes lighting up with intrigue. “This could synergize well with [Sword Drawing·Force]… after a defensive sword draw, my total damage output could spike by 10% for the next 20 seconds, potentially stunning the enemy with a well-placed strike to the head.”

With a contemplative sigh, Ryan turned his attention to his status panel.

[Level]: 11 (1%→51%)

[Spiritual Value]: 32635→52635

Defeating this formidable ‘lower apex’ level mud dragon had only nudged his experience up by 50%. He knew that reaching the next level would require vanquishing at least one more creature of similar stature.

Ryan’s expression remained stoic; the challenge of leveling up had grown steeper with each advance, but so had the rewards.

Dismissing the status display of his wandering avatar with a flick, Ryan reached into his pocket and drew out an exquisitely crafted azure medal. His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The defeat of the mud dragon marked his tenth victory over a special species. It was time for the azure medal’s power to awaken. A faint glow emanated from the medal, and a soothing warmth enveloped him, spreading a comforting sensation throughout his body, promising new strengths and untold possibilities.

[Sacred Relic Azure Medal]: This revered medal is bestowed only upon those hunters who have demonstrated exceptional prowess within their group. It harbors mystical energies capable of enhancing the bearer’s physical attributes by two full levels for individuals ranked level 20 and below. The memory completion of this holy relic has now been achieved, signaling its awakening.

This legendary token, a mark of distinction reserved for the mightiest among hunters, still harbored latent potential. After successfully hunting ten diverse special species, the relic would fully awaken. The display indicated the progress: 10/10. It was now recalibrating to tailor its effects precisely to Ryan’s needs. Estimated adaptation time: 30 minutes. A brief wait was required.

“Thirty more minutes, huh?” Ryan muttered, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. However, his spirits quickly lifted as he considered the benefits. “The greater the wait, the more personalized the ‘effect’ will be. This could significantly boost my capabilities.”

“Let the time pass,” he mused aloud, refocusing on the mud dragon’s carcass before him.

As a ‘lower apex’ special species, every part of the mud dragon was valuable. Moreover, to engage in trade with the elusive ‘recluse dragon man’, he needed specific vouchers obtained from the creature’s remains.

Ryan crouched down, his hands skillfully maneuvering to harvest the materials. With experience as his guide, he was practically self-taught in this craft. He swiftly gathered scales, teeth, and bones, and meticulously packed flesh and blood into his space ring until it bulged at its seams.

Having filled his storage to capacity, Ryan hauled a hefty slab of fish steak to a nearby clearing, not far from the wetland. He set up a makeshift barbecue grill and ignited it with the “Male Fire Dragon’s Sorrow,” a flame that promised intense heat.

High-level ingredients such as this required minimal culinary intervention. Under the fierce blaze of the dragon’s fire, the steak sizzled, releasing enticing aromas. A sprinkle of sea salt was all it took to finish off the golden, crispy fish steak.

Ryan took a hearty bite. The flesh was tender, dissolving effortlessly in his mouth with a hint of sweetness accentuated by the light saltiness. It was, without exaggeration, a taste of heavenly delight.

Within moments, Ryan had devoured a large chunk of the grilled fish fillet. The rich nutrients infused in the meat suffused him with a warm, comforting glow.

[Gluttony]: 75/100.

[Mud Dragon’s Fury]: Upon activation, the Mud Dragon roars, granting the user a 10% boost in physical strength and causing attacks to inflict additional mud damage, which significantly slows down the opponent.

“Nice [Food War] special effect!” Ryan exclaimed, his satisfaction evident as he picked his teeth leisurely.

After finishing his meal, Ryan followed the spirit deer back to the subterranean entrance of the wetland cave, returning to the cavern where the reclusive ‘dragon man’ dwelt.

He extracted a tooth from the mud dragon and tossed it effortlessly to the recluse perched on the cave wall. The figure, shadowed under a bamboo hat, inspected the tooth intently before nodding in acknowledgment.

“…It is indeed a dragon of the mud… You… have proved your worth…”

“This token… for your reward…”

With a flick, the recluse tossed a small object down to Ryan, who caught it deftly and examined it closely.

[Life Glass Bead]: A peculiar gem brimming with potent life energy. Though its vitality is dense and condensed, preventing it from having a healing effect, incorporating this bead in the forging of equipment can imbue it with unique life-related special skills.

“Good stuff!” Ryan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

This gem had the potential to enhance equipment with unique abilities. He was certain that Master Silver Hammer would find such a mystical item fascinating.

After securing the [Life Glass Bead] safely, Ryan raised his gaze to meet the hermit dragon man on the cave wall and ventured a question, “Mr. Dragon Man, might you know the secrets of this island? Why did the legendary ancient dragon species choose to migrate here?”