Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Holy Relic: Embrace of Blood!
A surge of formidable energy coursed through Ryan’s veins, due to the enhanced physical strength his traveling avatar had acquired. With each confident stride through the temple’s hallowed corridors, he marveled at his body’s resilience; there was not a hint of discomfort despite the rigorous demands he placed upon it.

As he approached the imposing wolf-headed gate, deep within the temple’s inner sanctum, a smile crept across Ryan’s face. Memories of his previous thwarted attempt at the [Trial of Strength] flashed in his mind. But today felt different.

Standing before the colossal stone barrier, Ryan placed his hands firmly against its cold, unyielding surface. Drawing a deep breath, he pushed with all his might. Muscles tensed and veins stood out prominently as he exerted his newfound strength.

With a grating squeal that echoed ominously through the stone chamber, the ancient door shuddered. Dust cascaded from its edges as it reluctantly gave way, inching open just enough to allow passage for a man of ordinary size. Ceasing his efforts, Ryan stepped back, his breath escaping in a heavy sigh.

He glanced at the panel displaying the [Trial of Strength]: a formidable challenge devised by the [King of Blood], designed to test the physical might of those who dared approach. According to the legend rendered on the panel, this trial adapted its resistance based on the race and rank of the challenger, yielding only to sheer physical power.

[Trial of Strength]: You are the first human to overcome this challenge since the Age of Gods. Please, inscribe your “name” or “code name” for posterity. Henceforth, let all who face the Trial of Strength gaze upon your supreme triumph.*

The stone wolves’ eyes flared to life, casting a ghostly white projection before him.

“Respected conqueror of the Trial, inscribe your name for the eternal registry of spirits,” the disembodied voice intoned, the words appearing in an unfamiliar script that strangely, Ryan could comprehend perfectly.

“Divine script, perhaps?” Ryan mused aloud, his curiosity piqued. After a moment’s consideration, he raised his hand and inscribed the bold title “Great Swordsman” onto the ethereal canvas. Opting for a pseudonym was prudent, after all, who knew what malevolent forces might misuse his real name for a curse?

Imagining future challengers discovering that the only human to ever pass this ancient test bore the title “Great Swordsman” brought a mischievous grin to his face.

This act of leaving a name was but a brief diversion in his grand adventure. Now, his gaze fixed on the slight opening of the door, Ryan’s heart pounded with anticipation.

What secrets did the [King of Blood], a deity from millennia past, deem worthy of such formidable safeguarding? The thought fueled his excitement as he prepared to uncover the mysteries that lay beyond the wolf-headed gate.

Stepping through the narrow opening of the door, Ryan entered what appeared to be a modest study, a stark contrast to the temple’s grandiose main hall. The room was relatively small, furnished only with a desk and chair crafted from a blood-colored metal, accompanied by a solitary bookshelf.

The furniture was colossal, evidently designed for beings nearly ten meters tall, giants, perhaps. The bookshelf stood empty, a silent guardian of the space. Dominating the room, the desk hosted an intriguing collection of items: a massive sheepskin-covered notebook and a bronze metal box, each scaled for the mythical inhabitants of this realm.

“The sense of stumbling into a giant’s lair grows stronger,” Ryan quipped to himself, the irony of his situation not lost on him. Deciding to investigate the more promising of the treasures first, he approached the metal box.

Unlike the enchanted security he half-expected, the box was merely closed, not locked. He lifted the lid with ease, half-expecting to be dazzled by treasure. Instead, he discovered a pair of enormous dark gold gloves adorned with intricate blood-colored patterns. A gray-font description materialized before him, providing a tale as old as time:

[Holy Relic: Embrace of Blood (Sleeping)]: Crafted by the [King of Blood] from the finest filaments of the sacred tree, these gloves were intended as a gift for the [Charming God of Benevolence]. Tragically, before the gift could be delivered, the ‘Great Cataclysm’ struck, leading to the destruction of the ‘Birthplace’ and the demise of the [Charming God of Benevolence]. Overwhelmed by grief and fury, the [King of Blood]’s hatred infused the gloves with a powerful, lingering malice.

Equipment Requirements:

– [Physique] ≥ 10.0

– Blood Storage: 100-point capacity, auto-regenerates 10 points per hour. Consumption accelerates with the user’s blood quality.

Functionalities:

– Melee Mode: Consumes 50 blood points to conjure a blood sword (or other melee weapons based on the wielder’s [Physique]), featuring tearing and bleeding effects.

– Ranged Mode: Uses 50 blood points to create a blood spear. After locking onto a target for three seconds, the spear inflicts penetrating and bleeding damage on impact.

Intrigued by the capabilities and history of the [Embrace of Blood], Ryan contemplated the sheer power vested in such artifacts. Here in his hands lay not just relics of the past, but potent weapons, woven from sorrow and longing, carrying the weight of ancient vendettas and lost love.

– Defense Mode: Utilizing 100 blood points, this function creates a “blood core” whose resilience is contingent upon the wearer’s [Physique]. This protective shield renders Ryan immune to enemy attacks until it is breached.

Relic Insight: “Spirit Man” hunt, The profound malice infused within this relic can only be mitigated through the essence of a ‘spirit.’ Such purification will slowly unlock the true potential of the ‘blood.’ **Current Progress**: 0/1.

—

Gazing at the extensive details of the [Holy Relic: Embrace of Blood] arrayed before him, Ryan was momentarily overwhelmed. A rush of exhilaration quickly followed, his heart thrumming with the possibilities.

“A new ‘holy relic’!” Ryan exclaimed, his voice echoing slightly in the small chamber. “And it’s not just a passive artifact like the [Holy Relic: Azure Medal]. This one, forged by the [King of Blood], offers active capabilities in melee, ranged, and defense modes.”

The sight of the dark gold gloves, ornate with blood-patterned engravings, sent a thrill through him. Having already experienced the transformative power of a holy relic, Ryan understood the immense potential nestled within these seemingly inert objects. He knew well that without the [Holy Relic: Azure Medal], his own capabilities would be halved.

With reverent hands, Ryan lifted the gloves from their resting place. The moment his skin made contact with the cold metal, the gloves began to contract, morphing seamlessly until they perfectly conformed to the contours of his hands. The fit was impeccable, as if tailored to his very flesh, so light and seamless that they felt almost invisible upon his hands.

“What a marvel,” Ryan breathed out, awestruck.

His thoughts barely had time to settle when he willed the glove into action. A mist of blood coalesced around his right hand, and in a blink, it solidified into a formidable blood-red sword. The blade, lined with serrated edges reminiscent of a shark’s vicious teeth, promised grievous wounds and ruthless efficiency in combat.

Ryan tapped the flat of the blade, testing its mettle. The sound it returned was solid, satisfying. Though he wouldn’t claim to be a master swordsman, his years of handling various blades lent him enough expertise to recognize quality.

“This ‘Bloody Sawtooth Greatsword’ far surpasses the [Great Sword: Ferocious Ice Flower] in both texture and sharpness,” he mused aloud. The comparison was hardly fair, the Ice Fang Swordfish that formed the core of his previous weapon was a mere level-one monster, its potential fully exploited by the masterful hands of a copper hammer smith. But this greatsword, a legacy of the [King of Blood] himself, was a different beast entirely, its capabilities magnified by Ryan’s formidable physique.

After a moment of admiration, Ryan nodded in approval, his mind already racing with strategies on how best to wield this new, deadly companion in the battles to come.