Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Desperation!
Reinvigorated by the [Heart of Gluttony], Ryan’s weariness dissipated quickly. He rallied his strength, charging up for another potent “second-stage charging” attack. With a definitive “crack,” the mighty red horn of the Upper Unicorn, a symbol of its desert knighthood and glory, could no longer withstand the onslaught. After resisting three charged assaults, it shattered, echoing a sound of defeat across the battlefield.

The horn, emblematic of the unicorn dragon’s pride, lay broken in the sands, marking a turning point in the grueling duel. The intense pain from the destruction of its horn jolted the Upper Unicorn Dragon out of its stunned state prematurely. Its dragon-like eyes caught sight of the fallen horn, and a surge of bloodshot fury colored its crown, a fiery glow of red flares igniting around its head.

A dark, ominous vapor began to seethe from the unicorn dragon’s mouth, swirling upwards. The proud desert knight, now bereft of its iconic weapon, transformed into a vengeful harbinger emerging from the depths of fury.

Ryan’s expression tightened slightly, yet his eyes remained unclouded by fear. He had faced the “Red Flame Rage” of monsters countless times before and was almost relieved to see the Upper Unicorn enter this state. This was a sign, a crucial one, it meant that the unicorn was now in the “Residual Health” state, indicating it was nearing its limit.

The resilience of these upper-tier monsters was formidable; despite numerous “Second Stage Charged” attacks, it had only now shown signs of faltering. A lesser creature would have succumbed many times over by this point.

Maintaining a cautious distance of over 30 meters from the raging unicorn, Ryan knew better than to engage during its fury. His recent consecutive heavy attacks, compounded with the activation of two special sword skills, had drained him substantially. Even the supportive powers of [Heart of Gluttony] and the “Pearl of Fertility” couldn’t keep his exhaustion at bay forever, he needed a moment to recuperate.

The unicorn dragon’s head was now enshrouded in a billowing black mist, its blood-red eyes gleaming menacingly through the haze. With a brutal intent, it lifted its head and unleashed a ferocious roar, its body swelling slightly as black fog enveloped it, signaling a dangerous escalation in its power.

As the roar subsided, the beast lowered its gaze directly at Ryan, its eyes filled with a bloodthirsty glare. Without warning, it opened its massive jaws and targeted him.

“Boom!”

A fearsome blast of red light mixed with black mist erupted from the unicorn’s mouth, hurtling straight toward Ryan.

“Danger!”

Ryan’s face blanched as he realized the gravity of the situation. This new, long-range energy attack was unprecedented; the Unicorn Dragon, typically reliant on brute physical strength, had never before demonstrated such a capability in their prior encounters. His mind raced to adapt to this unexpected and perilous twist in the battle.

Empowered by a “morale boost,” Ryan’s agility surged. As a deadly column of red and black mist neared, he narrowly evaded, feeling its corrosive touch graze his right arm. The mist left behind a gnawed hole in his once impenetrable scales, exposing the vulnerable skin beneath.

The missed attack of the red and black mist burrowed deep into the earth, trailing a wide, fan-shaped swath of destruction as the Upper Unicorn swung its head in a sweeping attack.

“Damn it!” Ryan inwardly cursed, his pulse quickening. With a swift front flip, he dodged the energy column’s sweep and charged towards the Unicorn Dragon.

The mere touch of the red energy column had compromised his [Umbrella Fire Scale Armor], a testament to its terrifying potency. Ryan knew he couldn’t afford a direct hit.

“We can’t let the Unicorn Dragon continue this onslaught!”

Flames of determination and literal red flames, flickered along the blade of Ryan’s blood sword as he activated [Food War·Male Fire Dragon’s Sorrow], boosting his speed even further. He managed to outpace the sweeping breath of the Unicorn, positioning himself squarely in front of the beast.

“Kill!” he roared, attempting to use [High-spirited War Roar] to disrupt the Unicorn’s deadly attack. But to his dismay, the Upper Unicorn, now engulfed in “Red Flame Rage,” seemed unaffected by the spiritual sound waves, showing no signs of disruption.

Thrown off by this unexpected resilience, and with the Red Flame Black Mist Column bearing down on him again, Ryan was forced to act. He raised his blood sword defensively in front of him. A blood-colored shimmer enveloped him as [Special Sword Skill-Defense Collision] sprang to life. The protective “blood membrane” shielded him, absorbing the brunt of the mist’s assault and converting the “blood energy” into a fully charged attack.

With a powerful upward slash, Ryan forced the Upper Unicorn’s head back, halting the beast’s fiery breath mid-exhalation.

His face drained of color from the effort, Ryan felt the toll of using the special sword skill again, pushing him to the brink of exhaustion.

But there was no time to relent.

Though the “red rage” armor of the Upper Unicorn Dragon softened slightly, enhancing its flexibility, its head quickly recoiled from the blow and lunged forward in a violent attempt to crush Ryan beneath its massive form.

The surrounding black fog was intensely hot, yet Ryan, whose fire resistance was exceptionally high, barely registered the heat. His focus remained laser-sharp on the vulnerable cross-section of the unicorn’s severed horn, the weakest point on its formidable head.

The prolonged battle had drained both combatants. The Upper Unicorn Dragon hovered at “residual health,” while Ryan’s reserves of “blood” and “gluttony” were dangerously low.

If the fight dragged on, he knew he’d be at a severe disadvantage once his resources bottomed out.

Ryan knew he had to end the fight swiftly. A fierce determination glinted in his eyes, a cruelty directed not at his opponent, but at himself. He forced a massive quantity of his blood into the [Relic·Blood Embrace] clutched in his hands. The relic responded by glowing with a rich, translucent light, a visual testament to its reinvigorated power.

As nearly one-fifth of his life’s essence drained away, Ryan’s vision blurred and began to double. This substantial sacrifice, however, fully replenished the “blood energy” of the [Relic·Blood Embrace] from a mere 25 points back up to its maximum capacity of 100.

Just as the Upper Unicorn’s iron-like chin descended in a crushing blow, Ryan’s gaze sharpened. His hands, glowing with a bloody luminescence, conjured a thorny blood core onto his shoulder. A light red barrier sprang to life, cushioning the impact of the unicorn’s chin. The barrier rippled intensely but held firm, dimming only by a third, indicating it could withstand at least two more such attacks.

Utilizing the full 100 blood energy for the “blood core,” Ryan showcased its unparalleled defensive capabilities. This precious buffer bought him critical time to gather his strength for a counterattack.

The Unicorn Dragon, baffled and infuriated by its failure to penetrate the barrier, prepared for another assault. If something dared block its path, it resolved to obliterate it completely with sheer brute force.

“Bang! Bang!” The sounds of its relentless chin smashes reverberated through the air.

On the third attempt, the blood core’s barrier reached its limit. It shattered spectacularly into countless fragments, scattering in the wind as the unicorn’s chin, momentarily lifted by the explosive force, prepared for another devastating blow. It aimed to pulverize Ryan, the defiant “ant” who had dared to break its horn.

In these critical moments, time seemed to stretch and slow around Ryan. Even as death loomed closer, his mind raced with clarity.

While the Unicorn Dragon furiously attacked the failing “Blood Barrier,” Ryan had successfully charged up his [Storm Sword Skill] to the second stage. However, previous exchanges had starkly demonstrated that while his “Second Stage Charge” could breach the unicorn’s defenses, it was insufficient to deliver a lethal blow.

He needed something far more devastating.

The only option left was a breakthrough, a push beyond his known limits. Ryan had long grappled with the elusive “Third Stage Charge.” Though he had recently overcome the spiritual shortcomings necessary to unlock it, actual mastery remained uncertain.

Now, faced with imminent defeat, desperation became his teacher. If he was to survive and triumph, he needed to harness this formidable technique, transform potential into action and unleash a strike beyond the bounds of his previous capabilities.Ryan knew he had to end the fight swiftly. A fierce determination glinted in his eyes, a cruelty directed not at his opponent, but at himself. He forced a massive quantity of his blood into the [Relic·Blood Embrace] clutched in his hands. The relic responded by glowing with a rich, translucent light, a visual testament to its reinvigorated power.

As nearly one-fifth of his life’s essence drained away, Ryan’s vision blurred and began to double. This substantial sacrifice, however, fully replenished the “blood energy” of the [Relic·Blood Embrace] from a mere 25 points back up to its maximum capacity of 100.

Just as the Unicorn Dragon’s iron-like chin descended in a crushing blow, Ryan’s gaze sharpened. His hands, glowing with a bloody luminescence, conjured a thorny blood core onto his shoulder. A light red barrier sprang to life, cushioning the impact of the unicorn’s chin. The barrier rippled intensely but held firm, dimming only by a third, indicating it could withstand at least two more such attacks.

Utilizing the full 100 blood energy for the “blood core,” Ryan showcased its unparalleled defensive capabilities. This precious buffer bought him critical time to gather his strength for a counterattack.

The Unicorn Dragon, baffled and infuriated by its failure to penetrate the barrier, prepared for another assault. If something dared block its path, it resolved to obliterate it completely with sheer brute force.

“Bang! Bang!” The sounds of its relentless chin smashes reverberated through the air.

On the third attempt, the blood core’s barrier reached its limit. It shattered spectacularly into countless fragments, scattering in the wind as the unicorn’s chin, momentarily lifted by the explosive force, prepared for another devastating blow. It aimed to pulverize Ryan, the defiant “ant” who had dared to break its horn.

In these critical moments, time seemed to stretch and slow around Ryan. Even as death loomed closer, his mind raced with clarity.

While the Upper Unicorn furiously attacked the failing “Blood Barrier,” Ryan had successfully charged up his [Storm Sword Skill] to the second stage. However, previous exchanges had starkly demonstrated that while his “Second Stage Charge” could breach the unicorn’s defenses, it was insufficient to deliver a lethal blow.

He needed something far more devastating.

The only option left was a breakthrough, a push beyond his known limits. Ryan had long grappled with the elusive “Third Stage Charge.” Though he had recently overcome the spiritual shortcomings necessary to unlock it, actual mastery remained uncertain.

Now, faced with imminent defeat, desperation became his teacher. If he was to survive and triumph, he needed to harness this formidable technique, transform potential into action and unleash a strike beyond the bounds of his previous capabilities.