Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 141

Chapter 141: Second Encounter!
The creature before Ryan boasted a sleek, scale-free form, its sinewy build cloaked only in vivid red muscle, as if flayed bare. Standing nearly three meters at the shoulder, its fifteen-meter length was modest compared to the majestic Unicorn Dragon, yet its pair of dark red, razor-sharp claws lent it a ferocious edge. These sinister appendages, emerging from the last toe joints and fashioned into hook-like shapes, were lined with three rows of natural serrations, designed to rend flesh and induce grievous wounds.

[Blood Claw Dragon: [Upper] Tooth Dragon, a dominant predator of the Rotten Miasma Abyss. Known for its fluid agility and lethal claws, the Blood Claw Dragon strikes with stealth, leaving its prey to suffer a slow, agonizing demise from profuse bleeding unless swiftly treated.]

[Alert: You are under immense pressure!]

Ryan’s heart sank with the weight of dread.

This [Upper] Blood Claw Dragon, a stark contrast to the noble [Upper] Unicorn Dragon, was a ruthless predator, its prowess magnified by its ability to blend into the shadows, making it a more formidable adversary. Ryan’s greatsword technique, typically reliant on brute strength, found a challenging match in such nimble foes.

Within the murky miasma, a sinister scarlet gleam flickered ominously in the dragon’s eyes. Suddenly, the haze churned violently as a blood-scented form lunged towards Ryan.

“So fast!” Ryan exclaimed, taken aback. His prior encounter with the Blood Claw Dragon had ended too swiftly for him to gauge its blistering speed. Now, confronted directly, the dragon’s velocity was truly alarming.

The dragon’s bloody claws swiped viciously towards Ryan’s face. In a reflexive move, he thrust his greatsword forward, adopting a defensive stance.

[Special Sword Skill·Defense Charge]

“Boom!” The collision erupted into a burst of sanguine light, causing the dragon’s claws to recoil slightly. Fortified by a surge of “blood and energy,” Ryan rapidly executed the “first stage of power accumulation,” unleashing a fierce slash.

“Ka—!”

Against a Unicorn Dragon, such a strike might have been decisive. However, the agile Blood Claw Dragon countered swiftly, raising its other claw to meet Ryan’s ascending silver-blue blade.

“Clang!” The harsh, grating sound of metal on claw filled the air, accompanied by a shower of sparks. Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he noticed cracks spider-webbing across the blade of his [Greatsword·Fierce Ice Flower]. Previously damaged in battle against the [Superior] Unicorn, the blade now faced its demise under the strain of this brutal exchange.

As Ryan watched in horror, the greatsword shattered, its fragments scattering as the dragon’s claw descended with fatal precision towards his face.

In a moment filled with excruciating pain, Ryan’s world plunged into darkness.

“Rip!”

The chilling sound of flesh tearing apart echoed briefly before the fight drew to a bloody close.

Meanwhile on the viewing platform, as Freni stood in front of the Observation Deck, a familiar flutter of nerves tickled her palms. The fluffy witch hat atop her head mirrored her restlessness, wobbling with every shaky breath she took. The last time she had been here, she’d exchanged 29 First-Order Spiritual Enhancement Crystals and was left with a meager sum of 1291 Spirit Essence in her account. It wasn’t exactly a fortune, but it wasn’t negligible either.

“If only I could strike it rich like last time,” she murmured, a mix of hope and hesitation threading through her voice. The world of trading was fraught with pitfalls, and Freni, having been duped more times than she cared to admit, harbored a gnawing unease. She couldn’t shake off the dread of falling prey to another deception.

With a deep, steadying breath that ruffled the brim of her hat, Freni whispered a mantra to herself, “Believe in yourself, Freni. You’ve got this.” She gave her hat a reassuring pat, straightening it as she bolstered her spirits.

Now somewhat composed, or at least appearing so, Freni settled in front of the platform to witness the day’s grim yet fascinating spectacle: the daily demises of various travelers. Among the images flickering across the screen, she spotted the familiar mosaic figure of the Traveler. A gentle smile crept across her lips; she had missed him, albeit it had only been a day.

She didn’t have to wait long before the screen transitioned to the battle interface. Her attention snapped to full alert as the announcer introduced the match-up:

“The ‘Beginner’s Heart’ traveler encounters a formidable adversary – the [Upper] Unicorn Dragon. A fierce battle is imminent.”

[Battle power comparison: Traveler (39) vs. [Upper] Unicorn Dragon (41)]

[Current stakes: Spirit Essence 1292]

[Betting odds: Traveler vs. [Upper] Unicorn Dragon = 8.3:1.3, minimum bet 100 Spirit Essence.]

“You have 30 seconds to place your bet…”

Freni’s eyes widened in surprise. She recalled the Traveler’s previous encounter with the male fire dragon leader where his combat power was a mere 33. Now, it had surged to 39 in just a day. She had followed the combats enough to know that each rank represented a significant leap in capabilities, and here was the Traveler, nearly crossing another threshold.

“What adventures might he have embarked on since yesterday?” she wondered aloud, curiosity piqued.

As the countdown neared its end, Freni’s become more nervous. The gap of just two points in combat power between the Traveler and the Unicorn Dragon might seem minimal, but crossing into a higher echelon made it a daunting chasm. The lopsided betting odds underscored the risk.

The formidable figure of the unicorn dominated the screen, its massive body, armored head, and the spiraling giant horn not only showcased its battle readiness but also its superior rank, a tier Freni had not encountered before. The tension was palpable, and she hesitated, her finger hovering over the ‘Bet’ button, wrestling with the decision as the last few seconds ticked away.

In Freni’s world, the [Upper] unicorn Dragons was akin to a fourth-tier leviathan, a monster of legend whose mere mention could send shivers down the bravest of spines, while the Traveler, boasting 39 combat points, paralleled a third-tier champion at the pinnacle of his prowess. Could a seasoned yet third-level hero stand a chance against an entity freshly ascended to the fourth tier?

Traditionally, prodigies in the first and second tiers could occasionally defy expectations, toppling adversaries beyond their rank. However, beyond the threshold of the third tier, such feats became the stuff of legend, unrecorded and unheard of across the kingdoms of the continent. The disparity between the tiers wasn’t just substantial; it was colossal.

What was the prudent choice? The countdown mercilessly neared zero, and in a moment of resolve mixed with desperation, Franny made her decision. The potential gains from betting on the [Upper] Unicorn Dragon were measly at best, a mere 30% return. The slow accumulation of spiritual essence required for meaningful exchanges on the second-tier list seemed an eternity away. Conversely, while placing her stakes on the Traveler was fraught with peril, the potential rewards were tantalizingly lucrative.

With a cautious heart, she didn’t wager everything. Freni invested 800 spirit essence, conserving 492 as a safety net. This way, even if her gamble faltered, she’d have a reserve to mount a comeback in future bets.

As she confirmed her bet, the Observation Deck’s screen froze into a tense [In Battle…] tableau.

…

Ryan awoke with a grimace, remaining prone on the cold stone bed, his body a canvas of lingering, searing pain.

“[Upper]…Blood Claw Dragon…” he muttered under his breath. “This is the second encounter… Next time, it ends.”

With a heavy exhale, he rose from his austere resting place. The horizon where sea met sky was just beginning to blush with the dawn; it was around five in the morning.

He ventured out of the cave, stepping onto the beach where the brisk sea breeze greeted him. Pulling up the panel on his main interface, he reviewed his stats:

[Captain]: Ryan Leland (real name: Leon)…

[Spiritual]: 4.8→5.3

[Physical]: 14.36→17.44

[Path Occupation]: Glutton Hunter (First Order·25%), Pirate (First Order·25%) – Feedback from the Traveling Avatar

[Professional skills]:…

[Learned skills]: Storm Swordsmanship (mastered), Navigation (beginner), Wonder Items (beginner)

[Special skills]: Dragon Helm (beginner)

——

Feeling the surge of strength coursing through his veins, Ryan’s gaze flickered with a new-found resolve. His mastery of Storm Swordsmanship and the recent acquisition of the Dragon Helm skill painted a small, hopeful smile across his face.

“Perhaps now,” he pondered, “I might just stand a chance against a third-tier hero in battle.”