Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 151

Chapter 151: Reward From the Dragon Man!
“You too need to rest,” Freni nodded, the fluffy hat perched atop her head bobbing slightly. Her voice softened, carrying the warmth of their shared hardships, “You’ve really put in a lot of effort lately.”

Ryan shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips as he responded, “No, it’s since we first met that I’ve been putting in the effort, really.”

“Why do you keep bringing that up?” Ryan said, waving off the sentiment as he turned to head back to his makeshift shelter. “Good night, Captain.”

“Good night. Dream well,” Freni called after him, her voice melding with the sea breeze and echoing in the moonlit night.

Returning to the cave, Ryan’s gaze fell on a grilled fish awkwardly perched on a wooden rack near the entrance. Its edges were charred, the result of an unpracticed hand at the grill. It was unmistakably Freni’s work.

With a knowing smile, Ryan picked up the slightly over-salted, over-roasted fish and bit into it enthusiastically. It was far from perfect, but he savored it as if it were the finest meal, appreciating the effort behind it.

After finishing his meal, Ryan stretched his limbs with a series of simple exercises before lying down on his stony makeshift bed. The quiet of the night enveloped him, signaling that it was time to rest before the adventures of the new day.

…

In the heart of Santos City, the majestic royal palace stood, its glazed tiles and intricately carved beams shimmering under the moonlight, a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

Inside the Princess’s Palace, Princess Water Drop sat in her study, the soft glow of a glass candle lamp casting shadows around her. She penned her thoughts methodically, the only sounds the rhythmic ticking of a brass floor clock and the gentle scratch of her feather pen on paper.

Moonlight streamed through the wide-open windows, illuminating the room in a celestial glow. A black kitten, lithe and mysterious, made its way silently onto the windowsill and padded across to the princess.

“Why are you here, little witch?” the princess asked, a playful undertone in her voice.

“Did you hesitate?” she added, catching the faintest pause in the kitten’s graceful movements.

The pen halted, and Princess Water Drop looked up, her sea-deep blue-gold eyes meeting the cat’s gaze. Her smile was gentle yet there was a sharpness in her eyes that hinted at deeper thoughts.

Perched on the desk, the little black cat groomed its paw briefly before responding in a distinctly human voice. Had Ryan been there, he would have recognized the voice as belonging to Meloye, the Fantasy Beast Witch with whom he had a fleeting yet impactful encounter.

“If I had hesitated, I wouldn’t have come this far,” came the cool, measured reply. “I just wanted to confirm with you once more, are we certain that our actions, and the price we’re paying, are justified?”

“Absolutely,” the princess’s demeanor shifted, her smile fading into a more serious expression. “I’m completely certain.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” The little black cat gazed intently at the princess, its eyes reflecting a mix of resolve and nostalgia, as if remembering the moment several months ago when its journey on the island had begun.

Dappled light danced through the leaves, casting a mosaic of shadows across the bamboo raft as Ryan’s eyes fluttered open. He had arrived at the mystical ‘Travel Place,’ where adventure beckoned with the promise of legend.

At the mast’s peak, a horn bathed in silver light, an emblem of bravery, dominated the scene, its aura subduing a cluster of bronze trophies arrayed below. With a knowing smile, Ryan strolled over to the campfire, fingers brushing against the mystical artifacts as he activated the teleportation rune.

Sparks erupted, scattering like starlight, and in an instant, Ryan materialized at the [Bonfire Site – Gap between Giant Trees]. He approached the pulsing [Fire Dragon Egg] nestled among the embers, its shell throbbing with the heartbeat of a nascent titan. The digital timer overhead blinked [47:52:25], heralding that in just two days, a life of extraordinary potential would burst forth.

The anticipation sent a thrill through him. This dragon, birthed from the core of a natural red star, promised to eclipse its lineage in power and speed, perhaps even surpassing Silver, and elder dragon.

Satisfied with the egg’s condition, Ryan invoked another teleportation spell, arriving at [Bonfire Point – Corruption Abyss Outpost]. The familiar, acrid stench of decay welcomed him, a stark reminder of the dangers lurking within. This time, however, Ryan bypassed the usual path to the [Superior Blood Claw Dragon], his thoughts lingering on a recent victory over a formidable unicorn dragon and the elusive ‘Dragon Man’ hoarding treasures unknown.

Among these treasures was the coveted [Glass Bead of Life], a miraculous orb capable of infusing forged weapons with life-enhancing properties. Ryan had combined it with materials harvested from the unicorn and entrusted them to Master Golden Hammer. The possibilities of what unique skills might emerge buzzed in his mind, sparking a wave of eager anticipation.

Navigating the labyrinthine underground, Ryan’s steps were guided by memory, leading him to the cave of the ‘Dragon Man.’ As he neared the entrance, his gaze fell upon a ‘spiritual deer’ grazing nearby. Its antlers uneven, one regal and mature, the other freshly sprouted and tender.

“It’s you?” Ryan’s voice softened with recognition, a smile lighting up his face as he regarded the familiar creature that had once fled in fright, dropping its precious horn.

To his surprise, the spirit deer did not bolt this time but regarded him with a curious gaze. Ryan’s dealings with the reclusive dragon had evidently built a bridge of trust with the local wildlife, spreading his reputation far wider than he had realized.

After a gentle pat on the deer’s head, Ryan turned towards the cave’s shadowy maw. He drew the [Great Sword – True Red Crown] from his back and plunged it into the soft earth, striking a heroic pose before the cavernous void.

“I have defeated the Desert Knight and obtained the True Red Horn and the Certificate of Bravery!” Ryan’s voice boomed, echoing off the cavern walls.

“Dragon man, please show yourself.”

Silence hung heavy for a moment before the shuffling of steps heralded the arrival of the hermit figure from the depths of the cave.

“…Hunter…long time no see…” the dragon man’s voice rumbled, filling the cave with the weight of unseen mysteries.

Beneath the verdant glow of the ferns that speckled the cave’s walls, a majestic tree, rooted partially inside the cave, shimmered like jade, casting an ethereal light on the scene below. Several young deer, their eyes wide and shimmering with an innocent curiosity, peered up at Ryan, their gaze hopeful and eager.

However, Ryan paid little attention to these gentle creatures. His focus was drawn upwards, to the solitary figure of the dragon man perched reclusively above.

Ryan raised the great sword before him, its blade catching the faint light. “Watch this, forged from the ‘True Crimson Horn,’ this sword is a testament to my achievements.”

The dragon man nodded, his voice a whisper carried on the stale cave air. “Indeed, its aura… that valiant solitude… akin to a wandering knight whose path circles back to the beginning…” He trailed off into ambiguity before casually tossing an object toward Ryan.

Instinctively, Ryan caught it, his fingers closing around a stunning glass bead. It was primarily black, adorned with spectacular blood-red speckles that emanated outward like constellations. Holding it, Ryan felt as though he was peering into a blood-red cosmos, each speckle a star in the vast universe.

Simultaneously, an informative prompt materialized before him:

[Super Heart·Inlaid Glass Bead]: A remarkably rare artifact, its origin shrouded in mystery. Seek a master craftsman to embed this into your gear, endowing it with a unique ability. Once inlaid, the bead bestows the skill [Fatal Strike lv.1], increasing damage dealt to an enemy’s vital parts by 30%. A formidable 100,000 spiritual points are required to activate its potential.

(Please note: Each piece of equipment has a limit on the number of beads it can accommodate. Exceeding this limit risks both bead and gear.)

Ryan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. This wasn’t just any bead; it was a chimeric glass bead capable of being directly integrated into existing equipment to confer potent abilities!

The [Fatal Strike] skill, in particular, piqued his interest, it was the most formidable skill he had encountered yet. The staggering requirement of 100,000 spiritual points to harness its power spoke volumes of its potential, a stark contrast to the 30,000 points for the [Life Glass Bead] he had previously used.

This new bead promised a substantial 30% increase in total damage, calculated as the cumulative damage inflicted, including any bonuses from other skills and abilities.

A surge of excitement pulsed through Ryan. While the skill [Fatal Strike] had its limitations, only activating on hits to vital parts, this was hardly a concern for him. Given his encounters typically involved towering monsters, targeting their heads was almost habitual.

Yet, the thrill of this discovery was tempered by the realization that he would have to wait to embed the bead until his travels brought him to Master Golden Hammer.

With a newfound respect and a fiery gleam in his eyes, Ryan carefully stored the [Super Heart Chimeric Glass Bead] and gazed back at the enigmatic dragon man, his mind already racing with the possibilities this bead held for his future battles.