Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Blood Barrier!
Ryan stood beneath the ancient canopies of the mysterious island, his gaze fixed on the hermit dragon man perched aloft on the cliff. The idea of steeling this recluse of his treasures tantalized him briefly, like a Robin Hood act, robbing the rich to aid the poor. However, it was just a fleeting thought.

The strength of the hermit dragon man was shrouded in mystery, a dangerous unknown. And if Ryan were to act on his impulse, even if cloaked in noble intentions, it could irrevocably sour their relations. No more would he garner any intelligence or mystical items from this cryptic figure. Indeed, the risks far outweighed the potential rewards. Ryan was not one to engage in folly that promised no true gain.

As these considerations simmered in his mind, the hermit dragon man began to speak again, his voice weaving through the cryptic mists of prophecy:

“A roaring black tiger guards the gate, a formidable wall of despair obstructing all paths forward…”

“Under the moon lies an oasis, where fierce lightning splits the sky, and in its fearsome glow, an unrivaled hunter stalks unseen…”

“The end and the beginning are one, known only to the master hunter who can traverse these extremes.”

With these ominous words hanging in the air, the hermit dragon turned and dissolved into the shadows of the cave, leaving Ryan to ponder the meanings alone.

Although enigmatic, Ryan could piece together some coherence from the dragon man’s words. The term “roaring black tiger” resonated; it featured in the notes left by his hunting group’s deputy leader, describing a formidable [superior] monster, possibly even more potent than the “Desert Knight.” If this “black tiger” was indeed a gateway to further challenges, then the “unparalleled hunter” mentioned next likely symbolized another daunting [Upper] monster, perhaps lurking not in the caverns but across the vast desert known as the flower and stone wasteland.

The final words about the “end” and “origin” were less cryptic this time around. They hinted at the ultimate trials awaiting at the journey’s zenith, accessible only to those proving their worth against formidable creatures like those just described.

With a heavy sigh, Ryan acknowledged the clarity of his path forward, despite the vagueness of the dragon man’s prophecies. Defeating these beasts would not only prove his mettle but also potentially yield the coveted “Glass Beads,” rich with untold powers.

A gentle nudge at his boots brought his attention downward to a spirit deer, its antlers brushing against him curiously. With a soft smile, Ryan stepped back, turning away from the creature and the enigmatic “Recluse Dragon Cave.”

Before he sought out these formidable [superior] monsters, Ryan decided, he would venture into the Rotten Miasma Abyss. His past encounters there had left a thirst for vengeance, now was the time to quench it.

After retracing his steps through the tangled paths of the island, Ryan arrived back at [Bonfire Point – Corruption Abyss Outpost], a haven amid the chaos.

Seated cross-legged beside the crackling campfire, he began a meticulous review of his provisions for the upcoming foray. The night air was brisk, the fire’s glow painting flickering shadows across his determined face.

First on the checklist were his weapons. Clasped in his hands was the [Great Sword·Crimson Crown Horn], a weapon of considerable might. With this sword, the [Relic·Embrace of Blood] no longer needed to manifest as a “Blood Great Sword” and could be utilized in more versatile waysn, perhaps as the “Blood Spear” for ranged engagement, or the “Blood Core” to erect a stalwart barrier. Each option held strategic promise for the challenges ahead.

Next, Ryan tallied the [Elimination Fruit], essential for warding off the miasma’s poisonous embrace. He recounted the fruits, seven remained. Previously, such a number would have been insufficient for a prolonged campaign, but Ryan’s enhanced [Physique] now bolstered his resistance, making seven fruits surprisingly adequate.

The final inventory was his “gluttony level,” now replenished to 51/100. The flesh of the [Superior] Unicorn, consumed earlier, was profoundly nourishing. Despite multiple feasts on such fare, its potency never waned, each bite flooding Ryan with vitality, enough to sustain him through the rigors of battle.

Satisfied with the thorough check, Ryan rose from the campfire’s warmth and ventured into the foreboding “Rotting Miasma” region. As he walked through the cavern, his visage was a mask of concentration, prepared for any threat.

The [Upper] Blood Claw Dragon, a silent assassin of the shadows, was known to lurk here, capable of striking lethally without warning. Yet, as Ryan moved deeper, no attacks came. Even the usual skulking “Corrupted Pterosaurs” were conspicuously absent. The cave lay unnervingly silent, the stillness unsettling.

“What’s going on here?” Ryan muttered to himself, his gaze sharpening.

He stood in a relatively clear central area, surrounded by denser miasma clouds. Directly ahead was the territory of the [Upper] Blood Claw Dragon, last seen here on its previous foray.

Pausing, he contemplated his next move. It seemed imprudent to venture deeper without reaping any gains; the silence and emptiness were disconcerting yet beckoned him forward.

As the miasma thickened with each step, a peculiar odor infiltrated the air, an ominous, unsettling scent that brought to mind the creep of insects over skin in the dead of night.

Suddenly, a soft “Sizzle—” halted him. Looking down, Ryan noticed his boots submerged in a pool of light blue liquid. Where the leather met the liquid, it sizzled, emitting a pungent white vapor.

“Such strong corrosive properties!” he exclaimed, alarmed at the substance’s potency.

Ryan’s heart lurched as he jerked his feet away from the menacing pool. He breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his boots crafted from a durable, specialized material that resisted the caustic liquid. Ordinary footwear would have disintegrated into nothing more than a pile of ash.

“What in the world? How is there a liquid this corrosive, akin to sulfuric acid, just lying here in the depths of the Rotten Miasma Abyss?” Ryan muttered to himself, his brows furrowing in perplexity.

A chilling thought struck him, could this be corpse water? The notion was disturbingly plausible. The Rotting Miasma resembled a massive graveyard for fallen beasts, where the decay of countless corpses could produce such a vile, acidic byproduct over time. It was a grim reminder of the abyss’s lethal nature.

Shaking off a wave of revulsion, Ryan exhaled deeply, resolving not to let this discovery slow him down while the protective effects of the [Elimination Fruit] still coursed through his veins. With renewed caution, he continued forward, vigilantly avoiding any more of the treacherous blue pools dotting the cavern floor.

After a tense minute of navigating through the haze, Ryan halted abruptly. His eyes narrowed as he detected movement, a shadowy figure darting through the miasma. In mere seconds, it burst forth from the grey-yellow fog.

A blood-red blur, brandishing vicious claws, revealed itself. Ryan recognized the creature instantlyn it was the [Upper] Blood Claw Dragon, the very beast he had been tracking. But the dragon was in a pitiable state, its body marred with corrosive wounds that oozed and festered. Panic and confusion were evident in its eyes, suggesting it was fleeing from something even more formidable than itself.

Ryan’s instincts screamed at him to flee as the dragon’s distress signaled imminent danger. But before he could turn, the miasma behind the dragon roiled violently.

Suddenly, a thin, intensely condensed column of ash sliced through the air, dispersing the miasma as it moved. It caught up with the [Superior] Blood Claw Dragon in a heartbeat.

A harsh sizzling sound filled the air as the ash column made contact with the dragon, which writhed in agony. Ryan, standing some distance away, reacted instantly, summoning the “Blood Core” and erecting a “Blood Barrier” in defense.

The mysterious ash column collided with the barrier. Despite the barrier’s proven strength, capable of withstanding three heavy blows from an [Upper] Unicorn Dragon, it shattered in less than a second.

Thankfully, the brief interference from the “Blood Barrier” bought Ryan crucial moments. He used the suffering [Upper] Blood Claw Dragon as a makeshift shield to avoid direct exposure.

The column didn’t stop there; it continued its destructive path across the cave, smashing into a rock wall. A thick pillar crumbled, triggering a minor cave-in, sending debris flying and dust clouding the air.

A deep, thunderous roar then echoed from the depths of the miasma, a sound so primal and terrifying that it shook Ryan to his core. It was the raw power of a creature far superior in the natural hierarchy, an apex predator that even predators feared.

Without a backward glance, Ryan clenched his teeth and sprinted away, every instinct in his body urging him to escape the lethal unknown that lurked in the abyss.