Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Thunder Dragon!
Gathering the remains, he set to work. Soon, beside the tranquil waters of the oasis, the aroma of cooking meat filled the air. Ryan had split one of the giant sickle crabs in two, its shell turning a tantalizing red on the grill. The contrast of white and red meat was not only a feast for the eyes but promised a culinary delight.

Impatient for a taste, Ryan didn’t wait for the meat to cool. He tore off a piece, the tender crab meat dissolving deliciously in his mouth, spreading a comforting warmth through his body.

As he savored the flavor, Ryan’s eyes shut in contentment, his “gluttony heart” finding satisfaction in the exquisite taste. After a moment of pure culinary bliss, he opened his eyes and glanced at the panel, ready to see the fruits of his latest victory reflected in the system’s updates.

[[Gluttony] reaches “100/100”, completing the third “Gluttony Joy”, and based on the food consumed during this period, the following permanent benefits are obtained: Special skill [Dragon Armor (Mastery)] – Damage received is permanently reduced by 15% (effective reductions vary with attacker’s rank).]

[[Gluttony Hunter (Level 1)] Compatibility increased by 25%, now at 75%, Spirituality +1.5 (total)!]

Ryan exhaled deeply, his voice tinged with a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. “Another ‘joy’ achieved,” he murmured, reflecting on the rewards reaped from his relentless pursuit of culinary delights. The third “Gluttony Pleasure” had once again enhanced his [Dragon Helm], advancing it to “Proficiency” and boosting its damage reduction to an impressive 15%.

This latest boost in his spirituality made him feel lighter, more attuned to the magical energies that coursed through this mysterious world.

Reclining beside the campfire, he gazed up at the crescent moon. Its pale light bathed the oasis in a tranquil glow, underscoring the serene pleasure of his adventurous lifestyle, hunting formidable creatures and savoring the exotic flavors they offered.

“Crackle…”

The comforting crackle of the firewood resonated with Ryan’s content state. He turned his head slightly, noticing the increased number of fireflies twinkling amidst the bushes nearby. It was almost as if tiny sparks of electricity danced among them, painting a scene as picturesque as any masterful canvas.

“Such perfect harmony between a satisfying meal and enchanting nature. Could there be anything more blissful?” he pondered, his thoughts interrupted by a curious observation.

Ryan squinted. Fireflies discharging electricity?

“What in the world?” He rolled upright in a swift motion, his hand instinctively grasping the hilt of his greatsword, his demeanor shifting from relaxation to alert readiness.

The oasis had fallen eerily silent, save for the occasional crackle of the firewood and the subtle hum of electric arcs.

Suddenly, the swarm of fireflies surged in a singular direction. Ryan turned, following their flight, and caught sight of a formidable presence.

A massive, blue-green figure emerged gracefully under the moonlight, its movements fluid yet filled with an undeniable power. The sheer presence of the creature exuded an oppressive aura, unmistakably characteristic of a “upper” monster.

Ryan steeled himself, gripping his sword tighter. The tranquility of the night had been a mere prelude to the unfolding drama. As he faced this new challenge, his heart pounded with the thrill of the hunt and the unknown dangers it promised.

As the dusk deepened into night, the air came alive with a pulsating dance of electric fireflies, weaving and coiling through the darkness. Each flicker and spark carried the faint, acrid scent of ozone, as if the very air itself was slowly burning.

These weren’t ordinary fireflies. While they mimicked the gentle glow of their namesakes, these creatures were far more potent, emitting a brilliant, electric luminescence. To call them merely “fireflies” would be a disservice. No, these were something more formidable, lightning bugs!

Clusters of these lightning bugs gathered, their combined energies intertwining to create dazzling, explosive flashes of lightning that cut through the night sky. Amidst this electric tempest, a majestic and elegant figure emerged, nearly five meters in height, its presence commanding the dark.

Covered in fine, blue-green scales that shimmered with a silken sheen, its white hair fluttered in the nocturnal breeze like a regal cape trailing behind a monarch. Its formidable ochre-yellow dragon horns, reminiscent of fierce wolf ears, gleamed under the electric light, enhancing its noble demeanor.

Its forelimbs, muscular and robust, starkly contrasted with its more slender hind limbs, boasting claws capable of crushing stone without effort.

As this “Unparalleled Hunter” sauntered forward, the environment seemed to respond, the air thickening with a tangible tension. Visible before Ryan’s eyes, gray text materialized, revealing the creature’s identity:

—

[Thunder Dragon: [Upper] – A prime species of tooth dragon, reigning over the Flower and Stone Wasteland Oasis. Renowned for its formidable leaping prowess and nocturnal hunting. Lacking inherent strong electrical discharge, it gains enhanced electro-kinetic abilities through a symbiotic relationship with ‘Lightning Bugs.’ When the Thunder Dragon activates its electrical charge, these bugs evolve into ‘Super Electric Lightning Bugs,’ emitting a potent blue glow, while the dragon itself enters a ‘super charged state,’ significantly increasing its lethality.

**—You feel an overwhelming pressure!—**

—

Illuminated by the soft silver glow of the moon, the “Unparalleled Hunter” – [Upper] Thunder Dragon – approached with an air of detached, cold indifference. Its gaze fell upon Ryan, who to it seemed nothing more than a trivial “ant,” easily crushed underfoot.

Beside the massive dragon, nearly five meters tall and stretching over twenty meters from snout to tail tip, Ryan, barely reaching two meters, indeed resembled an ant in both size and significance.

The oppressive aura emanating from the [Superior] Thunder Dragon dwarfed that of its formidable kin, the [Superior] Unicorn Dragon and the [Superior] Blood Claw Dragon, each formidable in their own right yet paling in comparison to the current behemoth.

From this [Superior] Thunder Dragon, Ryan sensed a terrifying threat that dwarfed all previous encounters. If the other dragons were mere “Superior One Stars,” then this creature before him was a definitive “Superior Two Stars,” a wholly superior adversary.

“Truly… marvelous!” Ryan murmured, a slight smile curling his lips as his grip tightened around the hilt of his greatsword, his eyes alight with a fiery determination.

He feared not the strength of his enemy; rather, he relished the challenge, for nothing lesser could provide the experience he craved. Since acquiring his updated greatsword, he had yet to unleash its full potential, excluding, of course, any encounters with ancient dragons, against whom full strength mattered little.

As the Thunder Dragon’s gaze inadvertently swept across the sickle blade sizzling on the campfire beside Ryan, a subtle flicker of interest flashed across its stoic visage.

The prowess of General Sickle Blade, deemed as “top of the lower ranks,” paled in comparison to the [Upper Rank] Thunder Dragon’s might. Nevertheless, that Ryan had bested the General marked him not as a mere “ant” but as an adversary with deceptively substantial power.

Yet, what of it?

To the “Unparalleled Hunter,” such a revelation only made the prey before it all the more intriguing. A true predator valued the thrill of the hunt, and Ryan, with his surprising prowess, promised just that.

The standoff between man and dragon stretched out, a tense silence falling over the landscape, so profound that even the whisper of the wind seemed to hold its breath. The Thunder Dragon ceased its advance, and they faced each other across the expanse, dozens of meters that felt suddenly insurmountable.

As they watched each other, more lightning bugs converged on the Thunder Dragon, their collective power enhancing the luminous arcs crackling over its scales. The dragon’s horns, in particular, began to pulse with a striking blue glow.

Ryan’s gaze sharpened. The interface had given him crucial insights: the Thunder Dragon’s formidable electrical powers were amplified by these seemingly fragile lightning bugs. Allowing the dragon to continue gathering them was a tactical error he couldn’t afford.

With swift decision, Ryan raised his left hand. From his space ring, he summoned an ice-blue crossbow bolt. The crossbow trigger snapped, the string hummed, and the bolt sliced through the air, a gleaming streak targeting the Thunder Dragon’s eyes.

With a “Sizzle,” an arc of electricity from the dragon’s horn met the bolt, disintegrating it in a flash of light. But this reactive discharge disrupted the dragon’s accumulating charge.

“Boom!” The impact reverberated through the ground, sending tremors under Ryan’s feet and fissures radiating across the earth. Propelled by the blast, Ryan surged forward, closing the distance in a blur. His greatsword arced down in a ferocious vertical slash aimed directly at the glowing horn on the Thunder Dragon’s forehead.

As a swordsman wielding a power-type greatsword, Ryan lacked the agility of lighter, quicker fighters; yet with sheer brute strength, his sprint was devastatingly swift, his blade cutting through the air with unstoppable force.

The Thunder Dragon, caught off guard by the ferocity and speed of the attack, turned to face the new threat, a momentary acknowledgment of Ryan’s power.

But that was all the acknowledgment it deigned to give.