Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Ceratops Armor!
After Freni had finished etching the Dark Moon Magic Pattern on Ryan’s forehead, she visibly paled, staggering slightly as the effort took its toll. The magic had clearly drained her, more than she let on.

Cecilia, quick to notice the distress, stepped forward to offer her support, but Freni steadied herself and offered a weak smile, waving off the concern. “I’m fine, truly,” she reassured, though her voice was faint. “It’s just a bit of energy depletion. A little rest, and I’ll be back to normal.”

Ryan watched the witch, noticing the fatigue that clouded her eyes, and felt a surge of gratitude mixed with concern. In that moment, a notification flashed across his main body panel:

—

[Title]: Blood Son, Overthrow Son (Blood Oath Contract is invalid), Dark Moon Patron (Special magic pattern drawn by the Dark Moon Witch consuming essence, providing protection, duration: 23:59:59)

—

The title, with its explicit time limit, hinted at the significant cost Freni had paid to grant him this protection, the “consume origin” suggested a sacrifice far greater than what she admitted.

Ryan chose not to question her further on it, silently accepting her generous gift. Throughout their adventures, Freni had given much, and though Ryan had tried to reciprocate, his efforts paled in comparison to her sacrifices.

After a moment of heavy silence, Ryan rose. “Captain, I must head out now.”

“Take care on your journey,” Freni replied, managing a smile despite her pallor. Her witch’s hat quivered slightly, a testament to her weakened state.

—

Upon arriving at the Golden Hammer Blacksmith Shop in the bustling city of Santos, Ryan noted the increased activity in the streets. Today was the “Day of Plenty Stars,” and the throngs of adventurers and pirates roamed more freely, buzzing with the day’s special energy.

Ignoring the distractions, Ryan focused on his purpose for visiting Master Golden Hammer. He had come to have the [Super Heart·Embedded Glass Bead] installed in his [Great Sword·Red Crown Horn], a modification that promised to significantly enhance his combat capabilities.

To his surprise, the door to the blacksmith shop swung open promptly as he knocked, revealing the burly figure of Master Golden Hammer.

“You’re early today, kid!” Master Golden Hammer remarked with a puzzled look. “Did you know I’ve just finished crafting your protective gear?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected news, Ryan’s eyes widened. “Actually, Master, I was here for another reason,” he replied. “But since the gear is ready, may I see it first?”

“Of course,” the blacksmith replied nonchalantly.

Following Master Golden Hammer to the back of the shop, Ryan entered a small, cluttered compartment. There, standing majestically on a stand, was the newly forged armor.

[Ceratops Armor Armor]

Its formidable presence filled the space, promising not just protection but a fearsome visage to any who would dare challenge its wearer.

In the center of the dimly lit room, the imposing armor stood proudly on a shelf, its dark luster casting an aura of daunting strength, like the immovable presence of ancient mountains. It was as if the armor itself whispered secrets of indomitable power.

“Indestructible!” That was the instinctive thought that struck Ryan as his eyes first fell upon this formidable set of protective gear.

With a mix of awe and curiosity, Ryan stepped forward, his hand reaching out to trace the contours of the slightly rough surface of the armor. As his fingertips grazed the cold metal, a vivid image flashed before his eyes, a majestic unicorn, its powerful roar echoing in a spectral vision that seemed all too real.

Ceratops Armor: A rare artifact of mid-level rarity, crafted from the essence of a superior unicorn and melded with precious ores, including the lustrous golden ore. The set included a helmet, chest armor, wrist guards, a waistband, and leg protectors, each piece interlocking with the others through a masterful forging technique. While each piece alone offered basic protection, together, they triggered a synergistic reaction that amplified their powers.

The armor boasted impressive attributes: a 20% reduction in incoming damage (depending on the wearer’s level), enhanced resistance to fire and dragons, albeit with a susceptibility to ice and water. The skills imbued within were truly what set this armor apart: [Secret of the Horned Dragon], [Sword Drawing Skill lv.1], and [Secret of Fire lv.1], with an additional boost from the [Physical Strength lv.1] provided by the mystical Glass Bead of Life.

[Secret of the Horned Dragon]: Infused with the spirit of the unicorn dragon, this skill amplified the power of non-attribute weapons, increasing their damage by a significant 15%.

[Sword Drawing Skill lv.1]: A skill that heightened the critical hit rate of the first attack following the unsheathing of a weapon by an impressive 30%.

[Secret of Fire lv.1]: When the wearer was moderately injured, this skill not only enhanced offensive capabilities by 10% but also reduced received damage by an equal margin.

[Physical Strength lv.1]: This skill fortuitously increased the upper limit of the wearer’s vitality by 5%.

This set also harbored a sliver of spiritual essence, which, when absorbed, promised to enhance the mystical repair abilities of the [Nameless Ship Sculpture].

As Ryan absorbed the extensive list of luxurious attributes and skills, he was momentarily overwhelmed. Four special skills, each offering a unique edge in battle, made the armor not just a protective garment but a formidable arsenal in itself.

The 15% permanent damage boost from [Secret of the Horned Dragon] was particularly enticing, considering Ryan wielded the [Great Sword·True Red Crown Horn], a mighty non-attribute greatsword that could fully exploit this advantage.

Moreover, [Sword Drawing Skill lv.1], while similar in name to a skill from a previous armor set, offered a distinct benefit, enhancing critical strike capabilities dramatically, a perfect complement to Ryan’s combat style.

Caught between the desire for multiple advantages, Ryan lamented the reality that one could not possess all desirable traits simultaneously. Yet, with the [Super Heart·Chimeric Glass Bead] now in his possession, the current [Sword Drawing Skill lv.1] seemed tailor-made for his needs. As he pondered his options, the weight of decision bore down on him, each choice a path to untold power and inevitable sacrifice.

The third special skill, [Secret of Fire lv.1], offered a tantalizing twist on combat dynamics, when Ryan sustained moderate injuries, his damage output would spike by 10%, while the damage he endured would drop by the same margin.

This skill shared a similar activation mechanism with [Liberation of Power], though the conditions and benefits differed notably. Whereas [Liberation of Power] demanded a severely injured state to trigger, [Secret of Fire] required only moderate injuries, offering a subtler, yet significant boost to Ryan’s battle capabilities.

With both [Liberation of Power] and [Secret of Fire] at his disposal, Ryan’s approach to combat was transformed into a dynamic three-phase strategy:

– First Stage: In his baseline state, Ryan’s combat potency was at its minimum, reliant on [Storm Sword Skill] along with two specialized sword techniques, augmented by a suite of permanent passive abilities.

– Second Stage: Triggered by moderate injuries, the [Secret of Fire] stage allowed Ryan to deal enhanced damage while reducing the impact of enemy strikes.

– Third Stage: This was Ryan at his zenith, under the influence of [Liberation of Power]. Here, each strike bore a heightened 30% chance to critically hit, potentially doubling or with the integration of the [Super Heart Pearl] escalating to 2.6 times the normal damage. Moreover, if it was his first attack post-drawing his weapon, the critical chance could soar to an astounding 60%.

Enemies would soon learn to their dismay that Ryan only grew more formidable as the battle wore on, achieving peak lethality when he entered the severely injured state.

The presence of [Heart of Gluttony] added another layer of strategic depth, enabling Ryan to shift between stages at will, tailoring his combat style to the demands of the moment.

A combatant who could modulate his power on the fly, was there anything more daunting?

Alongside these dynamic skills, the fourth ability, [Stamina lv.1], bolstered Ryan’s endurance in battle.

The loot from a recent victory, [Broken Giant Fang], carried [Physical Strength lv.1], which, combined with the [Physical Strength lv.1] from the [Ceratops Armor], evolved into [Physical Strength lv.2], boosting his vitality’s upper limit by an additional 10%. Vitality might be an elusive concept, but its influence permeated every physical endeavor.

Beyond its special capabilities, the basic attributes of the [Ceratops Armor] were also noteworthy. Setting aside the variable of attribute resistance, the armor’s inherent 20% damage reduction although dependent on Ryan’s rank; promised substantial protection against equally ranked foes.

When paired with the [Dragon Helmet (Master)], this effectively meant that any attack from an adversary of similar stature would have its efficacy reduced to merely 60% of its intended potency.

“He’s veering ever deeper into the archetype of the indomitable warrior…” Ryan mused with a trace of melancholy in his voice.

At times, he envied Freni, his comrade, who, as a ranged fighter, engaged in combat with the grace and poise of an artist, her movements as serene and picturesque as a scene captured in oil paint. In stark contrast, his own path demanded relentless close-quarters combat, sword in hand, face-to-face with danger.

What a stark divergence of fates.

With a resigned sigh, Ryan stripped off his [Umbrella Fire Scale Armor Suit] and donned the [Ceratops Armor], stepping into the role fate had carved out for him, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with renewed vigor and resilience.