Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Battle Points!
“You know, brave souls like pirates and adventurers have already ventured into the Dungeon Labyrinth. And let me tell you, the treasures for exchange are quite limited in number. Once they’re claimed, no amount of battle points will bring them back if you’re too late,” warned the grizzled old sailor looking out over the bustling crowd of eager fighters and fortune seekers.

From high above the outlying island, the scene resembled an anthill disturbed. Countless black dots, people from all walks of life, surged toward the newly arisen Dungeon Labyrinth, each hoping to claim its secrets for themselves.

…

Darkness enveloped Ryan’s senses, only to gradually dissolve as he blinked open his eyes. The first thing he registered was the rough texture of a dark stone wall emitting a faint glow. He steadied himself against it, massaging his temples to quell the lingering dizziness.

“Was I sucked into the Dungeon Labyrinth?” he murmured to himself, piecing together the chaotic last moments above ground. The force that had pulled him in was overwhelming, like being caught in the grips of a high-speed centrifuge, spinning without end.

Fortunately, his robust constitution quickly fought off the vertigo.

He scanned his surroundings? a spacious cave illuminated by the soft luminescence of fluorescent plants. Just as he was about to step forward and explore, a voice halted him.

“Mr. Ryan, Mr. Ryan, can you hear me?”

It was Freni’s voice, clear in his mind.

Could it be the communication feature of the Dark Moon Magic Pattern? Ryan pondered for a moment before mentally responding. “I’m here, Freni.”

The Dark Moon Magic Pattern’s ability to communicate thoughts was miraculous, allowing for transmission over seemingly limitless distances without uttering a single word. Regrettably, its use was limited; embedding the pattern consumed a vast portion of Freyne’s magical energy, making it impractical for casual use.

“Thank goodness!” Freni’s voice bubbled with relief. “I’ve been trying to reach you for nearly ten minutes with no response. I feared the worst…”

“Ahem, Mr. Ryan, how are you feeling? Where exactly are you?”

“I’ve just come to in the Dungeon Labyrinth. Not sure of my precise location yet. What’s happening topside?” Ryan quickly briefed her on his situation and shifted the conversation to gather information.

Freni’s voice softened as she relayed the news. “Since the labyrinth surfaced, Princess Water drop has mobilized the Kingdom. She’s urging all capable hands to delve into the labyrinth and combat the emerging threats. A multitude of professionals, enticed by the royal promise, have already descended into its depths. Cecilia and I are gearing up to join them.”

She continued, enthusiasm creeping into her tone, “The Royal Family of Santos is offering substantial rewards this time. Defeat a monster, bring back its head, and you can trade it for battle points. These points can then be exchanged for a variety of valuable items, potions, rare artifacts, even arcane knowledge. It’s an opportunity too good to miss.”

“I understand…” Ryan nodded slightly, his mind already racing.

“That’s it for now. If anything happens, remember to contact me as soon as possible.”

“Got it.”

As the connection ended, Ryan stood in silence, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

From what he knew, the “theft of the holy relic” seemed intricately linked to Princess Water Drop and the Overthrow Tample. If the theft was indeed orchestrated by Princess Water Drop and the Overthrow Temple, she must have anticipated the catastrophic consequences: the sacred ritual’s disruption, the breaking of the underground maze’s seal, and the subsequent emergence of a horde of monsters, spelling disaster for the island’s inhabitants.

Yet now, Princess Water Drop was calling upon the people to protect the outlying islands, a stark contrast to her supposed previous actions.

Why would she do this? What was her real agenda?

Ryan couldn’t fathom it. The conflicting motivations gnawed at him, a puzzle without a clear answer.

He sighed deeply, shaking his head. No matter the princess’s or the palace’s hidden motives, his focus was clear: securing enough rewards to ensure his and his companions’ safety.

Beyond that, the intricacies of their schemes didn’t concern him.

Ryan wasn’t in a rush to move. He pressed the [Overturned Mask No. 7] to his forehead, initiating a network of communication. The mask, imbued with “holy water drops,” allowed for information exchange within a certain radius.

Through it, he connected with his comrades: No. 3 Yellow Sand, No. 4 Green Tide, No. 5 Cyan River, and No. 6 Blue Mountain. Like him, they were disoriented but safe, scattered across the maze.

“I’m going to start sharing my location. You guys come to me, and once we’re together, we’ll delve deeper into the maze,” Yellow Sand directed.

Everyone agreed without hesitation.

Ryan cut off the communication and began moving in the direction indicated by the mask. The cave’s dim light and the faint, fishy odor in the air created an eerie atmosphere.

He followed the passage, each step bringing him closer to its end. Finally, he emerged into a vast underground space, a hidden world beneath the surface.

The sight was breathtaking: an expanse filled with bizarre rock formations and dense, otherworldly vegetation. The plants here, unlike their green counterparts above ground, were tinged in shades of dark blue and light blue, giving the place an ethereal glow.

An underground ecological system? The thought intrigued Ryan as he scanned the area. His eyes sharpened, suddenly drawn to a movement in the thick bushes ahead.

“Rustle…”

The breeze whispered through the branches and leaves, producing subtle, almost imperceptible sounds.

Everything seemed normal.

But Ryan sensed it, a faint, obscure spiritual fluctuation lurking behind the bushes, poised to launch a fatal strike at any moment.

“Not coming out?” he murmured, a cold light flashing in his eyes. With a swift movement, he grasped the hilt of his greatsword, which was strapped to his back. Channeling his spirituality and strength, he unleashed a charged burst of sword energy.

Even in its initial stage, the attack carried formidable power, testament to Ryan’s exceptional [physical strength] and [spirituality]. The sword energy carved a deep gully into the ground, and the lurking monster, sensing imminent danger, sprang from its hiding place.

It was a creature resembling a rat but far larger, almost the size of a dog. Its fur was coarse and black, and a single, purple-glowing horn jutted from its forehead, emitting a sinister sheen.

——

[Poison Horned Rat: A unique species of rat monster that thrives in dark places. Agile and dangerous, it can launch its horn to deliver potent poison, which is difficult to neutralize with standard antidotes. The poison sac of the Poison Horned Rat is a crucial component in many magical potions.]

——

The Poison Horned Rat, facing the oncoming sword energy, let out a sharp “squeak.” Lavender spiritual light flared from its four claws, propelling it sideways with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding the attack.

But as it looked up to locate its foe, it found only empty space where Ryan had stood.

“Sizzle—”

The sound of air tearing filled its ears as a fierce sword wind descended from behind. Ryan had stealthily moved and now swung his greatsword with brutal force.

“Boom!”

The ground trembled, cracks spider-webbing outwards from the impact. A large pit, at least a meter in radius, appeared where the sword had struck. In the center lay the Poison Horned Rat, now a mangled, unrecognizable mess.

Ryan sheathed his greatsword and retrieved the Poison Horned Rat’s remains, placing them into his space ring.

The Poison Horned Rat, while formidable to a second-level elite professional, was little more than a nuisance to Ryan. However, its appearance served as a stark warning.

In a place like the underground maze, suppressing his aura would likely attract endless trouble. Ryan let out a sigh, his expression remaining stoic. Yet, any living creature that glanced his way would instinctively shudder.

Ryan carried with him an aura born of countless battles with monsters, an aura so palpable that, when left unchecked, it sent pedestrians scurrying away in instinctive terror. This wasn’t merely discomfort but a visceral reaction, a psychological capitulation to an apex predator at the top of its game.

In the monstrous domain of the Dungeon Labyrinth, Ryan no longer held back this daunting presence. As a result, he ascended to the pinnacle of the monster hierarchy. Creatures sensed his presence from afar and fled, their survival instincts kicking in before their paths ever crossed with his.

This phenomenon, had anyone been able to observe from above, would appear almost supernatural. A void of calm followed Ryan, a ring where no monster dared to tread. This eerie peace allowed him to traverse the maze unhindered.

Before long, Ryan reached Yellow Sand’s location, a smaller cave marked by the eerie beauty of monsters frozen mid-motion into ice sculptures, a testament to Huang Bing’s lethal capabilities.

Upon Ryan’s arrival, Yellow Sand acknowledged him with a curt nod. “You made good time.”

Ryan joined her at the cave’s entrance, settling in to wait for the others.

After a quarter hour, Green Tide, Cyan River, and Blue Mountain each made their way into the cave. Green Bell, adept at stealth, arrived with ease and grace, in stark contrast to Green Tide and Blue Mountain who appeared slightly worse for wear, evidence of numerous skirmishes with the Labyrinth’s denizens along their route.