Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Slaying the Black Roar Dragon!
Special Skill [Secret of Fire Scene lv.1]: This kicked in as Ryan entered a “moderately injured” state, enhancing his capabilities (damage +10%, damage received -10%).

[Food War·Thunder Dragon’s Sorrow]: Wrapped in shadows tinged with blood, his movement speed surged by 20%, and his attacks now carried the additional threat of severe electric shocks.

In a desert of yellow sand, man and dragon advanced towards each other once more, but this time, Ryan initiated the charge.

His feet dug into the gravel, propelling him forward so fast that his figure became a blur, leaving behind a trailing shadow that darted towards the raging dragon.

As he moved, Ryan’s greatsword began its charge within its scabbard. Reaching the dragon, he unsheathed it in a fluid motion, seamlessly transitioning into the second stage of charging his attack.

The dragon, now in a “Rage State,” had swelled in size, its speed and reactivity paradoxically enhanced rather than diminished. Sensing the grave threat Ryan posed, it was wary not to let him close again.

Using its thick forelimbs for leverage, the dragon executed a swift, sweeping turn. Its tail, thick and powerful, whistled through the air, a lethal weapon on its own. The force behind its sweep was such that even the hardest volcanic rock would shatter upon impact, a dire warning of the potential fate awaiting flesh and blood.

Ryan, however, did not flinch or flee. Despite his enhanced speed, which would have allowed him to evade the attack, he chose to stand his ground. His resolve was clear: to face the dragon’s wrath head-on, regardless of the consequences.

Ryan’s dark gold gloves, etched with intricate blood patterns, shimmered ominously as he summoned a formidable blood core on his shoulder. Spiked and imposing, the core expanded into a glowing spherical barrier, the Blood Barrier, encapsulating him in a protective shell.

With a resounding boom, the massive dragon’s tail crashed against the barrier, the impact reverberating through the air. The barrier’s hue faded dramatically, the blood core’s color draining by two-thirds. Ryan knew well that just one more strike of such magnitude would shatter his last line of defense, a defense that had cost him a hundred units of blood energy to conjure.

A Thunder Dragon would have depleted only half this energy with its mightiest blow. Yet, here, the Black Roar Dragon’s tail sweep starkly demonstrated its devastating power.

Grateful for the brief reprieve afforded by the Blood Barrier, Ryan seized the moment to charge the final phases of his greatsword. The Black Roar Dragon, frustrated by its failed attempt, eyed the tiny figure within the barrier. The ant-like warrior was once again amassing the energy that had previously inflicted severe damage upon it. With a tactical retreat, the dragon created a safe distance of over ten meters, far beyond the reach of Ryan’s less-than-two-meter sword.

Relief washed over the Black Roar Dragon. Yet, in the next heartbeat, the tide of battle shifted unpredictably.

Ryan’s face remained calm, betraying no hint of concern as he wielded his greatsword. Flames danced

In that breath-stealing moment, the Black Roar Dragon emerged from a fiery chasm like a specter risen from the depths of a molten hell, its very essence seething with unbridled fury and a lethal intent that chilled the bone.

With a guttural bellow that shook the air itself, the dragon unleashed a cascade of deep red sound waves. These waves rippled outward in concentric circles, peeling back the earth itself within a nearly 100-meter radius, revealing the raw and charred underbelly of the land.

Ryan, having swiftly retreated a safe distance, watched the spectacle unfold from a hundred meters away. His gaze was steady, his expression unreadable as he observed the dragon enter a state known as “Red Flame Rage,” a transformation that brought forth both incredible power and profound vulnerability in these beasts.

Each step Ryan took deeper into the mysterious island escalated the stakes, drawing him into encounters with increasingly formidable creatures. These beings, when pushed to the brink of demise, would often slip into the Red Flame Rage, a desperate last stand of scorching fury.

The monsters in this enraged state were simultaneously at the pinnacle of their strength and on the cusp of their downfall. Indeed, they were often but a single charged slash away from the eternal silence of death.

A spark of excitement flared in the depths of Ryan’s eyes. “This is the thrill I seek…” he murmured to himself as a palpable tension filled the air.

His blood began to surge, drawn forth by the mysterious powers of the Holy Relic: Embrace of Blood. This arcane artifact transformed his lifeblood into potent energy, though it exacted a harsh toll, escalating his injuries from moderate to severe in an instant.

Severe injury was precisely the trigger Ryan needed. It unlocked the next tier of his potential, his Special Skill, Liberation of Power Level 2, surged through him, boosting his critical strike chance and reducing his physical strain considerably.

As these powers mingled, a soft golden glow wrapped around him, casting his figure as a fiery silhouette against the twilight, a veritable human torch poised for battle.

With a defiant snarl, Ryan grasped the hilt of his greatsword and slid it home in its sheath before propelling himself forward in a reckless charge. His target: the towering, rage-fueled form of the Black Roar Dragon.

The dragon, in turn, sized up the advancing human not as a mere irritant but as a true challenger. This was a battle it could not, would not flee from. Its pride as a pinnacle predator was at stake.

Standing its ground, the dragon spread its vast membranous wings, its body pulsating with an ominous red glow, akin to an emperor awaiting the challenger to his throne.

In an explosive burst of speed, Ryan closed the gap, his form a blur against the landscape. As he approached, the dragon opened its jaws, gathering a tumultuous energy that erupted into a scorching red beam aimed directly at him.

Ryan, his reflexes heightened by the golden flames of his power, sidestepped the lethal beam with inches to spare. The relentless torrent of energy pursued him as he darted, a dance of death between the flame and the shadow, each maneuver bringing him ever closer to the heart of the beast.

Ryan leaped from the gaping jaws of the Superior Black Roar Dragon, landing with a thud that sent echoes through the eerie silence of the battlefield. As he touched down, the blood barrier that had been his only shield flickered out, shattering into a myriad of glistening shards.

“Close call…” he muttered under his breath.

Raising his hand, Ryan watched the remnants of his crimson shield slip through his fingers, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and lingering fear. He knew he had been moments away from disaster, if the dragon’s crushing jaws had clamped down just a bit harder, if its fangs had pierced his magical barrier before he’d mustered enough energy for his final strike, the tide of battle would have turned against him.

Taking such a gamble, striking from within the beast’s own jaws, was a desperate move, but desperation had been his only ally against such formidable odds. The Black Roar Dragon, fueled by its Red Flame Rage that healed and fortified its wounds, seemed nearly invincible.

Ryan had seen the dragon’s head wounds knit back together, sealed by the fiery energy. Striking there again would be futile, he realized. It would be his end, crushed by the dragon’s mighty claws.

Thus, his daring assault from within the beast’s mouth was born out of necessity, a perilous yet pivotal moment that was his only shot at victory.

And it had paid off. The dragon, an embodiment of raw power and fury, now lay defeated. Its refusal to yield even in death was a testament to its might. Ryan, standing over the beast, felt a wave of complex emotions wash over him. Respect for his formidable opponent mixed with awe at his own growing power.

Just yesterday, he had struggled against the Thunder Dragon, reliant on Silver’s assistance to claim victory. Today, he faced the even mightier Black Roar Dragon alone and triumphed. His strength had soared, due to rapid enhancement of his abilities.

It was the Critical Hit and Fatal Strike skills, amplified by the Super Heart Orb, that had turned the tide. These skills had synergized spectacularly, boosting his charged slash’s power to an astonishing 2.6 times its normal strength, enough to breach the dragon’s near-impenetrable scales.

With a deep, steadying breath, Ryan felt the exhilaration of his victory and the surge of power from leveling up coursing through him. He resisted the urge to check his status panel, his gaze instead drawn to the gleaming silver trophy lying beside the fallen dragon.