Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Divine Power!
 

In the eyes of the “Hanged Man,” a sinister red glow flared, signaling its readiness to counter. However, its colossal skeleton sword was momentarily ensnared by ice creeping up from the ground, a trap laid by Yellow Sand. Though he could shatter the icy grip in a fraction of a second, in the heat of close-quarters combat, even a split-second’s delay was a critical vulnerability.

Suddenly, the “Hanged Man’s” jaws opened wide, and from within, a grotesque tentacle of black mud shot forth, its tip ringed with serrated teeth aiming to clamp down on Ryan. The bizarre nature of the attack startled Ryan, but his reflexes didn’t falter. With a swift adjustment, he switched his sword from offense to a defensive guard.

“Clang!”

The mud tentacle slammed against the broadside of Ryan’s sword. It was a far sturdier appendage than any other Ryan had encountered before, barely denting upon impact with the heavy blade.

Meanwhile, the serrated hilts of the tentacles failed to make any impression on Ryan’s robust weapon, known as the [Great Sword·True Red Crown Horn].

As the black mud tentacle diverted Ryan’s slashing strike, the “Hanged Man” freed its frozen sword. Heaving the massive blade upward, it was enveloped in a dark, swirling energy that seemed capable of devouring light itself.

“Clang!”

Once again, Ryan’s black and yellow greatsword collided with the skeletal giant sword. Dark spiritual energy surged upward, threatening to engulf both Ryan and his weapon in its ominous tide.

In that critical moment, Ryan’s expression remained unyielding. Muscles tensed, visible through his skin like steel cables, he pushed back with formidable strength, sending the “Hanged Man” stumbling backwards, its weapon flailing.

This was sheer physical power!

“Boom!”

The air howled as Ryan’s counterattack pushed back the looming threat. Even the “Hanged Man” appeared taken aback, its bloodshot eyes widening in shock.

Behind the “Hanged Man,” Yellow Sand watched in awe. She knew of Purple Wind’s ability, the “High-spirited War Roar,” which hinted at a rugged seafaring background, a pirate’s path, common among those who braved the ocean’s wrath. Yet, Ryan’s physical prowess was astonishing. Such strength was unheard of even among elite pirates at the third level of mastery.

Yellow Sand could only conclude that the difference lay not in the path but the person. Ryan’s exceptional abilities underscored a profound truth: the same role could yield vastly different results depending on who undertook it.

As Ryan unleashed a powerful burst of energy, the dark spirits clinging to his sword dissipated. He shook off the lingering residue and charged forward, rapidly closing the gap between himself and the “Hanged Man.”

The air around Ryan’s blade crackled with surging spiritual energy, indicating that he had completed a significant build-up of power during his advance.

“Kill!” Ryan bellowed, his voice carrying the weight of spiritual force. Although the “High-spirited War Cry” barely affected the “Hanged Man” due to its formidable resilience, that wasn’t Ryan’s aim. His true intent was to harness the “morale boost” effect of the war cry, a tactic to amplify his physical capabilities.

As Ryan’s physical stature had grown stronger, the gains from “Morale Boost” had diminished, but they were not yet obsolete. With his physique pushing past human limits, the boost still sharpened his speed and power.

Reacting to Ryan’s surge, the “Hanged Man’s” eyes threaded with fine black lines as it expelled torrents of black mud from every orifice, encasing itself in a protective shell.

Then came the decisive moment, Ryan’s greatsword slashed downward.

“Boom!”

The sword met the soft black mud, which typically dampened physical blows. However, just as an overwhelming blaze can overpower water, Ryan’s ferocious strike shattered the mud’s defenses, exposing the ghastly face of the “Hanged Man.”

At that instant, remnants of the black mud, splattered by the force of Ryan’s strike, began to wriggle on the ground and morphed into sharp spikes hurtling towards Ryan’s back. This attack echoed the sinister capabilities of the “Heart-Eating Seal” Ryan had encountered before, promising even more devastating effects.

Ryan sensed the looming danger behind him. As he prepared to deploy a special sword technique to counter the incoming threat, a shimmer of ice-blue magical energy coalesced into several diamond-shaped shields at his back.

It was Yellow Sand, lending timely support from behind.

A smile flickered across Ryan’s lips. Accustomed to solitary battles, the sensation of having backup was a welcome change. Assured by this newfound companionship, Ryan gripped his sword with renewed vigor and, without a second’s hesitation, brought it crashing down on the “Hanged Man’s” visage.

“Boom!”

The “Hanged Man” was completely overwhelmed, as if crushed by an immense hydraulic force. In a desperate attempt to shield itself, it summoned a veil of dark mud to protect its face. However, this feeble defense crumbled instantly under the relentless assault.

The sword, merciless and unstoppable, left a trail of destruction in its wake.

With a thunderous crash, the “Hanged Man” was hammered into the earth, creating a horrific crater that echoed with the force of the impact.

Beneath the relentless strike of the ebony and gold sword, the original form of the “Hanged Man” was obliterated, morphing into nothing more than a grotesque puddle of mud.

Such a grievous wound would have spelled the end for any ordinary being, yet Ryan’s expression remained tense and vigilant.

His eyes locked onto the scene as the muddy remains began to dissolve and, miraculously, a figure reassembled itself a hundred meters away. The “Hanged Man’s” robe, now tattered and barely clinging to its body, revealed a web of deep, grisly fissures across its gray skin. Within these cracks, countless tiny tentacles writhed in despair, akin to lost souls trying to claw their way out of an abyss.

“It’s impressive, truly,” the creature rasped, its voice tinged with a chilling avarice. “Such a pristine vessel… Should I make it mine…”

Despite its severe injuries, the greed in its tone was unmistakable.

“…To behold the power of divinity…”

Amidst a grotesque cacophony, the “Hanged Man’s” body began to undergo grotesque transformations. Its shoulders split open first, spewing forth twisted masses of black flesh, followed swiftly by similar eruptions across its form.

In moments, the being that once bore a semblance to a man had transformed into a monstrous, pulsating mass of dark flesh.

“Thump, thump… thump, thump…”

The mass throbbed ominously, like a heart teeming with malevolent life or a cocoon on the verge of birthing something sinister.

Ryan, his gaze sharp and unwavering, summoned a spear from the ether. His dark-golden gloves shimmered with a sinister hue as he formed a blood-red spiral spear in his grasp. Charging it briefly, he hurled it with lethal precision towards the throbbing black heart.

Simultaneously, Yellow Sand was not merely a spectator. With fluid motions, she drew a circle with her hands, focusing her energies into the formation of an intricate snowflake made of ice, launching it at the same target.

The spear, swift and true, pierced the heart with a brutal ‘puff,’ tunneling a clear path through it. The ice snowflake followed, slipping through the hole created by the spear. Moments later, an explosive force of icy shrapnel erupted from within, shattering the black heart into fragments, leaving it riddled with icy holes and sealing the fate of the horrifying entity.

In the thick of the blackened mire, the form of the “Hanged Man” emerged, battered and barely recognizable.

Only half of its head remained intact, with just fragments of its limbs scattered amidst the muck. Yet, incredibly, it clung to life.

Its solitary, blood-red eye fixed on Ryan and Yellow Sand, brimming with venomous hatred.

“…You… you will all… pay…”

A guttural roar accompanied its words as an eerie glow began to emanate from where its heart once beat. The surrounding black mud, stirred by this strange luminescence, surged towards the center in a violent whirl.

“Boom!”

A flash of black light blinded Ryan and Yellow Sand momentarily. When their sight returned, they were greeted by a monstrous silhouette.

No longer bearing any trace of humanity, the “Hanged Man” had morphed into a colossal black mud python, far more formidable then his form before. Embedded at the head of this gargantuan serpent was the upper torso of the “Hanged Man,” grotesque and twisted.

This behemoth stretched hundreds of meters, its bulk nearly scraping the cavernous ceiling above. It dwarfed any creature of the underworld they had previously faced, casting a massive shadow over the entire hall.

A palpable spiritual pressure washed over the area, indiscriminate and overwhelming, carrying with it an otherworldly energy.

Lesser creatures, twisted black dogs, perished under its force, dissolving into the black mud and swelling the python’s already immense form.

Allies Green Tide, Green Bell, and Cyan River found themselves driven to their knees, struggling against the oppressive force. They mustered all their spiritual strength to keep from collapsing completely.

But their efforts were in vain.

Devoid of any capacity to resist, they were effectively neutralized.

Ryan’s expression hardened as he realized the true extent of the “Hanged Man’s” transformation. The entity before him wasn’t merely a mutation; it had ascended to a terrifying new echelon of power.

The source of this immense power became clearer as he read the alert that appeared before him:

—

[Black Mud Python (Divine Creature·Remnant)]: Born from the darkest experiments of those obsessed with harnessing divine power, this monstrosity represents a formidable resurgence of secondary divine powers into the world. Those obsessed with controlling such powers have paid unimaginable prices, yet their resolve remains unshaken, driven by a relentless pursuit of power at any cost.