Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Upgrade, the Ceremony Begins!
 

Ryan’s unexpected resilience caught the Princess Blazing Spider off guard. She couldn’t fathom how such a grievously wounded “ant” could still muster the strength to fight back. But retreat was not a concept befitting her royal lineage. Her massive spider lance rose to meet Ryan’s descending black and yellow greatsword.

“Clang!”

The clash of metal echoed through the cavern as Ryan landed deftly on his feet. The Princess, unwavering, unleashed a column of flame from her mouth, this time laced with a volatile, high-temperature powder that promised a devastating explosion upon contact.

Undeterred, Ryan darted beneath the colossal arachnid. From this vulnerable position, any explosive attack she launched could potentially harm her as well. Sensing the risk, the Princess Blazing Spider ceased her Blazing assault, instead retracting her legs and pressing her massive body downward in an attempt to crush Ryan.

But Ryan was ready. As he positioned himself under the looming bulk of the Princess Blazing Spider, a faint, bloody glow enveloped him—[Special Sword Skill-Charge Attack] was activated. While his sword skills might falter against relentless explosions, they were perfectly honed for countering massive, singular strikes.

The force of his counterattack, amplified by the “tyrannical blood membrane,” not only thwarted her crushing move but also recoiled her upwards.

“Thump—thump—thump!”

Ryan completed three stages of charging his greatsword as the Princess plummeted towards him once more. He roared, his veins bulging with effort, and swung his sword with monumental force.

“Sizzle!”

The expected clash of metal didn’t occur. Instead, the sword, supercharged by a “critical hit” and “fatal blow,” sliced through the spider’s tough exoskeleton as if it were mere paper. The black and yellow blade buried itself deep into the abdomen of the Princess Blazing Spider, the concussion damage from [Food War: Black Roar Dragon’s Sorrow] ravaging her internal tissues.

Wounded critically, the Princess Blazing Spider issued a piercing scream, her body curling instinctively.

Ryan’s expression was icy as he advanced towards the spider’s head, his greatsword humming with gathered power and a spiritual flame flickering along its edge.

Before the Princess Blazing Spider could right herself, Ryan prepared another “Three-stage Charged” strike, aiming to deliver a finishing blow. However, just as he readied his strike, the spider, driven by survival instinct, unfurled one of her sharp legs and thrust it towards him with surprising speed.

As Ryan faced the looming threat of the Princess Blazing Spider’s sharp leg, a grim resolve flickered across his expression. He understood the precariousness of his situation—despite the severe damage his last attack had inflicted on the spider, his own physical reserves were nearly depleted. Dodging the oncoming strike could open him up to a counterattack he might not recover from. Victory needed to be immediate.

“Crack!”

With a determined grunt, Ryan brought his greatsword down, channeling every ounce of his remaining strength. The blade, ignited once more with “critical hit” and “fatal blow” enhancements, cleaved through the dark chitinous armor of the spider’s head, driving deep into the vulnerable tissue beneath.

Simultaneously, the sharp leg of the spider tore through the defenses of his [Ceratops Armor] and impaled him squarely in the chest. Blood spurted from Ryan’s mouth, painting his vision with streaks of red as he teetered on the brink of consciousness.

He knew the end was near.

But he was determined not to fall alone. “Die!” he roared, pushing further, driving the greatsword deeper into the brain of the Princess Blazing Spider. With a gruesome “puff,” the blade’s path ended, splattering brain matter and signaling the death of his formidable foe.

The colossal spider’s body twitched once before collapsing alongside Ryan in a thunderous heap, stirring a cloud of dust around them.

“Ahem…”

Amid the settling dust, Ryan’s world faded to black, the life ebbing out of him. No amount of battlefield promotion or the warmth of an upgrade could stave off the inevitable.

In his final moments, Ryan reached out, his hand closing around an object bathed in silver-white light.

—

Abruptly, Ryan awoke to a sensation of weightlessness, his body jerking upright in bed, his heart pounding with the shock of rebirth. He sat there, panting, the loneliness of the void still clinging to him like a cold mist.

He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and a slight smile curved his lips. Though his wandering clone had perished, it had not been in vain. He had vanquished the Princess Blazing Spider, a formidable ” Three Stars” adversary, marking a significant milestone in his journey.

Even after so many returns from the brink, the isolation of those moments lingered, an eerie reminder of his mortality and the relentless pursuit of his quest.

Ryan’s heart sank as he contemplated his missed opportunity to harvest materials from the Princess Blazing Spider. By the time he returned to the treacherous volcanic realm, the carcass of the formidable spider would likely be gone, scavenged by the relentless predators that roamed the area in search of scarce food.

“Forget it, there are gains and losses…” he muttered to himself, trying to find solace in acceptance.

Defeating the “Top Three Stars” Princess Blazing Spider had pushed him to his limits. He wasn’t sure he could replicate the victory. The critical hits from his greatsword strikes had been fortuitous; without them, he might not have prevailed. The challenge of surviving long enough to collect materials after such a brutal fight seemed almost insurmountable.

“But next time, it won’t be like this again!” Ryan resolved, his determination steeling his gaze.

With the demise of the Princess Blazing Spider, his Wandering Clone had advanced in strength and capability—a testament to the immense experience yielded by such formidable foes.

Ryan turned his attention to the status panel before him, reviewing the enhancements to his traveling clone:

—

[Level]: 15 (36%) → 16 (2%)

[Spiritual Value]: 722635 → 1022635

[Spiritual Ability]: 9.0

[Physical Strength]: 127.20 → 164.3

—

The leap in level had propelled his avatar’s [Physique] to an impressive 164.3, showcasing the exponential growth that became more profound with each advance. This significant increase in the avatar’s [physique] also boosted Ryan’s original strength considerably.

—

[Physique]: 28.54 → 36.06

—

Though only the [Physique] had surged, nearly 8 points higher, it was enough to invigorate him with newfound power. As the conflicts on the offshore islands intensified, Ryan knew that only through such enhancements could he feel truly secure.

His thoughts then shifted to the spoils of his recent battle, items that held the promise of future advantages:

—

[Loot: Princess’s Hook]: A Silver-level trophy; the ornate, enigmatic hook of the Princess Blazing Spider radiates with captivating flames, bewitching all who lay eyes upon it. Comes with an attached special skill, [Explosive Resistance lv.2], which significantly reduces damage received from explosives.

—

The acquisition of such a unique artifact bolstered Ryan’s spirits. Though he had lost the chance to collect other materials, the Princess’s Hook was a valuable gain, enhancing his defenses and adding a strategic edge to his arsenal. As he contemplated the intricate design of the hook, Ryan felt a renewed sense of readiness to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As Ryan reviewed the attributes of his new loot, his eyes widened in surprise. The recent battle against the Princess Blazing Spider had given him a firsthand experience of the devastating impact of explosive damage, a force to be reckoned with, particularly prevalent among the creatures of the volcanic region. Not least among them was the crown sapphire beast, known for its formidable explosive capabilities.

Although defeating such a formidable crown monster was currently beyond his reach, this newly acquired special skill, [Explosive Resistance lv.2], promised to significantly bolster his safety on future forays into the volcanic terrain. Coupled with his existing [Nullification of Thermal Damage], Ryan’s resilience against both fire and explosive threats was now at its zenith. He couldn’t help but think that with such defenses, his encounter with the Princess Blazing Spider might have been less perilous.

“Phew…”

Taking a deep breath, Ryan collected his thoughts on his recent gains and losses. He then stood and pushed open the door, stepping out into the early morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, the dawn casting a pale glow that suggested it was about five or six in the morning. But as he stepped out, Ryan paused, struck by an unexpected sight.

In the distance, a golden beam of light pierced the sky, its brilliance slicing through the morning haze. Ryan squinted, trying to discern the source of this unusual phenomenon.

What could be happening now?