Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Resurrection!
“Ahem…”

As purple blood seeped from wounds scattered across his frame, Pope Libra found himself half-kneeling, his ceremonial sword planted into the ground for support. Yet, his grip on the hilt trembled uncontrollably, betraying the shock that still coursed through his veins.

Confusion clouded his eyes. The events of this “sacred duel” had shattered his expectations, defying the very laws of his understanding. Initially, it was staggering enough that a mere first-level spiritual contender, relying on sheer physical prowess, had managed to overpower his human guise. But even after invoking his “devil possession,” he was still repelled, a fact that stirred anger within him.

Who was this formidable “monster”?

Yet contemplation had to wait. The winds of battle howled anew as Ryan came before him, sword slashing through the air.

Driven by the raw edge of survival, Pope Libra cast aside his turbulent thoughts. This time, the last of his purple magatama emerged, not transforming into a shield but detonating outright.

“Boom boom—”

Vivid purple flames erupted, unfurling like a fox demon bellowing skyward.

Amidst the inferno, Ryan stood resolute. His specialized skill [Nullification of Heat Damage], coupled with 17 points of fire resistance, the [Ceratops Armor]’s damage reduction, and the [Dragon Helmet] made him nearly impervious to the demon fire’s wrath.

His greatsword descended with relentless force, striking Pope Libra squarely on the shoulder.

“Sizzle—”

The impact was bone-shattering, the blade carving through muscle and sinew, cleaving the Pope from left shoulder to right abdomen in a brutal sweep. “Swish!” Blood spurted, pooling into a shimmering violet beneath the bisected figure.

Pope Libra’s severed halves hovered briefly over the pool, eyes burning with deep resentment.

“Those who blaspheme…must…die!”

Before Ryan could deliver another strike, Pope Libra’s form dissolved into the blood pool, his body vanishing as Ryan’s sword met only the bloody water with a splash.

From the depths of the pool, a small purple lotus surfaced. Ryan’s expression shifted dramatically; he withdrew his sword and retreated swiftly.

But the lotus expanded rapidly, its petals unfurling not as delicate blooms but as aggressive fox tails.

These tails lashed out, striking Ryan’s sword with overwhelming force.

“Boom!”

The impact sent him hurtling backward, his body carving a trench in the ground before coming to a stop.

Blood trickled from the corner of Ryan’s mouth, yet his gaze remained locked on the menacing “Fox Tail Lotus” now fully bloomed at the center of the pool.

Not just Ryan felt the tension; even Fire Witch Milanla, observing from atop her pillar, held a pallid expression, her face etched with apprehension.

Beneath the unblinking eyes of an awestruck crowd, the mystical “Fox Tail Lotus” unfurled its petals in full glory, revealing the ancient, divine remnants enshrined within.

At the heart of this spectacle, where Pope Libra once stood, now a human face grotesquely merged into the godly visage, its eyes embedded at the brow. These eyes glinted with a malevolent ferocity, the ink-black irises laced with haunting purple streaks.

“Those who blaspheme… Must die!” The voice, muddled yet menacing, emanated from the depths of the divine relic. In an abrupt motion, the creature’s head snapped upwards, its vulpine features now directly confronting Ryan.

A deafening “boom!” reverberated as the ground split asunder. The towering figure of the divine remnant, over ten meters tall, lunged toward Ryan with terrifying swiftness. Its massive fox claws, ablaze with an eerie purple fire, loomed overhead.

Beneath Ryan’s feet, a dozen ethereal purple fox tails sprouted suddenly, binding his ankles with supernatural swiftness. They not only immobilized him but began to burn his flesh with their ghostly flames, eating away at both spirit and body.

Ryan’s face set into a mask of grim determination. He knew better than to struggle; his movements would be futile against the imminent threat of the descending claws.

His hands glowed, encased in dark gold gloves etched with ancient blood patterns, as he raised his sword, gathering his strength for the impending strike.

Just as the colossal claws were about to crush him, two “blood cores” materialized on Ryan’s shoulders, weaving a shimmering barrier adorned with exquisite patterns.

“Boom—” The barrier shuddered violently under the assault, one of the blood cores dimming from the strain. Despite Ryan’s formidable physicality, marked at an extraordinary 36.06, the barrier wavered under the relentless attack.

Purple flames gnawed at the barrier, weakening it further until, with a resounding “crack,” it shattered into myriad shards.

The backlash from the explosion was potent enough to force the beast’s claw upward, delaying its deadly descent.

Amidst the scattering shards, Ryan’s sword ignited with a brilliant spiritual flame, bolstered by his elevated morale.

“Die!” Ryan roared, channeling his rage and power into a fierce sword thrust aimed straight at the chest of the divine remnant.

“Bang!” The blade struck true but only managed to embed itself shallowly into the beast’s chest, earning a mocking glint in its dark eyes, a silent, scornful dismissal of Ryan’s effort.

Ryan’s lips twitched in a wry smile, acknowledging the lack of a critical hit.

Unperturbed, the Remains of the God opened its mouth, and from within, a tempest of purple fire began to surge forth, threatening to engulf everything in its wrathful blaze.

Ryan’s gaze hardened, his fingers deftly manipulating the space ring until it emitted a brief flash, materializing a peculiar little creature in his palm, a Flashing Insect. This rare specimen from the group of Flashing Insects was distinctive; a gentle press on its head would trigger a burst of brilliant light from its back, momentarily blinding any onlooker. The insect was capable of this dazzling display thrice daily, after which a day’s rest was required to recharge its luminescent abilities.

He had acquired this unique item from an dragon hermit, yet had never found the occasion to use it, until now. With a careful motion, Ryan pressed on the insect’s head, and in an instant, a blinding, intense light erupted. A protective glow enveloped the insect, shielding Ryan from the searing brightness that even closed eyes could not fully escape.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. The God, caught in the light’s path, wailed pitifully. Its head jerked back involuntarily, the visage of the Libra Pope etched between its brows cringing in agony. Disoriented, the purple fire breath missed its intended target and shot skyward instead.

Seizing the moment, Ryan darted forward to a prime position, ready to strike at the head of the divine remains. Recalling his previous failure to penetrate its defenses, he activated the Holy Relic, Embrace of Blood. Drawing heavily upon his own life force, he surged into the third stage of power, ready to combine his critical skills for a decisive blow.

With a sequence of meticulously timed moves Flaw, Sword Drawing Skill, and Release of Power, Ryan aimed for a critical strike, now boosted to a 60% likelihood. His blade sang through the air, guided by both skill and a silent prayer for fortune.

His prayer was answered. The greatsword, imbued with raw power and spiritual force, cleaved through the air and struck true at the center of the godly remnant’s brow, the exact location of the Libra Pope’s face. A sharp, clear sound of cracking echoed as the sword cut deep, forcing the deity back, stumbling, until it collapsed in a cloud of dust.

With rapid strides, Ryan closed in, his Heart of Gluttony circulating rapidly to mend his recoil injuries. Nearing the fallen deity, he noted a significant gash where the Libra Pope’s face merged into the skull, clear evidence of the strike’s success.

However, danger was far from over. The Libra Pope’s eyes snapped open, revealing irises swirling with dark, ominous colors, brimming with savage ferocity. He unleashed a roar, commanding the six fox tails attached to the wreckage to attack.

Unflinching, Ryan advanced, his greatsword trailing behind him. He was mere meters from the Pope, the nearest fox tail swinging viciously close. In the nick of time, he activated the Flashing Insect once more. The sudden light forced the Pope’s eyes shut, his howl filling the air as his attack faltered.

Even as the fox tails battered against him, Ryan deployed two “blood cores” to reinforce his defenses, but the onslaught was relentless. One by one, the tails smashed through the barrier, shattering the cores.

As the final tail swept in, Ryan stood serene, his body starting to glow with an imminent counterstrike. At the critical moment, he unleashed his special sword skill, Defensive Collision. The incoming tail was repelled with formidable force, the backlash of blood and energy catapulting him directly into the final stage of his charged assault.

“Just Die!”

Ryan’s battle cry echoed as he wielded his sword with ferocious might, bringing it down sharply towards the body of the Libra Pope, enshrined upon the skull. Blinded by the intense light from the Flashing Insect, the Libra Pope was rendered helpless, unable to dodge the deadly strike.

A ghastly “sizzle” filled the air as blood and flesh scattered. The sword, unstoppable in its trajectory, cleaved through Pope Libra, severing him into two grotesque halves. The force continued unabated, striking the already damaged skull of the God of Destiny beneath. With a resonant “crack,” the skull shattered completely, its contents reduced to a gruesome pulp by the sheer impact of Ryan’s blow.

With unrelenting determination, Ryan drove his sword further, intending to split the godly brain entirely. However, halfway through, the blade struck an unexpectedly solid object, causing a violent recoil. Ryan’s arms shook under the strain, but he steadied himself quickly, his gaze piercing through the carnage to the anomaly before him.

Amidst the devastated brain tissue floated a dark purple crystal sphere, pulsating with mysterious energy and etched with strange patterns. “What’s this?” Ryan muttered, his curiosity piqued yet overshadowed by an impending sense of dread.

From the remnants of his bisected enemy, the Libra Pope’s lips twitched, “Ha… ha ha… Did you think… you had won… The core of God… is beyond the reach of a mortal like you, who has yet to even realize your own spiritual essence… Hahaha…”

As the Pope’s laughter grew wilder, his severed halves began to knit together, and the god’s brain tissue regenerated at an alarming rate. This was no simple healing; it was a divine resurrection, powered by remnants of a godly force far surpassing ordinary means.

With a steely glint, Ryan refused to hesitate. If one strike wasn’t enough, he would deliver another. His sword, charged with triple-layered power, descended once more upon the dark purple sphere, under the mocking gaze of the recovering Pope.

“Clang!”

The sound of metal clashing against an unyielding force rang out. Ryan’s sword rebounded with such intensity that it tore at his knuckles, yet the crystal remained pristine, unmarked by his formidable assault.