Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 217

Chapter 217: Mark of Gospel!
In this pivotal moment, facing imminent death, Ryan’s demeanor was strangely tranquil. The vivid image of the scarlet tail blade barreled towards him, a stark reminder of why it was feared as the “Scorching Blade.”

With a wry chuckle, Ryan stared down the deadly blade and murmured, “Explode.”

No sooner had the word left his lips than a subdued explosion echoed from within the [Champion] Sword Dragon. Its skin erupted with purple veins as a surge of “real damage” exploded from its core.

[Good News]: Each attack or incoming hit from an enemy adds a “Gospel Mark” to their body. Accumulating five marks triggers a “joyful explosion,” reducing the enemy’s spiritual and vitality reserves by 20%.

Throughout the battle, Ryan had strategically implanted over five Gospel Marks on the [Grand] Sword Dragon, each one a ticking time bomb now detonated with devastating effect.

The mechanism of the “joyful explosion” wreaked havoc more extensively than Ryan had anticipated. The precision of the red tail blade faltered, missing Ryan and instead cleaving into the nearby rock wall, causing it to crumble as the dragon itself collapsed in a cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s “Heart of Gluttony” ability synergized with the [First-Order Healing Crystal] he had ingested, rapidly mending his injuries. He extricated himself from the debris, watching as the [Grand] Sword Slayer staggered to its feet amidst the settling dust, its body engorged with blood from rage.

With a sardonic grin, Ryan taunted the beleaguered beast, “The Great Swordsman is offline.”

“Now,” he declared with a gleam in his eye, “it’s mean monster hunter time.”

Deep within a cavernous mountain pass, illuminated only by the eerie glow of molten rock, Ryan darted forward with the agility of a loach, evading the relentless pursuit of the formidable [Champion] Sword Dragon Slayer.

The dragon’s roar, a thunderous explosion of fury, reverberated through the rocky expanse. The creature, notorious for its short temper, was incensed. Repeatedly struck by distant arrows, its rage mounted with each piercing bolt. Although the wounds weren’t deadly, they were a constant irritant.

Despite its immense power and speed, the [Crown] Sword-Tailed Dragon struggled to match Ryan’s pace in the tortuous mountain passages. Each arrow that struck infused the beast with a chilling sensation, sapping its strength and slowing its furious charge. Ryan, under the influence of [Joyful Frozen Aura], watched as his pursuer’s speed was reduced by 17%. At the same time, his own speed surged by 20% thanks to the [Food War: Black Roar Dragon’s Sorrow] buff. This shift transformed him from the hunted into a swift shadow slipping just beyond reach.

Maintaining the icy grip of the [Joyful Frozen Aura] on the dragon was crucial. As the dragon unleashed a fiery orb of lava in retaliation, Ryan countered swiftly. He flung a blood spear, striking the lava ball and stalling its deadly trajectory.

“Boom!” The cavern floor buckled and melted where the lava ball crashed, far surpassing the destructive force of any prior encounter, reminiscent of the [Upper] Princess Blazing Spider’s explosive assaults.

Ryan counted under his breath, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5…” Timing his next move perfectly, he detonated the “Mark of the Gospel” embedded within the dragon at the fifth count.

“Bang!” The sound of the internal explosion echoed ominously. The dragon howled in anguish as purple mist seeped from its scorched scales, signaling severe internal damage.

Simultaneously, Ryan felt a sharp pang in his mind and a drain on his physical reserves. The potent spells, [Joyful Frozen Aura] and [Gospel], demanded a high toll on his spiritual and physical energies. Although minimal with each use, the cumulative effect began to weigh heavily on him.

Desperate for sustenance, Ryan devoured a chunk of steak, the juices replenishing his vigor as he pressed onward without pause.

The dragon, bloodied and battered, rose from the rubble, its protective shell cracked and oozing. Yet, it showed no signs of surrender. The chase continued, with the dragon’s roars shaking the very foundations of the mountain.

At last, Ryan burst into a vast lava cave, the heat and light intensifying around him. His heart sank as he realized there was no exit other than the way he had come, a dead end. Here, in this fiery arena, the final confrontation seemed inevitable.

As the roar and rumble of pursuit echoed through the mountain pass, Ryan dashed into the infernal depths of the lava cave without a moment to spare. He could feel the heat searing the air as he entered, the ground beneath his feet alive with the bubbling, hissing magma.

“Gurgle, gurgle…” The cave resounded with the ominous sound of molten rock churning and popping.

In the heart of this fiery chamber, Ryan stood defiant. He locked eyes with the [Grand] Sword Dragon Slayer barreling towards him. With a resolute shout, he commanded, “Explode!”

In response, a network of pulsing purple veins erupted across the dragon’s scaly hide. The internal explosion that followed was catastrophic, sending the beast collapsing to the ground with a tortured screech.

Ryan, seizing this brief respite, inhaled deeply and unleashed a flurry of arrows from his [Light Crossbow·Ice Crushing]. The crossbow twanged sharply with each shot.

“Ding! Ding! Ding!” The metallic sounds marked each successful hit, but reloading was laboriously slow. By the time the [Grand Position] Sword Dragon staggered to its feet, Ryan had managed only three shots.

“Roar—!” Despite enduring three devastating explosions that claimed 60% of its vitality, the dragon’s spirit remained unbroken.

For a creature striving to evolve into the esteemed “crown” classification, sheer tenacity was as crucial as any innate advantage. With a deafening roar, the dragon’s transformation commenced. Its carapace, already resembling flames, glowed incandescently red, mirroring the lava that surrounded them. Crimson patterns traced down its body to the tail blade, radiating intense heat that distorted the air itself.

Red Flame and it goes berserk!

The dragon’s newfound ferocity was a palpable force, pressing against Ryan with the weight of impending doom. The air turned oppressively hot, thick with the scent of sulfur and danger.

Ryan, fully aware of his limitations, acknowledged the vast gap between his own abilities and those of the [Grand] Sword Dragon. Even with the strategic use of [Gospel] and [Joyful Aura], he was outmatched. His previous victories, even against formidable foes like the Princess Blazing Spider, seemed trivial now as he faced this colossal adversary.

The gulf between them was great, akin to the difference between “Fourth-level Extraordinary” and “Fifth-level Legend.”

In this ultimate confrontation, raw power would be the deciding factor.

With a sense of resignation, Ryan pulled the trigger again, watching helplessly as the arrow disintegrated before it even reached the dragon, consumed by the scorching aura enveloping it. His heart sank; the dragon, learning from earlier exchanges, now anticipated his tactics.

Faced with the dragon’s adaptive combat skills and his own dwindling options, Ryan understood that his chances of imprinting another “mark of the gospel” were slim. A direct confrontation seemed his only remaining recourse, a daunting prospect against such a formidable foe.

As the Sword-Tailed Dragon advanced, its scales shimmering with a golden-red glow indicative of its “Red Flame Rage,” Ryan’s heart sank. Unlike the mindless ferocity typical of enraged beasts, this creature’s eyes burned with a chilling lucidity. It seemed that with each ascent in power, these monstrous beings retained more of their cognitive abilities during their most furious states, an alarming development for any challenger.

This clarity in the midst of rage was troubling news indeed. However, Ryan clung to a sliver of hope: “Red Flame Fury,” while rendering the dragon formidable, also marked its point of greatest vulnerability. It was now cornered, desperate.

This presented a critical opportunity. If Ryan could induce one more “Explosion of Joy” while the dragon’s health was below 20%, victory could be his. But the dragon, now wary and guarded, wouldn’t easily be driven to such a precarious state again.

Ryan exhaled softly, steeling himself as he clasped the hilt of his greatsword, a symbol of his true vocation beyond the mere role of a “despicable” hunter. He was, at heart, a greatsword hunter.

The dragon’s approach left a trail of golden-red magma; the air thickened with oppressive heat. Had Ryan not possessed [Nullify Heat Damage], the searing air alone would have been enough to sap his vitality relentlessly.

Energy gathered at his shoulders, manifesting as two “blood cores.” Throughout the chase, he had replenished the vital energy required for [Holy Relic·Blood Embrace]. Now, with a determined slash across his fingertips using a white amulet shaped like a sword, Ryan marked his greatsword with a sinister trail of his own blood.

[Meteoric Sword Amulet], sharpness increased by 30%.

Against an adversary whose strength vastly outstripped his own, the usual advantages of a heavier weapon diminished. Instead, enhancing the blade’s sharpness was a tactical pivot, speed over brute strength.

Golden flames flickered around Ryan’s form, signaling the full activation of [Secret of Fire] and [Liberation of Power]. In this climactic duel, he summoned every ounce of his power, elevating his capabilities to their zenith.

“Die!” Ryan bellowed, invoking “Morale Boost” to fortify his resolve. Although the boost was minimal due to his already high physical conditioning, akin to adding a mosquito’s leg to a feast, it was still a gain, however slight.

The ground beneath him cracked ominously as he transformed into a blur, charging towards the dragon with lethal intent. Though his battle cry was fierce, his mind remained as serene as a frozen lake, focused singularly on his objective: to imprint two more “Marks of Gospel” on the formidable [Grand] Sword Dragon.