Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Hatching of The Dragon Egg!
With a gentle flick of his wrist, Ryan tossed the miniaturized vessel towards the sea. Instantly, it began to grow, rapidly expanding into a majestic warship right before their eyes.

Unlike traditional ships, this warship lacked a mast, as it was not propelled by wind but by other, more arcane means. Its sleek, blue hull blended seamlessly with the sea, rendering it nearly invisible from a distance.

What truly captured their attention, however, was the figurehead, an angelic sculpture at the prow with crossed hands forming an orb in front. It radiated a compassionate aura, as if offering solace to the world.

“What a magnificent sight…” Frannie breathed, unable to take her eyes off the ship.

Cecilia, usually reserved, was visibly awestruck, her silver pupils dilated and lips parted in silent amazement.

“My dear captain,” Ryan smiled, extending a bow with a flourish, “please, come aboard and have a closer look.”

Freni, momentarily distracted from her grim thoughts, shot Ryan a playful scowl for his theatrical gesture but nonetheless directed the magical hand to transport them onto the ship.

After a thorough tour of the vessel, which took about half an hour, Freni learned of the ship’s capabilities and special features from Ryan. Despite her initial enthusiasm, there remained one aspect of the ship that left her somewhat dissatisfied:

“Mr. Ryan, did I hear correctly that this ship is named the Goddess of Victory?” inquired the captain with a note of curiosity in her voice, as she glanced around the majestic vessel.

“Yes, that’s her name,” Ryan confirmed, his voice echoing slightly in the expansive control room.

The captain frowned slightly, the lines on her face deepening. “I feel rather melancholic about it. Since the ship is now under our command, perhaps we should consider renaming her? How about the Black Rose?”

“That sounds like a joyful choice to me,” Ryan replied with a subtle smile, appreciating the captain’s attempt to infuse some of their own spirit into the ship.

Ryan remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. ‘captain Freni truly is driven by nostalgia’, he mused silently. ‘Despite the many ships she’s commanded, she always preserves their original names, as if each vessel carries a piece of history worth remembering.’

“As soon as we finish resupplying tonight, we should set our course southward,” Ryan finally broke the silence.

Freni and Cecilia, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan,” Cecilia added with a supportive smile.

A sudden recollection sparked in Ryan’s mind. “Captain, I have something for you, a gift, actually.”

“A gift?” Freni’s eyes widened with intrigue.

Ryan gestured towards a large object he had been hiding behind him. “I came across this monster egg by chance. It’s quite close to hatching.”

Ryan then chuckled softly, a rugged sound. “You know my style, Captain. I’m always at the forefront of battle; magical pets aren’t really my thing.”

Nonetheless, Ryan placed the imposing egg on the deck; its surface adorned with intricate red patterns. The egg, almost as tall as a human, commanded attention.

Ryan observed the dragon egg, feeling a surge of emotions. After considerable thought, he had chosen to give this dragon egg to Freni. As a spellcasting witch who often needed protection from direct attacks, a sturdy, thick-skinned guardian from this egg would serve her well. Moreover, this wasn’t just any dragon, it was a rare breed, its innate red glow marking it as a creature of potential power. And in Ryan’s heart, no one was more deserving of such a companion than Freni.

The egg had been dormant within the confines of a magical space ring, which had prevented it from hatching. But now, removed from its stasis, the egg’s shell began to show signs of cracking.

“Monster egg?” Freni murmured, her voice a mixture of surprise and awe.

Before she could process the enormity of the gift, Ryan and Cecilia had already stepped back, giving the egg space. The air was filled with a tense anticipation.

Crack. The sound was sharp in the quiet night. The crimson-patterned shell broke apart, and a small creature emerged. It was covered in dense, black and purple scales; its diminutive wings folded behind it, adorned with fiery red patterns that resembled lotus flames.

The creature blinked open its clear, pure eyes, and in them, Freni’s reflection was mirrored. It let out a soft, plaintive moan, instinctively recognizing her as its kin.

From a distance, Ryan watched with a mixture of pride and astonishment as the creature, which he knew to be a Purple Flame Dragon King in its juvenile form, took its first breath. Even with his vast experience and knowledge, the sight before him was beyond what he had imagined.

As the morning sea breeze whispered across the shoreline, its gentle caress felt like a soft, soothing massage against the skin.

Under the golden glow of the rising sun, a miraculous event unfolded, a tiny life burst forth into the world.

The implications of its arrival remained shrouded in mystery, unknown yet potentially monumental.

The hatchling, a newborn fire dragon, yawned wide, its tiny jaws snapping up the fragmented eggshells that encircled it.

Nearby, a witch adorned in a voluminous, fluffy hat crouched down. With a tender touch, she stroked the dragon’s scaly head. The little creature nodded appreciatively, a sign of trust and contentment, before curling up on the sandy ground and drifting into slumber.

For any fledgling life, the cycle of eating and sleeping is the natural fast track to growth.

Ryan, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t suppress a warm, knowing smile.

—

[Purple Flame Dragon King (juvenile)]: An evolved form of the Red Flame, this creature boasts a potential that eclipses that of the renowned “Black Flame Dragon King” and “Purple Poison Dragon Princess” from the Fire Dragon lineage. Remarkably, even without formal training, it can attain the formidable strength of a [Crown] upon reaching maturity. It is destined to reign as a sovereign among monsters, a true monarch of fire dragons.

This dragon’s abilities include specialized flame explosions and a deadly poison feared by all creatures. Initially born with a vivid red hue, the Purple Flame King Dragon thrives by consuming “high-energy substances.” These are metabolized into potent red energy, fueling its growth, resilience, and battle prowess.

Influenced by spiritual forces at birth, it is conceivable that the Purple Flame King Dragon may develop unique spiritual powers as it grows and evolves.

—

As Ryan perused the panel detailing this slumbering life form, a sense of awe struck him. The [Grand Position] an evolutionary pinnacle dreamt of by countless monsters and comparable to a “Legend” in the world was merely a starting point for this dragon’s maturity.

Unfamiliar with the titles “Black Flame King” and “Purple Poison Princess,” Ryan could only surmise that these were the ranks achieved by male and female fire dragons, respectively, as they advanced beyond the “crown” stage. The Purple Flame King’s potential was staggering, blending the pinnacle traits of its forebears.

Typically, the greater a creature’s potential, the longer its maturation, as they require significantly more nutrients and energy at each developmental stage.

However, by naturally evolving from Red Sun, the Purple Flame King could accelerate its growth by ingesting “high-energy matter,” a trait Ryan had observed in other formidable beings, yielding almost unbelievable results.

One aspect, in particular, held Ryan’s deep interest:

“Influenced by spirituality at birth, the Purple Flame King Dragon might also acquire special spiritual abilities during its growth and transformation.”

This hint suggested that, as a creature from another realm, the Purple Flame King had undergone subtle yet significant changes since its arrival. While these changes appeared benign, their ultimate outcome remained uncertain.

Ryan and his companion Cecilia stepped closer to examine the dragon more intimately. Despite its formidable description, the newborn was undeniably chubby and endearing.

“Mr. Ryan…” Freni began hesitantly, lowering her head, a sigh escaping her lips. Even though she hadn’t made her decision yet, the moment the little dragon’s eyes had met hers, she knew it had chosen her. The bond formed was irrevocable; this dragon would not become anyone else’s magical companion.