Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Professional Skills!
Perched atop his humble raft, Ryan felt an exhilarating surge of power pulsating through him, his heart pounding with excitement as he absorbed the reality of his newfound strength.

He shifted his gaze to the panel before him.

——

[(Mini) Small Canvas Raft]: Measures 1 meter in length and 0.5 meters in width. It travels at 2 knots downwind and 0.5 knots against the wind.

[Captain]: Ryan Leland

[Age]: 18 years old

[Bloodline]: Descendant of the Vikings (Your Viking heritage grants you extraordinary strength and a natural affinity for water.)

[Title]: Bloody Son (Those who breach the [Golden Rule] and bear the blood mark not only draw the pursuit of the Royal Navy but also tend to attract the favor of certain clandestine groups. Mark duration remaining: 4 days, 18 hours, 22 minutes, and 05 seconds.)

[Innate Ability]: Soul of Another World (Your enhanced resistance to the mystical is likely linked to your profound knowledge from another world.)

[Spirituality]: 1.2 – Soul of Another World (+1.0), Feedback from the Traveling Clone (+0.2)

[Physique]: 1.78 – Base Value: 1.1 (Boost from Viking Bloodline: +0.1), Feedback from the Traveling Clone (+0.68)

[Career Path]: Pirate (Level 1) – The Traveling Clone assumes the role

[Professional Skills]: Fierce Battle Cry, One-Handed Weapon Specialization, Water Warfare Specialization

[Learning Skills]: Storm Swordsmanship (Mastery), Navigation (Beginner), Oddities (Beginner)

(Traveling Clone Panel)

[Level]: 2 (64% progression)

[Spiritual Value]: 65

[Spirituality]: 2.0 – Soul of Another World (+1.0), Additional from Pirate (Level 1) (+1.0)

[Physique]: 3.42 – Base Value: 1.1, Each upgrade increases by 30% from the original, Azure Medal (+1 level), Additional from Pirate (Level 1) (+1.0)

“So strong…”

As Ryan stared at the vivid display panel, awe flooded his senses. The panel had undergone significant updates since he officially assumed his role. A new column [Physique] had appeared, offering straightforward insights into his current physical condition.

Moreover, [Spirituality] had skyrocketed from a mere “0” to a robust “1.2,” far surpassing his initial expectations.

Ryan’s gaze lingered on the “Soul of Another World” listed under his innate abilities on the panel.

[Innate Ability]: Soul of Another World (Grants enhanced resistance to the mystical, likely tied to your extensive knowledge of other realms.)

Until recently, Ryan hadn’t given this particular ability much thought; he even suspected it had been lying dormant. But now, as a newly appointed officer, this ability had unveiled its potent potential.

——Spirituality +1.0!

It was notable because even his ascension to [Pirate (First Level)] only granted an identical spiritual growth of 1.0.

“This talent harbors deeper mysteries than I realized…” Ryan mused quietly.

He quickly dismissed any lingering doubts. Any increase in spiritual power was undoubtedly beneficial. Initially, Ryan had been concerned about potential “side effects” from merely receiving one-fifth of the feedback typical for a travel clone’s employment. However, the spiritual boost from [Soul from Another World] not only bridged this gap but also fortified his spiritual essence, surpassing that of an average first-order pirate.

His attention then shifted to [Professional Skills], his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Upon his official commission, he had acquired three distinctive professional skills:

1. [High-spirited War Cry]:

– A hallmark skill of the pirate profession.

– Unleashes spiritual energy through a mighty roar, repelling and instilling fear in enemies within a certain radius, while simultaneously bolstering morale for himself and allies within a similar range.

– The morale effect renders recipients energized, somewhat impervious to pain, and enhances their strength and speed for a designated period.

2. [One-Handed Weapon Specialization]:

– A fundamental skill across melee vocations.

– Provides a steady 10% increase in Strength and Speed when wielding one-handed weapons.

3. [Water Warfare Mastery]:

– Essential for any seafarer.

– Doubles the duration of underwater breathing and boosts swimming speed by 10% when in aquatic environments.

These skills, Ryan realized, were not just tools of survival but also keys to mastering his environment and ascending the ranks of piracy. His journey had truly begun, and with these abilities, he felt ready to tackle the challenges and adventures that awaited on the vast, open seas.

The trio of skills bestowed upon a [First-Level Pirate]—one active and two passives, were straightforward and modest in their effects, tailor-made for sea rovers like Ryan who sought their fortunes through maritime adventures.

Upon first discovering [One-Handed Weapon Specialization], Ryan had initially hoped it would enhance his swordplay skills. To his surprise, the skill instead bolstered the strength and speed of those wielding one-handed weapons. “It’s quite effective,” Ryan thought, “though not quite the game-changer I had envisioned.”

The utility of [Water Warfare Mastery] was equally unassuming yet practical. It lengthened the time he could breathe underwater and increased his swimming speed, offering a significant tactical advantage should he need to pull adversaries into aquatic combat, his domain, his rules.

The sole active skill, [High-spirited Battle Cry], intrigued him the most. Unique to pirates, its impact was intertwined with one’s rank and spiritual power. The rank was more or less fixed, but spirituality seemed malleable. “There might be ways to enhance this,” Ryan pondered, considering a future consultation with his mentor, Freni.

With his official induction, Ryan’s capabilities had expanded significantly: physically, spiritually, and through the acquisition of these three professional skills. Yet, he couldn’t quite grasp the full extent of his new strength. The best way to understand and adapt to his enhanced abilities, he concluded, would be through combat.

Ryan turned his attention towards the western periphery of the island. His last visit there had been abruptly cut short by an encounter with a silverback shark, leaving much of the area unexplored.

Initially, Ryan’s goal had been to tackle the “dragon head cancer crabs” on the northern beaches of the isolated island. However, he planned first to clear out the various beach crabs scattered across several zones. This preliminary challenge would serve both as a warm-up and as a means to gauge the effectiveness of his newly acquired skills.

Firstly, it would allow him to acclimate to his newfound strength. Secondly, engaging in these skirmishes could yield experience and potentially rare items that would further augment his capabilities. Ryan vividly recalled the “Pearls of Fertility” he had unearthed from a crab nest on the southern periphery of the beach. Now, with only the “Necklace of Fertility” in his possession, he no longer had any loose Pearls of Fertility. Their potent effects made them highly desirable, and he was eager to gather more if the opportunity arose.

The third reason was strategic, focusing on overcoming the “leading cancer” crab. As the formidable and undisputed monarch of the beach crabs, what if lesser crabs interfered while he was engaged in battle? It was crucial to eliminate any potential threats beforehand.

With his plan set, Ryan wasted no time. He disembarked from his “raft” and made his way northwest. Soon, he reached the beach where he had last encountered the formidable silverback shark. He glanced at the spot where the shark had been, finding nothing now but seawater lapping against the rocks. A twinge of disappointment struck him as he considered his companion, Silver, who had yet to finish assimilating the “Red Obsidian Crystal.” The uncertainty of the outcome weighed on him momentarily.

Shaking off his concerns, Ryan surveyed the beach ahead. Compared to the southern stretch, this western area was rockier and dotted with towering coconut trees. The reefs, some as tall as two or three meters, provided ample hiding spots for beach crabs, promising a challenging search.

Resolved, Ryan began his patrol along the coastline. His plan was simple: to make a complete circuit of the area, which should allow him to clear out most of the active beach crabs lurking among the rocks and under the foliage.