Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: [Bloody Flintlock] and [Ring of Energy Resistance]
The moon shimmered softly, its light as gentle as water, while the waves glinted with a thousand sparkling flecks beneath it.

Ryan made his way to the bulwark.

Approaching, he noticed the knight, Cecilia, tucked into a shadowy alcove not far from Freni.

The moonlight draped her in silver, yet it could not mask the ashen strands of her hair.

“Miss Cecilia, is that you?!” Ryan exclaimed, his brows knitting together as concern shadowed his features.

Cecilia, known for her icy demeanor and vibrant youth, now seemed to have aged prematurely. Her face was unchanged, but Ryan could sense an unmistakable weariness suffusing her.

Something was terribly amiss.

Memories of Cecilia’s words during their last battle echoed in his mind: “If someone of higher rank observes, they might catch a glimpse of the ‘fixed point’ of the [Black Cage] in the real world…”

“I can attempt it, but it will leave me profoundly weakened…”

Her voice still lingered in his ears, yet the urgency of the moment had prevented him from dwelling on her meaning.

Now, as he reflected, the gravity and resolve behind her seemingly casual remarks struck him fully.

The panel’s indicators were clear: Cecilia’s status was only first level. Despite her abilities far outstripping her rank, her official level remained unchanged.

How then could she, ranked lower than the [Black Knight], accomplish feats reserved for those of higher status?

The answer was chillingly clear.

She must have sacrificed something extraordinary to boost her capabilities.

The unfamiliar aura surrounding Cecilia was not just a reflection of her new rank, it was the cost of her ascension.

Achieving a promotion is challenging under normal circumstances, but Cecilia has ascended more than just one level, a feat almost unheard of! The so-called “severe state of weakness” she mentioned is merely a euphemism. The true cost of her ascension is far more grievous than Ryan had initially imagined.

“Mr. Ryan, as you can see, Cecilia’s condition is dire,” Freni said, turning towards him. Her gaze was somber, her voice tinged with concern as the normally vibrant aura around her seemed dimmed. “Despite my best efforts with magic to contain it, I can only slow the ebbing of her vitality, not halt it.”

“The rise in ‘personality’ is fundamentally about shattering one’s former limitations to embrace a broader, more robust vessel,” she explained.

“In Cecilia’s case, she forcibly broke her old constraints without the proper preparations for a new form. She’s been left trying to patch together the fragments of her old self, but no matter how meticulously she repairs, it’s like a cracked vase trying to hold water.”

“So, before the ‘vase’ runs dry, we need to find a way to forge her a new one and replenish her life’s essence,” Freni concluded gravely.

“How long does she have? Is there anything I can do?” Ryan asked, his voice deep with urgency.

If not for Cecilia’s sacrifice, the fate of Freni, caught in the [Black Cage], would have been sealed by the [Black Knight]’s victory, likely death.

He had to acknowledge this debt of gratitude.

“Even with all my interventions, Cecilia has no more than a month left,” Freni replied, her tone steady but her eyes revealing a mix of sadness and resolve. “Our only hope now lies with the Whirlpool Islands.”

“The Moon Wolf, an exceedingly rare second-level creature, roams unpredictably. It might appear on the mainland or in some secluded spot, but one thing is clear: it possesses an immensely potent life force.”

“The Moon Wolf was conceived under lunar radiance, bathing in the essence of the moon itself, so its heart blood carries the extraordinary property of rejuvenating vitality,” Freni explained, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and urgency.

“Initially, my plan was merely to gather some Moon Wolf fur to serve as the primary component for a restorative potion. That way, we could avoid a direct confrontation with the beast.”

“However, given Cecilia’s dire state, our only viable option now is to hunt the Moon Wolf and extract its vital heart blood!”

“Cecilia can no longer engage in any action or exert her spiritual powers,” Freni continued, her tone turning somber, “Mr. Ryan, I must ask for your assistance.”

With these words, Freni fixed her gaze intently on Ryan, awaiting his commitment.

Ryan responded without a moment’s hesitation, bowing slightly in respect, “It would be my honor to assist.”

“Moreover, Lady Freni, I am indebted to you. Assisting you is not just my duty but also my privilege,” he added earnestly.

“No, the rule is to repay one good turn with another,” Freni corrected gently, shaking her head. “This venture is fraught with uncertainty and peril. I am grateful for your readiness to join me.”

Ryan remained silent, offering no further words.

The sea breeze stirred around them, and for a brief moment, all was quiet under the moonlit sky. Breaking the silence, Freni spoke again, “By the way, this is for you. I believe you might need it.”

She handed over two items. Ryan examined them closely, a bright red flintlock pistol and a jet-black ring.

Ryan recognized the pistol immediately, it was the very one wielded by the Lord in his final moments, an artifact he had faced previously. The ring, however, was unfamiliar to him.

“These are both rare items of lower level,” Freni clarified. “The pistol absorbs the user’s blood to unleash potent blasts, a relic from the Lord who fell by your blade. The ring, on the other hand, enhances the bearer’s resistance to energy attacks, a boon from the Black Knight.”

As Freni presented the items, Ryan listened to her explanation, though he had already gleaned deeper insights from the faintly glowing text that hovered beside each object.

——

[Low-level Rare Item: Bloody Flintlock – Harness your own vitality to fire devastating shots. Each trigger pull consumes one-tenth of your bloodstream to launch a bullet over a distance of up to 300 meters, with optimal accuracy within the first 100 meters. Those struck by these bloody bullets will suffer intense additional damage, along with a relentless bleeding effect that resists conventional medical treatment.]

[Contained within this curious artifact is a faint spiritual essence, capable of accelerating the restoration of the [Unnamed Ship Sculpture] when absorbed.]

——

[Low-level Rare Item: Ring of Energy Resistance – This ring reduces incoming energy-based attacks by 10%. Its protection is tiered: fully effective against level one energy attacks, 50% efficacy against level two, and utterly ineffective against level three.]

[This artifact also houses a subdued spiritual essence, which can enhance the repair speed of the [Unnamed Ship Sculpture] upon absorption.]

——

Ryan quietly accepted the two rare items from Freni, sliding the Ring of Energy Resistance onto the ring finger of his left hand. On his right, he paired it with the Ring of Black Eclipse. He secured the Bloody Flintlock at his waist, its holster a snug fit against his side.

Rings, he knew, could be worn in abundancen, one on each finger, if so desired. The only caveat was to avoid wearing rings with clashing magical properties, as their conflicting energies could lead to undesirable consequences.