Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Freni’s Journey!
 

The specifics of Silver’s activities during his mysterious “monster-luring” escapade remained cloaked in secrecy. However, it was evident that his actions had ignited an unprecedented fury within the beast. Despite Silver having made his escape to the shore, the monster showed relentless pursuit, its rage unabated.

With a resounding “Splash!” that echoed through the air, the creature launched itself from the water onto the sandy beach.

Its appearance was a bizarre amalgamation of fish and predator, equipped with robust, scale-covered thighs and webbed toes that splayed out from four formidable feet. Instead of typical fins, the monster sported wing-like appendages on either side, streamlined for swift aquatic maneuvers. These wings, devoid of claws, featured expansive, thick membranes tailored for the sea.

Atop its back, three striking blue-gold fins spiked upwards, resembling regal spires, while smaller, similar spikes adorned its head, forming a crown-like array that signified its daunting presence.

“This creature can traverse land?!” Ryan gasped, his expression taut with alarm as he gazed up at the monstrous figure. The beast loomed nearly 20 meters in length, a size only slightly less imposing than the “Male Fire Dragon (Leader)” he had encountered in the forest.

Given its colossal stature, it was no wonder that Silver had sustained severe injuries and had been forced to flee.

As Ryan sharpened his focus, a gray text prompt materialized before his eyes:

——

[Water Fish Dragon: This formidable species, nearly rivaling the larger flying dragons in size, boasts shimmering blue and gold scales. Its streamlined, blade-like wings are not only adapted for reducing drag underwater but are also capable of brief aerial glides.

When exposed to air, the underbelly of the water fish dragon secretes a viscous liquid, enabling it to skid across surfaces. Beware, this secretion induces profound hypnotic effects in other creatures. Moreover, the water fish dragon possesses the ability to manipulate water currents as a method of attack. Caution is advised.

You are under immense pressure!]

“So powerful!”

This thought resonated through Ryan’s mind as he scanned the digital prompt detailing the strengths of the formidable creature before him. The sheer size of the water fish dragon alone set it apart from its lesser kin like the dragon head crab and the quiet thunder dragon. In the hierarchy of monstrous beings, while the latter could be classified as “lower one star”, the water fish dragon undoubtedly warranted a “lower two stars” rating, perhaps even higher.

Ryan had come to understand these classifications from his previous encounters with the “Male Fire Dragon (Leader)”, where “lower”, “one star”, and “two stars” served as simple metrics of comparative power.

Fortuitously, the panel didn’t display an “invincible” tag against the water fish dragon, suggesting that his current avatar, the travel clone, might stand a chance in combat.

Ryan exhaled deeply, his resolve hardening as he stared down the creature from his position near the shoreline. Gathering his courage, he bellowed provocatively, “Hey, you scaly freak! Over here!”

As he yelled, his left hand flashed an unmistakably offensive gesture towards the beast.

Though the water fish dragon couldn’t grasp human language, the universal insolence of Ryan’s gesture was not lost on it. Its eyes, initially fixed on the gleaming silver object behind Ryan, now bore into him with intensified fury.

Provoked beyond patience, the creature unfurled its massive legs and charged.

“Thud… Thud…”

Each step echoed ominously, the ground trembling under its massive weight.

Ryan’s gaze remained locked on the approaching behemoth, mentally measuring each moment as it neared the strategically placed “hole trap”.

“3…2…1…0!”

Perfectly timed, the water fish dragon, barreling forward in a straight line, stepped right onto the trap as Ryan’s countdown hit zero. Its right foot crashed through the fragile cover of dry branches.

“Crash!”

Unable to support the enormous weight, the branches splintered violently. The beast’s leg plunged through, throwing it off balance. It careened sideways, its colossal body crashing onto the beach with a ground-shaking “Boom!”

As sand and soil erupted into the air, Ryan recognized the prime opportunity unfolding before him.

He advanced boldly, positioning himself a mere meter from the head of the beleaguered water dragon. With a grunt, he hoisted his [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower] onto his shoulder, channeling his energy into the blade. Muscles tensed, veins protruded prominently, and his spirit roared within him like a tempest.

His recent breakthrough against the Black Knight had sharpened his abilities. Now, Ryan executed the [Storm Combat Skill-Breaking Waves] “One-stage charging” flawlessly, compressing what was once a cumbersome process into a mere two seconds.

Meanwhile, the colossal water dragon floundered on the ground, struggling vainly to right itself. The larger the beast, the harder the fall, and the ground recovery was notably challenging for a creature not native to land.

With a fierce cry of “Ha!” Ryan unleashed the charged power of his great sword. The blade descended with brutal force, crashing onto the water dragon’s skull with a resounding impact.

…

In an vast, peculiar space.

Freni gazed with intrigue at the curious cube before her, her attention soon captivated by the screen that flickered to life on its surface.

“What is this?”

“Island? Raft?”

She didn’t have to ponder long. On the screen, amidst the tranquil silence, a figure materialized on the raft. Sketched in abstract lines, it stood starkly against the detailed backdrop, its human form simplistic, devoid of discernible physical or facial features.

Freni watched as the figure disembarked from the raft and ventured west along the shoreline. Shortly thereafter, it encountered a bizarre shark, its body etched with a network of vivid light red veins, adding a surreal touch to the unfolding scene.

As the image froze, a series of text prompts sprang onto the screen.

[The “Beginner’s Heart” Traveler has teamed up with his battle ally, the Great Silver (Silverback Shark), to confront a formidable foe, the Water Fish Dragon.]

[Battle power comparison of the contenders: Traveler (21), Great Silver (19) vs. Water Fish Dragon (29)]

[You currently possess an initial stash of [Spirit Essence: 100]. Should your balance deplete to zero, you will receive 100 Spirit Essence daily as a starting fund. Place your bets on the battle’s outcome. Successful investments will yield a proportional [Spirit Essence] return based on the combat power disparity between the contestants.]

[Odds – Traveler vs. Water Fish Dragon: 2.0:1.1, with a minimum stake of 100 Spiritual Essence.]

[Spiritual Essence can be traded for valuable resources at the [Unnamed Bow]. Please wager judiciously as it is extremely valuable.]

[You have 30 seconds to place your bet. Failure to do so by the countdown’s end will result in exiting the [viewing area], and you may re-enter after midnight the following day.]

“What’s all this?” Freni murmured, her eyes widening as they caught the luminescent glow from the screen.

The countdown had begun. With little time to spare, Freni rapidly processed the information displayed. Having accessed this mystical [viewing place] through her family’s ancestral relic, she was now presented with the chance to “invest” in the unfolding battle. Winning would multiply her [Spiritual Essence], while a loss would mean forfeiting her stake.

While skeptical of the screen’s promises, Freni recognized the low risk of the gamble. Losing meant merely exiting the [viewing area], not a loss of personal assets.

Naturally, her competitive spirit nudged her towards victory. She was eager to discover the nature of these “precious resources.”

As the countdown ticked down, Freni quickly came to a decision.

“Bet on the water fish dragon!”

Given the combat power metrics and the betting odds, the Water Fish Dragon clearly held the advantage.

Though the potential gain in Spirit Essence was smaller with the water fish dragon, Freni opted for the safer bet on her initial foray.

“It’s settled then, Water Fish Dragon it is!”