Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Great Sword Charge!
In the remote expanse of the Western Outer Area, on an isolated island lashed by fierce ocean winds, a massive fish adorned with striking blue-gold scales thrashed upon the sandy beach. It struggled valiantly to return to the safety of the sea, its scales shimmering under the relentless sun.

Above it, a warrior named Ryan, with steely determination etched across his features, raised his silver-blue great sword. The air hummed with energy as he executed a formidable technique known as the [Storm Sword Skill – Breaking Waves], charging the blade with a surge of power.

With a battle cry, Ryan brought the sword down “Head over!”

“Dang——!” The sound that erupted was not the expected squelch of flesh but the resounding clang of metal against an unbending surface.

The force of the impact reverberated through Ryan’s arms, nearly wrenching the great sword from his grasp. “Such a hard skull! Such hard scale armor!” he exclaimed, his brow furrowed in concentration, yet his heart steadied by the familiar rush of battle.

Ryan knew well the anatomy of the mythical water fish dragon; its skeletal structure was fortified to support its colossal size, tougher than most metals known to the mortal realms. Layers of armored scales and dense musculature made the beast nearly impervious to conventional weapons.

Yet Ryan wielded no ordinary blade. His [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower], enhanced by the mystical [Craftsmanship] skill, gleamed with an edge sharper than the finest low-tier exotic weapons.

Surveying the aftermath of his strike, Ryan noted the scales at the impact site had shattered, revealing the sinew and bone beneath. Despite the superficial damage, the dragon’s skull remained dauntingly intact, a testament to its extraordinary resilience.

Determined, Ryan understood he must focus his attacks on the same spot to penetrate the formidable defenses. As the dragon, dazed by the forceful blow, faltered and slumped into a temporary stupor, Ryan seized his chance.

Pivoting on his right foot, he swung the great sword back onto his shoulder, steeling himself for another round of [Storm Sword Skill]. His muscles tensed and his bones ached in protest, the toll of channeling such power was not insignificant, yet the thrill of challenge spurred him onward. Preparing to strike again, he drew upon every reserve of strength, his resolve as unyielding as the beast he faced.

Were it not for the mystical properties of the “Necklace of Fertility,” which continuously replenished his vitality, Ryan knew he could not sustain such exertions. As he poised for another assault, the seconds ticked by laboriously, one, two, three, each one stretching longer than before. He sensed the urgency as the charge period extended a second beyond the last, aware that the water dragon was moments from recovering from its dazed state.

With a fierce shout, “Ha!” Ryan summoned all his strength, channeling it from the ground up, through his legs, swirling around his core, and along his arms to converge within his great sword. His body’s force coiled like a twisted rope before unleashing violently.

His blade, gleaming a radiant silver-blue, struck true, landing precisely on the previous wound on the dragon’s skull. A resounding “Kacha” echoed as bones splintered under the blade, followed by a pained roar from the colossal beast.

Despite its formidable size and strength, the dragon couldn’t withstand two consecutive, devastating strikes. Weakened and disoriented, it staggered out of the sandy trap that had partially ensnared it, only to collapse heavily onto the ground with a thunderous crash.

Gasping for breath, “Huff… huff…” Ryan realized the golden opportunity before him, to rush forward and deliver a final, decapitating blow. But his limbs felt like lead; his reservoirs of strength were nearly drained, and he needed a moment to gather his energies.

But Ryan was not one to idly wait for his strength to return. His hand moved to the magical space ring on his finger, activating it with a thought. A flash of light preceded the materialization of a crimson flintlock pistol, which floated into his grasp. The gun was no ordinary weapon; tendrils resembling veins protruded from the handle, burrowing into his palm and drawing forth his blood with a ‘gurgling’ squirm that he felt distinctly. This vampiric weapon, after a brief moment of siphoning, was ready.

Aiming at the water dragon’s vulnerable eyes, he steadied his breath and pulled the trigger, “Bang!” The smell of gunpowder surged into his nostrils, a pungent reminder of the weapon’s ancient design.

The shot, fueled by his blood, launched a bright red bullet that zipped through the air. However, due to the unfamiliar weapon and the considerable distance, over ten meters, the bullet missed its mark, striking merely the scales adjacent to the dragon’s eye, leaving behind nothing more than a shallow, bloody puncture.

Though his shot had not hit its intended mark, Ryan felt only a tinge of disappointment. For his first attempt with the blood-flintlock pistol, merely executing the shot was an achievement. The critical aspect was that it caused injury, however minor.

The “bloody bullet” from the [Bloody Flintlock] was designed to inflict a continuous “bleeding” effect. Once it breached the scales of its target, the wound would ooze without cessation unless specifically treated. It was an insidious weapon, perfect for drawn-out confrontations.

This minor injury, a mere scratch near the eye, went unnoticed by the water fish dragon, its senses overwhelmed by the more pressing agony of its fractured skull.

Regaining its footing with a menacing glare, the beast fixed its baleful, red eyes on Ryan. At that moment, its entire focus, its full “hatred value,” was directed solely at him.

“Woo…” The dragon hissed deeply, a faint blood mist beginning to emanate from its body as its blue-gold scales shimmered with an ominous red hue.

“It’s not a ‘red transformation’, but something akin to ‘berserk’?” Ryan muttered under his breath, his instincts screaming caution. He readied his greatsword, adopting a defensive stance.

“Boom-boom-boom!” With three heavy steps, the behemoth lunged forward, its belly secreting a slick mucus that allowed it to slide across the sandy beach with alarming speed towards Ryan.

Ryan’s expression hardened. The distance was closing too quickly, the dragon’s massive body hurtling towards him at breakneck speed. There was no room for evasion through rolls or sidesteps; the only option was to brace for impact, though safety was far from guaranteed.

To attempt a direct block? Absurd. The sheer mass of the water dragon made such an endeavor as foolish as a mantis blocking a chariot. Ryan knew better than to try stopping the “fish dragon collision” head-on. His survival depended on agility and wit, not brute strength.

In the perilous moment between life and death, Ryan had no time for contemplation. With a desperate lunge, he threw himself to the side, hoping to evade the massive onslaught of the water fish dragon. Despite his efforts, the sheer size of the creature made a clean escape nearly impossible.

Just as the behemoth’s shadow loomed over him, threatening to engulf him completely, a brilliant red beam, sharp and precise as a laser, streaked from a distance and struck the water fish dragon. The unexpected intervention forced the giant creature to awkwardly shift its trajectory.

“Boom!”

Sand erupted around him as Ryan hit the ground, rolling awkwardly to avoid a direct hit. He barely missed being crushed under the colossal weight of the water fish dragon.

Scrambling to his feet and dusting off the impact, Ryan’s gaze quickly found Silver, the source of the lifesaving red laser. The dragon stood some distance away, its body visibly spent from the exertion. The once vivid red veins that traced its form had faded, signaling that such a powerful attack could not be repeated anytime soon.

Ryan, breathing heavily, half-knelt and steadied himself, his eyes fiercely locked on the water fish dragon. The beast, momentarily halted by the laser, regained its composure and retaliated. It reared up, majestic wings unfurling at its sides, its gaping maw opening ominously.

In the next breath, a deep blue torrent, charged with immense pressure, burst forth from its mouth, surging towards Ryan with relentless force.

Instinctively, Ryan positioned his greatsword in front of him as a shield. But even as he braced for impact, the high-pressure water jet arrived, hitting with a force that threatened to overwhelm all his defenses.