Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Pure Water Crystal!
 

Ryan surveyed the the body of Silver who had consumed the dragon-headed giant crab he had once vanquished, the massive creature had undergone a spectacular transformation. From its original length of over seven meters, Silver had grown to a staggering ten meters.

While the colossal water fish dragon presented a daunting meal, Silver had a strategy. It began to methodically dismember the dragon, planning to drag it piece by piece into the sea for leisurely consumption. Such a feast wouldn’t be quick, but inevitably, every morsel would be devoured.

Post-consumption, it was clear that Silver’s prowess would ascend remarkably, a prime example of resource optimization at its finest.

“Let’s do it,” Ryan declared, his voice resonating with approval and anticipation.

Before allowing Silver to continue, Ryan intended to harvest materials from the water fish dragon. Scales, bones, teeth, and blood, all were meticulously collected. Given the dragon’s immense size, these materials were but a minor subtraction from its whole.

With effort, Ryan packed the last of these resources into his space ring. He then turned to the eagerly waiting Silver and smiled. “The rest is yours. Enjoy your meal,” he announced, granting the final go-ahead.

Silver, visibly thrilled, used his fins to glide over to the dragon’s carcass and began his feast with gusto. Despite lingering on land for extended periods, thanks to the evolution spurred by a swallowed “red crystal,” Silver showed no signs of distress or energy depletion. If only he had the means for swift land movement, he might as well thrive on shore.

Ryan shook his head, dismissing the thought, and focused on Silver’s feasting progress while checking his own stats.

Character Panel:

– Level: 7 (17% progress)

– Spirit Value: 7635→12635

– Spirit: 2.5

– Physique: 9.97→12.66

– Loot Acquired: Crimson Horn (Craftsmanship lv.1), Electric Needle (Attribute Resistance lv.1), Fish Dragon Heart Scale (Fire Attribute Resistance lv.1)

The data was indeed luxurious. The victory over the water fish dragon had elevated the Clone to a new level, boosting its physique to an astonishing 12.66!

Simultaneously, this enhancement reverberated back to Ryan’s main body, increasing his [Physique] from 3.09 to 3.43, a tangible testament to the symbiotic growth between the clone and the original.

Ryan’s self-preservation instincts kicked into high gear as his [Physique] soared to new heights. The ‘2.5’ displayed under [Spirit] now glimmered with an uncommon brilliance, starkly highlighting the disparity, it was now over four times greater than his spiritual strength.

With a sigh, Ryan acknowledged the imbalance. “This growing gap between physique and spirit… I need to find a way to balance these out,” he mused, though solutions eluded him.

His thoughts drifted to enhancing his compatibility with the [Pirate] skillset. Reflection brought him back to his last significant improvement, which had occurred amidst a fierce battle. He realized risk-taking was a key behavior aligning with the pirate archetype. Despite the panel’s warning of “unbeatable” against a second-level elite professional, his audacious attack had inadvertently boosted his compatibility.

Yet, the inherent danger of such recklessness weighed on him. “It’s too risky; it could be fatal,” he contemplated. Perhaps, this was a trial better suited for his traveling clone, which could endure extreme risks without threatening his primary existence.

Shifting his focus back to the present, Ryan’s gaze fell on Silver, and his eyes widened in shock. In mere minutes, the massive water fish dragon had been reduced to nothing but a bleached skeleton. The amount devoured seemed impossible for Silver’s size.

Ryan quipped in astonishment, “What do you have in there, a black hole?” as he approached the beast.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that while Silver’s size hadn’t changed significantly, the shimmering crimson lines adorning its body suggested profound alterations. It was clear he hadn’t really taken the time to observe Silver since its transformation.

[Red Obsidian Silverback Shark (Silver)]: Originally just an ordinary silverback shark, the ingestion of the “Red Obsidian Crystal” had transformed it into something extraordinary, a Red Obsidian Silverback Shark. The crystal had not only mutated its form but endowed its stomach with a unique eed obsidian organ. This new organ boasted formidable digestive capabilities, enabling Silver to convert food into special energy rapidly. This energy was then stored to support its growth, daily activities, and the emission of Red Obsidian Rays. Remarkably, this adaptation also allowed Silver to venture onto land for extended periods.

Ryan’s history of coming to it’s assistance had forged a deep bond of trust between them. Silver viewed him as a cherished ally, ready to leap to his aid in the gravest of dangers without a second thought.

Ryan stood silently on the beach, his eyes fixed on the prompt glowing softly before him. He glanced down at Silver, now stretched out lazily on the sand, seemingly content after its feast. A wave of complex emotions surged through him.

“…a friend you trust very much… even in life-threatening situations, it will help you… without hesitation…” Ryan read aloud softly, his voice tinged with wonder and introspection. “Is it really just because of that one time I helped you?”

He sighed gently, the weight of the bond between them settling in his chest. After a brief pause, he reached out and affectionately stroked Silver’s glistening head, whispering, “Go back to the sea after you’ve rested. And remember, if you ever need help again, just like this time, don’t hesitate to call on me.”

Silver blinked, its large eyes shimmering with a hint of understanding. It nodded slowly, then, with deliberate strokes of its fins, began its return to the welcoming embrace of the ocean.

Ryan watched Silver glide into the water, about to turn away, when suddenly, Silver started slapping the water’s surface energetically, as if trying to communicate. Puzzled, Ryan furrowed his brow. “Are you trying to tell me you’ve found somewhere special?”

At Ryan’s guess, Silver nodded vigorously, splashing with excitement.

With nothing pressing to hold him back, Ryan decided to indulge his curiosity. “Okay, then lead the way,” he said, a grin spreading across his face as he climbed onto Silver’s sturdy back, the sea breeze ruffling his hair.

This wasn’t his first time riding a shark, but it felt different now. Last time had been awkward, his balance unsure; but now, with his physique at a robust 12.66, Ryan felt a newfound stability and confidence that banished any previous embarrassment.

His smile was broad as Silver began to swim, but soon, as the water darkened with depth, his grin faltered. “Hey, hey, Silver, are you taking me into the deep sea?” he called out, a note of alarm creeping into his voice.

Though his traveler’s clone was strong, it was still fundamentally human, lacking the gills for underwater breathing. He could hold his breath for an extended period, but that was hardly a solution for deep-sea exploration.

In response, Silver offered no explanations, merely diving deeper into the azure depths with a determined thrust, pulling them both into the mysterious world below.

Trusting Silver implicitly, Ryan clung to the fin on Silver’s back, anchoring himself firmly against the pull of the ocean currents as they dove deeper. He initially tried to keep his eyes open, but the sting of the saltwater soon forced him to shut them, surrendering to the sensation of descent.

Several minutes passed, and Ryan felt a peculiar sensation, like passing through a thin, watery barrier. The surrounding seawater abruptly vanished. Tentatively, he opened his eyes and found himself in a breathtaking, waterless underwater cavern. The walls glowed with a soft, pale fluorescence, emanating from tiny, peculiar aquatic plants that adorned the cave’s ceiling, piercing the gloom with their ghostly light.

Ryan slid off Silver’s back and stared in awe at the spectacle before him. Silver winked knowingly, prompting Ryan to exclaim, “You’re telling me this was the water fish dragon’s lair?”

His curiosity piqued, Ryan mused aloud, “Interesting… there must be treasures hidden here, ripe for the taking.”

His love for uncovering hidden gems was well-known. He reminisced about how the “Pearl of Fertility,” was discovered by him in a beach crab’s nest, which had many times played a pivotal role in his adventures. Indeed, without those pearl, he might never have saved Silver, nor formed the bond that now tied them as companions.

With renewed enthusiasm, Ryan began his exploration of the lair. A faint fishy odor lingered in the air, and the ground was a patchwork of dried mucus, sand, and gravel, crunching softly underfoot like a neglected red carpet.

After a thorough search, his efforts were rewarded. Nestled deep within the lair, Ryan spotted a thumb-sized, round bead embedded in a raised stone platform. As he stood beside it, he could almost feel the dense moisture in the air swirling around him.

[Found [Pure Water Crystal]! ]

Ryan’s heart raced with excitement as he contemplated the possibilities of this new find, eager to uncover its properties and the secrets it might hold.