Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Ambush!
Ryan eyed the massive wild boar barreling toward him at breakneck speed, an juggernaut of the forest. Yet, his gaze remained unperturbed, as he watched on in the face of impending tumult.

Having contended with behemoths creatures of far greater ferocity, the swift charge of the boar struck him as trivial. To Ryan, its daunting rush seemed to unfold in languid slow motion, a cinematic spectacle devoid of real threat.

As the beast neared with earth-shaking force, Ryan pivoted gracefully, sidestepping the charge with the ease of a dancer. His hand moved to the hilt of his blade in a fluid motion, and with a deft flick, the sword whispered from its sheath.

“Bang!”

Metal met skull in a resounding clash. Ryan had opted for a blunt strike with the flat of his blade, channeling immense force without spilling blood. The impact sent the boar into a dazed tumble, its eyes rolling back as it collapsed and skidded to a halt against a sturdy tree.

With a satisfied smirk, Ryan sheathed his sword. Such foes were mere child’s play to him now, hardly worth the exertion of a lethal blow. Deliberately using the flat of his blade to avoid the mess of gore, he had nonetheless dealt a blow that likely turned the creature’s brain to mush, ensuring it was more dead than alive.

Disinterested in his fallen adversary, Ryan turned his attention to the disturbed earth from whence the boar had emerged. Stooping, he discovered a quaint anomaly, a small, white object nestled in the freshly dug soil, round and long.

“Huh?”

Interest piqued, Ryan cleared the surrounding dirt to unveil his find. The object, now clear of debris, prompted him into contemplative silence.

[Special Matsutake: A rare delicacy from the ancient forest, known for its aromatic scent and high nutritional value. It possesses restorative properties that can swiftly bolster vitality and mitigate effects of toxins.]

Ryan chuckled to himself, marveling at the irony. The mushroom, far from being poisonous, held detoxifying qualities. Despite never having been poisoned himself, he recalled warnings of the male fire dragon’s toxic spikes. This matsutake, though not a complete antidote, offered a form of resistance, a potential lifesaver in the untamed wilderness.

This fortuitous discovery buoyed his spirits. “Seems I ought to keep a keener eye on the forest,” he mused, placing the precious matsutake into his space ring to shield its potent fragrance from attracting other creatures.

Casting a final glance at the inert boar, Ryan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the unwitting harbinger of his good fortune.

If Ryan had known that the wild boar, which he now affectionately termed the “little cutie,” had the knack for unearthing [Special Matsutake], he would have spared its life at all costs.

As he resumed his quest through the dense forest, Ryan crossed paths with several more of these hefty wild boars. Observing that only two were engaged in the act of digging, he recalled the lesson learned from his previous encounter. This time, he chose to shoo them away rather than end their lives. His non-lethal approach paid off handsomely, yielding two additional [Special Matsutake], broadening his smile with each find.

Fortune continued to smile upon him. Amidst a thicket, he stumbled upon delicate traces of the elusive fire umbrella bird, a few light red feather scales tinged with dried blood, likely remnants from its recent skirmish with the quiet thunder dragon. The presence of these scales hinted that the bird’s nest might be nearby, spurring Ryan to intensify his search.

The trail grew richer with every step: spots of coagulated blood, tufts of light red fluff, and fern leaves singed by some intense, mysterious heat. The accumulating signs, coupled with a noticeable rise in the ambient temperature, confirmed he was on the right path.

After a diligent search, Ryan’s efforts culminated in the discovery of the fire umbrella bird’s nest. It was perched atop a robust, yet conspicuously stunted tree, its leaves withered, setting it apart from the towering giants surrounding it. The nest itself, crafted from an assortment of dry branches and vines, sat nestled about ten meters above ground, its interior littered with fluffs and scattered scales, a testament to its occupant’s fiery nature.

“Could it be out hunting?” Ryan pondered, piecing together the clues. Given the bird’s recent battle injuries, it would need ample sustenance to recover swiftly.

This realization offered Ryan a strategic advantage. He could set up an ambush well before the bird returned. Climbing to the crown of the stout tree, he surveyed the expansive nest. The floor, blanketed with an array of soft, large leaves, provided a perfect camouflage for someone of his build.

Envisioning the upcoming confrontation, Ryan imagined the scene unfolding spectacularly. He settled into his hiding spot, feeling the nest’s cool base beneath him, a clear indication that the bird had been absent for a long time and might return at any moment.

With this in mind, Ryan readied himself for the impending encounter, opting against setting any traps. Instead, he would rely on the element of surprise, poised for the moment the fire umbrella bird would unwittingly return to its sanctuary.

For the Fire Umbrella Bird, its nest was not just a refuge but a place it had a sense of deep familiarity of. The slightest alteration within this nest could trigger its keen senses, honed by a lifetime in the wild.

In the natural world, the instinct of vigilance is a survival tool not to be underestimated.

With this in mind, Ryan nestled under a large leaf, melding his presence into the shadows and textures of the nest. He waited, the minutes ticking by in silence.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes…

After about half an hour, the rustle of foliage and the crisp sound of flapping wings pierced the still air. Peering through a veil of leaves, Ryan spotted the majestic Fire Umbrella Bird. It soared with regal poise, its expansive red wings catching the light as it circled above before descending toward the nest.

As it neared its sanctuary, the bird scanned its surroundings with an almost palpable caution. Satisfied by the apparent safety, it settled onto the nest, directly above Ryan’s concealed form.

Beneath the leaf, Ryan’s muscles coiled like springs, tensed for the imminent confrontation.

As the bird’s talons touched down and its wings tucked in, Ryan seized the moment.

“Clang!”

His sword flashed from its sheath, the blade casting a silver-blue arc through the air. It sliced upwards, targeting the bird’s wings with surgical precision. However, due to his constrained posture, the attack lacked the full force Ryan intended. The blade struck, causing only superficial cracks across the bird’s feather scales without penetrating it flesh.

The ambush startled the Fire Umbrella Bird. It instinctively attempted to launch skyward, but before its wings could unfurl, a powerful sonic wave enveloped it.

[High-spirited War Roar] activated!

The bird’s eyes glazed over, its movements stalling as the disorienting roar took effect. Capitalizing on this lapse, Ryan, bolstered by the morale boost from his attack, readied himself for a more decisive strike.

Seconds ticked by as the bird’s clarity began to return. Ryan, now fully charged, bellowed, “Get down!”

His greatsword swung with all his might, connecting with a resounding “Crack!” where the wings met the body. Bone splintered under the force, feathers and scales erupted into the air, and a pained shriek tore from the bird’s beak as it was cleaved from its perch.

Blood spattered, painting a grim tableau as the Fire Umbrella Bird plummeted from its nest to the forest floor below.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ryan sprang into action, leaping down in pursuit of the wounded creature, determined to finish what he had started.