Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Red Tyrannosaurus!
As the disorienting interplay of light and shadow stabilized, Ryan found himself securely perched atop a raft gently bobbing in the Traveler’s Realm.

Glancing upwards, he observed the mast next to him, adorned with six trophies that radiated a soft, bronze luminescence, symbolizing the valor of those who had vanquished formidable prey.

“Without realizing it, I’ve bested six unique creatures,” Ryan mused with a hint of pride. “Just four more remain before I can unlock the powers of the [Azure Medal].”

With a contented smile, Ryan approached the campfire at the center of the raft and selected the option to teleport to [Campfire Point-Giant Tree Gap].

Upon reopening his eyes, he was greeted by an expanse of towering, verdant trees. The earthy scent of freshly moistened soil filled the air, indicating a recent rainfall in this ancient forest region.

After performing a series of stretches to limber up, Ryan slung his hefty sword over his shoulder and left the warmth of the campfire behind. The ground, slightly damp with last night’s rain and carpeted with fallen leaves, squelched softly under his boots as he ventured westward.

Over the past three days, Ryan had meticulously mapped out the likely lairs of various monsters in this dense forest, learning that much like in the natural world, formidable creatures staunchly defended their territories.

Any intruder was met with hostility, especially if it dared trespass into the domain of a “special species” a class of monsters that Ryan now sought out.

Initially, he had observed one such powerful beast from a safe distance, wisely choosing to retreat when he realized he was outmatched. However, after recent victories over the formidable Fire Monster Bird and the colossal Wild Boar King, his travel avatar had grown significantly stronger. Bolstered by these triumphs, Ryan felt ready to confront the creature once more.

Notably, the ancient forest lacked any special species ranked “lower one star” or “lower two stars,” meaning that the remaining creatures were all at least of “lower three stars” caliber. While none were as fearsome as the Male Fire Dragon Leader, they were still far more daunting than any he had previously faced.

As Ryan treaded cautiously through the thick foliage, dappled light filtered through the canopy above. After about half an hour, he reached the edge of a shallow basin. Here, the giant trees thinned out, and the underbrush showed signs of scorching, its edges charred black as if licked by flames.

The air, previously humid and cool, grew noticeably warmer here, the atmosphere drying as he delved deeper into this parched enclave of the forest.

Ryan’s expression was serene, yet his eyes sharpened as they caught sight of the immense footprints etched into the mud staggering two meters in length, a meter wide, and sunk deep enough to swallow more than ten centimeters of earth. The sheer size of these tracks painted a vivid picture of their creator’s massive form.

This behemoth was what Ryan was looking for for his next hunt.

He trailed the distinct impressions, their path leading him to a gigantic shadow foraging below in the basin.

The creature towered five meters at the shoulder, stretching nearly twenty meters in length, with a silhouette shape look like that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. However, unlike its prehistoric counterpart, this beast boasted no scales, its body cloaked instead in a layer of soft, pink fur. From its back to its tail, feather-like blue hair flourished, with only its limbs armored in bony shells.

Clutched in its jaws, a wild boar lay lifeless, the scene gruesomely underscored by the beast’s raw power.

[Red Tyrannosaurus: A bipedal dragon-beast with a colossal head and a jaws bristling with razor-sharp teeth. It possesses formidable jaw strength and a bone-crushing bite. Supported by powerful hind limbs and shorter forelimbs, it wields a tail capable of swatting aside sizeable predators. An internal fire sac, stoked by intense physical exertion, supercharges its fiery breath and overall vitality.]

You feel an overwhelming pressure!

Taking a deep breath, Ryan’s eyes gleamed with solemn resolve. The sheer aura emitted by this “lower three stars” beast dwarfed anything he’d encountered before.

Rather than launching an immediate assault, Ryan retreated silently into the thick forest several hundred meters away. There, he unslung the greatsword from his back and meticulously began to prepare “hole traps.”

Confronting a “lower three stars” level creature for the first time demanded nothing less than his utmost readiness.

After laboring for an hour to install three strategic traps, Ryan paused for a brief respite. Seated on a boulder, he meticulously cleaned the dust and grime from his blade, the [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower]. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned a thumb-sized, blue, translucent orb [Pure Water Crystal]. Instantly, a cool mist enveloped him, creating a moist microclimate within a three-meter radius.

With all his preparations in place, the hunt was now set to begin.

Ryan crept back to the basin’s edge, spotting from afar the Red Tyrannosaurus returning to its makeshift nest of twigs and fallen leaves, settling down for a rest.

“Ready for a nap?” Ryan whispered to himself, his steps light as he advanced with heightened caution.

If Ryan could land a solid hit on the red Tyrannosaurus before the skirmish start, the odds of a smoother battle would significantly increase.

However, as he stealthily approached within 30 meters of the seemingly slumbering beast, its nostrils twitched subtly. In an instant, the creature’s massive head shot up, its eyes snapping open to fix a menacing glare directly at Ryan’s position.

“I’ve been spotted! Such an acute sense of smell!” Ryan muttered, his face contorting in alarm as his muscles coiled into a defensive stance.

With a ferocious roar that seemed to shake the very air, the red Tyrannosaurus unfurled the wing-like sail on its back and stood fully erect on its thick, tree-trunk-like legs. Sparks flew from its jaws, igniting the dry underbrush and twigs around it into flickering flames.

Following its roar, the muscles in its legs visibly swelled, and in a shocking display of agility, the colossal dinosaur leapt skyward, closing the distance between itself and Ryan with terrifying speed. Its massive claws, each larger than a human body, sliced through the air, emitting a piercing screech that sent shivers down Ryan’s spine.

The sheer size of the Tyrannosaurus contrasted with its ability to vault so effortlessly was a stark reminder of the formidable “lower three stars” power level.

In the nick of time, Ryan dove to the side. His well-conditioned body allowed him to cover an impressive distance, but the shockwave from the dinosaur’s landing quickly caught up, throwing him off balance. Tumbling uncontrollably, he finally came to a harsh stop against a towering tree with a resounding “Bang!”

The impact caused the tree to shudder, and Ryan’s face drained of color as he caught his breath.

Through the settling dust, the red Tyrannosaurus Rex advanced menacingly, its wing sail fully extended, and it let out another thunderous roar.

“So powerful…” Ryan whispered, a flicker of excitement lighting up his eyes despite the daunting challenge. “But isn’t this what makes it thrilling?”

With resolve steeling his expression, Ryan clutched the hilt of his great sword and, instead of retreating, charged diractly towards the fearsome red Tyrannosaurus Rex, ready to face the beast head-on.

Ryan’s nimble steps swiftly arced as he darted forward, his pace blistering and direction ever-shifting. Each turn was done with fluid motion, barely skimming the ground, leaving little trace of his path.

The savage gaze of the red Tyrannosaurus fixated on him, its blood-red pupils gleaming with raw ferocity. As Ryan zigzagged, the beast’s monstrous head swiveled, tracking his every move with deadly precision.

The gap rapidly closed, dwindling to a mere five meters. In that moment, the colossal predator lunged.

A thunderous “Boom!” echoed as the earth quaked beneath the Tyrannosaurus’s assault. Its massive form surged forward, embodying the unstoppable force of an “Iron Mountain Lean,” shattering the ground into a network of spider-web cracks. The sheer speed of its charge, far exceeding Ryan’s expectations, disrupted his rhythmic advance.

Caught off guard yet unyielding, Ryan’s reaction was swift and sharp. With a practiced flourish, he drew his sword, positioning it defensively across his body at an angled stance.

The clash resounded like a bronze bell striking “Dang——!” Though Ryan’s slanted guard absorbed much of the impact, the residual force reverberated up his arms, numbing his grip. His boots carved a trench into the dirt, grinding to a halt only after several meters.

Facing the relentless Tyrannosaurus, which shook off the impact with predatory focus and readied itself for yet another strike, Ryan assessed the situation. His next move was clear, he turned and sprinted with renewed urgency.

The red behemoth, eyes burning with frustration at the fleeing “little ant,” roared vehemently. It thundered after him, its powerful legs pounding the earth with each stride, leaving deep, heavy imprints in the ground below as it dashed after Ryan again.