Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Facing Female Dragon Once Again!
Shadows danced as light shifted, and Ryan felt his falling consciousness steady into a tranquil equilibrium. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing the sight of a crackling bonfire, its orange and red flames leaping into the air as if trying to escape the earthly confines. Tiny sparks floated away, carried by the gentle whispers of the wind.

Before rising, Ryan paused to assess his current level.

—

[Level]: 9 (3% towards next level)

[Spiritual Value]: 32,635

[Spirituality]: 2.5

[Physique]: 20.71

[Loot]: Crimson Horn (Craftsmanship lv.1), Electric Needle (Attribute Resistance lv.1), Ichthyosaur Heart Scale (Fire Attribute Resistance lv.1), Fire Umbrella Crown (Concentration lv.1), Fire Monster Feather (Attack lv.1), Broken Giant Fang (Physical Strength lv.1), Red Fierce Fang (Concentration lv.1)

The system panel before him laid out his statistics with crisp clarity. Beside it, Ryan had amassed an array of six mystical items, each low-level but unique:

Weapons: [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower] (Melee Ice Attribute Attack), [Light Crossbow·Ice Crusher] (Long-range Ice Attribute Attack), [Bloody Flintlock] (Induces Bleeding)

Armor: [Umbrella Fire Scale Armor Set] (Enhances sword drawing and strength, boosts recovery speed)

Special Equipment: [Energy Resistance Ring] (Mitigates energy-based attacks), [Black Eclipse Ring] (Increases erosion, reduces defense)

His equipment was enviable, a testament to his adventures and battles.

Oh, and not to forget, nestled among his belongings were three special items: [Necklace of Fertility], [Sacred Relic · Azure Medal], and [Pure Water Crystal]. The necklace hastened his recovery from injuries, the sacred relic boosted his clone’s physique, and the crystal created a protective mist around him, dampening fire attacks and enhancing frost damage.

Now, with preparations complete, Ryan’s focus sharpened. The hunt for the male fire dragon leader was about to begin. Deep within his gaze burned a determination forged from countless defeats. The “mysterious fragment” this dragon possessed unlocked the door to a coveted secret profession, fueling Ryan’s obsession.

Despite numerous deaths at the dragon’s claws, an ordeal that left him with a haunting sense of despair and isolation, Ryan’s was now filled with a burning fire. A bitter enmity had grown between man and beast, each encounter stoking the flames of a vendetta.

Settling by the fire, Ryan stretched his hands towards the warmth. His figure seemed to merge with the flames, his body casting a myriad of sparks that scattered into the night, carried away by the wind, each one a bearer of his relentless spirit and impending confrontation.

[Campfire Point, Gap between Giant Trees]

Ryan rose, stepping away from the warmth of the campfire. As he ventured into the cool night, the earthy scent of damp soil filled his nostrils, invigorating him. His gaze drifted towards the habitat of the female fire dragon, and he paused, a hint of hesitation flickering in his eyes.

He mulled over a strategic dilemma: should he eliminate the female fire dragon before confronting the male fire dragon leader? His observations had revealed that the nests of the two dragons were markedly distant from each other. Neutralizing the female first would simplify the more challenging battle to come, eliminating any risk of her unexpected intervention.

Although the female had recently laid eggs and was less likely to leave them unguarded to aid the male, Ryan couldn’t shake off the nagging ‘what if.’ Deciding to minimize any variables, he resolved to target the female dragon first. Not only would this strategy reduce risks, but battling the weaker dragon could potentially level up his Traveler clone, bolstering his chances against the formidable male leader.

Moreover, engaging the female would serve as a practical rehearsal, acquainting him with the combat style of the flying dragon species.

With his plan set, Ryan sprung into action. He knew the location of the female’s nest, nestled atop a massive, bare-topped tree not far from the bonfire. After a half-hour trek, he stood in the cool shadow of the giant tree, surveying the area.

He didn’t rush. Instead, he meticulously began setting traps. His intelligence on the female indicated that though capable of flight, her wings were weaker than the male’s, making sustained air time unlikely. Ground traps would therefore be effective.

Ryan was experienced in crafting ‘hole traps,’ a tactic he’d refined over time. He swiftly dug three traps, spaced hundreds of meters apart. As he worked, his mind ran through the upcoming confrontation, planning each move with precision.

With the traps set, Ryan wiped the sweat and dirt from his brow and retreated to the shade of a nearby tree. There, he meticulously maintained his greatsword, ensuring it was in peak condition for the battle ahead. His preparations complete, he felt a surge of adrenaline. It was time to hunt.

Positioning himself strategically near the giant tree housing the female dragon’s nest, Ryan glanced upwards. A flick of his wrist activated his space ring, materializing his [Light Crossbow·Ice Crusher], its ice-blue body gleaming under the moonlight.

Ready at last, he steadied his breath, focusing intently on the task at hand. The hunt was about to begin.

Ryan deftly slotted an arrow into his Light Crossbow·Ice Crusher, the mechanism clicking softly as the weapon primed. With precise movements, he lifted the crossbow, the cool metal feeling solid in his grip. He aimed directly at the sprawling nest of the female fire dragon perched high in the giant tree, his eyes narrowing as he focused on his target. Without a moment’s hesitation, he squeezed the trigger.

“Bang—!”

The string of the crossbow vibrated fiercely, emitting a deep, resonant hum as the arrow soared through the air, trailing a brilliant arc of ice-blue. In the weeks leading up to this moment, Ryan had honed his marksmanship, determined not to repeat the mishaps of earlier misfires with his flintlock rifle. Though the mechanics of shooting a hand crossbow mirrored those of the rifle closely, Ryan’s robust physique allowed for rapid mastery. While not every shot was a guaranteed hit, the sheer size of the dragon’s nest offered a generous target.

The maximum effective range of the Light Crossbow·Ice Crusher was 300 meters, coincidentally the distance between Ryan and his target. At such a range, the arrow’s kinetic force diminished significantly upon impact, rendering direct damage minimal.

But Ryan’s true intention was not destruction but provocation.

As anticipated, the arrow struck the nest’s surface shallowly, penetrating only a few centimeters. The physical impact was negligible; however, the enchantment of frost spread rapidly across the nest, coating it in a thin layer of ice.

For the female fire dragon, a creature with an innate preference for warmth and an aversion to cold, this icy intrusion was an affront, especially in her heightened state of alertness post-egg-laying.

“Roar—!”

A thunderous roar erupted as the Green Queen unfurled her wings above the nest. Her mighty presence reverberated through the air, startling flocks of birds into chaotic flight, filling the sky with a flurry of panicked wings.

Her fiery gaze soon fixed on Ryan, the audacious hairless monkey standing boldly in the open.

The ice on her nest was a minor irritant, but to a protective mother, even a small threat was intolerable. With a powerful beat of her wings, the dragon descended majestically from her perch.

“Boom—!”

Her landing sent tremors through the ground, the sheer weight of her tens of tons body making the earth itself seem to shudder. Sunlight glinted off her dark green scales, each edged in shimmering gold, giving the appearance of formidable metallic armor.

With deliberate, heavy steps, she approached Ryan. When the distance closed to about 50 meters, her massive wings flared dramatically, and she issued another deafening roar.

“Roar!”

The force of her cry sent waves through the surrounding vegetation, flattening grass and violently rustling the trees. The air around Ryan vibrated with the raw power of her voice, a palpable pressure that could bend the will of any lesser creature.

Despite her recent parturition and relative weakness, the Female Dragon remained a formidable force in the ancient forest, second only to the male fire dragon leader. Even the mighty red tyrannosaurs would balk at her wrath.

The wind whipped through Ryan’s hair, fluttering the edges of his helmet. He gripped the hilt of his greatsword, readying himself as he faced the dragon with a steely resolve. The showdown between hunter and behemoth was imminent, and Ryan advanced with unwavering determination, the line between hunter and hunted blurring in the shadow of the ancient trees.

[Observation Area]

Freni, with a furrowed brow, adjusted the fluffy brim of her witch hat as she stared intently at the investment screen in front of her at the “Observation Deck.” Her fingers twitched nervously above the console.

[Encounter Notification: “Beginner” traveler confronts a formidable adversary, the female fire dragon. A clash is imminent.]

[Combat Strength Analysis: Traveler (30) vs. Female Fire Dragon (34, in weakened state)]

[Your Spirit Essence Holdings: 747]

[Investment Odds – Traveler vs. Female Fire Dragon: 4.0:1.8. Minimum bet: 100 Spirit Essence.]

[You have 30 seconds to place your bet…]

The countdown ticked away mercilessly, and as it reached the midpoint, Freni finally clenched her jaw and made her decision.

“I’ll stake 547 Spirit Essence on the Traveler, reserving only 200 for emergencies,” she declared, her voice a mix of determination and trepidation.

Freni knew the gamble was audacious, bordering on reckless. Yet, desperation edged her reasoning; she was resolute to ascend to the second level by dawn, no matter the cost. The bitter memory of losing 700 Spirit Essence to a deceitful maneuver by the “cursed Traveler” still stung, but it was a risk she was compelled to take for the promise of a stronger foundation.

“So, Traveler, this time, please fight with all your might!”

With her hands clasped tightly in front of her, Miss Witch whispered a silent prayer, hoping against hope that her gamble would pay off.