Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Changes in Whirlpool Islands!
While Ryan was busy in the traveling Realm, In the present world atop the central extinct volcano of Minin Island in the Whirlpool Islands, the cool moonlight draped a silvery veil over the landscape.

A lone gray wolf perched atop the rugged terrain, gazing contemplatively at the crescent moon suspended in the ink-black sky. The pirate lore of Whirlpool Islands held that a fortnight must pass before the moon would wax full once more, a rule seldom defied.

“An unexpected guest has arrived… but no matter,” a melodious female voice mused from the shadows, her tone laced with anticipation. “The stage is set, and the grand spectacle is about to unfold.”

“I’m truly eager to witness what comes next…”

As her voice trailed off, a mysterious transformation overtook the solitary wolf. Beginning at the crown of its head, its fur shifted from a muted gray to a luminous silver-white, morphing the unremarkable creature into a regal and majestic moon wolf. This stunning change marked the prelude to a night where common sense would be challenged and perhaps, overturned.

The majestic moon wolf threw back its head and unleashed a haunting howl that echoed across the island. From its sleek fur, countless silver light spots emerged, coalescing into an ethereal full moon with a chilling silver core and ominous blood-red fringes.

In the night sky, an eerie tableau formed with two moons, one waning crescent and one full, stained with blood. This surreal vision seized the attention of every soul on the island.

“What in the world is happening?!”

“Two moons? And one’s a blood-soaked full moon?”

“Mercy on us, it’s heralding sea monsters ashore!”

Pirates and island dwellers alike watched in mounting horror as creatures of the deep, usually confined to the murky waters near the coast, began to swarm onto the beaches under the malevolent glow of the blood moon. Their eyes glowed a fierce scarlet, and they attacked any living being in sight with frenzied savagery.

Panic ensued among the pirates as some within their ranks, overwhelmed by the moon’s influence, turned on their comrades. Their eyes, too, turned a deep blood red, and they gnashed and bit like wild beasts stripped of all human reasoning.

Those first affected were the weakest, physically frail pirates, while the stronger and healthier ones, though not fully succumbed, grappled with disorienting whispers that plagued their minds.

Even seasoned fighters felt the sinister pull of the blood moon’s light, their senses dulled and thoughts muddled.

Strangely, the phenomena seemed less intense closer to the center of Minin Island, prompting an instinctual migration of the pirates towards its relative safety.

The transformation had blindsided everyone, erupting without warning in the heart of the night.

At the headquarters of the three prominent second-level pirate groups, urgency took hold. A figure known among them as the seated Black Knight, flanked by his counterparts, burst through the doors, their forms bathed in an eerie, quiet bloody moonlight. Instantly, a protective aura of lavender light radiated from them, a spontaneous defense triggered by their “Demon Suppression Stones” in response to potent witchcraft nearby.

“Such formidable witch power?” The seated Black Knight’s voice carried a mix of awe and disbelief, his eyes narrowing beneath his mask.

“Impossible!”

The lavender glow was unmistakable proof of strong magical forces at work, activated only in the presence of significant witch power.

Despite their disbelief, the facts were undeniable. With a determined breath, the Black Knight left “Iron Eagle” Vladika trailing as he charged towards the source of the blood moon’s ascent.

As one of the twelve Black Knights, he was bound by duty to confront any witchcraft disturbances. And while this might delay his pursuit of the infamous Dark Moon Witch Freni, certain mysteries, like the one unfolding under the blood moon’s sinister light, demanded immediate attention.

On Tidal Island (North Island 1).

As the Black Knight’s figure receded into the distance, “One-Eyed” Santas withdrew his gaze, a thoughtful frown creasing his forehead. He hastened back to his quarters at the base, navigating through a sea of disoriented crew members from the “Cyclops Pirate Group.” Their eyes, tinged with a sinister red, stared blankly as they shuffled toward Minin Island, drawn by some unseen force.

Once inside his room, Santas initiated communication with the Dark Moon Witch through a unique method taught to him by Freni herself, the curse seal. This arcane technique allowed for the transmission of urgent news across great distances and was especially crucial now, with the Whirlpool Islands plunged into chaos.

After sending the message, Santas rubbed his temples vigorously, as if physically trying to expel the insidious whisperings that the blood moon instilled in his mind.

“Sure enough, my premonition was right. Something significant is stirring within the Whirlpool Islands…” His voice was laden with a mix of dread and awe.

Despite being a seasoned second-level elite professional, Santas found himself not immune to the moon’s effects. Even sequestered in his room, shielded from the direct glow of the blood-colored moonlight, he felt its invasive tendrils creeping into his psyche.

…

Ancient Forest.

Birds scattered in a frenzied exodus, filling the sky with their desperate cries.

Ryan’s expression was steely as he advanced step by measured step toward the female fire dragon. Both predator and prey moved deliberately toward each other, not running, but locked in a slow, tense approach that belied the lethal intentions each harbored.

The air was thick with palpable murderous intent, even as an eerie calm seemed to preside over the scene.

When they were only 30 meters apart, the female fire dragon made her move. She drew a deep breath, her chest swelling as she gathered energy, and a moment later, unleashed a colossal fireball that dwarfed Ryan in size.

The fireball blazed with a fierce red glow, scorching the earth in its wake, the grass wilting, then blackening under its intense heat.

Ryan could have easily sidestepped the attack, but he chose to face it head-on. Drawing his greatsword with a swift, practiced motion, he prepared to test his resilience against fire-based assaults.

As the blade cleared its scabbard, a surge of magical energy activated the [Sword Drawing Technique·Force], enhancing his damage output by 5% for the next 20 seconds and increasing the likelihood of stunning the enemy with a head strike.

Simultaneously, a dense water vapor enveloped him, bolstered by his [Umbrella Fire Scale Armor Set], [Fire Attribute Resistance lv.1], and [Attribute Resistance lv.1], giving him an impressive 9 points of fire attribute resistance. The [Pure Water Crystal] and [Energy Resistance Ring] further mitigated the fire’s potential damage.

What a formidable setup against fire attacks!

“Boom!”

The massive fireball collided with the [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower], exploding on impact. Flames enveloped Ryan, transforming him momentarily into a towering inferno.

Yet this spectacle was merely superficial.

Ryan steadied his stance as the first wave of attack cascaded towards him. The atmospheric veil of water vapor, his initial line of defense, systematically weakened the billowing flames. By the time the inferno reached him, it had been diminished to less than a third of its original fury.

Following closely was his second shield, the [Energy Resistance Ring]. This arcane accessory was designed to attenuate the impact of energy assaults by a fixed percentage. Specifically, it offered full protection against first-level energy attacks, halved the impact of second-level assaults, and was entirely ineffective against third-level onslaughts.

Ryan, however, was a novice in categorizing the prowess of adversaries he encountered in the travel lands compared to the ranked professionals. His experience had never extended beyond encountering a second-level professional. This gap in his experience left him unsure about the full extent of damage a higher-level professional could inflict.

Yet, there was no questioning the strength of the prime female fire dragon he now faced. Its formidable physique and sheer mass alone dwarfed any second-level professional. It was sensible to equate her power to that of a third-level professional.

Ordinarily, the [Energy Resistance Ring] would prove useless against a third-level professional’s fireball, like that hurled by the fire dragon. However, the preliminary dampening effect of the water vapor environment meant the fireball now possessed less than one-third of its initial power, reducing it below a third-level threat.

Consequently, the ring managed to mitigate some of the fireball’s diminished force.

The flames that finally licked at Ryan, further weakened by the [Energy Resistance Ring], were met with the robust [Umbrella Fire Scale Armor Set], crafted from the scales of the fire umbrella bird. This armor boasted an impressive nine-point resistance against fire attacks, a statistic whose practical implication Ryan could only vaguely comprehend.

Yet one thing was crystal clear to him: against the layered weakening of the dragon’s flames, all he felt was a mild warmth against his skin, there was no searing pain, no burns.

“Huh…” Ryan exhaled softly, his breath mingling with the residual heat.

With a swift motion, he swept his sword across, scattering the embers swirling around him. Sparks danced in the air as he lifted his gaze to meet the fire dragon’s. A faint smile played on his lips, tinged with the thrill of the imminent challenge.

“Let’s start our real battle!”

With those words, the ground beneath them trembled, sending a network of fine cracks across the battlefield. Propelling himself forward, Ryan covered the ground between them in rapid strides, his figure a blur.

The sudden charge caught the female fire dragon off-guard, prompting her to react defensively with a swift, sweeping flick of her massive tail.