Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Killing The Female Dragon!
The atmosphere was thick with the corrosive black mist and the chilling bite of frost, both conspiring to weaken the dragon’s scales. The dragon’s head, already tender from the frost, “softened” further under these harsh conditions.

Then, the greatsword descended with unstoppable force.

“Ka—”

The chilling sound of shattering skull filled the air.

The dragon’s struggles ceased abruptly. Its wide, draconic eyes reflected a mingling of shock and pain as it let out a shrill, agonized wail, sparks sputtering from the corners of its mouth. In its final moments, the dragon made a desperate, feeble attempt to crawl towards its nest, driven by some unfathomable, dying instinct.

Yet, the inexorable march of death cares little for the desires of the living.

The dragon managed only a few meters before the life faded from its eyes, which remained fixated on the nest, a poignant symbol of its unyielding maternal instinct.

“Huff… Huff…”

Ryan’s breath came in ragged gasps. The dual drain of spirituality and physical energy darkened his vision, nearly overwhelming him. Were it not for the rejuvenating warmth of a sudden upgrade coursing through him, he might have collapsed right there.

Near the female fire dragon’s neck, a distinct, dark green, nearly black crescent-shaped scale fell, casting a faint, bronze glow upon the ground. With considerable effort, Ryan staggered over and picked it up.

[Found [trophy: Female Fire Dragon Scale]]!

[Trophies: Female Fire Dragon Scale]: A bronze-level trophy, this is the scale of the female fire dragon. It is said dragons harbor a scale that incites their wrath when touched. Comes with an attached special skill [Fire Attribute Resistance lv.1]: Increases fire resistance by 3.

With the acquisition of [Trophies: Female Fire Dragon Scale], it synergized with [Trophies: Fish Dragon Heart Scale], elevating Ryan’s [Fire Attribute Resistance] to “lv.2”.

[Fire Attribute Resistance lv.2]: Fire Attribute Resistance +6!

After securing the [Trophies: Female Fire Dragon Scale], Ryan felt no urge to harvest any more from the dragon. He slung the greatsword over his back and started to make his way out of the area swiftly.

He was well aware that female fire dragons were not the sovereigns of this ancient forest.

True to his instincts, less than a minute after his departure, the forest echoed with a furious, thunderous dragon roar, both distant and ominously near.

At the echo of that thunderous roar, a chill of apprehension raced down Ryan’s spine. Although the warm current from his recent upgrade was gradually restoring his strength, he was far from his peak condition. Facing a male fire dragon now would likely result in a swift and ignominious retreat from these perilous woods.

With his heart pounding, Ryan darted beneath the expansive canopy of a giant tree, pushing his legs to move faster, not daring to cast even a glance backward.

…

[Bonfire Point-Giant Tree Gap].

Ryan, seated cross-legged beside the campfire, let the comforting warmth of the fire soothe his frayed nerves as he exhaled deeply, a momentary reprieve from the chaos.

The demise of the female fire dragon had incited a wrathful frenzy in the male fire dragon, the king of the forest. In his fury, the male unleashed a conflagration that scorched hundreds of square meters of forest into ash. The sheer power of his fire attacks made the female’s seem paltry in comparison.

Ryan considered himself fortunate for not lingering to scavenge from the female, choosing instead immediate escape. That decision had undoubtedly saved his life.

After its fiery rampage, the male fire dragon circled above for a while before descending into the nest of its fallen mate. Ryan, concealed in distant underbrush, watched this poignant scene unfold.

“Crackle…”

The sporadic pops of the campfire cast a ruddy glow on Ryan’s face as he chewed thoughtfully on a piece of “special matsutake” he had roasted over the flames, better safe than sorry with wild mushrooms.

As he awaited the full recovery of his physical and spiritual strength, Ryan mulled over the gains from his recent encounter. With the defeat of the female fire dragon, his traveling clone had ascended to level 10.

[Level]: 9 (3%) → 10 (1%)

[Spiritual Value]: 32635 → 52635

[Spirituality]: 2.5 (currently 0.5)

[Physique]: 20.71 → 26.63

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

The bounty from the female dragon had been exceptionally generous, catapulting him to the next level.

“Is it the unique nature of the ‘Dragon,’ or is there some sort of identity bonus at play here?” Ryan pondered, uncertain of the exact mechanics but grateful for the fortuitous outcome.

As his strength slowly returned, Ryan felt the tangible benefits of his increased level. Advancing further was becoming progressively challenging, but each new level brought significant enhancements that could not be overlooked. With a renewed sense of vitality and power, Ryan prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead, fortified by the growth he had achieved.

The further Ryan advanced, the more daunting the scale of growth became.

Reflecting on his recent battle, he mused that if he were to face the female fire dragon again, he might not even need to resort to the [Black Eclipse Ring]. A few well-placed “one-stage charging” heavy slashes could likely suffice. But that was just a speculative guess. Despite his increased power, taking on a formidable flying dragon like the female fire dragon would still pose a significant challenge. The limitations of human physiology meant relying heavily on weapons, armor, and tactical skills to stand a chance.

“Really strong…” Ryan muttered, rubbing his temples as he recalled the ferocity of the male fire dragon leader tearing through the forest. Confronting this apex predator required more than brute strength.

The true challenge lay in grounding the male fire dragon leader. Despite his enhanced physical abilities, which allowed him to leap over ten meters into the air, Ryan couldn’t fly. If the dragon chose to remain airborne, Ryan would be at a severe disadvantage, merely weathering its assaults until eventual defeat.

Therefore, conquering the male fire dragon leader boiled down to three key challenges:

First, finding a way to bring it down to earth.

Second, ensuring it remained grounded.

Third, maximizing his attack opportunities amidst its fiery onslaught.

With the female fire dragon vanquished, Ryan had nearly cleared the ancient forest of its unique creatures, save for the male leader. Any remaining special species were well hidden, unlikely to be uncovered soon. Ryan had hoped to defeat a couple more to bolster his confidence with the [Sacred Relic: Azure Medal], but that wasn’t an option now.

As the bonfire crackled, sending sparks spiraling into the night, Ryan formulated his strategy.

For the first challenge, he planned to exploit the dragon’s apparent sensitivity to spiritual sound waves. Both the female and the male were part of the flying dragon species, suggesting a similar vulnerability. At the right moment, using [High-spirited War Roar] could potentially bring the male dragon crashing down.

For the second, Ryan had a theory. The male fire dragon’s ability to fly was dependent on its robust wing membranes. If he could somehow damage these membranes, it would drastically limit the dragon’s mobility, keeping it earthbound.

Each idea formed a piece of the puzzle, building towards a strategy that Ryan hoped would lead to victory against the formidable male fire dragon leader.

Achieving such a feat is daunting. The wings of the male fire dragon leader are not only robust but also remarkably agile, designed to support a behemoth that weighs several tons aloft in the skies. To approach these wings is a perilous venture; a mere brush from them could be lethal, either ending in death or severe injury.

The execution of this daring strategy would need to be impeccably timed, decided in the throes of battle when the opportunity presents itself.

As for mitigating the intense flames of the male fire dragon leader, Ryan harbored the most confidence. While stopping the dragon from breathing fire was out of the question, he could significantly undermine the efficacy of the flames using the [Pure Water Crystal].

— [Pure Water Crystal: A rare artifact born in locales rich in water elements, this crystal is a concentration of pure water essences. It can serve as a potent ingredient in magical potions or, when placed strategically, can transform an area into a “pure water environment” conducive to evolving water elemental creatures.

While holding the [Pure Water Crystal], a dense “water vapor environment” forms within a three-meter radius (expanding up to thirty meters when stationary), stifling flames effectively. With skilled craftsmanship, its power could be enhanced further. Activation in the main body requires 10,000 spiritual points.]

—

The potential of the [Pure Water Crystal] to create a large water vapor rich environment is formidable, yet still not fully tapped. By strategically positioning the crystal ahead of time, Ryan could engineer a vast and potent “water vapor environment” on the battlefield.

With his enhanced resistance to fire, the fiery assaults from the male fire dragon leader would be significantly dampened, leveling the playing field.

These preparations represent the zenith of Ryan’s capabilities under the current circumstances.

With these plans outlined, the next step was clear: Ryan needed to scout the ideal location for this confrontation.

As time marched on, three hours slipped by in contemplation and planning.

Feeling his spiritual energy replenished, Ryan rose from his place at [Bonfire Point-Giant Tree Gap], ready to put his plans into motion. He left the warmth of the campfire behind, stepping into the cool, shadowy forest to seek out the perfect battleground for the looming duel.