Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Dragon Ruby!
As the sun set over the ancient forest, the male fire dragon leader, powerful yet weary, made its cumbersome descent to the shore. Its vast wings, though impaired, unfurled with a majestic yet threatening air. One wing bore the scars of battle; tattered and unable to sustain flight, yet still formidable as a weapon.

On the opposite bank, Ryan emerged, his boots crunching the gravel underfoot as he was helped ashore by his steadfast ally, Silver. Observing the dragon, now grounded and visibly weakened, a surge of determination ignited within him. He understood the stakes, this was his moment, perhaps his only chance, to confront the beast whose reign of terror had shadowed the forest for ages.

As the dragon landed with a thud that echoed through the trees, its roar rippled across the water, a sound of defiance and decay. Despite its ragged appearance, the dragon’s eyes blazed with an unyielding fire, its spirit undiminished by its physical ailments. The dreaded “red flaming rage” seemed to have passed, its energy tail now dissolved into the ether, presenting Ryan a rare vulnerability in his formidable foe.

“Silver, keep your eyes peeled for an opening to strike with the red rays,” Ryan instructed, his voice steady despite the palpable tension.

Securing the greatsword strapped to his back, Ryan sprinted forward. Each step left a deep imprint in the soft earth, his speed building with the raw energy of his resolve. The dragon, sensing the impending threat, reared its head, pride and power resonant even in its diminished state. It would not cower, for its very nature forbade such disgrace.

As Ryan approached, the dragon unleashed a torrent of flames, a sweeping inferno that threatened to engulf everything in its path. But Ryan was resolute, his left arm shielded by wrist armor, his eyes just visible above it. He charged through the blazing tempest, his skin searing under the assault, the heat nearly unbearable. Yet, his [Ring of Energy Resistance] and his innate fire resistance tempered the flames’ wrath, allowing him to emerge scorched but alive on the other side.

Now facing the dragon’s vulnerable underbelly, Ryan could feel every sear of pain sharply, each one a stark reminder of the dragon’s lethal power. But no pain could deter him now. His body was scorched, the blood in his veins nearly evaporated, yet his spirit blazed brighter than ever.

With a grimace of resolve and the weight of his greatsword shifting on his shoulder, Ryan’s remaining spiritual energy surged. This was more than a fight for survival, it was a battle for the soul of the ancient forest.

The male fire dragon leader, its breath of flame momentarily spent, suddenly realized its foe had not been consumed by the fiery assault. Below its towering form, Ryan emerged from the inferno, his silhouette outlined against the lingering flames. A flicker of alarm crossed the dragon’s ancient eyes, a rare glimpse of vulnerability in the creature accustomed to dominance.

With a swift motion born of desperation and instinct, the dragon raised its massive claw, poised to strike horizontally at the tiny figure that dared challenge it. But fate had other plans.

From a distance, the calm waters reflected a sudden burst of red light, originating from silver’s mouth. The light coalesced into a tight beam of pure energy that surged forward, striking the dragon leader squarely on the forehead. The impact was monumental, forcing the dragon’s head to snap back with such force that splatters of red energy seared its eyes, hissing and bubbling upon contact.

Stunned by the assault, the dragon’s majestic head drooped, its will momentarily broken as it slipped into a dazed state of unconsciousness.

Ryan, who had been bracing for a deadly clash, witnessed the timely intervention. His heart surged with a mix of relief and triumph. “Well done, Silver!” he thought, his spirit buoyed by his ally’s precision.

With the dragon momentarily incapacitated, Ryan seized the moment. His every ounce of spirituality, strength, and resolve fused into the grip of his sword, the blade vibrating with an intense spiritual light that turned its silver-blue hue into a dazzling spectacle.

As the spiritual energy reached its zenith, a thick black fog unfurled from Ryan’s armor, shrouding the dragon’s fallen head in darkness. “Die!” Ryan bellowed, his voice raw and potent with the culmination of his fury and desperation.

He swung his greatsword with a warrior’s grace and a berserker’s strength. The blade arced through the air, trailing brilliant ice crystals before crashing down on the dragon’s head, targeting the weakened spots from his previous assaults. A resounding “Crack!” echoed as the blade met scales and bone, the impact amplified by the softening black mist.

The dragon’s eyes, clear for a brief moment, locked onto Ryan’s. In them flickered a recognition, perhaps of another who had once scarred it, a wound that had never fully healed. In that gaze was a mix of fury, pain, and a haunting acknowledgment of its looming demise.

As the mighty beast’s life ebbed, it let out a final, sorrowful cry that resonated through the forest, marking the end of its centuries-long reign.

Exhausted beyond measure, Ryan staggered, his vision darkening as he collapsed backward onto the earth, his body forming a stark ‘X’ against the scorched ground. The euphoria of leveling up washed over him, a warm current rejuvenating his battered body, whispering promises of strength renewed.

After a significant pause, Ryan could feel a hint of vigor seeping back into his weary limbs.

“The toll of this battle was truly immense this time,” he murmured to himself, a sigh of exhaustion escaping his lips. “Even the surge from leveling up hasn’t brought me back to full strength…”

Using his greatsword as a support, he slowly pushed himself up from the scorched earth, his gaze settling on the still form of the male fire dragon leader. The dragon might have fallen, but the air around it still thrummed with a residual power, an echo of the terror it once wielded over the forest.

As Ryan’s eyes scanned the vicinity, they caught the shimmer of an object near the dragon’s colossal body. It was a gem, jade-like in its smoothness, pulsing with a rich, bronze glow, an allure that was impossible to ignore.

[Discovery: [Loot: Male Fire Ruby]]!

[Loot: Male Fire Ruby]: A bronze-level trophy, a unique stone formed within the body of the male fire dragon leader. It resembles ruby in shape. Attached special skill [Destroyer Lv.1]: Enhances the weapon’s likelihood of damaging monster parts or the enemy’s weapons, protective gear, and other equipment.

“Excellent find!” Ryan exclaimed, a spark reigniting in his eyes as he read the description of the newly acquired loot.

The skill “Part Destruction” was invaluable in combat, particularly against formidable monsters. Ryan recalled how, at the battle’s onset, severing the tail of the male fire dragon leader had drastically reduced its combat effectiveness. This ruby, with its [Destroyer Lv.1] ability, promised to simplify such tasks, making it easier to ‘destroy parts’ of future adversaries.

Moreover, the thought of facing an enemy, equally matched in arms, only to watch their weapon shatter under the strain of his enhanced attacks brought a grim smile to Ryan’s face. “Imagine their shock when their defenses crumble like brittle stone,” he thought, reveling in the strategic advantage it would grant him.

Pocketing the [Loot: Male Fire Ruby] with care, Ryan approached the dragon’s body with renewed purpose. He was driven not only by personal vendetta but by a mission of greater significance, the retrieval of the “mysterious fragment” nestled within the beast. This fragment was crucial, the linchpin in his journey towards a hidden path profession.

Regrettably, the coveted fragment hadn’t emerged as effortlessly as the trophy. It lay concealed somewhere within the vast corpse of the fire dragon leader. Given the dragon’s immense size, finding it without guidance would be like searching for a pebble in a mountain range.

Thankfully, a prompt in gray font guided him: [The body of the male fire dragon leader: The fallen king of the ancient forest area, harbors a “mysterious fragment” within its heart.]

With this clue, Ryan steeled himself for the task ahead, ready to delve into the heart of the beast to unearth the key to his destiny.

Heart!

Ryan’s gaze sharpened as the word resonated within him, propelling him into immediate action. He approached the left side of the male fire dragon leader’s vast chest, his eyes drawn to a patch of scales lighter in color than the rest. It seemed different, marked by a past battle.

“Could this be the mark left by Loic, the former deputy leader of the seventh scout hunting group?” Ryan mused, touching the scar lightly. An odd sensation coursed through his fingers, not spiritual but something purer, an essence that felt like the raw fabric of the universe itself. He sensed this extraordinary power waning with the dragon’s demise.

Without hesitation, Ryan drew his greatsword and plunged it into the faded scar, using all his might to pry open a gap. His actions revealed the dragon’s internal complexities, a network of sinew and scale, until his fingers grasped something extraordinary.