Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Dragon Egg!
 

Sitting back on his heels next to the lifeless colossus, Ryan held the object aloft. It was a dark, diamond-shaped fragment, its origins and original form inscrutable, cloaked in mystery. The panel provided scant details:

[Mysterious Fragment: A part of an artifact, brimming with enigmatic energy. Possession of this item enables entry into a first-level hidden path profession—[Path of Original Sin]. Materialization to the main body requires 50,000 spiritual points.]

“Finally, I’ve claimed you!” Ryan’s voice trembled with excitement, his eyes alight with the thrill of victory and the anticipation of new beginnings.

It felt like divine intervention. Despite regularly sparring with seasoned professionals, his core had remained a ‘blank slate’, without a true profession. Now, the path to acquiring a hidden profession was clear, a secret path shielded from the prying eyes of ‘unknown existences’ and safe from the risks of assimilation that plagued others at the seventh level.

With utmost care, Ryan deposited the mysterious fragment into his space ring. He winced slightly at the thought of the cost, 50,000 spiritual points to integrate the fragment into his main body was a staggering sum, almost depleting the spiritual reserves he had painstakingly built up.

Turning his attention to the panel, Ryan reviewed his updated stats:

——

[Level]: 10 (1%) → 11 (1%)

[Spiritual Value]: 52635 → 82635

[Spirituality]: 2.5

[Physical Fitness]: 26.63 → 34.32

[Loot (9 pieces)]: 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 (Physical Fitness lv.1), Red Fierce Fang (Concentration lv.1), Female Fire Dragon Scale (Fire Attribute Resistance lv.1), Male Fire Ruby (Destruction King lv.1)

——

As he reviewed his inventory, a powerful surge of energy coursed through his body, a tangible sign of his newfound power and the adventures that lay ahead.

As Ryan’s Traveling Avatar ascended another level, the surge in his [Physical Fitness] was nothing short of dramatic, catapulting from 26.63 to an astounding 34.32. The newfound strength was so immense that it momentarily overwhelmed him, making him feel almost unmoored from his own body.

“This power… it’s like learning to walk all over again,” Ryan murmured to himself. Each upgrade marked a leap in his capabilities, but it also required him to recalibrate, to integrate this strength into his existing skills.

Turning to his loyal companion, Silver, Ryan expressed his gratitude. “Silver, the rest of this victory is yours. I couldn’t have done it without your help,” he said as they approached the tranquil shores. He crouched beside the water creature, his hand gently caressing Silver’s sleek head in a sincere gesture of thanks.

His haul from the male fire dragon leader was substantial, supplying him with ample materials for future forges. Yet, as the echelons of his adversaries escalated, Ryan noted that his trusty weapon, the [Great Sword·Ferocious Ice Flower], forged from the fangs of the ice tooth saber-tooth fish, was struggling to keep pace.

At that moment, Silver, ever the helpful ally, produced a thumb-sized, light blue round bead from his mouth. “[Pure Water Crystal]? You really outdid yourself, Silver,” Ryan exclaimed in delight.

The recent mountain torrent had unearthed the [Pure Water Crystal] he had buried nearby. Ryan had been concerned about retrieving such a small object in the vast waters, but Silver had preemptively solved that problem, presenting him with an unexpected gift.

Noticing the covetous look in Silver’s eyes, Ryan chuckled apologetically, “Sorry, my friend, you can’t eat this one. I need it a bit longer.”

Understanding the situation, Silver eyes dimmed slightly, resigning from its desire. Ryan’s heart softened at Silver’s obedient demeanor. An idea struck him, and his face lit up as he pulled out two glowing red crystals from his bag.

“These are from the cave under the cliff in the outer area. Remember these?” Ryan held them up, the [Red Crystals] glinting in the light. Previously, one of these crystals had enabled Silver to undergo a Red Crystal Evolution, distinct from the more volatile “Red Crystal Rage.”

Silver eyes sparkled with unmistakable eagerness as it nodded vigorously. “Looks like you could use more of these, huh?” Ryan said with a grin, tossing two of the crystals into Silver’s awaiting mouth. The evolution had rendered these crystals safe for Silver, eliminating any danger they once posed.

Curious about his companion’s adventures, Ryan casually inquired after swallowing the crystals, “By the way, how did you manage to get out of the inner area?”

Silver paused, clearly taken aback by the question. It then began a series of gestures and motions, which Ryan watched intently. Slowly, piece by piece, he pieced together the tale of Silver’s clever escape from the inner recesses of the ancient forest.

“You’re saying there’s a small tunnel beneath this island, and you traveled through it all the way to a large lake, where the mountain wall burst, washing you out into the open?” Ryan asked, piecing together the wild journey Silver had apparently undertaken.

Silver’s nod was vigorous, his excitement palpable as he confirmed Ryan’s summary.

“Hmm… What an unusual geological formation,” Ryan mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. The intricacies of the island’s natural structure eluded him, its creation a mystery wrapped in the chaotic forces of nature.

Deciding that some mysteries were better left unsolved for the moment, Ryan shifted his focus back to the immediate. “Well, nature has its reasons, far beyond what we might guess,” he concluded, letting the enigma of the island’s ecological network rest.

“Silver, you feast here; I need to check the deeper parts of the island,” Ryan instructed, pointing towards the remains of the male fire dragon leader. “Once you’re done, feel free to head out. The waters in the inner lake have likely receded. You should return to the sea.”

There was a momentary flash of reluctance in Silver’s large eyes, but the creature soon gave another enthusiastic nod, then bounded ashore towards the formidable remains of the male fire dragon leader.

Watching Silver tuck into his meal with gusto, Ryan couldn’t help but smile slightly. The male fire dragon leader, enhanced by the mysterious fragments, was more robust and larger than typical dragons of its kind. Dining on such a formidable creature would no doubt bolster Silver’s strength considerably.

With a last glance at his companion, Ryan turned and headed towards the heart of the island. The dual hunts of the female and male fire dragon leaders had drained him, and he longed for the solace of his ship and a well-deserved rest. Yet, there was one more task he needed to attend to before he could relax.

Pushing forward, Ryan soon found himself at the base of an extraordinarily thick tree. This colossal tree housed the nest of the female fire dragon at its summit.

With a grunt, he began his ascent. Ryan’s enhanced physical fitness made the climb seem almost trivial. The rough bark provided ample purchase, and he thought wryly that he could probably scale a smooth concrete wall just as easily with his bare fingers.

In no time, Ryan reached the top of the 200-meter tall giant tree. The nest was an elaborate construction of vines and large leaves, crafted with the meticulous care of a creature defending its progeny.

At the center of the nest, his attention was immediately captured by a massive dragon egg, almost half as tall as a man. Considering the size that dragon offspring could reach, the size of the egg seemed almost reasonable. Yet, the sight of it was still awe-inspiring, a stark reminder of the cycle of life that persisted even in this remote, mystical place.

Amid the sprawling branches of the towering tree, Ryan marveled at the sheer size of the nest that cradled a solitary dragon egg. The enormity of the nest stood in stark contrast to its lone occupant, a single egg, a poignant reminder of the harsh reproductive realities even among formidable creatures.

As Ryan stepped closer, a gray panel materialized before his eyes, offering an explanation that deepened the scene’s gravity:

——

[Fire Dragon Egg: A symbol of the union between the male and female fire dragons, embodying the continuation of their lineage. Affected by the imminent ‘Red Sun Day’, this egg underwent a ‘Red Sun Evolution’ from the outset. However, lacking sufficient ‘Red Sun Energy’, the embryonic life within teeters on the brink of extinction.

In a desperate bid to save its offspring, the male fire dragon leader hunted relentlessly, striving to absorb more Red Sun Energy. Regrettably, without completing its own ‘Red Sun Evolution’, the energy it amassed was too impure to sustain the fledgling life within the egg.

It is on the verge of perishing.]

——

Ryan paused, the information sinking in. “Red Sun Evolution?” he muttered, recalling the similar transformation he had witnessed in Silver, though under vastly different circumstances. Silver’s evolution, sparked by the rare [Red Sun Crystal], contrasted starkly with the natural but troubled process unfolding within the egg.

A thought struck him, could the [Red Sun Crystal] he possessed offer a solution? Silver’s remarkable growth post-evolution was testament enough to the crystal’s potent, life-sustaining energies.

Without hesitation, Ryan retrieved a [Red Crystal] from his stash and gently placed it beside the endangered egg. Almost immediately, the inert shell began to respond. The crystal’s vibrant energy seeped into the egg, visible even to the naked eye, reviving the dwindling life force within.

The display on the panel shifted encouragingly from “It is about to die” to “The little life in the egg is being nurtured.”

“It actually works!” Ryan exclaimed, a mix of relief and astonishment in his voice. He felt a surge of gratitude for his earlier decision to reserve some crystals. If he had given all to Silver, the fate of this dragon egg would have been sealed in tragedy.

Yet, as the egg’s surface pulsed with a steady, rhythmic glow, Ryan found himself grappling with a new dilemma. “Now, what do I do with you?” he pondered aloud, staring at the revitalized egg. The rhythmic glow of the shell, reminiscent of a heartbeat, posed a new set of questions and responsibilities that Ryan hadn’t anticipated. He rubbed his temple, contemplating the implications of nurturing a creature born of such rare and powerful lineage.