Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Hidden Profession!
In the luminescent glow of the Viewing Place, Freni perched eagerly in front of the grand Viewing Platform, her fingers dancing rapidly over the holographic exchange list. The air buzzed with residual energy as the epic showdown between the Traveler and the formidable Male Fire Dragon Leader drew to a close, signaling the end of today’s spectacle on the screen.

Unperturbed, Freni’s attention was riveted on the figures before her. “7092 Spiritual Essence!” she exclaimed under her breath, her mind racing through the calculations. “Even if I redeem 29 First-level Spiritual Enhancement Crystals, ensuring Cecilia, Mr. Ryan, and myself each achieve the full 1.0 spiritual limit boost, we’ll still have 1292 Spiritual Essence to spare. Perfect for seeding our next adventure!”

With each number crunched, her excitement surged. Despite the battle’s heart-stopping moments that had her heart pounding erratically, the thrill of victory and the bounty it brought overshadowed her anxiety. Soon, as the Spiritual Essence diminished, she found herself clutching 29 shimmering First-order Spiritual Enhancement Crystals, feeling their satisfying heft in her arms. A giddy smile spread across her face, a tangible testament to their collective triumph.

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit Second Officer’s Room aboard the Black Rose, Ryan was emerging from a restorative slumber. The wooden bed creaked as he sat up, his gaze drifting to the old clock against the ship’s bulwark, it was just 5 a.m. “Plenty of time,” he murmured, a sense of achievement bubbling within him as he extended his palm to reveal a pitch-black, fragment.

For Ryan, the immense expenditure of “50,000 spiritual points” was a trivial concern compared to the exhilaration of embarking on a true profession. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his mind, reminding himself of the importance of equanimity at pivotal moments. “Stay calm, Ryan. This is crucial,” he coached himself, his focus sharpening.

Grasping the mysterious fragment tightly, he was greeted by the panel’s prompt: [Detected “mysterious fragment”. Employment conditions met ([Physique] ≥ 2.0, [Spirit] ≥ 1.0, no allegiance to god-level entities). Do you wish to initiate the first-level hidden path profession – [Original Sin Path] – Gluttony Hunter?]

“The employment conditions are daunting indeed,” Ryan reflected silently, acknowledging the rarity of achieving such physical and spiritual benchmarks without divine intervention or extraordinary circumstances.

Achieving a [Spirit] level of 1.0 seems an almost insurmountable feat. Normally, before one is formally appointed, their spiritual essence exists in a latent state, barely manifesting, typically hovering below 0.1. Only a minuscule number of souls might ever reach such a plateau, rendering this requirement nearly fantastical.

Yet, even this daunting challenge pales in comparison to the third condition: maintaining no faith in any god-level existence. In this world governed by the omnipresent [Golden Rule], such a state seems virtually unattainable. Everything and everyone is touched by its influence. And yes, [Golden Rule] is not just a divine presence; it arguably surpasses the gods in rank and authority.

These stringent conditions make Ryan an anomaly, the sole candidate seemingly preordained for this unique path.

Faced with the prompt on his panel, Ryan felt a resolute calm. “Yes,” he affirmed silently, his heart steady.

In response, the “mysterious fragment” in his hand pulsed with a deep, enigmatic light, enveloping his consciousness like a cosmic embrace. Visions of seven vibrant hues streamed before him, plunging into an abyss of eternal darkness, with him at the core of this spectral cascade.

It was a solitary descent, an indeterminate lapse that could have been a moment or an eternity.

When clarity returned, a new notification floated before him:

[[Original Sin] Path Occupation – Gluttony Hunter (Level 1), officially inaugurated!]

Ryan blinked away the remnants of that otherworldly vista. “What was that realm? That sensation?” he pondered, shaking his head as he returned his focus to the panel before him.

—

[Captain]: Ryan Leland

[Age]: 18 years

[Bloodline]: Descendant of the Vikings

[Title]: Son of Blood

[Talent]: Soul of the Other World

[Spirituality]: 2.8 — “Gluttony Hunter (First Order)” +1.5, Soul of the Other World +1.0, Feedback of the Traveling Avatar Occupation “Pirate (First Order)” 0.3

[Physique]: 9.46 — Base value 1.1 (Descendant of the Vikings +0.1), “Gluttony Hunter (First Order)” +1.5, Feedback of the Traveling Avatar 6.86

[Path Occupation]: Gluttony Hunter (First Order), Pirate (First Order) — Feedback of the Traveling Avatar

[Occupational Skills]:

— Gluttony Hunter (First Order): Food War, Gluttony Heart, Blood Hunt

— Pirate (First Order): High-spirited War Roar, One-handed Weapon Specialization, Water War Specialization

[Learning Skills]: Storm Swordsmanship (Mastered), Navigation (Introduction), Strange Items (Introduction)

—

A newfound power surged through Ryan, a raw force so intense he felt as though he could shatter the ship’s timbers with a mere flick of his wrist. A grin spread across his face as the reality of his transformation sank in.

“Is this the power of the hidden path profession?” he marveled, his voice a mix of awe and exhilaration.

“It’s indeed intoxicating…”

Ryan’s eyes widened in astonishment.

The initial enhancement from “Gluttony Hunter (First Order)” to both [Spirit] and [Physique] was a staggering 1.5; considerably more potent than the modest 1.0 boost from “Pirate (First Order).” This was merely the starting point. As his alignment with his profession deepened, the potential for growth seemed boundless.

Yet, these boosts to [Spirit] and [Physique] were just the foundation. The true might of the “Gluttony Hunter (First Order)” lay in the trio of unique professional skills bestowed upon initiation:

1. [Food War]: An exclusive skill of the Gluttony Hunter. This ability allows Ryan to consume the flesh and blood of his prey; whether raw or cooked and gain varying temporary combat advantages. These could range from enhanced basic attributes to special states, with the potency directly linked to the strength of the consumed creature. Impressively, the benefits of a meal were etched deep within his spirituality, allowing him to activate “Food War” at reduced effectiveness even without recent consumption. For full potency, he would need to feast again on the same creature.

2. [Gluttony Heart]: Another exclusive to the Gluttony Hunter. Ryan’s insatiable hunger was accompanied by an astounding digestive capacity. Not only could he absorb nutrients at a remarkable rate, but this rapid digestion significantly expedited his injury recovery. Each indulgence in “gluttony joy” after reaching a fullness of 100 not only provided permanent enhancements based on his diet but also increased his professional compatibility by 25%. After four such cycles, he could attempt to ascend in rank.

3. [Blood Hunter]: The third exclusive skill, transforming a chosen weapon (with the flexibility of changing this choice) into a blessed conduit of destruction, adding 20% damage. Any foe struck by this weapon would bear the indelible “Blood Hunter Mark” for hours, allowing Ryan to track and lock onto them effortlessly. Attacks against marked enemies received an additional damage boost of 10%. The duration of the mark, subtle and nearly undetectable to those not significantly more powerful, depended on a formula of rank and spiritual strength, making it a potent tool for sustained engagement.