I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 186

“Scree—eeech!”

The creature let out a scream mixed with physical and mental anguish as it lunged forward. Despite its considerable size, it moved with incredible speed. Ian could clearly see its four long, sharp front legs and the numerous centipede-like legs on its segmented body, all rippling as it moved.

It appeared that Ian still had some of his abilities partially active. And that wasn't all. He could also distinctly see the waves created by the chaos power flowing from the rift, as well as the monster's emanating thoughts and void magic. The various colored waves intertwined, breathing color into the black-and-white cave.

Am I really seeing this with my own eyes?

With that thought, Ian launched himself at the creature.

Shwaaaa—

The creature thrust one of its long front legs at him as if it had been waiting. Even in his heightened state of Concentration, it felt incredibly fast.

Ian’s posture lowered to the ground, imitating Charlotte's movements. Normally, this would be impossible, but it felt natural now.

Thud!

The creature's leg slashed diagonally over his head and embedded itself in the ground beside him. There was no explosion or dust; the ground was simply deeply gouged. Almost simultaneously, Ian kicked off the ground.

Kwakakaka—

His right hand sliced through the colorful waves, leaving a purple trail in the air. He could feel the chaos power composing his body slightly diminishing.

So there's a time limit.

There was no time to think deeply. The creature still had three more scythe-like legs on its upper body. A pair of long, curved legs like stag beetle horns protruded from where its upper body connected to its segmented torso.

Shwaa—

The three front legs came at him, each tracing a different arc. It had chosen offense over defense.

Almost simultaneously, a purple shimmer spread from Ian's entire body. It was the skill, Hunting Time. As his vision warped, all his senses heightened. He leaped again, twisting his body.

Shyeeeek—

His body narrowly slipped between the two legs, closing in from the sides. Stretching his hand, he slashed at the side of another descending leg. The blade-like claws on his fingertips cut through the armor-like exoskeleton with ease. He then kicked the back of the leg that had brushed past him with all his might. The creature's upper body shook, and Ian used the rebound to spring away, landing on the ground.

Kwakakaka—

Regaining his balance, he dug his fingers into the ground to slow down. Deep furrows in black and white gouged into the ground ahead of him.

This works?

Ian felt a sense of inward impression. All his movements had been almost instinctual. This sensation was entirely different from when he received the Blessing of Battle. It felt as if all his muscles and nervous system reconfigured themselves.

Fwoosh.

Then Ian kicked off with all his limbs simultaneously, shooting upward.

With a crushing sound, dark spines embedded themselves in the spot he had just vacated. The spines protruding around the creature's head had fired in succession.

Ian, twisting his body mid-air, landed against the approaching ceiling and immediately launched himself at the creature again. The purple mist rising from his body traced a long, straight line. The creature flailed its front legs spasmodically, but it couldn't match Ian's speed.

Crack—

Ian landed, rolling on the ground past the creature. In his grasp was part of the monster’s torso. It still had one of its long legs, resembling the forelegs of a mantis attached.

"Scree... screech!"

The creature screamed, having lost a leg. Yet, even amid its cry, its body, torn off with the leg, was regenerating at an incredible speed.

This creature isn’t as tough as it looks. Or maybe I’ve just gotten stronger...

The latter seemed more convincing. Just by glancing at the status window, he could see his stats had increased dramatically. Moreover, the creature was a void monster.

Even though it was just a minion separated from its main body, it should have felt much stronger than this. It could also be because the surrounding fluctuating waves did not affect him. Normally, he wouldn't have been able to grip the melting, bubbling torso so easily.

Could it be that I’ve become a void being too?

"Scre... aaaah—"

The creature's ear-splitting roar coincided with this realization. Ian, who was about to charge again, covered his face with his arm, blocking the ensuing wave of chaotic energy. The pressure pushed his body backward, but that was all.

Lowering his center of gravity to withstand it, Ian realized that the real problem wasn’t the monster but himself. The chaotic energy composing his body was depleting faster than expected, especially when he blocked the creature’s attacks.

What if my strength runs out before I kill it...?

There was no need to ponder. As soon as the pressure disappeared, Ian sprang forward like a rubber band. The creature, having roared and finished regenerating, thrust its long forelegs down repeatedly.

Crash—

Dodging between the falling blades, Ian leaped forward. With a swoosh, the air tore simultaneously from both sides of the creature. The long legs that had spread out to the sides were converging on his trajectory.

There's a possibility that his current body could recover its form, even if it was torn to pieces. Of course, he had no intention of testing that theory. Ian extended his left hand. Simultaneously, chaotic energy erupted from his entire body, blinding the creature. Its leg movements halted abruptly, and a fleeting confusion flashed in its red eyes, staring at Ian.

Swoosh—

Ian surged forward, thrusting his right hand into the creature. Its head sank into its body immediately after.

Crack!

Ian's right hand plunged into the center of the creature's torso, leaving only traces behind. He then drove his right hand deeper, alongside his already impaled left hand. Despite the sticky, molasses-like texture spreading, he couldn’t feel the creature’s head. As Ian frowned, remnants of chaotic energy flared from his entire body like flames.

Crack!

Cracks appeared in the creature’s hard carapace, splitting wide open. Ian, who had torn the creature’s body apart, stared at the black fluid-splattered insides. The head was nowhere to be seen. His grip on the severed section tightened.

Crack, splatter!

The upper half of the creature's body suffered a complete rip apart. Simultaneously, Ian kicked off the severed section, retreating. The creature’s forelegs were aiming at his back even as its upper body sagged.

“Screech... eeeek!”

A scream filled with clear pain followed. It came from beneath the broad body on the ground, not from the sagging upper half. While Ian somersaulted and landed, the creature lifted its long, centipede-like body. With the upper half split in two hanging loosely.

From the severed section, fluid continued to drip and evaporate. The creature's head, protruding unexpectedly from the segmented abdomen, oozed incessantly.

“Screech!”

The creature wailed, writhing its numerous legs.

Now, you too are under a time attack.

Ian wiped off the evaporating fluid from his arms, involuntarily curling his lips into a grin as he sprinted forward. Realizing that mental waves and chaos power had no effect, the monster ceased its screaming.

However, Ian had already reached the creature's torso. The front legs, dangling on either side, swung reflexively at him. Ian effortlessly dodged in midair, slicing off a leg with a swift swipe of his hand.

He was already becoming adept at using his new power. It wasn't the first time he had wielded a power unheard of before. He even wondered if he could use his original skills if he were in a corrupted state.

After all, his traits didn't seem deactivated, and the new skills he gained had abilities close to divine powers. However, they consumed chaos power at an astonishing rate. If he could wield something like dark magic, the battle would have been much easier.

I guess I'm still a half-measure even in this state...

Of course, this was just a hypothetical with no way to confirm. Even then, he continued the battle almost instinctively. By now, all the incessantly attacking front legs were severed or torn off, hanging limp.

The expression in its grotesque eyes changed completely to one of crisis. The legs, elongating like mutations, surged sideways like waves. Simultaneously, Ian lightly shook his left arm. The chaos power burst out, freezing the monster.

Are you going to run away through your backside next?

Ian intended to utter this as he glared at the approaching head. Instead, a growling noise emerged from his mouth. It seemed his oral structure wasn't suitable for speech anymore. However, it didn't matter.

Crunch!

The creature's head had nowhere left to escape. Ian's grip dug into its head. The sensation was like crushing dry tofu with his hand. Simultaneously, the creature's mouth opened wide, revealing multiple layers of teeth that extended forward like tentacles.

Startled, Ian dodged sideways, then pivoted like a pendulum and planted his feet on the creature's torso. His left hand gripped one side of its head while his right hand struck the other side forcefully. The gaping mouth began to close forcefully, trapping the tentacles inside, but Ian didn't care.

Crack—

Ian applied more force to his arms and legs. Ian applied more force to his arms and legs, causing his fingertips to dig deeper into the creature's head until he tore it off with a horrific sound. As he landed, he glanced down at the head in his grip. Despite being half-crushed, the creature was still alive. The remaining intact eyes wriggled like worms, emitting an incomprehensible mental wave.

What, begging for your life?

Ian tightened his grip, and the monster's head, already crushed, finally burst like a watermelon. The sensation oddly pleased him.

I’m pleased...?

While looking down at his hands covered in the creature's fluids and fragments, the headless torso collapsed to the ground a moment later. After one final twitch of its legs, it lost shape, melting into a gelatinous substance and simultaneously evaporating. Ian finally looked ahead again. His eyes saw the purple void magic thickly rising in the arena.

Is it over...? So, what now?

Before he could finish his thoughts, Ian's entire body pulsed. The shards of chaos resonated once more, and simultaneously, the chaotic energy composing his body began to surge as if ignited. Ian resigned himself to the change, simply allowing his body to adapt.

Purple hues swirled chaotically, soon bubbling up together.

Crack—

A pitch-black fissure spread through the midst of it. The darkness beyond the fissure rapidly expanded, engulfing his entire vision.

"...!"

Ian gasped as the musty scent of the cave filled his lungs. Pitch-black darkness surrounded him. He was back in the middle of the cave, and a quest completion window appeared in front of him. Ian lifted his upper body.

He felt the texture of the skull in his grip and the power contained within it. The ownership of this dark relic now belonged to him. As he gazed at the skull's eye sockets peering through the darkness, Ian frowned slightly.

The phrase "rift of the world" came to mind. He thought of the former owner of this artifact, the Vampire Empress, and the vision that accompanied her last moments. He suspected a connection between the fissure she had created and the phenomenon he just experienced.

Does this mean I have to endure such events every time I get a dark relic? And I have to fight as a void monster? What is the meaning of all this?

Ian clicked his tongue briefly. There were too many questions without answers. It had always been like this, but the parts related to the Corruption DLC were especially confusing.

Even in the strategy guides, this category attracted little interest. The fragmented information he knew was all discovered incidentally during gameplay. Despite his knowledge about the void, rift, and shards of chaos within him, he still had a lot more to learn.

I can't just directly ask the corrupted ones... Wait a minute. Can’t I?

Ian, who had hesitated, finally scratched his chin.