I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 445

A harsh gust of gray magic erupted from Inaskurgl’s mane, causing Diana to flee without looking back.

"Come on!" Ian shouted, bracing himself. He needed to draw Inaskurgl’s attention back to him, keep it from following Diana—though perhaps the madness radiating from the creature was also driving him on.

Thump, thump—

The bead of chaos essence throbbed like a heart, neutralizing the waves of madness. But ever since Ian had gotten close to Inaskurgl, a heat had been building inside him, along with an inexplicable thirst and an overwhelming urge.

"Grrr!"

Inaskurgl’s blazing single eye immediately snapped back to Ian. The creature’s snout twisted for a moment before it charged. It contorted its upper body as it raised its sword-wielding right arm. Just like before, it was a wild, haphazard attack, far from efficient or formal.

Boom, boom, boom!

But even that was devastatingly destructive.

The magic-infused blade, tearing through the air, became vivid in Ian’s vision. So did the other fang-like sword in its left hand, following a similar trajectory. It was swinging both arms in the same direction simultaneously.

Swoosh—

Ian didn’t dodge. He instead raised his Platinum Barrier next to his face and brought his Light Sword down hard toward the incoming trajectory.

Clang, clang, clang!

The Light Sword and the fang-like sword collided, crossing paths. Sparks of brilliant yellow magic erupted dazzlingly.

As the magic in the Mantra circuit depleted at an incredible rate, the yellow magic blade cleaved through the colliding sword blades. The middle of the fang-like sword was cut diagonally. The severed upper part flew past Ian’s head, leaving a trail of gray.

Crack!

The remaining half, still attached to the hilt, scraped against the Platinum Barrier, scattering golden sparks. The yellow trajectory of the Light Sword was already bisecting the blade of the second incoming fang-like sword.

Boom—

As the shockwave engulfed him, Ian gritted his teeth and put more strength into his left arm. Inaskurgl, having swung both arms, was now charging into him without stopping.

Crash!

The creature slammed its shoulder against the Platinum Barrier. Even though Ian was prepared, the impact threw him back as if hit by a truck.

That ignorant beast!

Even as his lower body lifted off the ground and his breath caught in his throat, Ian held onto the hilt of the Light Sword even tighter. Beyond the large, black arm pressed against the Platinum Barrier, the archdemon’s red eyes flickered fiercely.

He was close enough that a simple shake and swing of his Light Sword would cut through it. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to kill the creature, but he would have enough time to cut off the remaining tail.

Ian bent his knees to regain his balance and then extended both legs, slamming them down.

Crack!

The impact shook him. Even though he was wearing plate boots that firmly secured his ankles and shins, he felt like his lower body was about to crumble. However, the speed only decreased slightly.

Thud, thud, thud.

Moreover, Inaskurgl’s single eye was still burning red. It clearly intended to keep pushing. It was an irrational act, but expecting rational judgment from that creature was laughable in the first place. Besides, its strength would likely give out first, causing it to collapse. What would follow after that was something he didn’t need to imagine in detail.

"---!" It was then that Inaskurgl let out a beastly roar.

An intangible pressure swept over Ian, along with the waves of madness contained within. For a moment, his vision blurred, but the resonating hum of the bead of chaos essence jolted his consciousness back.

Sh… it!

Cursing inwardly, Ian opened his status window and immediately raised his Strength and Agility several levels. Apparently, his belief that he was maintaining cold rationality was an illusion. This simple, impulsive decision was one that he wouldn’t normally make.

Crack—

But in any case, the effect was immediate. Ian’s backward momentum slowed rapidly. The tremor spreading from his legs to his entire body and the pressure on his left arm felt much more bearable.

Inaskurgl seemed to sense Ian’s change and growled. Immediately after that, the creature shook off the arm that had been pressing against the shield.

Ian didn’t bother trying to withstand that pressure.

Swoosh—

He simply spun around, letting himself be pushed back, and thrust the Light Sword toward the creature’s head.

Inaskurgl raised its swinging left arm almost simultaneously, an instinctive reaction. The chain-wrapped forearm met the yellow trajectory.

Clang!

Brilliant yellow sparks erupted dazzlingly. The chain, which had been unharmed by the Black Lion’s attacks, couldn’t seem to withstand the blade infused with dragon magic.

Ian continued to push the Light Sword down as he was pushed back, his feet touching the ground.

As he skidded backward in a spin and came to a stop, Inaskurgl’s diagonally severed forearm fell to the ground. The cut ends of the chains were burning red, like the creature’s flesh.

"---!" As Inaskurgl let out an enraged roar, Ian’s gaze briefly flicked toward the creature’s rear. Of course, it was just a fleeting glance.

He looked back up at Inaskurgl’s burning single eye and braced himself, effortlessly withstanding the pressure of the waves emanating from it.

Whoosh—

A faint purple haze enveloped him almost simultaneously. As the center of his pupils turned purple, he lowered the Light Sword and curled up one corner of his lip.

"----!" Inaskurgl roared even louder and charged.

"Next is the tail, you mutt," said Ian. Perhaps it was because of the chaos power mixed in, but his voice seemed to carry through the roar.

It swung its intact right arm like a whip. The creature still held the broken fang-like sword in its grip.

Boom!

This time, Ian didn’t dodge. He lowered his stance and stepped forward, bringing the Platinum Barrier in front of the incoming trajectory instead of the Light Sword.

Crack—

Ian slid sideways. His body didn’t twist as violently as before. The chaos power emanating from his body drew a purple trajectory. Inaskurgl’s arm, gripping the sword hilt, gradually slowed.

The two, sword and shield locked together, paused for a moment. Ian, looking up at Inaskurgl’s burning single eye, slightly shifted his gaze to the side.

Beyond Inaskurgl’s shoulder, the flickering dark blue shadow was clearly visible. It was Hyked, of course. The reason Ian had released chaos and engaged in a taunting clash in the first place was to prevent Inaskurgl from sensing that presence.

"Krrrk!"

And it was working very successfully so far. Inaskurgl, breathing heavily, raised its left arm. The severed forearm was regenerating at a speed incomparable to before, much slower. It hadn’t even formed a fist yet, but it seemed to intend to bludgeon Ian with it like a club.

However, Ian didn’t react at all.

Swoosh—

A pitch-black trajectory rose from behind the creature. Inaskurgl, as if finally sensing the presence, paused in its attempt to swing down its left arm.

The trajectory fell behind the creature almost simultaneously.

Crack, crack, crack!

Along with a familiar sound, Inaskurgl slightly raised its head. The creature, its eyes wide, froze. It almost looked like time had stopped for a moment. Even the twitching regeneration of its left arm paused, making it seem even more so.

Ian immediately understood what Hyked had cut off—Inaskurgl’s last tail.

I would have been grateful even for a lucky hit. To think he would also be so perceptive.

Thinking that, Ian shook off the sword blade pressing against the shield and stepped forward, swinging the Light Sword upward.

Swish!

The brilliantly rising trajectory cleaved through Inaskurgl’s forearm in an instant. Without stopping, Ian stepped closer and leaped up.

He retracted the Platinum Barrier and gripped the hilt of the Light Sword with both hands above his head. Pushing chaos power into the hilt, he brought both hands down with force.

Boom—

The brilliantly surging trajectory swept past Inaskurgl’s upper body. It was almost the same trajectory as the blow Hyked had landed on the creature earlier. But unlike then, the yellow blade didn’t stop once;it passed right through Inaskurgl’s flank.

Clang!

Landing with his sword swung diagonally, Ian didn’t stop and spun around. As he passed by Inaskurgl, he swung the Light Sword horizontally again in a wide arc.

Swish—

The large yellow trajectory traced a circle, sweeping across the archdemon’s legs. Ian, having finally stopped, with one knee on the ground, rolled away again.

Splash!

Almost simultaneously, black fluid gushed from Inaskurgl’s body, following the paths carved by the Light Sword. The severed lower body collapsed first, then the upper body slid down, sprawling backward.

From the severed edges, black fluid and chunks of internal organs poured out in a rush. Barely avoiding being drenched in the mess, Ian quickly stood up.

Turning back immediately, Ian took in the sight of Hyked standing a short distance away, though his gaze lingered only for a moment. Then, Ian turned back again and strode toward the fallen, dismembered archdemon.

"Grrr… Grrrr…." Inaskurgl, lying on its back and looking up at the sky, was gurgling and vomiting black fluid. Even in this state, it wasn’t dead—and that wasn’t all.

Whoosh!

As Ian approached, the creature suddenly raised its head to glare at him upside down. It swung its right arm, now only an elbow and below, in a surprise attack. But Ian wasn’t surprised in the slightest;he simply swung the Light Sword in a casual upward arc.

Swish—

Inaskurgl’s arm was severed again, leaving only the part below the shoulder. All that touched Ian was the splattering fluid.

"Krrrk!" Inaskurgl glared and scowled at the approaching Ian, even twitching its remaining body as if trying to rush him again. The other severed parts and the spilled chunks of internal organs were also twitching.

Ian stood beside the creature’s head. Inaskurgl’s glare, still burning, came from its single remaining eye. The socket where the sword had been lodged was now completely mangled. Whatever poison was on that blade, it was clearly a deadly toxin that could turn even an elephant into a pool of blood.

Swoosh—

Ian paused as he raised the Light Sword. The bead of chaos essence, which had been practically drooling for some time, resonated once more, as if asking permission to absorb Inaskurgl’s chaos while it was still alive.

Ian twitched an eye, his gaze suddenly turning toward the hazy mist in the distance. He saw the masked fairy standing there watching him, her expression complex as she looked at the dismembered Inaskurgl.

…A promise is a promise.

Thinking, Ian brought his right arm down.

Crack!

The long yellow trajectory severed the fallen archdemon’s neck completely.

A rumble, as if something was collapsing in the sky, echoed immediately after. At the same time, gray mist erupted from the archdemon’s severed body parts all at once.

Deactivating the Platinum Claw and returning the sword to his waist, Ian reached out his right hand toward the mist. He had decided against absorbing the chaos while the creature lived, but he hadn’t given up on it entirely. While not as efficient, he was able to absorb it from the mist.

Thump, thump.

The bead of chaos essence resonated, as if it had been waiting. It absorbed the chaos energy from the thick gray mist.

Feeling the chaos flowing into the essence bead, Ian looked back at Hyked, who was standing in the mist. Even though there was an agreement, it was still something precious. Yet Hyked’s gaze was calm and devoid of any greed.

Ian frowned slightly. The flow of chaos entering his body was slowing down.

As the essence bead emitted an ominous hum, Ian’s gaze suddenly shifted to the side. Through the settling mist, Inaskurgl’s headless upper body was twitching and swelling.

Crack—

Almost immediately, its ribs burst outward, tearing through the skin. As the skin ripped, a bulging mass pulsed between the ribs, a reddish glow forming a cross within it.

Ah, damn it.

Ian’s brow furrowed involuntarily. The moment his hand reached for the sword hilt at his waist, the surrounding mist churned violently, and a shockwave erupted, sweeping over him.

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