I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 576

Swoosh—

The wind propelled Ian forward. The warmth vanished in an instant, and his vision darkened as he left the brazier’s area of influence.

Screech—

As monstrous screams and explosions echoed around him, Ian’s gaze remained fixed on the raging sea below. More specifically, on the large, crimson shape rapidly approaching beneath the surface.

A whale? No, a shark?

Four shimmering lights served as its eyes. Its long, streamlined body glowed with a crimson light that looked like spreading cracks. It wasn't hard to guess that its hide would be incredibly tough. He could only make out its shape because it wasn't swimming too deep;a crimson dorsal fin was already cutting through the waves up ahead.

It might be bigger than me when it fully emerges.

The thought was fleeting, lasting only as long as it took to raise his right hand. A halo of light spread from his grip, engulfing the bright yellow blade of his sword.

Swoosh—

Ian bent forward with all his might and brought the sword down. The swirling wind shot out from the blade in a sharp blast. The divinity-infused arc cut through the crimson-tinged surface of the sea.

Fwoosh—

The waters parted as if plowed apart, torrents rising on either side. Beneath them, the vast crimson creature revealed itself, the golden arc carving a slanted line straight across its center.

Crack!

A deep yellow gash was also carved into its protruding dorsal fin.

At almost the same moment Ian completed his swing, his momentum slowed abruptly. The rope, secured to his groin and waist and trailing behind him, had pulled taut.

Damn, I would’ve been in real trouble if I’d only wrapped this around my waist.

He winced at the ache biting into his side, but forced his bent body to snap backward. Spreading his right hand, he swung the blazing sword in a sharp arc, seizing it again with his will as if grasping it with an invisible palm.

Splurt—

Crimson-tinged blood erupted from the gash on the sea beast’s back, mixing with the crashing waves. Almost simultaneously, Ian moved powerfully forward again.

Whoosh!

Like a stretched rubber band being released, Ian shot downward. His billowing hooded cloak left a long red arc in the air as he plummeted toward the dark crimson waves.

Swish!

Even as a jarring impact shot through him, Ian pressed down on the Light Sword in his hand. The feeling of cutting through mud traveled up the hilt just as his head sank fully beneath the waves. The seawater felt lukewarm, likely due to the monster’s blood.

Thump… Thump…

The fragments of chaos within him throbbed with a resonant hum, echoing through him. Gripping the end of the hilt with his left hand, Ian pushed the blade all the way in and opened his eyes. Beyond the Platinum Barrier, which held its shape even underwater, his eyes glowed with an ashen light.

Zing—

A muffled vibration and explosion spread from beyond the beast, which was pressed against his feet and knees. It was the Vacuum Explosion, channeled through the blade of his Truesilver Steel Sword. A moment later, a hot gush of blood mixed with a foul stench erupted. Even though he held his breath, the stench of blood filled his senses.

Just as Ian’s brow twisted faintly, a crushing pressure surged up from beneath his feet, clamping down on him.

Fwoosh—

He shot up from the surface of the water. The sea beast had leaped from the sea in a convulsive fit.

"----!"

A tearing scream followed. The sea beast’s jaws split open into a grotesque double maw, gaping wider and wider. Inside, row upon row of dagger-thick teeth jutted out like ivory stakes.

It was a sight impossible for Ian, perched on the back of its head, to see, not that he cared to.

If anything, I should be grateful. It saved me the trouble of getting out of the water.

He pulled out his Light Sword and kicked off the beast’s back. He noticed the creature was fatally wounded and was already tilting to the side as it leaped.

It wasn't surprising. The Platinum Claws had instantly carved straight through its tough hide and layers of fat, sinking deep. The Vacuum Explosion unleashed along the blade must have ripped its insides to shreds, and the divinity of the Blessing of Light had surely scattered through it as well.

Swoosh—

As Ian shot upward, tracing a red arc through the air, the shark-like beast beneath him rolled onto its side, crimson-stained blood spraying from the wound across its back. Its path carried it diagonally past the Black Wave—though Ian no longer spared it a glance.

That one must be the whale.

His eyes were scanning the haphazard crimson trajectories behind the falling beast. The one approaching from the far left, cutting through the waves, was the fastest. The vicious face of a mutated orca, as if covered in thick armor, was briefly visible between the waves. Perhaps creatures like that were the fastest.

Fwoosh—

A great spray of water erupted as the tilting beast crashed into the sea. At almost the same time, Ian jerked to a stop. The rope, extending from beneath his cloak, had pulled taut, catching him.

Rumble…

Ian, already braced for the impact, didn't even let out a breath. The spell he had cast was, of course, still perfectly intact.

A little more.

As the taut rope pulled him back, Ian’s gaze remained fixed on the whale-like sea beast cutting through the waves. Only a few seconds passed before he dismissed the Platinum Barrier and thrust his left arm outward, cloak flaring wildly.

Fwoosh!

Whirlwind erupted, pushing his backward-moving body forward again. The slackened rope shot out once more as Ian cut through the falling spray. The glowing halo of light once again enveloped the bright yellow arc of his Light Sword.

"-----!"

As if spotting him shooting toward it like an arrow, the beast let out a deafening scream and shot up to meet him.

Its crimson-flickering face contorted with malice, its double maw splitting wider and wider. Beneath the blazing eyes, layer upon layer of saw-like fangs jutted out, ready to swallow him whole. Staring at the teeth that lined even the roof of its mouth, Ian swung his outstretched right hand sideways.

Crack.

The golden arc of Lu Solar’s divinity ripped through the beast’s yawning jaws, tearing them open even wider. The severed flesh burned where the light touched, splitting further apart.

Just then, Ian bent slightly forward. A dull, scream-like sound came from the taut rope as it tightened around his waist and groin.

Creak… Whoosh—

He was yanked backward, flung away as if sucked by a violent force. The beast’s tearing maw snapped shut on empty air, a mangled scream escaping instead.

My ears are going to burst.

Despite the thought, Ian cast another Whirlwind spell, this time thrusting his left arm forward instead of back.

Fwoosh—

The sea beast, now plummeting toward the water, rapidly grew distant. The warped lower jaw smashed against the surface and split apart completely.

It won’t be able to follow in that state.

Taking in the erupting spray of water, Ian kicked and spun around. The ship’s hull was already getting closer.

Thump.

Both of his boots slammed against the planks of the stern, the impact shuddering through him as his cloak whipped upward, the rope still clutched in its folds like a spring.

Thwack—

Reaching up with his left arm, Ian grabbed the underside of the railing. He pulled himself up, vaulting over the railing just as the shock of his landing had almost faded.

—Impressive. That was fun to watch.

As he landed on the railing and precariously found his balance, Yog whispered with a laugh.

Of course. To you, this must be entertaining.

Cursing inwardly, Ian shifted his Light Sword forward. A moment ago, he had almost accidentally stabbed the hull with the blade. One hole wouldn't sink the ship, but he still needed to be careful.

How the hell did they clear this in the game?

Even as he nudged the rope dangling between his legs behind him, Ian’s eyes scanned the roiling sea. This time, the crimson swells rushing toward him didn’t belong to just one beast. Dozens of them beat the water in a frenzy, forming a single monstrous school.

Behind them, other sea beasts similar to the ones he had just killed followed at a distance. As Ian mapped out the order and path of his attack, Yog’s nonchalant whisper came again.

—Just a friendly heads-up, those aren’t the only ones you should be worried about.

The creature chuckled briefly.

—I think those guys are heading this way.

Ian’s brow narrowed as he looked to the front-left. Beyond the violently churning waves, a blue ship, approaching at a diagonal, finally came into view. It was still quite far, but it was clearly heading toward them.

Swoosh— Boom!

Blue flashes and spells flared from its stern, tearing through the air. Ian’s eyes sank as he caught sight of its sails, widespread and riddled with holes.

Are they trying to ram us?

That was the only explanation of its trajectory. Either they hadn’t forgotten their grudge even in this situation, or they planned to swerve at the last second and throw this ship as bait. Either way, there was nothing he could do about it for now.

Clack—

He had other enemies to deal with first. Clicking his tongue, Ian turned his gaze and kicked off the railing, throwing himself into the air once more, shrouding himself in Wind Blade.

Ruuuumble—

The school of sea beasts, leaping from the water like a swarm of sardines, drew closer. Of course, each was as large as a grown man, with a pointed maw full of sharp teeth. From a distance, one might have mistaken the swarm for a single, massive sea beast.

That’s probably the point.

The thought flickered half-instinctively through his mind. He flared the Platinum Barrier around his left arm and swung the sword in his right hand.

Slice—

The bright yellow arc cut through the man-eating fish as they leaped toward him. Unlike the great beasts before, these were cut apart in a single stroke.

This, at least, is a familiar style.

Feeling the clean resistance of flesh parting like soft tofu, Ian swung the blade without hesitation. There were far too many of them to cut down with a single sword, but that didn’t matter.

Crash—

The bladed edge of the Platinum Barrier was as sharp as any sword. As he swung the Light Sword he had pulled back, Ian also thrust out the Platinum Barrier on his left arm, embedding it deep in the maw of a creature lunging at him from the side.

Crunch!

The creature, impaled and writhing on the shield's edge, was flung away by his Willful Grasp. Even then, Ian didn't stop swinging his sword, cutting down anything that blocked his path. He occasionally used the creatures leaping from below as springboards to launch himself into the air again.

Crash, slice— Fwoosh!

In a state of heightened Concentration where time seemed to slow, Ian performed all these movements flawlessly, almost beyond conscious thought.. The feeling of his head growing hot was no illusion. Of course, his Intelligence and Mental Fortitude were more than enough to endure it.

Slash!

After cutting down another beast, which he had already lost count of, Ian realized he had carved a path straight through the school of man-eating fish.

Amidst the thick stench of blood, he looked back. Beyond the churning water mixed with severed parts and blood, the fish he had either trampled or passed under were falling behind.

Whirr—Thud!

The rope, pulled by his Willful Grasp, slapped into his left hand. Ian pulled his left arm with all his might.

The taut rope yanked him back. Even as he swung back like a pendulum, Ian’s eyes never left the sea surface.

Slash—

Chasing the fleeing school from behind, Ian swung his Light Sword diagonally downward. Blood erupted every time its arc cut through the water.

He faltered only when the sea rose past his knees. In that same instant, something massive brushed against his feet—one of the beasts, lunging desperately forward in flight.

Splash!

Ian forcefully stomped on the beast and leaped up. The creature he stepped on sank, but it was enough to propel him back into the air. Gripping the rope taut with his Willful Grasp, Ian swung his Light Sword below the surface.

Slice, crack!

Several more beasts were sliced apart in succession. At last, the crimson-shimmering creatures beneath the waves scattered in a frenzy, darting left and right. Unable to hold formation any longer, they fled.

Even in their madness, instinct still lingered. Finally releasing the rope, Ian thrust his left hand downward.

Fwoosh—

The erupting Whirlwind picked him up while he was being pulled toward the ship. The flat stern of the hull approached rapidly.

I guess there’s no choice, then.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Ian raised the Platinum Barrier over his head.

Crunch—

The side of the shield cut into the thick planks and embedded itself deep. A moment later, Ian slammed into the hull.

As a numbing shock spread through him, Ian let go of the hilt in his right hand. The Light Sword, having left his hand, stopped in mid-air and then floated up. Without a glance, Ian dismissed the Platinum Barrier and immediately thrust his left arm into the crack it had created. His dangling body swung as if it would be thrown off.

Crack!

Ian pulled with his left arm and shot upward. An entire plank was torn off. He vaulted over the railing and landed, rolling onto the deck.

"Phew.." Ian caught his breath. Seawater, which was now mostly blood, dripped.

There’s no way a crazy strategy like this existed in the game.

Answering the question that had popped into his head earlier, he pushed himself up, casually raising his right hand.

The Light Sword, which had been floating in the air, slid smoothly into his grip. Ian’s gaze was already scanning beyond the railing, where a crimson light shimmered beneath the rising waves.

He was about to climb back onto the railing when he suddenly paused.

—I didn’t expect you to be back so soon.

He had felt a presence running up the stairs at an almost flying speed. Along with Yog’s whisper, Ian looked back.

—Pointy-Ear.

Thesaya, having stepped onto the deck, was striding toward him.

Her blue, magic-filled eyes met Ian’s as she smiled. "You look like hell, Ian. And it’s only been a moment."