I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 329

Ian extended a hand to signal Nila to stop and sprinted down the slope. The violent, almost tangible chaos rippled in the surrounding air.

"Guh... woah...!"

Low, growling breaths mixed with a strange vibration resonated in the air. The fragment of chaos throbbed, reacting as it did when facing corrupted beings or creatures of the void.

Leaping onto a protruding rock, Ian looked down at the slope on the other side. As expected, it was a narrow ravine, perhaps once a streambed. A thick layer of snow and rocks now filled the ravine. At its center, the source of the ripples and harsh breathing stood out with an alien presence.

"Greek... grrk...!"

It was a snow ogre with its body half-charred. The crimson lightning had struck it directly. The initial point of contact appeared to be its left hand, now blackened and reduced to a near-charcoal state, along with its forearm.

Crack—crack—

The damage extended through its torso, branching out like a web of fractures that reached its legs.

Swoosh...

Violet cracks, spreading like spiderwebs, shimmered around the ogre’s knees where it kneeled. The snow in that area had completely melted.

Did the lightning pierce through its body and contaminate the ground?

The young ogres must have been tainted by the madness because they had been near their mother when she was struck. And as it was, the mother snow ogre had survived being struck by that crimson lightning.

Not just survived—it was changing. Its fractured, charred body swelled and split along the cracks etched across its flesh, growing more grotesque as it set its eyes on Ian, its transformation speeding up.

"Grk...! Urk...!"

The ogre's head, twisted at an odd angle, glowed with crimson light. Its bloodshot eyes, veins burst, and vivid red, focused on Ian, expressing a powerful mix of sorrow and rage. Those emotions were probably fueling its mutation, hastening the madness within it.

Left alone, I’d have had a mutant ogre family to deal with.

There was no way Ian would let it complete its transformation. As soon as he spotted it, he had already begun running down the slope. Observation and judgment had all happened in a mere instant.

Swoosh—

A golden Mantra circuit shimmered across the center of the blade. In an instant, a magical blade extended, casting a radiant glow.

If the ogre had not finished mutating yet, he could cut it down in one strike. Even if they were fully transformed, he doubted it would make a difference. The only way there might be uncertainty is if the circuit's magic ran out.

Though he had wielded Light Sword only a few times, Ian found it impossible to imagine it failing to cut through anything. He felt confident it could slice effortlessly through even dragon scales or bones.

Woosh....

A subtle glow shimmered in Ian's left hand at almost the same moment. Around the golden sword, a gentle halo radiated. It was the divine skill Blessing of Light from the holy relic, Saint Damiel’s Ring. He had activated it for certainty—he had no intention of drawing out this fight.

Crack—Crack-crunch—

The ogre’s gaze never wavered from Ian, even as the purplish cracks spread rapidly across its body, beginning from its left arm and slashing diagonally across its torso. Charred skin flaked away in chunks as it stood, shifting its leg to brace itself.

Shwish!

Ian launched himself down the nearly cleared slope, raising the Light Sword above his head to cleave the creature’s skull. Even with one knee on the ground, the snow ogre was taller than Ian, but it didn’t matter. In its state, evading Ian’s strike was impossible.

The ogre’s eyes flared, and the cracks across its body ignited like fire. For an instant, the energy that had been pouring outward seemed to reverse, being sucked back into its body. Ian’s glowing sword descended.

Shreeek.

A radiant arc cut through the air just as an explosion of purplish energy erupted from the ogre’s body, a shockwave that surged outward like a tidal wave. Ian’s blade split through the energy, but it couldn’t shield him from being swept up in the blast.

Woosh!

The force slammed into Ian, sending him hurtling backward as though he had crashed into a solid wall. He gritted his teeth, curling into a defensive posture mid-air as he adjusted his balance.

"Graaaah—" The snow ogre roared, its massive form revealed as the shockwave dissipated.

No longer did it bear any visible traces of the lightning strike; instead, its skin had torn away to expose muscles throbbing beneath, streaked with veins of pulsing, purplish energy. The fibers quivered, bloated as if ready to burst.

Crack, crack—

Spiny, bone-like spikes sprouted from its body, shooting up like bamboo.

Its left shoulder and side split open to form a new mouth lined with sharp, mucus-covered teeth. It let out a different, guttural scream, distinct from the one its head had produced.

... So it wasn’t a complete mutation?

However, only its left side and lower body had mutated. The right side of its body, including its head, remained pale and untouched. This imbalance made its head tilt to the side, with flaps of torn flesh around its collarbone drenched in blood. Likely a side effect of the rapid mutation.

As Ian's body continued to spin mid-air, the slope came into view. He reflexively thrust out his left arm.

Fwoosh!

A burst of wind shot from his gauntlet, scattering the snow on the slope and cushioning his momentum enough to slow his descent.

Crash!

Ian bounced off the slope before landing hard, the ground vibrating under him. Though the impact rattled him, nothing was broken. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth—he must have bitten his tongue. He then flipped over, preparing to land on his feet.

"Rrrgh...!"

The ogre, having finished its roar, drew back its left arm and then lunged forward, slamming its massive fist into the ground.

Boom.

The ogre's massive body shot forward like a cannonball. Despite its size, the distance between it and Ian shrank in an instant.

Crackle—crunch.

Ian's boots skidded across gravel and dirt as he landed on the slope, nearly at the same moment that the ogre’s enormous frame loomed over him. His gaze was fixed on the approaching monster, its colossal fist taking up his entire field of vision.

Whoosh—

The crimson fist, lined with jagged bone protrusions and exposed, bulging muscle, was nearly the size of Ian’s torso. A direct hit from that would not just shatter bones; it would tear a man to pieces. Even with heightened Concentration, Ian saw it moving with alarming speed. A poorly timed dodge could mean being crushed beyond recognition.

Can I withstand this?

The hesitation lasted only a split second. Ian raised his left arm in front of his face and bent his knees slightly to shift his weight to his lower body. The dirt and gravel built up behind him during his slide acted as a makeshift brace.

Shhhh—

A golden hexagonal shield blossomed from the back of his hand just as the ogre's fist, tearing through the air, crashed against its surface.

Boom!

A shockwave erupted between the shield and the ogre's fist. Ian's body slid backward from the impact.

This... Fuck!

The impact resonated through his arm and into his body, a sensation like being hit by a truck. Without the protection of the Blessing of Battle, even Ian couldn’t hold firm against the might of a mutated ogre. The creature, relentless, pressed its fist into the barrier, intent on crushing Ian beneath its weight.

Shhhh—

Suddenly, a barrier of divine light flared up between Ian and the ogre. The sanctified aura scorched the ogre’s skin, causing it to blister and sizzle, yet it didn’t cry out. The beast continued to push forward, indifferent to its own searing flesh.

As the backward momentum slowed, Ian gritted his teeth so hard he felt his molars crack. His braced legs bent further, and his raised left arm, holding the shield, was pushed right next to his face. His wrist felt on the verge of snapping. Unlike Ian, who was holding the shield at an angle, the ogre’s fist was still pressing forward directly. The height difference between them meant nothing—it didn’t disadvantage the monster at all.

Rumble...

The Platinum Barrier that blocked the ogre’s gigantic fist remained intact, though it had drained a significant amount of magic in one burst.

I... withstoo—

As he readjusted his grip on the sword hilt, his eyes narrowed sharply. The pressure against the shield intensified, and Ian noticed purplish energy seeping from the ogre’s body like steam, igniting around it.

Crack—crack.

Veins bulged in Ian’s neck as he strained to hold the shield. His wrist felt ready to snap under the force. Even amidst this struggle, the ogre’s mutation resumed. Its muscles, which had burst under its strength, swelled larger. The torn strands writhed and intertwined as if alive.

Is it really trying to crush me... no matter what?

Ian's mind raced as he noticed the bone spikes extending and bending at the tip of the ogre’s fist, forming an exoskeletal shell over its knuckles.

The ogre, glaring down at him, moved its cracked lips in a strained effort.

"Re... venge...!"

So, it’s practically become a demon now, Ian thought grimly, his clenched teeth grinding further into splintered pieces.

His knee touched the ground, and he knew that any lapse in strength would cause him to be crushed under that monstrous fist. Yet there was no panic in Ian's eyes as he looked up at the creature. His high Mental Fortitude played a role, as did the many strategies he had at his disposal. Most importantly, he could hear the pounding of hooves and feel the surge of magical energy racing toward him.

Clop-clop—clop-clop.

The sound belonged to Nila, of course.

Sensing its master in danger, the horse launched into a full gallop, drawing on the protective enchantments embedded in its armor to their fullest extent.

Thwack!

Nila appeared on the slope just as Ian’s right hand, still gripping his sword, touched the ground for support.

Crash!

Without losing any momentum, Nila charged straight at the ogre, twisting its body mid-leap. It was shrouded in a translucent blue aura, and the magic stones embedded in its armor glowed brilliantly beneath its winter gear.

Thud!

Nila's body slammed into the ogre's side, releasing a burst of force that caused the giant creature to stumble. The impact was enough to make the ogre stagger and shift its weight, momentarily lifting the crushing pressure off Ian. Released from the strain, Ian surged forward with the force of his rebound, using the ground as leverage.

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He saw Nila tumble sideways from the impact, tucking its legs in a way that suggested a controlled fall—a wise move to avoid injury by relying on the enchanted armor to absorb the shock.

Well done, Ian thought, silently acknowledging the effort. He swung his Light Sword upward, eyes set on the ogre’s exposed arm.

Slash!

The bright yellow arc split through the ogre’s massive arm as if slicing a thick tree trunk. Ian twisted his body and spun around, using the momentum to knock the severed arm aside with his shield, exposing the ogre’s torso.

Shhhh—

Ian gritted his teeth and continued his motion, bringing the blade down from the ogre’s collarbone and slicing through to its side.

Crunch—crack!

The blade dug into the collarbone and exited through the ogre's flank. Spinning out of the way just in time, Ian rolled across the ground as the monster’s bisected upper body collapsed.

Thud—splatter.

Even in its mutated state, its blood and innards were still red, spilling out in grotesque streams as the upper half of its body slumped in one direction. The enlarged organs and tissue, ruptured and exposed, oozed from the sliced sections.

"Guh...rrgh...!"

A gurgled groan emanated from the ogre’s head, which, incredibly, still twitched. Even as its body was severed and dismembered, it clung to life.

Squish, squelch.

The spilled entrails writhed as if alive, crawling back into the severed torso while the cut muscle fibers squirmed and reached out like countless worms. The same grotesque sight played out on the upper half, where the ogre’s head was still attached. Within moments, the fragments would re-knit, forming a grotesque whole once more. Even in this state, the ogre’s bulging eyes glared sideways with fierce intent.

"Unforgiv... able..." It growled, blood bubbling at its cracked lips.

Ian had approached, standing above it, meeting the creature’s eyes without a word. He raised his Light Sword.

Shluk!

The ogre’s neck was cleanly severed, and its head rolled onto the ground. Ian kicked the now headless torso, dislodging the barely reattached muscle fibers, which snapped apart.

Thud, rip—

With the upper body knocked aside, a final gush of blood and entrails spilled out.

"Gr... rgh..."

The ogre’s severed head gurgled one last breath before going still, its crimson eye-light shattering into nothingness. The spasms of its body ceased.

Splurt—

The muscle fibers that had writhed like worms went limp, and the pulsing organs within the stumps drooped lifelessly.

I can’t even let my guard down after cutting them apart anymore.

Ian, noting the increase in experience points, deactivated the Platinum Claw. There was no need to wipe the blade; thanks to the magic, not a drop of blood stained the pristine weapon.

What surprised him was the sheer amount of experience he gained—far more than expected. It indicated that this ogre was originally a formidable opponent. If it had fully completed its mutation, it would have likely become a true demon, much like the half-blood goblin queen from the past.

Ian spat out the blood he had been holding in his mouth, noticing broken tooth fragments mixed with the red liquid. By tomorrow, the remaining fragments would push themselves out, and new teeth would grow within a few days.

Prrff—

Nila, now standing, snorted as if checking to make sure Ian was unharmed, its eyes filled with concern.

Might as well consider it a mystical beast at this point.

When they reached the village, Ian resolved to feed Nila to its heart’s content and replace all its magic stones. A slight smile played on his lips as he signaled Nila to sit. After a snort, Nila reluctantly complied and sat down.

With a nod, Ian turned toward the ogre’s mutilated body. Despite the foul stench emanating from the partially spilled organs, he could clearly sense the chaotic energy within.

This much should be manageable.

This was one of the reasons he had gone ahead without Miguel and Lucia. He didn’t want them to witness him absorbing the chaos power. Not because he distrusted them, but because it would be too tedious to explain. Knowing their inquisitive nature, they would press him endlessly about how he came to bear it.

Ugh, I really hate slimy things.

Ian grimaced before plunging his right hand into the ogre’s entrails.