I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 457

A strange look crossed Ian's face.

Diana blinked, confused. "Plate? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"It's nothing. Just give me some water, Diana. I don't really have an appetite right now," Lucia said, shaking her head and holding out her hand.

Though still puzzled, Diana handed over the water pouch.

"No, you can't just skip eating. You have to eat something, Lucy. At least one piece," said Ian.

Lucia looked back at him as she unscrewed the cap of the water pouch, her eyes seeming to ask, Don't you of all people know why I don't want to eat?

However, Ian didn't even blink.

"Alright. I'll eat," she said at last with a sigh and brought the pouch to her lips. Her brow creased slightly, as if the water didn't taste quite right.

She definitely remembers the dream very vividly, Ian thought, clicking his tongue inwardly as he accepted the piece of jerky Diana tossed him.

Right. Didn't Yog also say something vague about how the memories would be? There are definitely some parts I wish she'd forget.

Popping the jerky into his mouth, Ian chewed mechanically and opened his status window. There was nothing like checking stats to clear away distracting thoughts.

My level went up again.

He immediately realized he'd broken his record for fastest leveling again. He'd put some points into Strength and Agility, which explained the drop in his unspent stats. Still, he was glad to see his skill points had increased by several.

The quests related to Inaskurgl, and the reward from some nameless quest he hadn't even formally received—which had completed the moment he woke from the dream—seemed to have granted skill points. Thanks to all that, he now had enough room to learn one or two high tier magic spells of different elemental colors.

Or, I could learn more high tier red magic spells.

If he ever wanted to reach transcendent tier magic, he'd had to go down that road—mastering every high tier magic spell of a single element to its highest level.

Of course, he was still a long way off from that.

If I save up just a bit more. maybe someday...

His eyes gleamed quietly as he took a swig from the pouch. The water had an oily aftertaste, but he didn't mind. Just having the door to possibility cracked open was a victory in itself. For now, the biggest risk to that future was the bead of chaos essence.

It had grown at an alarming rate—even resisting him after he leveled up. It felt larger now than it had even after he destroyed that avatar, likely due to absorbing the amalgamation's chaos directly.

Or maybe this is another gift from Kruxica.

Either way, it wasn't entirely a bad thing. The bead's capacity had increased in turn, and the chaos within it was now nearly equal to his full pool of magic. It was like carrying around a top-tier, self-replenishing power source.

Though that's only when I don't have to worry about witnesses.

In any case, he needed to be extremely careful not to let it absorb any more chaos until he reached a higher level. If he lost control over it completely, the consequences could be fatal. In the worst-case scenario, it would devour him.

Yog will be upset.

As Ian tossed the rest of the jerky into his mouth, his gaze drifted to his right hand. Yog, too, was evolving at a frightening pace. By now, it flaunted its dark knowledge like it was second nature.

Ian's jaw stopped moving mid-chew as he opened the information window. Not only had his additional stats increased slightly again, but one of the skill options that had previously just been a series of question marks had now become identifiable.

Mask of Deception?

Just like before, it was a skill he couldn't get any additional information on, nor could he use it whenever he pleased.

What, does it change my appearance or something?

He made a mental note to ask Yog about it once it woke up.

"No matter how I think about it, this is strange," Diana said bluntly, chewing her food with a blank expression.

When Ian and Lucia looked at her, she continued in a flat, even voice, "It's too quiet. This place seems perfect for anything to hide in."

For her to feel even more anxious when there's nothing at all...

As Ian chuckled, Lucia spoke up. "Maybe they're hiding from us instead. Or..."

Her gaze shifted from the ceiling above them to the dark passage at the far end of the hall. "This place could be full of curses or traps. Those patterns on the walls look like they could be very primitive magic circuits."

"I doubt things like that would still work properly in a wreck like this," Diana replied, eyeing the crumbling, tilted hall with a skeptical look.

"Well, we'll find out if we check," said Ian.

He dusted off his hands and stood up. His stomach wasn't full, but he'd eaten enough to get the calories he needed to keep moving.

"Good idea," Lucia said, readily grabbing the candlestick she had placed beside her and getting to her feet.

As the two of them started forward, Diana let out a quiet sigh through her nose. With clear reluctance, she followed, pulling the mask from where it rested on top of her head back down over her face.

"Stay back a bit. Just in case," Ian said as he strode confidently up the gentle incline toward the raised platform.

His eyes swept across the cracked, slanted structure and the stone altar perched on top. A faint purple glow flickered from one side of the altar—the same chaos power he'd released earlier.

An abandoned altar, huh?

If another transcendental being's influence was still active here, it wouldn't be this easy to interfere. That meant he could likely claim control of whatever circuits were linked to this altar just by channeling some chaos power into it.

It'd be even better if a quest pops up.

With that thought, Ian stepped onto the platform. He was the only one to do so. Diana quickly grabbed Lucia's arm, stopping her from following him up. Diana shook her head at Lucia, who had turned back to look at her questioningly.

"Hmm..." Ian approached the altar.

It was made of dark, almost black stone with a smooth, flat top. On closer inspection, he could see grooves carved into the surface, radiating outward. It wasn't hard to imagine rituals—maybe even human sacrifices—had taken place here. The ominous feeling prickling the back of his neck seemed to support that theory.

Ian ignored the feeling and reached his right hand out toward the altar's surface. It was a sensation he often felt when he encountered things like this.

Rumble... Rumble...

The bead of chaos essence spewed forth chaos power as if it had been eagerly waiting. The purple glow on the side of the altar visibly deepened.

Lucia and Diana, standing below the platform, both let their eyes widen slightly. The purple light spreading out from the altar was now reaching the walls beside the platform. However, the multiple strands of purple light didn't quite make it to the ceiling, stopped by the numerous cracks running across the wall surfaces.

Shwaaaa—

A few strands touched the ceiling, but they couldn't spread far or smoothly. Only the ominous purple light concentrated on the altar and the platform itself grew more and more vivid.

Ian's brow furrowed sharply just then. It wasn't just the light that had become clearer; the ominous feeling prickling the back of his neck had also instantly intensified.

What the hell?

He yanked his hand away from the altar. Only then did it flash through his mind that the ominous feeling he'd sensed when approaching the altar might have been a different, more dangerous kind than usual.

Crack—

At the same instant, cracks spider-webbed across the entire surface of the altar. A purple, ring-shaped shockwave burst out from between them, sweeping through the hall. The purple light that had been etched onto the altar and platform immediately faded.

Rumble... Rumble...

An earthquake erupted from the platform, shaking the ground violently.

"What?"

As Lucia and Diana stumbled from the tremors, Ian threw himself toward them.

Crash—

Pulling Lucia and Diana into his arms, Ian hit the floor with them in a tangled heap, reflexively deploying his Platinum Barrier to shield.

Rumble... Rumble...

The entire temple shook violently, and dust rained down from the ceiling in thick clouds. The hall tilted even more precariously. Kicking off the ground, Ian scrambled to his feet, still protectively holding both of them. He was about to make a run for it when he hesitated; the earthquake was already subsiding.

Rumble...

One last ominous roar echoed from far off in the darkness, and then an eerie silence fell over the hall once more.

"Is it over?" Diana whispered, still pressed against his chest.

Ian finally looked down. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Just a little startled, that's all," Lucia replied readily.

Only then, seeming to register just how close Ian's face was to hers, Diana tensed up and just blinked rapidly.

"It seems... the circuit was already broken," Lucia added, glancing slowly around the ruined hall.

Lowering them both gently back to the ground, Ian let out a short, frustrated sigh.

So it wasn't a reward, but a trap....

This kind of setup existed in the game too. It was just so incredibly rare that he usually never even had to consider it as a possibility—especially not now, after having just barely survived the journey back from the rift.

"I have a bad feeling about this," said Diana.

Instead of agreeing, Ian just clicked his tongue and looked away. "Anyway, it looks like we won't need any extra lighting."

A faint purple glow was already shimmering from beyond the corridor where the chaos wave had swept through. It was still dark, of course, but Ian could make out his surroundings well enough with just that amount of light.

Lucia nodded and looked in the same direction. "Okay. Let's just... do what we usually do and scout around on foot then."

"No, I'll do the scouting," Ian said. "You stay here."

"What?" Lucia turned toward him, frowning.

"You stay here with Moro and keep an eye on Sir Seren," Ian said, tilting his head to the side. "She might wake up while we're gone."

"...Sir Seren, you said?" Lucia repeated, visibly confused.

Only then did Ian realize she hadn't even known Seren was there.

Right. Lucia had been unconscious too, and since waking up, all her attention had been focused on Diana.

"She looks dead to me," Diana muttered, finally noticing the still body of the Black Lion lying motionless nearby.

"I barely saved her. It would be good if she stayed alive. As you know..." He shrugged and looked at Lucia. "The Black Lions can resonate with His Highness."

Lucia and Diana's eyes widened in response. It seemed neither of them had considered that possibility at all.

"Then, His Highness might come to get us!" Lucia exclaimed.

"Possibly," Ian replied. "It depends on whether the signal can reach him clearly through her. But at the very least, we might be able to let him know we're still alive. That's why someone needs to stay and keep watch over her."

"Don't worry, Ian Hope. I won't take my eyes off her for a second," said Diana, nodding firmly, her voice noticeably brighter now.

Ian looked back at her. "What are you talking about? You're coming with me."

"Me? Why me?" Diana asked, hesitating.

Ian continued calmly, "There might be more traps around. You can spot them before I do. You also have a good sense of direction."

"But.. You can manage that much yourself..."

"And we need to figure out where in the Black Land we've actually ended up. And right now, you're the only one who can do that."

"Damn it..." Diana muttered, closing her eyes in resignation.

Ian paid her no mind, turned, and patted Moro's side as he walked past. "Guard her well. If any weirdos come close, just kick 'em hard."

Moro snorted as if in reply.

Lucia, who had stopped beside the beast, waved the candlestick. "Be careful out there."

Ian just gave a casual wave of his arm in response and started walking toward the passage where the purple darkness shimmered.

Sighing deeply, Diana trudged off after him into the distance.

***

"Ugh..." A low groan was heard just as the candle had nearly burned itself out.

Moro, who had been slumped listlessly, jerked its head up. Lucia, who had been leaning against the beast's side, was already holding the candlestick in one hand and moving toward the stirring Black Lion. Placing the candlestick down beside her, Lucia leaned in close.

"Sir Seren. Sir Seren. Are you awake?"

"Priestess... Lucifer?" Seren rasped, her voice hoarse, her head still tilted to the side.

Lucia placed a gentle hand on Seren's breastplate and replied, "Yes, it's me. Don't try to move too much. Your injuries are severe."

"I'm... alright... Ugh..." Seren attempted to sit up but swayed and then collapsed back down.

Lucia caught her just in time, cupping Seren's helmet and easing her head carefully to the floor. A deep shadow fell across her face behind the torn visor.

"To be moving already, your recovery rate is amazing. That's a relief." Seren looked up at Lucia, who still seemed a little unsteady herself.

Meeting her gaze, Lucia offered a small smile. "Don't worry. Inaskurgl is dead." freēwēbnovel.com

"...His Highness," Seren gasped out, her breathing labored. "Is His Highness... safe?"

Lucia gave a small shrug. "Probably. I didn't see him myself, but I believe he made it out of the forest safely."

"You didn't... see him?"

"Just lie still and listen. I'll explain everything," Lucia said gently, then began recounting everything that had happened—adding in the details Ian had told her as well.

"My goodness... To think I actually came back alive from a rift..." Seren, listening blankly while lying down, finally let out a sigh. "I don't know how I can possibly thank the Agent of the Saint. Not only did he play a decisive role in subjugating the archdemon, but he also saved my life..."

Her breathing had already calmed considerably in that short time.

Lucia smiled brightly and added, "For now, please focus completely on your recovery. That way, you'll be strong enough to offer your prayers. We need to let His Highness know we're alive."

"Of course..." Seren murmured, then her gaze returned to Lucia. "I have no idea how much time has passed... But... how did the Agent of the Saint manage to get out of the rift?"

"Well," Lucia said with a shrug, her gaze already drifting to the area beyond Seren's feet, "Only the Agent of the Saint would know that. If you're really curious, you can ask him yourself. Actually, it looks like he's just coming back now."

The sound of two pairs of footsteps was indeed growing closer from the passage shrouded in purple darkness.

"A-Agent of the Saint!" Seren exclaimed weakly.

"Shh. Stay down," Lucia whispered, gently pressing down on Seren's breastplate as Seren struggled to sit up.

Seren let out a low groan of pain but readily relaxed her body.

"Let's hear what they found first. Just wait," Lucia said, offering her a reassuring smile before rising to her feet and heading toward the passage.

Ian's silhouette became clearer as he approached. Walking to meet him, Lucia asked, "Did the search go well?"

"It's done," Ian replied, stepping into the hall with a completely blank expression, his voice flat. "...But not well."

"What do you mean by that?" Lucia tilted her head, then her eyes widened. From behind Ian, Diana emerged, looking like a drowned rat.

"What happened.?" Lucia asked, stunned.

Diana, her eyes looking even gloomier than when she had left, met Lucia's gaze and said with a deep, weary sigh, "The way out is gone, Lucifer."

"What did you say?"

"We're trapped in here, underground."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺