I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy
Chapter 441

Chapter 441

Ian twisted midair, clutching Lucia tightly as the impact slammed into him like a speeding truck.

What the fuck.

Even as his vision blurred and flipped, Ian gritted his teeth and pulled Lucia closer into his arms. In the spinning chaos, the image from just moments ago replayed in his mind.

A massive shadow had fallen—silent, formless, and sudden. Just a perfect arc cleaving through the air. At its heart had been a pair of eyes, burning with ashen fire, and behind them, a long, blurred streak trailing a towering figure like a raised blade.

It had approached like a predator, using the gaps in the sparse forest canopy to conceal itself. Ian realized it must have struck from a blind spot—above and behind—where knights in visored helms couldn’t easily see.

Whether it was instinct or cold calculation, Ian couldn’t tell.

Crack—

The next impact came with a deep, resonant thud. Ian tumbled through the air, his arms locked tighter around Lucia as he activated his Platinum Barrier, shielding her back and head.

Crash!

The force of the impact sent the Black Lions and their warhorses flying, crashing through underbrush and thudding into trees. Ian rolled a few times across the ground before finally slamming into a thick tree trunk, his back taking the full brunt of the landing.

The breath caught in his chest, and a metallic tang flooded his mouth. Still, he clenched his jaw and dug the edge of his shield into the dirt to push himself upright.

“Lucy?” The name left his mouth through gritted teeth, barely audible.

The weight in his arms twitched violently.

“Ah, ah! We have to run—we have to go! Sir Ian!” she gasped, the words tumbling out in breathless panic.

Ian tightened his hold. Whether it was the force of the impact or some disorienting pulse carried by the shockwave, she was clearly dazed. But she didn’t seem seriously hurt—and for now, that was enough.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, steadying his voice as much as he could.

Slowly, Ian lifted his head. His vision wavered, unfocused. The residual haze of ashen magic hung in the air like smoke, flickering sharply, then blurring out of sight.

Fsssht...

From the center of that rising mist, a massive figure emerged. Ian’s eyes, still shaking from the blow, locked onto it.

Its fur was pitch black, dull like the shadows of the forest. If not for the thick leather belts wrapped over its shoulders and back, Ian might’ve mistaken it for some monstrous beast.

Swoosh...

Gray, steam-like magic curled upward from the thick mane running down its spine. Each breath it drew rumbled low and deep, resonating through the ground. Slowly, its massive upper body began to rise. Only one ear remained—long and pointed like that of a beast.

—Hmm...

Its thick mane, heavy with ash-tinged magic, ran from the crown of its head down its spine. And through the swirling dust, a pair of gray eyes emerged—gleaming with wild instinct and murderous intent.

Its face, crisscrossed with countless scars, looked less like a beastfolk and more like that of a twisted, mutated giant wolf.

“Inaskurgl...” Ian breathed the name.

The creature rose fully, its left arm lifted high overhead. Coiled chains wrapped tightly from wrist to elbow, and within its massive grip, the shape it held came into focus.

It was a corpse—a Black Lion, torn apart from the shoulder down, armor and all. The lower half was completely gone, shredded beyond recognition. The way the helmet hung askew, just slightly—he knew it was Pauline.

Thick blood dripped from the ragged stump, spattering across Inaskurgl’s face. With a slow, savoring breath, it opened its maw. Sharp teeth gleamed, jagged like those of a true carnivore.

Crk—

Its hand clenched with bone-crushing force, and Pauline’s upper body collapsed in on itself, armor crumpling like paper. Dark, viscous blood mixed with shredded innards poured down into Inaskurgl’s open mouth.

—Even after ending up like that, it’s still craving chaos.

Yog's voice was languid, almost mocking, as if laughing through a yawn.

Just then, a shudder ran down the monster’s neck. A blood-hued madness flooded into its eyes, glowing like liquid fire. At the center of each vertical slit pupil, a long horizontal line formed—glowing bright crimson.

That is...

It was the same cross-shaped pupil Ian had seen in the visions of the void. Similar to Kruxica’s—but unlike that ancient being, Inaskurgl’s eyes were filled with nothing but boiling insanity..

Its upper snout twisted—then came the roar.

“-----!” Inaskurgl flung its left arm outward and howled.

The sound tore through the air like a tidal wave—deep and deafening, like a hundred beasts roaring in unison. From its entire body, a shockwave of ashen force erupted outward.

Woosh—

Ian, who had just risen to one knee, was slammed back into the tree behind him.

His breath caught, and a numbing ache spread through his limbs as strength drained from his body. Beside him, Lucia trembled again—her barely stilled body rattling like a leaf.

What is this, a dragon’s roar?

Even as he curled forward, teeth clenched against the force, Ian kept his eyes fixed on the monster spewing the shockwave.

The blast swept away the lingering dust and magic residue in an instant—revealing Inaskurgl’s form in full.

—I’ll give it that. This is a spectacular failure.

It was a massive, shadow-black beast. The leather straps across its back connected to a warped chest plate, one that barely covered the left side of its chest. Beneath it hung long chains, either rusted or matted with dried blood, swaying like tattered curtains.

Crossed behind its waist were two enormous sword sheaths. And trailing behind it, not one, but three thick, smoke-spewing tails writhed through the ashen mist. The sight was enough to make Ian's brow furrow tighter.

So if you become a demon, you grow extra tails?

The remains of Pauline were now barely recognizable—her body crushed, only an arm and her head still dangling from Inaskurgl’s left hand.

But even more striking was the massive black-red greatsword driven into the ground beside. It was so large it resembled the Legion Commander's Greatsword.

Beneath the crater left by its impact lay the mangled corpse of Pauline’s warhorse, crushed like rotten fruit. One of Inaskurgl’s feet was planted on its broken chest, while its right hand remained clenched tightly around the sword’s hilt, as if it meant to snap it in half.

“-----!” As the monstrous roar continued to press down like a physical weight, a quest window flickered into view before Ian’s eyes.

[Inaskurgl, the Ashen Butcher]

He immediately closed it. Not because he didn’t care to read it—but because something else had caught his attention.

Thunk...

Beyond the aftermath of the shockwave, a figure slowly rose from the haze. Driving the blade of a two-handed sword into the ground as he stood—it was the Dark Prince, Hyked.

Dark energy clung to his body, flickering dangerously, like a torch before a gale. Blood trickled down the center of his visor, but his eyes—locked on Inaskurgl’s back—burned with a cold, bluish flame.

Woosh!

A surge of deep blue chaos exploded from Hyked’s entire body. His armor blackened, drenched in shadow, while his eyes flared like twin blue flames.

—Well, well. He’s not too bad.

From either side of his helm, jagged blue light erupted, rising like spectral horns. The glow twisted around the helmet like candle flames, flickering upward until it looked as if he were wearing a crown of fire.

Darkness billowed from the crossguard of the two-handed sword still planted on the ground. Beneath it, veins of black cracks spread across the earth, and above them, a blue-tinted haze shimmered like heat rippling off sunbaked stone.

—What do you think, Friend? Still not tempted by that one?

As Yog whispered, Hyked, cloaked in a roaring blue-black flame, rose fully to his feet. Standing atop the tainted ground, now stained with his power, he reached down and drew his two-handed sword free from the earth.

“Rise!” His shout split through Inaskurgl’s fading roar. Ian’s gaze twitched instinctively. “The Crown Prince stands before you!”

The moment the words rang out, a strange resonance passed through Ian’s body—something foreign, unnatural.

He’d felt it once before—near the Empire, from one of the princes. But this wasn’t something that came from the eyes. This time, the wave of power came through the voice. And instead of numbing the body, it sharpened every sense, clearing the mind.

“One more name to add to the vengeance we’re owed. Rise, take your arms—I’ll fight beside you!”

One by one, dark shapes rose in answer to his cry—figures wreathed in blue-black shadows. Scattered Black Lions and their warhorses rose from where they'd fallen.

“Is that... His Highness’s?” Lucia’s voice rose faintly from Ian’s arms.

He blinked. Not only had the feeling returned to his limbs—his vision had cleared, and a strange sense of euphoria swelled in his chest. His mind, in contrast, had never been calmer.

It was the same sensation he always felt in those rare moments when his Concentration and Intuition hit their peak—an awakened state, razor-sharp.

Does it affect the brain directly?

Whatever it was, it couldn’t be more suited for battle. In a field consumed by rage and chaos, that voice alone could open an entirely new realm of consciousness—like everyone was one, unified under a single will.

Raising his Platinum Barrier to shield from the fading shockwave, Ian lowered his head toward Lucia. “Are you hurt?”

“I-I don’t think so. My limbs still move. There’s no pain, either.” Her voice was quick but steady.

Ian nodded and turned his eyes forward just in time to see Moro charging toward them, running despite the lingering roar and the chaos that had not yet settled. Steam rose from its breath as it galloped with unrelenting force.

“For His Highness’s victory!”

“For Pauline’s vengeance!”

The Black Lions cried out, each gripping their weapons once more. Their warhorses were already returning to their sides.

Ian’s brow furrowed as he turned his gaze back to Inaskurgl. Hyked had mounted his warhorse, his two-handed sword blazing with dark fire still clutched in hand.

Yet Inaskurgl breathed out mist-like steam, not even looking at them.

“Grrrrrr....”

It had turned its back on the rallying Black Lions and was instead glaring dead ahead—staring, unmoving, at something far beyond the fog.

“...You’ve got to be kidding me.” Ian’s head turned, following the creature’s gaze—then let out a quiet breath.

There, in the middle of the field where the mist had been blown away, sat a lone figure. A platinum-haired fairy, slumped weakly on her knees.

She must’ve leaped ahead in time, yet still been caught in the shockwave and thrown far. Now, she wasn’t even trying to stand. Just sitting there, dazed, motionless.

Hyked’s power had clearly reached her—yet she looked less like someone overwhelmed, and more like prey frozen before a predator.

Her wide eyes were fixed on Inaskurgl. And Inaskurgl’s glowing red stare was locked right back on her.

“Even like that, it didn’t forget its grudge, huh,” said Ian.

The voice came from over his shoulder—Lucia, still in his arms, lifting her head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, that fairy is about to become dog food.”

Without another word, Ian dropped into a crouch and set her gently on her feet.

Lucia stood quickly, steadying herself. “They’re coming. The shadow beasts. They’re heading this way, Sir Ian.”

Ian whipped around. The mist was curling back in, rolling unnaturally, like a tide flowing against the wind.

He thrust his right hand toward Moro. “Get on and run.”

“I can handle them.”

As Lucia replied, Ian called forth the power of chaos and released it with a sweeping pulse. A violet wave surged forward, wrapping around Moro’s form as it galloped closer. It wouldn’t be as strong as direct contact, but it would reinforce the beast enough to carry her through.

—Trust Lucy. Or at least trust me, since I’m with her.

Yog’s languid whisper stirred at the edge of his mind as Ian unwrapped his arm from around her and broke into a sprint.

Swoosh—

Inaskurgl, crouched low just moments ago, launched straight toward Diana like a released arrow. From its mane, thick plumes of ashen magic spiraled out behind it in a storm of vortices.

Are you trying to die or what?

Still, Diana hadn’t moved. She remained frozen in place, trembling, her eyes locked on the charging monster as if she couldn’t see anything else around her.

Lucia’s voice rang out from behind him. “I’ll handle the beasts—go!”

I told you to run away...

Ian grit his teeth but didn’t argue. Instead, he cast his prepared spell.

A ripple spread through his vision, turning his irises a flickering gray. Wind howled around him, coiling tight. And he ran—cutting through the fog like a blade.

Boom, boom, boom!

Inaskurgl charged from the opposite side, dragging a storm of ashen force in its wake, greatsword raised and glowing with power.

The force bearing down on him was staggering—but Ian didn’t even look its way. His eyes stayed locked on Diana—her pale hair, her slumped shoulders, the way she just sat there, like someone who’d already accepted their fate.

Then, with everything he had, Ian kicked off the ground.

Fwoom—

The Wind Blade blasted out behind him, giving him an extra burst of momentum. Like an arrow in flight, Ian shot forward with his arms outstretched—and crashed straight into Diana.

Crack!

Diana's body was sharply twisted to the side, and she was sent flying together with Ian. Despite the chaos, he managed to shield her in his arms.

Rolling again, goddamn it—

Shreeek–-

The piercing sound of air splitting behind him exploded just a moment after he clenched his jaw to prepare for the impact.

Boom!

A massive greatsword came crashing down right where Diana had been sitting seconds before, carving a scorched, ashen gouge through the earth.

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