I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

If you’d like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 10 chapters ahead, you can do so via Buymeacoffee

He didn’t need to look back to know it. He was unable to overcome the centripetal force of the arm he swung and fell.

What sharpened his senses like a spear was something beyond that.

“…!”

Ian lifted his head and realized that his field of vision had completely changed.

Even though there was no light, things that couldn’t be seen were even clearer in shape.

From the regular waves of magic pulsating like heartbeats to the countless roots wriggling beneath the ground.

Everything was so vivid, as if he could grasp them with his hands.

And beyond them, beyond that, he felt something rising, pitch-black.

In Ian’s eyes, it looked like numerous tentacles wriggling like pillars.

In reality, it probably wasn’t much different.

The culprit who polluted the forest and serves as the boss, the distorted ancient creature, is that pillar over there.

Ian’s brow furrowed as he gazed at the silhouette.

“Why is it so big…?”

The creature was larger than expected.

Although less contamination had occurred compared to the game, naturally, he thought it would be smaller.

“Not giving any room for complacency.”

Despite his grumbling, Ian started running again without any noticeable change in expression.

Anyway, it was different from before.

‘It’s not like the plan failed.’

Ian extended his left hand.

A white bead appeared in his palm.

The bead of magic. Ian immediately grasped it, generating magic.

There was no need to push it in; the magic touched the bead and was drawn in as if by a magnet.

Swoosh-!

A cluster of white light emanated from the magical bead in resonance.

The condensed magic inside the bead felt visible, like it was right in front of his eyes.

The magic wasn’t merely condensed; it was geometrically arranged in layers.

Although not artificial, it was clear that it played a role in amplifying magical spells.

‘So, that’s why magic amplifies.’

Scratching his ongoing itch, Ian spread his fingers. As if waiting, the bead floated around, rotating.

As the space between his palm and the bead increased, its rotation slowed down, eventually coming to a halt in mid-air.

A peculiar sensation, as if his hand and the bead were connected by a magnetic field.

“This is the way it works. …!”

Muttering in amazement, Ian unexpectedly stumbled.

With a crackling sound, something fell from the sky the next moment.

Thunk-!

The impact created a hole in the ground, revealing a massive beak covered in scales like a snake’s skin.

It was large enough for Ian to swallow in one bite. The stem attached to it was almost as thick as the trunk of a substantial carnivorous tree.

He had entered the domain of the attacks of the distorted ancient creature.

The beak rose up heavily.

‘Is this its maximum range?’

Ian got up and altered his course, running in a wide circle around the ancient creature’s center.

Thunk! Quang!

The beaks of the distorted ancient creature fell behind Ian in a row.

They weren’t as agile as carnivorous trees, but they were larger and more massive.

Every twisting appendage seemed to be a part of its beak.

‘Seeing it in person, it’s even more dog-like.’

Memories from the game overlapped involuntarily.

As he got closer to the creature, more beaks fell, and from a certain distance, roots burst forth.

Unless it was stagnant water. This boss was designed to be unbeatable through mere reckless assaults.

Just like a few other bosses, defeating it required finding and exploiting its weaknesses.

Of course, he could probably kill it head-on at this point.

‘Even though I know its weakness, why bother?’

As always, he didn’t consider taking the easy way out.

Ian took out an oil pouch from his spatial storage and started running while spreading the oil.

Despite the upheaval caused by the beaks, he paid them no mind. In fact, it was better because they were soaked in oil.

He repeated the process of taking out an oil pouch from his spatial storage and scattering the oil as it ran dry.

By the time he had used up all the oil pouches in his spatial storage, a deep pit had appeared ahead.

Traces of the first beak’s impact.

Jumping over the pit, Ian threw the remaining oil pouch behind him and extended his right hand.

A fireball erupted from his palm.

Basic red magic, Fireball.

Boom-!

The exploding fireball hit the oil pouch and scattered flames all around.

The flames ignited the oil-covered ground, rapidly spreading in all directions.

Crackle! Kuwong!

The same occurred with the jaws that had fallen on top of it.

The ignited jaws were retreating.

In the midst of the brightening sky, they retreated between the flames before long.

Hoohoo-!

A monstrous roar like a horn echoed, and the successive attacks of the jaws suddenly ceased.

Ian finally slowed down his pace.

“I wondered if its weaknesses were gone…”

Panting, he muttered, turning his gaze. Through his eyes, the true form of the distorted ancient creature became apparent.

It looked more like a massive black executioner than a tree.

Tar-like mucus oozed from openings punctuating its tall, thick trunk.

Above, countless branches swayed, transferring flames between each other haphazardly.

Naturally, this was the first weakness of the ancient creature.

When it reached a certain level of fire damage, it would halt its attacks and enter an evolution process.

Since its weakness was fire, the minion creatures that gathered around it were the same.

In the game, strategies advised players to bring plenty of oil to set it on fire and handle the beaks in a similar fashion.

Back then, Ian didn’t know such a tip while facing it.

Instead, he chose a simpler, more brute-force method.

He invested more skill points in a few red magic spells.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been riding on the bad character technique since then… I found it.’

As Ian observed the area around the ancient creature, his eyes lit up.

Punctures on the thick trunk.

He could faintly sense a crimson hue emanating from one of them.

He didn’t know the exact name, but he recognized it as the creature’s second and most fatal weakness.

‘It’s needlessly tall, seriously.’

Tongue between his teeth, Ian started running towards the ancient creature.

The distorted ancient creature drew near.

Oh…

The echoing roar gradually subsided when Ian, holding his sword in reverse, leaped toward the trunk.

Pwoong-!

Gray steam erupted from all the holes in the trunk as though they exploded.

“…!”

The steam engulfed everything, swallowing the branches and even Ian charging toward it.

Ian collapsed to the ground, not even bothering to pick up his dropped sword, and lifted his head.

Through the steam, he saw numerous jaws bending like bows.

A signal that they were about to fall in unison.

However, instead of evading, Ian extended his left hand upward.

‘When is this going to end, damn it.’

He had prepared for this moment.

Whooosh-!

The magical bead in the palm of his hand began to rotate vigorously.

He already knew which magic he was going to use.

Lower-tier red magic, Flame Emission.

Though it was a simple spell that spat fire in a straight line, its simplicity meant fewer variables and a more certain effect.

‘Its range is a drawback, but with the bead, it should be enough… …?!’

Ian’s eyes widened suddenly.

As the overlapping magic within the bead spun fiercely, it began to absorb his magic.

And it didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping.

‘What the hell is this…?’

In an instant, a staggering amount of magic was sucked out, followed by an explosion.

Kwaaaaa-!

From the reddened bead, a vibrant yellow flame erupted, reminiscent of a dragon’s breath.

Translator; ippo

Please rate this series here.

If you’d like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 10 chapters ahead, you can do so via Buymeacoffee.

Schedule: Pending @ UTC+ 12:00 am. 3 – 4 ch a week

https://ko-fi.com/ippostranslations