I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 579

Ian didn't answer, nor did he even look at him. He simply stood with his eyes half-closed, gripping the wheel.

"An apostle of a god… how in the world?" Muttering in disbelief, the captain’s eyes twitched again.

From beneath the deck, Ian sensed a faint presence. It was a presence familiar to the captain. A flicker of joy ignited in his fading eyes.

"Oh, oh! Father!"

Just then, a single, pitch-black thread of a snake slithered out from the pool of blood. It stopped in front of the captain’s writhing tentacles, rose, and flicked its violet tongue. With eyes that shone like obsidian, it stared at the captain with amusement.

"Please… grant me a new life. Please—"

The captain, who had been speaking without even looking, suddenly stiffened. The presence, having given no answer to his prayer, vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. The captain had no way of knowing that it was the result of Ian rejecting the quest.

"What the… hell…"

As the captain let out a hollow sigh, the black snake burst forward like an arrow. With its jaw wide open, it burrowed into the side of the captain’s face. His eyes widened in agony as the creature’s tail writhed.

"Gack…Gurg…"

Ian exhaled a long sigh, blinking as he gazed down. In the center of the wheel, the essence bead, dyed violet, pulsed faintly. A crooked smile tugged at his lips.

As always… gods.

For a moment, his consciousness had been pulled into a deep abyss. The blue eyes gleaming beyond the pitch-black darkness had to belong to the creature sealed somewhere in the deep sea.

[Follower of the Deep Sea]

He dismissed the choice quest, one meant clearly for the corrupted, without a second thought.

Swoosh…

Either way, thanks to it, the ship was now entirely his. Deep within the ship's lower hull, he sensed the chaotic, vibrant pulse of magic's origin.

Aside from that encounter with the ancient god, wresting control of the vessel had been far simpler than expected. All he had needed to do was unleash the chaos power resonating within the essence bead.

Thrump… Thrump…

The essence bead, its resonance fading, was once again brimming with chaotic energy. After tainting the ship’s core, it had reabsorbed the chaotic power. The amount was so much greater than expected that Ian actually had to stop the essence bead from taking in more.

It wasn't just that he had no intention of growing the essence bead further. That chaos was now the very power source driving the ship forward.

Whoosh.

Turning the wheel to the right, Ian fixed his gaze on the wavering violet haze beyond the deck. The ship was climbing a high wave. Making it go faster only required a moment’s concentration. In any case, there was no sign of the Black Wave. It must have been carried over the far side of the swell.

This should be enough of a turn.

Finally, Ian turned the wheel back to its original position, unconsciously adding the thought that this kind of helm seemed far too advanced for this era. Of course, that wasn't a thought suited for a passenger of a magically propelled ship. Shaking off the notion with a faint smile, he looked to his right.

Boom!

In the distance, a few ships still rode the waves. Only two remained to the right;the rest had already gone under. And even those survivors were still being hunted by the sea beasts.

—That ship is fighting quite well.

Yog’s whisper came then. The creature had somehow crawled onto the wheel and was looking to Ian’s left. Ian turned in the same direction.

Boom, crash!

There was another ship approaching diagonally as it fled from the sea beasts. It was quite far, but it was easy to see that it was much larger than his current vessel. The number of crossbows it was firing was also far greater.

Is the fleet commander on board?

From the stern deck, a dark green mist slithered out in coils, staining the sea behind the ship. Beyond the railing, he saw the silhouettes of spellcasters raising their staves, spewing curses into the air.

Screech—

The monsters caught in the cloud of curses fell behind, screaming. Whatever it was, it was a potent curse. It also seemed to be the source of the monstrous screams that had been echoing across the deck.

At least they don’t seem to be in danger of being caught…

Ian’s gaze shifted to the sea behind it. The crimson horde stretched far beyond the rough waves. Snake-like creatures, round creatures like spiked flails, and others with countless long tentacles—all manner of hideously shaped forms shimmered with a crimson light. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

—What are you going to do, Friend? They look like they’ll catch up soon.

At the whisper that followed, Ian finally turned to look directly behind him. Below the ridge-like waves, the crimson shapes following his ship came into view. There were still so many, despite the constant crossbow fire they must have endured.

Then again, these were creatures that couldn't be killed with large crossbows alone. The fire had only been meant to slow their pursuit.

"It doesn’t matter as long as I can get close to our ship," Ian said nonchalantly.

As he turned to face forward again, Yog let out a low laugh.

—Ah, I see. You planned on ditching this thing from the start.

Ian readily nodded. He would have had to abandon it eventually, whether he wanted to or not. The ship was still devouring corrupted magic with every moment that passed. The only way to replenish it would be to pour in his magic and chaos power.

His head was already pounding;he couldn’t afford to waste any more. Even if he were in perfect condition, he couldn't have managed this ship alone.

"You’ve gotten quite impressive in a short time," Ian said, looking down at Yog, who was sitting on the wheel. Not only did its scales have a new sheen, but it was noticeably longer.

—I shed my skin thanks to you. With just a little more, I’ll soon regain the strength I once had.

Of course, it wasn't just due to the essence beads of the corrupted ones. It had also consumed a great deal of Ian’s chaos power.

"You’d better earn your keep," Ian added.

Yog chuckled.

—Of course. Leave watching the rear to me.

"Not that."

Trying to get off easy, huh?

Ian snorted and looked down at the essence bead in the center of the wheel. "I want you to control this."

—In your place?

The creature slithered down onto the essence bead.

—It won’t be easy… but I’ll give it a try.

Just then, the slanted deck slowly leveled out, and the view ahead cleared. The ship had crested the wave. In that moment of balance, Ian caught sight of the scene stretching out before him.

Good. We’re on the right course.

The lighthouse burned brighter and clearer in the distance, its flame flickering against the storm. The jagged cliffs stretching to its left were just as visible.

Ian’s gaze shifted forward again as the prow dipped, the sail swallowing the beacon’s glow.

"----!"

Beyond a sea beast that shot up from the surface, roaring, the stern of the Black Wave became clear. Wreathed in the light of the sacred fire, it stood out even more. The same was true of the ice crystals spreading out to envelop the sea behind it. Thesaya was standing in the same spot as before, her glowing gemstone held out in front of her, a smile on her face.

She really held out well.

A faint smile curved Ian’s lips. It hadn't actually been that long since he'd left the ship, but to Thesaya, it must have felt much longer, just as it did now for Ian.

Crack—

An orca-like sea beast crashed into the ice, yet Thesaya didn't detonate the barrier. It wasn't hard to guess why.

Rumble…

Next to her, a fireball of sacred flame was blazing. Below it, Lucia’s form became clear as she raised her right hand. The fireball lit their faces clearly, even with the sacred fire burning behind them.

A moment later, Lucia thrust her hand forward.

Rumble, boom—

The fireball shot out and exploded over the head of the sea beast as it bounced off the ice barrier. Flames rained down on it. The orange fire engulfed not only the beast’s body but also the rolling surface of the sea. The sacred fire did not go out, even on the water, burning brightly without a hint of smoke.

The beast, swallowed by fire, let out a tearing scream as it plunged into the depths. Even beneath the surface, the blazing orange glow remained, thrashing violently before vanishing into the waves.

Come to think of it, they are fire and ice, side by side.

Watching Thesaya and Lucia turn to each other and smile, Ian let out a chuckle.

In any case, his turn had been successful. There was still a considerable distance between his ship and the Black Wave, but if he continued on this course, he would be able to catch up and sail alongside them.

—I think I’ve got it, Friend.

Yog’s whisper came then. The creature, draped languidly over the essence bead in the center of the wheel, looked up at him with glowing purple eyes.

—I’m relying on your soul, of course, but as long as we don’t get too far apart, it should be fine.

Ian immediately let go of the wheel. The light of the essence bead didn't fade, nor did the ship’s speed decrease.

"Just keep going like this. I’m going below."

Ian picked up the grappling hook and slung it over one shoulder.

Yog flicked its tongue.

—And where are you off to?

Turning away, Ian strode toward the stairs and answered without looking back, "It wouldn’t be strange if we were attacked at any moment. Better to be ready in advance."

He wasn't just referring to the sea beasts following from behind. The crimson shapes passing under the fading sacred fire were now effectively sailing alongside the ship. They were currently chasing the light of the Black Wave as if entranced, but there was no telling when they might turn and notice his ship.

—Then, once the work is done, may I drink a little of the chaos inside? It makes my mouth water.

Ignoring the whisper that followed, Ian looked past the sea beasts. Far in the distance, the large ship was just beginning to crest a wave diagonally.

Looks like those bastards might survive this, too.

Passing over the main deck littered with bodily fluids and shredded flesh, Ian gave a small shrug. It was actually for the best. Once the Black Wave entered the shallows where the sea beasts couldn't follow, that ship would become the new bait to draw them away.

Crash!

In the meantime, Thesaya and Lucia were dealing with another wave of sea beasts. This time, they were like a massive school of flying fish. They were leaping from the surface in a giant swarm, but they seemed to be an even easier opponent for Lucia.

While Thesaya shrouded the stern in an ice barrier, Lucia was turning the sky into a literal sea of fire.

Rumble—

The sacred fire from the brazier seemed to be endlessly feeding divinity into her stigmata. Sea beasts that had leaped with fins spread like wings turned into fireballs, tumbling back into the sea in showers of embers.

At this rate, they wouldn’t even need me.

Walking toward the railing, Ian let out a dry laugh. It seemed they couldn't kill the sea beasts in one go, but it was more than enough to fend off their pursuit.

"Ian?" Thesaya’s voice reached him just as the dazzling series of explosions had completely subsided. She seemed to have finally noticed the approaching ship.

Lucia was also looking back at the shimmering purple ship. He couldn't hear her voice, but he could easily imagine she was letting out a cry of surprise.

"How did you do it?" Thesaya shouted, waving her hand over her head.

Ian, who had stopped at the foredeck, simply shrugged in response.

However, his smile faded as he put one foot on the railing. His Intuition was suddenly screaming a warning. As if on cue, Yog’s whisper followed.

—We should get ready, my friend. It looks like they’ve caught up.

Ian immediately tightened his grip on the hook resting against his shoulder. He grabbed the rope below it and swung it.

Thump—

A dull impact shot through the hull. Ian, who easily kept his balance, raised the hook he had been swinging briefly over his head and looked back.

A sharp, monstrous scream followed. From the stern of the ship, a giant head rose, showering debris. It was a giant, horned sea serpent.

Screech— Screech—

It’s really pissed.

Ian swung the hook faster and with a longer rope. He had to hurry. Behind the sea serpent that was slithering onto the aft deck, other crimson shapes were swarming.

Swoosh—

Yog, having turned into smoke, shot toward him. Even as it flew, it shimmered with a purple light, having clearly drawn some chaos power from the essence bead.

Whoosh!

Before the creature could reach him, Ian thrust his arm toward the Black Wave. The grappling hook shot out in a straight line, and Ian kicked off the railing, launching himself after it.

Crack.

Another impact shot through the ship only seconds later. Vigorously blasting a Whirlwind behind him, Ian shot through the air like an arrow. The Black Wave was still quite a way off. It was an aftereffect of the captain having slowed the ship and turned the bow.

Crack, crunch!

Monstrous screams and loud crashes followed from behind. The sea beasts that had swarmed the ship were literally tearing it apart. The broken mast tilted, and the hull cracked, spewing clouds of purple mist.

—That was a close one.

Yog’s laughter-tinged whisper followed. However, Ian’s face was still stiff.

It’s not an unreachable distance.

And yet, the ominous premonition hadn't faded. In fact, it was growing stronger. He realized a moment later that the feeling wasn't because of the sea beasts behind him.

Ian, who had been about to strike the hook with his Willful Grasp, suddenly whipped his head to the left.

Thrump…

The bead of chaos essence suddenly resonated. Far in the distance, near the large ship that was coming down a wave, a massive presence was rapidly becoming clear.

—This… I didn’t expect this at all.

As Yog’s whisper spread, a giant, crimson form became visible over the rising wave.

"Tell them to grab onto something and get down. Now, Yog," said Ian almost instinctively.

As Yog immediately relayed his command to Lucia and Thesaya, giant, pillar-like tentacles erupted from the sea behind the large ship. Tentacles covered not in suckers, but in countless sharp, black, beak-like teeth. Below the surface, a pair of massive, crimson eyes shimmered.

Bukikia!

Even through his shock, Ian noticed the tentacle tips had been severed, with ragged chunks of flesh missing here and there, not that it mattered in the moment.

Swoosh, crack!

The legs, which had come down in unison, had completely crushed the large ship beneath them. However, it wasn't just the ship they had destroyed.

Fwoosh—

The very center of the wave exploded upward, and a crimson shockwave erupted.

Hiss—

Almost simultaneously, the Barrier of Light bloomed to Ian’s side. Of course, the oncoming shockwave shattered it in an instant. The Willful Grasp he had instinctively thrown out fared no better.

What the fuck…

The shockwave sent Ian flying sideways. He was only conscious because the Barrier of Light and his Willful Grasp had absorbed some of the impact.

Crash—

Even as the world spun around him, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the two clinging desperately to the railing, their bodies pressed low against the deck. The Black Wave reeled as if it might capsize, swaying violently beneath the crashing spray that surged over its deck.

Of course, he couldn't see what happened next.

Thwump.

With an impact like a car hitting him, the sea's cold, black surface swallowed him.