I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 617

"What, you think we’re on a picnic?" said Ian, his gold-flecked eyes narrowing.

He didn't take his gaze off the battlefield. Despite his words, he took a step forward.

The dragon’s magic that had been frozen within him began flowing again the moment Archeas returned to its true form. The aftereffects of teleportation were long gone.

—Sadly, this time it looks like all I can do is watch. Unless you plan to fuse with chaos again or something... well.

Yog, having replied in an amused tone, sighed.

—That old lizard doesn’t want you interfering, it seems.

It must have felt the flow of dragon magic within Ian stiffen once more, hardening. Yet Ian kept moving, steps steady and deliberate.

"I'm the one who stopped it." The golden gleam in his eyes was fading as well.

Only then did Yog let out a low laugh.

—Trying to hide your presence, then. Watching quietly instead of jumping in, is that it?

Obviously.

Ian stared at the battlefield. The colliding breaths of the dragons were still locked in a fierce struggle.

Boom, boom, boom—

The dark red flames that burst like a fountain and the blinding streaks of lightning scattering across the air were both surreal and breathtaking.

Yeah, not something I ever want to get closer to.

He was in a state where most flames would feel lukewarm, but he wasn't invincible. Besides, his opponent was a legendary evil dragon, even if it was sealed. Meeting it head-on would only end one way. There was a reason he’d packed extra gear.

"Wouldn’t help much to step in right now anyway. Not that I could even if I wanted to," muttered Ian.

Just then, the Platinum Dragon’s breath faded. The dark red flames shot up, piercing the remnants of the yellow lightning.

Crack, crack, crack—

Hexagonal force fields covered the front of the Platinum Dragon like a honeycomb.

Swoosh—

The dark red flames washing over them split apart like thick storm clouds. As the force fields and the Platinum Dragon's form hid from view, the Heaven Defier’s breath subsided.

Rumble...

The surrounding air shimmered, and the dragon bared its sharp fangs as its gaze burned crimson. Red magic blazed like lava between its jet-black scales.

With a roar that seemed to radiate heat, the Heaven Defier ripped the spike from its abdomen. The Mantra circuits on the spikes piercing it glowed like brands, but they appeared insufficient to restrain it.

So, the widening cracks in the seal have weakened the binding force after all.

Ian, having paused halfway down the slope, narrowed his eyes. He recalled the fight from the game—how it used to shriek in agony when struck.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but a thought flickered through his mind that driving those spikes in deep might not work as well as it once had.

Still, it should have some effect.

After all, the dragon’s roar did not paralyze or shake him. Only a faint tingling crept through his limbs, likely thanks to the Platinum Dragon’s magic coursing through him.

Swoosh—

Just then, the Heaven Defier beat its wings powerfully and soared. Crimson embers swirled in its wake, and the chains on its neck and tail trailed behind it.

It instantly arrived under the heat that spread like dark clouds, halting with its wings spread wide. The magic shimmering on its scales became vivid.

Shhwaaaaa—

Then, behind it, dark red Mantra circuits ignited across the air like a burning script. At the same time, golden light flickered and spread through the haze.

The dark red Mantra circuit completed itself midair, and the Heaven Defier thrust both wings forward.

Whoosh, boom!

Following the arc of its wings, dark red flames exploded outward, swirling like a cyclone. Ian, descending the slope, lowered his stance as the ferocious blaze rapidly spread in a violent surge.

Almost at the same time, bright yellow threads of lightning shot out like arrows. The Platinum Dragon revealed itself, wings unfurled, surrounded by hexagonal force fields. Behind it, concentric Mantra circuits shimmered vividly.

Boom, boom, boom!

Dazzling explosions burst across the air. The swept-up flames stormed in every direction, and stray bolts detonated on impact. Each time they did, the bones blanketing the ground leaped up.

Shockwaves pounded Ian’s body, and a wave of searing heat rolled over him.

—You were right, Friend. No way to interfere in that.

Yog’s amused whisper followed. Keeping low, Ian clicked his tongue as he resumed his slow advance.

His only comfort was that Archeas's magic would prevent him from being caught in its spell range. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared enter the Dragon's Tomb.

No matter how much divinity he built up, how did Karha ever think to fight that thing with just an ax?

Ian marveled at Karha, taking in the Dragon's Tomb. The bones looked far larger than they had from above. It wasn’t surprising since he had seen a dragon’s skeleton up close before.

If those things fly this way, dodging them will be the real problem.

While that unwelcome thought crossed his mind, Yog’s murmur broke his train of thought.

—So, what's the plan, Friend?

It was clear the creature was still watching above. Behind Archeas, the glowing spell circuits rose like a halo, expanding wider and wider.

Swoosh...

The same was true of the storm of fire and lightning. Rakhmah looked engulfed in a dark red tide, Archeas in a blinding light.

—If this drags into a battle of attrition, your nagging friend will lose in the end.

Yog stated calmly.

Ian frowned at the heat but shook his head. "No. It will come down before that."

The Heaven Defier had no idea what state Archeas was in now. And though it didn’t show, Archeas was surely enduring immense pain. Even through the flames, Ian could see the white-hot glow of the Mantras carved into the stakes. Its patience wouldn’t last much longer, and that moment would likely be the right time Archeas had spoken of.

—Pathetic... Archeas...

Rakhmah's low voice echoed right then.

It's more impatient than I thought.

Ian's lip twisted as Rakhmah continued.

—I expected you to rip out my throat and chew on my heart. Yet you waste time casting meaningless spells. Are you waiting for me to tire?

—Of course not.

Archeas's calm voice spread.

—Thank you for saying so. I was finding it hard to suppress my desire to wring your neck.

At that, the massive spell circuit behind the Platinum Dragon faded, petals of light dying out from the edges inward.

Rakhmah let out a booming laugh.

—Yes! This is your true nature, suppressed by the gods! It all comes back to me now!

Between the fading bolts, the Platinum Dragon came into view, its shields withdrawn. As it swung its wings and flew straight toward the tidal inferno, the dark red Mantras etched across Rakhmah’s back melted away like lava.

—The way you tore our kin apart and even enjoyed it!

The Platinum Dragon surged against the fiery wave, and the Heaven Defier’s full figure emerged in molten crimson.

Its entire body burned red-hot, the horns crowning its head glowing like heated metal. Spreading its wings wide, it hurled itself forward to meet the Platinum Dragon head-on.

—Come then, Archeas! Let us writhe like beasts! My old nemesis, the lapdog of false gods!

The paths carved by the two dragons drew close in an instant, neither slowing in the least. Both simply opened their jaws wide toward one another. In the blink of an eye, their trajectories collided—frozen for a single heartbeat in midair.

Crash!

A shockwave erupted in concentric circles, blasting away the remnants of magic and heat.

What the...

As Ian staggered even in his low stance, Yog's amused whisper came.

—Just as you said, my friend.

There was no time to respond. By the time Ian regained his balance, the two dragons were tumbling together as one massive blur, crashing straight into the heart of the Dragon’s Tomb.

Boom—

The entire cavern quaked. Bones shot into the air as though a meteor had struck.

Knew it, damn it!

Gritting his teeth, Ian looked up and began sprinting along the edge. Bones of every kind—ribs, skulls, jaws —were arcing high and raining down at random.

—Get caught under that, and they won’t even find your bones afterward.

Yog’s tone was inappropriately cheerful.

With all his gear, being buried under that debris wouldn’t kill Ian outright, but it would leave him with crushed bones, internal bleeding, and a fight ruined before it even began. He couldn’t afford to waste the Elixir of Life this early.

Boom, thud!

Bones crashed down all around him—skulls, jaws, ribs, wing bones, and even unidentifiable fragments. The only reason he wasn’t instantly buried was that they were falling in staggered intervals.

Thud! Crack!

Ian stopped short, swerved acrobatically, and sometimes threw himself to the ground, rolling to avoid everything. These were semi-instinctual movements, possible only thanks to his heightened Intuition and Concentration.

Meanwhile, at the center of the tomb, the dragons’ savage brawl had begun.

Despite the ferocious collision and fall, the last two dragons on the continent roared and charged at each other without pause.

Clang—

After several fierce clashes, the Heaven Defier sank its teeth into the Platinum Dragon’s neck, slamming it into the exposed stone floor.

Crunch!

Pinned beneath, the Platinum Dragon struck back with its forepaw, smashing into its foe’s temple. Bright yellow claws discharged lightning that crackled across scaled flesh, scattering shards of black scales.

Crackle...

Yet the Heaven Defier refused to release its grip. Its heated fangs smoked and melted through the scales, burrowing in deeper. As it tried to wedge its wings inside, the Platinum Dragon drove its knee upward, slamming a stake into its abdomen.

"-----!"

The Heaven Defier screamed, jaws wrenching open in agony. Archeas seized the chance and smashed at Rakhmah's maw again.

Clang— Crackle!

The blow whipped the Heaven Defier’s upper body aside, chains clattering as it tumbled. While it struggled to rise, the Platinum Dragon steadied itself, lifted its head high, and roared.

Deep, blackened bite marks marred its neck. With blazing yellow eyes and magic flooding through it, the Platinum Dragon launched itself into the air once more.

The Heaven Defier spread its wings, shaking violently to fling off the chains, then rose to its feet. The Platinum Dragon was already closing in, jaws wide open.

Boom!

Their collision sent the Heaven Defier crashing backward, smashing through heaps of bones. Roars, explosions, and shockwaves tangled chaotically in the air.

—Didn’t think I’d ever witness such a primitive fight. Did you?

Yog's amused whisper echoed in Ian's mind. Ian, standing among the jungle of bones, let out a sigh.

He had barely dodged another hail of falling bones. He's unscathed, but it came at a price.

I should've worn something that covered my entire face.

His helmet had been knocked off. He'd been so focused on the bones falling in front of him that he hadn't even noticed when, not that he could find it in this mess anyway.

"-----!"

Ian's head snapped toward the noise. The scream that followed the crashes and explosions was Archeas'.

—You’d better hurry.

Yog's low whisper came as Ian darted through the bone jungle.

—It's not looking good over there.

And indeed, they weren’t.

The Platinum Dragon now lay pinned beneath the Heaven Defier. Its wings were pressed down, and a chain was wrapped around its open maw.

Clink!

Even a dragon couldn’t break those shackles. The Heaven Defier slammed down its forepaw, pinning the struggling limb, and gazed down with burning yellow eyes. Their locked stare lasted but a moment.

—You weren't in perfect condition, Archeas. To think you've become this weak... Did you come here just to die?

The Heaven Defier lifted its head, tightening the chains as it whispered.

—I will ask you one last time. Faded gold. Will you not ascend to the heavens with me?

—I refuse, eternal sinner.

Archeas answered immediately.

The Heaven Defier’s eyes curved slightly.

—A pity indeed...

At once, it raised a clawed forepaw to its own chest. The red-hot talons clamped firmly onto the stake embedded there.

Crunch...

Archeas’s eyes widened as dark red magic and bluish chaos flared outward. Slowly, the stake slid free.

Swaaaah—

The massive spear-like stake finally came loose, its sharp tip gleaming. Beneath its ribs, a gaping wound pulsed where dark blood, magic, and blue chaos power swirled together.

—I will grant you... an end befitting my nemesis...

Muttering, the Heaven Defier raised the spike. Magic gathered along it for a moment.

Suddenly, Rakhmah jerked its head to the side and swung the stake like a blade.

A small violet streak, aimed straight at its neck, struck the weapon and bounced harmlessly away. A long, jet-black blade, wreathed in heat haze, spun in an arc through the air. The Heaven Defier’s gaze followed its path and then dropped downward.

—Ah, I see. I had almost forgotten about you...

A faint, crimson curve formed in its eyes. Gripping the stake like a sword, it whispered again.

—You irreverent... and loyal Agent.