I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

35 – 35th Chapter

Gowan, the giant, tore through the air and struck down the warriors of the Blue Mane tribe.

Was it because the sight of the massive arm approaching seemed too unreal?

Most of the warriors stared blankly at the scene. But that didn’t mean they were all waiting for death.

Jaken, who was standing next to them, snatched the horn from the trumpeter and blew it with all his might.

A dull sound burst from the goat’s horn, startling the warriors and snapping them back to their senses.

Even though it was shocking to see something appear right in front of them, they couldn’t afford to lose focus in this urgent situation!

“Run! We have to get out of the path of that arm!”

“Charge! Damn it, even if you think you’re going to fall, roll out of the way!”

The warriors regained their composure and sprinted across the snowy field with pale faces. The clamor above their heads grew louder, but they couldn’t even think to look up at the sky.

If they witnessed Gowan falling from the sky again, it felt like their legs would give out this time.

Watching that sight, Lectar’s eyes filled with bloodshot veins. He realized that it was impossible to save them all.

Lectar unleashed his anger and drew his sword. The sword burned hotly as if it represented his mood.

“Now is the chance while those elemental bastards are focused on that wooden arm. Charge!”

“But what about the warriors?”

“We can’t save everyone anyway! If you don’t want to waste their sacrifice, then charge!”

It was a fierce command, but the warriors lifted their weapons with resolute faces. It wasn’t entirely wrong to say that.

Above all, they had their own formidable weapons unlike before.

“One-ton! Release the beasts and attack right away!”

“Don’t give me orders! Do you think I can’t even make that judgment?”

As One-ton’s eyes gleamed ominously, the beasts grew in size and ferocity, leaping forward.

‘This is a big problem.’

Wendigo, facing the oncoming beasts with rapid speed, licked his lips. It was difficult to move his body as controlling the golem proved challenging.

Initially, he had arrogantly formed a cluster of trees, envisioning massive, powerful arms…

It seemed that due to the unprecedented control of so much mystique, the golem was beyond Wendigo’s control.

If he moved even a little, the golem, swinging down its arms on the heads of enemies, would undoubtedly shatter.

Wendigo, standing at a crossroads, was lost in thought.

‘What if I just freeze them? It only scratched the edge of the spear, so the teeth of the beasts should be… No, it’s not an ordinary beast.’

As a fleeting moment passed, Wendigo moved his somewhat mobile head to check the ice stake he had driven into the ground behind him.

The ice stake, once brimming with mystique, was now reduced by half. It was natural, as it forcefully pulled the roots of surrounding plants to create the golem of the tree giant.

What mattered here was that half of the mystique remained.

‘If I detonate that, can’t I at least stop the beasts?’

There was no need to detonate it entirely. The goal was to hinder the approach of the beasts by freezing their legs just enough.

If he could make the golem collapse after freezing only its legs, there would be enough time!

“Crack!”

‘Burst!’

As Wendigo exerted his will on the ice stake, it began emitting a clear light.

However…

“… It seems to be exploding more than I thought?”

The command given in the desperate situation sometimes led to mistakes. Contrary to Wendigo’s plan, the frozen mystery of the ice spire had once again halved.

The ice spire erupted with a surprisingly brilliant light and a shockwave. The shockwave instantly froze the surroundings, spreading rapidly.

As the shockwave swept through the beasts, they turned into living ice sculptures and rolled on the ground. The ice sculptures rolled on the ground, shattering into pieces.

Rector, leading the warriors at the forefront, quickly raised his sword at the gruesome sight.

“Flames, protect us!”

The flames of Yama, which once burned the plains, burst out from the sword’s center, colliding with the shockwave.

Rector believed that the ancestral sword passed down through generations would be enough to neutralize the shockwave. At least until the flames were about to be scattered by the shockwave.

“Damn ancestors!”

Still, Rector’s efforts were not entirely in vain. The shockwave, which had the momentum to freeze the world immediately, was noticeably weakened, preventing the warriors from turning into ice sculptures.

…That doesn’t mean there was no damage.

Most of the warriors had their hair and skin frozen, and the unfortunate ones had one arm or leg turned into an ice lump.

The impact didn’t stop there.

Kwaaang!

“Damn it. Chief, the warriors…”

“Don’t look back. If you see it, it will shake your heart.”

The ultimate result of failing to disperse Wendigo’s concentration was the massacre of the warriors. The giant stride of the tree golem crushed the warriors like insects.

The tree golem and the ferocious beasts that killed the warriors were instantly frozen by the shockwave.

By now, Lectar had a certainty in his heart about the guilt he had hidden.

The spirit in front of him was definitely not an ordinary spirit!

Lectar strongly manifested the mystery flowing through his entire body. The appearance of the blue wolf, worshiped by the Blue Mane Tribe since ancient times, was present through his body.

Having become a near-perfect werewolf, Lectar suppressed the urge to burst out in savagery and pointed his flame sword at Wendygo.

“You damn spirit! What the hell are you doing in this forest that you’re going this far!!!”

“What are you talking about? I’m just fighting to protect my own people.”

“Don’t bullsh*t me! Even though I may not be proficient in spirits, I know damn well that you guys wouldn’t do something like this for the sake of your subordinates!”

Wendygo looked at Lectar as if bewildered, but Lectar was convinced. Something had been strange from the beginning.

Why would a spirit fight to protect humans? And why would it command them to leave the forest? Why would a spirit do such things?

Above all, what was Lectar’s reason for coming to the forest? Wasn’t it for the sinister act of human sacrifice!

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It wouldn’t be so strange to suspect that Lectar’s abnormal behavior was all due to being influenced by a sinister consciousness.

“I don’t know what you’re up to in this forest, but it definitely won’t be something ordinary. Without gathering mysterious power through dark magic, your strength cannot be explained!”

“…Think whatever you want.”

It was said that arguing with someone who had already made up their mind and created their own reasons was foolish.

Such people would never admit that their answer was wrong.

And anyone who sympathized with such foolish ideas must be a fool themselves…

“…There are more wavering fools than I thought. Are they all idiots?”

As Lectar’s sophistry was heard, the warriors emitted the scent of determination, courage, and belief. Wendygo felt frustrated inside.

To sympathize with such foolish thoughts. Are the warriors of the Blue Mane Tribe nothing but fools?

Wendygo looked at the warriors with a look of pity, but the warriors had their own reasons too.

The things I had done so far were truly wicked.

“I look like a villain.”

“Could it be that they kill warriors cruelly for the sake of magic?”

“In fact, those guys who were swept away by the blizzard might have lost their minds because they were possessed by those spirits, right?”

If he had just thought a little, he would have realized that his behavior was more suspicious than he thought. But Wendy didn’t think seriously enough to consider that.

It was disgusting to see Lector acting like he could become a hero, forgetting about the things he had done, but it wasn’t a bad thing for Wendy.

At least he would fight, risking his own life, so it would be easy to take his life.

In response to Wendy’s call, the ice sword connected to the roots shot up from the ground. Wendy drew her sword in an instant and faced Lector.

“It’s not like I really have a conscience… but if you want to die that badly, I’ll kill you. Come at me.”

“Ha! Did you think I wouldn’t be able to come at you when you told me to?”

At Lector’s bold shout, the warriors rushed forward… except for Lector.

Wendy couldn’t help but admire Lector’s audacity. Indeed, he was too audacious, like someone who had a spirit like Oneton by his side!

“I even waited for him to transform, but he’s so shameless.”

“Honorable warriors with blue manes, awaken the spirits of our ancestors!”

The warriors who escorted Lector were not ordinary warriors. As the warriors brought out the mysteries hidden in their bloodlines, they became beasts.

Wolves, bears, yaks…

Wendy lightly swung her sword towards the bear-human who took the lead. She wanted to check the opponent’s strength.

The bear-human tried to block the ice sword with his shield. It seemed that he was indeed strong like a bear, as the shield was made of solid steel…

Crack!

“Don’t try to block… the monster-like attack! His coldness permeates!”

As the chill of the ice sword instantly froze the shield, the bear-man swiftly threw the shield aside and shouted, “Ancestors, watch over us!”

The bear-man aimed for Wendingo’s legs and swung his axe. Despite the bear-man’s substantial size, he had planned to kneel first, considering Wendingo’s even larger stature.

However, Wendingo’s sword was faster than the axe. Its speed, incongruent with its massive size, was overshadowed by its overwhelming power.

The colossal sword sliced through the bear-man’s arm, protected by tough leather, in one swift motion. The bear-man, swallowing the erupting scream, retaliated with his claws.

In making this choice, he had resolved to leave at least one scar before his demise.

“rrraaah…”

“Silence.”

Kwaang!

Before the bear-man’s claws could touch Wendingo’s body, Wendingo’s fist struck the bear-man’s head.

The force of the blow sent the bear-man’s head flying, or rather, it exploded on impact with the ground. The overwhelming violence made the warriors feel a chilling sensation in their guts.

Never engage alone!

“He’s alone. Surround him and attack!”

“Throw spears, throw spears! If you don’t have any, shoot arrows!”

The warriors swiftly moved, encircling Wendingo. Their actions resembled hunting a dangerous beast.

The problem was that Wendingo wasn’t just dangerous; he was beyond that.

As sharp spears flew toward him, Wendingo swung his sword, deflecting half of them and roaring toward the remaining half.

Frozen by the chilling aura and the primal fear induced by his roar, the warriors stood frozen.

And into their mesmerized gaze entered Wendingo’s colossal ice sword.

“Damn.”

Whether it was supple leather honed by mystique or sturdy bones, it was utterly useless. Wendigo’s ice sword cut through enemies, creating violet trails.

Oneton approached Lektar, watching the scene unfold.

“Oneton! Just where the hell were you and what were you doing?”

Naturally, amidst the warriors being mercilessly slaughtered, no polite words could escape Lektar’s lips.

Even Oneton couldn’t brazenly retort this time. He had undeniably inflicted losses solely on Lektar.

Initially, releasing only the beasts, he had been eagerly awaiting the chance to cut off Wendigo’s breath.

However, even in this situation, one had to confidently state their claim. Oneton began to speak with his guilty conscience.

“Sorry. But hear me out.”

“What story? I’ve never had a good experience following your stories, and I’m neither naive nor likely to believe you!”

“… But this time is different. Think about it. After rampaging to that extent, how much mystique do you think is left? Now’s the chance to bring him down.”

Oneton’s words made sense. The strength of a spirit is determined by the depth and vastness of its mystique.

Whatever Wendigo summoned, it was undoubtedly not achievable with a minimal amount of mystique. It was clear that he had consumed a considerable amount.

Above all…

“Think carefully. If you can’t kill him now, do you think the tribe will forgive you?”

“That’s…”

Lektar couldn’t guarantee that.

No matter how much the battlefield conditions vanished like smoke, expecting forgiveness from the tribe when the warrior faced a massacre was unrealistic.

Returning as it was, his throat being slit was as inevitable as seeing fire.

Sensing Lektar’s wavering emotions, Oneton pushed Lektar’s feelings aside.

“Look behind you. The one you despise so much is taking care of the warriors.”

“!”

Lectar’s gaze turned towards Jaken, who was somehow managing to take care of the surviving warriors.

Of course, it wasn’t easy for the warriors, who were still reeling from the shock, to return to battle. Right now, they were practically outsiders on the battlefield.

The problem was that once the battle was over, they would also return to their tribe.

What if the returning warriors joined forces with Jaken and started a rebellion?

It was a fairly plausible speculation. Jaken had consistently contradicted Lectar’s opinions and had cunningly incited the warriors.

He had pretended to care for the warriors in front of them, but it was clear that he was secretly aiming for the position of chief!

Now, Lectar’s only remaining option was to defeat Wendygo and use his authority to suppress the dissatisfaction within the tribe.

Otherwise, he would have to endure dishonor and go into exile.

“I absolutely cannot allow that.”

Lectar swallowed his unease and reached out his hand to Onethon.

“Let’s settle our differences this time. There won’t be any more incidents like this in the future.”

“Hmph. Be grateful for the honor of assisting the great spirit.”

Reluctantly, Onethon lifted his foot and placed it on Lectar’s hand.

Indeed, the enemy of the enemy is a friend.

Wendygo found it surprisingly… disgusting to see them united for the first time, secretly plotting betrayal.

But she didn’t deny that she had to stay vigilant.

With the last warrior’s throat slit, Wendygo kept her guard up and stared at them.