In the grand chambers of the Royal Academy, where only the most elite gathered, Priyanshu sat with a porcelain teacup in hand, observing the glittering crowd.
Today was the annual "Youth Pillar Selection," a tournament for young prodigies—perfect bait to attract attention. Priyanshu, however, didn't care about winning.
He cared about influence.
And pieces.
"Everyone's watching the surface," he whispered to himself, smiling. "But they'll never notice the shadow beneath."
He wore a calm, pleasant expression. Kind, even naive. The perfect mask. It worked like magic. Literally.
[System Notification: Shadow Persona activated. Those below your cultivation level cannot detect killing intent, aura, or true cultivation.]
Across the hall, dozens of young nobles and disciples of major sects sized each other up. The air was thick with tension and hidden power plays.
Then, a burst of fanfare echoed.
The king's decree had been announced—whoever ranked first in the tournament would be granted access to the royal archives and a single spiritual treasure.
The audience roared. Excitement filled the air.
Priyanshu sipped his tea again. He already knew the outcome.
Because the winner was already chosen. By him.
A young man named Veer, an orphan from the outer district—abandoned, bullied, overlooked.
Exactly the kind of pawn Priyanshu liked.
Weeks ago, he had saved Veer from a deadly ambush and handed him a strange scroll.
[Secret Quest Completed: Mold a pawn into a pillar.][Reward: +500 Villain Karma | Veil of Thousand Faces – Acquired.]
Now, Veer stood on the stage with quiet confidence and a hidden formation array etched into his blade—unseen by anyone but its true creator: Priyanshu.
The battles began.
Lightning. Fire. Swords. Screams.
One by one, Veer cut through the competition—not with brute strength, but with almost divine precision. Every move anticipated, every weakness exploited.
As expected.
"Who trained him?" the elders murmured.
"He's... too skilled."
But no one knew.
No one would ever know.
Priyanshu clapped politely with the rest, wearing the same warm smile.
[Veer's loyalty increased. A trace of worship detected.]
[New Pawn Registered: Veer (Knight-Class). Hidden trigger: If harmed, enters berserk mode.]
Priyanshu left early, unnoticed. He preferred it that way.
As he walked past the academy's inner walls, he passed a statue of a forgotten hero.
He looked up and chuckled.
"Heroes are meant to be remembered."
He placed a hand on the stone.
"But villains… they're the ones who write the script."
And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, the mask still smiling.