Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 140: Chapter 139- Carnage(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC140: Chapter 139- Carnage(1)
Amelia was feeling helpless. It has been two days since she got abducted, and for the past two days, she did nothing but try to remove herself from her binds.
The very thought of becoming a hindrance, and the reason for Richard's defeat made her feel terrified. Her whole being shivered at that thought. And just as she told Ethan, Amelia would prefer to end herself before she could become a reason behind Richard's failure.
She can accept anything but to see the man she loves, yielding before anyone.
Her ether wasn't responding.to her calls. Although it was working within her body quite normally, her skills weren't working. It was almost like she was only allowed to access her ether to keep herself alive.
In these two days only once Ethan came to check on her and tried to feed her food...only to get his hand bitten until it bled.
If only her teeth could have reached his throat, Amelia was determined to bite the life out of that scumbag.
Ethan had betrayed Richard. And for that sin alone he deserves death.
'It troubles me...' Amelia couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive. What was Ethan's intention, and why was he regarding Richard as an evil worshipper?
What actually happened with his mother for Richard to just suddenly disappear? And if Ethan was so well set on bringing down Richard, it wasn't impossible for Ethan to actually cause some major disruption.
After all, Ethan has the support of the Princess. And if Ethan says the word, Elizabeth probably will do anything for him to cause trouble for Richard.
'Richard...where are you ...' Feeling all helpless Amelia called his name and hoped that Richard could hear her voice and return to her.
...
Allen was feeling nervous. He could still hear the loud echoes of the battle occurring outside the mansion, which began two days ago. And until now, the battle cries and wails of death have yet to subdue.
At some point Lilia also had to join the battle, given only one man was retaliating against the continuous assault of the church workers. They have been relentlessly moving forward with the only desire of bringing an end to the evil-worshipper, that is, Duchess Bellarine.
Allen has retained his spell, but he knew if even a couple of church members entered inside and Allen had to confront them, then he would, most probably, lose control over the time-freezing dome.
'Mister Richard left only three days ago...' Allen felt his hands turning moist because of sweat. There are still eleven days left for Richard to return and heal his mother and sister. And given the number of increasing forces from the church it was highly unlikely that they could withstand the assault for that long.
'Who can help us....I feel scared...'
.....
Outside the mansion, the number of church members was increasing dramatically passing each second.
Now, it wasn't a battle between two sides; it was a war between an army and two individuals.
Lilia could be seen traversing through the hordes of church members with her daggers cleaving anyone she came across. Unlike when she joined the battle, her pace was a little slower and upon closer inspection one could gaze at several small wounds which the church members had caused.
Her figure zapped through the crowd, severing every neck, piercing every heart and slicing every throat she saw. There was no pause to her spree. All she could currently think about was to keep them away from the last line of defence.
The red-eyed man was the last line of defence who kept butchering any being who crossed a certain distance.
Although there have been deaths, they were so incredibly less compared to the colossal amount filling the space that slowly Lilia and the man were losing their hopes.
These church workers weren't strong per se. However, the fact that their vitality had been increased to the point of near immortality was making it awfully difficult to cut down the numbers. Not to talk about, the whole wide area around the mansion and several houses nearby were engulfed by a barrier that separated them from the outside.
So unless someone stronger than the chanter(s) doesn't attack the barrier with a series of attacks, the barrier is not going to break.
They were trapped and getting restlessly pushed back. However, not even once did Lilia lose her will to fight back. She knew she had to keep going for a few days until he returned.
Her beloved.
One priest caught her figure, his hands already glowing with light magic. He raised his arms, chanting a spell to immobilize her. Lilia dashed forward, the air around her legs crackling with self-enhancing energy. She spun, dodging the incoming light bolts, and plunged her daggers into his chest before he could finish the incantation.
Another priest lunged at her, swinging a heavy, spiked flail. She ducked just in time, the weapon grazing her back. Pain flared, but Lilia was already moving. With a sharp kick to his knee, the priest buckled, and Lilia slit his throat in one swift motion.
One conjured fire in his palms, hurling it at her. Lilia sidestepped the flames, her enhanced speed blurring her movements. As the sorcerer prepared another spell, she flung one of her daggers at his throat, silencing him instantly.
The other two charged with swords glowing with holy light. Lilia met them head-on, deflecting the strikes with her remaining dagger. A sword nicked her arm, blood staining her sleeve, but she didn't falter. With a twist, she slid behind one of them and stabbed his spine, then pivoted to catch the other across the neck.
A shout echoed behind her, and she skidded to a halt, crouching low. Five church members blocked the way, their robes glowing with enchanted symbols.
She bolted forward. One of them raised his staff, shooting a blast of light. Lilia twisted mid-air, the beam grazing her side. Pain assaulted her, but she landed smoothly, rolling under another strike. She kicked off the ground, her dagger flashing as it tore through the throat of the closest priest. His gurgled scream was cut short as he collapsed.
Lilia wiped her lips and turned around, catching one of the priests raising his staff to attack her. She sidestepped, feeling the wooden staff brushing past her nose as she simply raised her hand and stabbed the man thrice in the chest and both eyes.
The man rolled away and Lilia charged for another group. Raising her barrier as a shield, she protected herself from the blend of several elemental attacks as she slammed the shield into them, making them fall down.
Turning around, she lunged toward the incoming hulking man, her dagger prepared as before her enemy could have blocked her; she jumped over his shoulder and plunged the dagger deep inside his skull.
"TAKE THIS!"
Suddenly, a powerful force slammed into her, sending her crashing into a through the crowd and only stopping once Lilia was on the ground, eyes blurry and consciousness on the verge of slipping.
She could barely realize what just happened as she found her senses failing to discern things happening around her.
She tried to get up, however, her body betrayed her. She knew her enemies were advancing, however, she no longer had the strength to get up.
A pool of blood formed around her, and Lilia remained lifelessly lying there.
The nearby church members gathered around her, and one by one, they started stomping their feet on her.
Lilia's mind was turning numb being attacked by those many men. Her body churned in pain as she felt every inch of her body being assaulted by them.
However, she couldn't do anything....she....she failed...
Closing her eyes, she slowly muttered, "I...am...sorry...master...."
It was then when suddenly all the priests who were tormenting Lilia, stopped as a colossal presence descended upon them.
Slowly the sensation was felt by every member across the battlefield as they stopped moving altogether and felt their body vibrating in anxiety.
The open field stretched out in all directions, but it suddenly felt claustrophobic, as if the world beyond the barrier had vanished. The air grew thick, heavy, and cold, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, white mist curling from their lips.
One of them, an older priest with deep-set eyes, glanced nervously toward the sky. The stars above flickered, and a creeping darkness spread, swallowing the light. His lips quivered. "This… this isn't right. The protection spell—it should be holding."
Another priest, younger but wide-eyed with panic, tightened his grip on the staff. "It is… it is! It has to hold!" But his voice cracked, betraying his terror.
Although those words were spoken, for some reason everyone knew that the barrier wouldn't be able to save them from what was coming.
....something inhumane was coming. And they could feel it. The emotion which the entity was currently filled with.
Rage.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BINNovel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 141: Chapter 140- Carnage(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC141: Chapter 140- Carnage(2)
Once, when he and Bella were off shopping, someone crashed into Bella, making her fall and cry in pain; that was the first day when Richard's parents received a warning from the police since Richard ended up smashing a whole set of beer bottles onto the asshole's head.
Those close to them shall always remain safe by his side, is the principle which he follows. And if someone tries to hurt them...then Richard himself doesn't know what he might end up doing in rage.
Currently, the person whom he promised to protect all his life was getting attacked by several white-robe-wearing worms.
The only thought that came to his mind when Richard saw Lilia in such a state was to shred them into pieces while keeping their consciousness intact so they could feel the pain of that degree which no human should experience.
And Richard was well-set on making it true.
Releasing Hell Blaze upon the dome he entered the barrier with ease. Covering his body with the flames of destruction he landed on the ground and looked around.
His eyes didn't wander for long before he gazed at her...
Lilia.
The men around the maid reflexively stepped back, wishing that they shouldn't have volunteered to attack her, in the first place
Richard's eyes remained on her closed ones, anger surging through his veins and his heart feeling heavy under the guilt of pushing his beloved into such a pitiful state.
The air cracked with heat as Richard stepped forward, his eyes cold and focused. The church members stepped aside, giving him the space; not consciously.
His whole presence was enshrouded with a thick layer of rage. It was like even approaching the person would burn them.
Richard didn't speak a single word as he reached his beloved maid.
"Holy-" Before the Priest could attack Richard with light energy, his body was shattered by an invisible force, bones snapping and flesh tearing, leaving nothing but a gruesome heap of blood and gore.
Richard flicked his fingers, and every man who dared stand before him was crushed like insects. Limbs twisted and cracked, bodies caving in as they were mercilessly torn apart. A river of blood flowed in his wake, painting the ground red. He moved like a reaper, calm and unstoppable, his footsteps echoing through the deadly silence.
The sight of him made people tremble, paralyzed by fear, knowing their end was near but powerless to stop it.
Nearing his beloved, Richard crouched down, and like a doll made of feathers, he picked her up in a bridal hold.
Instantly, a familiar raven-haired woman appeared before Richard and respectfully asked, "Let me take her away and heal her, my lord."
Richard nodded as he handed Lilia to her, and told her, "Heal her wounds and keep her safe."
Jasmine nodded before black wings appeared behind her back, and she flew towards the mansion, determined to protect the girl even at the cost of her life.
"You...!" The Pope staggered through the fallen bodies of his brothers which were no longer regenerating, and glared at Richard. Others tried to stop him, for the sake of his safety, but the silver-haired man didn't look sane enough to think rationally.
Standing before Richard the man snarled, "You vile creature took the side of the evil! You don't know the forces that will come after you, now that you have chosen the unholy path."
Those words hung in the air, the listeners gulping at the thought of what might happen now.
Richard looked at the man, his eyes holding no emotion that could be distinguished, as he asked, "I read in the book of eternal grace....that the path of absolution is through eternal rest?"
The Pope frowned, "It's strange that you know about it. But yes, that's correct."
Richard's eyes darkened as he raised his hand and declared, "Then consider me your god and receive your much-deserved blessings."
Before the Pope or anyone else could say anything, Richard raised his hand, and with a snap of his fingers, a fiery storm erupted around him—a hurricane of Hell Blaze, its flames scorching black and red as they twisted violently in the air. The inferno roared to life, expanding like the maw of a beast, swallowing everything in its path.
The church members were helpless, sucked into the blazing vortex. Their screams pierced the air as their bodies were torn apart by the raging winds, skin peeling from bone, flesh melting like wax in the heat. Some were flung into the air, limbs twisted at unnatural angles before being crushed mid-flight, their blood raining down in dark, hot splatters.
Others were burned alive, their skin bubbling and charring until they were little more than smoking skeletons.
The Hell Blaze devoured them, leaving no chance for escape. Their bones cracked and snapped under the pressure of the flames, reducing them to nothing but ash. The mansion walls themselves began to blacken and crumble under the heat, but the screams of the dying lingered, a symphony of agony that echoed through the ruin.
Richard stood at the eye of the storm, his expression calm and cold, his figure untouched by the firestorm that ravaged everything else. To him, this was no more than an act of justice—retribution in its purest, most devastating form.
As the last of the church members were obliterated, their bodies crushed and incinerated into nothingness, the hurricane finally subsided, leaving only ash and scorched earth in its wake.
"Now you four...." Richard turned around and looked at the four men who earlier were hurting Lilia. He protected them using his barrier, as dealing them with Hell Blaze would have been mercy for them.
The four priests were already on the ground, their heads pressed and streams of tears flowing down their eyes.
"Master, let me take care of them." Suddenly the hulking form of a black-haired man appeared before him.
Richard could faintly sense Aembr radiating from the man.
An apostle of one of the Generals, Richard discerned.
Jasmine told him earlier that there are apostles of all the Generals. Every General has two at least, and Richard was just like them, an emissary.
But the difference was, that he inherited authority from the Lord of Death. That explains why this man, Jasmine and Brad have been so respectful toward him.
For Brad to not sit on the same seat as Richard was not a casual act but something he did subconsciously. Brad himself hasn't realised it. Richard sensed that presence from him, which no living human should be possessing.
And this man was the same.
'You spare them if they kneel, huh...' Richard nodded before telling him, "Keep them alive."
Hearing those words, massive wings three times bigger than Jasmine's and more grotesque appeared behind the man but just as he was about to pick the priests, someone called out,
"Release them, Richard. You have already committed a grave sin by executing these many worshippers."
Those words were spoken by a certain silver-haired who stood there with pure indifference in his eyes.
Richard raised his eyes, as he asked, "So you finally showed up. I started to think that I might have to take down a church or two to help you grow some balls."
Richard was informed by the Headmaster that Ethan and Eleanor were involved in Amelia's abduction but for some reason, even Marcus couldn't locate them.
Ethan stared at Richard with no particular reaction; however, inwardly, he was nervous standing before the man who once held a bit of innocence in his eyes.
Now...he looked nothing like his previous self.
"You do know what is at stake yet to dare talk back?" Eleanor snickered, appearing from behind.
Her eyes held ridicule and deep-seated hatred she had been carrying for Richard for this long. She never forgave this piece of trash who had tormented Ethan in the previous timeline and in this itinerary, he was acting all innocent and harmless
However, Eleanor knew deep within Richard was still vile and corrupted. And today, he proved her belief to be true.
The clouds beside Ethan parted and revealed the familiar black-haired girl whose eyes were closed and she was bound from head to toe with ropes.
Richard growled, his eyes darkening. He never thought that Ethan would betray him, but it seems he was hoping a lot from the Emissary of Light.
In the end he would be blinding following the orders he received from those Goddesses.
Richard clenched his fist, his aura becoming denser passing each moment, urging Eleanor to threaten, "If you made a single move, this girl dies. The key to unlock those binds is in our hands, so unless you want to lose your pitiful lover, kneel before us!"
Eleanor spat, her eyes turning red in rage. She raised her hand and showed the key of the bind that surrounded Amelia.
Trying to get rid of those binds without the keys, one of which Ethan had and the other one in her possession, would instantly choke Amelia to death. And this was something that Richard also knew.
Tension grew between them. Richard was forced into a corner. Not even once he thought of endangering Amelia's life...and looking at Eleanor it was evident that she would not stop unless she humiliated him.
Richard gritted his teeth and was about to kneel....when suddenly an audible thud was heard.
Richard, with wide eyes looked at Eleanor's who was pushed down on the ground with the key from her hand missing.
No one could believe that Ethan just now shoved her down and took the key from her.
Not even once Ethan thought before unbinding Amelia as he voiced, "I knew you were rotten to your core, and today I got to see your real face as well, "Those words were directed at Eleanor, who somehow overcame her shock and looked at her beloved with tears in her eyes.
Once Amelia was unbound she began to fall, only to Ethan to catch her and look at Richard with a soft gaze before he said,
"Please take what's yours."
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A/N:- Nah, bro. He did Eleanor dirty. Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 142: Chapter 141- TruthSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC142: Chapter 141- Truth
"Ethan wait!" Hearing that voice, Ethan was surprised. After all, he didn't expect someone to meet here at this hour. And a girl no less.
With a frown, he turned toward the girl. At that moment, Ethan's eyes were unfocused, and there was a strange energy radiating around him that yelled determination.
He was going to abduct Amelia for the sake of humanity. This was what 'they' commanded. And as someone who holds their blessings, it was Ethan's obligation to fulfil his role.
"What? " He asked as he saw the blond girl standing there while huffing audibly. She also possesses this strange energy which was granted by the residents of the heavens. And that's the reason why Ethan even bothered to turn around.
Emily nervously looked at the person who held no innocence and child-like curiosity in his eyes, unlike how she had seen him for the past few days. She felt sad witnessing those determined and crazed looks on him.
"You are going to get involved with matters relating to Richard, no?" She asked.
Ethan's frown deepened, "Why do you look anxious about it? Have you also switched sides?"
Ethan couldn't believe that the apostles of the light had such a vital role in protecting humanity was concerned about those evil-worshippers.
Emily's eyes were drawn to the ground as she slowly uttered, "We can be rational without siding the evil, Ethan. You may have forgotten about it, but once you taught me that no one shall be treated unjustly despite which side they are standing."
The tension from his brows was slightly released, but still, there was a massive cloud of confusion lingering.
Emily raised her gaze, with a flare of determination in her eyes. She knew she couldn't hurt Ethan and trying to prevent him would result in the same in what she was about to do. So why not take the step which would surely make Ethan think rationally about it?
With a long breath, she asked, "Do you remember the catalyst which awakened your powers?" Emily felt her throat burning and her mind turning numb just as she uttered those words. Her vision blurred and she was barely able to stop herself from falling.
But through the sheer determination to protect the people close to Richard, she uttered, "Eleanor was aware of that attack...from the Headless Demon and...and...she...had the resources...to save your....mother....but she chose....not to...not...to...let you have this power!"
She yelled those few words as blood began to drip down her lips and her eyes turned bloodshot
Ethan's eyes were stretched to their widest reach, and his lips parted slightly. He wasn't in the right mind to support Emily before the girl fell to the ground.
....Eleanor knew yet...she didn't save his mother....
His unfocused gaze regained vitality and his demeanor regained stability.
If not for Emily he might have done something...truly unforgivable today.
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"I knew if I rejected their command, they would have told Eleanor to abduct Amelia. So I took the job in my hand so I can free her when the time comes." Ethan spoke with a solemn expression.
He was feeling guilty for how he treated Amelia in these past two days. Although he didn't hurt her, being bound to one place surely would have been quite unpleasant.
Richard, who was holding Amelia in his arms, thanked the silver head, "You did the right thing, and I am thankful for it."
"You dare say that?" Suddenly, Eleanor spoke up as she slowly stood on her feet.
Ethan frowned, "You never learn, eh?"
Eleanor helplessly looked at him before asking, "Ethan...do you know what he is going to do now, right? Summon one of the Generals of the Death Lord. You do know how much destruction that being can bring right?"
Hearing those words, Ethan could t refute them instantly. However, it wasn't the same for Richard, "I will defeat it."
Ethan turned towards the Scarlette heir before asking, "A-Are you sure about this? Aren't you like one of them?"
"I can never be with mass destruction and loss of innocent lives, Ethan." Richard sincerely replied.
Ethan smiled hearing that before he turned towards Eleanor, "And you hate this person?"
Eleanor rolled her eyes, "He thinks he can defeat someone who has the strength to put even the Duchess down? Yeah, sure."
In the previous timeline, Scarlette Bellarine is defeated and killed by the same deity-class demon whom Richard is about to summon. So naturally, it seems implausible for Richard to take care of it.
Richard darkly chuckled, "Why are you worried about someone else when you should be looking out for yourself? After all, once I deal with the Demon you will be the next."
Richard did no longer care about the plot, the role of Eleanor and other stuff. All he desired was now to split that head of hers and bathe in her blood. She has tried harming his family, and that reason is enough for Richard to go against the heavens.
Eleanor's eyes turned cold as she asked, "Do you think your presence will be tolerated if you hurt the child of the Goddess of Fate?"
Richard growled, "Wait and see if I care about such shit reasons or not."
Ethan was silent on the matter; he didn't care what Richard would do to Eleanor since after hearing that Eleanor purposely let his mother die for the sake of these powers, he himself was feeling vengeful.
"Sir Richard!" Suddenly a very loud reverberation of voice echoed from within the mansion, and Richard instantly spun on his feet.
Darting inside the mansion, followed by Ethan they both climbed the stairs and found Allen on his knees.
"What happened to you?!" Richard asked once he laid Amelia on the sofa.
The boy was bleeding from his eyes and nose as he uttered, "Someone attacked me from behind when you arrived here! I didn't see them!" He said.
Richard looked at his back, and indeed, there was a small hole in his shirt and a red glaring mark on his body.
Allen continued, "My Aembr is getting suppressed! I won't be able to withhold this barrier for long!"
Richard gritted his teeth. There was no one to protect Allen and summoning the Demon and defeating him would take some time.
"Go on, I will protect him." Suddenly, the Headmaster appeared in the room, and while standing beside Allen, he added, "I will keep the surroundings under my observation so he doesn't get attacked again."
Richard nodded; thankful for the man's assistance.
"And I will help you defeat that being. After all, that's my duty as a light user, no?" Ethan added as he rested his hand on Richard's shoulder and assured him, "Don't worry, we will save them."
Richard couldn't believe that the person he was hating and planning to murder just a few moments ago was now willing to help him.
With a nod, Richard said, "Let's go."
Richard has already attained the knowledge of how he can summon the Evil General so he didn't distract Allen and descended the stairs.
"I apologize, my lord, but that girl escaped." The hulking man with red eyes suddenly appeared before Richard, blocking his way.
Richard clicked his tongue, "Forget about her and move!"
The man was startled but instantly rolled toward his left to give his Lord some space.
Ethan apologetically nodded towards the man as he followed Richard to the open space.
Richard stood in the middle of the open field and took a deep breath. Whatever happens now would decide several things. Several things are bound to change. However, at this moment, all Richard desires is to revive his sister and mother.
And for that, he is going to crack a deal with the devil.
Pulling his sleeve, Richard bit his thumb and dropped a few droplets of crimson fluid over the mark of the evil before chanting,
"With this blood, we tear the veil between worlds.
Vornyx, Demon General, heed our call.
Bound by flame and shadow, we unchain you.
Arise from the depths and walk among us."
"By the sacrifices given, your power is freed.
Let none stand before you—Vornyx, enter this realm."
Suddenly, the ritual mark, which was drawn on his arm, surrounded Richard, with him in the centre.
The air around the ritual circle grew heavy, almost suffocating, as the final words of the chant faded into the wind. The sky, once clear, darkened unnaturally fast, thick clouds swirling overhead. The wind howled, not from any direction, but from everywhere at once, whipping the trees and tearing at the earth.
The temperature dropped sharply, the warmth of the day stolen by an icy chill that cut deep into the bones. A low, rumbling growl echoed from beneath the ground, and the surface itself began to tremble. Small cracks snaked outward from the ritual site, spreading like a web.
A thin layer of frost appeared on the bodies of the dead priests, and Ethan had to rub his palms together to not let himself get frostbite.
Suddenly, the clouds above parted—not to reveal sunlight, but a dark, swirling vortex. Lightning cracked through the air, illuminating the twisted, black void. The wind intensified, spiralling into the centre of the ritual like a storm being drawn into a singular point.
From the small gap, it appeared—the third strongest General of the demonic army.
Dread Sovereign, Vornyx.
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A/N:- Lowkey feels bad for Emily. Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 143: Chapter 142- Amusing?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC143: Chapter 142- Amusing?
The atmosphere came to a standstill. The very air seemed to have frozen in that moment when the Demon appeared.
White flaming hair that defied gravity and flowed above its head like a crown. A greyish-white body which was only covered with a loose garment on its lower body. A pair of gauntlets covered its hands up to his forearms and a sword could be seen resting behind his back.
The entity had dark raven eyes that seemed to be reflecting the abyss itself. A presence that exceeded any expectation and the weight of the energy it was radiating was dense enough to make Ethan feel breathless.
Standing under a deity class entity were two humans, one of them from the side of Light and one of them carrying the mark of evil.
The Demon stared down at Richard with indifference, seemingly assessing him.
Richard couldn't deny the fact that he was taken aback by the Aembr this being was radiating, however, stepping back and surrendering was never an option.
Stepping forward, Richard asked, "You have inflicted that curse on my mother, Scarlette Bellarine, and as a reward for summoning you, I desire you liberate her."
The demon tilted its head...in amusement?!
A face-splitting grin extended its dark lips as the demon flapped its wings and asked, "You are 'his' heir? The almighty one chose you? Aren't you just a toddler?"
His voice held an evident sense of amusement and ridicule.
Ethan frowned about who this being was talking about.
However, Richard didn't have the same question since he knew the person it just spoke of was none other than Zulcriz.
The demon lowered itself and descended to the surface, making Ethan flinch; however, before he could move even an inch, his whole body was encased in a thick layer of ice, rendering him motionless.
Richard frowned as he instantly raised his hand to free Ethan, only to be interrupted by the General, "Don't worry about him, he won't get hurt much in there."
Despite those words, Richard didn't stop and used his flames to melt the ice
"Che, how boring. You are now looking for help from these holy children of blah blah." The demon looked disgruntled with Richard helping Ethan, but the flame user didn't care about what it thought and continued to melt the ice…which seemed to be melting at an awfully slow rate.
"You know I have frozen time, right? So there is no point how long you try, you won't succeed."
Richard paused before turning towards the Demon, "You don't have the power to manipulate time. I know it."
The demon snarled, "As I said, I froze the time knucklehead. Now leave that snow white there and come attack me. I am veeeeeery bored and unless I get to see some action, I won't be forgiving that woman."
While pointing toward the mansion, Vornyx stated.
Richard took a deep breath. So it was going to be like this.
Stepping away from Ethan he asked, "Why do you guys always have to be battle hungry?" Richard sighs as he throws away the cloak and cracks his neck.
Vornyx shrugged, "There is nothing we can do on the Dark Star because of our dear Sovereign's presence. It gets tiresome."
Richard snickered, "You seemed to be quite scared of your master. Unexpectedly, it is."
"Hahah, isn't it? But what can I do? Nothing can dominate Death itself but surely, " With the demon's eyes turning frosty and voice deeper, it added, "I can shred his apostle into cubes, right?"
Richard's gaze turned solemn, as he summoned Hell Blaze in both of his hands and wordlessly launched it towards the annoying demon.
However, as one could expect, the demon wasn't affected by the flames at all. The flames deflected once they hit the demon's chest plate.
"Haa…man, you are boring, you know? I know you can do better, so just get on with it."
Richard heaved a sigh before stepping back and summoning his staff. The golden staff materialized in his hand, gleaming with a faint ethereal glow
The demon smirked, "Nice toy you got there. But I bet you still haven't reached its core~"
Richard didn't feel the obligation to answer the inhumane before he launched into the air, his body turning lighter like a feather.
Twirling the staff, he allowed the purplish electricity to crackle around the staff, like pieces of pearls around a thread completing an ornament.
Taking a deep breath, he coated the staff with Hell Blaze and increased the size of the staff.
Air became denser, and Richard remained hanging in the air like a God descended from the heavens, holding the legendary Ruyi in a tight grip. His target locked on, waiting for Richard to get done with his preparation.
The nonchalance didn't make him falter, as Richard increased his weight by several folds and launched himself through the air, piercing the mist and darting towards his target with every ounce of strength he possessed.
Under this assault, not even an S-ranked beast could have survived unless they had teleportation in possession.
**BOOOOOOM**
Richard's staff slammed down, aiming for the demon's head, leaving a trail of fire and thunder in its wake. A thunderous explosion roared, obliterating the frost that clung to the ground, hurling Ethan away like a ragdoll, and erasing the houses nearby in a single, devastating sweep. The mansion's barriers shattered as the shockwave rolled through the area.
A web of cracks spread beneath the demon's feet as the violent storm of flame and lightning descended, setting the surroundings ablaze. But instead of the staff smashing down on the demon's crown as Richard intended, the demon raised its forearm, catching the blow in the nick of time. The force still seared its skin, but it held fast, smoke rising from its charred arm.
Its dark eyes looked at Richard with excitement as it growled, "Now that's what I am talking about!"
A sudden surge of Aembr burst from the Demon, making Richard recoil from the force as he was propelled back.
Richard didn't have time to let gravity pull him down as the white flames of the demon arrived before his eyes and launched a left punch right in the middle of Richard's chest, which the latter barely blocked with his left arm.
**BOOOOM**
Richard was planted on the ground with his left hand completely shattered. A crater formed around him as his golden eyes parted wide upon the realisation.
This enemy… was crazy strong!
"Hahah! Don't die on me!" Suddenly, Vornyx appeared behind Richard and picked him up with his collar.
Richard launched a fireball right before the Demon's face using his usable hand. However, that was futile as Vornyx simply swatted it away and repeated the action by throwing Richard like he was some kind of pest.
Richard twirled in the air and called his bo staff back to him.
"Heh~" Vornyx smirked before it jumped forward and held the staff with its left hand.
*Ssss*
"Hmm?" Vornyx tilted its head upon finding its hand burning because of the weapon.
He felt annoyed; no weapon shall show such arrogance.
Before Vornyx could snap the Ruyi Ban in half, the staff shattered into fragments, vanishing from its grasp, only to reappear firmly in Richard's hand.
Without hesitation, Richard lunged, his staff crackling with energy, ready to unleash another torrent of raw power. His eyes were locked onto Vornyx, every movement precise, every strike carrying lethal intent.
But Vornyx wasn't going to take the hit again. Anticipating the attack, it twisted its massive body, dodging just as it seized Richard's wrist with crushing force. In a swift, brutal motion, it grabbed his throat, lifting him effortlessly before slamming him into the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
"Khak!" There was no time for Richard to react before he was pinned down.
"Aghhhh!" He cried in pain as his arm was plucked out of its socket.
Blood sprayed from his shoulder as the Demon threw away the arm and along with it, the bo staff was thrown away.
"Tehehehe~this is-*thwak* oddly-*dhak* satisfying!" While punching Richard with his hand covered with ice, the Demon laughed maniacally.
Richard's face was beaten black and blue, eyes bleeding and his previous features no longer visible.
Vornyx has nearly forgotten how much he hated Zulcriz. The deep loathing he carried for that damned being who always controls everything around him! How can he forget that aversion?!
Taking a rest, Vornyx stated, "Sorry kid, but this isn't personal."
Cocking its fist, it was about to drive another blow into Richard when, without warning, the same arm it had torn off earlier seized the demon's fist in midair.
Vornyx's eyes widened. The boy's arm now engulfed in roaring flames, moved as though the severed limb lying nearby was never his. His gaze flicked back to Richard, only to find those once-fading eyes blazing with a searing intensity, hotter than molten steel.
With a low growl, Richard's fist closed, and the demon's gauntlet crumbled in his grasp. Through gritted teeth, Richard spoke, his voice like a furnace ready to burst:
"Now... burn."
---------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop some reviews if you have read the story until now.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 144: Chapter 143- Reuniting(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC144: Chapter 143- Reuniting(1)
Years ago, isolated from the outside world, lived two beings, surrounded by a dome that allowed them to gaze at their surroundings, but they weren't allowed to leave the dome unless one of the two met their demise.
One of the two beings, who has been kept here for the sake of restraining his hunger, had the opportunity, hundreds of them, to kill the sorceress who has locked him here. However, those thoughts have long been exhausted once the emotion of affection was born inside his heart.
"You look unnaturally tense today." Brenda, the founder of the Scarlette clan and someone who has received the title of a Sage, asked in a weary tone.
Her eyes were caved in, her face pale, and sweat continued to pour down her head as she remained seated beside her beloved.
In her current state, she should have better be lying down. However, the woman wanted to spend a few hours before childbirth with her beloved.
The crimson-haired man heaved a sigh as he looked into a vast space. His eyes, which held nothing but hunger for power once, were now welled up with regret and concern.
He knew that there would come a point when he would need to part ways with Brenda. However, he was far from prepared for that moment.
However, sharing his fear with her would only make her worried even further, so he shared the reason for his concern for the future,
"With time, things are bound to change. People will begin to become weaker as compared to this era. And those descendants I have left behind might no longer exist after a few hundred years."
Bringing his hand which was no longer encased with the flames, the man rested it on his wife's swollen belly as he muttered, "I fear our son or the future generation might not be able to withstand what I am leaving behind."
The pink-haired woman smiled softly and held her lover's hand fondly, which was on her. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she softly whispered, "You know, seeing this caring side of yours always warms my heart. It shows how much you have matured in so little time."
The Flame Warden, formally known as Cristopher Emberclad, huffed, "I was mature even at the time when we met."
"Oh yeah? I remember all you used to shout, 'DIE!' or 'BURN!' even at the slightest movement, no?" The immortal warden had to cover his face with flames to cover the blush.
His wife is still mischievous as ever.
Brenda giggled, only to wince when she felt her chest burning even more fiercely.
Christopher held her shoulder and asked if she wanted some water.
Brenda shook her head and asked, "Have you thought of a way...?"
The Warden raised his brows, "Of what?"
"Inheriting your beloved trident...I know you must have already decided how you are going to select the worthy one."
Cristopher heaved a sigh and nodded, "That trident...is an addictive weapon, and I don't want anyone who can't have control over their powers, to wield that insane thing."
Brenda curiously asked, "Do you think any of your descendants can gain control over their elemental form? I doubt it."
Cristopher looked at the open space in front of him before some words escaped his lips, "I know there will be one....someone who will control these flames and tame that trident."
-------------***-------------
Vornyx stared at the being, clad in burning flames, his human features no longer visible.
The being who stood before him was no longer the pitiful child on whom Vornyx was venting his frustration until now. His opponent has shredded his humanity to ascend into something more....pure and profound.
Vornyx almost wielded his sword seeing that form. However, he didn't want to...not yet.
*Crack*
A single step was taken, and a huge crater was formed with the impact. The ground burned and turned black under the sheer intensity as Richard advanced towards the demon.
Vornyx narrowed its eyes and raised its left hand to release a torrent of ice, in a straight path. However, a few inches apart from their target, the ice melted, and before the water could hit the ground, it evaporated as steam.
*Hiss*
"Heh~" Vornyx grinned, this was fascinating.
*Thump*
*Crack*
Another step shook the ground as Vornyx summoned massive crystalline boulders above the human—though now, the one before it looked more demon than it did. With a snarl, the silver-skinned demon hurled the boulders toward Richard, each one whistling through the air like a promise of death.
**BOOOOOOM**
The ground trembled violently as the boulders crashed down, sending shockwaves rippling through the surface. A massive cloud of dust erupted, swallowing the battlefield whole. But beneath the debris, something sinister was unfolding—the once pristine blue ice began to darken, turning a deep, menacing crimson.
Then, in a sudden eruption, it shattered into countless shards as it was assaulted by the unrelenting, never-extinguishing flames of the elemental ascended.
Another step echoed, and in that instant, Richard's figure vanished from Vornyx's sight. The demon's eyes widened in shock as it whirled to the left, but it was too late. A searing pain tore through its chest—Richard's burning hand had pierced through its armour, punching clean through to the other side.
Flames flickered at the edges of the gaping hole, and the demon's breath hitched as it realized the depth of the strike.
Richard was relentless. Burning the Demon's skin, he began to elevate his arm, tearing the demon from the middle.
Vornyx snarled in rage as the searing pain coursed through its body, clawing desperately at Richard's burning hand embedded in its chest. But Richard, eyes blazing with a fiery intensity, yanked his arm free, leaving charred flesh and molten metal dripping from the gaping wound. Vornyx staggered back, coughing up black blood, but Richard gave no room for recovery.
He closed in like a predator, his fist colliding with the demon's jaw, snapping its head to the side with a sickening crack.
Vornyx roared, swinging its massive claws in desperation. The demon's talons whistled through the air, aimed for Richard's throat. But Richard moved with brutal precision, ducking low and driving his knee into the demon's gut with bone-shattering force. Vornyx doubled over in agony, its breath knocked from its lungs, but Richard's assault was relentless.
His hand ignited with flames again; this time, he rammed his burning fist into the demon's side, the heat so intense that the flesh sizzled and cracked under the pressure.
Vornyx, half-blinded by pain and fury, tried to lash out again, but Richard was already behind him, moving like a spectre. He grabbed the demon by the back of its head and slammed it face-first into the ground with a thunderous impact. The surface split beneath the force, dust and debris erupting from the crater.
Vornyx's silver skin was smeared with blood and dirt, the demon gasping for air as Richard stood over him, radiating power.
Pressing his boot firmly into Vornyx's spine, Richard gripped the demon's wrists, his fingers tightening like a vice. With a brutal twist and a swift, ruthless yank, both arms tore free from the demon's body, the sound of bones splintering and flesh ripping echoing across the blood-soaked battlefield. Vornyx's agonized howl split the air, a final, desperate cry of a defeated general.
Richard stood tall, holding the demon's severed arms aloft like trophies. His eyes gleamed with primal hunger as he opened his maw wide and began to devour the limbs, tearing into the flesh with savage haste, blood dripping down his chin as he consumed the remnants of his foe.
Vornyx's body convulsed once, then fell still, its lifeless eyes staring blankly into the void. It never saw what came next.
Richard's arm shot into the air, flames bursting forth from his fingertips. In mere seconds, a massive, burning trident materialized in his grip, its fiery blades taller than any mortal man. The heat radiating from it distorted the very air, and with a low, menacing growl, Richard readied his weapon, prepared to deliver the final, obliterating strike.
**SQUELCH**
The trident pierced the demon right through its skull, and the faint struggle it showed was no longer existent.
Richard held the trident with both hands before sliding it upward and plucking the head of the demon.
Raising the fiery trident high above his head, Richard let out a war cry so fierce it shook the very foundation of the capital. The deafening roar tore through the air, reverberating through the streets, rattling windows, and chilling the blood of every living being within the city's boundaries.
His voice carried with it the unmistakable declaration of something far more terrifying than any demon—a beast had risen, unstoppable and unrelenting. The skies seemed to tremble, and the earth quaked beneath his fury, as the capital bore witness to the ascension of a monster.
"Man..you are quite a beast." Suddenly, the voice of the same Demon arrived from the front, urging Richard to direct his battle-hungry eyes at the demon.
However, before he could have taken a step, the Demon raised its hands, "Okay, times up! I am no longer in the mood to get burned."
Richard growled, not willing to let the demon escape, however, he wasn't able to take another step as he heard a familiar voice calling out,
"Richie!!"
-----------***----------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 145: Chapter 144- Reuniting(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC145: Chapter 144- Reuniting(2)
Regret and grief enshrouded Bellarine's consciousness when she fainted; unsure whether she would be seeing her beloved again or not.
Thankfully the last person she saw before her possible death was her dearest. She couldn't tell how much she was going to regret living such a short life and leaving her child behind. However, Bellarine was a little relieved that in her absence, there would be someone to take care of Richard.
Maybe that's the reason why she allowed Lilia's inclusion in her son's life in the first place since she already knew one day, she would be abandoning Richard.
...however, that assurance still didn't lessen the heavy sadness she felt at the thought of never seeing him again.
His smile, his anger, his sweet words, his beautiful eyes....everything had been such a prominent part of her life that parting ways from them gave birth to an awful pain in her heart.
But there was nothing she could do to return back to him. After all, she chose to be with him for as long as possible, and because of that greed, she chose to receive the blessing of a Demon.
Did she regret her decision? Not even once.
If she hadn't gone on that side of the world, she wouldn't have been able to see a different side of Richard...someone who behaved more maturely and showed his brotherly side to his sister.
She enjoyed those days when the hardest part of life was spam calls and door-to-door salesmen. But now, everything was returning to where it was. She was, once again, going to get separated from her beloved.
...or what she thought.
"Ah!" Her consciousness snapped back to life, as she parted her eyes and instantly straightened her back.
"Richie?!" She asked; her voice hoarse because of prolonged sleep.
It took her time to register where she was and who was in front of her.
"Professor?" She asked, groggily. Squinting her eyes, she found there was a young man currently lying down on the floor, with his arms spread apart like he had melted at his spot.
Looking to her left, she found her daughter lying there. On her right, there was the familiar heiress of Hawkbridge house.
Turning her attention back to the Professor, she asked, "Where is my bab-*TREMBLE*".
Her eyes widened, and so did Marcus' as they heard a deafening cry resonating so vividly that it made it seem that the being was just beside them. The intense anger and pride in that roar ceased any of those words which were about to escape Marcus' lips.
He was as stunned as Bellarine.
Bellarine came back to her senses once the war cry subdued, before, with her eyes widened, she hopped off the bed.
"You should stay-" Despite the warning, the redhead didn't pay heed to the older one and made her way out of the room as fast as her wobbly legs could bring her.
Her ether was not working as it should have been however, she didn't pay attention to it and reached the ground floor. Bursting through the half-broken gates, she saw the burning figure of her beloved, currently facing a being she never wanted to witness again.
Seeing Richard in that state, she was terrified. She knew exactly what that form was....the eternal flame that had overtaken her beloved's consciousness. The same flames which have taken the lives of several descendants of the Flame Warden.
And now....because of her, her son was enshrouded in the same flames.
Her body moved on its own as she yelled at the top of her lungs, "RICHIE!!"
Just as the flaming form of Richard turned around, Bellarine jumped into him.
"Ah...." A soft gasp escaped his lips as the flames that had been covering his entirety until now withered away just upon the first contact with Bellarine.
The never-ending flames were no longer existent, just as Richard experienced the familiar warmth from the lady, signifying that his efforts paid off.
She...she is back.
"M-Mom..." Richard's voice shook as he stood there in his naked form, hugging the lady as close as he could.
Bellarine wailed silently while caging her son as tightly as she could in her thin arms.
The pure dread Richard has gone through in these months at the thought of what if something goes wrong and he couldn't save his family...all that concern, sleepless nights, battles he went through, and experiences he lived finally showed the only result he could have accepted.
"Such a heart-warming reunion~~" Hearing the fake fondness in that voice, Bellarine snapped her eyes open and instantly she shielded her baby behind her, and threatened the Demon,
"If you dare hurt him again, I will butcher you Hell dweller."
Richard grinned seeing his lovely lady being so protective of him as soon as he woke up.
However, despite how nonchalant Richard looked, he actually was on guard against the Demon, who has shown quite unpredictable traits.
"First, you should be thanking me. Second, I have no interest in feeling those burns again. Seriously, those undying flames hurt like a bitch." The Demon scratched its fiery mane as it moaned in complaint.
"What are you going to do now? I can't let you escape and wreak havoc." Richard threateningly stated as he stepped forward; making Bellarine worried.
Vornyx heaved a sigh, "I will be returning to the Dark Star, dear hot-blooded sir, given my Lord won't let me be here until the war."
Richard frowned upon hearing that last word; however, he didn't pay attention to it for now and asked, "If you still fear Zulcriz that much, why did you attack me?"
The Demon's lips stretched in a grin, "Because he asked me to."
Richard frowned....if the Demon was telling the truth then Zulcriz...was assessing his strength through this battle? Or was there something more?
"Well, I admit that mid-way, I became frustrated with how he bosses around all the time and began beating you up for real. But know this kid, my intention was never to fight you; otherwise, "Touching the handle of his sword, he added, "nothing would have stopped me from using this sweet little thing."
Richard narrowed his eyes, and Bellarine extended her arm to keep it in front of Richard so she could move in between them if things escalated.
However, the bone-chilling staring contest came to a pause as Vornyx informed, "Now that I have liberated your family, I will be off."
His figure was dissolved into fragments of snowflakes, and the last thing Richard saw was that sickening smile on the Demon's face, which surely was going to make him nauseous every time he recalled it.
Bellarine's shoulders relaxed as she turned towards her baby and held his face, "Why do you look so thin? And why did you shave your hair? Are you hurt somewhere? Did you miss me?"
Richard hugged her softly and whispered, "I missed you. A whole lot...so now, don't you dare do anything stupid again."
Bellarine smiled in relief and elation as she held him back and allowed her racing heart to attain some much-needed peace.
Suddenly, Richard had a thought that he didn't hold back from asking, "Mom...you did know at what time I returned to this world, right?"
Bellarine hummed in confusion, being asked about it so suddenly, nevertheless she responded, "Ah, yes. I did. After all, I wouldn't have stayed silent seeing so many changes in my son's personality."
Bellarine was the closest being to Richard in the two timelines; as such, it was natural for her to know when his personality took a massive drift.
Richard, with a strained smile and eyes closed, parted from her and asked in a stiff voice,
"So since you knew that I have returned to my body without regaining my memories....why did you ask things like 'Why your ether is not working' and 'Why aren't you relying on your magic?', huh?"
Bellarine turned stiff hearing that and with a dry laugh, she stole her gaze, "Who knows~~"
Under Richard's stern gaze, she pouted and complained, "I like to watch my Richie's troubled expression and how he makes up lies. Is it wrong for me to be selfish from time to time?"
Seeing her crossing her arms and turning her face away made it seem that it was Richard who did something wrong.
However, before he could have said anything else, Richard realized something.
Bella...why hasn't she come out?
"Mom, did you check on Bella?" He asked anxiously.
Bellarine slowly shook her head, "I was worried about you so I ran away instantly."
Richard picked Bellarine in his arms instantly and dashed toward the mansion at an astonishing pace.
Pulling a curtain, he wrapped it around his naked form once he settled Bellarine on the ground.
Climbing the stairs as fast as he could, Richard entered the room and was met with a sigh that melted his heart.
Bella, while sitting on the bed, had her eyes puffed, and hair dishevelled, raised her hand and flailed it slowly, as she muttered,
"Brother....carry...."
----------***---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 146: Chapter 145- RefillSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC146: Chapter 145- Refill
"Sorry man, I nearly forgot about you, "As Richard helped Ethan recover out of the ice cage, he apologized. He genuinely forgot that Ethan was also helping him in this battle and because of his haste to see his sister, he jumped over Ethan earlier while carrying Bellarine.
"Don't worry, I can understand." While wrapping a towel around his neck, Ethan smiled in response, "I can understand the happiness of reuniting with your loved ones."
Sadness flashed in his eyes for a brief moment but he soon returned to his usual self and said, "Is Miss Amelia okay now?" He was anxious about her condition since being tied down for a prolonged duration might have affected her body.
Richard paused for a moment before responding with slight uncertainty, "She is good...doing well. Mom has called a healer so she will be fine."
Ethan heaved a sigh, "I really didn't want to resort to kidnapping her but it's just I got no other option."
"I understand Ethan, so don't blame yourself anymore. What you did was for the best given Eleanor might have done something much worse. So rather than extending an apology, accept my gratitude."
Ethan was flustered seeing Richard bowing as he hurriedly stood up, "Ah!", and nearly tripped because of the ice water.
Richard instantly held his wrist and helped the silver head settle down on the chair.
Okay, now Ethan was embarrassed.
"Ethan, can I ask you something?" Whether Richard wanted to extinguish the awkwardness or genuinely was curious, he asked, "How did you know that Emily wasn't lying to you and that you should trust her rather than Eleanor?"
Ethan exhaled a long breath, "Truth be told I already knew that it was Eleanor who rescued me back then in Awsperg. Elizabeth told me that despite being there, she was regretful that she wasn't the one who rescued me. Rather, it was Eleanor."
"And then, Emily was getting punished for uttering those words along with those voices in my head that were preventing me from hearing Emily, just made it clear that indeed Eleanor had the chance to save my mother....but for the sake of these powers, she let her die."
There was pure grief and mild frustration in his tone when he said that. He couldn't solely blame Eleanor given it was never her obligation to rescue his mother. Ethan should have been strong enough to protect his mother from those monsters.
"Ah..." A soft gasp escaped the silver head's lips as he felt a hand on his shoulder, urging the teenager to look up.
Richard was staring at Ethan with a warm look as he said, "I have been in that phase where you constantly suffer, so the only piece of advice I can give you is that never let your loss and grief become a shackle for you. Let them become your motivation and respect the sacrifice your close ones made to let you continue living.
You have a bright future ahead, Ethan, so make sure when you reach there no one dare destroy that world of yours."
Ethan's eyes moistened as, with his lips pursed, he nodded.
Richard parted his shoulder and turned around to leave.
Ethan remained in the mansion for another hour before he returned to the academy with the headmaster.
------------**-----------
"So....you are Mom. Mom like, mom? Or are you just fooling me and brother?" Left alone in the room, just as Bellarine wanted, Bella confronted the woman who was calling herself her brother's and Bella's mother.
"Yep, you got it right Bella. The one who gave birth to you and raised you is me."
Bella narrowed her eyes. She remembered her mother quite well...grey hair, tanned skin, sharp eyes and a strict personality.
This bubbly woman...cannot be her?
"What's with that judgmental look? Do you want some spanking?" Bellarine darkly smiled, seeing that ridicule in her daughter's gaze.
Bella squinted her eyes, "What were my grades in high school?"
"You scored eighty-five per cent, seventy-two and fell to sixty-three per cent in the final year. You got into a fight with someone, and because of that, you were in hospital and couldn't prepare, right?"
Bella scoffed, "You were also there, just in the next room, next to mine. After all, you also fought that girl's mother, who was stalking brother."
Bellarine winced; for some reason that clean slap across her face still stung.
It turned out that that whole family was filled with bodybuilders and for god sake, how desperately Bellarine missed her flames that day.
Bella's shoulders lost their strength as she suddenly thanked her mother, "Thank you,"
Seeing Bella bowing her head Bellarine raised her brows, "You don't need to thank me for protecting your brother. Since before your brother, he is my son and lover."
Maybe they share the same soul, Bellarine could subconsciously read her thoughts.
"As his mother, you cannot be his first wife, you know that, right?" Raising her head, with her gaze turning frosty Bella suggested.
Bellarine's smile morphed into a smirk as she challenged, "Why don't you try and take that place from me."
----------**---------
*BOOOM*
Amelia was startled to hear that explosion from the room beside theirs; she asked, "What was that?"
Richard heaved a sigh and casually uttered, "Just some family bonding stuff. Don't worry about them, "He could faintly hear them arguing which explains why he didn't panic.
"Anyway, how do you feel now?" The healer didn't use any spell on her and just gave a few potions that she would need to consume after meals so that her body could recover better.
She wasn't suffering from any serious illness, but because her digestive system was restricted by her ether and her ether flow was suppressed, it took a toll on her overall health. However, there was nothing that can't be recovered through a healthy diet and regular movements.
"I am weak and low on energy. Can you recharge me up, a bit?" Seeing her slowly extending her arms, made Richard feel his heart racing as he leaned down and hugged her softly.
Laying down beside her, he brought the girl closer to him and snuggled tenderly.
His body felt warm...a sensation which she dearly missed even though it had been only a few days since they met. However, Amelia felt that quite a huge time had passed...she couldn't tell anyone how much she was concerned for his safety in those three days. And when he appeared before her, she fainted because of happiness just after waking up.
Softly caressing her back, he asked, "You went through a lot because of me...do you still think you did the right thing by falling for me?"
Amelia dove her face into his chest, showering herself with his scent and engulfing herself with his warmth as she whispered, "Not even death can make me regret falling for you. Now tell me something,"
She suddenly pulled him by his collar, and from inches apart, she asked, "You didn't sleep with someone while being away, right?"
A very thin layer of blood lust appeared in her eyes as she threateningly asked.
Richard grinned; he loved seeing this side of hers, as he responded, "Don't worry, I didn't. I am still waiting to finish what we started last time."
Blood rushed to her face as Amelia remembered what happened that day when Richard came to her room and confessed his feelings
That sensation...she could somehow still feel it between her legs.
Richard was enticed by the sight he was greeted. He leaned slightly forward and locked his lips with hers.
Although her lips didn't have a taste, they seemed sweet to him, as Richard savoured the sensation, which made his heart race yet calmed it down at the same time.
Amelia still was new to kissing so she just let herself get guided by him.
The kiss soon broke as suddenly Richard heard it...a very faint and familiar voice.
Seeing his eyes widen and him backing off so suddenly, Amelia asked, "Is Lilia awake?"
Richard was taken aback as he failed to utter anything despite how much he tried.
Amelia rested her hand fondly on his face and whispered, "I am fine now, so go and see her."
Richard looked at her, "Are you sure?"
Amelia touched her lip, and with a glint of mischief, she said, "I got my fill for now, so I will be fine for the time being."
Richard chuckled before he planted a soft kiss on her forehead and got up.
After placing water on the bedside table, he told her, "Call me if you feel strange, okay?"
Saying so Richard left the room with slow steps, but the moment he stepped out, he began to run.
His destination was clear and desperation could be seen in his gaze.
And once he entered the room, he finally felt the weight from his shoulders getting lifted.
----------***---------
A/N:- We all got harem members in the house! Woohoo!!
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 147: Chapter 146- Last momentsSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC147: Chapter 146- Last moments
"Hey...." very quietly, Nora called out as she entered the infirmary.
On the bed, there sat a familiar blond girl who was looking out of the window. Upon hearing Nora's voice she turned her head and smiled at her, "Good morning."
Emily had a soft smile on her face, and despite her condition, she didn't show any sign of weakness when Nora approached her.
Taking a stool to sit beside the bed, the elven princess held Emily's hand fondly and asked, "How are you?"
Nora naturally was aware of the fact that Emily has taken the role of telling the truth to Ethan before he ends up breaking his morals and committing something irreversible.
Elizabeth initially intended to tell Ethan the truth, despite knowing the consequences. However, Emily didn't want Elizabeth to lose her memories for the sake of the future.
There were many factors Emily had to consider before making this decision. And most of all, among the four, Ethan only relies on Elizabeth so far so snatching her away from him would be unfair to Ethan.
"I...am doing good, I guess?" Emily replied unsure, before raising her hand and adding, "Just that...I lost my powers and will be returning home tomorrow."
Nora's eyes widened, "You mean....your Divine essence or..."
A sad smile lifted the edges of her lips as the blond replied, "I am no longer a magician, Nora. I am a normal human, now."
Nora's eyes parted wide in shock and disbelief. Not only her divine essence but the very gift of ether was snatched away from her?!
One might not understand how big of a thing it is, but ether is like limbs to magicians. Their life support and something on which they hold their pride.
And Emily was snatched away from that gift even though her awakening wasn't a part of the divine blessings but something that she naturally attained.
"How can they do this..." Very seldom it was seen for the elven princess to show anger. However, right now, she looks furious, "All you did was to protect Ethan...and make him see what is right and what is wrong for him. And they....!"
"Nora," Emily's soft voice quieted the other one.
Tears welled in Nora's eyes, making Emily sigh as she extended her hand weakly and held hers.
"Soon...I might not remember those moments we spent in our last lifetime, so can you promise me one thing?"
Sniffing aloud, the girl nodded and heard Emily asking, "Once the war is over, come and meet me. I don't want to die as a loner."
Nora couldn't stop herself from wailing aloud this time.
Emily can feel it....the absence of ether all of a sudden from her body has taken quite a toll on her.
It won't be long before her life energy gets exhausted, and Emily meets her makers. That's why, she wanted to spend the last days of her life with someone whom she genuinely called her friend.
While on the other side, Richard was experiencing elation after reuniting with his family members, Emily was submerged in the ocean of grief and loneliness.
---------**---------
"Does it hurt?" While slowly applying the pain-relieving ointment on her forehead, Richard asked.
Although the healer used their spells on her, there were still some bruises which needed some natural recovery time to get healed.
Lilia smiled softly before slowly shaking her head, "Not much," Truth be told, she had experienced much worse while she was a trainee. However, seeing her master being so kind and attentive was a very nice feeling that's why she didn't reject his help.
Richard moved his finger around her temple and asked, "Do you feel any disturbance in your ether flow?"
Earlier, when Richard had a conversation with the healers, they said that Lilia was hit by a certain burst of Light Energy, which nearly broke her spine and affected her bone marrow. Although they didn't mention anything about her ether flow, Richard was worried. After all, disturbance in ether flow means slow death. Almost like cancer.
However, thankfully, she shook her head and assured him, "My ether flow wasn't affected thanks to the timely barrier I erected...." Her voice was still quite rough and slow, but Richard showed no sign of impatience and only allowed her to talk the bare minimum.
Lilia remained silent for a moment before she asked, "What...about Allen?" The person has risked his life while protecting the Duchess, which earned him Lilia's respect and sympathy.
Richard heaved a sigh, "I don't think he can continue to be a mage. The headmaster said that divine energy struck him and his Aembr connection went haywire."
Lilia released a short breath hearing that.
Richard held her hand and assured her, "It's not your fault Lilia. And about Allen, then he will be now under Scarlette's house's care. Until he is alive, I will make sure Allen doesn't face any problems."
Lilia smiled at that before she slowly raised her hand and cupped his cheek.
Richard held her hand as he heard, "How...are you...Richard?"
Richard blinked in confusion, "I am fine. Totally fit and healthy." He wasn't lying. All the injuries Vornyx inflicted were healed when he was in his elemental form. That form is truly interesting and broken.
However, Lilia didn't mean it like, and soon she clarified, "I want to know....if you..." Bringing her hand to his chest, she asked, "...are okay?"
Lilia knew the person she met four days ago and the man she was greeted with after coming back to her senses, were not the same. Although her master still retained those kind and caring traits, something died within him after spending those months in the Endless Hold.
She could see that he had gone through things which a sixteen-year-old boy shouldn't have. And then there is this strange energy she was feeling from him...that gave a very ominous presence, even though her master tends to not harm her.
Richard remained silent hearing that, unsure how this person always pries through the layers of nonchalance he creates and catches him hiding something.
Holding her hand against his cheek, he leaned in her touch, and with a deep sigh, he said, "It was....difficult. Terrifying at times....many nights, I remained sleepless...staring at a wall thinking of the worst possible things happening to you guys.
I have nearly died a couple of times...and the only regret I felt in those moments was to not be able to save my family and say my goodbye to you and Amelia."
With a brief nod, he looked into her eyes and added, "It was difficult, Lilia, but when I saw them alive and well, I felt all those days of struggle were worth it."
Lilia smiled, this time without holding back and softly uttered, "You did great, Richard. I am proud of you."
------------***------------
A few days passed by while they recovered. Richard was spending time with one after another.
Duke Hawkbridge arrived at some point and was dead serious about knowing the whole situation. He and the general public only got the news that a Demon descended from the Dark Star and along with numerous priests, Richard and Ethan defeated the Demon somehow.
In that confrontation, Duchess Bellarine got injured, and that's why she hasn't returned to her Dukedom.
Despite the man's insistence, Amelia stubbornly said that she wants to be with Richard for the time being. That's why after staying here until yesterday he returned...
...only after giving Richard a 'suggestion' to not let Amelia get under such unfavourable situations again.
Richard was asked by the Headmaster to return to the Academy as soon as he could. This surprised the Scarlette heir, given he expected himself to be expelled. However, Marcus always considered Richard as his student and was ready to take him back...
...well, he promised that Richard would be punished for being absent and several other things as well.
Regardless, it was a fact that Richard's life was back on track with all the people he loved, safe and healthy around him.
Now, the most concerning thing was to introduce everyone to each other.
Bellarine might be aware of Amelia as a potential fiancée but she still doesn't know that Richard has already confessed to her.
Then there was Bella who was looking at the other three with a gaze that said she can pounce on them with the intention of hurting them, any moment.
Lilia was aware about Bellarine and Amelia's relationship with Richard. However, she was curious about this sister of his who appeared out of nowhere.
And then there is Amelia, who only knows that Richard is in a relationship with Lilia.
There are many things Richard needs to sort out and this time he wasn't going to hide anything.
About his past, his present and what he has planned for the future, they have all the right to know about it.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 148: Chapter 147- Sudden visit(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC148: Chapter 147- Sudden visit(1)
"I warned you, Your Majesty." The heavy voice of the man wearing a white robe echoed in the room even though he calmly stated.
In the hall, several people were wearing similar attire as the man.
Those words were directed at the Emperor of Eldoria and the one who spoke those words was the Supreme Pontiff. The speaker being the Pope of the church, which links the Empire with God.
Lucius has been invited to the central east of Eldoria under the warning that his life is in danger. The Supreme Pontiff being the one who warned him, as such, the man didn't think twice before leaving the Capital.
After arriving here with his wives and some of his loyal confidants, Lucius has been living in secrecy ever since.
The reason why the Pontiff seemed furious, even though his face remained unchanged, was because of his prior warning which Lucius ignored.
The apostle of God informed that a Demon would descend upon Eldoria if Lucius didn't take care of the woman who goes by the name Bellarine.
And because of his ignorance, what the Supreme Pontiff feared turned out to be true.
"I warned you Lucius, but you paid no heed to my warning and allowed the evil worshippers to take shelter within your jurisdiction." The Pope added; his voice both cold and domineering.
Bennet, who was standing behind his lord, frowned hearing that tone directed at the Supreme Command. However, under Lucius' orders, he didn't move from his spot.
"Indeed you were right about Bellarine being involved with the other side. However, we cannot deny the fact that she cleaned the mess she caused."
The Pope's face turned grim, "And took the lives of hundreds of innocent beings in the process."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. The other church members, who had lost their fellow worshippers during the attack, were now looking at Lucius with faint killing intent.
*Slink*
Bennet, without going against his Lord's words, unsheathed his sword and planted it silently on the ground. Revealing his aura for the others to witness, the knight made it clear what the church workers could expect if they dared try to harm the Emperor.
The force of thirty or so men's aura was suppressed by a single knight's determination toward his duty.
Lucius didn't stop Bennet, given his Knight would remain restless otherwise.
The Supreme Pontiff's gaze never flickered; he was still awaiting a response.
Heaving a sigh, the blond man said, "Listen, Orion, I trust Bellarine, even though I know she was involved with the dark side. After all, no one can deny the fact that she is a prominent asset for Eldoria. And unless her existence is bringing disaster to my people, I won't be going against her."
The reason why Lucius decided to send Bellarine away was because the Supreme Pontiff had been nagging Lucius about her for the past two months. Her involvement with the matters relating to central administration was bringing excessive attention. That's why, to cool down both sides, he asked Bellarine to take control of a faraway land for the time being.
However, now there was no point in trying to make something impossible happen. From what Lucius could see, the Supreme Pontiff doesn't seem to have any intention of letting go of this matter.
"Mark my words, Lucius," He voiced, "One day, your blind trust in people and your belief in humans rather than the Supreme Ones will cause you dearly."
"I hope that's not a threat, Orion, " Lucius suggested.
The person in question didn't say anything any further and got up.
Turning around he left his final words before walking out,
"Nothing can save her and that scion of hers now from the wrath of the Supreme Ones."
---------**---------
A few days went by and Richard brought everyone back home to Scarlette's territory.
Being back home, his mother was able to take a good sleep and ended up sleeping until lunchtime.
Currently, Richard was inside the indoor gymnasium, the same one he brought down to cinders the first time he tried manipulating his flames.
Compared to that time, he could undoubtedly see the improvement in his control over flames and the strength behind his spells.
His physical endurance and natural capabilities have elevated drastically in these few months spent in the Endless Hold and also after fighting that Demon General.
As of now, his stats look like this,
[Name: Scarlette Richard]
[Race: Human, Elemental Ascended]
[Age: 16]
[Rank: B]
[Str: 92]
[Spd: 83]
[End: 84]
[Int: 42]
[Mgc: 2987]
[Luk: 54]
[Available stats: 00]
[Special skills: Burning, Hammering, Blacksmithing]
[Skills: Self-regeneration -> D+
Telekinesis-> B- {3000 Kilograms}
Barrier-> E {Three layers}
Enhancement-> A
Detection-> C- (700 meters)
[Spells: Fireball- D
Amber Arrow- D+
Hell Blaze- S
Flame Maze- C
Molten Platform- D-.
Perception Burst- B
Flood of Flames- A
Meteor Rush- B-]
[Inventory: Bo-staff: ???
Eternal Trident: ???]
....
His stats have improved quite a lot, and the most astonishing part was his self-regenerative skill and endurance, which has increased more than what Richard possessed when he was on that pill.
Coming back to his four fundamentals, then apart from Enhancement, everything else was disappointing. Someone who has reached B-rank to have only a detection level of C-?
Indeed quite disappointing.
About the Eternal Trident, then Richard could feel its existence somewhere. However, he didn't know how to summon it. And when he asked the system if the trident had sentience, the answer was a 'Yes'.
Now he has two guardians to defeat to gain control over the two legendary weapons.
Richard had a very bad premonition after this incident. A Demon General had descended upon Clion.
The white feathered Goddess wouldn't just sit in the heavens and let Richard roam free after what he has committed. Truth be told, Richard was nowhere near that stage where he could take even a single blow from those beings.
He needs to be strong enough to call himself the Apostle of the Death God.
One thing he has ascertained through several incidents that occurred recently; Zulcriz isn't against peace or something like that. He is not what people believe him to be. It's just the churches around the world have brainwashed them that the Dark Star is a curse in existence and the Lord of Death, their biggest nemesis.
Richard didn't have any intention of convincing people otherwise, since he knew how foolish that would be.
However, going against people blatantly who say that Sovereign of Darkness should be brought down would be idiotic as well. And if Richard doesn't do anything, the people from the church will continue to send people to harm him and the people around him.
'What to do...what to do...'
"Brother?!" Hearing Bella's voice, Richard casually turned around and found her staring at him in shock.
Richard looked around himself and found the reason for her concern.
Around him was a serpent of flames, with its fiery body wrapped around Richard protectively.
Richard broke his ether connection and the serpent dissolved into fragments before approaching her.
"You woke up? Was the bed comfortable?"
Bella smiled fondly. That smile alone would have shocked the legion members back on earth.
The only person who was allowed to see her different sides was him.
"It fortable. But I wanted to sleep with you..." Reuniting with her brother after so long, she wanted to spend as much time as she could. She even insisted on following him to the bath, which was instantly shot down by their mother.
"We are grown up now, Bella. We should sleep in our own beds, no?" Ruffling her hair fondly, to which she closed her eyes and purred, Richard softly rebuked.
Although Bella looked much older than how he remembered her to be the last time, she still was his cute little sister who couldn't tie her shoelaces on her own.
Bella wanted to say something about this difference that her brother had between Bellarine and Bella when suddenly, a familiar maid arrived,
"Young Master, "Turning towards the person, Richard found it was Violet standing there with her usual unreadable expression.
She informed, "Your Highness Nora has come to meet you."
Richard was surprised to hear that. He wasn't expecting to meet her all of a sudden, and especially outside the academy.
He nodded to the maid before asking Bella, "Can you wait for me at the dining table?"
Bella frowned and while holding his hand in concern she asked, "Why is she here?"
Richard sighed, "I think I know but unless I don't talk to her I can't be sure." Cupping her cheek fondly he said, "Go now. I will be back in a few minutes."
Bella didn't argue after that.
Richard made his way towards the reception area where the elven princess waited for him.
For some reason her sudden visit concerned him. He had a feeling why she might have come here, but he dearly wanted his hunch to be proven wrong.
—-----**--------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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