Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 206: Chapter 205- What do you want?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC206: Chapter 205- What do you want?
Richard gave them four hours of rest since he knew it would take a long while for them to infiltrate the main base and discover Rena's location.
Lilia and Emily went to arrange something to eat before Richard departs.
Since there was nothing to eat on the ship, naturally, Lilia said she would hunt some aquatic beasts down. And since Carl had several mana stones in possession, cooking the meat wouldn't pose a problem.
Emily was accompanying her since there could be no one better than her to keep Lilia hidden from the surveillance.
Laila was resting in another room while the other two were guarding the premises. Richard gifted them a few artifacts which far surpassed the regular ones they had.
Since Richard was planning to stay long at the Emberclad, he had already brought every kind of reinforcement he could.
Now, inside the room, Bella was sitting with her brother on the bed, and across from them were Carl and Ben.
"But brother, if it was about detection then you were already sufficient. Why take Ben with you? I mean…I can come with you instead…."
Hearing that Ben side-glanced his friend, as they heard Richard providing the reason,
"I need someone who is closely aware of the Crimson Claw's situation and can inform me about the latest technology. After facing those soldiers and witnessing their tools and weapons, I felt I was quite outdated for this advanced world."
Bella rubbed her brother's back as if to console him.
Taking a pause, he added, "And I want someone to be here who can take charge if the enemy forces find out about this hideout. And I am trusting you, Carl, to guide others when I will be away."
Bella might be strong, but there was no one who knew these areas better than Carl. Not to forget, Carl has been leading his own group for the past few years.
Carl heaved a sigh but one could sense the disappointment from his demeanor.
It was apparent that he wanted to ensure his sister's safety with his own eyes. However, Richard couldn't overcrowd this group given they were going there just to scout.
Ben rested his hand on his friend's soldier before assuring him, "Trust me, Carl, I will bring back good news."
Carl softly nodded, " And I wish you luck for that."
Comfortable silence descended in the room when suddenly Bella asked, "Why do you keep hiding your face, Ben? Any reason behind that?"
Carl and Ben shared a glance before the latter removed his mask and told them, " Just insecurity…" Seeing the dark mark of what seemed like a claw scar going down his left eye, Richard said,
"It's not that bad. I have seen people in far more severe states yet they don't feel the necessity to cover their face." Just like a certain instructor back in the academy who has a cross mark on his face which he received from an enemy who claimed himself as an artist.
Carl told them, "There was a girl…who fell for him and Ben also started to like her…until she saw his face and fell unconscious after screaming."
Richard was surprised. The first thought came to his mind, 'Do such girls exist?'
Bella heaved a sigh and told him, "You are saved, Ben. If you had gotten yourself entangled with such a girl it would have hurt worse in the future."
Ben chuckled, "Indeed…but it cannot be denied that her screams made me insecure about my face; that's why I keep it hidden behind a mask." With his shoulders slumped the young man sighed.
Richard leaned forward and rested his hand on the younger one's shoulder before telling him, "Only settle for a girl when she accepts everything about you. You are a good man, Ben, so sooner or later you will find yourself someone."
Ben's lips extended in a soft smile, as he said, "I will remember that."
…..
*Hiss*
As the marinated fish hit the heated pan, the hissing sound of flesh burning in oil was heard.
In the broken kitchen of the ship only two people could be seen currently—the older one on cooking duty.
Emily was standing at one side, fidgeting slightly which showed that she was uncertain about something and wanted to say something.
Even though Lilia noticed her apprehension she remained silent, allowing the girl to collect herself.
After a few minutes, she finally muttered, "Umm…Lilia, can you help me train?"
"Physically and magically you are capable already."
"No, not that! It's…I want to learn how I can take care of Richard."
With her eyes drifting to nothing in particular she added, "I want to be aware of everything related to him…and want to know what I should do so I don't end up repeating the same mistake as today."
"Are you asking me out of guilt?" Lilia asked which caused Emily to grumble,
"Are you testing me or teasing me?"
Lilia remained indifferent and silent for a few moments before she flipped the fish and said,
"Initially I wanted to train you as every other maid I have trained so you can manage things on your own in the future."
Emily's eyes sparkled in excitement, but then, the brunette revealed something unexpected,
"However, master prohibited me, saying that it was not necessary for you to become his server."
Emily's shoulders slumped, "Why would he say something like that?"
Seeing her dejected self Lilia knew what she must be thinking. The blond one must be assuming that Richard didn't want Emily to get closer to him. However,
"All in my life I have never seen Richard being so confused about something as he seemed when it came to you."
Emily looked at the older one with slight perplexion in her eyes as she heard Lilia adding,
"You and Richard have gone through several phases. He used to love you, then you broke up with him…and then you returned to him. Naturally, anyone would feel confused about how they should behave."
Emily's eyes were drawn to the ground, as she asked in a barely audible tone,
"Then….what should I do?"
Lilia asked her in return, "Tell me what you want."
Emily didn't take time to respond this time, "I want to be close to him and be useful to Richard."
Lilia continued to cook the fish and didn't speak for a few minutes.
Flipping the fourth piece of fish into a plate, she decorated it with the sauce she prepared before handing two of them to Emily.
The blond girl obediently held the plates and followed the elder one.
While walking toward her master, Lilia gave her the answer, "Once we return, I will properly educate you."
A blooming smile extended her lips, as she hastened her pace to walk beside her and said, "Really?"
Seeing that smile Lilia narrowed her eyes, " Don't be too happy. I don't think you can handle it."
"Test me! I am sure I will stand beyond your expectations. I will be his number one!"
Lilia heaved a sigh, "There is only a single person who has outdone me when it comes to serving the master, and that is Duchess Bellarine."
Emily couldn't say that she would be better than the Duchess but she swore to be his number two. At least.
With the conversation coming to a pause, they finally came to a pause before the room where the four were discussing things.
Lilia entered the room after knocking once and the smell of the food instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Richard's eyes sparkled, "Please tell me all of them are for me."
"Brother?"
"No way…." Ben and Carl instantly retaliated and took the two plates from Emily right away.
Bella offered her plate to her brother but Richard shook his head and told her that he was just joking.
Once sat down all of them began to eat—Ben and Carl couldn't stop praising Lilia while they ate.
Richard glanced at Emily, and seeing her beaming smile, she wordlessly asked what was the matter.
The girl innocently shook her head but the happiness on her face evidently told that there was something that mattered.
However, he decided to wait for her to tell him by herself.
Lilia cooked and fed the other members as well before the resting hours finally came to an end.
Standing inside the waiting area, Richard and the others checked for the necessary supplies that Richard asked them to carry.
Seeing Lilia busily wrapping the strap of his armor while stealing her gaze, Richard held her hand and made her look at him.
For those who don't know Lilia closely, might not be able to tell the difference, but Richard could tell that the girl was quite anxious at the moment.
"You know there is nothing that can hurt me, right? And you know it's not my overconfidence."
Lilia fondly smiled at her beloved; caressing his face, she whispered, "Worrying about you is my duty and right."
Richard smiled in agreement, "That…is true." Kissing her lips tenderly he hugged the girl before whispering, "Take care of yourself…and them. Once again, I will be relying on you."
Lilia sweetly smiled at her master before saying, "Come back soon."
—------**-------
A/N:- Little did she know that it would be the last time….
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 207: Chapter 206- Commander?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC207: Chapter 206- Commander?
The safest route to travel between the two islands was through water. Ben informed them that the surveillance under the water cannot reach the deepest depth since there is still no technology that can track minute details of the activities deep under the water.
However, taking the Korean Strait to reach that island would be dangerous. They must be expecting Richard and the others, that's why Richard suggested taking the Yellow Sea and taking a detour to reach the Crimson Claw's territory.
The first thing Laila asked was, "How will we swim for so long? We cannot swim up to take a breath."
If they do, they will be immediately spotted, and fighting in water would be disadvantageous.
Richard came up with a solution: every five minutes of swimming, they would take a break inside a barrier which Emily would erect.
The thrusters that ran under the water would gain extra support with Richard's flames, and since all four of them were connected to each other with thick ropes and hooks, they all were moving in sync.
The strategy worked as a wonder as there was no surveillance a hundred meters deep in the water.
If they moved at this pace, they would reach the mainland in four hours, maximum.
"*Huff* *Huff*" It was the sixth break in forty minutes and the one who looked the most tired was the pink-haired one.
"You okay?" Ben asked as he patted Laila's back to help her regain her breathing.
Richard produced several fireballs around the dome to keep them warm.
"Feeling cold?" Richard asked as he found Emily shivering a bit.
However, the moment the fireball neared her she shook her head with a smile and said, "Not any longer."
"We still have a long way to go and resting at one place will be dangerous," Ben spoke, and Richard slowly nodded in agreement.
Looking at Laila, he discerned it would not be possible for her to continue like this for long. And even though Emily was showing a brave front, Richard knew that she was feeling quite cold in the water.
Considering the situation, Richard heaved a sigh and told Emily, "Shrink the barrier to the point where you can sit properly."
"What are you going to do?" Emily asked with a frown, her tone laced with concern as she somehow sensed what Richard was about to do.
Richard rested his hand on her shoulder before telling Emily, "We need to reach there until it's dark, Emily, and for that, we need to switch plans."
His eyes were domineering and left no space for argument.
The blond girl, albeit sadly, nodded before she glanced at the other two.
Once they were near, Emily disintegrated the barrier and erected a new, smaller one while excluding Richard.
The redhead attached the thrusters to his heel and used his flames before the journey resumed.
….
"Got any idea why we are summoned here?" Inside the common hall of the palace where all the three hundred soldiers had gathered, in a corner two soldiers sat.
They were having a meal like everyone else, however, none of these soldiers ever expected to have lunch in the palace all of a sudden.
And they weren't of the same division as well—they were hand-picked, best of the best from each division to group here.
"A secret mission? Unlikely. I think it's about the portals we have been struggling against these days." The bald soldier muttered before he bit into the red meat testing in his plate.
The previous speaker sighed, "It's a hassle to eradicate hundreds of such weak monsters. And it becomes even more annoying when we are asked to keep some of them alive."
Weak enemies are better finished off at once, rather than separating some of them and then slaughtering each one of them one by one.
"Are they experimenting over the beasts? Hmm?" The bald one said, wondering if they are repeating the same mistake as they did a few months ago with the clone thingy.
"Possibly not. I think it's because they are curious how beasts can ever be tamed." The brown haired, younger-looking soldier muttered. They spotted a strange artifact on the monsters that gave a hint that the Bates might be under someone's control.
But then again, the soldiers working on the battlefield don't receive much inside reports. They are just told to fight whatever can compromise the security of the Capital.
"Then why are we gathered here rather than protecting our posts? Ah, this thing is sweet." The bald one's eye sparkled as he scooped some spongy yellow jelly-like substance and tasted it.
He was about to scoop some more when suddenly,
"Okay~lunchtime is over now." Someone suddenly entered the common hall, and instantly, all the buzzing sound paused at once.
It was an absolute shock for everyone who looked at the person who appeared out of nowhere and stood with a thin smile on her face.
Those long wavy red hair…that pair of burning eyes….that presence….
**DHAK**
"We greet you, Commander!" Instantly every soldier got up from their seats and made a line on either side before saluting the lady who once served as their commander in the past.
Bellarine heaved a sigh, "If you call me Commander, Bennet might feel bad."
Every eye then turned towards their left, where a pale yellow-haired man stood—sending another tremor down their spines.
"They respect you, just as I do, Commander." Bennet made it obvious who would be the commander for the time being.
Bellarine shrugged, not like she would be leading the battalion for the first time.
With her hands crossed behind her, she addressed the soldiers,
"Alright, listen carefully. You've been chosen for this task not because you're the strongest, or the fastest—though, don't get me wrong, that helps—but because you know how to think. You know how to adapt. You know how to cover each other's backs when it counts. And trust me, it's gonna count."
Taking a pause and after ensuring that everyone was paying attention, she added,
"This isn't some glorified brawl or a test of who's the hero. Each of you has a role, and every role is just as important as the next. The ones setting the traps? You're the reason we'll catch them off guard. The scouts? You're our eyes when we're blind. And the frontliners? You'll be the wall that nothing—nothing—gets through.
You're not just soldiers. You're a force. My force. And when we pull this off—and we will—you'll know why they call us the ones who never fall.
So, are you ready to move?"
In unison, everyone shouted,
"Yes, Commander!!"
Bellarine gave them a firm nod before speaking,
"Soon your names would be called; join the battlefield and expect some good old training~"
This time, the shiver was far greater than before.
—------**-------
Around four in the morning, Richard pushed the orb out of the water.
His breathing was ragged and if not for his natural heat, he might have hyperinflated in that cold water.
Emily was rubbing the dry towel on his head and Ben hurriedly lit a small fireplace near the shore. While he did so, he continued to send sound waves in his surroundings to keep a record of any incoming attacks. But there were none.
Laila nervously asked, "Will he be alright?"
Richard gave her a nod before he told Emily, "Step back," Emily looked reluctant but under his assuring gaze, she did as she was told.
Richard closed his eyes and in the next second, his body was engulfed in flames.
Just for a few seconds, he remained like that before returning to his usual form, all dry and calm.
"Extinguish the fire, we are leaving." Laila nodded before she snapped her fingers and the oxygen around the flames disappeared.
"We need to move immediately; they must have sensed some movements by now," Ben called out before Richard got up and said,
"Any place you know where we can hide?"
Ben nodded, "There is a forest in the east where Bates is reared. No soldiers roam around there, we just need to be careful of the cameras."
Richard glanced at Emily before the blond understood her role.
They marched in the direction where Ben told them and upon reaching the forest, Emily chanted a barrier around the four.
"The mana sensors would get fooled easily since Ambrobates release a lot of Aembr unintentionally," Richard told them, which allowed Laila to breathe a sigh of relief.
They soon found a place to rest. It was under a big dense tree, and there was a shallow crater in the ground.
After putting down the bags, Laila and Emily dropped to the ground. Using Aembr for so long had her limbs trembling and color drained off her face.
Ben also looked quite exhausted but to not make Richard feel responsible for all of them, he remained standing.
Richard draped his hand on Ben's shoulder and told him, "I will survey the area quickly, keep them safe-"
"You should rest, Richard. You have been tiring yourself the most." Ben held his wrist and insisted.
Richard heaved a sigh, "Trust me, if I feel tired I won't hesitate to ask for your help."
Seeing the certainty in his eyes, Ben wasn't able to continue with the persuasion.
"Be safe."
Richard nodded, "I will be. "
—------**-------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 208: Chapter 207- Queen(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC208: Chapter 207- Queen(1)
After surveying the area for a quiet while, Richard discerned that it was impossible to move in daylight unless they wanted to get caught immediately after walking out of the forest.
With the help of Emily, Richard was able to successfully retrieve four uniforms for the standard soldiers around the island. However, even with that, they have to wait for the night to infiltrate the main castle.
"I have been inside the fortress where the leader resides," Laila began, "I was the cleaner working at the fort for six months and I was among those people who were allowed to enter the conference room to clean up things."
"I know the premise well and can weave through the corridors to reach a deeper section of the fort. However, I have never even once spotted Rena. Nor have I heard anyone mentioning her."
Ben was worried, "Is she really here?"
Richard had a frown on his face as he slowly muttered, "Considering all the teleportation portals are operated from the main base, and the source of the power needs to be nearby, we should assume that Rena is inside there."
"But how will we find her without alerting anyone?" Emily asked; the main reason why they were working so secretively was because, without knowing about Rena's situation, it would be foolish to confront Jin directly.
There was a chance of him harming Rena or changing her position from the base if he realized the chance of winning. So they have to first verify Rena's situation and then only take any decision.
Richard told them something that made absolute sense, "Such a hefty amount of Aembr can never remain hidden for long. Once I get inside the base, it would be a piece of cake to track her."
The other two felt greatly relieved when Richard stated so confidently about their chances to track Rena. Emily was looking quite apprehensive however, she has learned how to mask her emotions in these years.
Soon, Ben took the role of guarding the area since when Richard was away, he and Laila took some hours of sleep.
"You can rest assured. The moment I sense danger, I will inform you." Ben told the blond girl who insisted on guarding the area with her barrier. However, considering how tired she was—having a barrier chanted for hours—Ben insisted she rest for the time being.
Richard had already unfolded a blanket as he led down on the makeshift bed made of leaves before he invited the blond,
"Just rest here, Emily. Ben is a responsible man."
Hearing his words, she no longer said anything and slowly walked towards him.
Seeing her taking out another duvet, Richard asked, "Any problem sharing mine?" He asked as he lifted the cover and invited her.
Emily's face turned red as she softly shook her head and slid into the same blanket as him—feeling his heat calming her down.
Richard wrapped her in his arms and whispered, "Sleep well, we have a long night waiting for us."
Emily hummed before she closed her eyes and allowed her mind and body to enjoy the peace that they desperately needed.
Laila's cheeks were red as she glanced at them before someone flicked her forehead—making the pinkhead wince.
Laila glared at the masked one while covering her head, as she heard him saying, "Focus on the work."
—-------**--------
Back in the ship, Bella was in charge of keeping an eye on the south. Lilia was taking care of the north. They were switching turns every six hours, and receiving the notification on her comm, Bella knew she could go back and rest.
Heaving a sigh, she walked back inside the ship and found Carl making his way to take her position.
"Thank you for your hard work." Carl thanked her as Bella smiled in response and made her way towards the lobby.
She spotted Lilia who was about to open the door.
Seeing the lady, Lilia gave her a nod before opening the door for her.
Bella raised her brows, "You don't serve me, remember that?"
Lilia shrugged, "Common courtesy."
Bella didn't continue that topic and entered the room followed by the brunette maid.
The room was warm and comfortable. Lilia arranged it and repaired the bed to make it a proper resting place.
Bella took out a bag of potato chips and dropped herself on the bed.
Lilia went towards the bedside table and poured herself some water before sitting down on the chair.
Seeing the maid elegantly sipping water, Bella couldn't help but ask, "Do you remain silent and well-behaved all the time?"
Lilia paused before she looked at the young woman in surprise, "It's common sense to not talk while drinking water."
Bella rolled her eyes, "I am not talking about that ... Being careful about your actions all the time…isn't it tiring?"
Lilia shook her head, "I have been trained to stay disciplined. That's why, most of the time, I remain cautious of my actions."
Bella raised her brows, "Did my mother teach you?" Although she asked that, Bella knew it was highly unlikely for that lady to teach someone discipline when she herself remains so spoiled most of the time.
…Well, at least around her son.
"Duchess Bellarine trained me physically. Discipline and mental fitness I received from my father."
Bella raised her brows, "I heard from Brother that he was a brave man."
The frost from her demeanor melted as she smiled and nodded, "Yes, he was."
The conversation came to a halt when suddenly someone knocked.
Lilia flexed her fingers, and using her telekinesis, she opened the door.
Bella couldn't help but feel jealous of her powers—she had never even realized her four fundamentals.
The blue-eyed individual entered the room while holding a tray of tea and cookies, "Thank you for your hard work."
Seeing the boy, Lilia said, "You didn't need to overwork yourself, Akira."
The younger one seriously replied, "I have the least amount of work; please allow me to help you whenever I can."
Lilia was surprised to see such diligence from a teenager, urging her to ask,
"Do you always remain so upright?"
"Look who is speaking…" Bella commented, only for Lilia to ignore her.
Akira shook his head, "I…thought if I remain serious all the time, Carl won't take me as a kid and will allow me to actively help the team out."
Lilia heaved a sigh; it was apparent that the kid had a very significant reason to be in this group. Revenge, most probably. And to attain what he desires he has adopted a mask that is slowly stealing his innocence away.
Resting her hand on his head, Lilia muttered, "Forcing yourself to act like someone you are not will only leave you helpless in the future. Trust me, I have tried and failed."
The little one looked at Lilia with bright eyes, seemingly closely considering her words.
Lilia smiled at him and told the boy, "Now go and rest in your room."
The boy obediently nodded and was about to walk away, when suddenly not only him but Bella and Lilia were frozen at their spots.
Bella was the first one to respond as she sensed the presence and felt unnaturally familiar with it.
Lilia followed her as she also hurried out of the room and headed towards the place from where she could sense the presence.
Lilia had already taken out her daggers as she spotted Carl also moving behind them, his axe held over his shoulder.
They were moving toward the northern post where Boris was stationed.
They soon reached the place, and instantly Lilia charged at the person who was standing over an unconscious Boris.
The silver-haired woman narrowed her eyes and extended her hand before silver lightning erupted from her fingertips.
Lilia scoffed before she strengthened her body and her figure became blurred, easily dodging the lightning as she stepped toward the intruder.
The silver-haired smirked as her whole body was covered in lightning as she waited for the brunette to attack her with the weapon.
Lilia was not someone to fall for such an obvious trap as she chanted a barrier right before her palm, and pushed the intruder with enough force to make her crash against the guardrail.
The silver-haired groaned; however, before she could have launched another attack, Lilia had her dagger pressed against her neck, drawing a single droplet of crimson.
"Move an inch and you are dead."
The silver-haired growled, ready to deploy an attack that might cause her severely as well. However, it would surely kill the target.
However, before she could have made a move, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts,
"Lena? Why are you here?"
The silver-haired's eyes widened as she turned to look at the person for whom she came here.
"M-My Queen…"
—-------**--------
A/N:- Chapter 72, if you don't remember. I changed her name tho.
I hope you all have been enjoying the story so far. If you may, drop a review to help new readers.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 209: Chapter 208- Queen(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC209: Chapter 208- Queen(2)
Bella didn't have many memories of the time she spent after her brother departed from the world.
She remembered her days in isolation when she was hunting beasts as a source to keep herself engaged. She wanted to not dwell on her loss, or she knew she would lose herself and also the chance of reuniting with him.
The best source of finding a way to meet her brother was to extend her contact with people. She realized that there were unique and different abilities that each individual possessed—as such, she recognized the need to expand her reach and bring more people under her command.
Around that time, she was in Vegas, where she started building her Empire and recruited people who worked for her tirelessly so they could expand her territory. Within a few years, there was no ruler left in Vegas who dared to defy Bella.
Around that time, she met a girl named Lena who was quite good in administration and was powerful enough to make Bella use some of her strongest spells against her. And the most significant quality of hers—she talked very little.
Bella, at that time, didn't like to interact with people and Lena was the perfect person to understand her intentions without her saying it.
As such, she made her the head of the administration and left the group in her hands before she disappeared.
However, so many things happened once Bella was summoned in that world, that she completely forgot about her existence—until the silver head appeared right before her all of a sudden.
"My Queen....I sensed your presence..." Lena muttered, completely unbothered about the fact that she was currently tied with the ropes.
The commotion, fortunately, didn't alert the sensors around or they would have to evacuate immediately.
"That's not possible..." Bella uttered, "Miles away, how could you have sensed me? Tell me, are you from the side of the enemy?"
Lena's expression remained the same. However, Akira and Carl panicked, gripping their weapons; they were just a call away from attacking the silver head.
However, "I had formed a Soul Bond with you, My Queen—betraying you means death." Lena simply stated that her confidence doesn't come from the Soul Bond but from the devotion she carries for her queen.
Bella remembered there was a time she agreed to some Bond which Lena mentioned—never thought it would be that serious.
"Why did you attack Boris?" Carl demanded.
"Because I assumed you all have restrained my queen and suppressed her mana," Lena stated, her eyes narrowing at the young man; clearly still quite wary of them.
Bella rolled her eyes, "I have been suppressing my mana to not get noticed....then, how did you notice me?"
Lena explained, "It must be because of the Soul Bond that since last night, I have been feeling your presence."
That makes sense to Lilia. She has also formed a Soul Bond with her master in the past, and faintly, she could sense his presence if he is within the same plain as her.
His presence disappeared only once when he jumped into the Endless Hold to satiate the need to summon the Demon General.
It was the period that Lilia never wanted to experience again.
"Why are you here?" Finally, the brunette called out—elevating the tension in the air.
Carl and Akira stepped away, leaving Lilia and Lena face to face.
Lena wouldn't lie—she was quite impressed by the brunette's fighting skills and how easily she subdued her. However, none of that can force her to lie about her intentions,
"I came here to fulfill my duty as My Queen's retainer."
Lilia crossed her arms on her chest, before asking, "Yet you risked her life by arriving here so abruptly? I see no sense of responsibility in you."
For the first time since her arrival, Lena seemed hesitant to speak...more like the stoic woman seemed embarrassed as she lowered her eyes in shame.
Carl felt guilty conscience towards the silver head as he tried to soothe the situation, "Now-now, don't scold her, Miss Lilia. If she is someone close to Big Sis, she is our ally as well, no?" He glanced at Bella and found her busily munching on potato chips.
"..." Your comrade is getting scolded here!
Lilia heaved a sigh before turning towards the young miss, "What should be done with her, is in your hands." Lilia said, since she cannot regard Lena as their enemy considering she was bound with Bella through friendship and Soul Bond.
As such, the responsibility of the girl falls on Bella; that is what she wants to do about her.
Bella handed the bag of chips to Akira before stepping towards the blue-eyed female.
"Tell me, Lena...what is the status of that group I left behind...what was its name again?"
"The Crimson clan..." Lena muttered, making Bella wonder why she chose such a basic name before she added,
"Yeah...how many people are there in that clan?" Last she remembered, she stopped recruiting after the number reached four hundred—considering she found that little guy named Anvil who gave her the slight hope of jumping through dimensions. However, it failed in the end.
Bella was thinking that the guild might have expanded in the years...however, never did she assumed the numbers to be,
"Seven thousand spread in four countries."
".....!!"
----------**---------
A few hours of sleep it all took for Richard to wash away all the fatigue he had been accumulating after entering this world.
He was, somehow, reminded of that time when living another day was the greatest fortune. In a world where survival was becoming more and more difficult each day, a single night of sleep seemed quite a luxury to him.
Around those times, Richard used to sleep just anywhere and in any position. That's why when he had to leave a comfortable bed and sleep on the ground while continuously keeping an ear to his surroundings, even while asleep, it reminded him of old times.
"Are you awake now?" Richard asked as he saw Emily looking up at him with starry eyes.
She slowly nodded but made no move to show that she wanted to get up now.
Richard smiled at her before reminding the girl, "We are still in the middle of investigating the enemy's territory, y'know."
Emily couldn't have told him how much she wanted to remain in the blanket...she nodded to his words before getting up, allowing Richard to stretch his body and remove the blanket.
He could sense the movement of beasts in the surroundings, and when he looked around, he found a big deer lying dead nearby, its innards being pulled out while Lailia continued to watch around.
Richard was impressed by Ben's working speed, as he said, "You seem experienced in this…"
Ben was startled for a moment to hear his voice as he turned to look at the redhead before wiping his face.
"I learned from the situation. Initially, I used to waste a lot of meat."
"Well, I was no better at it as well. Bella always handled this." Richard said before he called out, "Come down, Laila; let's have dinner."
The pink head flinched before she turned to look at the leader. She was standing atop a tree, so she had to climb down carefully—however, she was saved from the effort when suddenly a translucent barrier appeared around her, and the girl was brought down to the ground.
"Thank you…" With a smile, she thanked the blond.
Emily nodded before she picked a few branches which Ben previously picked and made a small campfire.
Ben brought some chunks of meat as Richard ignited the branches.
Soon they settled around the campfire and placed the meat near the heat to let it cook.
Laila took out a few snacks she had brought along and shared them with others.
While eating, Richard said, "In an hour, we will leave."
The atmosphere instantly dropped upon hearing that as they realized that it was finally time.
"We will move in groups of two—Laila and I will remain hidden while Emily and Ben will enter the base." Richard directed, " We will be just behind you two, hidden by Emily's barrier. If there comes a mana detector, Emily, just give us a ten-second half, and we will escape."
The blond nodded, " Understood."
"Laila, your role is to navigate me and take care of guards when I ask you to."
The pink head diligently nodded.
And Ben, Richard began again, "I need you to look at the fortress as much as you can…learn the structure and make a mental note of everywhere you go."
The masked one nodded.
With his eyes situated on the flames, Richard clenched his fist as some words seeped through his lips,
'Just some more time Rena…I promise I will save you ….'
—------**---------
A/N:- Why no reviews going up? Drop a few reviews and tell me whose illustration should I add?
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 210: Chapter 209- Something is not rightSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC210: Chapter 209- Something is not right
Richard had a clear goal in mind—to assess the situation within the wall of the main fort.
If he could infiltrate the deeper sections of the fortress then it would be his luck. And if he gets to see Rena, then it would be his fortune.
Richard was no knight bound by chivalry who would only take the hostage away after a glorified war—if he could, he would snatch Rena away and then take care of these assholes later.
However, that would unlikely happen, considering Rena was Jin's biggest asset and someone who could make him an irreplaceable resource to the world.
Naturally, Jin must have caged her in the deepest depth of his vaults, since Rena was far more valuable than any gem or gold.
"The cleaning staff changes at seven—there is still fifteen minutes. How are we going to get rid of two staff before that?" Laila asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
Only a certain number of staff could enter the fort with a common utility batch on their chest. These staff live in the servant quarters near the main building.
Not to talk about there are guards around those quarters who would immediately inform the fort security that some unwanted activities have been spotted—resulting in a thorough investigation.
Jin is one heck of a paranoid guy.
Looking at the small guard post near the quarters, Richard made a plan,
"Laila..."
....
"George, what do you say? Should I clean up my beard?" The guard on the left asked while looking at himself in the mirror.
The other one, who was reading the magazine while munching on a donut, grumbled, "That won't earn you a night with her-"
Suddenly both men raised their eyes upon spotting a certain female appearing out of nowhere, heading toward the quarters.
"Who are you?" George asked through the mic, bringing the lady to a halt
She turned to look at them with a smile before saying, "I am the new recruit."
George shared a look with his co-worker before both of them got up and walked out of the cabin.
Proceeding toward the pink-haired, George kept his hand on his gun as he warned, "Look, lady, this is not a new trick; however, the punishment for this crime is still quite harsh. So, I will suggest-"
Suddenly, the man turned still once he sniffed the sweet and flowery scent surrounding him. And not only George but the bearded one as well, smelt the sugary fragrance, making him freeze at his spot.
Laila tilted her face with a smile blooming on her face as she waved her hand in front of the two guards who were still standing yet they looked out cold.
Once she ensured that they were no longer moving, Laila raised her thumb without turning to look back.
Soon she returned to her previous position beside Ben and Richard, as she asked,
"Can't I have just walked in and finished the job?"
Hearing the question, Ben chided, "You have been working here for so long yet you don't know that there are several cameras in the dormitory."
Laila scratched her head, "I could have just created fog on their lenses?"
"What about heat detection?" Richard voiced which was meant by another question,
"Won't Emily be caught in that way?"
Richard shook his head, "Apart from magic, no detector could sense anything from her. Her barriers are that reliable."
-------------**------------
The intense training of the battalion, which was formed by handpicking them from different divisions, began.
They all were veteran warriors and had experienced numerous battles throughout their lives as soldiers, so basic training or protocol was something they did not need to be taught.
However, the information about their enemy was a very vital factor that would decide the tide of the war that was about to happen. As such, during the training, they were told what they could expect on the other side.
"They don't ride horses or wield swords. They don't care about chivalry or honor and are hungry for our blood. We, the Knights of the Imperial Legion, will surely give them blood. But...that blood shall be of our enemies!"
"Hooo!!" A round of cheer erupted as Bennet encouraged the soldiers in training.
Bennet suddenly received a message from a soldier that he was required in the strategy chamber.
He instantly responded to the call and emerged inside the room where all the important council members who would be involved in this war were present.
Bennet gave them a nod before asking, "What's the matter?"
Harold was the first to explain, "We caught seven more vigilantes from the other side—they tried to infiltrate the capital but got caught." There was a severe frown on his face as he added,
"However, before we could have brought them in for interrogation..." He paused, urging Bellarine to add,
"Their heads exploded before we could get a single word out." Her expression remained indifferent as she stared at nothing particular.
Bennet was perplexed, "It's strange...did they take their own life?"
Gideon shook his head, "They were under some binding spell that prevented them from revealing anything about their master."
Now, that makes the situation even more complicated as Bennet asked, "Then....what about that one we caught?"
If this binding vow was applied to each soldier—which was a cunning move, regardless of how inhumane it seemed—then how come that specific soldier didn't die? Rather, he revealed everything without a problem.
Harold suggested, "Maybe they brought this change after realizing that their soldiers might bring damage if caught?" That was a plausible assumption.
"However, who could have made them realize their mistake? Last I remembered the assailant we caught had no means to communicate back home.... Wait, where is he right now?" Just like the Duke's words were a cue, a soldier suddenly rushed inside the room.
Bennet frowned as he asked, "What happened?"
"The Prisoner", he began, while breathing violently, "...his head exploded."
Everyone turned silent for a moment, letting the news register in their mind before Harold heaved a sigh,
"It seems the trigger was delayed but not defused." His words were agreed by the other members.
They assumed that because of the drug which forced the prisoner to reveal everything, delayed the bind.
However, Bellarine didn't believe in that theory completely. It almost seemed to her that a mistake was rectified by letting that soldier die.
'What is this strange feeling...' First, the letter she sent to Lilia was not responded to by the maid, and now this.
Clenching her fist, she approached the Knight Commander who was about to walk out, before Bellarine asked,
"Bennet...can I talk to you for a moment?"
-----------**---------
Emily returned in a few minutes, as she informed, "I have incapacitated two servants; they won't wake up until tomorrow."
Inserting her hands in her pockets, she took out two rectangular ID cards, "Here is what you asked for."
Richard took the ID cards and heaved a sigh of relief—it was not the unique type, but rather a bearer type that could be used by anyone until they were carrying it.
"They change the servants so frequently that it was impossible to give them the unique ones," Laila added.
Richard handed an ID card to Ben and the other one to Emily before telling them, " You don't need to draw attention to yourself; just follow the others and avoid communicating with others."
Ben asked, "What about our faces?"
Richard heaved a sigh, "I already told you, your mark isn't that bad-"
"I am not talking about myself, brother."
Richard blinked in surprise before he, along with the other two, turned to look at the golden-haired beauty who was blinking innocently. Her facial features were so refined and delicate that it was inevitable for her to attract attention.
"I have a solution," Laila muttered, before she squatted at her place and picked some wet mud.
Dipping her fingers in it, she stained her face and also tied her head in a bun to reduce the attention from her as much as possible.
"Just for safety, cover your head," Richard advised, to which Emily nodded.
Ben also removed his mask and hid his eyes with his long hair. It was highly unlikely to happen but if by any chance Jin crossed paths with him, it was highly likely for him to recognise Ben.
When Jin joined, they spent months together, and the glaring mark on Ben's face was not something Jin could ever forget. So he better be careful.
Once done, Emily chanted an invisibility barrier around Richard and Laila before the four of them were headed towards the servant's quarters.
The real investigation of the enemy's territory begins now.
—--------**----------
A/N:- It has been a while for me to ask this; how is the pace? I hope it hasn't turned boring. This arc is one of the leading arcs which would direct the story to its conclusion, so I am taking my time.
Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 211: Chapter 210- Barely caughtSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC211: Chapter 210- Barely caught
After half an hour, the cleaning staff were told to leave their quarters and report near the backside of the fortress where their ID car would be checked and their duty would be assigned.
Naturally, Emily and Ben responded to the call and followed the other cleaners, along with Richard and Laila.
They were moving in a pattern, four people in each column and four columns in total. Emily and Ben were beside two other women who were walking towards the fortress.
There was something common among all these servants, and that was their emotionless demeanor. They neither chatted nor showed any apprehension. And Laila knows the reason.
These servants are recruited to serve the masters however they like. Some of them were physically abused, some were told to clean the filth of dead bodies, and some were stolen away from their loved ones.
Laila was among those who were brought here after her whole family was killed. She was a timid girl, however, the flames of vengeance always remained burning within her. That's why she studied the place as much as she could; knowing that one day she would return and slaughter those people who snatched the light from her eyes.
*BEEP*
Following everyone's lead, Emily also attached the ID card to the scanner, but it didn't beep as it did with others.
The soldier nearby frowned; however, before he could walk towards her, Ben whispered, "Upside down."
Emily immediately realized her mistake and turned the card before pressing it against the scanner.
*BEEP*
Emily breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the soldier returning to his post. She couldn't believe she just compromised the whole mission by such a silly mistake.
"Don't be nervous," Ben muttered as he walked alongside the blond girl.
Emily faintly nodded as she joined the others and moved while maintaining her barrier around Richard and Laila.
Her Aembr control has become so firm these days, that even while she was asleep, Laila said there was a faint barrier around her and Richard.
'What an unpleasant place...' Richard inwardly muttered.
The inside of the fortress was cold and unwelcoming, its steel walls reflecting the dim, artificial light that buzzed faintly overhead. The metal gleamed in some places, smooth and polished, but in others, it was scarred with deep scratches, burn marks, and dents—silent evidence of what had taken place here.
The corridors stretched endlessly, their sharp edges and perfect symmetry adding to the oppressive atmosphere. The air was sterile yet carried an unsettling hint of oil and iron as if the very fortress exhaled its soulless nature.
Richard watched the corridors closely and found there were visible cameras every few meters. There were carvings in the walls—suggesting there could be soldiers stationed there. And he could sense Aembr beneath him in abundance.
'Is it Rena?' A flick of hope ignited in his heart as he hoped they could get nearer to the source so he could have a closer inspection.
"Look at your card; your working place must have been reflected by now." Ben whispered before Emily lifted her ID card and found the number '-3E' written on it.
Ben looked at his own and found it was '2B'.
They both turned still for a moment and exchanged a glance before moving toward their separate destinations.
It was to be expected. There were a lot of rooms to clean in the fortress so it was natural that Emily and Ben wouldn't get the same place to clean.
Emily followed the others as they walked toward the staircase which led them to the underground floors.
There were four more girls who were descending the stairs.
Following Richard's advice, she didn't draw attention to herself by trying to strike up a conversation and silently reached the floor where she was required.
'Not a speck of sunlight reaches this place...' It was like a maze; every floor had a separate design, and the security varied on each floor.
Emily noticed, compared to the ground floor, that these underground ones were quite heavily guarded.
She reached the negative third floor and was about to step forward when suddenly a guard held her by her hair.
"No!" Laila held Richard by his arm before he could have reacted.
"Leave me!" Emily winced as the soldier was exerting too much strength in pulling her hair—causing her hair to get undone.
"Stop resisting bitch and warm the bed for Daddy ~" The soldier was swaying slightly, and his flushed face exposed how drunk he was.
Laila's hands began to burn as Richard's body turned hot in fury; his eyes were stretched in agitation, and he was inches away from breaking the barrier and slaughtering the man.
However, God had mercy and another soldier arrived,
"Let her go, you asswipe." He pulled away the drunkard before telling Emily, "Go do your work."
Laila might be hallucinating. However, she had a feeling that the soldiers who came to Emily's rescue glanced at them for a moment before walking away.
"Emily." Richard didn't make any effort to contain his voice as he said, "Let's go back. We are not staying here for another minute."
"No, Richard. I am fine." Emily worryingly muttered as she wrapped her hair in a bun before adding, "We came here for your friend, and we are not leaving until we get any strong evidence of her presence."
"But-" Richard was interrupted,
"Remember you told me how much Rena mattered to you? So as someone close to you, Rena's life matters to me now, as well." She never turned to look at him and while continuing to pick up the cleaning stuff, she muttered.
Richard was rendered speechless upon hearing that. His heart rate finally calmed down a little as he heard her.
Heaving a sigh, he said, "Okay...let's go..."
Laila breathed in relief; fortunately, there was someone who could control his anger.
-----------**---------
Ben was not familiar with the fort since he had only come here twice before, and those two times were to attack Jin and rescue Rena.
Naturally, he failed but succeeded in escaping.
Thankfully, unlike Emily, who still stood out despite having her face smudged with mud, Ben was among those who could blend in the crowd easily.
The mark on his face was not too uncommon since there were numerous servants and soldiers with far worse scars on their faces.
There were two more staff in the room, considering they were cleaning the conference hall.
There were a few soldiers nearby who were sipping tea and having a casual conversation.
Ben was wiping the windows, so he was close to the two soldiers nearby; able to hear what they were conversing.
"What? Vegas?" One with a brown beard and a thin mustache asked the other one.
"Yeah, man. Not just me, but the whole Omega Wing is being sent to Vegas with Commander Mike." Ben frowned; he was aware that there were six wings of the Crimson Claw, and each Wing had more than a thousand soldiers.
What in the world are they going to do? He wondered.
If so many soldiers are being sent to a nation then only one thing comes to mind,
"Are we overtaking Vegas now?" The mustache one asked the exact thing that came to Ben's mind.
Although the Crimson Claw was under the Asian Alliance's control, it doesn't mean they can't extend their authority outside Asia.
However, the answer that came out of the tanned man was different,
"No, man. To take over Vegas they probably would need over three Wings, at the very least."
Ben frowned; three Wings?
'Has the Crimson Clan grown so significantly in these years?' Naturally, Ben was aware of who was ruling over Vegas for some time now.
"Then why?" The bearded one asked as he sipped the hot beverage.
The soldier glanced around, checking if someone was listening, however, upon not finding anyone—Ben was about fifteen feet away from them—he answered,
"It seems the leader has decided to form a secret alliance with them and attack the Asian Alliance main HQ."
"....!!!" Ben's eyes widened. Attack on the Asian Alliance?
'This is bad...if they gain control over the Alliance...it sure will become quite difficult for us to take Rena out...and if they fail, the Alliance will remove Rena from Claw's hold.'
Ben's palm began to turn sweaty as he realized the necessity to work faster. They need to take Rena away before this secret alliance forms, or he has a feeling that it will become a hundred times tougher.
"Hey, you." Suddenly Ben felt someone tapping on his shoulder, turning him completely stiff.
Ben slowly turned around and found it was the mustache one who was looking at him.
'Crap...did they realize I was listening?' He retained a calm front but he was slightly nervous at this point. There was only one escape route and it was also heavily guarded. And knocking these people out would surely attract attention—increasing the chances of him getting caught.
"Yes?" He asked, a tinge of nervousness in his voice.
The soldier frown turned into a smile, startling Ben, as he asked, "Do you have a lighter?"
Ben inwardly heaved a sigh, "Yeah."
--------**-------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 212: Chapter 211- Rena(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC212: Chapter 211- Rena(1)
There was no possible way for Emily to descend to the lower floors unless she wanted to have the forces chasing her and the cameras pointed at her. The security of every floor was quite strict, and the number of surveillance cameras made it nearly impossible for one to exploit any blindspot.
There is a shortcoming with Emily's barrier and that is the necessity of visuals; she cannot maintain her barrier if it's not within her vision. As such it becomes impossible for Richard and Laila to proceed towards the lower levels.
However, based on the information, Richard received from Laila, he knew he might be facing a situation like this.
Lost on choices, Richard said, "Laila, you are up."
Laila stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she raised her hands. The air around her shimmered faintly as her mana spread outward, taking control of the invisible gases in the air. She focused, pulling and separating specific molecules, gathering them into a dense, flammable form.
The atmosphere grew heavy as if the air itself was holding its breath. A faint smell, sharp and unnatural, began to fill the space. Laila clenched her fist, and the concentrated gas started moving. With precise control, she guided it forward, spreading it through the area like an unseen fog.
Her mana pulsed, stirring the currents around her. The gas swirled silently, weaving between obstacles, filling every crack and crevice. Laila's expression was focused, her hands moving in smooth, deliberate motions as she ensured the gas saturated the target zone completely.
Once the whole floor was enshrouded, Richard told Emily,
"Erect a barrier....now!"
A single spark of flame was all it took before a huge explosion occurred throughout the floor—reaching each corner and enshrouding every soldier present on the floor.
*ALERT* *ALERT*
The alarm began to blare, and the loud cries of the soldiers echoed on the floor.
Emily and the other two were protected by the barrier so they didn't feel the burn before Richard told them,
"Head back to the ground floor and meet with Ben! I will be back."
Emily held his hand and hurriedly told him, "Please stay safe, Richard."
The redhead smiled before assuring her, "Don't worry."
...
Flames were spreading rapidly, and Laila was doing her best to prevent the soldiers from extinguishing them by continuously spreading the flames.
Richard exploited the chance and descended to the lower floors.
"Hey, you...!" A soldier, who was ascending, spotted him mid-flight.
Richard raised his hand, and before the man could have activated his skill, his body was completely enshrouded with flames.
Without wasting another moment, he darted down the stairs, his movements sharp and deliberate. The crackling of flames above drowned out the chaos as he descended into the lower levels.
"Stop him!" a soldier yelled, appearing at the stairwell.
Without hesitation, Richard extended his hand, releasing a pulse of flames. The fire engulfed the man in an instant, cutting off his shouts as he fell.
Two more soldiers rushed up from below. One raised a glowing arm, preparing to unleash a blast of magic, but Richard was faster. He swept his hand in an arc, sending a wave of heat that scorched the air. The soldier stumbled, his magic fizzling out before he collapsed.
The second soldier leaped forward, a barrier of light forming in front of him. Richard smirked, his ether flaring. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a concentrated fireball straight at the barrier. The heat shattered it like glass, sending the soldier flying back against the wall.
More footsteps echoed from below. A group of three soldiers rounded the corner, their weapons glowing with energy. Richard didn't slow down. He thrust his palm forward, and a spiral of fire erupted, twisting through the narrow staircase like a serpent. The soldiers cried out as the flames consumed them, leaving only silence behind.
He continued downward, his focus unshaken. Another soldier appeared, swinging a blade crackling with electricity. Richard sidestepped the strike effortlessly, his movements fluid. Before the man could recover, Richard grabbed his wrist and ignited it with a burst of fire. The weapon fell with a clatter, and the soldier collapsed in pain.
'I can feel it...' With every floor, Richard was feeling the presence clearer. However, he still was unsatisfied and wanted to verify it by himself.
"Ah!" Suddenly, he had to halt as he reached the deepest floor of the fortress and was met by a crowd of more than five hundred soldiers filling up the whole floor, all prepared to take him down.
"Stay down, kid, and this will be over quickly for you." The soldier at the front suggested. Richard recognized him—he was the same asshole who touched Emily.
Richard's eyes turned cold as a golden bo staff appeared in his hand, crackling with energy that made the floor quake.
The room fell silent as Richard's gaze burned through the ranks of soldiers. His grip on the golden staff tightened, sparks of heat dancing across its surface. The soldier at the front stepped back instinctively, his bravado vanishing under Richard's murderous intent.
"You should've stayed far away from her," Richard said coldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The next moment, he slammed the staff into the ground. A pulse of ether exploded outward, sending tremors through the floor. Soldiers staggered, clutching their weapons as an overwhelming wave of heat began to rise.
"Kill him!" The leader screamed, his voice cracking in desperation.
They charged.
Richard moved like a storm, his staff spinning in fluid arcs. The first soldier's head snapped back as the staff collided with his jaw, shattering bone and sending him flying into the crowd.
Before his body hit the ground, Richard thrust the staff forward, releasing a stream of flames that consumed the next wave of attackers. Their screams filled the air as flesh burned and melted away, their armor glowing red-hot before crumbling.
A spear flew toward him. Richard sidestepped, twisting his staff with precision to deflect it midair, sending it spiraling into another soldier's throat. Blood sprayed like a fountain as the man collapsed, his gurgled cries drowned out by the roaring inferno.
Richard jumped high; his legs curled before he threw his bo staff through the crowd, the purplish current burning the flesh and leaving only the bones of those who came into Ruyi Bang's contact.
Richard was restless, his fist burned with the fury. Anything he touched, turned into ashes. Those soldiers who once were fighting him were not trying to escape.
Their retreat was futile.
Richard raised his hand, and the golden bo staff snapped back to his palm, crackling with ominous energy that made the walls tremble. He spun it once, the flames licking hungrily at the air around him, before slamming its end into the floor. A shockwave erupted, ripping through the room with an unrelenting force.
The soldiers screamed as the ground beneath them cracked and erupted in fiery geysers. Molten stones shot upward, engulfing the fleeing men. Their bodies convulsed as the lava consumed them, melting flesh and bone into indistinguishable pools of ash and gore.
One soldier, desperate, raised his weapon—a massive energy cannon. "Fire!" he roared, his comrades rallying behind him. A brilliant beam shot forward, slicing through the smoke and flames.
Richard didn't flinch. With a flick of his staff, the beam split in two, harmlessly scorching the walls beside him. He moved faster than they could process, closing the distance in an instant. His staff slammed into the man's chest, caving it in with a sickening crunch. Blood burst from the soldier's mouth as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Another minute it all took for Richard to clean up the rest of the mess, and he stood atop the piles of dead bodies with his hands supported by his beloved staff.
In a corner, the same soldier who touched Emily was crying and quivering—seemingly thinking that Richard could not see him.
Richard drew closer to the man before poking him with his staff, "Oi."
"Hiickk!! Please don't kill me! I beg you, please!" He was groveling, head planted on the ground as he begged for mercy.
Richard squatted before suggesting, "If you pluck your eye and ear it, then I might think to let you go."
The man flinched hearing that before he fearfully looked at Richard.
The redhead snarled, "Guess you can't do it." Without another word, Richard stabbed his hand inside the man's chest and plucked out his still-beating heart.
Vitality from the man's eyes disappeared before he fell to the ground, the horror from his face not disappearing until the end.
Richard got up and searched for the place from where the source of Aembr was arriving.
Making his way through the door, he came across a cell that was made just for a single person.
Richard's breath was caught in his throat as he saw her.
Rena.
However, even before he could have called out, a voice interrupted him,
"You are earlier than I anticipated."
---------***-------
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 213: Chapter 212- Rena(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC213: Chapter 212- Rena(2)
There was no doubt; that the person chained up by the wall was none other than his childhood friend.
Her condition made his heart heavy. All the color from her face was drained, her eyes were hollow and lifeless. The girl seemed nothing but a ragged doll that existed just because she was forced to.
The same lively girl who always waited for him near his house so they could go to school together. The same person who always motivated him to keep looking forward. The same person who used to smile so brightly that it made him feel warm.
"Rena..." Along with grief, Richard was feeling frustrated about why he couldn't find her when the apocalypse broke out. If he had been, then Rena would have remained safe beside Bella all this long.
"Feels pity? Well, I guess you will." The voice of the young man who was lazily sitting beside Rena echoed in the cell.
Smoke erupted from his balled fist as Richard looked at the dead meat with burning fury.
"Release her...and I promise your dogs will get your bones to chew."
Jin grinned; he loved such people who, until the end, thinks that the game was in their favor.
Crossing his leg, he rested his hand on his knee, before suggesting, "Why don't you try and break the bars first?"
Richard's expression remained the same as he held the metallic bar—however, the moment he tried to burn them, the collar around Rena's neck began to stiffen, choking her as she struggled to breathe.
He instantly removed his hand and absorbed all the heat from the bars.
Jin's grin widened, "You see, the technology I developed was just to keep her caged up. Any foreign substance that enters the cell will harm Rena in one way or another."
"What do you want?!" Richard barked, his tone and demeanor suggesting the extreme frustration he was feeling at the moment.
The young man leaned forward before replying, "Nothing."
Richard frowned, "Tell me your price—whatever it is, I will pay you. Just let her go-"
"You got it wrong, mister. I don't greed anything; the power, money, and men I have are all I can sacrifice just right away if I want to."
Through his gritted teeth, the redhead asked, "Then why are you doing this to her?!"
"Because I hate Rena." His answer was quick and simple. There was not a speck of complication in his eyes, nor did his demeanor suggest that he was hiding his true motive.
Richard was flabbergasted and failed to say anything after that—allowing Jin to explain.
"I used to love her. After my mother, it was only she who took care of me as a family member. I adored her...wanted to protect her from the world. However, when I confessed to my feelings, do you know what she said?"
The aura of the man began to flicker, signifying his agitation as he muttered through his gritted teeth,
"She said she already has someone in her heart."
The cell began to shake, and the air turned heavy by his aura as Jin added, "She was my everything. My life, my love...and I wanted her to see me as her everything as well! Was it too much to ask for?! I loved her, so it's natural for her to love me back! But no, she was still dreaming of some long-dead childhood friend!"
Richard frowned, "So you chose to cage her up."
Jin's lips turned into a malicious grin before he nodded, "Yup~if she doesn't want me, it doesn't matter. I will still keep her close and torment her every day until she accepts me as her one and only."
Richard took a deep breath; he could not be rash here. This guy was not only evil but crazy as well. He will end up killing Rena if Richard makes any hasty decision here.
With his heart rate a bit more calmer, the redhead asked, "What are you going to do now? Not like you will just keep her caged up for the rest of your life."
"No, of course not. After all, my dear Rena has already received the necessary punishment for her sins."
With his lips stretching into a face-splitting smile, the man added, "So soon enough, I will drain all her life force, and along with her, I will leave this world."
Richard frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
"Soon, you will know, mister. An all-out war is approaching and when it arrives, my beloved and I will watch everything from the afterlife~"
-----------**----------
[Clion]
That night, after training and the discussion with Bennet, Bellarine could be seen moving toward her room.
She was staying in the palace for the time being, since commuting from her mansion would be a hassle.
She had a talk with Bennet about her suspicion; she disclosed how she felt about all this. For some reason, in the corner of her mind, she believed that they were being lured into this war.
However, as someone who was devoted to his people and his duty, Bennet simply stated,
"Even if this is a trap, I will make sure that the other side can no longer hold the ability to endanger innocent lives."
Bellarine didn't expect anything more than that from him. She has trained him for a couple of years, so she knows how headstrong the guy is.
'Well, if things really turn out to be complicated, I will just burn down everything to cinder and get rid of this mess, once and for all....' With such thoughts, she was heading toward her room, from where she would write another letter to Lilia and ask her about her baby.
However, before she could have entered her room, a soldier called out, "Lady Scarlette, Your Majesty has summoned you."
Bellarine clicked her tongue, "What does he want now?" Her demeanor made the soldiers around her shiver, but the informer didn't hesitate to disclose,
"Your Holiness has arrived and they wish your presence in the conference hall."
"..." This is surely going to be messy.
.....
The Pope of the Cathedral was the person she wanted to meet the least in this world.
After all, Bellarine had never had a good relationship with the church; even in the previous lifetime, she didn't get along with the people who had only a single life motive: to serve God.
Bellarine never liked such stubborn people who could go to any length to prove the other one wrong, if they said anything against their God.
'If it's some bullshit once again, I might as well just withdraw my participation in all this and return to my baby.' With those thoughts, she finally entered the conference hall where a weary Gideon, the chief advisor, Bennet, and Duke Aeromore could be seen.
Turning her eyes, she found the Emperor and the familiar face of the Pope looking back at at her.
Her mood was already irked seeing that face but she held her distaste and approached them, "Yes, Your Majesty? Did you need something from me-"
"I want you to not participate in this war." The Pope suddenly called out, making Bellarine frown.
"And who are you to decide what I should do and what I shouldn't?" She challenged, not liking how the man just talked to her.
The worshipper's brows knitted in a tight frown as he voiced, "As the servant who is devoted to the benefit of humanity, I cannot allow you, an evil worshipper to take part in something which can risk hundreds of lives."
"But, Your Holiness, Duchess Bellarine has devoted herself to this war. She has taken an oath to erase the threat which has been threatening the lives of our citizens." Hayden voiced.
"Indeed, Supreme One. If anyone then it's Bellarine who could ensure minimal casualties from our side in this war." Gideon supported.
The Emperor had a slight frown as he asked, "Why are you going against everyone here?"
"Because I know, when the time comes she will take their side and betray us. Again."
**CRACK**
The wooden surface beneath her feet cracked, and the whole place was overwhelmed by Bellarine's presence.
Hayden began sweating profusely and the others felt a grave sensation clawing at their consciousness.
Seeing her growing aura, Bennet suddenly got up and said, "Excuse my impudence, father, but you are accusing the wrong person here."
Suddenly, the tide of the conversation shifted as the blond-haired spoke, "I know Commander Bellarine better than anyone in this room, and I can confidently say that regardless of the situation, she won't ever betray us."
He snarled, "And you bet your life on that?"
Bennet narrowed his eyes as he heard the Pope adding, "Can you take an unbreakable oath that you two will eradicate the source of this chaos? Tell me."
Bennet's eyes turned cold before he said, "If that's all it takes for you to stop disrespecting my teacher, then yes, I will take the unbreakable oath."
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A/N:- There is this Holiness, and there is that Holiness in my other work. Sigh~
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 214 Chapter 213- The only waySTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC214 Chapter 213- The only way
The atmosphere around the group was grim.
Richard and the other three have safely returned to the cruise ship and are currently sitting in a circle but
no words have been exchanged except for the initial short conversation Ben had with others.
Bella and Emily were sitting beside Richard, anxiety written over their faces. However, neither of them dared to disturb him.
Richard's expression clearly told the situation back in the fortress.
Lilia could sense that her master was shaken up after he witnessed his friend. She has already guessed what could have been the situation of a person who was solely used as a power generator.
"Young master..."
"I am fine, Lilia. Just give me a moment." He spoke without removing his eyes from the ground.
Several things were going through Richard's mind as of now. However, if he lets them overwhelm him, then not only will he lose his friend, but he has to embrace lifelong guilt as well.
He has to remain calm here and think this through. A single wrong decision or aggressive approach can ruin this.
"Brother...tell us what happened. Regardless of the situation, we will find a way." Bella comforted him, her warm fingers sending a calming sensation from his hand.
Holding her hand, he heaved a sigh before leaning back in his seat. His eyes traveled towards the person who would get most hurt upon hearing his words,
"Carl...your sister is dead."
"...!!" Carl's eyes stretched wide, his lips parted in shock and his failure to utter a word. Everyone was as shocked as him and taking advantage of the silence, Richard added,
"She is dead from the inside; when I looked into her eyes there was nothing left. No pain, no remorse, ni anger...no love. She was left with nothing."
"So what?! In any case, I won't leave her there!" Carl barked, his voice containing his frustration. He was already aware of his sister's situation yet he sought help. Now, even if Richard doesn't help, it is not like Carl is going to abandon his sister.
Bella was in support of Carl in this, but naturally, she wouldn't say anything against what her brother had decided.
Ben interjected, "Is there no hope?"
Richard shook his head, "She is hollow from the inside; being used only as a medium to supply Aembr in a vast amount. And it seems they are about to do something massive in the near future, for which Jin would surely utilize a vast amount of Aembr."
Looking at Carl, the redhead said, "And I don't think I need to spell out what would happen then."
Carl clenched his fist, "And you are going to let it happen?" If Richard was aware that they would completely exhaust Rena's life force, then why did he seem so undetermined for this? Why was he so unbothered about this?!
Why hasn't he spoken about how they could rescue Rena? Has he already accepted the defeat just because his sister is no longer worth his time?
Carl knew that with his stable mind, he would never have thought something like this for Richard...but as of now, his chaotic conscience wasn't allowing him to think calmly.
"Carl, calm down." Lilia suddenly appeared before the man and pressed her hand on his shoulder.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he complained, "But...can't you see how he is giving up..."
Lilia wiped his tears like she was coaxing a child and said, "You don't know my master enough then. He can never give up on those whom he adores."
A flicker of hope ignited in his eyes as Carl looked past Lilia and gazed at Richard. Even Emily and Bella were surprised when they looked at Richard and found him not denying Lilia's commitment.
"Mister Richard?" Boris asked.
Richard heaved a sigh before telling them, "There is a way for...saving Rena and erasing all those painful memories she has suffered from. Although making her forget everything would be impossible, we can at least save her from drowning in depression."
A surge of elation spread across the group as they heard him.
Carl was trying his best to wipe his eyes now so he could look at his savior. Approaching him he asked, "How can that be possible?" It was strange that despite how impossible it seemed, everyone believed that if Richard had said it, then he surely could bring Rena back.
Richard heaved a sigh before asking them, "Do you all know about the four Demon Generals under the Monarch of Death?"
Everyone glanced at each other since no one except for Emily and Lilia was informed about the history Clion has suffered from. Ben was slightly knowledgeable about this, given he had read the novel, but he didn't say anything.
Richard hummed in understanding and got up before offering his seat to Carl.
Once he ensured that every eye was on him, he began, "There are four Generals of the Death God. The four extensions of his powers, which have their own consciousness and intentions in this world."
Taking a pause and after sweeping a glance at Lilia, he added, "Recently I had a battle with one of those Generals, and I got to know about their strength."
"And believe me, they live up to their title as Demi-god."
"But what-" Laila was interrupted by Ben who immediately covered her mouth and wordlessly asked Richard to continue.
"From what information I have received, the General who has decided to overtake Earth is the strongest general, named Ithryx."
"Ithryx is the strongest General since he received strength from the sacrifice of innocent lives. And we all know, in any battle or war, innocent beings are the ones who are sacrificed the most."
Everyone agreed to that.
Richard paused and looked at the sky, "I don't know why he decided to take over this world, but it's a fact that he is planning something massive by blessing the earthlings."
"Rebellion?" Bella asked herself, but it was heard by her brother.
"Possibly but as of now, we cannot say anything. And considering how lazy the Death God is, I don't think he would even care about Ithryx until the end."
Richard was frustrated, truth be told. He could not fathom how irresponsible Zulcriz was to make Richard his heir yet not reveal anything about his past and his relation with the heavens.
"Master...we are straying from the topic."
"Ah, yeah. I apologize." Turning back to the crowd, he resumed, "So yes, Ithryx has blessed Earth after I died. And Rena has become his apostle."
Emily's eyes widened, "Rena is an apostle?"
Richard nodded, "Yes, I have sensed the essence of the Demon General from her...almost the same which I felt from Vornyx but this was much denser."
"Wait a minute," Ben interrupted, "If Rena is an apostle, shouldn't she have been strong?"
Richard nodded, "Normally, she should have been; however, before she could have realized her strength, Jin captured her and now is using that vast amount of Aembr for his selfish purposes."
The apostles, in his knowledge, were all strong, and Rena had the potential as well. However, the lack of knowledge of magic in this world restricted her growth. And Jin exploited her weakness to gain himself a limitless energy source.
"Then what are we going to do?" Ben asked, still couldn't grasp how all this could help Rena.
Richard's expression turned solemn as he muttered, "I have to claim my right over Rena and make her my follower."
"During the ritual, I can overwrite her memories, erase them, and even add a few if I want to."
Carl felt the excitement building up inside him. If that happens, then his sister would truly recover from all the suffering she has gone through.
However, "What is the price you have to pay, Master?" Lilia asked; however, she had already guessed the answer.
Richard stated, "What happens when you try taking possession of someone? Naturally, a fight is inevitable."
Bella's eyes widened, "With the Demon General?!" She has heard how strong Vornyx was, from Jasmine. And here the being in question was the strongest one.
Richard simply nodded, "Yes, that's the only way to save Rena. I couldn't think of anything else."
Grave silence descended among the people after hearing that.
Freeing Rena was not the answer or Richard would somehow rescue her in the near future. The real problem was to get the real Rena back rather than a broken doll who no longer had any motivation to live anymore.
And to claim her back it was necessary to go against the Demon General.
Was Richard prepared? No, not at all. Unlike Vornyx, this one would descend to just slaughter Richard.
However, was that enough to make him withdraw?
'Like hell...'
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A/N:- The revelation of the whole story regarding the Death God is drawing near. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far.
Drop a comment/review to help me remain motivated.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 215 214- DisobedienceSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC215 214- Disobedience
"How do you feel now?" It was early in the morning when Elizabeth and Nora could be seen breathing a little roughly as they sat in the garden.
The sweat on their foreheads and the flushed faces explained that they had done something physically taxing.
Elizabeth stared at her hand, feeling the rush of Aembr nourishing each cell of her body. The vividness of this energy baffled her. The aggressiveness of Aembr in comparison to Ether made her realize why Ambrobates always remains so charged up.
She received her powers a few hours ago, yet she already wants to explore them; venture into the limitations of this newfound strength, and explore her new origin.
"It feels warm....and empowering," Elizabeth muttered in a daze, "...almost like it's asking me to use my magic."
Jasmine hummed, "That's common for newborns. And it seems since you once were Apostles—the one who contains the purest form of Ether—the effect of Aembr is rather stronger on you two."
The elven princess tilted her head in confusion, "But Emily didn't show any of these symptoms." She had been close to the blond girl ever since she decided to go against the Goddess and reveal things about Eleanor to Ethan.
As such, Nora knew that Emily's reaction to these powers was different from hers.
Jasmine explained without contemplating it much, "Because she is a blood bond of my master, which means her affection towards him elevated so much that she never realized her changes."
Elizabeth made a disgusted look, "Thankfully, I didn't become one of his..."
Jasmine narrowed her eyes, "Speak respectfully. If not for him, you would have been abandoned by both sides and would have been left to rot in a corner."
Elizabeth showed a little nervousness but refused to apologize. Just the very thought of being affectionate to any other man than Ethan disgusted her.
Jasmine spoke again, "Now, for a few days, you need to maintain your control over your Aembr. The difference between beings like us and the rest of the Ambrobates which people generally hunt, is the control over their will."
"If you release your control over your restraints and allow your powers to dominate your intentions, then you will lose your personality and become a mindless creature—someone whom I have to eventually hunt down."
Nora shivered at the possibility while Elizabeth only frowned.
She could feel the urge to utilize her newfound powers, to liberate herself and see how far she could go.
However, having the experience of two lifetimes allowed her to put chains on her desires.
"How long will it take for us to gain a grip on our powers?"
Jasmine thought for a moment, seemingly a bit unsure given it was the first time for her to see apostles turning into Bates.
After a whole minute, she uttered, "Based on my calculations, at least fifteen days, you need to refrain from excessive use of Aembr. Remember, once you lose your sanity, even the master cannot bring you back."
Elizabeth nodded, this time seriously.
Her sole intention to turn into an Ambrobate was to support Ethan and kill Eleanor. And that goal was far stronger than her desire to utilize her strength.
"Now, for today-"
"Ah!" Suddenly Nora got up from her seat, interrupting Jasmine as the violet-eyed woman turned towards the girl, and asked,
"What happened?" She could see her clutching her chest...or more like, the pendant hanging down her neck.
"It's...the world tree..." Nora slowly muttered, "She...is calling me..."
Jasmine frowned, "What do you mean?" Although she was aware that the World Tree existed and was rooted somewhere in the elven territory, her knowledge regarding the World Tree's relation with the elves was limited.
Nora seemed anxious as she muttered, "It's my father...calling me through the world tree..." She revealed the small pine cone-shaped pendant hanging down her neck before adding,
"It's the common way of communicating back in our town....he is calling me back..."
Elizabeth frowned, "So suddenly? It can be a coincidence that you are being called just after turning into a Bate, right?"
Nora glanced at her friend, but even as a possibility, she could not nod in agreement.
"Elves have the same belief as the Apostles, right?" Jasmine asked.
Elizabeth heaved a sigh seeing Nora shivering and not looking in the shape to answer her. So she took the role to explain it to her,
"Elves, dwarves, and the other beings who survive on ether had a neutral stance during the war. It seems the Goddesses cannot influence them."
"However, do they antagonize Bates?" The raven-haired asked.
Elizabeth nodded, "Bates has caused them great trouble in the past, so yes...they hate Ambrobates."
Jasmine raised her brows before asking, "So what are you going to do now? Truth be told, I am not told to protect you, especially if you decide to return to that place which is filled with Ambrobate haters."
Nora took a strong gulp; if she returned now, there was a high chance for her father to lock her up and try to purify her through the fruit of the World Tree. Although there hasn't been any success in the past, he would rather have a dead daughter over an impure one.
"Are you seriously pondering over this?" The irritable voice of Elizabeth interrupted the elven princess' thoughts, making her flinch.
Elizabeth looked annoyed as she asked, "After coming this far and after going through so many things you are just going to give up? What kind of loser are you?"
Nora lowered her eyes and slowly muttered, "I have never disobeyed my father..."
"So are you willing to let Ethan meet the same fate just because you cannot go against your father and your family?"
Nora's eyes widened as, without hesitation, she shook her head in denial, "Never!"
"Then why are you contemplating over it? Just throw away the pendant and continue living as you are."
Nora's gaze traveled towards the glowing pendant before she heaved an audible breath and pulled it away.
Clutching the pendant in her hand she muttered, 'There is nothing more important to me than Ethan's safety. Sorry, Father.'
And with that, she crushed the pendant without another thought.
As the radiance slowly faded, Nora took a deep breath before turning towards Jasmine, "So...what should we do now?"
Jasmine had a smile on her face as she muttered, "For now, we need to move from here, considering your father might have located your whereabouts and sent people to fetch you."
Both of them had no problem with that.
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"You know how dangerous it is to me to meet you like this, right?" Ruby couldn't help but complain as she spotted the silver head standing near the tree.
It was the second time he had called her like this to exchange information. However, the problem was that Ethan always remained at the center of everyone's attention. So meeting outside the mansion like this was quite risky.
"Tell me, what did you learn at the conference?" Ethan knows that an emergency meeting was called today and every apostle was gathered in the rooms except for Ethan. He wasn't invited.
Ruby heaved a sigh, "I am sure if you ask Eleanor nicely, she would disclose the facts which even I don't know."
Ethan's expression turned sour as he muttered, "I can't even pretend to be gentle with that woman. Forget about that and tell me, what was discussed?"
Ruby first looked around to ensure that there was no one around before she relayed, "It seems they are preparing for a massive attack. Eleanor had told all the apostles to gather around two hundred elite soldiers."
Ethan frowned, "Do they have so many soldiers?"
Ruby nodded, "There are a few apostles who are directly related to noble families and are leaders of mercenary groups. Not to talk about, they have the full support of the church. Arranging two hundred people is nothing for them."
Ethan's brows were risen, "Damn.." a moment of silence passed by before the silver head asked again,
"Why are they gathering so suddenly?" This can't be another ambush on Richard, right? Or was it?
Ruby shook her head slightly, "I don't know...it wasn't disclosed why are we preparing. However, since it was Eleanor, no one dared to ask her either."
Ethan frowned; this was unsettling.
If he could know Eleanor's next move then he would alert Richard. He doesn't want another incident like what happened back in the academy, to happen again. That was totally unacceptable.
However, since Ruby doesn't know Ethan has no other source to know about it...
....unless he try to ask Eleanor.
'Do I really have to?' Resigning to his fate, Ethan decided to approach her tonight.
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A/n:- Anything for the bro. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. The whole thing about Blood bond/rituals would be clearly explained in a few chapters.
Thanks for reading. Drop a comment/review.
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