Chapter 1 – The Death That Changed Everything
The sound of rain was the last thing I remembered.Cold droplets pelting against my skin, mixing with the warm flow of blood seeping from my chest. My vision blurred as headlights grew faint in the distance—the truck hadn't even stopped. People's voices swirled around me, a chaotic mix of screams and hurried footsteps. But I didn't hear them for long.
Because I was dying.
"Ali…?" I whispered, though I knew my younger brother was nowhere near me. If only I could see him one last time.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't lying on asphalt. I was seated on a throne—an obsidian chair that pulsed with a sinister glow. Black stone walls towered around me, draped in crimson banners, and flames flickered in iron sconces. Before me knelt armored soldiers with twisted horns and glowing eyes, their voices echoing in unison:
"All hail the Demon Lord!"
I froze. Demon… Lord?
My reflection in the polished marble floor confirmed their words.Crimson eyes stared back at me. Jet-black hair cascaded to my shoulders, and sharp obsidian armor wrapped around my frame. A heavy cloak hung from my shoulders, its edges burning with faint sparks of violet flame.
Panic surged in me, but before I could speak, a voice rang in my head.
[System Notification: You have reincarnated as the Final Boss.][Fate decrees: You will be slain by the Hero.][Hero Identified: Ali Hussain.]
I choked.Ali.The name carved itself into my skull like fire. My younger brother.
"No… no, this is a joke," I muttered, gripping the armrest of the throne. "Why him?!"
But the voice continued, merciless:
[The Hero's destiny is absolute. The Villain must fall.]
The hall around me roared with the cheers of my new subordinates, oblivious to the storm inside me. They saw me as their master, their king of darkness. But I saw myself as a man chained by fate, forced into the role of the villain my own brother must kill.
I remembered Ali's face—bright, determined, always chasing after me. He was my little brother, my only family in a world that had taken everything else away. And now… fate wanted us to destroy each other.
I clenched my fists.
No.
I wouldn't accept it.
If destiny demanded I be the villain, then I would tear destiny apart.
But deep down, fear coiled in my chest like a serpent. Because for the first time in my life, the enemy I had to face… was my own brother.
Chapter 2 – The Throne of the Villain
The hall emptied after the coronation chants faded, leaving me alone on the throne. The fire from the sconces crackled in the silence, their shadows twisting along the stone walls like demons whispering of my doom.
I leaned back, exhaling shakily. "This… can't be real."
But the system's cold words still echoed in my head.
[Hero Identified: Ali Hussain.][Fate decrees: You will be slain by the Hero.]
My brother's name felt like a knife each time it was spoken. Ali… in this world, he wasn't just my brother. He was the Hero chosen by fate, the shining light destined to cut me down.
The heavy doors groaned open, and a figure stepped in. A woman with silver hair flowing to her waist, clad in black robes stitched with blood-red runes. Her eyes gleamed like molten gold. She bowed deeply.
"My Lord," she said, her voice sharp yet reverent. "I am Seraphina, your Chief Advisor. The kingdoms of men tremble at your awakening. Soon, the Hero will rise against you."
Her words pierced me. Even here, even in this new reality, everyone spoke of the Hero as if the ending was already written.
"And what if I don't want to fight him?" I asked suddenly. My voice, though my own, carried the weight of power, dark and commanding.
Seraphina tilted her head, confusion flickering across her face. "My Lord, your role is to oppose him. The world itself demands it. The Hero and the Villain are bound—two sides of the same coin. Without you, there is no balance."
Balance? Fate? Coincidence? I clenched my jaw. I never asked for this.
But Seraphina's expression hardened, as if she could sense my hesitation. "Forgive me, my Lord, but if you falter… the world will collapse into chaos. You are the pillar of darkness. He is the sword of light. Neither can exist without the other."
My chest tightened.So, even if I refused to fight, destiny would drag us toward each other anyway.
I dismissed her with a wave, too lost in thought to continue the conversation. When she left, I stared at my reflection in the throne's polished armrest. Crimson eyes stared back—eyes that no longer belonged to the brother Ali once knew.
The system's interface shimmered before me again.
[Quest Generated: Survive the Hero's Trial.][Failure Condition: Death at the hands of the Hero.][Reward: ???]
My hand trembled.So that was it. My very existence now depended on resisting my brother.
I remembered him vividly—the boy who used to chase after me in the rain, who would tug on my sleeve asking me to play games with him, who swore he'd grow strong enough to protect me one day.
And now… that day had come.
But not in the way either of us had imagined.
I rose from the throne, the cape of darkness trailing behind me like a living shadow. If the world wanted me to be the Villain, then fine—I'd play the part. But I would not die by Ali's blade.
If fate thought it could force me to my knees, then I would crush fate itself.
"Ali…" I whispered, staring into the flames. "I won't let you kill me. Even if the world wants us to fight, I'll protect you… even if it means becoming the greatest monster alive."
The hall trembled as my vow echoed, darkness rippling outward like a storm.
Somewhere, far away, my younger brother's journey as the Hero was beginning.And mine—as the Villain he must kill—had just taken its first step.
Chapter 3 – A Brother's Face in a World of Enemies
The days passed like shadows crawling across stone. I buried myself in learning about this cursed body I now inhabited—the so-called Demon Lord, the Villain of prophecy.
Power. Darkness. Commands. With a single thought, I could make the walls bleed shadows or turn fire into black flame. My soldiers bowed at my presence, loyal to me as if I had always ruled. Yet the power felt empty.
Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.Ali.
The name carved into my chest like an unhealed wound.
One night, Seraphina entered the throne room with a smirk that unsettled me. "My Lord, word spreads quickly. The Hero has awakened."
My heart skipped. "Where?"
"The Kingdom of Astoria. A boy blessed by the Goddess of Light. He has begun training under the High Priest." She bowed low. "We must prepare, for he will march against you soon."
I swallowed hard. Of course it would be him. The system hadn't lied.
That evening, I dismissed the guards and climbed to the highest balcony of my fortress. The land stretched endlessly—mountains like jagged teeth, forests cloaked in silver mist, villages glowing faintly with lanterns in the distance. Somewhere beyond all that, he lived.
And as if fate had heard my desperate thoughts, I saw him.
A vision shimmered across the night sky, painted by divine magic. The world itself was announcing the Hero's arrival. A boy with black hair stood proudly, a silver sword glowing in his grasp. Around him shone holy light, brighter than the moon.
And that boy was Ali.
I gripped the stone railing so hard it cracked under my fingers. His face hadn't changed—not by much. The determined eyes, the stubborn set of his jaw… my brother, exactly as I remembered him, but wrapped in radiance, adored by the world.
"My Lord?" Seraphina's voice drifted behind me, cautious. "Are you… unwell?"
I couldn't answer. My throat tightened, tears threatening to fall, but I forced them back. The world was watching him as their savior. Me? I was the nightmare they warned their children about.
The prophecy replayed in my mind:
The Hero shall strike down the Villain, and peace shall return.
But I wasn't just the Villain. I was his brother.
Memories burned bright—sharing meals, laughing over games, him sleeping on my shoulder during storms. I had promised to protect him. Yet now, destiny demanded that I raise my blade against him.
"I saw his face…" I whispered.
Seraphina tilted her head. "And?"
I closed my eyes. "He is my younger brother."
For the first time, even the unshakable Seraphina faltered. Shock rippled across her features before she masked it with careful calm. "…That complicates things."
Complicates? The word was far too small. It shattered everything.
That night, I couldn't sleep. The fortress was silent, but within me roared a storm. How could I kill him? How could I even fight him? Yet if I didn't, the system would drive him here to kill me.
I looked at my hands—hands of a Villain, stained already by blood not my own. Could I defy the world itself? Could I rewrite a story written long before I was born here?
The moonlight spilled through the window, and for the first time, I whispered the truth I hadn't dared to say aloud:
"Ali… if it comes down to it, I'll protect you, even if the world brands me a monster. Even if I have to destroy everything."
And somewhere, I prayed he could still see me as his brother… not just the Villain he must kill.
Chapter 4 – The World Against Me
The proclamation of the Hero's awakening spread faster than wildfire.
Within days, every kingdom, every church, every wandering adventurer carried the same message on their lips: The Hero has come. The Villain shall fall.
I sat upon the throne while Seraphina unrolled scroll after scroll of reports. "The Church of Light has declared a Holy Crusade against you, my Lord. They rally armies, claiming their Hero will lead them."
Another scroll. "The Kingdom of Astoria has promised riches and lands to all who march under the Hero's banner."
Another. "Even wandering mercenaries are taking up arms. They believe killing you will earn them divine favor."
Her golden eyes gleamed, but not with fear—with excitement. To her, this was natural. This was fate playing out as it always should.
But to me, it was suffocating.
Every word confirmed the truth: the entire world saw me as the enemy. It didn't matter that I hadn't harmed them yet. It didn't matter that I hadn't lifted a single sword. The moment I awoke, my destiny was sealed.
And Ali… my brother… was at the heart of it all.
That night, I stood on the fortress balcony again, staring at the lands stretching beyond. Somewhere, he was training, preparing, unknowingly sharpening the blade meant for my throat.
The soldiers cheered below, training in the courtyards, shouting chants of loyalty. But I heard only silence in my heart.
I clenched the railing until cracks split the stone. If the whole world wanted me dead, then so be it. But I would not bow to fate.
No. I would fight—not to kill my brother, but to protect him. To seize control of this cursed prophecy before it tore us both apart.
For the first time, I whispered a vow to the shadows: "If the world itself stands against me… then I will stand against the world."
And the darkness within me surged in agreement, swirling like storm clouds ready to devour the sky.
Chapter 5 – Training to Survive
The days that followed were relentless. I couldn't afford to sit idle on a throne, waiting for fate's sword to pierce my chest.
If Ali was destined to come for me, then I needed to grow strong enough to defy the story written for us.
Deep within the fortress lay a chamber sealed by black stone. Only the Demon Lord could enter. Seraphina guided me to its doors and bowed low. "This is the Abyssal Hall, my Lord. Within rests the legacy of all Demon Lords before you."
The doors creaked open, and darkness swallowed me whole.
Inside, the chamber pulsed with raw energy. Chains of glowing runes coiled across the walls, and in the center lay a pedestal with a crimson crystal beating like a heart.
When I touched it, a torrent of knowledge poured into me—spells, curses, forbidden arts, fragments of power no mortal should wield. My body trembled, sweat dripping as visions tore through my mind: fields burning, armies falling, Heroes dying.
I pulled back, panting, my hands shaking. But within me, power surged. Dark flames curled around my fingers, answering to my will.
For hours, days, I trained. I mastered shadow blades that cut through steel, flames that devoured without smoke, illusions that bent reality itself. Every spell left me drained, but every success strengthened my resolve.
Seraphina watched, both impressed and wary. "You grow faster than any Lord before you. But beware, my Lord. Power without control will consume you."
"I don't care," I spat, collapsing to my knees, my body burning with exhaustion. "If this is what it takes to live… if this is what it takes to protect him… then I'll embrace the monster inside me."
At night, I dreamed of Ali. He appeared younger, smiling like when we were children, calling my name. But when I reached for him, his smile faded, replaced by sorrow as his sword plunged through me.
I woke drenched in sweat, the image burned into my mind.
No matter how hard I trained, one truth remained: if I stood still, fate would kill me. If I fought blindly, my brother's blade would still end me.
I had to be clever. I had to be ruthless. I had to twist the story itself.
And so, I resolved:I would grow strong enough to break the prophecy.Strong enough to fight the world itself.Strong enough… to protect the brother destined to kill me.
Chapter 6 – The Hero's Party Forms
Reports flowed in daily, and each one drove the knife deeper into my chest.
"The Hero has begun his journey.""The Goddess herself blessed him with a divine sword.""He gathers companions—knights, mages, and even a princess sworn to his cause."
I listened from my throne, my fingers drumming against the armrest. Seraphina laid out maps, pointing to their route across the kingdoms. "It will not be long before he reaches us, my Lord. He will grow stronger with every trial. The world bends to his favor."
The world loved him. It always had. Even in our past life, Ali had been adored—bright, kind, the golden boy teachers praised and neighbors smiled upon. And me? I was the older brother who watched from the shadows, quietly proud but always left behind.
Now, fate had carved those roles into stone: he, the Hero shining in light; me, the Villain buried in shadow.
That night, I summoned one of my generals, a horned warrior with crimson armor. "Spy on them. Watch my brother's every move. Report only to me."
The general bowed and vanished into the night.
Days later, the report returned. I unfolded the parchment with shaking hands.
Ali laughed with his new companions. He fought monsters with courage, wielding the holy sword as if it were an extension of his soul. The people adored him, showering him with gifts and prayers.
My chest ached. He looked happy. Too happy.
But then, in one sketch the spy had drawn, I saw something in his eyes—loneliness. A heaviness hidden beneath the smiles. Did he miss me, too? Did he know, deep down, who I was in this cursed world?
The parchment slipped from my fingers.
If the world thought I would sit idly as it molded him into my executioner, it was wrong.
Chapter 7 – First Clash of Blood
It happened sooner than I expected.
Ali's party entered the Blackwood Forest, a stretch of cursed land that bordered my territory. I led my generals into the shadows, my army waiting in silence as we watched them march.
The sight of him stole my breath. My brother stood taller now, clad in silver armor that gleamed even under the dark canopy. His companions flanked him—a fiery-haired mage, a knight with eyes like steel, and a princess cloaked in white.
My soldiers waited for my command.
But my heart screamed in protest. This was Ali. My brother.
Yet fate didn't wait. The knights spotted my forces, and battle erupted. Blades clashed, magic roared, screams filled the forest.
I moved forward, shadows swirling around me, and at last—our eyes met.
For a heartbeat, everything stopped. His sword trembled in his grip, his mouth parting in shock. "…Brother?"
The word hit me harder than any blade. He remembered.
I wanted to speak, to reach him—but the mage shouted, "Hero! It's the Villain!" and fire rained between us.
Rage consumed me. With a flick of my wrist, I shattered the spell and hurled the mage aside. My generals roared, cutting down knights, but I barely noticed.
Ali rushed forward, holy sword blazing. I raised my hand, catching his strike with a wall of shadows. The force shook the earth, sparks flying where light met darkness.
"Ali!" I shouted. "Stop! This isn't—"
But his eyes burned with conflict, and his blade pressed harder. "If you truly are my brother… why are you the Villain?!"
Pain tore through me. I pushed him back, shadows swirling protectively. "Because fate cursed me! I never wanted this!"
The clash ended in chaos. I unleashed a wave of dark flame, forcing the forest to collapse between us. Trees fell, fire spread, and smoke swallowed the battlefield.
When the haze cleared, Ali stood on the other side, his sword glowing as if it mourned. His companions pulled him back, retreating.
He stared at me one last time, sorrow etched into his features.
Then he was gone.
And I was left alone, the silence of the forest heavier than any wound.
Chapter 8 – The Chains of Fate
Back in my fortress, I demanded answers.
I tore through the Abyssal Hall, pouring over tomes and relics left by Demon Lords before me. At last, I found it—a prophecy carved into obsidian stone.
The Villain shall rise. The Hero shall strike him down. If the Hero fails, the world shall collapse into ruin.
My breath hitched. So it was true. This wasn't just a story—it was law, enforced by the world itself.
If Ali didn't kill me, then the world itself would suffer. Famine, disaster, endless war—the balance would shatter.
Seraphina entered, her voice solemn. "This is why the world pushes you together. If you live, the world dies. If you die, the world survives."
I staggered back, my hands trembling. "So I'm nothing but a sacrifice…?"
The system chimed again, merciless:
[Fate Correction: If the Hero refuses to kill you, both Hero and Villain will perish.]
Both of us.
My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the cold floor. The cruel truth sank in—I wasn't just destined to die. Ali was, too. Unless one of us killed the other, the world would kill us both.
I buried my face in my hands. How could fate be this cruel?
But deep inside, a spark refused to die. If the prophecy was law, then I would become the outlaw. If the world threatened us both, then I would fight the world itself.
I lifted my head, eyes burning with crimson flame.
"No matter what it takes… I will find a way to break these chains. I won't let my brother's blade be stained with my blood. And I won't let the world use us as pawns."
The fortress trembled, shadows swirling around me in violent storms.
For the first time, I wasn't just the Villain.I was the rebellion against destiny itself.
Chapter 9 – Brother Against Brother
The march of the Hero's party thundered closer each day. Villages whispered, kingdoms rallied, and even the heavens seemed to tremble in anticipation.
Ali, my younger brother, was coming.
I watched from the highest balcony of my obsidian fortress, the black winds howling around me. My generals prepared for war, but my heart ached with a truth none of them knew: the battlefield ahead was not just for the world—it was for our souls.
When the horns of the Hero's army sounded across the valley, I stepped forward.
The armies clashed in chaos—light versus shadow, holy steel against cursed flame. The sky itself darkened as if the gods wished to watch the outcome.
And then I saw him.
Ali stood at the front, the divine sword Radiance blazing with golden light. His eyes found mine through the storm, and without a word, we rushed to each other.
Our blades collided, shaking the earth. Light and darkness exploded in shockwaves that tore through soldiers, forcing both armies to retreat, leaving us in a circle of silence.
Ali's voice cracked as he shouted, "Brother, why? Why do you stand against me?"
Tears burned my eyes. "Because fate says you must kill me! Because the world demands my death!"
He faltered, his sword lowering for just a moment. "Then let's defy it together. We don't have to—"
The system's merciless voice echoed:
[Warning: Fate Correction in Progress.][If the Hero does not kill the Villain, both will perish.]
Suddenly, Ali coughed blood, staggering. Cracks of golden light spread across his body like chains pulling him apart.
"No!" I screamed, rushing forward. "Not you too!"
He gritted his teeth, forcing the sword back up. "Do you see now? If I don't kill you… the world will kill us both."
Our blades met again, sorrow fueling every strike. Neither of us fought to win. We fought because we had no choice. Every clash carried love and hatred, pain and desperation.
The world cheered for its Hero. But all I saw was my little brother—torn between duty and blood.
Chapter 10 – Breaking the Chains of Fate
The final clash came atop the shattered throne room of my fortress. The walls crumbled around us, the sky split with storms of light and darkness.
Ali's sword glowed like the sun. My shadows writhed like a storm.
And still—we hesitated.
"I can't do it," Ali whispered, tears streaking his face. "I can't kill you. You're my brother."
My heart broke. I smiled bitterly. "And I can't kill you either. Even if the world demands it."
The system roared:
[Fate Correction: Execution initiated.][Both Hero and Villain shall perish.]
Agony ripped through us. Chains of light wrapped around Ali, chains of shadow around me. They pulled tighter and tighter, threatening to tear us apart.
In that moment, I realized something. The prophecy said the Hero must strike down the Villain. It never said the Villain couldn't strike down fate itself.
Summoning every ounce of power, I turned—not against my brother, but against the sky. My shadows surged upward, lashing at the heavens themselves.
Ali's eyes widened. Understanding flashed within him. He lifted his sword, and together, light and darkness united.
We struck—not at each other, but at the chains.
The sky screamed as the world trembled. The prophecy shattered, obsidian fragments falling like rain. The chains binding us cracked, then broke, dissolving into nothing.
For the first time, silence filled the world. No system messages. No commands. Just freedom.
We collapsed side by side, gasping for breath.
Ali turned to me, his face pale but smiling. "We… we did it. We won."
Tears blurred my vision. I pulled him into my arms, holding him like I had in our first life. "Yes. Together."
The armies outside, confused by the silence, looked up at the sky. The gods had fallen silent. The prophecy was gone.
There was no Hero. No Villain.
Just two brothers—finally free.