I Am The Game's Villain

"Leon?" asked a young woman, her voice carrying a concern.

Before Leon stood a striking figure, a young woman whose flowing dark red hair framed her face, accentuating her captivating leaf-green eyes. Her elongated, slightly pointed ears marked her unmistakably as a half-elf. She was Kleah Teraquin.

Once a student at the prestigious Royal Eden Academy of Celesta, Kleah had vanished without a trace following the harrowing events of the Floating Garden of Eden Incident months prior.

Seated upon a somber black throne was Leon GrimlockHis visage held a certain allure, with one eye bearing the renowned amber hue of the Olphean House, while the other remained an abyssal black.

"Gladys," Leon acknowledged, recognizing his girlfriend from Earth.

"Are you here alone again?" Kleah approached, her smile tinged with bitterness.

"I find sleep elusive. I must hasten my recovery," Leon responded. "The aftermath of that encounter with the Fate Goddess in the Dungeon was more severe than I anticipated."

"Why did you go there in the first place, Leon?" Kleah asked, her hand reaching out to grasp his cold fingers.

"I had an arrangement with Brandon Delavoic, and I needed to see... him," Leon explained.

Kleah understood implicitly whom Leon referred to as 'him'—Edward Falkrona, a figure from their shared past on Earth, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Leon.

A pall of sadness clouded Kleah's features as she spoke softly, "I... I don't want to see you and Nyr fight against each other."

"We've discussed this at length, Gladys. Edward's death is inevitable when the time comes," Leon stated firmly.

"He's my dear friend," Kleah interjected, her voice wavering with inner conflict.

Leon turned to face Kleah, his pitch-black eyes betraying a subtle tremor. "You know as well as I do that Edward won't hesitate to end me once he gains the strength."

"He blames you for his parents' death," Kleah said, torn between loyalties.

"And perhaps rightfully so," Leon conceded.

"No! It was a tragic misunderstanding, an accident! It's all because of me..." Kleah's tears flowed freely now, her resolve crumbling as she fell to her knees. "I'm so sorry, Leon. It's my fault... for what happened to you, for Nyr's parents, for Ephera... I..."

"It's not your burden to bear, Gladys. You were the victim in it," Leon's touch was gentle as he tenderly ran his fingers through Kleah's hair, his expression cold yet comforting. "The blame lies with them—Eden and A-Nihil."

"I... I just can't. I don't know if I have the strength to go through with it," Kleah lamented, her voice heavy with uncertainty.

"You won't need to lift a finger. I assure you, once we harness the powers of Eden and Lucifer, we'll reset everything. It'll be a fresh start..." Leon's voice was steady, filled with conviction. Novel Fire - novelfire.net

"But we have to—" Kleah began, only to be interrupted by Leon.

"It's for the greater good. Edward and your friends will be reborn into a new life, untouched by past tragedies. But to achieve this, he must die like all others," Leon explained firmly.

Kleah simply nodded, her acceptance tinged with sorrow.

Suddenly, a figure materialized in the hall, her presence commanding attention. With platinum blond hair cascading down, and heterochromia eyes surveying the scene dispassionately, she exuded an aura of authority.

"Sylvia, what brings you here?" Leon asked, his tone betraying no hint of surprise.

"This should be my question, Leon Grimlock," Sylvia retorted icily, striding forward in her resplendent armor dress.

Kleah couldn't help but flinch at Sylvia's arrival. While she had grown accustomed to the presence of such monstrous beings around Leon, Sylvia's status as one of the highest-ranking members in Ante-Eden lent her an air of unassailable power.

"We entrusted you with dealing with Sancta Vedelia, yet there seems to be no progress," Sylvia stated, her tone sharp with dissatisfaction.

"There's no need for concern," Leon responded, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

Sylvia's expression tightened slightly, a flicker of disdain crossing her features as she witnessed the resemblance to Amael in Leon's twisted smirk.

"I have a strong ally within Sancta Vedelia—the future Heir of the Raven House. He possesses the potential to become an Apostle of Nemes. He will ensure Edward Falkrona's demise and reduce Sancta Vedelia to ashes," Leon declared with a chill in his eyes.

"Good."

"Really? Aren't you upset that your beloved Amael will die?" Leon asked with a laugh.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes dangerously but remained silent, a palpable tension hanging in the air.

Leon's tongue darted out to moisten his lips as he addressed her with a hint of accusation, "It seems you're keeping secrets from us, Sylvia Alphonse Celesta, and I find that unsettling."

A charged silence enveloped the room as Leon and Sylvia locked gazes, each silently challenging the other.

Feeling Leon's touch, Kleah couldn't help but retreat, a flicker of panic crossing her features.

Then, with a deafening explosion, Leon vanished in a blur, his obsidian blade aimed at Sylvia, only to be met by the blazing brilliance of Sylvia's own crackling sword, parrying the strike with expert precision.

The force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the hall, shattering windows and fracturing walls in its wake.

"Are we truly allies, Sylvia?" Leon's voice was frigid, his eyes gleaming with dark intensity. "You, too, desire a chance at a new life, do you not? Lisandra's death can be undone only through the world's reset."

"It was I who proposed the idea to you, Leon Grimlock, and yet, in the first timeline, you were pitifully defeated by Laima," Sylvia retorted, her tone laced with disdain.

"In this new timeline, Laima is no more," Leon countered with a smirk.

"Then let us hope you do not squander this opportunity," Sylvia cautioned.

"There's no need for concern. Furthermore, I've returned Earth to Sancta Vedelia," Leon revealed.

"Your actions are your own," Sylvia replied curtly as she turned to depart.

"Working hard while I enjoy my leisure, Sylvia? How unfair," Leon teased with a wicked chuckle.

"I cannot expect you to handle Lucifer Morningstar, Leon Grimlock," Sylvia muttered as she left.

"Lucifer, you say? This is becoming interesting," Leon mused, a sly smile gracing his lips as he reclaimed his throne.

Kleah who heard everything spoke up hesitantly. "Earth…you mean?"

"Yes, you know him already. He was in your college. His name was Jayce if I remember. We brought him back to this world. I do wonder how Nyr will react…"

Leon's smile twisted even more cunningly.

"After all…he is the one who killed Shayna and…Ephera."

***

"Target Alicia, everyone!" commanded a voice, met with unanimous agreement.

Four barrages of wind and fire coalesced into a swirling tornado aimed at Alicia, who stood poised with her rapier at the ready.

With a deft movement, Alicia pricked her thumb on the blade, causing it to glow a vibrant red. With a swift vertical swing, she summoned a torrent of blood that coalesced into a magnificent, crimson salamander.

"Release it," Alicia murmured, and the salamander complied, unleashing a barrage of burning fire and viscous blood upon their assailants.

The combination proved devastating, the blood absorbing the fire and erupting in a crimson rain that engulfed their attackers, leaving them bewildered and incapacitated.

Seizing the moment, Leire launched herself into the fray with blinding speed, her clawed hands poised for attack, her eyes ablaze with determination.

"Wind Gust!" she exclaimed, only to be shielded by Martin's swift creation of an earth wall.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Leire shattered the protective barrier with a fierce strike, sending the two elves hurtling backward. Swift as lightning, she seized one of them and hurled him toward her group.

"Got it." Acting on instinct, Amael reached out and snatched the elf by the head, tearing away his bracelet in one fluid motion before flinging him towards the spectators, where Alvara and Allen sat. However, his trajectory was abruptly halted by James Raven, who intercepted the unconscious elf without missing to glare at Amael.

Amael's actions left everyone in stunned disbelief.

"This guy..." Celeste muttered, her expression mirroring the grimaces of those around her.

Among the onlookers, the elves seemed particularly perturbed by Amael's blatant disregard for the seriousness of the situation.

It was evident that he cared little for the ongoing battle, as he nonchalantly hurled a fellow elf towards Alvara Teraquin without a hint of concern.

Allen, who had narrowly avoided being struck by the airborne elf, was filled with horror at Amael's callousness.

"This monster..." Allen thought to himself, unable to understand the existence of someone so brazenly disrespectful and overwhelmingly powerful outside the confines of Sancta Vedelia.

Amael showed no reverence towards anyone present, displaying his strength with an air of indifference. His casual provocation of his elder sister, Alvara, who held an esteemed status in Sancta Vedelia, only added to the disbelief.

Though Alvara maintained a composed facade, Allen knew his sister well enough to recognize the hint of amusement lurking beneath her cold demeanor and it wasn't a good sign at all.