I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 340  [Event] [Dolphian Kingdom Under Ruins] [26] Kara

”What happened, Amael?” Victor asked as I increased my pace.

”Nothing...” I replied, my mind preoccupied with the resurgence of Neviaʼs mana.

Though Victor seemed skeptical, he refrained from pressing further.

The last time I sensed that unique presence was four months ago, filling me with a strange mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Deep down, I knew our paths would cross again, but the prospect filled me with a sense of dread.

It couldnʼt have been a hallucination, could it? I was certain—it was her mana.

Pushing aside my internal thoughts, I quickened my pace once more, tuning out the chaos and screams surrounding us as we entered the beleaguered palace.

It was quite a sight to witness the seat of the King, the symbol of Dolphis Capitalʼs power, so thoroughly breached. Smoke billowed, flames licked at the crumbling structure, and the sounds of conflict echoed from every corner.

Ignoring the carnage around us, I navigated through the inner chambers with impatience, guided by the knowledge gleaned from the Game. It was fairly easy for me to know where they were.

And then, as expected...

I halted, my heart sinking as I beheld the destruction before me—the wall breached, the Queen likely taken captive.

And clearly, Celeste hadnʼt waited for us.

Clutching my fists, I steeled myself for the confrontation ahead.

”Who do we have here?” an eerie voice echoed from the darkness beyond the shattered wall.

Emerging from the shadows was a figure—a sickly-complexioned woman.

Kara...

A Commander of Behemoth.

”Where is she?” I asked icily.

”Well, thatʼs a rather broad question, isnʼt it? We have several ʼsheʼs with us,” Kara replied, tilting her head with a snicker.

”Celeste Indi Zestella,” I replied as I closed the distance between us.

”Oh? The little Prophetess?” Kara sneered. ”Sheʼs with us now. Sheʼll be quite helpful, youʼll see.”

”No, she wonʼt,” I retorted.

Without hesitation, I lunged forward, closing the gap between us in an instant and delivering a powerful punch.

”Is that Amael Falkrona? Iʼve heard quite a bit about you. But I canʼt understand why ʼtheyʼ want you,” Kara mused, her curious tone contrasting with the flurry of insect-like arms that parried my attack effortlessly.

Despite their fragile appearance, these arms were quite strong, infused with Ruah and capable of deflecting my blows with ease.

”Anathemas Fire,” I muttered, summoning the fire.

Confusion flickered in Karaʼs eyes as she instinctively ordered her arms to strike, each tipped with a viscous liquid dripping with potent poison.

I could sense the toxicity from miles away—it was no ordinary poison.

Gritting my teeth, I let scales envelop my arms, vertical slits appearing in my pupils as I tapped into a deeper well of power, fueled by a relentless hatred that simmered within.

”Move away,” I growled, my patience wearing thin.

There was no time for games.

”Try if–”

Before Kara could finish her sentence, I surged forward, delivering a swift kick to her side.

Though her arms moved to protect her, they couldnʼt withstand the force of my blow.

”Ruah,” I commanded, feeling the satisfying crack of bone beneath my strike.

Kara grimaced but there was still an eased smile on her face.

”Vysindra.” I summoned flames to engulf my leg to burn through her defenses. Clicking my tongue, I leapt back

Kara smirked, her insect-like arms shifting into position and attacked me once again. But I was prepared. Coiled with mana circles I unleashed a flurry of blows, each strike infused with the Ruah. Karaʼs arms moved with fluid grace, deflecting my assaults with uncanny precision. But I continued, and slowly I raised the intensity, strength and mana behind my blows.

-BAM!

With each passing moment, the intensity of our clash grew, the air crackling with the energy of our combined forces. Karaʼs attacks grew more ferocious, each strike aimed at exploiting my weaknesses with ruthless efficiency. The walls and windows around us exploded into shards of glasses unable to withstand the pressure. ”Reverse Claws of Vysindra!” Taking the timing, I unleashed a torrent of purple fire.

-BOOOOM!

Kara staggered back, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer force of my attack. Several of Karaʼs arms shattered under the force of my attacks, but to my dismay, they quickly regenerated, displaying a disturbing resilience.

”Itʼs useless... You should follow us if you donʼt want to get hurt,” Kara taunted with a smirk, her tone dripping with mockery.

”Amael!”

Victorʼs voice cut through the tension as he finally caught up with me, accompanied by Selene.

”Victor,” I called out.

”Y-Yeah?” Victor responded, taken aback by my tone.

”Can you take care of her? I need to get down. Celeste might be here,” I said, annoyance lacing my words.

”Yeah, leave it to me,” Victor replied with a grin.

”Iʼll stay with him,” Selene said, as she chose to stand by Victorʼs side.

It was a relief knowing they would have each otherʼs backs. I wasnʼt sure if he could handle a Commander of Behemoth alone.

”Do you think Iʼll kindly let you pass?!” Kara laughed hysterically as she lunged forward, her arms poised to strike.

”Raven Sword!” Victorʼs voice rang as he summoned a massive broadsword into existence before me, its large presence blocking Karaʼs advance.

”Thanks,” I muttered to Victor as I strode past Kara.

Her arms lashed out in retaliation, but Selene intercepted, thrusting her rapier and severing the limbs with a swift, precise motion.

”Youʼre heading towards death, ahahaha!” Karaʼs laughter echoed behind me, unsettling in its jubilance.

Descending the stairs, I felt my senses beginning to dull, overwhelmed by the thick waves of Prana emanating from the Horn below. But I couldnʼt afford to lose focus. I heightened my senses to their maximum.

Finally, I came to a halt, my gaze drawn to the sight before me—the giant jar of water draining to reveal the Horn, the ground around it marred by destruction and ice, evidence of Celesteʼs fight.

A man stood before the Horn, his back to me, while nearby, the Queen lay on the brink of death, her lifeblood pooling beneath her.

Nora stood nearby, arms crossed, her gaze sharp as she noticed my arrival.

Scanning the area, I located Celeste—bruised, bloodied, and bound to the wall, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of me.

But amidst the chaos, I sensed something amiss—ʼherʼ presence had vanished completely.

”You arrive at a good timing, Amael Falkrona,” Nora remarked with a smile. ”At least we donʼt have to go searching for you.”

Ignoring her taunts, I took a step forward, summoning Samaraʼs power to appear before Celeste. With a swift motion, I released her from her bonds, hoisting her onto my shoulder before leaping away to safety, landing on the ground a safe distance away from the impending danger.

Celeste avoided meeting my gaze, her expression fraught with shame and tremors wracking her body.

I know very well what she was feeling.

Powerlessness.

A feeling I had been used to last year.

”You fought well,” I murmured softly, gently placing her against the wall.

Silent tears welled in Celesteʼs eyes as she bit her lip, her fingers clutching desperately at my sleeves.

”Nora, take the Queen and leave,” Lomar commanded abruptly, his attention still fixed on the Horn before us.

Confusion flickered across Noraʼs features at the unexpected directive. ”I thought you intended to kill her?”

Lomarʼs gaze remained on the Horn. ”Plans have changed. She may yet prove useful to us alive. Leave now. Iʼll retrieve the Horn and join you with their two bodies once Iʼm finished.”

A smirk played across Noraʼs lips, her gaze flickering briefly to me and Celeste as Lomar referred to us as ”two bodies.”

”Very well,” she acquiesced, lifting the Queen onto her shoulder before departing, shooting me a final contemptuous glare before disappearing into the shadows.

”If you surrender now, your death can be swift and painless,” Lomar offered.

I gently removed Celesteʼs grip from my sleeves and turned to face him.

”But if you choose to resist,” Lomar continued, his tone cold, ”Iʼll make you watch her suffer before I end you in the most excruciating manner imaginable.”

As he turned to face me, his tail squirmed with malevolent intent.

A fleeting thought crossed my mind, a connection between the Game and my role as the supposed Antagonist of the Second Game. The resemblance between the character I played and Leon, coupled with the possibility of it being rooted in Edwardʼs genes, lingered in my thoughts.

”You sound remarkably like your bitch of sister, Lomar,” I retorted, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. Against scum like them...

”I hope you wonʼt regret your embarrassing words when you will groan under my feet.”

There was no need to restrain that side of me—not now, not ever.