I Am The Game's Villain

410  Alvaraʼs Madness [2]

”Oh my, of course,” Alvara giggled, her voice laced with a sickening sweetness. ”I will release her from her weak existence.”

-BOOOOOOM!

A massive golden ray erupted from Alvaraʼs sword, its light blinding as it shot out and engulfed Cylien entirely. The beam swallowed her whole, leaving nothing but the radiant glow of Alvaraʼs destructive power in its wake.

Rodolf stood paralyzed, his body refusing to move as shock washed over him. He never truly believed that Alvara would go through with it. The sight before him, however, shattered any doubts.

”CYLIEN!!!” His voice broke with a worry as his face twisted in anguish. Without a second thought, he charged toward her, his heart pounding in his chest.

Alvara should have been wearing a triumphant smile, basking in her victory. But instead, an expression of irritation marred her features, as if the situation had not played out exactly to her liking.

Dentiel Elaryon stood protectively in front of his unconscious sister. Yet, the attack from Alvara had been so swift, so brutal, that even he, with all his skill, hadnʼt been able to defend himself fully. His entire right arm was smeared with blood, the deep red staining his clothes as his cold gaze fixed on Alvara.

”Why are you stopping the match? Do I need to remind you of the rules?” Alvaraʼs voice dripped with disgust as she spoke, her eyes narrowing at the interference.

”The match has already been stopped,” Dentiel replied as he cast a brief glance at Gamirʼs unconscious figure, lying motionless on the ground.

”Hah? You think youʼre the one who decides that?” Cylienʼs voice cut through the tension, sharp and icy. ”You heard her, didnʼt you? She asked for no one to intervene. So leave her on the ground until Iʼm done with her.”

”You little bitch!”

From the left, a tremendous blast of prana shot toward Cylien, the air crackling with raw power. But Alvaraʼs gaze shifted, and with a calm, almost bored motion, she raised her left hand.

-BOOOOM!

The prana ray dispersed in a spectacular explosion of golden particles, disintegrating harmlessly in the air.

Rodolf stood there, his face twisted in a furious snarl, eyes blazing with an unquenchable rage.

Alvaraʼs lips curled into a cold, amused smile as she observed him. The sight of his fury only seemed to entertain her.

In a blur of motion, Rodolf launched himself off the ground, his clawed hand poised to strike. But before he could reach her, Lykhor appeared, intercepting Rodolfʼs attack with his sword.

”Ugh!” Lykhor grunted, his teeth gritted in pain as Rodolfʼs immense strength threatened to overwhelm him. It was a battle of pure power, and Lykhor was struggling to hold his ground.

”Youʼre too close,” Alvara said, her voice dangerously soft as she swung her hand to the left.

-BOOOM!

A violent golden explosion erupted, as if a massive force had struck both Lykhor and Rodolf simultaneously. The impact was so swift and powerful that it sent them hurtling across the stadium, their bodies crashing into the ground with bone-jarring force.

”Arghh!” Lykhor groaned in agony, his body wracked with pain, while Rodolf quickly jumped back to his feet, his murderous glare fixed on Alvara.

”I hate repeating myself. Hand her over to me,” Alvara asked again.

”...!”

-BAM!

In an instant, Dentiel turned, shielding Cylien with his own body, but the force of the attack was too much. The blow struck him with brutal efficiency, sending him crashing away, his protective stance shattered by the sheer power of Alvaraʼs strike. ”Enough, Alvara!” Victor landed in front of her with a sharp stare. ”You won, isnʼt that enough?!”

”Won?” Alvara repeated, covering her mouth with a delicate hand as a giggle escaped her lips, though it held no mirth. ”I will only have truly won after Iʼve crippled her. She deserves that much, donʼt you think?”

”Alvara... youʼre not in your right mind...” Celeste stepped forward.

On the other side of the battlefield, Rodolf was about to unleash his full fury on Alvara. But before he could act, Roda stood in his path, stretching out her arms. ”Uncle!”

”Move aside, Roda,” Rodolf growled.

But Roda didnʼt back down. ”Donʼt you think you have something better to do? You love her, donʼt you?!” Rodolfʼs gaze flicked to where Cylien was being treated by Dentiel and Sephira, their efforts frantic as they worked to heal her wounds. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding as he fought against the rage boiling inside him. With a final, reluctant glance toward Alvara, he turned and headed toward Cylien, who was being moved further away, out of Alvaraʼs reach.

Alvaraʼs attention shifted back to Celeste, her eyes narrowing with irritation. ”Youʼre such a nuisance, Celes. Why donʼt you just move out of the way?” With a flick of her wrist, Alvara swung her sword, its blade cutting through the air with lightning speed.

Even an awakened genius like Cylien would have struggled to follow such a swift strike, let alone someone like Celeste. But to Alvaraʼs surprise, Celeste dodged the attack before the blade could even come close, her movements fluid and precise. Alvaraʼs eyes widened, a rare moment of astonishment flashing across her face.

”Alvara... that could have seriously injured me...” Celeste muttered annoyed as her eyes faintly glowed with a soft, white light.

Alvaraʼs surprise quickly morphed into a wide smile. ”Celeste Indi Zestella… Iʼm truly impressed.” But she wasnʼt the only one taken aback. High above, Cyril watched the scene unfold with the calm detachment of a spectator at a theater. A faint smile played on his lips as he observed Celeste. ʼAs expected of you, Celes. Youʼre slowly becoming the one youʼre meant to be,ʼ he thought, his eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction.

”Can you stop now?” Celeste asked as she tried to appeal to whatever remnants of reason might still linger within Alvara.

”Hmm? Stop?” Alvara mused aloud, her tone laced with mockery. ”I wonder? I do need someone to replace Cylien... Would you, Celes?”

”Cut it out, Alvara! Youʼve done enough for today, donʼt you think?!” Celesteʼs voice trembled with anger.

She had enough.

Cylien wasnʼt just a classmate to her; she was a close friend. While Celeste could sympathize with Alvaraʼs judging her loss, there were boundaries—lines that should never be crossed. And Alvara had obliterated them.

Alvaraʼs eyes turned cold, the warmth in them vanishing like a candle snuffed out in the dark. Celeste suddenly felt something hurtling toward her at blinding speed, a lethal force that gave her barely a fraction of a second to react.

-BAM!

But just as the attack was about to connect, a shadow moved faster than her eyes could track. Strong arms wrapped around Celeste, pulling her into a protective embrace, while effortlessly parrying Alvaraʼs strike. The sudden warmth that surrounded her was too familiar.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the scent that filled her senses, the one she had come to love over the past few months. ”Amael?”