The Villain's Story

Chapter 373 [373] The Empire[9]

Elijahʼs view changed, he was now no longer in the laboratory…He was in an illusion cast by the mage.

An illusion that he truly wished to get off as soon as possible…For what he saw here was pure madness. It showed him…the shadow borne!

In the moonʼs feeble light, the Shadowborne emerges from the depths of nightʼs embrace, a phantom wrought from the very essence of darkness itself. Its form, a silhouette of sinister elegance, slithers like liquid midnight, ever-shifting, ever-elusive. Elijahʼs heart skips a beat.

*THUMP* An unknown sense of fear overcomes him.

Its eyes, twin orbs of frigid silver, gleam with an otherworldly luminance, illuminating the inky void that shrouds its face. They pierce the gloom with a spectral glow, a chilling beacon that draws the eye but offers no comfort to those who dare to meet its gaze. Elijah felt shivers run down his spine.

*THUMP!*

Tendril-like limbs, like twisted branches of a ghostly tree, extend from its form. They unfurl, becoming deadly extensions of its will, capable of weaving the very shadows into weapons of despair. Each movement is a dance of spectral grace, a waltz with the void, as it manipulates the darkness to its sinister desires.

A flowing cloak, an ever-moving shroud of obscurity, clings to its form, swirling and whispering as if harboring secrets of the abyss. It billows like a phantomʼs veil, concealing its true shape, leaving only a chilling impression of the ephemeral.

*THUMP!*

In the presence of the Shadowborne, a palpable aura of fear constricts his heart, an intangible vice that feeds upon the dread of those who stand in its shadowy domain. Its very existence is a testament to the mysteries of the night, an enigma wrapped in darkness, waiting to be unraveled by those who dare to peer into the abyss. And Elijah was scared shitless.

”Ha!”

He gasped for breath and was brought outside from the illusion.

[Do you understand now, Saviour?]

He was back in the ruined laboratory…and instead of that monstrosity, the mage was in front of him.

”...Yes.”

Said Elijah, covered in sweat.

The mage passed over a cup of tea.

[Please drink it, It will calm you down.]

Elijah was hesitant at first, but After Agriʼs confirmation, he had no qualms about gulping the tea down.

[Supreme Dragon of Fire Agri says that the tea is fine.]

[Your control over fire is magnificent.]

Praised the mage. Elijahʼs control over fire was truly exquisite.

[You lit up the capital once again and made it experience a glimpse of its former glory…I thank you for that. And you even gave us salvation.]

”...”

Elijah remained silent the previous experience was too vivid.

”How do I clear this trial?”

He asked finally.

[You already have.]

”Huh?”

Elijah was confused. He had cleared the trial already> what did he mean by that? There was no notification.

[You can leave whenever you want. Thank you for sharing some of your time with an old corpse like me.]

Said the mage.

Elijah found the trial to be odd but again all the trials he had faced were odd in their sense.

”I would like to stay a little longer.”

He proposed. The mage looked at him with curiosity.

”You donʼt need to force yourself hero. I am fine alone.”

Elijah simply smiled and said,

”Itʼs fine. What harm will it do? I have all the time in the world.”

The Mage laughed and praised.

”You possess a righteous soul.”

Truly, That was Elijah! He had sensed the loneliness of the mage and just wanted to accompany him.

It was just his kindness.

[What would you like to talk about?]

Asked the mage…and then it dawned on Elijah.

”Uh…”

What should they talk about? He had insisted on staying here but only now did he realize they didnʼt have anything to talk about.

He quickly surveyed the surroundings of the lab in search of a topic.

[Itʼs quite alright. Why donʼt we converse about magic?]

The mage however proposed a topic first. It made sense, he was the imperial mage after all. What else had he to talk about if not magic?

[Your control over fire is impressive. You even input a will into your flames.]

Praised the mage.

”Will?”

Elijah asked…what did he mean by that?

[Yes, your will. Your flames didnʼt burn the undead because you didnt want to. You not only wielded fire in an excellent mana but also conveyed your thoughts to it. And your fire listened.]

”Ah…I understand.”

Was he doing such? He just thought his fire was special because he was the supreme successor of fire.

[Supreme dragon of fire Agri says that your fire is special because of your will.]

ʼOh…ʼ

He was receiving lessons from two sides here, the mage and Agri.

”I can see that you were amazing.”

[Hoho! I still am. When I still had my mortal form, believe it or not, I dabbled in all types of elements! Whether they be frost, fire, wind, water, and even the rarer types of elements like light, fate, space, and time!]

”Time?”

[Yes, time. Although it proved to be quite difficult I managed to grasp a little bit. I have a grimoire about it as well.]

”You do?”

Asked Elijah, his curiosity had been piqued.

The mage conjured up a plain old book and handed it to Elijah.

When Elijah checked the information of using Godʼs eyes he was astonished.

[You can take it.]

The words of the mage shook Elijah!

”Really?”

He questioned. Refusing to believe it.

[Yes, I have already memorized it all. I do not need it. It would be of great pleasure to me if you took it.]

Elijah couldnʼt form words…

*Rumble!*

Suddenly, the laboratory shook as the mageʼs skeletal face darkened.

[Iʼm afraid You must go, savior.]

The mage cast a spell and Elijah forced him to enter the next floor.

”Wait! What?! At least your name!”

Elijah could barely hear the mages words as he was abruptly teleported to the next floor.

But he heard the name at least.

[Ahsan, that is my name.]

*********

[Alan Peccator POV]

”Ha….”

Alan took labored breaths as he wiped his blood off his face. The laboratory was destroyed completely as Alan pushed some rubble off him.

”Damned bastard.”

He cursed. As he received the notification of having passed the 18th floor.

[You have cleared the 18th floor.]

Alan entered the 19th floor without wasting a second, leaving behind Ahsanʼs skeletal remains, shattered.

[You have entered the 19th floor.]