The Villian Who Broke The Story

The moment Kael’s vision cleared, he found himself standing at the entrance of the dungeon portal once more.

The oppressive darkness of the cave vanished, replaced by the familiar stone courtyard of Astraea Academy’s training grounds.

Beside him stood Charlotte and the remaining three students from their team—the same three who had spent most of the dungeon hiding behind him.

Kael glanced down at the academy-issued wristband wrapped around his arm.

A single message glowed on its surface.

[Assignment Completed]

[Result: Passed]

A faint smile appeared on his face.

At least the trip hadn’t been a complete waste.

Charlotte looked exhausted but excited. The mana core she had absorbed from the Werewolf Dungeon Boss had already begun strengthening her body. It would take time before the benefits became fully visible, but Kael knew from the game that this single opportunity would change her future completely.

In the original storyline, Charlotte never received such an advantage this early.

Which meant the future was already beginning to change.

”Congratulations.”

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

Miss Stella approached from the side, her heels clicking softly against the stone floor.

The homeroom teacher’s expression carried her usual calm smile.

”You’re the third team from Class 1-D to complete the dungeon assignment.”

The three students behind Kael immediately straightened their backs.

Charlotte seemed proud of herself.

Kael simply nodded.

”I’ll be returning to my room.”

He turned around without hesitation.

The dungeon had left him mentally exhausted. His body was still recovering from multiple injuries, and although Infinite Adaptation was gradually strengthening him, he wanted nothing more than a hot shower and several hours of sleep.

Charlotte instinctively followed after him.

However—

”Not so fast.”

Stella’s voice stopped them.

Kael paused.

”Someone wants to see you.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

”Me?”

”Specifically you.”

That immediately put him on guard.

During his time in Astraea Academy, Kael had learned one important lesson.

Whenever someone powerful became interested in you, it was rarely good news.

His first thought was the Principal.

But he immediately dismissed it.

No.

If the Principal wanted to see him, Stella wouldn’t be acting as a messenger.

Someone of that level would simply summon him directly.

Which raised an even more concerning question.

Then who?

Charlotte looked between them curiously.

”Can I come too?” she asked.

Stella shook her head.

”No.”

Charlotte visibly deflated.

Kael ignored her reaction.

His attention remained focused on Stella.

”Lead the way.”

The academy grounds were unusually quiet as they walked.

Students who had already completed their assignments could be seen moving between buildings, discussing their dungeon experiences and comparing results.

Some looked injured.

Others looked excited.

A few looked traumatized.

Kael understood why.

For most of them, this had been their first real encounter with death.

The academy wasn’t interested in producing sheltered nobles.

It was creating soldiers.

Future hunters and Future corpses.

The war against demonkind had lasted for centuries.

And everyone knew it would continue long after they were gone.

Several minutes passed before Kael finally broke the silence.

”Miss Stella.”

”Hm?”

He looked directly at her.

”In an E-Rank Dungeon...”

Stella’s footsteps slowed ever so slightly.

”...why was there a D-Rank Dungeon Boss?”

The smile on her face didn’t disappear.

But something changed in her eyes.

Kael immediately noticed.

”I didn’t expect you to notice.”

Her response only annoyed him further.

”Have you entered a dungeon before?” she asked.

Kael ignored the question.

”Why did you put my team in that dungeon?”

His voice remained calm.

But Charlotte, who was walking nearby, immediately sensed the irritation hidden beneath it.

”If something had gone wrong, we could have died.”

Stella continued walking.

”You didn’t die.”

Kael frowned.

”What kind of answer is that?”

”The correct answer.”

Her tone became colder.

”The academy wasn’t built to protect students from danger.”

They turned a corner.

The massive administration building came into view.

”It exists to prepare them for reality.”

Stella’s gaze shifted toward the distant training fields.

”In the real world, dungeons don’t lower their rank because students are present.”

”Demons don’t spare you because you’re talented.”

”Monsters don’t care about your future.”

Her expression remained calm.

”If a few students die during training, then they were never qualified to survive the battlefield in the first place.”

The statement was delivered so casually that Charlotte visibly paled.

Kael, however, wasn’t surprised.

That’s exactly how this academy operated in the game.

Many students never graduated.

Many died before reaching their second year.

Astraea Academy’s reputation wasn’t built on kindness.

It was built on results.

Still—

Using him as a test subject was irritating.

Stella wasn’t particularly important in the original story.

She existed mostly as a supporting instructor.

Yet somehow she had decided to throw him into a dungeon above his assigned level.

Which meant someone had ordered it.

Or someone wanted information.

Neither possibility was comforting.

Testing my abilities...

Kael clicked his tongue internally.

Annoying.

The rest of the walk passed in silence.

Eventually they arrived at a reinforced metal door near the upper floors of the administration building.

Kael recognized it immediately.

The Observation Room.

The place where academy staff monitored dungeon raids and practical examinations.

Stella stopped in front of the door.

For the first time since leaving the portal, her expression became serious.

”Who exactly wants to see me?” Kael asked.

A faint smile returned to her face.

”You’ll find out in a second.”

She pushed the door open.

The room beyond was filled with floating screens displaying dungeon footage from dozens of ongoing assignments.

Several instructors stood near the walls.

Sebas was present.

Yet none of them captured Kael’s attention.

Because standing in the center of the room was a man unlike anyone he had ever seen before.

White hair.

A black blindfold covered with glowing runic symbols.

An aura so overwhelming that everyone present unconsciously maintained their distance.

The moment Kael stepped inside, the man turned his head toward him.

Despite the blindfold, Kael felt as though every secret he possessed had been seen instantly.

The room became silent.

Sebas lowered his gaze.

Even Stella looked unusually respectful.

And then Kael understood.

Only one person in the entire world could create this reaction.

The strongest hunter alive.

The man known as humanity’s ultimate weapon.

The Living Calamity.

The strongest character in Abyssal Chronos.

The blindfolded man smiled.

”So...”

His voice echoed softly throughout the room.

”You’re Kael Draven.”

Kael’s heart skipped a beat.

Because for the first time since arriving in this world—

Something had happened that never occurred in the game.