I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 345  [Event] [Dolphian Kingdom Under Ruins] [31] Navas Dolphis

In the stadium, where the exam was taking place, the battle continued relentlessly, showing no signs of slowing down.

Both students and teachers alike were worn out from the ongoing conflict. Despite being in better physical condition, the teachers felt the weight of their responsibility to protect the students and were giving their all to fulfill that duty.

"Watch out!"

With a swift movement, Cylien deflected a powerful attack just in time to protect Roda from harm.

Roda, breathing heavily, looked at Cylien with gratitude. "Thank you, Senior Cylien..."

Cylien nodded, her hand still extended. "We need to stay vigilant."

"When will this end..." Roda wondered aloud, scanning the weary faces around her.

Exhaustion hung heavy in the air, and uncertainty loomed as they faced the relentless onslaught.

"Probably... until they achieve their goal," Cylien said, her gaze turning skyward.

High above, two figures clashed tirelessly, locked in combat for over an hour without pause: Reiner Dolphis and Navas Dolphis.

-BOOOM!

"Protect us!" Cylien swiftly shielded herself and Roda from the barrage of fire attacks aimed their way.

They staggered back as a dozen members of Behemoth descended upon them.

"There she is!"

"Cylien Elaryon!"

"Capture her!"

Cylien concentrated, attempting to summon a mana circle, but her efforts faltered, the circle trembling with instability.

"Senior!" Roda rushed to Cylien's side, ready to defend her, but before she could act—

-BOOOOM!

A crimson rain of blood cascaded violently, piercing through the attackers, leaving them lifeless on the ground.

As the blood drained from their bodies, a chilling sight unfolded before them. The once-threatening figures now lay as mere husks of flesh and bone.

Roda and Cylien looked up to see a striking figure hovering above them. Her jet-black hair billowed around her, her pale face exuding an icy demeanor, and her crimson eyes piercing through them as the blood swirled around her.

Elizabeth slowly descended to the ground, extending her arms.

With a sucking sound, the blood was drawn into her body, filling her mouth.

"Disgusting," Elizabeth muttered, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

The sight sent shivers down Roda's spine. It was the first time she had witnessed Elizabeth in such a state. Though she had heard rumors of her past deeds, seeing her like this was truly unsettling.

Elizabeth exuded a palpable bloodlust, her aura tinged with danger.

"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Cylien asked, a hint of concern in her voice. She dreaded the thought of Elizabeth succumbing once again to her primal instincts, as she had struggled with in the past until Connor intervened.

Elizabeth turned towards Cylien, her smile easing. "Yes. Have you seen my sister?"

"She went with Victor and Amael towards the palace, I believe," Cylien responded.

"I see," Elizabeth replied tersely, but her expression soon shifted.

Just like Cylien.

"...!"

A rumble coursed through the ground, accompanied by a surge of powerful mana emanating from a distant location, reaching even their position.

Glancing skyward, they observed a hint of amber tinting the sky, a presence reminiscent of Connor Olphean.

"W-what?" Cylien was utterly perplexed. It couldn't be Christina, whose mana signature was distinctively different. So, who could it be?

Meanwhile, Elizabeth's gaze was drawn elsewhere—towards the palace. A fleeting smile tugged at her lips before she quickly suppressed it.

***

-BAM!

"You're weak, Reiner."

"UGHHH!" Reiner groaned as he crashed onto the tribune, shattering several seats.

His gaze shot upward as Navas descended towards him within a pillar of water.

-SPLASH!

-BOOOOOM!

The ground was gouged deeply, leaving nothing below, but Reiner managed to evade.

His breath came ragged, his face marred by blood and bruises. Low on mana, he couldn't fight properly even if he tried because his opponent was his brother alive.

Guilt weighed heavily on him as he looked at his older brother.

'Maybe things... would have been different if I had talked it out with him.'

That was his only regret.

His fear of Behemoth had driven him to drastic decisions regarding his brother, only worsening their rift.

-Spurt!

"GUAH!" Suddenly, Reiner froze as a long, flowing blade pierced his chest, forcefully penetrating his water armor.

Reiner grasped the blade fiercely, glaring at Navas.

Navas met his gaze coldly. "With that weak mind of yours, you won't get anywhere, Reiner."

Coughing up blood, Reiner yanked out the blade, crimson droplets staining the ground.

"Look around you," Navas said, gesturing to the students fighting and crying out for help. The once-beautiful stadium of Dolphis's capital lay in ruins.

Ignoring his brother, Reiner slowly ascended into the sky, joining Navas.

"Look around you and behold your capital," Reiner repeated, gesturing towards the city visible around them.

Reiner surveyed his surroundings, his eyes widening in shock.

In just half an hour, everything had changed.

Every corner seemed ravaged, smoke and fire billowing from various parts of the city.

Even the palace, visible in the distance, lay in ruins.

The screams and cries of his people echoed through the streets, a chilling reminder of their plight.

"Why..." Reiner ground his teeth furiously, his glare fixed on Navas. "...this was your city too?!!!"

-BOOOOM!

Reiner's punch carried such force that it sent shockwaves rippling through the air, destroying nearby rooftops and hurling Navas out of the stadium.

"Ugh." Navas narrowed his eyes, coughing up blood as Reiner's blow caved in his chest.

Seizing Reiner's arm, Navas twisted his body and hurled Reiner forcefully to the ground.

-BAM!

"Die with your beloved city, Reiner." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A surge of mana gathered in front of Navas's outstretched hand, forming a massive mana circle.

"Dark Floods."

-BOOOOOOOOM!

"..." Navas glanced down at the deep crater before shifting his gaze towards the palace. His brows furrowed as he sensed a powerful surge of mana moments ago.

With a swift kick off the air, he vanished, hurtling towards the palace at an incredible speed. His figure moved so fast it seemed to blur through the air. Within seconds, he arrived in front of the palace.

"..."

His eyes fell upon Kara's lifeless body on the ground, but he paid it little heed. Instead, his gaze shifted towards a man leaning unconscious against a pillar, with a girl sleeping soundly on his lap.

It was Victor and Selene.

Navas extended his hands, summoning an ominous mana circle to dispatch them both instantly, but...

"..."

Sensing the Horn's pulsations below, he descended the stairs impatiently. Something felt amiss.

His footsteps echoed loudly in the sealed room, crushing glass shards and treading upon the uneven and damaged ground.

"..."

His cold gaze settled first on a disfigured figure embedded in the wall. Though hardly recognizable amidst the holes and deformities, it was indeed Lomar.

***

"Shhh..." I whispered in a barely audible tone, covering Celeste's mouth with my hand.

After taking my time dispatching Lomar, I reluctantly halted upon sensing a menacing presence heading straight towards us.

Forcing Celeste to move with me, I dragged her forcefully and hid behind a destroyed wall, her back pressed against my chest.

My amber eyes glowed as I observed Navas Dolphis examining the Horn.

Monsters kept coming, one after another.

Even though I had awakened, I knew I couldn't defeat him in my current state.

"Stop wriggling already," I scowled as Celeste struggled in my grasp. Her ears burned red, but I ignored it. A monster capable of killing us both was there.

"Finally..." Navas muttered as he touched the Horn, causing it to vanish.

'Damn it...' I cursed inwardly as I watched him take the Horn.

This Event had been a failure.

There was nothing more I could do.

If he was here, it meant that Reiner Dolphis had been defeated.

"Now…" Navas suddenly turned around—-toward us.

Fuck.

"Either you come willingly, and I'll grant you a painless death, or you attempt to flee, in which case..." Navas's mana sent shivers down my spine. "Your death will be brutal."

I closed my eyes briefly before releasing my grip on Celeste's mouth and attempting to stand.

"No...!" Celeste gripped my sleeves, her expression filled with worry as she shook her head.

I gently removed her hand. "I have a plan. Run away."

"N-No! I won't!"

"You're the Prophetess; you can't die here," I insisted firmly.

"B-But...!"

"I have a plan to escape, but I can't do it with you here as a burden, Celeste," I sighed, meeting her gaze pleadingly.

Celeste lowered her gaze.

With a small smile, I emerged from our hiding spot.

"Well, well, you've come for the Horn. How about leaving peacefully like that?" I suggested, extending my arms.

"You're the one who killed Lomar?" Navas asked, his gaze intense as he looked at me.

"Is that a question? Do you see anyone else strong enough to defeat him here?" I retorted with a scoff, glancing around exaggeratedly.

"I see," Navas smiled. "I'll grant you a painless death, but not for the girl."

"Before you speak of her fate, you'll have to go through me, Navas Dolphis, one of the four executors of Behemoth," I declared with a chuckle, beckoning him towards me arrogantly.

"Your name," Navas asked, as Prana began to explode from him.

"You may call me Amael Idea Olphean, or... Edward Falkrona," I replied with a smile.

"Olphean...?" Navas's eyes narrowed. "...And Falkrona?"

"That's right," I affirmed, and the emblem in my left hand glowed as Perseus slowly took shape.

"If you know who you're up against, I suggest you kindly..." "..." Navas's narrowed gaze fell on Perseus.

I smirked. "...to scram with your tail between your legs."