Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Chapter 167 - 166 : The Sacrificial function

Evangeline had done exactly as promised.

She stood a short distance away, artifact in hand, calmly recording the entire brutal scene.

She didn’t flinch even once.

In fact, she looked like she was enjoying it.

Arthur straightened and exhaled slowly.

"Handkerchief."

One of the maids, who had witnessed everything with trembling shoulders, flinched at his voice.

Even so, she hurried forward and offered him a clean white handkerchief with both hands.

Her fingers shook.

She had seen the entire beating unfold from only a few meters away.

Arina’s face was now a swollen, bloodied mess—barely recognizable.

One eye was half-shut.

Her lips were split.

Her nose sat crooked on her face.

Several teeth were missing.

She hovered on the edge of consciousness, letting out soft groans of pain.

Evangeline clicked off the recording and slowly applauded.

"That was splendid," she said. "I captured every moment."

Arthur didn’t respond.

He carefully wiped the blood from his knuckles until no fresh stains remained.

Then he glanced toward the maid.

"Take that girl with you," Arthur said. "Use the highest-grade healing potions we have. Make sure her face looks exactly the way it did before."

The maid bowed deeply.

"Y-Yes, Young Master," she stammered.

With the help of another maid, she carefully lifted Arina and carried her toward the mansion.

A faint trail of blood droplets followed behind them.

Evangeline lowered her artifact.

"What now?" she asked.

"You, Aiden, and the others will protect this place," Arthur said. "Make sure Arina stays here until I bring Yuna back."

His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains.

"And remember," Arthur added quietly, "if anything happens to me and Yuna... forget everything that happened. Give Arina back to the Imperius family in exchange for everyone’s lives."

Evangeline’s eyes widened slightly.

"Your mother, the Queen, will handle the rest," Arthur continued. "I’m certain of it."

Evangeline held his gaze for several moments before nodding.

"Fine," she said. "But you’d better come back, or I’ll be pissed."

Arthur snorted softly.

Evangeline turned and walked away to gather the others and establish defenses around the island.

Silence settled over the courtyard.

Arthur shifted his attention to the one person who hadn’t moved throughout the entire ordeal.

Elizabeth.

She stiffened beneath his gaze.

A tiny flinch betrayed her usual composure.

"Hey, you useless woman," Arthur said. "It’s time to work."

He flicked his fingers.

In the next instant, everything holding her back shattered.

Invisible seals that had wrapped around her mana core and woven themselves throughout her body for years she had spent inside that containment ring crumbled like fragile glass.

Power flooded her veins.

Wild.

Ancient.

Hungry.

Her aura erupted outward.

The pressure around her intensified dramatically as dormant strength awakened.

Elizabeth slowly raised her head.

Her crimson eyes glowed brighter than ever before.

Dark crimson mana coiled around her body like living flames.

A smile spread across her face.

"Finally," she whispered.

All of her restraints had vanished in an instant.

Her aura surged higher.

Dense with bloodlust.

Then the slave mark on her back suddenly flared.

Pain exploded through her body.

It felt as though molten metal had been poured directly into her nerves.

"AAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!"

Elizabeth screamed and collapsed to her knees.

Her fingers clawed desperately at her back as if she could tear the mark out with her bare hands.

The bloodlust shattered instantly.

Only agony remained.

Arthur watched without a trace of sympathy.

"The next time I sense that bloodlust directed at me," Arthur said coldly, "I’ll leave you in pain just like that bastard Damian."

Elizabeth panted heavily.

Sweat dripped from her forehead.

Even so, she forced herself to bow her head.

"I’m... sorry, Master," Elizabeth said through gritted teeth.

She slowly raised a trembling hand.

With a flick of her fingers, crimson mana swirled around her.

A sleek red gown materialized around her body.

Elegant.

Refined.

Deadly.

It fit her perfectly, befitting the noble predator she had always been.

Elizabeth rose to her feet.

Then she extended one hand.

With another casual gesture, a portal opened.

A dark, swirling oval edged with crimson light.

She stepped aside and gestured toward it with a faint, ironic smile.

"After you."

Arthur didn’t hesitate.

He stepped through the portal.

Elizabeth followed immediately after him.

The portal closed behind them.

The island was left in tense silence.

────────────────

[ Present ]

Smoke still hung over the ruined Imperius estate.

Arthur stood at the center of the devastation, Yuna cradled gently in his arms.

Her breathing was shallow.

But she was alive.

Elizabeth stood just behind him, her aura tightly restrained, crimson eyes scanning every movement around them.

In front of them stood Adrian, Sylvia, Jessica, and Lucas.

Their gazes were cold.

Filled with fury.

Shock.

And something even sharper.

Fear.

Jessica was the first to speak.

"Arthur," Jessica said carefully, "I won’t blame you for what you’ve done. But Arina is your sis—"

"Shut that bitching mouth of yours."

Arthur’s interruption cut through the air like a blade.

His eyes were ice.

"There is no family," Arthur said. "No friends. No loved ones here."

His gaze swept across them.

"All I see are a few arrogant bastards drunk on power who think they can do whatever they want."

Adrian’s aura exploded outward.

BOOM!

The pressure descended like a tidal wave.

Dense.

Overwhelming.

Suffocating.

Arthur’s knees nearly buckled.

His vision blurred.

Blood rose in his throat.

Then—

BOOM!

Another aura collided with Adrian’s.

Elizabeth’s.

The clash cracked the air itself and sent dust spiraling across the ruined estate.

Adrian’s eyes widened slightly.

He hadn’t expected anyone standing beside Arthur to challenge him head-on.

Even for a moment.

Elizabeth stepped forward.

A dangerous smile curved her lips.

"Now, now," Elizabeth said. "It’s rather rude to interrupt when someone is speaking."

Her crimson eyes glowed coldly.

"And remember what happens to your daughter if anything happens to Arthur."

Her voice remained light.

Almost playful.

Which somehow made the threat even worse.

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

His teeth ground together.

After several tense moments, he slowly withdrew his aura.

Arthur began to laugh.

At first, it was low.

Then it grew louder.

Echoing strangely across the shattered estate.

It wasn’t the laughter of a sane man.

It was raw.

Sharp.

And filled with promise.

"You want to fight, old man?" Arthur asked.

His eyes burned with murderous intent.

"I’ll grant your wish."

Above them, Imperius warships hovered in the sky, casting long shadows across the ruins.

Thousands of soldiers surrounded the estate in perfect formation.

Weapons ready.

Eyes locked on the young man carrying the woman they had tried—and failed—to break.

Arthur glanced around once.

Taking in the illusion of overwhelming power they believed protected them.

Then he smiled.

"The illusion of invincibility you people live in..."

His voice was soft.

Almost gentle.

"I’ll break it for you."

Inside his mind, he spoke.

’System. How much will it cost to temporarily push me into SS-Rank?’

The familiar voice answered immediately.

[ I do not recommend using that function, Host. However, since you asked... ]

A brief pause followed.

[ The cost will be at least ten years of your lifespan. ]

Arthur’s smile widened.

It was not a pleasant smile.

’Do it.’

His thoughts carried no hesitation.

’I’ll become the horror they never saw coming.’