Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 167: Chapter 166- Betrayal(1)

The scene in front of his eyes was unfamiliar yet...Richard could tell that on the left side was the entity whom everyone feared, and on the right side stood the greatest Hero of history.

He has never seen Eden Dracon before but has only heard his name and tales. However, seeing the pink-haired man casting a seven-circle spell effortlessly, Richard knew that this person was the leader of the seven founding heroes.

On the other side, the figure enshrouded in darkness stood tall, his very presence was a promise of death.

'Is this another memory of Zulcriz?' Richard wondered, but his train of thought suddenly broke when the old man launched the waves of water in Zulcriz's direction, and along with it, roaring thunder wrapped around the waves.

'Synchronized double elemental attacks...what the....' Richard had never seen someone using two elements at once and with such control that the electricity seemed to be embracing the aqua, forming a vast and deadly spell.

Zulcriz made no movement which could suggest that he was bracing for the impact, rather, he just thumped the butt of his scythe on the ground, and the dual elemental attacks began to disintegrate into cinders even before it could have reached the Death God.

Followed by that attack, several spells, each one of them complex enough to make a current era's mage kneel before the man and worship him as a deity.

Eden was restless, almost like a single second of gap it would all take for this battle to conclude. On the other side, Zulcriz lazily held his scythe, showcasing his evident control over the phenomenon called 'End'.

Death is the end of everything, and before the concept of Death, nothing prevailed. Zulcriz was that dead end that every being, god or human, had to reach one day.

In front of an immortal God, Eden was launching attacks one after another and each one of them held destructive strength to obliterate a whole town in one full sweep.

Richard didn't believe in the books when it was stated, but now he could say that this man, Eden, indeed is the strongest mage in history.

Richard tried saying something to show his presence to Zulcriz, but it didn't work, so he waited for this one-sided onslaught to stop.

After some minutes and hundreds of spells, Eden finally plopped down to his knees, breathing roughly, and his complexion suggesting how exhausted he was after exerting himself this far.

*THUMP*

The God of Death stepped toward and in his bone-chilling voice, he asked,

[Why do you engage in a meaningless war with something inevitable?]

Eden, all tired and on the verge of falling, retained his eyes on the ground and uttered, "A being who has taken an oath...to take down...the heavens...needs to...perish...."

Richard scoffed; these people were so deeply brainwashed that they couldn't even make a simple deduction: The deities hated Zulcriz because he could become their death one day.

From what Richard has discerned until now, the Goddesses don't want to perish, ever. And they expect the same from those who devote themselves to them. That explains why, in earlier times, people used to live over hundreds of years before either they simply became one with Ether or arrived in heaven to serve the deities.

Zulcriz paused before the man, and in a tone which wasn't much different from before but still held slight weariness, he said,

[You are being their puppet, human. I can see, the potential in you. Be rational and hold my hand. You can become one of my generals...maybe the strongest one.]

Zulcriz spoke those words with no Aembr being used, but the temptation being offered by a deity could be seen in Eden's eyes as he stared at Zulcriz's offered hand.

Slowly raising his hand, Eden uttered, "Throughout the battle you never retaliated, knowing I am not worth it. And now you are also offering a helping hand...but,"

Zulcriz clenched his fist but before he could step away, Eden's body exploded with a massive surge of ether detonating.

His ether was so thick and pure that it became tangible like liquid, and despite how much Zulcriz tried to swat it away using his scythe, the cursed ether of the strongest hero damaged his arm which was holding the weapon.

Richard....was speechless. How devoted could one be to sacrifice oneself at the drop of a hat just to inflict an injury on their enemy? It was apparent that Eden couldn't defeat him that's why he killed himself....but that doesn't matter since Zulcriz is still alive.

"You see it?" Richard was startled hearing that voice from near him even though Zulcriz was still dealing with the aftereffects of the attack.

He looked around but there was no one. However, strangely, now Richard could move and speak.

"The betrayal?" Richard asked.

"No, that was expected so there was no betrayal. I am asking you, did you see the grasp on the human mind they have?"

Richard was perplexed why Zulcriz, despite knowing that Eden could pull something like that, still went to offer his hand. However, he didn't ponder over it for long and responded,

"Yeah, I noticed. Even the strongest hero doesn't have control over his mind....what could I expect from the teenagers of today's world."

"That's where you are wrong." Zulcriz's voice echoed, his tone disapproving of what Richard suggested.

Taking a pause, he added, "The stronger a warrior is, the easier is it to control them. Those with a stronger presence and connection with ether are easily manipulated by those Divine residents of the heavens. However, in your era, none can be compared to the heroes of the first generation."

Richard's eyes were dazed as he absentmindedly asked, "Do you...want me to recruit them to our side?" If it's easy to manipulate the children of light, from what Zulcriz is suggesting, then to strengthen their side, should Richard turn more people into Ambrobate?

"That role is unworthy of you. I contacted you, with the intention to warn you: You aren't obliged to kill all the children of light just because they stand on the other side. Light or Dark, they all are warriors who are stuck in this farce. Guide them, if you must. Just don't feel burdened because of your origin."

The world around him began to fade away as Richard returned to his consciousness.

The people were still all around and none of the two sides had rang the buzzer until now.

Richard looked at the distant sky and could see numerous flying creatures advancing toward them. Just before the calamity descended, he informed, "Left arm."

Austin was surprised to hear the answer, but before he could have announced the winners, a loud explosion was heard,

*BOOOOOOM*

Everyone immediately sprang to their feet before turning around and witnessing a beast out of mythics.

A dragon.

---------**--------

Hearing the roar and explosion outside, Rose clenched her fist

'So it finally started...' She was aware of the attack planned by Eleanor and the rest of the apostles. After all, being the descendent of the greatest Hero, Rose was also selected as one of the apostles.

The apostle is a being who is responsible for maintaining peace and finding a way to defeat the God of Death. However, when she heard the whole thing about Richard and Ethan, she was left complicated feelings within her heart

She was told that Richard is an Ambrobate...someone whom they have to eradicate. Although Rose didn't have much of an interaction with Richard before he disappeared, she could tell that he wasn't a bad person.

And after she began spending more time with him because of the contest she got to know more about the redhead.

A person can only act for an hour and two, but in those two weeks, Rose and Richard were almost ten hours a day together. As such, she can confidently say that Richard was a good person at heart and very considerate of people around him. Not only does he care about the opinions of others, but he tries to act upon them to not hurt them.

She has a very bad impression of nobles, however, after meeting Amelia and Richard and after spending time with them, she realized that no…not all nobles are the same. Amelia and Richard are the proof that tells that Rose was being stereotypical.

**RUMBLE**

The building shook under the impact of the draconic presence....a soul beast of one of the apostles.

Touching the pendant which her grandfather gave her, Rose couldn't help but ask,

"What should I do..." She believed in the Light and those beings who gave her the opportunity to make things right....but as an apostle, is this her duty to create chaos and let people die?

And Richard? He is a good person..... does he really need to die? There are so many people who love him...and-

[Rose.]

The voice was heard from within, and Rose's eyes became blank. Getting up from the bed she looked down from the window.

Her target was now clear, her mind void of every other thought.

She has to eliminate Richard.

-------**------

A/N:- Noooo....she gonna die....