Reincarnated as the Final Villain's Vessel

Why is salt salty, and sugar sweet... but more importantly, if ducks went extinct hundreds of years ago, how am I supposed to see duck wrestling... I really want that, it’d be exciting.

Dozens of stupid thoughts wrestled in my head, thoughts with no meaning and no use except trying to distract myself from this torment.

It was just two more days and here I am feeling like I’m about to die, like a cold fire is burning deep inside me and slowly burning my life away.

My breathing was heavy and slow like my lungs were struggling to do their job, I hadn’t seen my reflection, but I bet there were obvious dark circles under my eyes, and my skin was already pale.

Sitting on a tree trunk under the sunlight, I struggled to clearly make out what was in front of me, a gray fog had settled at the edges of my vision, refusing to go away.

Even though I was under the sun, all I felt was the cold reaching down to my bones, drops of cold sweat ran down my forehead and under my clothes along my spine.

I lowered my head, looking at my palm opening and closing... strange, I was doing this simple movement, but is it my hand that’s lagging, or am I the one seeing the movement late.

Everything around me looked dead, gray and silent, like my consciousness was the only living thing, trapped in a strange torment I’d never experienced before.

"Caius!"

I wanted to close my eyes and sleep, but at the same time I couldn’t even rest in that darkness.

"Come on Nola, try harder!"

The buzzing in my ears was really annoying... really!

"Caius!... are you there"

"Damn it, damn it, he looks like a corpse, Nola do more"

"I’m trying!"

Huh... I want to slap someone, but I didn’t feel like it... strange.

Something heavy landed on my shoulder, shaking me a little like I’m a limp rag. "Pull yourself together."

I blinked as I stared at Garon’s hand on my shoulder, before I moved to his face, his sharp face wore a big frown of worry and confusion.

I smiled, and even though I wanted my voice to sound sarcastic, it came out a little hoarse because of my dry throat. "I’m... I’m here, so stop buzzing in my ear and give me some damn space."

Ivan and Valia were tripping over each other in panic, Nola the blonde healer behind my back was using her ability on me with no effect, and Sarah just laced her hands together with a worried frown... I remember she didn’t like me at first, why is she worried now.

Garon took his hand off my shoulder, his deep voice echoing in my eardrum, every sound seemed annoying to me now. "If all of this is because of that Theo Arlin, then he might know the fix for your problem."

I’d told them two days ago about what happened between me and Theo that put me in this state, hiding my condition when it keeps getting worse would be really stupid, at least this way they can get an idea of our team’s strength.

I got up from my place which made Nola, who had her hands on my back in focus, gasp. "W... wait, I’m still trying."

I gave her a look over my shoulder. "You’ve been trying for two days, it’s no use."

The little girl frowned, but I didn’t care about sparing their feelings... who’s going to spare mine, I’m the poor guy here.

As I got up the fog at the edges of my vision got deeper, but I tried to stay focused, yeah, I was always good at enduring... always... I think Garon just said something that sounded important, but I forgot it... damn it.

"Maybe it’d be better if you withdrew?" He looked upset as he looked at my state, he was always taller than me, but today he looked like a giant in front of me... or is it just me.

I raised my hand weakly as I scratched the back of my head. "No... that’s not a good option."

It’s not like I hadn’t thought about withdrawing, in this state I’d barely do much in a fight, I bet even Nola could land a solid punch on me right now if she wanted.

But withdrawing meant withdrawing completely... it meant that even after the first stage ends and we have enough points I can’t be picked... complete elimination from the Game of Kings and losing the chance to win.

I didn’t want that!

Jumping off the islands was an option, but the cameras would count it as deliberate suicide or whatever... so yeah, it still counts as withdrawing.

Sarah took a step closer, squeezing her hands together like she wasn’t sure. "So, what are you going to do? Don’t get me wrong but you don’t look like someone who’s going to fight, and staying here might make your condition worse... maybe you should take Garon’s advice, whatever happens your life matters more than this game."

I smiled, feeling the sudden wisdom leaking from her words, but I wasn’t annoyed, instead I nodded to the archer. "You’re right."

"Huh?" Ivan let out a surprised sound, like this idiot thought I’d argue... honestly, I wanted to argue, but my body didn’t... I didn’t want to push it for no reason; I was already at rock bottom before the Game of Kings.

So, there’s no need to make things worse, especially since it keeps getting worse day after day, and here I am.

"So, what are you going to do?" Garon asked.

I shrugged like it was as clear as day. "Fight."

...

I couldn’t withdraw, but I could just go down... easy, right?

But of course, I didn’t want it to be meaningless, jump into the enemy camp and let some random guy stab me or something like that, no.

At least I’ll get a few things done.

And with time passing and most of the islands on the fourth and fifth levels purged, it’s obvious clashes are going to break out everywhere.

From the information I have, a grudge had formed between Luminar and Erebus, so now they’re biting at each other nonstop in small skirmishes along the fourth and third levels, especially now that Theo is back with them.

These look like sparks for a bigger fire that’ll ignite between them in the coming days, but it didn’t matter to me since they’re against each other... the peak wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

But since two of the four groups were focused on each other now... what would the other two do, sit and watch until Luminar and Erebus are about to collapse and then take everything... yeah, it was a good idea, but the point is there are two of them, there’s no way two groups would just sit and watch.

So, we were the side that only wanted to watch, but Auerlion wasn’t... and yeah, it looks like the blow they took didn’t make them happy... it was Elliot who did it, so their eyes are supposed to be on him.

But instead, part of them seemed to be making their way here, to Emeris’s area and mine, the part that got damaged in the earlier attack... at the same time with half of them staying on the other side, they were blocking any big moves to support us here, especially Elliot... him coming now would mean giving up that side.

Damn it, all these complicated thoughts are so tiring, I feel like my head is going to explode if I try to analyze any more.

So, in short, Emeris and I were about to be attacked by Auerlion... and since I’m in a hurry, and I like surprises, I decided we’d be the ones attacking them tonight.