Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Inside the mansion’s quieter rooms, the air was still and heavy with mana.

Arthur sat on a chair pulled close to a bed. On top of the bed, nestled in carefully arranged blankets like a priceless artifact, rested a giant golden egg. Faint lines glowed along its surface, patterns shifting almost imperceptibly, like veins of light buried beneath its shell.

The room itself was silent except for the faint hum of mana surrounding the egg. The curtains swayed gently from a breeze slipping through the slightly open window, causing thin rays of afternoon sunlight to dance across the polished floor.

Even the ambient mana in the room seemed to gather instinctively around the egg, as though acknowledging the extraordinary life sleeping within.

Arthur studied it, his chin propped on his hand.

Slowly, a smug grin spread across his face.

’Just imagine it,’ Arthur thought. ’Me riding a giant, majestic dragon...’

In his mind, the image played vividly: a colossal dragon with black-and-gold scales soaring through the sky, Arthur standing on its back with his arms folded, his cloak whipping in the wind. Below them, other dragons bowed, trembling in fear, unable to meet the gaze of the one who carried the royal bloodline of dragons.

The image only made the grin on his face widen further. A dragon wasn’t just a powerful companion—it was a symbol of supremacy. If this hatchling inherited even a fraction of its parent’s potential, it would become an existence capable of shaking the world alongside him.

The system’s voice cut through his fantasy.

[ Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, Host. This thing could very well become the reason we get buried six feet under the ground... or become lunch for another dragon. ]

Arthur clicked his tongue.

"Shut up," Arthur said. "Don’t jinx it. I’m going to tame this thing—even if I have to beat it with a whip."

[ Suit yourself. Just a drop of blood on it, and the link will be established between the beast and you. ]

[ Talent: Beast Tamer is in effect. ]

A small black dagger materialized in Arthur’s hand, its blade gleaming faintly with dark light.

He pricked his finger.

A bead of blood welled up—crimson and warm.

He held his hand over the egg and let a single drop fall onto its golden shell.

The moment the blood touched it, the egg began to glow.

Soft at first, then brighter, light raced along the etched patterns like rivers of molten gold. Arthur felt something tug at him—an invisible thread weaving itself from his chest toward the egg, tying them together.

The pulse lasted only a few seconds, yet it felt strangely comforting. It wasn’t forceful or domineering. Instead, it resembled the first fragile thread connecting two lives that had yet to truly meet.

[ An Incomplete Blood Bond has been established with the target. ]

[ The bond will remain incomplete until the offspring is born. ]

[ Completion Condition: The newborn must consume a single drop of your blood. ]

Arthur watched the notifications fade.

"So it’s still incomplete, huh..." Arthur said quietly. "I guess I’ll have to wait for its birth."

He leaned back slightly.

’Fine. I can wait,’ Arthur thought. ’The best things take time.’

Just as that thought settled, a voice brushed past his ear.

"So that’s where you’ve been busy, huh..."

Arthur stiffened.

"And here I was wondering what you’ve been doing," Astarte continued, her tone light and dangerously amused. "Holed up in your room, not even answering my summons."

A chill ran down Arthur’s spine.

He turned his head.

Astarte was standing right behind him.

He hadn’t heard her enter.

He immediately shot to his feet.

"Fuck—you almost scared me, my lady," Arthur said, placing a hand over his chest.

Astarte’s lips curved into an almost annoyed smile as she walked past him toward the bed.

"So this is the thing that’s been keeping you busy ever since you woke up," Astarte said, her pure black eyes settling on the egg. She tilted her head slightly. "And the reason you’re ignoring me... right?"

Arthur felt a faint killing intent brush over his skin like a cold knife.

He wisely kept his mouth shut.

’Do not say yes,’ Arthur thought. ’Absolutely do not say yes.’

Then another realization struck him.

’Crap... I forgot to make food for her,’ Arthur thought, now feeling a different kind of dread.

Astarte’s gaze drifted from the egg to him.

"Looks like you remembered," Astarte said calmly. "I haven’t eaten anything for almost seven days."

Arthur swallowed.

"If that’s what’s been worrying you, my lady," Arthur said quickly, "don’t worry. I’ll go make something right away."

He was genuinely afraid that if he delayed, she might decide to eat his precious egg instead of actual food.

He hurried out of the room toward the kitchen.

───────────────

Later, in the dining hall, the atmosphere had softened.

Astarte sat at the head of the table, eating a perfectly cooked steak with elegant precision. Her knife and fork moved in graceful arcs, cutting, lifting, and tasting with impeccable manners. Her mood seemed noticeably improved, the earlier hint of annoyance fading into quiet satisfaction.

Arthur sat on her right.

He also ate, though his attention kept drifting toward the egg resting carefully on a cushioned stand beside him on the same table—as if it were another guest.

’Looks like she’s opening up a bit,’ Arthur thought. ’Her mood’s good... this might be the perfect opportunity.’

He took a breath.

Time to push.

"My lady," Arthur said, setting down his fork, "just as you asked, I’ve completed the task you gave me."

He met her gaze.

"I slew the dragon," Arthur continued, "and brought back the egg."

He straightened his shoulders.

"It’s time to fulfill your end of the deal," Arthur said, "and hear my requests."

Astarte’s dark eyes turned toward him, locking onto his face.

Arthur didn’t look away.

His lack of hesitation amused her.

’Confident, aren’t you...’ Astarte thought. ’Let’s play with him a little.’

"You’re forgetting something," Astarte said lazily.

She cut another piece of steak but didn’t eat it yet.

"I assisted you when you needed time to use that strange power of yours," Astarte continued. "To summon those shadow soldiers."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Without the barrier I erected," Astarte said, "you would have died. So I will consider only one—"

Arthur cut her off.

"With all due respect, my lady," Arthur said, "I don’t remember asking for your assistance at that time."

He spoke evenly.

"I simply mouthed a few words, saying I would show you something interesting," Arthur added. "It was your choice to intervene with the barrier."

Astarte’s mouth twitched.

It was the first time Arthur had interrupted her mid-sentence.

And worse—talked back.

She didn’t show anger.

At least not outwardly.

"So you’re saying," Astarte said calmly, "you could’ve dealt with him without my assistance, huh?"

"Precisely," Arthur replied.

Their eyes met.

Astarte’s gaze searched his face.

His expression held no fear this time.

’Is this your real personality, then...?’ Astarte thought. ’Now that you know I won’t crush you just because you’ve piqued my interest.’

She leaned back slightly.

"Alright," Astarte said. "My promise to meet Aiden will be kept."

She tapped her fork once against her plate.

"But I will be the one to choose the place," Astarte added. "I’ll leave the timing up to you."

Arthur nodded.

"Alright," Arthur said. "I can live with that."

He took another bite of his food before setting his fork down again.

"Now all that remains," Arthur said, "is my wish."

Silence settled over the table for a brief moment.

Astarte took a large bite of steak, chewed it slowly, swallowed, then looked at him again.

"What do you want?" Astarte asked.

Arthur’s smirk widened.

"Will you really be able to grant it?" Arthur asked.

Astarte’s expression grew serious.

"Don’t underestimate me, peasant," Astarte said. "You don’t even have any idea who you’re talking to."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Just state your demand," Astarte said.

A message popped up in Arthur’s inner vision.

[ Host, are you sure this plan will work? What if it backfires? ]

Arthur answered in his mind.

’Don’t worry,’ Arthur thought. ’After all this time, I’ve found one thing about us: I have no limitation to grow. Not in soul. Not in body.’

He exhaled quietly.

’I just need to wait for the right time,’ Arthur thought.

He lifted his gaze.

He looked straight into Astarte’s eyes—into that endless darkness—and spoke without flinching.

"Form a soul bond with me," Arthur said.

The words hung in the air.

For a heartbeat, nothing moved.

Then Astarte’s eyes widened.

She stood up so fast that the chair legs scraped against the floor. The plate she’d been eating from slipped from her hand and crashed to the ground, the steak and shattered ceramic scattering across the floor.

In the same motion, she appeared beside him.

Her hand pressed against the back of his neck, her fingers curling around it, her nails lightly brushing his skin.

Killing intent poured off her like a tidal wave, heavy enough to make the air feel thicker.

"Do you want to die?" Astarte asked, her voice low and filled with lethal promise.

Her dark eyes bored into him, searching for fear—

Only to find something else instead.

And Arthur.

Despite the cold hand gripping the back of his neck—He didn’t look away.