Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Arthur stepped out of the ancient tomb and into the cool night air.

The stone doors behind him groaned as they finished opening, ancient runes dimming as the trial’s magic receded. The clearing outside was still, lit by moonlight and the faint gleam of mana that clung to the land around the World Tree.

Dozens of elven soldiers stood guard there.

Every single one froze.

Their eyes went wide as they stared at him—at the black-haired boy in worn clothes, crimson eyes calm and alive. Some dropped their spears. Others took a shaky half-step back.

They looked at him as if they had just seen a ghost walk out of a grave.

Arthur glanced around, inwardly amused.

’Well... I did technically walk out of my own coffin,’ Arthur thought.

Several soldiers suddenly turned and sprinted toward the palace.

"Inform Her Majesty!" one shouted. "Sir Arthur has come back!"

"Lord Arthur has returned from the tomb!" another cried.

Arthur heard the words clearly.

A smile tugged at his lips.

"So she really did manage to become queen," Arthur said to himself. "Just like Astarte told me."

He watched the soldiers’ reactions, their urgency, and the way they shouted Erica’s title with reverence.

"And she even managed to earn all of their respect and loyalty..." Arthur added. "Looks like Erica is smarter than I thought."

His gaze landed on a nearby elven soldier—a pale-haired elf with light blue eyes, frozen in place, staring at Arthur as if he might vanish at any moment.

Arthur raised a hand.

"Hey, you," Arthur said. "Mister Elf."

The soldier jolted as if shocked awake.

He rushed toward Arthur and bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground.

"Y-yes, sir!" the elf stammered. "What can I do for you?"

Arthur’s tone turned casual.

"What do you know about the World Tree?" Arthur asked.

The elf hesitated.

Thinking.

Finally, he lifted his head slightly and spoke.

"The World Tree is the heart of our kingdom," the elf said. "It supplies the land with life and mana. As long as it stands, our forests thrive. If it were ever to fall..."

He swallowed.

"The entire Elven Kingdom would slowly perish," he finished. "And we would lose its blessing too."

Arthur nodded.

"So why aren’t you doing something about the corruption that’s spreading?" Arthur asked.

The elf’s face tightened.

"Well..." he began hesitantly. "In the past, we did try. A war was fought between us and those lowly humans of the Church—"

"Lowly, huh?" Arthur said flatly.

The elf paled.

"N-not your companions, sir!" the elf said quickly. "You and your companions are our benefactors!"

Arthur’s eyes narrowed with faint amusement.

"So what happened in that war?" Arthur asked.

The elf’s expression darkened.

He bowed his head.

"I’m sorry, sir," the elf said. "I cannot tell you that. That information is strictly confidential and can only be disclosed under the direct order of Her Majesty, the Queen."

Arthur’s expression cooled.

"Is that so, huh..." Arthur said.

He took a step closer.

"You do know your Queen is a close friend of mine, right?" Arthur said quietly. "This can get you in trouble."

A faint, ominous aura leaked out of him, seeping into the air around them like smoke.

"Even if I kill you here," he added, his voice soft but sharp, "I doubt she would do anything to me."

The elf’s legs trembled.

His throat bobbed.

But he still kept his head bowed.

"I’m sorry, sir," the elf said, his voice shaking. "But even if it’s you... you’ll have to get permission from our Queen."

Arthur’s aura faded.

He smiled faintly.

"At least you’re truly loyal to her," Arthur said. "That’s a good thing."

He tilted his head.

"What’s your na—"

He stopped.

He felt them.

Three familiar presences approaching fast.

He turned his head.

From the direction of the palace, three figures came into view.

A gorgeous pink-haired woman in simple yet elegant clothes, running with barely restrained urgency.

Beside her, a silver-haired elf with a white crown resting lightly on her head—Erica—her beauty now almost breathtaking, refined by responsibility and power. A small fairy sat on Erica’s shoulder, eyes wide, wings trembling in surprise.

Erica’s eyes locked onto Arthur.

They shimmered.

She almost cried on the spot.

’He’s alive...’ Erica thought.

"That takes a load off my mind," Erica said, her voice thick with relief. "Otherwise, I would have lived with the regret of knowing he died because of me..."

On Erica’s other side walked a red-haired vampire beauty.

Elizabeth.

She smiled as she saw Arthur—smiled in a way that was even creepier than before, her eyes glinting with something between delight and hunger.

Arthur muttered under his breath.

"What happened to that bitch while I was gone..." Arthur said quietly. "She looks even crazier now."

Yuna’s eyes finally found him.

In the next breath, she moved.

She ran toward Arthur at full speed.

Arthur’s instincts screamed.

He had seen this pattern before.

Last time, her "greeting" had shattered half of Erica’s mansion.

He braced himself.

He clenched his jaw, steeling himself for impact.

The impact came.

But this time—

It was a tight hug.

Yuna slammed into him, her arms wrapping around his torso and pulling him close.

Arthur staggered slightly but stayed upright as she buried her face against his shoulder.

"I’m glad you’re okay," Yuna said in a low voice. "You bastard."

She tightened her arms.

"Why do you always worry me so much?" Yuna asked. "Do you know how scared I was? I thought you died."

Arthur’s chest tightened.

Hearing her voice, hearing the tremor beneath her words, he felt guilt wash over him like cold water.

’I really feel like trash sometimes... She’s done so much for me...’ Arthur thought.

He remembered everything.

Her trying to protect him.

Her risking her life for him.

’She’s gotten into huge problems because of me,’ Arthur thought. ’She even risked her life... and I just keep worrying her.’

He grimaced inwardly.

’She really deserves so much better than having a disciple like me,’ Arthur thought. ’Someone who gives her nothing but trouble.’

He opened his mouth.

He was about to say something.

Apologize.

Reassure her.

But the hug tightened.

Yuna’s hand pressed against his back.

"What’s this..." Yuna muttered. "You seem to have grown stronger."

Arthur winced.

"Master, you’re hurting me," Arthur said in a low voice.

The hug tightened even more.

Bones creaked.

Arthur felt his ribs complain.

His spine protested.

Then—

Yuna moved.

She shifted her grip, grabbing him around the torso with both arms.

In the next second, she began spinning him.

Arthur’s feet left the ground.

He spun through the air like a thrown disc, the dizzying rotation blurring his vision.

Then she threw him.

Hard.

Arthur flew through the air and collided with a giant tree in the distance.

BAM.

The trunk cracked and broke under the impact, splintering outward as leaves rained down. Arthur slid down the shattered bark and landed on the ground in a heap.

His head spun.

’...She got stronger too,’ Arthur thought woozily.

The system’s voice chimed in his mind.

[ And the gorilla berserker strikes again. ]

"Yeah," Arthur muttered in a low voice. "She struck harder than usual."

Yuna ran toward him.

"Oh, my disciple," Yuna said in a worried voice, her eyes wide with fake outrage. "Who did such an awful thing to you?!"

She knelt beside him.

"Are you alright?" Yuna asked. "You didn’t get hurt anywhere, did you?"

Arthur stared at her for a second.

"Of course not, Master," Arthur said dryly. "I must have... tripped by myself."

Yuna nodded solemnly.

"Oh, silly boy," Yuna said. "Let me help you."

She grabbed him as if he weighed nothing and hoisted him over her shoulder.

Arthur hung there like a sack of potatoes.

Elizabeth almost burst into laughter.

She covered her mouth to hide it.

Arthur shot her a glare.

She immediately looked away, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

Erica also wanted to laugh but forced herself to remain composed. Her lips twitched slightly as she turned her face toward the tomb instead.

On Erica’s shoulder, Luna was not composed at all.

She laughed as if she couldn’t get enough of the sight, her tiny fists pounding against Erica’s shoulder.

"Did you see that, Erica?" Luna cackled. "That useless guy got beaten up!"

Erica sighed.

"Shhh, Luna," Erica said. "Don’t laugh at him. Arthur is in pain. It’s bad manners to do that right now."

Arthur muttered.

"That fucking bug..." Arthur said under his breath.

Erica straightened.

"Alright, everyone," Erica said. "Let’s head back to the palace. We have much to talk about."

Yuna adjusted Arthur on her shoulder.

Elizabeth smirked slightly.

Luna kept snickering quietly.

The elven guards followed behind them, still trying to process the situation.

Just as they began walking away from the tomb, the ancient stone gates behind them burst open completely.

A creature shot out from within, fiery light trailing behind it.

It flew into the sky with a sharp cry.

It was a bird.

But not an ordinary bird.

Its feathers were black, streaked with blazing red as though fire itself had laced through its wings. Each beat of its wings left faint embers drifting through the air. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence and wild pride, its body sleek and powerful.

It looked stunning in flight.

A Blazewing Raven.

Arthur lifted his head.

His eyes widened.

"That bastard..." Arthur muttered. "Why did he evolve while I was experiencing hell itself..."

A system notification floated across his mind.

[ Your bond ’Black’ has evolved: Flame Crow → Blazewing Raven. ]

The raven circled once above them, then hovered in midair, looking down at Arthur.

It smirked.

Or at least—

It felt like a smirk.

A mocking one at that.

Arthur narrowed his eyes at his bonded beast.

’Everything’s evolving except my peace of mind... I’ll cook this bastard later for mocking me,’ Arthur thought.