Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Arthur looked toward the direction the voice had come from.

A beautiful white-haired girl with violet eyes stood there, her presence calm yet sharp enough to command everyone’s attention the moment she appeared.

Her academy uniform suited her perfectly, highlighting her figure with elegant precision and giving her a poised, aristocratic appearance that was impossible to ignore.

Arthur recognized her immediately.

Jasmine Cael Ashford.

Evangeline’s sister.

And her rival for the throne.

She stood there with the same cold grace, as if the entire training hall belonged to her.

Evangeline immediately stepped forward, her magenta hair flowing behind her as she moved to block Jasmine’s path.

"Sorry, sister," Evangeline said. "But as you can see, we are having a heartfelt reunion with Arthur here. So can you wait a bit?"

Jasmine answered without hesitation.

"Well, I can wait, sister," Jasmine said. "But I am sure the Headmistress is not the kind of person who likes waiting. So it is you who will have to wait for that reunion."

The next moment, Jasmine stepped forward, grabbed Arthur’s hand, and forcefully dragged him away from the training hall.

Arthur blinked in surprise.

"Hey, wait—"

But she didn’t stop.

Evangeline and Isabella moved as if to follow them.

Aaron’s voice rang out first.

"Leave him be," Aaron said. "It must be something important if he has come back."

Julia nodded in agreement.

"Aaron is right," Julia said. "Let him go. You guys will get another chance."

Evangeline clicked her tongue but reluctantly backed off.

Isabella did the same.

Aiden, who had been watching the entire scene, frowned slightly.

"Looks like you are still angry that she took the first-year representative position instead of you," he said.

Evangeline immediately smacked him on the head.

"Shut up," she snapped. "And what about that duel? How could you lose it?"

Aiden’s face instantly drained of colour.

"Oh crap..." he muttered. "I... I am sorry, my lady."

BAM!

Another punch landed on his head.

This time, it was Isabella.

Aaron, Julia, and Isabella all burst into laughter at the sight.

On the spectator stands, Arina Evan Imperius began trembling the moment she saw Arthur.

Her body shook uncontrollably.

"He... he is alive..." Arina whispered. "What... what should I do?"

Her breathing became uneven.

She still remembered everything vividly.

The humiliation.

The beating.

The fear.

Her entire body stiffened with dread.

Victor, who was standing beside her, noticed immediately and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey," he asked with concern. "Are you alright? Why are you shaking so much?"

Arina snapped out of her daze.

Without saying a word, she turned around and ran toward the exit of the training grounds.

Victor frowned.

"What’s her problem?" he muttered. "Is she really that scared of him? Or is she just shocked that he’s still alive?"

Damian walked over and looked toward the exit.

"Where is Arina?" he asked.

Victor shrugged.

"Don’t ask me," he replied. "She just ran off somewhere."

Damian continued staring at the doorway, his expression unreadable.

───────────────

In the quiet hallway outside the training grounds, Jasmine walked ahead while dragging Arthur by the hand.

Arthur frowned.

"Would you let go of my hand now?" he asked. "I am not comfortable walking like this. Besides, I am not a child, okay?"

Jasmine didn’t answer.

She didn’t even slow down.

She simply continued walking toward Athena’s office.

"Hey," Arthur said again. "Are you even listening?"

The next second, Jasmine suddenly stopped.

THUD!

She pushed Arthur against the wall.

A dagger instantly appeared at his neck.

Her violet eyes suddenly changed.

They slowly turned crimson red.

Her breathing became ragged.

A faint blush spread across her otherwise cold and beautiful face.

Her sharp voice echoed through the hallway.

"What the hell have you done to me?" Jasmine demanded. "Huh? After that night, I know it was not a dream. It was real. It all happened after you bit me, didn’t it?"

Arthur calmly looked away.

"I do not know what you are talking about," he said.

Jasmine’s voice rose.

"Do not try to lie, bastard!" she shouted. "You must have done something, and I will make you pay for it!"

Arthur smiled at her.

"And how are you going to do that, huh?" Arthur asked.

The next moment, he grabbed her wrist.

Jasmine tried to resist, but the movement only caused the dagger to press deeper against Arthur’s neck.

A thin line of blood slowly trickled down.

The moment Jasmine saw it—

Something inside her changed.

A violent craving surged through her mind.

The scent.

The blood.

Her self-control began to crumble.

The system’s voice echoed inside Arthur’s mind.

[ She must be craving your blood so badly that she is almost losing control. How did she manage to hold herself back until now? She is quite impressive. ]

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

’I do not have time for something like this right now,’ he thought.

The next second—

PAH!

A sharp slap echoed through the hallway.

Jasmine suddenly regained her senses.

Arthur calmly took out a healing potion and poured it over the cut on his neck.

The wound sealed itself almost instantly.

Jasmine blinked several times, still breathing heavily.

Arthur looked at her calmly.

"I will tell you everything that is happening to you," Arthur said. "I promise. But right now, take me to Athena. Otherwise, I will not tell you anything."

Jasmine slowly touched the cheek where he had slapped her.

Her glare became even sharper.

"I will make you pay for that," she said. "And you had better keep your promise."

Without another word, she turned around and continued walking.

Arthur quietly followed behind her.

A minute later, they arrived in front of Athena’s office.

Before Arthur could say anything, Jasmine turned around and walked away.

"I will come for you again," she said. "And you had better have answers for me."

Arthur let out a sigh.

"Geesh," he muttered. "Looks like it is that time of the month for her."

He then turned toward the office door.

Just as he was about to kick it open, a calm voice came from inside.

"Come in."

The door slowly opened by itself.

Arthur stepped inside.

The scenery around him changed instantly.

He found himself standing among the clouds.

His eyes widened slightly in astonishment.

"Now this is something else," Arthur said.

He took a few steps forward before noticing Athena standing quietly ahead of him.

She looked at him with her usual cold composure.

"It looks like you have not come here alone," Athena said.

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

’Did she sense Astarte’s presence?’ he thought.

Athena turned around and spoke once more.

"Follow me."

Arthur swallowed hard.

Then he silently followed her deeper into the clouds.