Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

The vast training facility fell quiet.

Arthur stood several steps away from Athena, his crimson eyes fixed on the silver veil concealing her face. The more he thought about her explanation, the less ordinary it seemed.

A Charm stat that surpassed mortal limitations.

The ability to make anyone who saw her face lose their sanity.

An unnatural level of mana control.

And the ability to manipulate space so freely that she could transform an office into an enormous training facility in an instant.

Arthur’s expression slowly became thoughtful.

’If Athena truly possesses Charm beyond mortal bounds, then she cannot be completely human.’

Humans had limits.

Even System users had limits.

They could increase their physical strength, mana reserves, agility, intelligence, and countless other attributes. They could grow stronger through skills, titles, rewards, and bloodlines.

But the System itself imposed restrictions.

Luck.

Charm.

Certain natural limitations could not be surpassed through ordinary means.

If Athena had truly exceeded those limits, there was only one possible explanation.

One of her parents was not human.

Perhaps both of them.

Arthur looked directly at her.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but both of your parents were humans, right?"

Athena remained silent for a moment.

Then a faint smile appeared behind her veil.

’This child is sharp,’ she thought. ’He figured it out already.’

"How much do you know about other races?" Athena asked.

Arthur shrugged.

"To tell you the truth, the only races I have encountered until now are elves, demons, and vampires."

His expression darkened slightly.

"And I cannot say I enjoyed all of those encounters. The latter two almost killed me."

Athena’s lips twitched faintly behind the veil.

"Then I assume you have never encountered a spirit."

Arthur shook his head.

"No."

"I suppose it will not hurt to tell you," Athena said. "My mother was a spirit."

Arthur’s expression changed.

Athena continued.

"How much do you know about spirits?"

Arthur thought for a moment.

"About as much as everyone else, I suppose. They reside in the Spirit Realm, and they prioritize their purity above everything else."

Athena nodded.

"That is correct."

She walked slowly across the training platform.

"For spirits, it is taboo to form relationships with members of other races. Especially humans."

Her voice was calm.

But an edge of bitterness lingered beneath it.

"They consider humans beneath them. They abhor humanity because humans destroy the nature that spirits love and protect."

Arthur listened quietly.

"However," Athena continued, "spirits still travel to the Human Realm."

She raised one hand.

A tiny orb of pale green spiritual light formed above her palm.

"They form contracts with humans. In exchange for a small amount of life essence, spirits lend their power, protection, or assistance."

Arthur looked at the glowing orb.

"Life essence?"

Athena nodded.

"Human life essence is incredibly pure and valuable to spirits. The more they absorb, the stronger they become."

Arthur’s expression became understanding.

"So even though they dislike humans, they still depend on them in a way."

"Correct," Athena said.

The green light above her palm faded away.

"My mother was a spirit as well."

Athena’s voice became more confident.

"And she was a high-ranking spirit at that."

Arthur watched her carefully.

"Because of her lineage, I was born with an absurd amount of spiritual power and mana. Controlling mana, spiritual energy, and space comes as naturally to me as breathing."

There was no hesitation in her voice.

No false modesty.

"Not to boast," Athena added, though she sounded extremely smug, "but even a high elf could not hold a candle to me when it comes to manipulating mana or any other form of energy."

Arthur could not see her expression beneath the veil.

But he could imagine the smug look on her face perfectly.

"Yeah, yeah, that is great," Arthur said. "So when are you going to start teaching me how to transfer my lifespan?"

Athena’s head turned slowly toward him.

"Do not interrupt me. I was getting to that."

Arthur raised both hands.

"Alright. Continue."

Athena sighed.

"As I said, I was born half spirit and half human."

She looked at her own hand.

"Only spirits possess the natural ability to absorb a person’s lifespan. Or, as spirits call it, life essence."

Arthur’s expression sharpened.

"And you can do it too?"

"I can absorb it," Athena said. "And I can transfer it."

She lowered her hand.

"Fortunately, I inherited more of my mother’s nature than my father’s. You could say I am more spirit than human."

Arthur nodded slowly.

"So that is why."

Then his eyes narrowed.

"But how did you become cursed?"

The smugness around Athena disappeared.

The air became heavier.

Her body stiffened slightly.

"Because it is forbidden in the Spirit Realm for a spirit to form a relationship with a human," Athena said quietly.

Arthur remained silent.

Athena’s voice became colder.

"The first Spirit King wanted to prevent such relationships from ever happening again. So he cast a binding spell upon his own race."

She paused.

"Or you may call it a curse."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Whoever forms a relationship with another species will have their lifespan slowly wither away," Athena said. "They will not live long."

Her fingers curled into a fist.

"And the curse does not end with them. It is passed down to their descendants."

Arthur took in a cold breath.

Athena looked toward the far end of the training facility.

"If they ever return to the Spirit Realm, they will be executed immediately."

Her voice was almost emotionless.

"Along with their family."

Arthur stared at her.

’That Spirit King was cruel.’

"So that is what happened," Arthur said slowly. "And this is why you are slowly dying too."

Athena nodded.

Her golden eyes, visible through the gaps in the veil, became painfully sad.

"When I became an adult, my mother left one day."

Arthur’s expression softened slightly.

"She returned to the Spirit Realm," Athena continued. "She left Father and me behind."

Her voice lowered.

"And I still do not know why."

Athena fell silent.

The training facility seemed even larger in that moment.

The bright mana lights above them continued glowing, but the atmosphere had become heavy and cold.

Arthur understood the implication.

If Athena’s mother had returned to the Spirit Realm despite the curse, then there was only one likely outcome.

She was dead.

Arthur looked at Athena.

For a moment, he did not know what to say.

So he did what he always did when emotions became too serious.

He changed the subject.

"Why don’t you not let me see your face?"

Athena blinked.

The question pulled her out of her memories.

"Excuse me?"

Arthur crossed his arms.

"Believe it or not, my Charm stat has already surpassed mortal bounds. My System is special."

[ Oh? Thank you, Host. I did not know I meant that much to you. ]

’Shut up, you bastard.’

Athena stared at Arthur silently.

Then she spoke with clear disbelief.

"But from what I have heard, no System can surpass the natural limits of Luck and Charm."

She tilted her head.

"Damian told me about it. Are you saying you are not bound by those limits?"

Arthur smiled confidently.

"Of course."

Athena crossed her arms.

"Dream on, kid."

Her voice carried a smug amusement.

"Even if what you are saying is true, I have no reason to show you my face. It is difficult to believe you too."

She paused.

Her fingers lightly touched the edge of her veil.

"Many people have said the same things."

Athena’s expression became serious.

"They claimed they could resist it."

Her voice became quiet.

"But the moment I lifted my veil, they lost their sanity before they could even properly see my face."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"And right now," Athena continued, "I will not take that risk with you."

Arthur nodded as though he understood.

Then he said casually, "I knew it. You are probably an old lady in your sixties behind that veil."

Bam!

Athena struck Arthur on the head.

The impact was so fast that Arthur did not even see her move.

He fell flat onto the floor.

Arthur held his head in pain.

Athena looked down at him.

"Do not ever call me that again. Do you hear me?"

Arthur immediately nodded.

"Yes, ma’am."

After several seconds, Arthur stood back up.

He rubbed the painful spot on his head and tried to look dignified.

"Alright," he said. "According to you, only spirits can transfer lifespan. So how are you going to teach me?"

Arthur paused.

Then something suddenly clicked in his mind.

His eyes widened.

"Don’t tell me..."

Athena smiled beneath her veil.

"It seems you figured it out."

Arthur stared at her.

Athena’s golden eyes glinted through the veil.

"We are going to form a bond."