Maybe I really am a Villian

A few moments later, every one of Asher’s vessels slowly opened their eyes. Their expressions were calm, almost unnaturally so, as though whatever had just happened inside his consciousness had completely settled his mind.

Asher looked at the dragon before speaking in an indifferent tone. "I’m about to try something, so don’t disturb me while I’m doing it."

Before the dragon could even ask what he meant, every one of Asher’s vessels calmly sat down where they stood and slowly closed their eyes. There wasn’t the slightest hint of caution or fear in their actions, as if they had completely ignored the possibility that the dragon could kill them at any moment. To Asher, the risk seemed meaningless. Even if every vessel present here died, countless others still existed elsewhere.

The dragon remained silent, watching them with a puzzled expression. He had no idea what Asher intended to do, but after everything he had witnessed inside those consciousnesses, he no longer dared to underestimate him.

Several moments passed in complete silence.

Then the dragon sensed it.

Asher’s will began to move.

At first, nothing seemed different. Just as before, his will wasn’t extending outward or trying to influence the surrounding world. Instead, it folded back upon itself, concentrating entirely inward. The dragon watched in confusion as Asher’s will began influencing only himself, but with an intensity far beyond anything he had sensed before. It was as though every fragment of his will had been gathered into a single point.

Then, without any warning, the black fog erupted.

It poured out from every one of Asher’s vessels, rapidly enveloping their bodies until they completely disappeared beneath the endless darkness. Within moments, every vessel was swallowed by the black fog, leaving behind only countless silent silhouettes shrouded in an aura that even the dragon instinctively found unsettling.

The process continued for hours.

Throughout that entire time, the black fog and Asher’s will remained locked in a silent struggle. Neither of them made a sound, yet the dragon could clearly sense the violent clash taking place within every one of Asher’s vessels. The black fog repeatedly surged outward, trying to consume everything, while Asher’s will continuously forced it back. It was a battle of pure willpower, one that showed no signs of stopping.

Finally, after several long hours, the black fog slowly began to retreat. Like a receding tide, it flowed back into Asher’s body until not even a single trace remained outside. Only then did every one of Asher’s vessels slowly open their eyes.

At first glance, nothing seemed different.

Their appearance was exactly the same as before.

There cultivation was also same.

Yet,Something about them had changed.

They somehow felt... more alive.

The dragon couldn’t explain why, but that was the only way he could describe it.

Then, he sensed something that made his expression change.

His will naturally spread across the entire continent, just as it always had. Everything within his domain remained under his perception and influence. If he wished, he could still manipulate space, suppress weaker beings, or even teleport someone like he had done to Asher before.

But when his will reached Asher...

It stopped.

The dragon frowned.

He increased the strength of his will, attempting to influence Asher once again.

Nothing.

He could still vaguely affect him, but the effort required was incomparably greater than before. Even then, he wasn’t confident that he could truly influence Asher anymore.

What confused him the most was that Asher’s will wasn’t resisting his own.

There was no clash.

No confrontation.

It wasn’t as though Asher’s will was overpowering his.

Instead...

It simply felt as though Asher had become something his will could no longer properly influence.

The dragon’s brows gradually knitted together.

He couldn’t understand what had happened.

If their wills had collided, he could have accepted it.

If Asher’s will had become stronger than his own, he could have understood that as well.

But this...

This wasn’t a battle between two wills.

It was as though the very concept of influencing Asher had become vastly more difficult.

For the first time in countless years, the dragon found himself unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.

The dragon stared at Asher with undisguised shock. Even after everything he had witnessed inside those countless consciousnesses, what had just happened still exceeded his understanding. After remaining silent for a long moment, he finally asked in a low voice,

"Just... what exactly have you done?"

One of Asher’s vessels looked at him with a calm expression before replying, "Nothing special." He remained silent for a brief moment before continuing, "Didn’t you tell me that the path of cultivation is to gradually strengthen your will until you can influence others, and eventually the world itself?"

He took another pause before speaking again.

"You also said that the Laws are the highest form of influence, because they affect everything that exists without exception."

Asher lowered his gaze, as though organizing his thoughts, before letting out a quiet breath.

"Then I realized something."

He slowly looked back at the dragon.

"I’m unable to influence others, let alone the world."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"But... why do I even need to?"

His voice remained calm.

"I’m not the Laws. I’m not some supreme existence capable of influencing every living being."

He paused once more before quietly finishing,

"But I’m still strong enough to influence myself."

The dragon remained completely silent.

Asher continued,

"If I can’t change the world, then I’ll change myself. If I can’t force my will onto others, then I’ll force it upon my own existence."

His eyes remained perfectly steady.

"As long as my will can completely influence me..."

A faint smile spread across his face.

"...then isn’t that enough?"

Asher looked at the dragon and calmly continued, "I don’t really need to influence others. I’m not trying to control anyone." He shook his head slightly before adding, "Unlike you, I have no desire to dominate others or impose my will upon them. I don’t care about ruling people, controlling the world."

"The only existence I ever wanted to influence... was myself."