Maybe I really am a Villian

Asher fell silent for a moment before muttering to himself,

"I really am Kind to have given her such a death."

Asher shook his head and decided not to think about Olivia for the moment.

’Well, let’s not think about that for now.’

His expression became more serious as his thoughts returned to the prophecy.

’The more important question is... what exactly did that prophecy mean?’

Was it some kind of divination ability? Or perhaps an ability that allowed someone to glimpse the future?

If the Church truly possessed such an ability, then there were even more questions.

’What are its limitations? How accurate is it? And can they see the future of anyone connected to them?’

The more Asher thought about it, the more complicated the situation seemed.

’If they can actually see the future... then just how much do they already know about future ’.

’Do they even know about me?’

Asher shook his head.

’It’s unlikely. Otherwise, I would probably already be hunted down. But there’s still a chance that they do know something and simply haven’t been able to figure out where I am or what I’m planning.’

He remained silent for a moment before continuing his thoughts.

’I need to accelerate things even faster than I am right now.’

Asher sent a command to one of his vessels before turning his thoughts toward what he should do that morning.

’Should I ask Dr. Samuel about the Church’s prophecy ability? He might know something about it.’

He considered the idea for a moment.

’But if I ask, I might draw suspicion toward myself, even if I pretend that I’m only curious about it. And even if Dr. Samuel doesn’t become suspicious, that bastard Klein definitely will.’

Asher couldn’t help but think about Klein.

’That guy is seriously creepy. He walks around like a robot everywhere. I haven’t even seen him do anything other than keep watch over me, as if I stole something from his house and he’s convinced I’m the robber.’

Asher focused on what he had to do tomorrow and, after deciding on a plan, eventually decided to sleep. He knew he had several things to take care of that morning, and whatever he planned to do, he needed to move carefully and avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

Meanwhile...

In a familiar room, Saintness Cassie’s chamber remained quiet.

Cassie was sleeping peacefully when, all of a sudden, her expression changed.

Because she was dreaming about a certain incident from ten years ago.

...

Ten years ago.

After Olivia betrayed Selena and attempted to kill her but failed, six demons suddenly appeared on the battlefield. Selena immediately went to confront them, and not long afterward, a massive explosion erupted across the battlefield.

Three figures emerged from the explosion just before it could completely engulf them. They destroyed the remaining flames surrounding them before simply leaving without looking back. Eventually, their figures disappeared into the horizon.

Cassie, who had been present throughout the entire incident but had remained hidden, finally revealed herself. She looked toward the site of the explosion and then turned her attention toward Olivia, who was kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face.

Cassie looked back toward the explosion and muttered, "We were lucky, I guess. We didn’t even have to dirty our hands to kill you. You gave up your life on your own."

She was just about to leave when, suddenly, a beam of light emerged from the explosion.

The beam flew directly toward her before stopping right in front of her. A figure slowly materialized within the light.

The moment Cassie recognized who it was, every emotion disappeared from her face.

The person standing before her was Selena—the very person she had believed had died.

Cassie stared at Selena in disbelief before muttering in confusion,"How are you still alive?".

Selena didn’t answer. She simply looked toward Olivia, who was the only person still alive apart from Cassie and herself. Olivia, who had a surprised and almost happy expression on her face, suddenly fell unconscious.

After making sure Olivia was asleep, Selena turned toward Cassie and calmly said, "Aren’t you smart? You should have figured it out by now."

Cassie looked toward the explosion, which had finally come to an end, and then back at Selena. Her expression became even more surprised when she sensed the aura radiating from Selena.

It wasn’t the aura of a Grandmaster.

It was the aura of an Immortal-rank cultivator.

Cassie remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, her voice filled with disbelief.

"You didn’t sacrifice your life to kill them... You were actually breaking through to the Immortal Rank at that time. That explosion wasn’t only meant to kill those demons. It was also part of your breakthrough."

Cassie couldn’t help but think about how absurd Selena’s talent was. She was only thirty-five years old and had already reached the Immortal Rank. Even the most talented cultivators of their generation would normally only reach the Grandmaster Rank at that age.

Yet Selena had already stepped beyond that realm.

Just two years ago, Cassie and the others had reached the Grandmaster Rank around the same time. At that point, Selena had also been a Grandmaster. But in only two years, she had already broken through to the Immortal Rank.

Cassie looked at Selena for a moment before finally saying, "I don’t know whether I should call you talented or crazy for attempting a breakthrough while surrounded by three enemies..."

Selena interrupted her before she could continue and calmly said, "Talent has nothing to do with breaking through to the Immortal Rank. At that level, it’s no longer about how much power you can accumulate or how talented you are. What matters is having a clear and unwavering will."

She paused briefly before continuing, "Once your will becomes strong enough, you must make your soul one with it. Your soul and will can no longer remain separate. They have to become a single existence. That’s what allows a cultivator to step into the Immortal Rank."

Selena then said calmly, "You will also reach it soon."

She paused for a moment before continuing in a colder tone,

"If you survive today, that is."