Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

The air still reeked of ozone and ash from Rio's earlier battle with Aelthar, but now the scarred battlefield trembled anew as Leon, with his armor cracked and breath labored, lunged at Rio with a roar.

Blood streaked the hero's face, but his eyes burned with cold, unrelenting focus.

Leon's blade—a sharp monstrosity of shadow-steel—clashed against Rio's sword in a shower of sparks, the impact cratering the ground beneath them.

Yet the result ….

"You're slow," Rio sneered, his voice icy as he parried Leon's flurry of strikes with contemptuous ease. Every swing Leon threw, Rio anticipated, his blade meeting Leon's a fraction sooner, cutting his momentum dead.

When Leon shifted tactics, Rio followed through, slamming his elbow into the hero's ribs, _ wrecking his innards.

"Whoo..who taught you that …?" Leon asked while forcing himself to swallow the coughing blood , but still a streak of red spilled through his lips.

"Oh, you mean this." Rio said as he swung his sword in a pattern, leaving afterimages in it's wake.

But soon, done playing around, he flicked his hand, causing another ray of sun to fall over Leon's arm. Forming a few holes like a laser just past right through.

"Oopsie, I guess I still haven't learned it fully yet."

"Bastard." Leon cursed. His face twisted with rage.

He slammed his fist into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that split the earth into a canyon.

Rio leaped over this fissure easily, but Leon was already there, his arms stretched out, forming a whip of threads which coiled around Rio's sword arm—only for Rio to reverse the grip, weaving into Leon's guard and driving his knee into Leon's sternum.

The crack of bones echoed like thunder. And Leon crumpled, gasping for breath as he fell to his knees once more.

If not for his tenacious nature and high vitality due to the blessing of fairy gods, he would've fallen unconscious a long time ago.

Because despite his best efforts he was as helpless as a chicken in front of Rio.

No matter what he did, what technique or trick he pulled - everything, _ all of it _ seemed so futile.

The bursting aura, the berserk state, the breakthrough - he had gone through all these phases in this fight. Yet from the beginning till now, he couldn't change much.

Even the all powerful light flame he received from Apollo some time ago was decomposed by the hellfire, leaving all his powers ineffective.

Leon even had the illusion that he wasn't simply fighting someone his age, but an enemy who had thoroughly studied him, learned his every move, and then trained for years to counter them.

But how could that be possible?

Not just Leon, even Apollo himself was confused. And if not for the fact that he still wanted to stay hidden, he would've loved to come forward and ask Rio these couple of questions himself.

All this time, the gods had forgotten his existence, many even believed he was dead, or in slumber _ but Apollo could see it now. Many of his old 'friends' had noticed Leon and Rio's battle and started frowning.

Obviously to avoid this unwanted attention was the reason he wanted to get Aelthar's legacy, but alas all his plans failed.

(That technique it's the Showering Sunlight sword art right?)

(From what I remember only that loser Apollo mastered this.)

(Well, there was also Ra but I doubt he'll teach anything to these younglings.)

(Apollo ___ so that old bag of bones is still alive huh. I bet the bastard's hiding and watching everything from the shadows.)

(Do you think Aelthar and Apollo are connected? They did know each other before, after all.)

(Well, the heir of Blakes' is pretty famous, so I'm not surprised if Apollo invests in him a little.)

(Hmm now that you mention it. Wasn't there a rumor that the angel kiddo was cursed in his childhood and Apollo's minions were the ones who cured him?)

(Forget Rio, look at the flames that Heartwell used. Don't they have the aura of sun on them too?)

(Yeah, he also used many similar skills before. Plus he even has the element of fire _ so did the lord of lamps choose him?)

(I guess so, after all, no way Nyx would let someone with attributes of light corrode her chosen one.)

(Why do you all think it's Apollo? The guy hasn't shown himself for decades. He's probably too weak to do anything and is locked in the god's slumber to recover himself.)

(Yeah, I think so too. Maybe these kids just got lucky and found his techniques in some singular books or other scrolls scattered throughout history in various dungeons.)

(Anyway, with the number of enemies that idiot has. I guess we'll know the truth soon enough.)

(After all, some gods would rather crush a flower than let go of a growing thorn.)

Apollo looked at the sky, his gaze piercing the clouds and countless barriers before landing on the figures of various gods gathered all over, watching and commenting on everything - and couldn't help but feel shitty.

All his hard work, all his efforts to keep a low profile, to avoid attention _ all of it was ruined , by some simple words and skills from Rio.

"Damned mortal, first you refuse me and now you dare ruin my plans. If I don't kill you, I won't be able to swallow this bad breath."

The god roared in his heart but dared not show his fangs, _ lest the leachers sense his aura and come after him.

….

Unaware that he had just made Apollo his official enemy, Rio was still busy torturing the hero and his helper.

Watching as Aelthar who was hopeful at first, fall into despair once more _ made Rio feel exhilarated.

But even more fun than that was watching Leon struggle.

Leon used his remaining strength to summon the sun, lighting up the whole dungeon like summer at peak _ spreading a heat which could melt the glaciers.

Yet Rio simply ignored the burning sensation and charged straight into the ball of fire, like Hanuman.

The mark of Nyx lit up once more on his arm, covering the world in darkness before gluttony showed it's true form, emptying his aura reserves and swallowing the sun.

By the time light restored and god's could see anything again, all they witnessed was an arm flying through the air. Disintegrating in ashes before it even hit the ground.

"Pathetic." Rio's cold words echoed in Leon's ears, who stupidly stared at his left shoulder, still reeling in the shock of it's cold emptiness.

The scream that followed shook the stars.

The hero collapsed, his mentality fracturing, as his body inadvertently started dragging itself across the ground. Away from the monster who inflicted such pain.

Rio suddenly turned around, catching a spear with his bare hand.

Rio's body was deathly pale, covered in sweat and blood after such a long fight _ yet even now he wasn't weak enough to not notice such a serious threat.

"Such god you are?" He said, sneering at Aelthar, whose soul started shaking in fear after seeing his sneak attack failed.

"..Mercy…" The god begged, falling to his knees. His pride crumbled, slipping along with his tears.

But his prayers fell on empty ears.

"Nashi always said, never place your hopes on a hero, when you're up against a villain _ like me."

Rio said as he flicked the spear over and stabbed the god straight through his heart.

Leaving him hanging midair, bleeding and foaming at his mouth, Rio disappeared from his place.

Only to appear next second, with Leon in his arms.

He grabbed Leon by the back of his neck, and lifted him up, forcing the hero to watch as Aelthar squirmed and struggled to survive.

Since the hero's arrival he had stopped giving the god any potions, so the poor fellow was truly on his last string now.

His soul was flickering like a light from a lamp, trapped in a stormy wind.

"You're an angel _ so why? Why are you doing this?" Leon asked, failing to understand how someone so caring could be so cruel.

"Why? Isn't it obvious?" Rio moved his body close to Leon's ears and whispered, "It's cause of you."

"Me..?"

"I was about to kill him. Take his legacy and then go home." Rio answered without any emotion. "But then you showed up. Forcing me to fight while your god heals him and steals the fruit of all my labor."

"That's not what I want. I just wanted to help him…"

"Ohh, come on, do you seriously believe that?" Rio said, flicking Leon further forward, so that Aelthar's blood directly fell over his head. Bathing him in blood.

"Just how naive are you? Or do you think I'm stupid."

"...."

"Your savior style is just as much based on selfishness as mine."

"I'm nothing like you." Leon screamed, feeling his skin seethe with every drop that fell over.

"Ohh really. Then prove it." Rio said, towering over him, "Swear on your soul with the world will as a witness that you had no such intention, and I swear upon Nyx to let this guy go."

As Rio's words finished he even brought out another blue potion and flicked it's cork open. Spreading the scent of medicinal aroma in the air.

"I _ I…" Leon started to swear but found words refusing to come out.

Cause despite his heart's righteous beliefs, his soul couldn't bear to make a false oath like this.

As even though his primary goal was to save Aelthar, a small part of him did want to steal that legacy and surpass Rio. Call it jealousy, greed, or simply selfish need _ but it was there.

And he couldn't deny it.

"You're hopeless." Rio said and ignored Leon, taking back his hand and leaving him there.

He turned his attention back to Aelthar, hoping to watch the helpless god pass away. But to his surprise, Aelthar who had lost all strength, all hope, _ kneeling and begging for death and safety some time ago_ suddenly met his gaze with a fierce look.

Every bone in his body was broken, every vein, every pulse punctured _ his soul was shattered and personality puzzled _ yet by some miracle - seeing Leon fall into doubt and despair _ watching his belief being broken _ the dying god forced himself to face Rio.

"Your tricks are more devious than a demon, mortal. But I see through them." He spoke without moving any tongue or teeth. (Which he didn't have.)

"What a vicious heart you have to break someone's belief with such bitterness." He said, glancing at Leon under his belly, "Unworthy you are of the power you have, and wish to weild."

"But no more."

"You'll spout chaos no more."

"You'll spread darkness and despair no more."

"For I, Aelthar, the god of mist and mysteries, shall put an end to you."

As Aelthar's words finished, before anyone could react, his golden soul turned into formless fog and flew towards Rio.

Disappearing directly into his body, travelling through the nasal pathways to the membrane of his mind.

His goal was clear _ to destroy the source which birthed such darkness.

…

The sudden shift of Aelthar's attitude not only caught Rio off guard but even the gods were surprised. Even Nyx frowned and disappeared from her place, ready to destroy this mysterious barrier and save her chosen.

But watching her reaction, the other gods only shook their heads and sighed in disappointment.

Cause no matter how fast a primordial was, could she be faster than a thought flashing into another ancient god's mind?

It was impossible.

And so was saving Rio.

A mortal's mind could never comprehend the thoughts of God, and Rio was simply getting a taste of it now.

[Rest in peace, Angel.]

Everyone whispered in their hearts, saying goodbye to the guy who entertained them even with his death.

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The battle is over and Leon is the only one standing ___ correction __ only one sitting/kneeling in the battlefield.

###

Ps – Is Aelthar gonna possess him? Or is Rio gonna die again?

Or - will there be some shocking surprises to our god who travelled uninvited into uncharted territory?

🤣😅🤣

Hehehe Aelthar why don't you learn your lesson, bro? Isn't dying better?... First you held on and got tortured by Rio? And now you barge into his mind where even the system dares not speak freely?

You really are the stupidest god ever…

I'd say may your soul rest in peace? But sigh…I can't…cause it certainly won't.