Struggling as a Villain

The future of the Emberclad Empire was at stake and to save that, the second in command would go to any length.

"Today, the world will see the fake Flame Warden die!" As the man with red hair and a long mustache snarled, a red domineering aura seeped from him, and like fog, it erupted around, covering the whole campus within seconds.

Those students who were panicking until a moment ago, suddenly paused when the fog hit them. The man, Abbott, felt his strength surging as he utilized his skill 'Pack Leader' on the students.

On the other side, the Dragon had also taken its position and was fuming violently, ready to unleash its fury upon the human.

Rose, who was shielded by the students of the Luminary Order, was also standing back on her feet while chanting multiple spell circles at once.

Richard gritted his teeth, surrounded on all sides. The students under Abbott's control stood frozen, like statues encircling him, trapped as unwilling witnesses to the chaotic onslaught. His eyes darted around, heart pounding.

"I have to take the fight away..." he muttered, his mind racing. But his thoughts shattered as a fierce gust struck his side. Rose's conjured storm tore through the arena, a ferocious wind carrying debris and slicing through the air. Richard raised his arm, chanting furiously as he summoned a towering flame wall, the heat pushing back against the gale.

No sooner had he erected the barrier than a new threat loomed—a blazing wave of blue fire from the dragon. Richard's eyes widened, lips moving restlessly, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. A second wall of fire erupted before him, barely managing to hold off the scorching dragon fire pressing down.

But Abbott wasn't about to let up. He grinned wickedly, his hands outstretched, channelling a vortex of flames that spiralled toward Richard, even more, intense than before.

There were around six hundred people around and if he allowed even one of the flame walls to slip up, numerous of them would die

'Is it really the only way?' Just as he was about to release the wall and get into fighting, he felt the dragon suddenly reeling back its flame and directing its maw in the air.

The senses of a draconic being are the sharpest which allowed the creature to sense the incoming danger.

Rose also narrowed her eyes as she stopped attacking Richard and looked into the air.

Richard snarled and released the hold from the wall, allowing Abbott's flames to enter him as the teenager absorbed all the heat without showing a single bit of struggle.

Abbott gritted his teeth and stopped attacking before suddenly his eyes went towards the sky from where a familiar figure descended.

"B-Bellarine?"

Although he assumed it was Bellarine, it was a much younger woman with red glowing hair that seemed to be defying gravity as she remained suspended in the air, looking at the people who had harmed her brother.

Her eyes were glowing with a promise of death and her presence announced the intention she carried.

"Bella...." Richard smiled, seeing his sister.

Taking advantage of his distraction, an Ambrobate launched an attack towards him—

*Ding*

—only to be blocked by a greenish-blue shield which was erected by none other than,

"Emily." Richard noticed her presence earlier when she chanted a barrier to contain the effect of the attack he launched on Rose.

The blond teenager landed beside Richard and gave him a beautiful smile, "You look...hot. " She complimented making Richard chuckle.

*Grrr*

Hearing the beast growling, Emily clicked her tongue. Turning her attention towards the beast, she said, "I will handle that one," Saying so, she allowed the two demonic wings to unfurl behind her before the girl launched toward the huge reptile.

"Brother!" Bella arrived before her brother and hurriedly asked, "You aren't hurt, right?" The silly girl didn't even think twice before touching his face, even though Richard was still burning from head to toe.

Richard shook his head, "Nah, I am fine..." Looking to his left he found Rose was no longer there, urging Richard to say, "Can you take care of that old man there? Don't let him follow me."

Bella panicked, "Where are you going?"

Richard comforted her, "Just going to check on a problem child."

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"You saw it, didn't you? Ethan?" Inside the academy building, Ethan was standing at a spot, gazing at the battlefield in a daze.

The whisper from the invisible entity continued, "Ambrobates shreds everything you deem close to you. Those are the creatures who are born to slaughter others. And you must take the role of exterminating them."

Ethan's eyes were blank as he looked at the numerous people getting killed by the Ambrobates one after another. He was overwhelmed by a sense of loss seeing those people close to him dying before his eyes.

Grief and regret created a hollow space in his heart as he absentmindedly uttered, "But I am so powerless...so weak...what can I do?"

The entity whispered, "You aren't weak, just unaware of your powers. You know where to look to know what you possess. Just stop restricting yourself and let your Divine Essence guide you."

Ethan looked down at himself, his chest glowing with the same energy that he deemed as a curse. After all, he received those powers at the cost of his mother's life.

He has restrained these powers since he was unaware of what destruction they could bring forth. However, seeing those people dying out there...those whom he regarded as his teacher and classmates...Ethan would regret it for life if he didn't do anything now.

Placing his hand on his chest he muttered,

"All Ambrobates...deserves death."

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Rose was running away. She herself didn't know why but the faint consciousness she retained didn't allow her to endanger her any more life. Those students whom she killed, still haunted her. She couldn't do it anymore!

"*Huff* *Huff*"

"Stop running away like a coward, Rose." She nearly tripped seeing Richard appear before her all of a sudden.

She clenched her fist and shouted, "Don't come near me! It's you! It's because of you they are making me kill all those people! It's all because of you!"

Richard scowled, "Or your frail mind? Just say you don't have the command on your own fucking will that you let them make a puppet out of you. Just like they did with Eden!"

Rose's eyes parted wide, as she slowly uttered, "How do you..."

"Does it mean anything how do I know about Eden? What I want to know is your intentions. Do you want to keep fighting like this or hear out what I have to say?" He offered his hand to the girl, showing his willingness to talk things out rather than trying to kill each other.

Rose gulped and looked at his offered hand.

Was there really a third way to sort things out? Is there really a route on which she doesn't have to use violence? She didn't know if there was such a way, but one thing was for sure: she wasn't going to ignore the possibility.

However, just as she thought to step toward Richard someone jumped to stand between them, startling Rose as she called out, "J-James?"

The same teenager boy who suggested this infiltration back during the apostles meeting, stood between them.

"I saw how easily you were getting manipulated so I intervened." The small boy gave a very oppressive aura as he stood before Richard confidently.

Before Rose could have said anything, someone appeared behind her and with a quick slam of her hand, she knocked out Rose, "I have got her. Proceed with the plan." Saying so, the elven woman disappeared with Rose from the forest.

Richard could no longer sense her presence...must be the elven woman's skill.

Returning his gaze to the kid, Richard raised his hand and warned, "Step aside and it won't hurt."

The kid, as smug as ever, heaved a sigh, "You think age and size matters during a battle? You are nothing but an idiot."

Richard rolled his eyes before launching a blazing storm towards the kid—only to find his eyes widening as the flames dispersed even before it could reach near the kid.

"Aghhh!" Before Richard could have realised the kid's ability, he found his limbs being restrained and his body getting lifted into the air, against his will.

James raised his hand and drew his index finger left and right, following the command, Richard left and right arm was detached from him, making the flaming human groan in pain.

Next James detached Richard's legs and kept him hanging in the air.

Richard tried his best to get rid of this invisible force but he couldn't. He wasn't able to move even a bit against that spell.

James grinned, seeing that reaction before he levitated towards Richard and asked, "Do you know why you are getting overwhelmed by my powers?"

Leaning forward James whispered, "Because....you never stood a chance against the son of Atheris~"

"------!!!"

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A/N:- Atheris: Goddess of War. Some serious power of love and friendship is needed here. Thanks for reading.