Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 225- Draeth

[A day later]

Eleanor was still immersed in the thoughts of her meeting with Ethan.

Their relationship is standing at that spot where a moment of opportunity is all he could ask to get rid of her. And Eleanor couldn't blame him for that.

She had done things that went against his principles, however, she couldn't tell him that she was told to do so. She was given the responsibility to keep things in order or this timeline would be under the direct control of the deities.

And one thing Eleanor had learned about the Goddesses: to attain what they want, they can sacrifice human lives like livestock.

As such, in a way, Eleanor was saving humanity by taking the rein and showing this cruel side, so at the very least, Ethan could remain safe.

"You good?" Lady Junisha, the ex-member of the Scarlette clan, asked Eleanor.

The violette nodded, "Hmm."

Her eyes went towards the others, they all gathered to hear about their next step.

Eleanor received the permission of the deities recently, so she held no hesitation to command,

"Sort people out, I want three hundred best soldiers who can handle both offense and defense. Make sure they are loyal to Light. By tomorrow, I want these three hundred people standing before me. Understand?"

A deep silence ensued, as the other apostles glanced at each other before Jessica asked,

"But chief, who are we fighting?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Eleanor narrowed her eyes, "Is there any other enemy we have other than the followers of Darkness?"

Jessica closed her mouth and reprimanded herself inwardly for asking such a stupid question.

Theodore added, "How many days do we have before we leave for the war?"

Eleanor informed, "Two days from now, that's why stop wasting your time and bring the soldiers here as soon as you can."

Theodore's eyes turned chilly being talked so rudely, however, he soon scoffed and got up, "My men will be here by tomorrow morning. If that's all, I am going."

Soon others also began to retire to their rooms to fulfill their duties.

"Wait, Ruby." The red-eyed girl paused and turned to look at Eleanor.

Junisha raised her brows as she paused, only for Eleanor to say, "You can go now, Lady Junisha."

The lady gave a slow nod as she glanced at the girl from the branch family of Scarlette house, before making her way out of the room.

Ruby sat back down and faced the leader of the Apostles.

Eleanor intertwined her fingers and looked at the raven-haired with her usual emotionless eyes.

Time seemed to have slowed down as the minute seemed like a day for Ruby.

"It is not dangerous, right?" Athena asked, to no one in particular.

Bella responded, "Don't disturb him, Brother won't harm her."

There was nothing they could say anymore. Their Queen's words were absolute.

Jennifer bit her lip to stifle a cry as the burning sensation intensified. It felt as if her very core was being rewritten, reshaped by the foreign energy flooding into her. But she didn't pull away; she clung to Richard's earlier words.

Moments later, the glow began to fade, dimming until only a faint shimmer remained on Jennifer's skin. Her body sagged in the chair, her breaths heavy and labored.

A moment of stillness, and in the next, Jennifer sat straight in her seat, her eyes glowing with an ominous radiance. Her gaze fixed on Richard, unblinking and sharp, like a predator sizing up its equal.

"Hoh~"

The room shifted. The air grew crushingly heavy, pressing down on everyone present. It felt as though the very walls were closing in. The shadows seemed to lengthen, twisting unnaturally, and even the faintest sound was swallowed by the suffocating silence.

"What the heck happened to her...?" Ben muttered as he clutched his chest. His heart was beating rapidly, and it wasn't just him; the others also felt their mana reacting to Jennifer quite severely.

It didn't help as Richard's aura exploded outward, washing over the room like a tidal wave of power. The glow in his eyes sharpened into a piercing radiance, a light so intense it felt divine, yet so cold it sent shivers through the soul.

Jennifer flinched slightly but didn't break her gaze. Richard didn't falter, his presence towering and unyielding.

Jennifer...or to say, one of the Four Generals, The Succubus Queen—Draeth, asked, "So you are the Emissary. The being he chose as his successor. The one who shall bear his legacy."

Richard's voice was low, yet it resounded clearly through the room, "Draeth, tell me something; why are you in another monarch's domain?"

The lips of the girl stretched into a grin as she rested back, draping her left leg on the other one, and rested her hand on the backrest.

Her aura and charm seemed to have taken a significant elevation as she looked at Richard as if she was sizing him.

"Are you worthy to know about my intention?"

Richard coldly asked, "My worth is more than your existence, so stop playing around and tell me; what are you doing here?"

Draeth scoffed, "I can see that you have adopted the attitude of the Supreme One. But your power...it's nothing but pitiful in comparison to him."

Pitiful eh...

A black mist began to seep from Richard's chest, curling like smoke as his aura erupted in a terrifying wave. Cracks splintered across the stone floor beneath him, the walls groaning as if struggling to withstand the force radiating from his Black Heart.

The air thickened with malice, suffocating and oppressive. Every object in the room trembled, some shattering outright under the crushing weight. Bookshelves collapsed, chairs splintered, and the very light seemed to be swallowed by the darkness emanating from Richard.

If not for Emily chanting a barrier in time, many of them would have fainted.

Draeth's smug grin faltered, a flicker of hesitation flashing in her glowing eyes, as she heard,

"I have the liberty to choose whom I hunt. Ithryx is already in that list, and it seems I have found my next target."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. The next chapter would be the beginning of the negotiation.