Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 212: Chapter 211- Rena(1)

There was no possible way for Emily to descend to the lower floors unless she wanted to have the forces chasing her and the cameras pointed at her. The security of every floor was quite strict, and the number of surveillance cameras made it nearly impossible for one to exploit any blindspot.

There is a shortcoming with Emily's barrier and that is the necessity of visuals; she cannot maintain her barrier if it's not within her vision. As such it becomes impossible for Richard and Laila to proceed towards the lower levels.

However, based on the information, Richard received from Laila, he knew he might be facing a situation like this.

Lost on choices, Richard said, "Laila, you are up."

Laila stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she raised her hands. The air around her shimmered faintly as her mana spread outward, taking control of the invisible gases in the air. She focused, pulling and separating specific molecules, gathering them into a dense, flammable form.

The atmosphere grew heavy as if the air itself was holding its breath. A faint smell, sharp and unnatural, began to fill the space. Laila clenched her fist, and the concentrated gas started moving. With precise control, she guided it forward, spreading it through the area like an unseen fog.

Her mana pulsed, stirring the currents around her. The gas swirled silently, weaving between obstacles, filling every crack and crevice. Laila's expression was focused, her hands moving in smooth, deliberate motions as she ensured the gas saturated the target zone completely.

Once the whole floor was enshrouded, Richard told Emily,

"Erect a barrier....now!"

A single spark of flame was all it took before a huge explosion occurred throughout the floor—reaching each corner and enshrouding every soldier present on the floor.

*ALERT* *ALERT*

The alarm began to blare, and the loud cries of the soldiers echoed on the floor.

Emily and the other two were protected by the barrier so they didn't feel the burn before Richard told them,

"Head back to the ground floor and meet with Ben! I will be back."

Emily held his hand and hurriedly told him, "Please stay safe, Richard."

The redhead smiled before assuring her, "Don't worry."

...

Flames were spreading rapidly, and Laila was doing her best to prevent the soldiers from extinguishing them by continuously spreading the flames.

Richard exploited the chance and descended to the lower floors.

"Hey, you...!" A soldier, who was ascending, spotted him mid-flight.

Richard raised his hand, and before the man could have activated his skill, his body was completely enshrouded with flames.

Their retreat was futile.

Richard raised his hand, and the golden bo staff snapped back to his palm, crackling with ominous energy that made the walls tremble. He spun it once, the flames licking hungrily at the air around him, before slamming its end into the floor. A shockwave erupted, ripping through the room with an unrelenting force.

The soldiers screamed as the ground beneath them cracked and erupted in fiery geysers. Molten stones shot upward, engulfing the fleeing men. Their bodies convulsed as the lava consumed them, melting flesh and bone into indistinguishable pools of ash and gore.

One soldier, desperate, raised his weapon—a massive energy cannon. "Fire!" he roared, his comrades rallying behind him. A brilliant beam shot forward, slicing through the smoke and flames.

Richard didn't flinch. With a flick of his staff, the beam split in two, harmlessly scorching the walls beside him. He moved faster than they could process, closing the distance in an instant. His staff slammed into the man's chest, caving it in with a sickening crunch. Blood burst from the soldier's mouth as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Another minute it all took for Richard to clean up the rest of the mess, and he stood atop the piles of dead bodies with his hands supported by his beloved staff.

In a corner, the same soldier who touched Emily was crying and quivering—seemingly thinking that Richard could not see him.

Richard drew closer to the man before poking him with his staff, "Oi."

"Hiickk!! Please don't kill me! I beg you, please!" He was groveling, head planted on the ground as he begged for mercy.

Richard squatted before suggesting, "If you pluck your eye and ear it, then I might think to let you go."

The man flinched hearing that before he fearfully looked at Richard.

The redhead snarled, "Guess you can't do it." Without another word, Richard stabbed his hand inside the man's chest and plucked out his still-beating heart.

Vitality from the man's eyes disappeared before he fell to the ground, the horror from his face not disappearing until the end.

Richard got up and searched for the place from where the source of Aembr was arriving.

Making his way through the door, he came across a cell that was made just for a single person.

Richard's breath was caught in his throat as he saw her.

Rena.

However, even before he could have called out, a voice interrupted him,

"You are earlier than I anticipated."

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A/N:- Drop a comment.