Struggling as a Villain

"RICHARD!" Bellarine's voice echoed louder than Ithryx's thunder as she saw her beloved being stabbed by the monster.

Bella was too stunned to speak, covering her mouth and witnessing the most horrifying scene of her life.

Everyone was in a panic, since, despite their connection with Richard, it was an inevitable fact that he was fighting from the side of humanity.

Even Bennet had a grim expression as he clutched the sword and readied himself to deal with the catastrophe.

However, against what everyone feared, Richard pushed himself away from Ithryx and flew a few meters away.

"Goddamn..." Richard took several long breaths as he realized that the wound on his stomach was taking longer than usual to heal.

'So that's the Eroding factor about which I was warned.' Ithryx's weapon and spell erode his enemy, claiming their ability to heal for a long time.

'If I hadn't been using the second heart, that strike might have resulted quite differently...'

[You have gained immortality...but it is borrowed.]

Hearing those words, Richard couldn't help but chuckle, "And you? Your whole existence is borrowed. Zulcriz can pull you back any moment he wants."

Ithryx narrowed his eyes,

[Calling him so casually, don't you fear death?]

Richard smirked, "Death itself has blessed me. Why should I fear it then."

The tension in the air elevated. Everyone, who was rejoicing upon seeing the flaming human regaining his stance, again became tense.

A moment of silence, and then,

**THUD**

Richard blocked the attack of the demon general using his Ruyi Bang. The demon general narrowed his eyes looking at the weapon,

[Something you don't deserve.]

Ithryx lunged, his sabers slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Richard reacted with blinding speed, twisting his body and deflecting one blade with the Ruyi Bang. Sparks flew as the second saber came dangerously close to his neck.

"Crimson Spiral!" Richard roared, spinning the Ruyi Bang with incredible force. A vortex of fire erupted around him, forcing Ithryx to leap back.

But the demon general wasn't retreating.

Ithryx brought both his sabers across each other, their jagged edges crackling with black energy. With a violent slash, he sent a massive 'X' of corrosive power hurtling toward Richard.

The flaming human halted mid-charge, dropping low to evade the attack, but Ithryx had already anticipated his move

**BOOM!**

The ground exploded as Ithryx lunged, descending like a meteor. His sabers carved through the air with deadly precision, and the shockwave of his landing shattered the earth, sending debris flying in every direction.

Richard twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. With a feral roar, he struck the Ruyi Bang against Ithryx's exposed neck. The impact cracked like thunder, and without hesitation, Richard roared, "Divine Punishment!"

The heavens responded instantly. A blinding column of golden lightning tore through the storm clouds above, crashing down with unrelenting fury.

CRACK-BOOM!

Ithryx snarled as the bolt slammed into him, the sheer force driving him into the fractured ground. The battlefield trembled under the weight of the divine energy, molten cracks spreading outward from the impact zone.

The onlookers had their mouths parted agape at the sight. One of such attacks would have surely taken down hundreds of soldiers at once. The sheer intensity behind each of their spells was overwhelming.

Through the smoke and searing light, Ithryx's roar pierced the chaos. "Abyssal Rebirth!" The ground under him turned black, and an explosion of dark energy erupted, forcing the lightning to dissipate. Ithryx rose, his twin sabers burning with an unholy aura, his armor cracked but his will unbroken.

[You think lightning will bring me down, mortal?!] he snarled, his voice a twisted mix of fury and pain.

Richard was about to charge when Ithryx vanished, reappearing behind him in a blur. "Void Rend!" Ithryx slashed both sabers downward, carving deep wounds across Richard's back.

Blood sprayed, and Richard stumbled forward, gasping as the searing pain overtook him. His flames flickered momentarily, the intensity of his aura dimming.

[You thought you had me cornered, mortal?] Ithryx taunted, delivering a brutal kick to Richard's chest that sent him hurtling backward.

Richard coughed violently as he hit the ground, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. His vision blurred for a moment, the gaping wound on his back burning like acid.

"Not…yet," Richard growled, forcing himself up. Flames reignited around him, but weaker than before.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Ithryx was relentless. He threw one of his sabers in Richard's direction, urging Richard to tilt his head and prepare for another attack, when suddenly,

*STAB* Stay connected through empire

Ithryx appeared behind him all of a sudden, using the thrown saber as a catalyst for teleportation, before stabbing Richard in the back.

Richard looked down at the curled sword coming out of his stomach. His flames dimmed, and blood spurted from his mouth, as he heard Ithryx voicing,

[You can never stand in his place.]

Ithryx kicked Richard while pulling his sword.

A deep slit was open in his belly as Richard staggered forward.

His flames, once roaring, were now dim enough that a mere breeze threatened to extinguish them.

He could see his mother rushing toward him, and the voice of his sister.

He knew the consequences of falling here...to kneel before Ithryx and letting his mother fight him.

He knew...what would happen if he got defeated here.

[Embrace it...you have no other choice.]

Very faintly, Richard heard a whisper. It was a familiar voice, enticing him to do something that he had been resisting until now.

But now,

'Guess, I have no choice...'

Richard suddenly coated his hand with flames and pierced it inside his chest

Bellarine paused in her tracks while Ithryx frowned upon seeing what the brat was doing.

Under everyone's horrified and confused gaze, Richard suddenly pulled out his heart....his human beating heart.

Turning towards Ithryx, Richard dropped his heart, and muttered, "A part of me...died today....and you....you will pay the price for it."

The residents of the two worlds and the Strongest General of the Demonic Army witnessed the birth of a Deity that day.

---------**---------

A/N:- Thanks for reading.