The Villain and The Hero

"So, this is what demonic power does, huh?" I murmured, staring at my hand—the face of Volteris Duke's second son.

I wasn't sure what had happened. One moment, I had grabbed him by the neck, rage surging through me. The next, a dark energy, like blackened mana, coiled around his body. Before I could react, my hand drank it in.

And then I felt it. His power.

It wasn't just flowing into me—I understood it. As if it had always been mine.

I looked down at him. His bloodied face was a mess of exposed skull, torn flesh, and shattered nerves. His once-arrogant eyes were now glassy and unfocused, his breaths shallow and ragged. The agonized screams had long since died in his throat, leaving only a faint, pitiful wheeze.

What have I done?

I expected guilt. Horror. Something.

But all I felt was… exhilaration.

My breathing came fast, my hair stood on end, and an unfamiliar thrill crawled up my spine. I lifted my head, my gaze locking onto the knights.

Dead silence.

A moment ago, they had been shouting, struggling. But now, they were frozen in place, their faces twisted in sheer terror. The shadow wolves growled low, their fangs inches from the knights' throats, awaiting my command.

With a single thought, I could end them all.

A shiver ran through me. My lips curled into a grin. Their horror, their trembling, the glistening tears of helplessness in their eyes—was this what true superiority felt like?

Then, I noticed it.

Black energy.

It swirled around them, the same way it had around Varric.

"Do you see that?" I asked, glancing at Mira.

"See what?" she replied, her tone cautious.

So she couldn't see it. Interesting.

"I see something... black, like mana, rising from their bodies," I said.

Mira's eyes widened slightly. "Black mana..." she murmured.

A brief silence stretched between us before she spoke again.

"When we fought demonic beasts, some people—foolish ones—tried to harness their power. They believed demonic energy wasn't so different from mana. They experimented, forcing people into extreme emotional states, pushing them to their limits. Under immense pressure, they discovered something... unnatural. A mana similar to demonic energy."

She hesitated before continuing.

"They called it 'Corrupted Mana.'"

I narrowed my eyes. "And what happened to them?"

Her voice was quiet but firm.

"Anyone who tried to wield Corrupted Mana... turned into a monster."

She took a breath, her gaze dark.

"The nobles and mages of our time put an end to those experiments. Permanently."

Turned into a monster? But I feel fine. No... better than before.

I glanced at the black energy swirling around the knights. Corrupted mana… is it because of their overwhelming fear?

Curious, I stepped toward one of them and extended my hand toward the dark mist.

But—Nothing.

My brows furrowed. Why isn't it absorbing?

I tried again, this time grabbing the knight by the neck and lifting him just as I had with Varric. His face drained of color, his breath turned ragged… but still, nothing happened.

The smile slipped from my face.

Why?

Did I already reach my limit? No, that couldn't be it. I could feel it—the energy inside me, hungry, craving more.

I turned my gaze back to Varric. What was different between him and the knights? Rank? No, that didn't matter. The real difference was… Varric knew me.

More than that—he hated me.

When I held him, he glared at me with pure contempt. But the knight? His eyes held only fear.

Could it be… emotions?

If that's the case, then this power is far more complicated than I thought. Hatred doesn't form instantly like fear does. It's deep, festering, personal.

I let out a slow breath and glanced at Mira. A thought crept into my mind—could I make her hate me? Could I absorb her power if she despised me enough?

No. That wouldn't work.

If I pushed her that far, she wouldn't hesitate to kill me. This ability… it's a double-edged sword.

I sighed and waved my hand. The wolves lunged forward, tearing into the knights without hesitation. Letting them live wasn't an option. Their screams lasted only a moment before silence took over.

Mira watched the scene, her expression unreadable. When I turned to her, she met my gaze.

"Can we leave the forest now?" I asked.

She hesitated—just for a second—then nodded. Was she… surprised?

I ignored it. It didn't matter.

Instead, I focused on the forest itself.

"Hey, Elda. Are you there?"

"Yes, Master."

"Can I take these wolves with me?"

"That won't be possible, Master. They are a part of me."

I clicked my tongue. A shame. It would've been useful.

Sighing, I mounted the largest wolf and gestured for Mira to do the same. As soon as we moved, the trees shifted aside, clearing a path for us.

My excitement bubbled up.

If hatred really is the catalyst for Corrupted Mana… then Stormbane Estate is nothing but a farm waiting to be harvested.

I clenched my fists, gripping the wolf's fur tightly, my lips curling into a grin.

I can't wait to meet them.

---

At the same time....

Midnight – Outskirts of Stormbane

The sky was cloaked in smoke, lit red by flames devouring the noble estate. The once-pristine mansion now cracked and crumbled, the air thick with heat and rage.

"Find them!" the Viscount roared, his voice hoarse from shouting. "Scour every alley—don't let even a single soul escape! They dare torch my estate and steal my treasury?!"

Guards scrambled through the chaos, steel boots hammering against the cobbled streets.

Meanwhile, tucked away in a shadowed house nearby, a group of masked men held their breath. The eldest among them—once a knight under the Viscount—peered through the cracked shutters.

"Brother," a nervous teen whispered, tugging at his cloak. "Can we really get out?"

"We can," the older man replied calmly. "We planned this down to the second. The fire's just a distraction."

"But the blaze... it's spreading. I hope everyone made it out," the boy murmured, eyes flickering toward the inferno.

The former knight patted his head. "We warned the servants. That bastard noble will finally learn—this is what happens when you treat people like dogs."

A rhythmic knock echoed from the door. One of their scouts slipped inside.

"Clear," he whispered. "No guards on our route. Let's move."

The group pulled their cloaks tighter and melted into the night. Six shadows darted through alleys, heading for the hidden stables.

"We're rich now," one of them chuckled. "We'll vanish into another city, start fresh! and maybe I'll find a beautiful wife and finally settle do—"

Slash.

Thud.

A head dropped and rolled to their feet.

They froze.

Standing ahead, sword dripping red, was a young man. His eyes blazed with twisted fury.

"You worms think you can enjoy a noble's gold?"

The group's leader raised a hand, halting his men. He narrowed his eyes. "You're not from around here… Who are you?"

The young man didn't answer at first. Then, with a cold smirk curling on his lips, he stepped forward.

"I'm the blade of fate," he said softly, "the purger of twisted souls like yours."

His gaze lifted—not at them, but at something unseen. To him, it wasn't empty air. A glowing translucent screen hovered before him.

> [Quest: Capture the Bombers]

Reward: +500 EXP

Bonus: Skill Unlock – "Lightning Blade"

He smirked.

"Activate: Judgment Strike."

[Judgment Strike Activated

>Each strike automatically links to the next nearest enemy.]

Swish.

His figure blurred.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

When the leader turned, his comrades were already collapsing, heads severed clean. Eyes still open. Bodies twitching.

Snarling, the leader charged.

"Activate: Celestial Sweep."

> [Celestial Sweep – Level 2: A radiant swing that slices through foes like wheat under moonlight.]

The hero's blade moved like silver lightning.

The leader's sword shattered.

His head split diagonally—like a cracked moon—before tumbling to the dirt.

[Quest Complete.

>Reward: +500 EXP

>Celestial Sweep upgraded to Level 3

>Skill Unlocked – Lightning Blade]

A surge of divine energy coursed through the hero's body. He exhaled, his blade vanishing in a shimmer. He bent down and scooped up the bag of gold.

"Captured or killed… Either way, justice is served." His voice was calm—cold. "Letting them live would've only led to more crimes."

The bag blinked out of existence.

"Inventory."

A new window materialized: rows of potions, enchanted swords, and gold glittered in its slots. His smirk widened. Righteousness had its perks.

Then—glitch.

The blue system screen flickered violently.

His smile faded. Brows furrowed.

The color turned red. A new pop up window appeared.

—><—

[Main Quest Unlocked: When Shadows Rise, Justice Must Strike.

> Whenever evil taints the land and darkness festers in noble blood, the light of justice must not falter.

Let no wickedness find shelter. Let no corruption wear the mask of privilege.

Thus, rise, Chosen One—blade of the Divine, arm of order.

Objective: Execute the corrupted noble, Nathan Stormbane.

Branded by fate as a harbinger of ruin.

Let his blood be the dawn. Let your sword be the judgment.

For where evil walks, justice must cleanse.

> **Reward: Holy Sword – Dawnpiercer**

> ("The Blade That Judges All")

Active Effect – "Absolute Severance"

For 5 seconds, this sword can cut through anything—steel, magic, soul.

No defense can block it. No armor can resist.

Deals true damage. Cooldown: 60s.

—><—

The young man's eyes widened.

A shiver of ecstasy ran through him.

"Yessss," he hissed. "A holy sword… worthy of me."

His mind raced.

Nathan Stormbane. A pathetic noble. Weak, spineless. Everyone said even his own family despised him.

He clenched his fists.

With Dawnpiercer, no one—not even nobles—could stop him. He would purge evil. Bring justice. Become the guiding light of this broken world.

The system had chosen him. It had to be fate.

He turned, blood still trailing from his chin, and vanished into the shadows of the street.

"Stormbane estate…" he murmured, eyes gleaming.

"Time for justice."

~End of Volume 1~