The Great Villain! Is a bit of a softy...?

"Just wait a bit…" Lucian murmured, leaning casually against the inn's wall. The others glanced at him, confusion etched on their faces. He seemed oddly calm, his gaze fixed on a spot in the air.

"If I followed the pattern correctly," he continued, a sly smile curling his lips, "then it should appear… right about now."

Right on cue, Lucian's Dominion Codex materialized once more, its pages flipping rapidly before settling on a new, previously locked Dominion.

The Dominion of Leadership:

'Lord of Many (Legendary)'

Lucian's eyes widened slightly, his grin growing more pronounced. With a snap of his fingers, the dominion activated, and a soft, violet mist filled the inn, swirling around the room like a living presence.

"Well then," Lucian announced, spreading his arms wide as if embracing the mist itself. "Let me show you my rite of passage." His laughter was low, tinged with excitement.

"Legion," he intoned, his voice taking on a resonant, commanding quality.

Instantly, a faint glow connected him to every person in the room—including the goblin tribe he had previously subdued—binding them in a web of shared experience, skills, and even dominions.

Lucian's thoughts raced, his smirk never faltering. I knew the Dominion of Leadership would unlock, but for it to grant the 'Lord of Many' passage? A dark, satisfied glint appeared in his eyes. Now that's luck.

"Ignir," Lucian snapped his fingers, drawing the boy's attention. "Give it a try." He gestured grandly, making sure all eyes were on the kid.

Ignir froze, his hands waving frantically as if trying to fend off the sudden attention. "Uhhh…" He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Okay…"

Closing his eyes, Ignir focused, trying to mimic what he'd seen Dominion users do when manifesting their codex.

"Dominion Codex!"

he called out. A small, shimmering codex materialized in the air, floating unsteadily.

The crowd fell silent, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement. Seeing a child manifest a Dominion Codex stirred something in them—ambition, curiosity, even a bit of envy.

Inspired, one of the men in the crowd attempted the same. To everyone's surprise, his own codex briefly appeared, only to be abruptly interrupted when Lucian hurled a beer mug at his head.

"Not your turn yet!"

Lucian barked, puffing out his chest with mock indignation.

"This is what I get for making drunkards my first followers."

He sighed dramatically, draping one hand over his forehead as if in despair.

Just as quickly, he recovered, waving a hand at Ignir with renewed enthusiasm. "Carry on, kid!" he urged, his tone encouraging despite the chaos.

Ignir nodded silently, gripping his floating Codex with both hands.

Taking a deep breath, he flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the familiar sigils—the barkeep's Dominion of Intoxication and Dominion of Poverty, and finally, Lucian's Dominion of Blood.

Recalling how Lucian and the barkeep had activated their powers, Ignir raised his arms, determination etched on his face. "Blood Sword!" he shouted, his voice steady despite his nerves.

The Codex pulsed with a crimson glow as the blood pooled on the floor coalesced, gathering in Ignir's hand and shaping into a small, glistening blade.

Ignir's eyes widened with excitement, his lips curling into a triumphant grin as he marveled at his newfound power.

Lucian chuckled, offering an exaggerated, enthusiastic clap. "Bravo, young one!" he declared with a flourish. Then he gestured to the rest of the crowd. "Clap!"

At first, the men hesitated, but one by one, they joined in, their applause growing louder as they celebrated both Ignir's success and their own potential. The energy in the room shifted from cautious curiosity to genuine excitement—hope rekindled by this unexpected display.

Lucian smirked, crossing his arms nonchalantly. "Alright, the rest of you—go ahead and materialize your own Codex. Don't make me wait," he said with a lazy shrug, pretending not to care, though his eyes gleamed with satisfaction at their eagerness.

One by one, the men summoned their Codices, experimenting with their newfound powers. Beer floated in lazy spirals, droplets dancing through the air. 

Others manipulated the blood on the floor, forming crude shapes or small, trembling weapons. A few even conjured rusted coins, letting them clink against the wooden floor.

Amid the excitement, one man raised his hand, clearly hesitant.

"Yes?" Lucian replied, resting his chin on his hand.

"Uh... why is there a page called Dominion of Goblins?" the man asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

Lucian chuckled, his voice laced with amusement, and placed a hand over his chest.

"Because I am a true leader! No race is beneath me—not even the downtrodden or goblins. Under the banner of Lucian, all are equal."

His words rang with pride and conviction, conveniently glossing over the fact that he'd accidentally made a goblin shaman with the Dominion of Goblins follow him.

The man's eyes widened, and the others glanced at each other, sharing a look of surprise. For a moment, their cautious expressions softened into something warmer—respect. 

They had feared Lucian might be just another noble, one who'd exploit and discard them. But his declaration struck a chord, dissolving some of their lingering doubts.

After a few more minutes of experimenting with their dominions, the men naturally formed a square around Lucian, standing proudly. 

Some of them exchanged glances, realizing that this noble wasn't just another arrogant tyrant. Unlike those who had looked down on them their entire lives, Lucian treated even goblins as equals.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by their display. He had subjugated slums before, forcing people to follow him with fear and promises of glory. Back then, his leadership had been defined by dominance—when he was just another edgy Dark Lord, chasing power for its own sake.

But this was different. These men didn't kneel out of fear. There was genuine admiration in their eyes, sparked by hope and the belief that Lucian would truly lead them to something greater.

A rare, thoughtful smile touched Lucian's lips. "I guess time changes everyone," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, as if of one mind, the men placed their hands over their chests and knelt in unison, their voices loud and unwavering.

"All hail Lucian the Great!"

Lucian blinked, momentarily taken aback. Then, he grinned, letting the chorus wash over him, his heart thundering with a sense of purpose.

As the chants of loyalty filled the room, Lucian couldn't help but feel a strange warmth spreading through his chest. He tilted his head back slightly, letting the moment sink in.

"So this is what those righteous heroes feel?" he mused, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. A slow, satisfied smile curled his lips.

"I don't dislike it..."

Lucian shook his head, the smirk lingering.

"Am I really doing this? Bah. Sentimentality is for fools." His eyes hardened, the brief softness vanishing. He glanced at the men, now kneeling with their hands over their chests.

"Well... at least you morons can follow directions," he sneered, rolling his shoulders as if shrugging off the moment.