The Great Villain! When the Good Guys Tag-Team...?

Lucian and Ignir continued to wander through the lively city streets, where the nightlife thrived. Vendors peddled their wares, armored adventurers shared tales over drinks, and the air buzzed with cheerful chatter.

Lucian halted near a lantern-lit alleyway and handed Ignir a hundred gold coins with a casual flick of his wrist.

"Go rent yourself a room for the night, child," he commanded, his tone firm yet not unkind.

Ignir caught the coins, his brows knitting together. "What about you?"

Lucian chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I have other business to attend to."

A pang of worry flickered in Ignir's gaze, but he quickly shook it off, forcing a nod. "Alright… Just don't disappear on me."

"Sleep well," Lucian said warmly, waving him off before vanishing into the bustling crowd.

Once alone, Lucian's demeanor shifted, his violet eyes glinting with a sinister resolve. Two steps completed: a monster army—check. Human followers—check. Next? Reclaim his dominion. The night offered the perfect cover.

He ran his fingers through his hair, adopting an exaggerated villainous expression.

"Time to spread some fear!" he proclaimed to himself, barely containing his glee.

With a deft motion, he sliced his fingertip, forming a grotesque, blood-red mask that adhered to his face, forged from his Dominion. His Codex flared to life—the Dominion of Villainy reacting for the first time in ages.

'The Villain of the Night (In Progress)'

With a snap of his fingers, his attire morphed into a sleek, jet-black suit, the fabric almost seeming to swallow the light around him.

"Interesting…" he murmured, a dark smile curving his lips. Another snap, and he vanished from the alley, reappearing on a nearby rooftop, his sudden presence catching the attention of a few observant citizens below.

"This is the best opportunity to spread terror, especially with the hero nearby," he whispered, positioning himself in the glow of the street lamps.

Lucian took a dramatic step forward, his voice booming across the square.

"Attention!" he declared, his tone dripping with theatrical menace. The bustling crowd froze, eyes drawn to the ominous figure above.

He activated the Dominion of Cruelty, unleashing a suffocating, chilling aura that cascaded down the building, washing over the onlookers. Lucian's manic laughter rang out, echoing through the market square, his dark glee almost palpable.

"Die…" he commanded bluntly, snapping his fingers once more. The Codex flipped to the Dominion of Blood, its power thrumming through him.

In an instant, a random passerby's body contorted, swelling grotesquely before morphing into a monstrous, blood-soaked creature. Screams erupted, chaos spreading like wildfire as the creature lunged at the crowd.

From his vantage point, Lucian's eyes glowed with satisfaction. "Impressive… I didn't think I could summon a lesser blood servant this easily."

He darted across the rooftops, not lingering long enough for the hero to track his position. As he ran, he pointed finger guns at unsuspecting citizens below, transforming them into more blood servants. The once-lively square had descended into a nightmare.

Lucian's violet eyes darkened behind his mask, his heart pounding with exhilaration. Yet, with each use of the Codex, a familiar, creeping corruption tugged at his soul.

But for now, he reveled in the chaos, a dark figure cutting through the night, his sinister laughter mingling with the terrified cries below.

"That makes… fifteen blood servants?" Lucian mused with a gleeful smirk, though his breathing had grown labored from the relentless rooftop sprints.

"It's been ages since I've caused chaos firsthand!" He laughed, exhilaration threading through his voice as he continued spreading the Dominion of Cruelty's miasma across the cityscape.

But before he could revel further in his dark work, a blinding light erupted in the distance—a radiant beam piercing the night sky.

Lucian instinctively ducked, narrowly dodging a colossal greatsword that cleaved through the air, just inches from his face.

"Foul servant of the dark!" the familiar hero bellowed, landing deftly on the same rooftop.

Lucian's sinister laugh rang out, though his hands twitched from the narrow escape.

"Shouldn't you be dealing with my servants?" he mocked, eyes glinting with mischief.

The hero's gaze burned with righteous fury, his sword gleaming with holy radiance, drawing the attention of those below.

"I trust the adventurers and guards to handle them," the hero declared, his tone unwavering.

From the streets, gasps and shouts erupted as onlookers spotted the confrontation.

"The hero! He found the villain!" Cheers and cries of encouragement echoed from guards, adventurers, and civilians alike, in stark contrast to their earlier terror.

Lucian glanced down with a wry smile.

"Quite popular, aren't you?" he quipped.

The hero gave a hearty laugh of his own, a massive greatshield materializing in his off-hand.

"I won't give you another chance to laugh!" he shouted, lunging forward as the shield released a wave of holy energy.

"Blood Seeds!" Lucian cried, slicing his fingertip once more. The wound oozed a blood mist that rapidly solidified into a wall of interlocking, throbbing seeds.

The wave collided with the blood wall, exploding on impact. The structure crumbled instantly, but it absorbed the brunt of the holy energy, scattering crimson fragments into the air.

"A vile power!" the hero roared, bursting through the dissipating mist, greatsword swinging toward Lucian.

Lucian's eyes widened behind his mask.

"Damn it…" He flipped his Codex to another Dominion just in time.

"Beer Barrage!"

Suddenly, from the street below, streams of ale shot upward, crashing against the hero's sword and throwing off his balance. The unexpected assault made the hero stagger, momentarily off-guard.

"Blood Prison!" Lucian shouted. The remnants of the shattered blood wall coalesced into thick, pulsating chains that latched onto the hero's wrists, anchoring him to the rooftop.

The hero glanced back in surprise, his movements momentarily hindered.

"You foul beast!" he snarled, yanking at the crimson bindings.

Lucian threw his head back, cackling as he leaped to the next rooftop.

"Better pick up the pace, hero!" he taunted, his silhouette vanishing into the shadows as the hero struggled to break free.

Just as Lucian prepared to leap to the next rooftop, an invisible force yanked him backward, slamming him down onto the cobblestones below. He landed hard, barely catching his breath before he looked up.

"Pull of the Noble!"

Reid Perval stood a few paces away, his Codex shimmering faintly. He gave a smug grin, his presence radiating authority.

"You're not slipping away so easily after causing chaos in my domain!"

Before Lucian could retort, the hero dropped down beside Reid, sword and shield at the ready, righteous fire still blazing in his eyes.

Lucian glanced between the two of them, realizing just how cornered he was.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Well... fuck me," he muttered under his breath.