To be the Villainess

O30.

Chapter 30

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I GASPED, startled, as Darious’s arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly away from the deep cracks that split the ground where the monster’s heavy blow had landed. My heart raced as I watched him summon a shimmering shield, trapping the beast once again within its translucent barrier.

“You will not fight that thing, sister. Leave it to us.” His voice was firm, his dark blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. He set me down gently, but the seriousness in his expression made my brows furrow in confusion.

What’s gotten into him? Isn’t this the perfect moment for him to let me disappear from his life? This is his chance—why is he stopping me from fighting?

“You saw me fight earlier,” I replied, turning my back to him, my voice laced with defiance. “You know I’m more than capable of handling that creature.”

As I spoke, I glanced toward Lumine and Zacharias. They stood ready, hands resting on the hilts of their swords, muscles tense with anticipation. Seraphim floated just behind them, defying gravity, her feet never touching the ground. Their faces were pale, horror creeping into their expressions as they took in the monster’s true form. It wasn’t just a beast anymore—it had shed its earlier grotesque shell, revealing something far more horrifying.

The creature before us pulsed with dark energy, its massive, shifting form defying reason. Black mist swirled around it like a living shadow. Its eyes—pitch-black orbs—seemed to bore into our very souls. Its body lacked any true shape, constantly warping and morphing, limbs sprouting and retracting, each form more twisted than the last. Its jagged, oversized teeth glistened, sharp enough to tear through stone, easily capable of devouring an entire house in one bite. The nauseating mass of the creature was immense, a writhing black cloud of nightmares.

Where are Lady Cecelia and Sebastian? I scanned the battlefield. Cecelia was still fending off other monsters, her sword flashing as she protected the civilians. She wouldn’t be joining us here. But Sebastian? He had disappeared ever since our last meeting. I couldn’t see him anywhere.

Lady Cecelia was supposed to be the one to defeat this creature. This was her story—the game was designed for her to be the heroine. Yet here we were, all of us facing this monster together.

“Stay back!” The Crown Prince’s voice rang out, slicing through the chaos as the monster lunged toward them. In a flash, Seraphim raised her hands, and an invisible force clamped down on the creature, halting its charge. Her face twisted in pain, struggling to maintain her hold on the beast’s power.

I tightened my grip on my daggers, my knuckles turning white. “Brother,” I muttered, glancing at Darious beside me, “we need to help them.” He stiffened at my words, his mouth opening slightly in surprise.

"Shielding that monster isn’t enough. Look around you—the capital is in ruins. You don’t need to use that ability to trap it, use your sword to protect what’s left of our home.” My voice softened as I fixed my gaze on the fierce battle ahead. Lumine, Zacharias, and Seraphim couldn’t hold it off forever.

Darious sighed, the sound distant but resigned. I saw the barrier around the monster flicker and fade. “You’re right.” His voice was quieter this time. I turned to him as he unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming under the darkened sky.

“I’ll fight,” he said, determination settling over his features, “but you stay here, sister.” Before I could argue, he leaped into the air, his sword arching as he brought it down toward the monster with deadly precision.