The world was crimson.
Blood—his own blood—coated Leo Aetherwind's body like an ominous shroud as he lay motionless against the fractured marble tiles of the battlefield, a once-resplendent expanse now marred by the remnants of violence and despair.
The sky above shimmered grotesquely, golden rays piercing through dark, roiling clouds, an irony of light in the midst of his all-consuming darkness and anguish. It felt as if the heavens themselves were mocking him, illuminating his defeat while casting shadows that whispered remnants of his shattered dreams.
His breathing was shallow, each gasp a labored effort, ragged and uneven. His limbs trembled, not from fear of the end that loomed too close for comfort… but from sheer, unrelenting exhaustion, as if the very essence of identity was being siphoned from his frail body.
Vitality slowly seeped from his form, as if his very soul were bleeding into the ground beneath him, soaking into the earth like a sacrificial offering to unknown gods he had forsaken long ago.
"Fuck it… Damn the Protagonist… Damn this shitty plot…" he muttered hoarsely, the gritty taste of iron staining his tongue like a bitter reminder of his failures, his voice weak yet laced with venom—an ephemeral defiance swallowed by the battlefield's oppressive silence.
He let out a long, bitter sigh that seemed to echo through the emptiness around him, as if his breath carried the weight of his despair across the desolate expanse.
"So this is how I die? Pathetic…"
Coughing violently, blood gushed forth from his lips, an uncontrolled torrent that painted the ground in splashes of crimson—the irony of life escaping him, much like the dreams he had so painstakingly chased.
"I was supposed to be Leo Aetherwind… the Immortal Body… the once-in-a-million-years genius… a transmigrator blessed with all the knowledge of the plot, the world, the future… and yet—"
The memories invaded his mind like phantoms swarming around a flickering candle, each one a shard of sorrow and rage tearing at his sanity. He remembered it all—the humiliation, the betrayals, the fury that had burned him from within like a relentless inferno.
His father—a once-respected noble—had been publicly executed like a criminal before the jeering eyes of the crowd, each taunt a dagger to Leo's heart.
His mother—noble, proud Elena Skydawn—sacrificed everything, reduced to a mere shadow of her former power, her essence fading as she shielded him in a futile act of valor that rang hollow in the silence of her absence.
And then… Serena Luxveil.
Serena. The one woman he had trusted above all. The one he had fought for, protected, and cherished with every fiber of his being.
Even after she broke off their engagement, even after she spat in his face for a crime he had never committed, the bitterness of betrayal still tasted bitter on his tongue.
A single accusation from Alex Bladecrest had been all it took for her to turn away from him, choosing that bastard over fidelity, over loyalty, over love.
And standing beside Alex… were two familiar figures that had once brought him joy, now devoid of innocence.
Sophia and Zoe Aetherwind.
The very girls he and his father had fought to defend when his mother had wanted them gone—sacrifices regarding the bonds forged in warmth and connection.
The girls he had treated as family—like blood—and who now stood as symbols of betrayal, embodying the ultimate fracture of kinship.
In the end, they betrayed him—betrayed his father, betrayed the Aetherwind name, tearing apart the very fabric of their lives.
And now, as he lay dying—his heart ripped from his chest by Alex himself—he could only watch with bloodshot eyes as the "Hero" reveled in his victory, a serpent basking in the sun's glow while he lay ensnared in darkness.
Alex's foot crushed Leo's ribs as he leaned down, an action filled with contempt, his smile a twisted mask of triumph that made Leo retch with loathing.
"Some genius you were," Alex mocked, his voice dripping with contempt, each syllable a jagged blade plunging deeper into the wound that had festered within Leo's core.
Everything turned black, the world collapsing into an abyss of anguish and despair.
—
Then… the world twisted.
Pain vanished, swept away like autumn leaves caught in a sudden gale, freeing him from the chains of suffering.
He gasped, a sudden intake of breath that felt like the first spark of life rekindled in a heart long extinguished.
Eyes snapping open, Leo sat up, breathing heavily, drenched in cold sweat that glistened like morning dew under a sun he had long forgotten.
Bright, blinding lights flooded his senses. Wooden desks stretched out before him, a sea of youthful voices buzzing around him like the chatter of unwelcome bees. The familiar scent of old paper mingled with the aroma of mana chalkboards, filling the air with the comforting yet disconcerting essence of youthful ambition.
A classroom.
He looked down at his own hands, marveling at the slenderness, the frailty of his fingers—smaller than he remembered, each digit feeling delicate and new.
His heart raced, thumping wildly against his ribcage like an eager prisoner seeking freedom.
He knew this place.
This was the Academy of Arcanum Trial Court—a revered institution that had once been a sanctuary for dreams but now loomed over him like a specter of memories that threatened to undo him.
A place he hadn't seen in years. Not since that fateful trial that marked the beginning of his inexorable fall from grace, a point of no return where innocence was devoured by the insatiable maw of betrayal.
He covered his face with one hand, masking the growing grin spreading across his lips like a phoenix rising from the ashes of despair.
Yes. It was true. He had regressed, time unraveling at his fingertips, and he was back to where it all began—the genesis of his downfall and the beginning of the intricate tapestry of his fate.
He had one chance—a second opportunity—a single life.
And this time… he would destroy everything.
The other students were stunned by his sudden outburst, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion, but none dared to speak, none dared to question. No one noticed the malevolent grin hidden beneath his fingers, a serpent lying in wait in the tall grass.
He composed himself quickly, shaking off the remnants of his past self, and stood up, radiating a controlled intensity.
Emotionless. Cold.
"Let's see where we are," Leo muttered inwardly, each word punctuated with a tantalizing promise of vengeance.
Ah… of course.
This was that day—the beginning of the Trial of Discipline—hosted by the Student Assembly, a moment forever etched in the annals of his memory. This was the day that Alex Bladecrest would make his "innocent" debut as the embodiment of manipulation, where Leo's fate would be sealed in iron shackles and chains of fate.
He scanned the room, taking in the sea of faces filled with youthful naivety and budding ambition.
And then… he saw her.
Sophia Aetherwind.
His so-called elder sister, a proud emblem of betrayal wrapped in familial affection.
His eyes narrowed, but his expression remained neutral, an icy mask hiding the fury that boiled within him like a tempest on the cusp of eruption.
She sat with an aura of dignity and authority radiating from her, her posture poised like the queen of a treacherous chessboard as the Vice President of the Student Assembly. She would soon become one of Alex's most loyal allies, a pawn turned queen in a game that would determine the future.
The very person who presided over his own disgrace and downfall.
Leo exhaled slowly, controlling the tempest of emotions that threatened to burst forth like an avalanche descending from the summit of his resolve. He couldn't lose control. Not now.
The trial continued, a mechanical display of authority in which other students received light punishments for minor infractions—a perceived sense of justice masquerading as fairness in a world gone mad.
Then, the room shifted. A new figure stepped up, a shadow fell upon the gathering light.
Leo's gaze twitched, reflexively tightening as he prepared for confrontation.
That soft expression—crafty charm draped in misleading humility. Those bright "innocent" eyes glistened like a frightened kitten, full of false vulnerability and veiled intentions.
Alex Bladecrest.
The Protagonist of this damn world, the character all had elevated to hero status despite the treachery that lurked beneath.
Leo wanted to laugh—a mocking, cruel sound. Sissy little worm; he had garnered the favor of every heroine in the novel merely by existing. That pitiful, manipulative bastard who smiled while stabbing everyone in the back with knives draped in silken lies.
No longer.
This time, Leo swore he would rip every opportunity from his malignant hands. Every favor, every treasure, every legacy—he would obliterate them until Alex was left to rot in despair, a broken shell of a man once adored.
As Alex stood "meekly" before the trial, hands clasped together like a pious supplicant ready to solicit forgiveness, Sophia Aetherwind began reading the charges with chilling detachment.
"…Accused of stealing Classmate Leo Aetherwind's resources and artifacts."
The room hushed, a collective inhalation of breath hanging thick in the air.
Sophia frowned, her brow furrowing as she summoned the façade of authority. "Leo Aetherwind… step forward."
Her voice was cold, barren of warmth, a chiaroscuro of emotion absent as she called upon her brother whose spirit had been fracturing before her very eyes.
Leo's steps echoed through the hall, each footfall resonating like the toll of a bell signaling a final departure. All eyes turned, curiosity morphing into apprehension as they sensed the shifting winds of fate.
When he appeared, the atmosphere changed—stifled gasps erupted from a few of the less perceptive students. They could feel it—he was different, transformed, no longer the submissive lamb led to slaughter but a predator waiting in the dark.
Then Sophia scolded him.
Publicly.
Not Alex, the thief, scoundrel, and liar. But Leo—the victim—now cast in shadows as the perpetrator.
Leo sneered inwardly, anger igniting like wildfire. Of course. This was the first act of the "Protagonist Play," scripted and rehearsed to perfection by the hands of fate.
Alex tried to defend him, pulling at the heartstrings of the audience with a performance worthy of any grand stage.
What an actor he was, indeed.
Leo clenched his fists, an overwhelming disgust washing over him. It was repulsive to watch the charade unfold, this artifice enhanced by Alex's lying lips.
Even Serena… that witch… stood silently beside Alex, eyes filled with pity for him, already enveloped by the glow of the Hero's charm.
No one defended Leo.
Even the Student Council President leaned uncomfortably, wishing to hide from the growing discontent that resonated through the academy's walls.
But Sophia?
She continued scolding him with vigor, each word wrapped in the sharp claws of mockery.
Everyone stared, mouths agape, dumbfounded. She was chastising her own brother—a noble, a member of their esteemed family—in front of the entire academy, exhibiting a blatant disregard that was unforgivable.
She was not to be seen as merely ambitious. No… she was a villain. No, a traitor wearing the mask of authority and duty.
And then… the verdict materialized like an ominous storm cloud looming over them all.
"Leo Aetherwind is to compensate Alex Bladecrest with training resources, be demoted from Class A to Class D, and serve a six-month suspension."
Gasps rang out, a desperate chorus that rose to form an uncomfortable wave of disbelief.
The crowd muttered among themselves, voices tinged with confusion and outrage. "Too harsh…" "Unfair…" "Is she serious?"
Even Serena looked shocked, the mask of pity faltering as she processed the enormity of the injustice.
Even Alex blinked, surprise flickering across his features, taken aback by how far Sophia had gone in her harshness, a fleeting glimpse of doubt cracking his armor of carefully cultivated confidence.
But then—
"I accept."
Silence washed over the assembly like a thick fog, enveloping every soul present in a haze of disbelief.
Every jaw dropped in unison, their expressions a portrait of shock.
Sophia. Alex. Serena. The Council. All stunned into silence, rooted to their spots by the sheer audacity of it all.
Leo stood tall, projecting an aura of indifferent defiance, his gaze fixed, cold and unyielding, resolute against the storm that roiled within him.
Only he grinned, a subtle twist of his lips that seemed to suggest a different plan unfolding beneath the surface of this wretched play.
Because at that moment… a singular, crisp ding echoed in his mind.
> Ding!
Heavenly Villain System Activated.
Congratulations to Host for slightly deviating from the plot once intended.
Reward: 1500 System Points. Beginner Package unlocked.
Leo's smile widened, hidden from view beneath the mask of stoicism he wore so well.
This was just the beginning, a mere prelude to the symphony of destruction he would orchestrate.
He had returned—unfettered by the chains of the past.
He would not be the victim again; he would not succumb to the machinations of betrayal again.
He would not fall again.
This time… the Villain would reign.
From the ashes of what once was, he would rise like a phoenix, a harbinger of a tempest that would sweep away every last remnant of the mockery that had been his life—a tempest fueled by vengeance and the cold, hard certainty of retribution.
Leo Aetherwind would weave his own fate from this moment forward, an architect of his destiny, dismantling the grand design that had sought to reduce him to a footnote in a Hero's tale.
For the battlefield of his past was transformed into a crucible for greatness, and each wound endured would be the ink with which he would write his story anew—a dark, defiant narrative woven against the backdrop of light, a tale where the protagonist lies vanquished by the villain who would not be denied.
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To be continued…
(✧ω✧)
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