Gasps echoed through the entire hall, a cacophony of surprise that reverberated off the high ceilings, each intake of breath signaling disbelief.
No one had expected it—Leo Aetherwind, the once arrogant, furious prodigy, the storm personified, had accepted his punishment… without a trace of resistance in his stance or spirit.
He didn't shout his indignation.
He didn't complain or rage against the injustice that was being wrought upon him.
He simply nodded almost imperceptibly, an action imbued with the weight of resignation, and then turned around, stepping away from the scene that had been designed to seal his fate.
And that silence?
It was louder than any scream, a deafening void that screamed of unspoken words and unacknowledged truths.
Leo knew what should have happened—what the very fabric of fate had woven into the story of his past.
In the original storyline, the past Leo, driven by a tempest of emotions, would have lost control completely, launching an impassioned attack against the student council, a desperate act of rebellion that would have crippled him both physically and in reputation, leading to his expulsion from the Academy.
That act would have sealed his fall irrevocably, reducing him to a tragic stepping stone upon which the protagonist, Alex, could ascend to greatness.
But not this time.
"I accept the punishment," Leo said again, his voice cold and precise, a finely honed blade cutting through the oppressive atmosphere before he continued walking, each step resonating with newfound determination.
Sophia was the first to snap out of her trance, her facade of control shattering like glass thrust into a turbulent storm.
"Leo!" she called, urgency lacing her tone as she rose from her seat, her expression a portrait of surprise morphing into concern.
But Leo didn't stop. His expression didn't change, remaining a carefully constructed mask of indifference. He simply continued walking forward, as if he were a marble statue carved from unyielding stone.
Each step was purposeful, each footfall echoing through the stony silence.
Inside, though, Leo's heart raced—a wild stallion unbound, its hooves pounding against the confines of his chest—not because of fear of the future awaiting him, but because of the anticipation crackling in the air like static before a storm.
I need to go home. Now.
That system… I want to see everything it can offer.
But the universe, in its twisted, laughing cruelty, wasn't going to allow him to leave that easily.
Just before he reached the grand entrance of the trial hall, a familiar figure materialized, blocking his path like an unwelcome ghost from the past.
Selena.
His so-called fiancée, the one who once held the promise of love but now stood before him like a fractured reflection of what could have been.
Her eyes were a tempest of conflicting emotions, a storm of uncertainty swirling within, and her lips trembled like fragile petals caught in a gust of wind.
"Leo… why did you accept the punishment?" she asked softly, each word a tentative bud struggling to bloom amidst frigid winter.
Leo looked at her without emotion, a mask of stoicism that barely concealed the maelstrom surging beneath the placid surface. "Let me ask you something," he said evenly, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken words.
Her breath caught in her throat, a ghost rendered mute by the sharpness of the moment.
"During the trial, who did you support—me or Alex?" he queried, the inquiry heavy like a stone thrown into the still waters of her conscience.
Selena looked down, her gaze faltering under the intensity of the moment. "I… I didn't think it was that simple—" she began, her words stumbling forth, desperate to create complexity where there was none.
"Answer the question," Leo demanded, his voice flat, devoid of emotion yet imbued with the cold chill of indifference.
"I-I just thought maybe if you explained—"
"That's enough," he cut her off, tone sharper than a blade, each word infused with icy finality. "You supported him. Not me."
She flinched, the impact of his words slicing through the veil of uncertainty hanging between them.
Then, Leo tilted his head slightly, an almost imperceptible gesture that belied the storm rumbling in his chest. "Do you like Alex?"
Her face flushed instantly, cheeks blooming red like autumn leaves ignited by an unseen flame. "W-What?! No! I don't—!"
But Leo didn't even flinch.
Instead, he stared directly into her soul, his gaze piercing through the barriers she had erected, and said the words that shattered her world into irreparable fragments:
"I'm calling off the engagement."
Selena froze, her mouth slightly open in disbelief, the weight of his declaration crashing over her like an unexpected tide, sweeping away her footing in an ocean of confusion.
Before she could even muster an argument, her tongue failing her amidst the turmoil, he added with unwavering resolve, "Return all the resources and favors I gave you. I want nothing to do with you anymore."
She stood there, stunned, as Leo walked past her, the echoes of his words lingering in the air, a cold specter haunting the spaces between them.
It took a moment before her body caught up with her emotions, a delayed reaction to a sudden and seismic shift in their relationship. Tears slid down her cheeks, a cascade that carved silent trails of sorrow across her skin.
Why does it hurt so much...?
Outside the trial hall, Leo approached the waiting carriage, its exterior sleek and daunting, bearing the proud insignia of his family emblazoned upon its dark red doors—a mark of nobility now tainted by disgrace. Before he could board the sanctuary it offered, his gaze shifted sideways, drawn against his will.
There stood Alex.
The supposed "hero" of this world, a figure cloaked in the warm embrace of admiration, his very presence a stark reminder of the fate Leo sought to escape.
He was holding Selena's hand, a deceptive gesture of affection, softly comforting her, as if he could mend all the wounds he had inflicted with a mere touch. His face, a mask of tender concern, belied the smug satisfaction simmering behind his eyes, the self-righteous glee that shone like a malevolent sun overhead.
Leo saw it.
And smiled coldly, a flicker of darkness igniting in his gaze, heart pulsing with a mix of loathing and anticipation.
Selena, in her moment of grief, didn't even notice Leo leaving, absorbed in the comfort of the man who had orchestrated her betrayal. Yet something inside her ached—a strange emptiness nesting in her chest like a chill that whispered of loss.
Her eyes looked back toward the fading figure of Leo, a specter retreating into the distance, and wondered why it felt like she had lost something… irreplaceable—something rare and precious that could never be replaced by fleeting hands.
Meanwhile, Sophia stood in the corridor above, her fists clenched tightly, the knuckles whitening with the pressure of her unvoiced thoughts, a storm brewing behind her calm façade.
"Just you wait, Leo," she muttered under her breath, her voice a dagger honed by resolve. "Tonight, we're talking. Whether you want to or not."
Inside the carriage, Leo leaned back against the cool leather, letting out a deep exhale that seemed to release the ghosts of his past—a cleansing breath that filled his chest with resolve.
"System," he commanded, his voice firm, slicing through the quiet like a knife through silk. "Speak."
[Heavenly Villain System Online.]
Welcome, Host. I exist to assist you in crushing the protagonist's plot, stealing his opportunities, and rewriting destiny itself. Every deviation from the plotline will reward you with System Points.
A smirk climbed across Leo's face, growing wider, turning into a grin that felt foreign yet liberating. "Show me the Villain Mall."
A glowing interface flickered to life in his mind, vivid and alluring, listing powerful items that shimmered with ethereal energy:
Hellflame Lotus Armor – (2,500,000 Points)
A defensive artifact that burns all enemies within a five-meter radius, igniting their despair in a blaze of pure chaos.
Blade of Calamity – (3,800,000 Points)
A soul-devouring weapon that strengthens with every kill, drawing upon the lifeblood of those vanquished to amplify its fury.
Soulbinding Contract – (1,000,000 Points)
Permanently enslave any soul weaker than your cultivation, a dark pact that binds unwitting souls to your will with unbreakable chains.
Divine Chaos Seed – (6,500,000 Points)
Unlocks a chaotic cultivation path beyond Heaven's control, granting a path laden with trials and untold power.
Leo's grin widened further, stretching across his face like the dawn of a new era, unbounded and unrestrained.
"Too expensive for now," he muttered, a spark of determination igniting within him. "But I'll get there. Each step brings me closer to reclaiming what's mine."
"System, show my status panel."
[Status Panel]
Name: Leo Aetherwind
Age: 16
Family: Aetherwind Noble Lineage
Bloodline: Aetherwind Pureblood
Hidden Bloodline: ??? (Locked)
Special Trait: Immortal Body (Locked)
Realm: Mortal Path – Strengthening Realm
Cultivation Techniques:
- Shadow Wind Step
- Crimson Pulse Art
- Moonfall Blade
Combat Rank: Low-tier combatant
System Points: 2,500
Inventory:
Beginner Package: [Opened]
- Villain's Cloak of Shadow (Equipped)
- Insight Pill (1/day weakness reveal)
- Skill: Phantom Mind (Charm, Illusion, and Manipulation Resistance)
The information sprawled before him like the secrets of an ancient tome, detailing the instruments of his potential power, each word a key unlocking the doors to his ambitions. Leo's eyes sparkled with madness, a fervent thrill coursing through his veins like wildfire.
"From today… I walk the path of a villain," he declared to the void, his voice echoing with determination tempered by resolve.
"One who no longer seeks their approval…"
"One who will use, discard, and conquer all that stands in his way."
And far away, the gears of fate had begun to shift with a mechanical whir, intricate mechanisms clicking into place, each decisive action a prelude to the cataclysm to come.
The real story had finally begun—an odyssey that would weave through shadows and flame, where the lines between hero and villain blurred into a tapestry of chaos and ambition, each thread a reflection of blood spilled upon the altar of ambition.
Every ounce of stolen opportunity would be returned with interest, each betrayal weighed in the scales of retribution, and the sins of the past would be repaid with the currency of strength that Leo would forge anew.
For he would no longer be the pawn in someone else's grand play—no longer relegated to the role of a tragic figure cast aside at the whims of fate.
He was the storm—a force unchained, ready to break free from the chains that bound him.
And as the carriage rumbled forth into the distance, carrying him toward his destiny, he felt the intoxicating thrill of possibility unfurling like a dark flower blooming in the depths of night.
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To be continued…
(✧ω✧)
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