The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

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Rowan’s laughter echoed like a madman’s, his twisted amusement filling the battlefield.

On the other hand—

"Fuuu..."

Raye exhaled slowly, forcing himself to remain calm.

His mind raced, sharpening his thoughts like a blade. He couldn’t afford to let his rage cloud his judgment—not yet.

The demon stood just a few meters in front of him, laughing like a crazed beast.

Fwip-

Raye fixed his grip on his swords.

’I have to find a way to kill him.’

He mumbled internally.

His eyes narrowed, scanning Rowan’s posture, his movements, his breathing.

’He’s strong, but he’s not untouchable.’

Raye declared to himself.

He just needed the right timing to attack.

And as he was thinking about that for a bit—

Fwish-

Raye slightly glanced over his shoulder.

And there—

"..."

He saw Zephyrus sitting on the ground, he’s about to pass out.

He looked a lot better than before.

His body was still bloodied and battered, but it seems like his life isn’t in danger anymore.

Also—

Raye noticed that small greenish wind domes were covering the bodies of Old Man Rey, Pyro, and Kyle.

And seeing that—

’Looks like Zephyrus healed himself a little, and now he’s helping the others too...’

Raye immediately concluded that in his head.

He smiled a little seeing them in better conditions. His feeling eased up a bit.

He was happy that they’re okay.

Though, at the very moment he thought of that—

FWISH—

A blur figure appeared on Zephyrus’ right!

And then—

Fwoop-

Someone materialized!

It was—

The noble demon.

"?!"

Raye’s eyes widened. His heart lurched.

’Why is he there—?!’

And before he could even react—

-You bugs are distracting the human from fighting.

The noble demon’s calm voice echoed throughout the area.

-Huh?

Zephyrus weakly turned to the demon, utterly confused and exhausted.

And the next thing everyone knew—

-[Dark Sphere]

Fwoosh—!!!

A dense, crackling blast of demonic energy erupted from the noble demon’s right palm—

SWISH—

And it shot straight toward Zephyrus and the others!

"..!"

Raye’s eyes widened seeing this.

-...?

Zephyrus’ vision was blurry, he’s barely conscious.

He doesn’t really know what was happening anymore... He’s tired now.

And then—

The noble demon’s attack hit him.

B O O O O M —!!!

A massive explosion engulfed Zephyrus and the others!

FWOOOOOOOSH~!

A shockwave tore through the battlefield.

Dust and debris filled the air.

"...!"

Raye’s breath caught in his throat.

The dust cloud swirled violently, obscuring his vision.

’No... No, no, no!’

Fwoooosh~

And when it settled—

"..."

Raye saw them.

-...

Zephyrus lay on the ground.

Bleeding.

His condition was a lot worse than before.

And it wasn’t just him.

Old Man Rey. Pyro. Kyle.

Their bodies were motionless.

They were all flung aside.

And the faint mana that Raye was feeling from them before—

...

It was gone. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"..."

Raye was speechless.

He froze in place.

His face—

It became pale, drained of color as his mouth hung open.

His eyes—

They’re still locked onto Old Man Rey and the others.

Raye waited.

’Move...’

Even for just a little.

’Breathe...’

Just the faintest sign.

’Let me feel it... just a bit of your mana...’

Raye pleaded desperately in his head.

Though—

Seconds passed.

And still—

"..."

Nothing happened.

And as if that wasn’t enough—

-That’s better.

The noble demon smirked and mumbled that, looking down at Zephyrus and the others with pure disgust.

His tone was casual, like he had just crushed a few insects beneath his feet.

"...!!!?"

Raye caught a glance of him—of his expression.

And seeing the noble demon like that—

"Gurgh..."

Raye finally snapped.

And opening his mouth—

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!!!"

Raye screamed in rage, his roar shattering the air!

FWOOOOOOOOOOSH—!!!

A violent surge of mana exploded from his body!

The air trembled—

-Wha?!

Rowan flinched, his laughter dying in his throat.

He frowned, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy.

And the noble demon—

-Ah, finally... You’ll show your true worth!

His lips curled into a pleased grin.

Fwip—

Raye’s grip on his swords tightened.

His blue eyes turned bloodshot.

Pop—!

Veins bulged across his forehead.

And then—

His pupils disappeared.

"GRRRRRRRRHHH—!"

Along with his sanity!

FWOOOOOOOSH~!!!

A howling gust of winds wrapped around Raye.

SWAAAAAAAAAAAA—

Flames ignited—

Flickering across [Celestria] and [Nyx].

Raye’s mind was empty.

All that remained was rage.

Pure. Unrelenting. Rage.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAHHH—!!!"

And with that fueling his body—

BAAM!

He kicked off the ground—

And shot straight for the noble demon!

Even though he knew—

The gap between their strength was like heaven and earth!

Raye shot toward his target like a meteor!

But then—

Fwish—

-Your opponent is me!

Rowan appeared in between of Raye and the noble demon.

A mischievous smirk curled on his lips.

-Looks like you’ve gone cra—

Rowan started speaking, but before he could even finish—

SWISH—!

Raye reached him!

He was a lot faster than before!

-?!

Rowan was caught off guard by this.

But instead of panicking—

-’He can’t cut me anyway, I’m fine.’

Rowan just remained standing still, confident!

But at that moment—

BAM!

-URGH...?!

Raye’s right hand latched onto his throat!

The cold edge of [Nyx] was pressing against his cheek!

-?!

Rowan’s eyes widened in confusion.

He thought Raye was going to slice him with his sword.

And that’s when he noticed it—

-’Huh? Where’s his other sword?’

The white, elegant sword that was in Raye’s left hand—

It was gone.

And instead—

Fwoosh—

A white gauntlet had formed around Raye’s left fist—

Blazing with furious fire!

And seeing that—

-Wait—

Rowan’s instincts screamed at him—

Something was wrong!

But before he could even react—

FWOOOSH—

BOOOM!!!

Raye’s left fist crashed into his face!

-GAHH?!

Rowan’s head snapped back as a shockwave burst from the impact!

His feet barely remained on the ground.

-’THIS FUCKER DARES TO—!’

Rowan’s rage flared.

He forced his eyes open—

BOOOM—!

-GURGH?!

But another devastating punch landed right in the center of his nose!

His mind reeled—

-’What the fuck?!’

Rowan was shocked.

And before he could even recover—

BAAAM—!!

-GACKK...?!

Raye’s fist slammed into his nose yet again!

This time, the pain was real!

Rowan could feel it—

His reinforced body couldn’t fully negate blunt attacks!

Burning agony seared across his face!

-RAAAH!!!

Rowan roared in fury.

-FUCK OFF!!!

He exclaimed, annoyed.

And heavily—

BAM!!!

He swung his right fist and punched Raye in the stomach!

Rowan felt good with that attack just now!

-’Now it’s my turn to pay you back!’

Rowan grinned, thinking Raye was stunned because of pain.

But when he opened his eyes—

"..."

He saw Raye still staring at him.

Unfazed.

His blue, bloodshot eyes bore into his skull.

-...?!

Rowan felt a chill run down his spine.

-’Huh—?!’

And before he could even process what was it—

SWISH—

BOOOOOOM—!!!

Raye unleashed a swift, heavy punch that exploded against Rowan’s nose!

Crack—

A sickening sound echoed.

Rowan’s skull—

It cracked!

-GAARGH!!!

Rowan groaned as his brain was shook.

Pain was flooding his senses!

A scorched mark burned at the center of his face because of Raye’s last attack—

-’This bastard...!’

His vision blurred.

His balance wavered.

And yet—

Raye was already moving again!

F W O O O S H—!

Another punch was coming—

A faster one.

A stronger one.

A deadlier one.

And Rowan—

-!!!

He had no time to stop it!

Seeing Raye’s fist closing in on his face once again—

Fwip!

Rowan brushed off Raye’s right hand that was grabbing his neck.

And instinctively—

Bam!

He jumped back, away from Raye!

FWOOOOSH—!

Rowan successfully dodged the attack. Raye hit nothing but air, his momentum carrying him forward slightly.

For a moment, Rowan wanted to smirk, to mock Raye for missing.

But—

-...

He didn’t.

He couldn’t even bring himself to laugh.

His eyes slowly landed to his trembling red hands.

And opening his mouth—

-I... I was scared of that dog’s attack...?

Rowan weakly muttered that.

His voice was barely above a whisper, his disbelief evident.

But slightly shaking his head—

-’What happened to my attack earlier anyway? Did it get blocked?’

Rowan disregarded his shaken nerves and focused on analyzing the fight.

His eyes shifted back to Raye.

And what he saw—

-... You’ve really gone insane...

Left a deep frown formed on Rowan’s face.

Because he could see it.

On Raye’s stomach...

His uniform was torn, revealing a massive bruise spreading across his abdomen.

It was proof.

Proof that Rowan’s attack had landed cleanly.

And this also means—

-’So you’re saying that he endured the pain and launched a stronger counter?!’

That Raye had just tanked his attack!

And this was when Rowan realized it—

-’He’s lost his mind.’

Raye had gone insane.

No hesitation.

No restraint.

Only raw, primal fury.

And seeing this—

-Hmmn~ More! Fight more! Entertain me!

The noble demon exclaimed, his body shuddering with excitement.

Pleasure.

Thrill.

Delight.

He was enjoying this far too much.

(What a weirdo...)

"Tch—"

Rowan clicked his tongue, his annoyance rising.

He didn’t need the noble’s commentary.

What he needed—

Was to kill Raye.

And fast.

So with a resolute expression on Rowan’s face—

FWOOOOSH—!

A new surge of demonic energy erupted from his body!

His irritation had boiled over into anger.

And anger—

Fueled him too.

Fwip—

Rowan crouched down, preparing to take off with a frown on his face.

But just then—

"[Flash]"

Rowan heard that.

Then—

BOOOM—!!!

A devastating punch landed straight on his nose again!

-GAAARGH...?!!

Rowan groaned in pain, he didn’t know what just happened!

FWOOOSH—

He was flung backward—

THUD!

And fell on his back onto the ground.

-Ugh...

Rowan looked up to where he was standing before.

And there—

"..."

He saw Raye, looking down at him with cold eyes.

His body oozed with pure killing intent.