Villain's Evolution: Investing in My Minions Yields Crazy Returns!

Blood splashed across the shattered stone ground. The severed arm rolled twice before finally crashing into a pile of discarded trash, while fire attribute mana from the Crimson Flame Fang still clung to the wound, producing a faint sizzling sound as it continued to burn.

Evelyn stared at the familiar figure standing between her and the attackers. Her grip on Night Raven loosened slightly.

Victor’s broad, muscular back stood between her and the four men, and for the first time since the ambush began, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

The young man who had caught Night Raven between two fingers moments earlier had already retreated several meters. His left arm was completely gone below the shoulder, and the calm expression that suggested everything was within his expectations had vanished.

The other three stopped attacking as well. They stared at Victor, unable to understand how he had appeared here so fast.

”How could you have arrived so quickly?” The one armed man stared fixedly at Victor. ”It’s at least four kilometers from the Seventh Trial Ground to this place.”

Victor flicked the blood from his blade. ”It seems you didn’t even investigate the skill I just learned.”

The man’s expression twisted slightly.

Just learned?

Evelyn also glanced at Victor from behind him, but this was obviously not the time to ask about it.

[Hostile units detected.]

[Analyzing basic information.]

[Name: Unable to confirm.]

[Current assumed identity: Ron Baker.]

[Level: 26.]

[Profession: Mana Shaper.]

[Life status: Abnormal.]

[Level: 24.]

[Profession: Heavy Blade Warrior.]

[Level: 25.]

[Profession: Windshadow Assassin.]

[Level: 23.]

[Profession: Hexcaster.]

Apart from ”Ron,” the surface level data of the other three appeared relatively normal.

But the problem was...

[Ron Baker]

[Identity match rate: 17%.]

[Physical match rate: 96%.]

[Mental fluctuation match rate: 0%.]

The body belonged to Ron, but the mind did not, which explained why the real Ron was still in his dormitory, why someone with his face had appeared at the Seventh Trial Ground before dawn, and why this man knew things he should never have known.

”Evelyn.”

”Hmm?”

”Can you still move?”

”Yes.”

Her left shoulder was injured, and she had already consumed more than half her mana, but she had not suffered any fatal wounds.

”Then move farther away.”

Evelyn frowned. ”Can you fight them alone? I can still help.”

”I know.” Victor did not look back. ”That’s why I’m telling you to move farther away. Wait until they try to run before making your move.”

Evelyn looked toward the rear flank and understood what Victor was trying to do. From there, she could cut off anyone who tried to flee.

”Understood.”

After saying this, her figure silently moved toward the rear flank. The Level 25 Windshadow Assassin clearly wanted to stop her, but the instant he took a step, Victor’s gaze shifted toward him.

The man halted for an instant. He had seen Victor smash through a wall from more than twenty meters away, vanish, and sever a Level 26 professional’s arm with one strike. It would be extremely foolish of him not to be cautious.

The one armed man suddenly laughed. ”So that’s how it is.”

Victor looked at him. ”What?”

”No wonder the correction speed keeps increasing.”

The man pressed his right hand against the stump of his severed arm, and a layer of gray mana rapidly covered the wound, forcibly stopping the bleeding.

”You haven’t only changed Leah. Bruno Kane. Noah Green. Evelyn Moore. Even Cecilia Saint Laurent...”

Victor’s fingers tightened around the hilt when he heard those names. He lowered the tip of his blade slightly. ”Continue. I want to hear what else you know.”

The man stared at him before suddenly saying, ”You shouldn’t be interested in listening. According to the original you, you should already be panicking because I mentioned those names.”

The corner of Victor’s mouth rose slightly as he said, ”Then it seems the ’me’ you know is already outdated.”

”...”

Victor stepped forward, and the remaining three swiftly adjusted their positions. The Heavy Blade Warrior moved to the front, the assassin shifted to the flank, and the Hexcaster retreated to the rear, forming a standard three man formation.

However, the one armed man did not retreat.

”Victor, do you think making them stronger means you’re saving them?”

”Doesn’t it?”

”Of course not.” The man smiled. ”All you did was move them from positions where they would never have attracted attention... and push them onto the real chessboard.”

Victor continued to watch him without speaking.

”Noah Green was originally supposed to leave the academy in two months. Evelyn was originally supposed to die next year. Leah originally had two years remaining. But what about now? Because of you, they were noticed ahead of time.”

As he spoke, his gaze moved past Victor and settled on Evelyn.

”That is why she is here today.”

Evelyn’s grip around Night Raven abruptly tightened.

”Are you finished?” Victor displayed a light smile.

The man’s expression stiffened. ”What do you mean?”

”Your logic.” Victor continued walking forward. ”It’s boring.”

”According to you, if someone was originally destined to die a little later, then helping them grow stronger now means I’m harming them?” Victor stopped ten meters away from them, his expression remaining calm. ”Then this so called fate of yours is remarkably cheap.”

The four opponents watched as he slowly raised the Crimson Flame Fang.

”Noah was originally going to leave the academy. Evelyn was originally going to die. Leah was originally incapable of awakening her complete profession. Now they have a chance to go farther.”

His gaze settled on the four people before him.

”If someone targets them because of that... then I’ll eliminate whoever is targeting them. It’s that simple.”

None of the four answered him, their grips only tightening around their weapons.

At this point, the smile on the one armed man’s face disappeared completely.

”Do you truly believe you can keep winning?”

”No.” Victor answered calmly. ”That’s why I keep growing stronger.”

The next instant... he vanished.

[Shadow Blink!]