I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 176 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [36] Jayden Vs Reiss

As Jayden relentlessly pummeled the leader of the assassins with his lightning-infused fists, a smile crept onto the manʼs face. Swiftly evading Jaydenʼs punch, he leaped off the ground and lashed out with his leg, wielding it like a whip.

With a resounding impact, the manʼs leg connected with Jaydenʼs unguarded arm, propelling him through the grass for several dozen meters.

”Incredible, I must admit, Reinhart,” the man muttered, his mask crumbling to reveal the visage of a middle-aged individual. He discarded his black cloak, revealing only a long-sleeved shirt adorned with two black bracers on his forearms. ”You see, Reinhart, we of Caishen are all blessed by a single God, the very essence of our neutral organization,” he explained, dropping to his knees and gazing skyward. ”I, Reiss, am but a tool of your greatness.”

As he spoke, a foreboding black light emanated from his body, and dark marks began to surface on his skin.

”Ah!” Jayden cupped his hands together, channeling an immense amount of mana. The ground trembled as his body continued to emit power. ”Zeusʼ!” Lightning crackled before him as he prepared a potent attack that even made the air quiver. ”Lightning Blast!”

Reiss rose to his feet, extending his right hand. A gurgling sound emanated from his arm, which distorted like a water balloon. Soon, his hand transformed into a black sword.

-BOOOOOM!

Jaydenʼs lightning blast collided with Reissʼ bladed hand, sending the latter sliding back several meters with a groan. Smoke dispersed, revealing Reissʼ hand still intact, save for the occasional crackle of lightning around it.

”W-What...?” Jayden muttered, weariness etched on his face as he observed Reiss, who had only sustained minor injuries. Despite unleashing one of his most powerful attacks in his awakened state, it was not enough.

Reissʼ expression twisted from the lightning weakening his body, but he eventually smiled and launched himself forward.

”!” Jayden barely had time to react to Reissʼ alarming speed.

-Spurt!

Blood splattered onto the ground as Reissʼ bladed hand deeply sliced Jaydenʼs arm. He attempted another swing, but a bluish barrier materialized, blocking the blade.

”Jayden!” Milleia shouted with concern, maintaining her barrier, but cracks began to form on its surface.

-Whoosh!

Sensing danger, Reiss leaped backward, narrowly evading a lethal green arrow aimed at his head. Upon landing, he glanced back at Milleia and the others. His five companions lay dead. His gaze then shifted to Miranda, who returned his stare with blood splattered across her face and her bow at the ready.

ʼDangerous.ʼ

Reaching this conclusion, Reiss stomped the ground and lunged straight toward Miranda.

Undaunted, Miranda stood her ground, taking a step back and drawing the string of her arrow. Waiting for the opportune moment, she released her arrow of wind.

”Hm.” Reiss smiled, effortlessly severing the arrow with his bladed hand. However, as he did so, a fierce gust of wind blades assailed him, propelling him backward.

Reiss stared in astonishment as blood flowed from multiple wounds on his body. Although not severe, if he continued to sustain such attacks...

-Whooosh!

Miranda unleashed another arrow, thicker than the previous one.

Impressed by the girlʼs strength, Reiss regarded Miranda while clutching his bladed hand with his other hand. With a rattling sound, the bladed hand grew larger and sharper.

”Ah!” With a cry, he swung his formidable bladed hand, aiming to strike down the arrow.

-Boom!-

The arrow dissipated under the sheer impact, but before he could rejoice, razor-sharp blades of wind whirled around him at high velocity, striking him.

”Ugh!” Reiss was propelled even further back, and his previously minor wounds widened.

-Whooosh!

-Whooosh!

-Whooosh!

Miranda relentlessly fired arrow after arrow at Reiss, and each time he parried, he was flung backward with injuries.

ʼShe is strong...ʼ

Reiss silently acknowledged Mirandaʼs formidable strength as he reevaluated the green-haired girl before him. She possessed immense power and had yet to reveal her full potential.

ʼNo.ʼ He shook his head suddenly. ʼMy mission comes before anything else.ʼ

Reiss wore a smirk as he charged straight toward Jayden, who was receiving treatment from Milleia.

Miranda swiftly reacted, rushing towards them.

”M-Milleia!” Jayden, noticing Reiss, quickly positioned himself in front of Milleia.

-Clang!

But Elona intervened, parrying Reissʼ blade.

”...what?” Reissʼ eyes widened at Elonaʼs ability to repel his attack. She was weaker than him and shouldnʼt have been able to...

”Falkrona Bloodline, Fifth Wing,” Elona muttered, a pained expression on her face.

ʼLord Horus... I implore you to lend me your strength.ʼ

As Elona whispered those words under her breath, a pillar of grey light enveloped her. The Falkronaʼs grey mana gathered on her back, and sharp wings slowly emerged. Her grey eyes became sharper, and vertical slits appeared in her irises.

-Booooom!

Tremendous pressure descended upon the battlefield, causing Reiss to unconsciously retreat. ”This is...”

”Sheʼs a member of that accursed family...” Reiss muttered, annoyed that he had not made the connection earlier.

ʼDo not provoke any Falkronas.ʼ

His superior had warned him countless times.

It had not always been this way.

In the past, they had received numerous targets from the Falkrona family. However, over ten years ago, they had made a grave mistake by targeting someone they shouldnʼt have. They paid a heavy price for their actions. Since then, despite receiving missions to kill Thomen Falkrona, Belle Falkrona, or Edward Falkrona on multiple occasions, they had refused to accept them.

ʼPatience.ʼ

Those were his superiorʼs words.

Reissʼ expression grew increasingly irritated as he recalled that. What were the odds that a Falkrona would be with Jayden?

ʼIʼll simply incapacitate her.ʼ

With that in mind, Reissʼ expression turned cold as he swung his blade once again. An arrow soared towards him, knocking him away from Elona.

”Ah!” Jayden, seething with anger, launched himself at Reiss, his sword crackling with energy.

-BOOOOOM!

Reiss coughed up blood as his body crashed powerfully onto the ground, causing the earth to fracture deeply.

As Reiss lay on the ground, coughing up blood, he struggled to regain his composure. The impact of Jaydenʼs attack had left him in a weakened state but-

With a sinister grin, Reiss forced himself to his feet. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes fixed on Jayden with a mix of admiration and defiance.

”You have proven yourself to be a formidable opponent, Reinhart,” Reiss admitted, his voice strained. ”But I am not so easily defeated.”

Reiss leaped forward once more, his bladed hand gleaming with an ominous aura. He swung his weapon with calculated precision, aiming for Jaydenʼs vulnerable spots.

Jayden, fueled by both anger and desperation, met Reiss head-on, his crackling sword blocking the onslaught. Each clash of their weapons sent sparks flying, illuminating the intense battle unfolding between them.

”I wonder where you hid your brother, Reinhart.”

”!” Jaydenʼs eyes turned red in anger as he accelerated his swings but it didnʼt bother Reiss at all.

”Why donʼt you call your little beast like before?”

Jayden didnʼt answer. He tried to call his Familiar but it wasnʼt answering his call.

”Oh, speaking of that. Your father, mother and sister also disappeared a few weeks later.”

Jaydenʼs movements came to halt abruptly as he opened his eyes wide as Reissʼ words repeated in his mind.

Reiss smiled seeing that, ”They might be still alive yes. You seem to have a guardian angel. I, now start to understand why they want you dead. You are indeed someone dangerous, yet very lucky. Just when we thought of using your family as lever to get, they escaped from our grip. This is too much of coincidence. ”

”!”

Reiss didnʼt even hesitate before slashing his blade on Jaydenʼs chest.

”J-JAYDEN!!!” Milleia screamed horrified as Jaydenʼs bloodied body fell on the ground.

When Reiss tried to finish him off, Miranda notched another arrow, her bowstring taut and fired piercing Reissʼ shoulder.

Elona, empowered by the Falkrona Bloodlineʼs Fifth Wing rushed at Reiss and repelled him, knocking him away.. Her sharp wings exuded an aura of power, and her grey eyes pierced through Reiss with an unwavering gaze as she gathered a tremendous amount of mana in her sword.

A swirling, greyish sphere crackled at the tip of Elonaʼs sword, brimming with dense Falkrona Mana. ”Horusʼ breath!” She exclaimed, her voice filled with determination.

With a deafening roar, the spiraling burst of energy surged forward like a radiant ray, aimed directly at Reiss.

Narrowing his eyes, Reiss quickly transformed his other hand into a massive blade, attempting to defend himself.

But in a breathtaking display of power, Elonaʼs formidable attack shattered his giant blade in an instant, leaving him defenseless. The grey ray tore through his stomach, causing him to cough out blood in agony. ”COUGH!”

Elona, overwhelmed by the immense release of energy, couldnʼt withstand its force and lost consciousness. The swirling aura around her body dissipated, leaving her limp on the ground.

Miranda, her heart heavy with concern, gently placed a hand on Elonaʼs hair before turning her attention back to Reiss, who was still standing. Her tangerine eyes turned cold as the mana around her grew more chaotic, exerting a pressure that sent shivers down Reissʼ spine.

However, a frown creased Mirandaʼs face as she suddenly sensed a presence behind her. She swiftly turned around and found Jayden clutching Milleiaʼs hand.

Crackling lightning emanated from Jaydenʼs bloodied body, but to Mirandaʼs surprise, it did not harm Milleia. Beside him stood a magnificent blue eagle, its feathers crackling with the same electric energy.

”Arete,” Jayden murmured, and in response, the eagle let out a piercing shriek, flapping its wings above him. The bird opened its beak wide and unleashed a torrent of lightning, while Jayden also summoned lightning in front of him. The two energies merged, transforming Jaydenʼs lightning into a bluish-white hue.

Without hesitation, Jayden reached into the swirling lightning and withdrew his hand, revealing a crackling blue sword.

Reiss, realizing the threat, hurriedly channeled his mana, but his concentration shattered as an arrow pierced his flank, causing him to cry out in pain.

As he raised his face to assess the situation, a tremendous explosion of lightning erupted.

With a thunderous boom, Reissʼs body disintegrated into a cloud of ash, vanquished by the overwhelming force of Jaydenʼs attack.