I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 477: [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [19] John VS Kamarel

Kamarel slowly lifted his head, his piercing gaze locking onto John with a venomous intensity. His previously composed and noble features twisted into a mask of rage and humiliation.

John scoffed seeing that. ”Now youʼre showing your true face, High Elf.”

Silence fell for a moment.

The Dolphian knights, initially caught off guard, soon regained their composure, their eyes widening with recognition and hope. ”Look, itʼs John Tarmias!” ”Yes, itʼs him!” ”Weʼre saved!” ”Crush them all, Lord Tarmias!”

A wave of cheers erupted among the Dolphian knights, their voices rising as one as they thrust their swords skyward.

The war against Utopia had dragged on for nearly two months. John had arrived in Dolphis only a few weeks prior. Sent to the battlefield by Reiner, the King of Dolphis, John had initially been dispatched to the farthest edges of the conflict-an apparent attempt to keep him as far away as possible from Reinerʼs cherished daughter, Amelia.

Yet, this ploy had backfired spectacularly.

Johnʼs strength and quiet charisma had quickly won over both the Dolphian knights and the common folk. He had taken to the battlefield with a singular purpose, crushing the small armies of Dark Elves that sought to destabilize the surrounding towns. Time and again, he had risked his life to evacuate villagers, guiding them to the safety of the capital while defending them from the Dark Elves who were at that time invading Dolphis from all sides.

The people spoke of him in hushed tones, awed by his deeds. His origins as a Half High Human from Celesta, a man once shrouded in rumors of rehabilitation, had initially drawn suspicion. But his actions spoke louder than words ever could.

John wasnʼt the type to wear his emotions on his sleeves with his stoic demeanor. Yet, when the knights were in danger or innocent lives hung in the balance, he acted without hesitation. He saved those who could not save themselves, and in doing so, he earned their loyalty.

Before long, the name John Tarmias echoed across the Dolphian Kingdom. He was no longer just a knight on the battlefield-he was a fellow friend and brother in arm for them. ”Iʼll take care of him,” John said. ”You handle the rest and reinforce the walls.” The knights nodded without hesitation.

Across the field, Kamarel was not pleased by Johnʼs confident words. His lips curled into a disdainful sneer. ”You speak as though defeating me is a foregone conclusion, Human.”

I just humiliated you in front of your men, and yet you still cling to your arrogance?” John asked with a scoff.

Kamarelʼs cold glare slowly morphed into a smile. He dusted off his ornate robe. ”You are strong,” Kamarel admitted. ”I did not expect to find such power in the Dolphian Kingdom. Tell me, what is your name, truly? They call you John Tarmias... Tarmias... Yes, that name stirs something familiar.”

Kamarelʼs expression shifted, his narrowed eyes gleaming with sudden realization. ”Youʼre not from Dolphis... Tarmias...!”

Kamarelʼs eyes widened finally remembering something. ”Are you related to Jarett Tarmias?”

John narrowed his eyes at Kamarelʼs words. That subtle gesture was all the answer Kamarel needed. ”Ah, now I see... You must be his son,” Kamarel muttered, his lips curling into a sly, humorless smile. ”What a coincidence. No-perhaps this is fate.” ”What are you talking about?” John asked since his father was mentioned.

Kamarelʼs demeanor shifted instantly. His hand rose, and with it, his mana surged outward in a violent eruption. -BOOM!

The air trembled under the sheer force of his mana. The pressure was quite high, the kind that could only belong to one of the most powerful High Elves. ”Twenty years ago, your father killed mine. And now, after all this time, fate delivers me the opportunity to avenge him by cutting down his son,” Kamarem said with a cold smirk.

Johnʼs mind flickered to the past-two decades ago, the time when his father had visited Sancta Vedelia. It had been a lifetime moment for his father, the same time his father met his mother. The timeline aligned too perfectly with Kamarelʼs story to be a mere coincidence. ”I donʼt know why my father killed yours, but if I had to guess, itʼs probably because your father was trash-just like you,” John replied curtly. ””

Without a word, Kamarelʼs entire body pulsed with mana. In an instant, four luminous mana circles materialized around him.

Johnʼs instincts screamed at him to move. He kicked off the ground just as Kamarel released the spell. -BOOOM!

A devastating blast of wind erupted from Kamarel, each gust honed into deadly, razor-sharp blades that shredded everything in their path. Trees splintered, rocks disintegrated, and the very ground seemed to groan under the force.

John reacted swiftly, gripping his sword tightly as he released his own mana. Dark red marks ignited along his arms and face as he cast a powerful curse. With a swift swing, he swung his blade, meeting the attack head-on.

The two forces collided and the impact of the clash forced John back. His boots scraped against the dirt as he was driven several meters toward the fortress wall, his strength barely keeping him upright. At the last possible moment, he anchored his stance and managed to halt his momentum.

When the dust settled, John stood his ground, though his arms bore the brunt of the clash. Blood seeped from numerous gashes, and his sleeves hung in tatters.

Kamarel watched, his face twisted into a mocking grin. ”You see, Half Human, we High Elves are blessed with a limitless well of mana. Mana favors us-it flows through our veins as naturally as blood. Between me and a disgusting half-breed, who do you think it will choose?” His laughter rang out.

John scowled in response. ”You talk too much.”

Without warning, he surged forward, closing the gap between them in an instant. His blade descended in a precise arc, aimed directly at Kamarelʼs throat.

But this time, Kamarel was ready. His eyes gleamed with unnatural clarity, his senses sharp. With an almost casual movement, he sidestepped the blow. ”I can see through your every move, Half!” Kamarel sneered. Before John could recover, Kamarel lashed out with a vicious kick.

John raised his arm just in time to shield himself, absorbing the brunt of the blow. The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots dragging deep trenches into the dirt once more.

But still, John lunged forward as he clashed once more with Kamarel. This time, his movements seemed faster, more precise. -BAM!

The air trembled as their swords collided, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Sparks flew with each clash, their weapons moving too fast for the eye to follow. Those nearby, sensing the sheer ferocity of the battle, had no choice but to retreat dozens of meters, their instincts warning them of the destructive power unfolding before them.

Both of them moved with blinding speed, their figures blurring as they clashed across the battlefield. Kamarel, however, began to show a distinct advantage. His mastery of the wind attribute came into play, the currents swirling around him in a tempest. With each parried strike, Kamarelʼs wind magic lashed out at John like invisible daggers seeking to tear him apart.

Groans of pain escaped Johnʼs lips intermittently, his armor failing to hold against the combined assault. Sections of the once-sturdy metal were shredded and torn away, leaving him increasingly vulnerable. Blood seeped from shallow cuts across his body but still John insisted.

Having had enough of the stalemate, John abruptly leapt backward, his blade raised. He pointed it directly at Kamarel, and a deep crimson glow gathered at its tip. The energy coalesced into a small, dark red fireball that shot forward with terrifying speed. Kamarelʼs eyes narrowed as he conjured a massive mana circle in front of him. The fireball burst mid-flight, detonating into a roaring inferno that consumed everything in its radius. The earth beneath trembled, the flames searing and cursing everything they touched. Kamarelʼs protective barrier held firm, but the aftermath was devastating. His unfortunate knights, too close to the blast, screamed in agony as their bodies were engulfed and reduced to charred husks.

John seized the fleeting opportunity. His blade now fully ablaze, he surged forward like a streak of fire, swinging his weapon directly at Kamarelʼs head. The sheer force of the strike caused Kamarelʼs footing to falter. Though he managed to intercept the blow, his defense cracked under the overwhelming strength, and he was hurled to the ground with a thunderous impact. ”Enough!” Kamarel bellowed furious. He thrust his hand into the air, summoning a towering five-layered mana circle. The glowing circle pulsated ominously green, devouring vast amounts of mana from the atmosphere. ”Iʼll obliterate this miserable human town-and you along with it, John Tarmias!” Kamarel shouted. ”You think Iʼll just stand by and watch that happen?” John spat, charging toward Kamarel without hesitation.

Before he could close the gap, however, a group of surviving gorilla beasts leapt into action, encircling him. One of the beasts struck from behind, its colossal fist crashing into Johnʼs back catching him off guard. The sheer weight of the blow sent him sprawling to the ground, blood spraying from his lips as pain erupted across his spine. He could feel the bones in his back straining under the pressure, dangerously close to breaking. ”Damn it!” John growled. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated, swinging his sword behind him with lightning speed. A fiery trail followed the arc of his blade as it cleaved through the air, severing the attacking gorillaʼs head in a single strike.

The beastʼs massive body fell lifelessly to the ground, its severed neck radiating a dark red glow as dark curses spread across its flesh.

The remaining gorillas roared in fury at their mateʼs death, their bloodlust surging as they lunged at John in unison. Yet, John was ready. With efficient movements, he dodged their frenzied attacks, his blade moving swiftly and deadly.

One by one, the gorillas fell. Each time his sword touched them, cursed marks spread like wildfire across their bodies, leaving them writhing in agony. They clawed at their chests as the curses suffocated them from within before they collapsed.

When John had dispatched the last of the beasts, his bloodstained sword lowered for just a moment, he raised his gaze toward Kamarel. The High Elven commander now stood at the center of a massive glowing five-layered mana circle.

Kamarelʼs lips curved into a cruel smile. ”If you had surrendered, this city might have-” ”I thought Elves were stupid,” John interrupted him quickly. ”But High Elves? Turns out youʼre even dumber.”

Kamarelʼs smug expression faltered. ”What did you say?” He asked in a low voice.

John let out an exaggerated sigh, as though he found the entire exchange tiresome. Slowly, he drove his blade into the charred ground and raised his free hand toward Kamarel.

Kamarelʼs instincts flared, but before he could react, his body seized up. His limbs stiffened unnaturally, and a sudden, searing pain erupted across his skin. ”What-?!”

Looking down, Kamarelʼs face twisted in horror. Dark red marks, jagged and pulsating, began to spread across his arms, creeping over his chest, neck, and face like venomous stains. ”Seventh Curse of Hecate,” John muttered, his eyes showing no pity. ”Suffer hell.” ”GRAAAHHHHH!!!”

Kamarelʼs scream tore through the battlefield, louder than any sound he had ever made. The cursed marks burrowed deeper, their curse seeping into his very soul. He staggered, clutching at his chest, his composure shattered as wave after wave of excruciating torment coursed through his veins. ”You didnʼt even notice, did you? So blinded by your arrogance. It was childʼs play to mark you,” John scoffed. He reached down and drew his sword from the earth. Stepping forward, he pointed it at the trembling High Elf. ”No! No... T-This canʼt be!!!” Kamarelʼs voice quivered in utter disbelief. ”I—I am Commander of the High Elves!!! I fight under His Majesty Durathiel RUVELIONʼS orders! A mere HALF HUMAN CANNOT DEFEAT ME!!! I AM KAMAREL RUVELION!!!”

John ignored his rambling as mana began to gather around him, swirling violently. The very ground beneath him cracked under the pressure of his mana.

Then he raised his sword high, his mana surging to its peak. A massive, four-layered cursed mana circle materialized in front of him. ”And I am Jonathan Tarmias.”

John said and lowered his sword. ”Blazing Cursed Breath of Hecate.”

The cursed flames erupted in a torrent of dark red fire, consuming everything in their path.

Kamarel fell to his knees, his face frozen in sheer terror as the flames surged toward him. For a brief moment, his wide, desperate eyes caught a glimpse of something-or someone. Standing behind John, enveloped in an otherworldly crimson glow, was the spectral figure of a breathtaking woman. Her eyes burned with the same cursed red as the flames.

A Goddess and certainly not one turned toward the light. ”I...” Kamarelʼs lips moved as if to speak, but the words never came. The fire swallowed him whole. -BOOOOM!