I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 508: [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [47] Victorʼs Defeat

Central Vedelia

Central Vedelia was the heart of Sancta Vedelia, the most sacred and critical region in the land. No enemy could be allowed to reach this sanctum, especially its core-the Holy Tree of Eden.

The tree, a symbol of divine blessing and protection, was the lifeline of Sancta Vedelia. Its continued existence ensured the prosperity and safety of the kingdoms and its allies. Aware of this, the neighboring kingdoms had set aside their own struggles to bolster Central Vedeliaʼs defenses, pledging their armies to the sacred cause. The survival of the Holy Tree was the most important; its loss would spell doom for all of Sancta Vedelia.

Utopia, however, had no intention of letting such a bastion of hope endure. They sent one of their mightiest rulers to eliminate it-a King whose very name inspired dread.

Bakarel Digvarit, the Dark Elf King, marched into Sancta Vedelia at the head of an army of Dark Elves, their numbers vast and their hearts merciless. They had carved a brutal path through the Dolphis territory, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake. Villages were reduced to ash, their inhabitants enslaved or slaughtered without hesitation. When Bakarelʼs forces reached Central Vedelia, the violence escalated to unimaginable heights.

The Dark Elves were infamous even among the people of Utopia. Their savagery knew no bounds; they enslaved without remorse and killed without hesitation. They reveled in conquest, viewing morals as meaningless chains meant for weaker beings. Their loyalty lay solely with Bakarel.

Bakarel himself was a figure of legend and terror. Though despised as the most despicable of Utopiaʼs Kings, his results could not be denied. He approached every task with a single- minded determination, achieving his goals regardless of the cost. Entire towns were razed under his command, their people stripped of freedom and identity. Those who resisted were executed on the spot, their deaths serving as a warning to others. Fear was his weapon, and he wielded it masterfully.

Two weeks had passed since Bakarelʼs arrival at Central Vedelia, and the battle had turned into a nightmare. The verdant fields surrounding the sacred city were now graveyards, littered with the bodies of fallen defenders. Blood soaked the earth, mingling with the shattered remnants of armor and weapons.

Amidst the carnage, a lone figure towered over the battlefield—a tall, dark-skinned man with piercing green eyes and shoulder-length grey hair. His armor was coated in the blood of -countless knights.

This was Bakarel Digvarit, the Dark Elf King, surveying the destruction with cold satisfaction. He had brought Central Vedelia to its knees, and the Holy Tree of Eden loomed ever closer to its doom.

No matter how many armies the neighboring kingdoms sent, Bakarel faced them all without holding back. Wave after wave, he crushed their ranks, their blood staining the battlefield. Yet, despite the insurmountable losses, they persisted, driven by desperation and the hope that someone might succeed where others had failed.

Recently, one such challenger had proven more stronger than most, inflicting a wound on Bakarel that would have ended lesser men. Yet even he had fallen. ”You fought well for a kid,” Bakarel said. His foot pressed down on the young man beneath him, pinning him to the ground.

Victor lay sprawled in the dirt, his back crushed under Bakarelʼs weight. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as he glared up at the Dark Elf King, his body trembling in a futile attempt to rise. ”You almost took my arm,” Bakarel continued, glancing at his right arm where a deep gash ran from shoulder to elbow. The cut was dangerously close-mere seconds away from severing the limb entirely. ”Impressive. But not enough.”

The battlefield was one of death and despair. Most of the defenders lay lifeless, their weapons scattered and their blood soaking into the earth. Among the survivors, one figure struggled to her feet-a young woman, her body riddled with wounds.

Selene staggered upright, blood seeping from the gaping wound in her stomach. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, yet her crimson eyes still seemed alive. She gripped her rapier tightly, every ounce of her strength focused on the towering figure before her. ”S-Selene, no!” Victor shouted, his voice cracking with pain.

But Selene didnʼt care.

She lunged herself at Bakarel. ”You still have fight in you?” Bakarel sneered, sidestepping her attack with ease. He turned and kicked Victorʼs limp body toward her strongly.

Selene barely managed to catch Victor, her arms trembling under the effort. But before she could react further, Bakarel was upon them. His foot slammed into both of them with brutal force, sending them hurtling across the battlefield. ”AGH!!” Victor spat blood, his vision blurring as he and Selene crashed into the dirt.

A short distance away, another figure stirred weakly. Roda, her body trembling and mana utterly drained, tried to rise. She collapsed almost immediately, her strength completely spent.

Bakarelʼs gaze shifted toward the horizon, where yet another wave of reinforcements approached. A grin spread across his face. ”So boring,” he muttered. Turning to his soldiers, he barked his orders. ”Take the survivors. Some of them might prove useful. Iʼll keep the boy, the vampire, and the werewolf. The rest are yours to enjoy.”

The Dark Elves erupted in wicked glee, rushing to seize the remaining knights still clinging to life.

Victor groaned, his body trembling as he forced himself upright. Blood streamed from his mouth, his muscles screaming in protest, but he didnʼt stop. His gaze fell on Selene, unconscious and broken, and rage ignited within him. ”I-I wonʼt... let you,” He growled.

His eyes began to glow crimson, the vertical slits in his pupils pulsing violently.

Bakarel narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening.

He had beaten Victor mercilessly for an hour, ensuring the boy should have been incapable of even twitching, let alone standing. Yet here he was, defying all logic and rising again.

It was Victorʼs astounding regeneration-an ability that he had obtained after his awakening at the Dolphian Capital. But even that miracle was faltering. The blood loss was too severe, his body trembling with exhaustion. ”You should have stayed down,” Bakarel growled, his fists tightening as they began to radiate an intense, menacing aura. Mana surged around him, creating a shockwave that rippled across the battlefield. ”Now Iʼll make an example of you-right in front of your women.” -BAM!

Bakarel vanished, reappearing in a blur of speed directly in front of Victor, his fist aimed to obliterate the young manʼs head.

But just as the killing blow was about to connect, a streak of lightning cut across the battlefield with breathtaking speed.

The flash of light materialized beside Bakarel in an instant, intercepting the strike with a resounding shockwave. -BOOM!

The Dark Elf King recoiled slightly, his arm raised and reinforced with mana and Ruah just in time to block the attack. Electricity coursed through his body, making him grimace as a blade pressed against his forearm.

When the lightning faded, it revealed a strikingly beautiful woman with flowing black hair and piercing blue eyes. ”J-Jennyfer...” Victor muttered surprised.

Bakarelʼs lips curled into a sly grin. ”Youʼre quite the strong one, arenʼt you?” He licked his lips.

Without hesitation, he reached out to grab Jennyfer, but she dissolved into lightning, vanishing with Victor in tow.

Jennyfer reappeared a short distance away, carefully setting Victor down. Her gaze softened as she looked at him, concern flickering in her eyes. ”Sorry for being late,” she said.

Victor weakly raised his trembling hand, his eyes shifting toward the fallen forms of Selene and Roda. ”Selene... Roda...” ”Donʼt worry,” Jennyfer reassured him, her gaze snapping upward as reinforcements arrived.

An older man approached was present among them.

Alector Raonpherys strode forward with his staff. The knights following him immediately sprang into action. ”Prioritize the wounded!” Alector barked. ”The Royals come first!”

Though every life was precious, the survival of Victor, Selene, and Roda was of a greater importance-they were the future of Sancta Vedelia.

But before Victor could be taken, Alector spoke up again. ”Iʼll take care of him myself,” he said, raising his staff. A soft glow enveloped Victorʼs battered body, lifting him gently into the air.

As Alector examined Victorʼs injuries, his expression tightened. Regret flickered across his face. ”I should have come sooner.”

But this wasnʼt the only battlefield. He had been hesitant to leave the Holy Tree of Eden unguarded, knowing its importance to Sancta Vedeliaʼs survival. The thought of Claudia watching over it had been his only reason.

Still, Claudiaʼs parting words rang in his ears-a clear threat to kill him herself if anything happened to Selene.

And so, here he was, hoping he wasnʼt already too late.

Fortunately, Selene wasnʼt dead.

Relief washed over Alector as he confirmed her shallow, labored breathing. That critical worry eased, he shifted his attention to Jennyfer. ”Can I leave him to you until I return?” Alector asked.

Jennyfer nodded without hesitation, her lightning-charged blade rising as her blue eyes locked onto Bakarel. Victor, barely conscious, protested however worried. ”N-No, heʼs dangerous...”

But Alector didnʼt linger. With a wave of his staff, Victorʼs battered body was taken away in the air. ”Donʼt worry, boy,” Alector said. ”Once Iʼm finished with you, youʼll be ready. Next time, youʼll be the one who defeats him.”

Victorʼs eyes flickered with confusion. ”H-How...?” He asked, his fists clenching weakly.

Bakarel was in the 9th Ascension, a level of power that dwarfed Victorʼs own. He had only barely reached the peak of the 8th Ascension, and the gulf between them was vast. Alector offered a small, knowing smile as his gaze shifted to the towering Holy Tree of Eden in the distance. ”Itʼs time for the new Apostle of Nihil to finally awaken.”