I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 517: [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [56] Celeste And Alicia VS Kendel Teraquin

At the borders of Zestella, Alicia faced Kendel.

The disparity between their abilities was evident. Alicia had reached the seventh Ascension, an impressive feat by most standards at her age. But Kendel stood at the pinnacle of the eighth, his strength and skill radiating a clear gap in experience between them. Despite the odds, Alicia held her ground. Her years of rigorous training and her innate talents as a royal Princess were the only reasons she had lasted this long.

Vampires were renowned for their resilience. As long as blood coursed through their veins, they could endure. And Alicia, as a royal, possessed an extraordinary reservoir of both blood and regenerative prowess. Yet even with these advantages, the pace of the battle was wearing her down.

Kendel moved fast, his sword carving through the air in blinding arcs. Alicia parried and countered, her rapier a blur of silver, but his attacks pushed her closer and closer to her limit. Then, as she shifted to evade, her pendant-its amber jewel gleaming faintly in the dim light -slipped into view.

Kendelʼs eyes caught the sight, and his lips curled into a triumphant smirk. ʼShe brought it straight to me.ʼ

To Kendel, this was nothing short of divine providence, a blessing from Freyja or even Eden himself. He had planned to infiltrate Ravenia, to scheme and fight for the Seed of Eden. Yet here it was, dangling before him, a prize begging to be claimed. The time and forces he would save by securing it now were immeasurable.

With a surge of confidence, Kendel launched a powerful swing, his sword crashing against Aliciaʼs rapier and throwing her off balance. Seizing the moment, he reached out toward her exposed neck, his fingers curling toward the pendant that hung there. Victory was within his grasp-

But Alicia was faster. In a dazzling display of agility, she bent backward, her body arching gracefully as she somersaulted out of reach. She landed nimbly on her feet, her crimson eyes locking onto Kendel with narrowed eyes.

Kendelʼs hand hovered momentarily in the void before he retracted it, unfazed. His smirk deepened. ”I never would have believed that Lazarus Raven or Cyril would let you participate in this war,” Kendel said, puzzled.

His disbelief was genuine. Victor was one thing-he was merely a Half-Blood. But Alicia? The sole princess of the Raven House? Her presence here was unthinkable.

Alicia remained silent, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Kendelʼs sharp intuition didnʼt miss a thing. His eyes glinted as he pieced it together. ”Ah, I see. You left on your own,” he chuckled amused. ”Thatʼs quite daring of you. At least now I can say with certainty that youʼre not part of any agreement between the Raven House and Utopia.” ”...!” Aliciaʼs eyes widened in shock, her breath catching as Kendelʼs words sank in. When her mind finally registered the implications, she murmured faintly, ”Agreement?”

Now it was Kendelʼs turn to look surprised. He raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading for a brief moment. ”Your grandfather didnʼt tell you? Nor Cyril?” He scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery. ”They struck a deal with Utopia so that Lazarus Raven wouldnʼt take part in this war -nor his Kingdom. Itʼs not hard to see why. Your grandfather is a Demigod, after all. A threat no one wants to face.” ”I-Impossible...” Alicia whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

If what Kendel said was true, it would mean her Kingdom had betrayed Sancta Vedelia, aligning themselves with Utopia much like the Teraquins. ”Believe what you will, but itʼs the truth. Why else would your Kingdom abstain from the war? To conserve their strength?” He chuckled darkly. ”Donʼt be naïve. Theyʼre waiting- biding their time. They want Sancta Vedelia and Utopia to tear each other apart, so they can rise as the dominant power in the aftermath.”

Aliciaʼs lips trembled, and her grip on the hilt of her rapier tightened until her knuckles turned white. ”Itʼs a clever plan, Iʼll admit,” Kendel sneered. ”But unfortunately for them, Iʼll be the one to come out of this war as the victor.”

In an instant, Kendel vanished from his spot, reappearing in front of Alicia with his sword already swinging down in a blur of motion. -BAM!

The clash of metal reverberated through the battlefield as Celesteʼs blade intercepted Kendelʼs strike, deflecting it with enough force to send him skidding backward.

Alicia blinked, startled by the sudden intervention. When she turned, she saw Celeste standing protectively in front of her.

Celesteʼs gaze flicked to Kendel, then back to Alicia.

Victor had warned me. He said something didnʼt sit right-he suspected our House might be involved with Utopia. Celeste at first didnʼt believe him. She thought he was overthinking things. But...the truth was undeniable now, and Celeste could see how deeply it affected Alicia.

Her family, her Kingdom, were complicit in the horror striking Sancta Vedelia. ”Alicia,” Celeste called out

Alicia looked up hesitantly. ”Youʼre not part of this,” Celeste said with a serious gaze. ”Do you understand?” ”I—I...” Alicia bit her lip hard, drawing blood as she struggled to compose herself.

Celeste smiled faintly. ”Letʼs focus on what we can do now. Weʼll defeat Kendel together. That will put an end to much of the fighting in Sancta Vedelia.”

Alicia stared at Celeste for a long moment before nodding. ”Yes, Senior.”

Then Celeste and Alicia turned toward Kendel.

Kendel chuckled, shaking his head as though amused. His gaze darkened, a smirk spreading across his face. ”You are both strong, I admit, but for whom do you take me?” His voice suddenly lowered. with disdain

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled violently. -BOOOOM!

Deep cracks spread like veins, and from the earth emerged ancient roots, twisting and splitting apart with unnatural speed. The writhing mass of roots began to form a towering, monstrous figure-a hulking creature of wood and bark, five meters tall.

Two golden horns, shimmering faintly with radiant Prana, crowned its head. Its glowing green eyes pierced through all knights.

Alicia and Celeste froze momentarily, their wide eyes fixed on the abomination that now loomed behind Kendel.

Kendel spread his arms as he stared coldly at the two Princessed. ”I am Kendel Teraquin, Prince and King of the Royal and Noble Lineage of Teraquins. A mere Human and Vampire can do nothing against me!”

The creature opened its massive maw, a soundless roar resonating through the battlefield. Ominous green vines shot out at incredible speed, hissing as they sliced through the air toward Alicia and Celeste. ”What is this?!” Celeste blurted out in shock, narrowly dodging the onslaught of deadly vines.

Alicia, equally startled, managed to evade but struggled to catch her breath. ”I-Iʼve read about this before...” She muttered, her gaze locked on the monstrous entity. ”The Teraquins had the ability to control Tree Spirits.” ”Tree Spirits?” Celeste asked not understanding.

Alicia nodded, recovering her breath. ”Yes, they were born during the Divine Era, when the Gods themselves walked among mortals. These spirits would appear to aid the people. But theyʼve been extinct for centuries-or so we believed.”

Her words faltered as her eyes lingered on the creature, almost awestruck despite the danger. ”Is it dangerous?” Celeste asked, her grip tightening on her blade.

Aliciaʼs answer never came. The creatureʼs gaping maw began to glow ominously, a concentrated greenish Prana gathering within it. The energy pulsed with devastating strength, making the very earth tremble beneath their feet. ”Senior. We have to stop it, or else—”

She turned to Celeste but Celeste stood rigid, her wide eyes glowing an unnatural white. ”No...” Celeste whispered, her voice trembling. She had seen what would happen if the creature unleashed its attack. The vision was horrifying.

Without hesitation, Celeste leaped from cover, her blade drawn. ”Stop this!” She shouted. With a wide, sweeping arc, she swung her sword, unleashing a chilling wave of frost. The icy energy struck the creatureʼs face, encasing it in a crystalline prison.

Celeste exhaled, relief washing over her-but it was short-lived. -CRACK! Fissures spread across the frozen surface like spiderwebs. In mere moments, the frost shattered, revealing the creatureʼs twisted face once more. The glowing Prana had reached its zenith, the attack fully charged. ”Release,” Kendel said coldly. -BOOOOM!

A blinding torrent of green Prana erupted from the creatureʼs maw, the Prana Breath tearing through the battlefield with merciless ferocity. The air itself seemed to burn under the sheer intensity of the attack, the ground gouged out in a deep, jagged scar.

The devastation was immediate.

Everything within a ten-meter radius was obliterated. Soldiers in the Zestella army barely had time to react before they were struck. The breathʼs energy didnʼt just destroy-it drained. The lifeforce of those it touched was sucked away entirely, leaving nothing but husks where living beings once stood.

Aliciaʼs expression contorted as she witnessed the massacre. Hundreds-no, thousand-fell in the blink of an eye, their cries swallowed by the roar of destruction. Celeste stood speechless, her breath caught in her throat. Thousands of her knights-her comrades, her people-had been wiped out in an instant. The lifeless bodies scattered across the battlefield.

Her hands trembled as she tightened her grip on her blade, tears of rage welling in her eyes.

How could such an attack even be possible? ”This is the might of the chosen ones,” Kendel said with a smile. ”The Elves have always been destined for greatness-the promise of a better world. We are Edenʼs true army, crafted to stand against the future evils that plague this world.”

His words made only Celesteʼs blood boil. ”You are the damn evil here! How many people are you going to kill for your selfish war?! Is this because of King Rhysʼs death? Because of what Humans and Halves did to your family? Youʼve become worse than them!”

Tears of anger spilled down her cheeks as her voice rose. ”Youʼve plunged Sancta Vedelia into a war that kills thousands every day. Innocent lives! How are you going to answer for this?!”

For a moment, Kendelʼs smile faltered, but his gaze quickly hardened into a glare. ”A Human like you could never understand,” he spat. ”I have lost everything-my father, my love, my familyʼs happiness-all because of you lower races! We welcomed you into our lands with open arms, and yet-”

His voice broke with fury as the Tree Spirit behind him began to gather another devastating Prana Breath.

Celesteʼs face paled seeing this. ”No! I wonʼt let you!” -BAM!

Kendel moved to intercept her, closing the distance in an instant. His sword met hers with a resounding clash, the force of the blow sending them both skidding backward. ”I will unleash breath after breath,” Kendel said coldly. ”Until every last one of your pathetic

Human knights lies dead. They will all die.” -BOOOM!

Alicia, seizing the moment, darted in with her rapier aimed straight for Kendelʼs head. But Kendelʼs reflexes proved just as sharp. He leaped away, narrowly avoiding her strike.

Before he could recover, Celeste was already upon him. -BOOM!

Kendel managed to block the attack, but his expression darkened as he felt the weight behind her strike. Celeste had channeled Ruah-a force she rarely used. The breath of her life surged through her blade, amplifying the strength behind her attack. She had to fight against someone far stronger than her so she had no choices and it indeed worked.

Kendel was sent hurtling through the air, landing hard with a resounding crash. Seizing the opportunity, Celesteʼs eyes locked onto the towering Tree Spirit. ”Alicia! We must destroy it!” She shouted. ”Understood!” Alicia stopped in her tracks, her rapier glowing as she extended it forward. ”Raven Arts!”

A four-layered mana circle materialized in the air, its design pulsing with blood and mana. Aliciaʼs elemental advantage might not have been enough to deal a killing blow, but it could certainly disrupt the Tree Spirit.

Meanwhile, Celeste sprinted toward the creature at an inhuman speed. Her blade shimmered with an icy hue, and her eyes briefly flashed an otherworldly white. Unbeknownst to her, particles of white sand began to swirl and coil around her sword.

The Tree Spirit reacted instinctively, its massive roots surging forward to block her approach. -WHOOSH!

But a sudden lance of burning blood streaked through the air from behind Celeste, tearing apart the oncoming roots with ease. The fiery projectile reduced them to ash before slamming into the Tree Spiritʼs left leg with a crack.

Celeste had instinctively dodged as the flaming lance passed her, then resumed her charge.

The Tree Spirit staggered, losing slightly its balance. Celeste wouldnʼt waste such a crucial moment. With a powerful leap, she propelled herself straight toward the creatureʼs maw.

Her blade swung in a wide arc, glowing with icy radiance. -BOOOOM!

The strike was devastating, cleaving the Tree Spiritʼs mouth in two and unlea surge of frost that rapidly encased its entire body. Ice spread across the creature like wildfire, freezing it solid in mere seconds.

The resulting shockwave was far greater than Celeste anticipated. She was hurled backward through the air, her body tumbling uncontrollably before crashing to the ground. She rolled several times, coming to a halt with a sharp gasp of pain. ”Aah!” She groaned, coughing up blood. Her vision blurred momentarily, but she forced herself to turn her gaze toward the Tree Spirit. It stood frozen, defeated.

Alicia was staring at this sight quite speechless but she quickly turned toward Celeste. ”Senior!”

Celesteʼs mana reserves were nearly depleted, gasping for breath.

Despite her battered state, Celeste smiled faintly.

The threat was gone.

But the battle wasnʼt over.

Kendel stood amidst the destruction, his expression unreadable as he regarded the lifeless, frozen Tree Spirit. Slowly, his gaze shifted to Celeste. ”As expected of the Prophetess,” he said, honestly impressed. ”Such power... It would have served far better within our family.”

He added before raising his sword. He seemed exhausted but he had enough strength to deal with an exhausted Alicia and Celeste obviously.

Alicia immediately stepped in front of Celeste, her rapier raised defensively as she glared at

Kendel.

But Kendel didnʼt care. He could easily deal with both of them in their current state even though he was himself exhausted. ”Now, Iʼll take both the Prophetess and the Seed. Zestella wonʼt last long after this blow.” ”Didnʼt you need the Prophetess alive?”

Suddenly a new voice rang.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. A suffocating pressure descended upon the battlefield, forcing both Alicia and Celeste to the ground. Kendel turned toward the source of the voice, his expression hardening.

From the battlefield emerged an imposing figure. His green eyes glinted lightly, and his long coat billowed behind him as he approached.

Both Alicia and Celeste froze in recognition.

It was him.

The man who had dared to attack the Dolphian Capital, leading a raid so audacious it left

Sancta Vedelia in shock. He was the one who had stolen the Behemothʼs Horn from the

Dolphian Royals-Navas Dolphis. ”What are you doing here?” Kendel asked not even bothering hiding his disgust.

Of course he hated humans but Hybrids were at the top.

Navas smiled, unbothered by Kendelʼs insult. ”Iʼm here because the Utopian King was worried. Afraid youʼd fail-again.” ”Fail?” Kendelʼs tone turned icy as he gestured toward the battered Celeste and the struggling Alicia. ”I already have the Prophetess and the Seed. My task is nearly complete.”

Navas took a step closer. Alicia gasped, her knees threatening to buckle under the sheer force of his aura. 9th Ascension.

When Navas turned his gaze toward her and Celeste, Alicia flinched. Even Celeste felt an involuntary shiver run through her. ”I see,” Navas muttered, his smile widening as he stepped forward.

But just as Navas moved, a flicker of violet light streaked through the air.

In an instant, the violet blur was upon him. -SPURT!

Navas stared in surprise as his right hand was severed cleanly, the dismembered limb flying through the air before landing with a dull thud.

The violet blur skidded to a stop, tumbling awkwardly to the ground before scrambling upright. ”...!” Celeste gasped as her eyes fell on the figure.

It was him.

The person she had yearned to see all this time.

Amael stood there, his chest heaving, a wide smirk spreading across his face despite his evident exhaustion. In his hand was Trinity Nihil, its blade glowing with a divine white light and particles of white sand swirling around it. ”Amael Idea Olphean...” Kendel muttered darkly.

Navas turned his gaze to his severed hand on the ground before slowly raising his eyes to

Amael. A murderous glint flashed in his green irises.

Amael felt an icy chill run down his spine, but before the confrontation could escalate further, a new force intervened. -SPLASH!!!

A massive wall of water erupted between Amael and Navas, a swirling tsunami of elemental that engulfed everything in its path. The torrent surged toward Navas and Kendel with incredible force, dividing the battlefield.

Navasʼs eyes narrowed. He leapt through the watery barrier, but when he emerged on the other side-

Amael, Alicia, and Celeste were gone.