I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 548  [Epilogue]: [Second Game: Second Part]

Freyja hovered above the ruined capital of Utopia, her gaze sweeping across the devastation below. For once, she found herself at a loss for words. The city was now little more than a battleground, littered with wreckage and the lingering remnants of an earth-shaking clash. Fortunately, most civilians had long since evacuated, safely residing in Elyen Kiora and the other cities ruled by the Blood Elves and Dark Elves. Only Utopian Knights remained here, and some nobles.

And thank the heavens for that. Freyjaʼs golden eyes flickered as she surveyed the destruction. Though Durathiel and Amael hadnʼt fought in every corner of the city, the sheer force of their battle had left its mark on the city. The shockwaves of their clashes alone had been powerful enough to level structures hundreds of meters away, and the remnants of their Sins carried an even more devastating aftershock. Some of Amaelʼs flames still burned, licking hungrily at the charred remains of buildings, turning them to embers even now. Durathielʼs winds had done their own share of damage, slicing through homes and leaving behind rubbles. Freyja had seen worse, of course. Wars that had turned entire kingdoms and worlds into dust. But something about this battle interested her—it was rare to see mortals fight with such raw, overwhelming power. Her lips curved slightly, though there was no amusement in her expression. Instead, she whispered, almost to herself. ”Samael, even in death, you bring nothing but destruction. Just how deep did your hatred for Edenʼs world run…?”

It was a question with no answer. And yet, as she lingered on the thought, she wondered—if Samael had still been alive, would she have allied herself with him? It wasnʼt an impossible notion. They both despised Eden. They both sought revenge. And more than that, Samael had come closer to killing Eden than anyone ever had. If he had been given another chance… would he have succeeded? ”Here.”

Annabelleʼs voice cut through her thoughts, and Freyja turned to where Annabelle floated beside her, motioning toward what was left of Utopiaʼs tallest structure—the Tower of Utopia. Or rather, the ruins of it. The tower had completely collapsed into a heap of dust and rubble. It was impossible to tell how many people had been buried beneath it, their bodies now indistinguishable from the debris that had swallowed them whole. A lingering cloud of dust hung over the wreckage, shrouding the field. And then— A flicker of purple ignited within the haze. Freyja, with a mere flick of her wrist, a gust of wind swept through the area, parting the dust like a curtain and revealing the scene below. There, standing amidst the wreckage, was Amael. His silhouette stood motionless, bathed in the purple glow of the flames still burning around him. His gaze was fixed on something at his feet—a body, engulfed in purple fire, its flesh reduced to nothing but cinders. ”Edward!” ***

”Edward!”

Annabelle landed softly on the ruined ground before rushing toward me. I turned at the sound of her voice, my expression momentarily softening as I caught her. ”Iʼm fine.” I reassured her, patting her hair. Meanwhile, Freyjaʼs gaze lingered on the smoldering remains of Durathiel. She observed the charred body for a moment longer before finally speaking. ”So, you burned him.” ”It was his wish,” I said, glancing at Durathielʼs remains before shifting my attention back to Freyja. ”I need your help.” ”I heard as much. Is she alive?” Looks like, Annabelle had already given her a brief rundown of the situation, but she wanted to confirm it for herself. I shook his head slightly. ”She should be. Her vital organs had veen luckily not touched. She was still breathing when I last saw her, but barely. I asked Samara to keep her alive as long as she could.”

That was all I could do—trust in them. Freyja nodded in thought before flicking her fingers. ”Then letʼs head there.” A soft glow emanated from her Brísingamen, and suddenly, I felt myself being lifted off the ground. Before I could react, Freyja shot forward like a comet, dragging me along in her wake. But at that moment– -BOOM!

A massive golden explosion erupted in the distance, blinding me for a split second. Alvara?

”What the hell is happening?!”

HIe could feel it—the overwhelming surge of mana radiating from that direction. It was definitely Alvaraʼs. Did she break free from the Slothʼs curse? Freyja looked at it without much alarm compared to me. ”Hm. She lost control.” ”Lost control? Of what?” I asked.

Freyja barely spared me a glance before replying. ”Of herself. If we donʼt stop her now, sheʼll completely lose herself and destroy Utopia.

Seriously now?

”But…” Freyja smiled sweetly at me. ”If you want to save her, I can help you.” ”What do I have to do?” I asked immediately.

Freyja extended her hand. ”Show me Laimaʼs sword.” Without wasting another second, I drew Trinity Nihil.

Freyja came to an abrupt halt, hovering midair as she placed a hand on the weapon. Her lips moved in a hushed whisper, uttering words in a language I couldnʼt even begin to comprehend. And then— Brísingamen glowed once more, and in an instant, Trinity Nihil was engulfed in a brilliant reddish-gold light. The same radiance coursed through my entire body.

”You need to pull her out of that tree.” I blinked. ”…Tree?” I turned my gaze ahead and widened my eyes.

A massive golden tree stood where the boat once was. Vines as thick as serpents lashed violently, twisting and writhing as if they had a mind of their own. And even worse—they were still growing. These vines… I know them.

They werenʼt just dangerous. They were deadly. And Alvara was at the center of it all. There was no time to hesitate. With a burst of speed, I propelled himself straight toward the tree.

As soon as I reached the back of the monstrous golden tree, I gathered my Ruah and mana. I wasnʼt entirely confident that I could break through it—but I had to try. Gripping Trinity Nihil, I swung. To my surprise, the blade *sliced through the golden bark easily, like a hot knife through butter. That had to be it thanks to Freyjaʼs spell.

Wasting no time, I pushed forward, carving my way through the dense, twisting mass of vines. Each stroke of my sword sent splintered fragments flying, golden sap oozing from the severed tendrils. And then— A sudden movement took my attention.

Thorn-covered golden vines erupted from the core, lashing out like living whips.

I reacted instantly, twisting my body to evade them. Some barely missed—but several struck me head-on. Or rather, they should have. Instead of piercing through me, the gold and red aura surrounding me flared, repelling the attack entirely.

Freyjaʼs spell once again.

I breathed a bit, not wasting another second. My gaze locked onto Alvara.

She was just below—ensnared, bound in a cocoon of writhing golden vines. I raised Trinity Nihil high above my head and swung downward with all my strength. The moment the blade struck, the vines recoiled violently. More of them sprouted in retaliation, twisting toward me but my blade cut through them again with unnatural ease. I stabbed Trinity Nihil deep into the heart of the tree— —and felt something. A pulse. Like I had reached her. The mass of vines in front of me peeled apart, revealing the tangled form of Alvara within. She was tightly wound in thick, thorn-covered roots, her expression a bit pained and tears running down her cheeks.

I lunged forward, about to grab her but suddenly a chill ran down my spine. I froze. Instincts screamed at me. I turned around but nothing…

My frown deepened, but I ignored it, I didnʼt have time.

I gritted my teeth and swung Trinity Nihil in one decisive motion, severing every last vine restraining Alvara. She collapsed into my arms. The moment I pulled her free, the tree reacted violently. The entire structure shuddered, and then, like a beast in its death throes, hundreds of vines erupted from every direction, converging toward us in a crushing wave. The tree was trying to kill me. I tightened my grip on my sword. The golden aura from Freyjaʼs blessing still surrounded me—but this time, I pushed further. I called upon Wrath. The moment I did, Trinity Nihil ignited in a purplish-gold glow. Taking a deep breath, I swung it vertically. -BOOOOOOOM! A massive rift tore through the golden tree, splitting it apart in a blinding flash of light. The outside world rushed in—and before the vines could close in on me again, I used Samaraʼs ability

I vanished from their reachand reappeared outside, high above the sea. The water rushed toward me. I tightened my hold around Alvara, shielding her as we plummeted downward. -Splash!

The impact was more brutal than it should have been on me

Pain exploded through my ribs, a sharp, unbearable strain as I had pushed my body beyond its limits. And for a moment— My vision blacked out. No!

I bit down hard on my tongue, forcing my consciousness to stay intact. The salty burn of seawater filled my lungs as I fought against the pain, my instincts kicking in. I turned quickly beneath the waves, my gaze scanning the depths— There. Alvara was sinking. Without hesitation, I grabbed her, securing my arm around her waist, and kicked off the ocean floor. Breaking through the surface, I gasped for air. ”Ah—!” Water clung to my skin, my lungs burning as I quickly scanned my surroundings. Then, I spotted it—a collapsed half-sunken boat, partially buried in the waves. With the last of my strength, I swam toward it, Alvara held close in my arms. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, forcing me to stay awake, to keep moving. The moment I reappeared, my body gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground with Alvara in my arms. ”Ah… ah…” I panted, struggling to catch my breath. My chest heaved with exhaustion, but my focus remained locked on her unmoving form. Her skin was pale, her lips slightly parted—but no breath came. ”Hey…!” My voice cracked as I turned painfully onto my side, reaching for her, my hands trembling as I shook her shoulders. ”Alvara!” No response. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. ”I wonʼt let you fucking die after all of this!” I growled, shaking her harder…but she remained still. [] ”...!”

I swallowed hard, forcing my hands to stop shaking. I gently tilted Alvaraʼs head back, lifting her chin and checking for any signs of breath just in case. Nothing. How did it go again? I could almost hear my fatherʼs voice explaining it to me back on Earth, recalling the CPR lessons weʼd gone over in class. My movements were hesitant, but I forced myself to focus. I placed my hands on the center of her chest, one over the other, interlocking my fingers. ”Come on,” I muttered under my breath. I pressed down hard, pushing against her ribcage in a steady rhythm. My arms burned, but I kept going. How many compressions was it again? I stopped around twenty, tilting her head back again. Pinching her nose shut, I took a deep breath before pressing my lips against hers, exhaling into her lungs. Her chest barely moved. ”Damn it,” I cursed and went again. Compressions. Another breath. Again. ”Donʼt give up!” I growled, my voice shaking. My strength was slipping. My vision blurred. But I refused to stop. One last breath— ”UGH—! Ugh—!” A violent cough tore through Alvaraʼs body as water gushed from her mouth. I sighed in relief, my arms nearly giving out beneath me. Alvara gasped, sucking in precious air. Her golden eyes fluttered open, unfocused, dazed. I reached for her face, cupping her cheek with my trembling fingers. ”Look at me,” I said, my voice hoarse. ”W–What—” ”Look at me, Alvara!” I yelled, gripping her shoulders. Her blurry gaze latched onto mine. ”Everything is fine,” I reassured her as much as I could. Alvara blinked slowly, disoriented. ”Do you hear me?” I repeated, my fingers tightening slightly. ”Everything is fine.” ”B–Bryelle…” She let out tearfully. ”Sheʼs alive,” I answered, lifting my head just as a golden light descended from above. Freyja floated down gracefully, with Bryelle floating besides her. The divine radiance surrounded her small body as she was gently lowered onto the ground beside us. . ”Bryelle!” Alvara scrambled forward, taking Bryelle into her arms. A choked sob broke free from her throat as she clung to her, feeling the faint rise and fall of her sisterʼs chest. Tears spilled down Alvaraʼs cheeks as she held her tightly, her body trembling with relief. I let out a shaky breath, slumping back onto my elbows. Itʼs over. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. Above me, the twilight sky stretched endlessly. With a soft thud, Freyja landed gracefully beside me. Her face hovered above mine, her golden eyes locked onto mine.

”My body.”

I met her gaze, almost laughing if I had the strength. ”You have my word.” Freyjaʼs lips curled into a soft, satisfied smile. ”Durathiel is dead… just like Elashor and Bakarel. Does that mean the war is over?” I asked her.

She tilted her head slightly. ”It should be… at least for you.” I frowned. I knew exactly what she meant—Durathiel had warned me of the same thing before he fell. The war might be over for now, but there were always ripples, consequences waiting to unfold. Still, I wasnʼt about to let Utopia and all their people take the consequences of the war and let them all die.

”I might have a solution for Utopia,” I said, watching her reaction closely. Freyja raised an eyebrow. ”The Seed? That wouldnʼt change anything. If anything, Utopia would just become a divine mine for the whole world.” She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head. I shook my head in return. ”Itʼs not about that.” I pushed myself up slightly, ignoring the dull ache in my body. ”Iʼm talking about an alliance—one that ensures no one dares exploit Utopia.” Freyjaʼs gaze squinted. ”Interesting. Iʼm listening.” ”If weʼre going to do it, we need to move now—before Sancta Vedelia sends their men to seize Utopia for themselves,” I said seriously. She studied me for a moment. ”Do what exactly?” I hesitated. Not because I doubted my decision, but because I knew the weight of what I was about to say. ”A marital union. Between you and me.” Freyja blinked, her expression briefly unreadable. Then, her lips parted slightly in curiosity. ”Go on.” ”This isnʼt about uniting the Olphean House and the Ruvelion House,” I clarified. ”That would be impossible. Your people would never accept it—not after their defeat. Just hearing the Olphean name would be enough to enrage them. Moreover using the Olphean name could be also used by the Heads...” Freyja tilted her head. ”And yet, this is what youʼre offering?” ”No,” I corrected. ”I will marry you as Edward Falkrona—not as Amael Idea Olphean.” Freyjaʼs golden eyes flickered. ”Falkrona, you say?” I nodded. ”One thing I know about my grandfather—he has always put the prestige of the Falkrona House above everything else. If we make our engagement official—if we unite the Falkrona and Ruvelion Houses—no one, not even Sancta Vedelia, would dare challenge it.” I said, forcing myself to sit up properly despite the dull pain pulsing through my limbs. I locked eyes with Freyja, making sure she understood my words. ”My grandfather might not be aware of this yet. He might not even approve. But he wonʼt have a choice. If it comes down to it, heʼll be forced to intervene and take my side whether he likes it or not. Even if he does not, I know that my Aunt will follow me so he wonʼt have choices.”

This was the best way to prevent Sancta Vedelia from turning Utopia into nothing more than a pile of scorched ruins. If they did that, the hatred between them and Utopia would never fade. In the years to come, another war would be inevitable—one even more brutal than this one. But with Freyja, I could trust that peace would hold. After all, she had fought for her cityʼs survival from the very beginning. Still… I couldnʼt predict what Sancta Vedelia planned to do with her now that they had won. Would they strip her of her power? Imprison her? Execute her? And what about Freyja herself? Was she planning to flee? Or did she have a different plan entirely? I didnʼt know. But what I had just offered her was the best possible solution. Now, all I could do was wait. Freyja remained silent, deep in thought. She was a Goddess—she understood all the implications of such a union better than anyone. The Falkrona House. I knew enough about that House to understand that even the highest authorities of Sancta Vedelia wouldnʼt dare to act against them—whether directly or indirectly. That was my greatest leverage. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Freyja spoke. ”Very well.” I blinked, caught off guard by how quickly she agreed. ”You… accept?” I had expected at least a little resistance, maybe a counteroffer. ”I do,” she said simply. ”Now, letʼs announce our union to the world. Change your clothes immediately.” She didnʼt waste time. I reached for Bryelleʼs pendant, focusing on shifting back into my previous form as Edward. The disguise had served its purpose, but now I needed to be seen as a true Falkrona.

Freyja was already floating away.

I forced myself to stand, but my legs immediately gave out, and I collapsed back onto the deck of the drowned boat.

Before I could even attempt to push myself up again, Freyja flicked her wrist, and an invisible force lifted me into the air. With quite grace, she carried me along as we departed. As we ascended, I glanced down one last time. Alvara was still kneeling on the ground, clutching Bryelle tightly in her arms. Her shoulders trembled, but her expression was one of pure relief. She looked up, meeting my gaze. I managed a faint smile before turning away. At last, the Utopian War had come to an end and...

...I ended it in my way.

NihilRuler