Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 842: Giving Personal Jade Talisman To Lyra

Altan gritted his teeth, astral fire blazing in his eyes, as he continued his relentless assault. Wave after wave of celestial techniques crashed against Wang Jian, each attack imbued with the full might of his Astral Starlord Ascendancy and the power of the Western Cosmos. He unleashed the ʼCelestial Fury Nova,ʼ a concentrated blast of pure starlight energy meant to incinerate anything in its path. He followed it with the ʼAstral Quasar Strike,ʼ a punch imbued with the crushing force of a collapsing star. He even employed the ʼChronos Time-Warp Slashʼ again, hoping to catch Wang Jian off guard with temporal distortions.

Yet, it was like striking empty air. Wang Jian moved through Altanʼs most devastating attacks as if they were mere breezes. The Celestial Fury Nova dissipated harmlessly against his demonic aura. The Astral Quasar Strike was deflected with a casual flick of Wang Jianʼs wrist, the force of a collapsing star simply redirected into the void. Even the Chronos Time-Warp Slash, which had briefly posed a challenge, was now easily negated, Wang Jian seemingly having adapted to its temporal distortions within moments of experiencing it.

Altanʼs attacks, while visually spectacular and undeniably powerful, seemed to slide off Wang Jian like water off a drakeʼs scales. He could see the explosions of energy, the shimmering distortions of space and time, but he couldnʼt sense any impact, any real damage inflicted upon his opponent. It was as if Wang Jian was surrounded by an invisible shield, an impenetrable barrier of chaotic energy that rendered all of Altanʼs attacks meaningless.

ʼThis is… futile,ʼ Altan thought, a cold dread creeping into his heart despite his burning astral fire. He was pouring everything he had into this fight, drawing upon every ounce of his power, every celestial technique he knew, and the boundless energy of the Western Cosmos, yet he was making no headway. He was like a storm raging against a mountain, expending all his fury, only to find the mountain unmoved, unyielding.

Just as despair began to gnaw at the edges of his resolve, Altan sensed a shift in the cosmic energies around them. Two powerful auras, distinct and undeniably familiar, were rapidly approaching. He recognized them instantly – the signatures of other Heavenly Talents. Feng Xuanʼs turbulent, fiery energy, and Raizel Bloodthorneʼs cold, abyssal darkness. He hadnʼt sensed Gorthan yet, but he knew the Dragon King wouldnʼt be far behind.

ʼTheyʼre here,ʼ Altan realized, a flicker of mixed emotions – relief and a bitter sense of humiliation – washing over him. Their spies must have alerted them to the massive energy fluctuations, the cosmic tremors caused by his battle with Wang Jian. They were coming, undoubtedly, to see what was happening, to perhaps… offer assistance? Or more likely, to witness his potential defeat.

Wang Jian, too, sensed the approaching auras. A slight twitch of his lip, a barely perceptible narrowing of his serpentine eyes, betrayed his awareness. He clicked his tongue softly, a sound of mild annoyance, as if a minor inconvenience had just presented itself.

”Company approaches, Starlord,” Wang Jian said, his voice still casual, almost bored, despite the intensity of their ongoing battle. ”It seems your… friends have decided to join our little dance. Pity. I was just starting to enjoy myself.”

Altan gritted his teeth, his anger flaring anew at Wang Jianʼs condescending tone. ”You will not escape, demonic thief!” he roared, channeling even more celestial energy, preparing to unleash another devastating attack, fueled by a desperate need to prove himself, to salvage some semblance of victory, or at least, not to be seen as completely overwhelmed by these approaching Heavenly Talents.

But Wang Jian had other plans. He had assessed the situation, calculated the potential benefits and drawbacks, and made a swift, pragmatic decision. He had no desire to engage in a four-on-one battle, not when his primary goal was seduction and conquest, not direct confrontation. He had made his point, demonstrated his power, and planted the seeds of fear and uncertainty in the Western Cosmos. For now, that was enough.

With a sudden surge of demonic energy, Wang Jian unleashed a final, devastating attack, focusing all his power into a single, concentrated strike. It was not a technique imbued with complex laws or celestial energies, but pure, raw, demonic force, amplified to an unimaginable degree by his Demonic Dragon transformation.

”Demonic Annihilation Fist!” Wang Jian roared, his fist blurring into motion, striking Altan with a force that dwarfed even his previous galaxy-shattering punch.

This time, the impact was different. Altan, despite his Western Cosmos empowered healing, despite his Astral Starlord Ascendancy, could not fully negate the sheer, destructive power of Wang Jianʼs demonic essence. The cosmic energies rushed to his aid, but they were overwhelmed, pushed aside by the raw, chaotic force. Altan felt a searing pain, a bone-jarring impact that momentarily shattered his astral form, disrupting his connection to the Western Cosmos, momentarily severing the flow of empowering energy.

He was sent hurtling backwards again, but this time, the cosmic energies, though still trying to heal him, were slower, less effective. He felt the sting of genuine injury, a disruption in his astral flow, a tremor of fear that even his pride could not completely suppress. He was thrown further, faster, this time not just out of the Gardens, but out of the Nexus star system itself, propelled across vast interstellar distances, further than before, disoriented and reeling.

Wang Jian did not pursue him. He watched Altanʼs retreating form for a moment, a cold, calculating glint in his serpentine eyes, then abruptly suppressed his Demonic Dragon transformation, his aura dimming, his silver hair returning to its normal sheen, his blue eyes losing their serpentine intensity. He became, once again, the enigmatic, charming traveler, his terrifying power now subtly veiled, hidden beneath a veneer of casual indifference.

He teleported back to the Nexus star system, appearing in the secluded location where he had left Yujia and Xinqiao. They were waiting for him, their faces serene, their eyes filled with unwavering adoration.

”My lord, you return victorious?” Xinqiao asked, her voice soft, her gaze adoring.

Wang Jian chuckled, a low, satisfied sound. ”Victorious enough, my love. For now. Itʼs time to depart. The Western Cosmos… is proving to be… less hospitable than anticipated. For now.” He gestured towards their hidden battleship, already preparing for departure.

As he was about to teleport away with Yujia and Xinqiao, he paused, a sudden thought occurring to him. He turned his gaze back towards the Gardens of Starlight, towards the direction where Lyra was likely still standing, witnessing the aftermath of the battle. He focused his demonic energy, projecting his voice telepathically, a silent message carried on the astral winds, meant for Lyra alone.

ʼStar Goddess Lyra,ʼ Wang Jianʼs voice echoed in her mind, smooth, seductive, yet carrying an undeniable undercurrent of power. ʼIf ever you find yourself in need of… assistance, do not hesitate to call upon me. I have a particular fondness for helping beauties such as yourself. And you must know, with my power and knowledge, there are very few things in this universe that I cannot do.ʼ

With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a small, intricately carved jade talisman, pulsating with a faint demonic energy, and tossed it towards the direction of the Gardens, a silent offering, a tempting bait. He didnʼt wait for a response, didnʼt expect one. He had delivered his message, planted his seed of intrigue. Whether Lyra would accept his offer, whether she would succumb to his subtle manipulations, remained to be seen. But Wang Jian was patient. He could afford to wait.

With a final, enigmatic smile, Wang Jian teleported away, vanishing along with Yujia and Xinqiao, leaving behind a stunned silence in the Gardens of Starlight, a galaxy reeling from the brief but terrifying encounter with a force it barely understood, and a Star Goddess left holding a jade talisman, caught in a web of fear, intrigue, and a nascent, unwanted curiosity.

Lyra stood frozen, staring at the spot where Wang Jian had stood moments before, her mind still reeling from the sheer power she had just witnessed, the terrifying ease with which he had overwhelmed her husband, the Starlord of Destiny. Then, a small, jade object landed softly at her feet. She looked down, her starlight eyes focusing on the intricately carved talisman, pulsating with a faint, unsettling energy. Wang Jianʼs parting gift. His… invitation.

Instinctively, her hand reached out, picking up the talisman, her fingers closing around its cool, smooth surface. She could feel a faint demonic energy emanating from it, a subtle, seductive hum that resonated with a strange, unsettling allure. She wanted to reject it, to throw it away, to cleanse herself of any connection to this demonic entity. But something held her back.

She looked at the talisman, turning it over in her hand, examining its intricate carvings, feeling the faint pulse of demonic energy. Throwing it away… it felt… wasteful. This was a communication device, a direct line to Wang Jian, a being of immense, terrifying power. To simply discard it… was that wise?

A frown appeared on her serene face, a conflict brewing within her. Should she destroy it? Should she show it to Altan? Or… should she keep it, secretly? The last option sent a shiver down her spine, a thrill of forbidden intrigue mixed with a sense of unease.

ʼNo,ʼ she thought firmly, pushing back against the insidious allure of Wang Jianʼs offer. ʼLoyalty to Altan is paramount. I will not be swayed by this… demonic temptation.ʼ But even as she resolved to discard the talisman, a pragmatic voice whispered in the back of her mind. ʼBut… what if it could be useful? A weapon against him? A way to anticipate his moves? Or… if the Western Cosmos truly faced a threat beyond Altanʼs capabilities… could this talisman be… a last resort?ʼ

The pragmatic arguments resonated with her Star Goddess intellect. Discarding a potential tool, especially one connected to such a powerful, albeit dangerous, entity, seemed… foolish. She could keep it, hidden, unused, just in case. And Altan… perhaps it was best he didnʼt know about it. Not yet, at least. He was already wounded, both physically and in pride. Knowing that Wang Jian had left her a personal communication talisman… it would only exacerbate his anger and humiliation. Secrecy, for now, seemed the wisest course.

Lyra made her decision. She would keep the talisman, hidden, a secret weapon, a potential last resort, a dangerous tool to be used only in the direst of circumstances. She concealed the jade talisman within her robes, its faint demonic pulse a secret weight against her heart.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Lyra focused her celestial energy, teleporting herself across vast interstellar distances, towards the galaxy where Wang Jianʼs devastating punch had sent her husband hurtling. She arrived to find Altan already recovering, bathed in the golden light of the Western Cosmos, his injuries mending, his astral energy replenishing. He looked up as she materialized, relief flooding his astral fire gaze.

”Lyra! You are unharmed?” Altan asked, his voice still strained, but filled with concern for her.

”I am well, my Lord,” Lyra reassured him, her voice regaining its serene composure, carefully masking the turmoil within. ”But you… Wang Jian… he…”

”He is gone,” Altan finished, a grimace twisting his handsome features. ”He retreated. Did you see where he went?”

”He… teleported away,” Lyra replied, choosing her words carefully. ”He returned to the Nexus star system briefly, to retrieve those two women who were with him. Then… he vanished. Completely.”

Altan clenched his fist, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. ”Vanished? Just like that? He is like a phantom, appearing and disappearing at will. It is… infuriating.” He shook his head, a mixture of anger and grudging respect in his eyes. ”He is powerful, Lyra. Far more powerful than I anticipated. Feng Xuan was not exaggerating. This Wang Jian… he is a true threat.”

Just then, three distinct auras materialized nearby, solidifying into the forms of Feng Xuan, Raizel Bloodthorne, and Gorthan Steelclaw. They had arrived, their faces a mixture of curiosity, concern, and a hint of… something else. Anticipation? Schadenfreude? Lyra couldnʼt quite decipher their expressions.

”Altan,” Feng Xuan greeted, his voice still carrying a hint of lingering bitterness, but also a clear note of urgency. ”We sensed a… significant disturbance in the Western Cosmos. We came as quickly as we could. Wang Jian… he was here?”

Raizel Bloodthorne stepped forward, his obsidian eyes burning with cold curiosity. ”The Eastern Talent is correct, Altan. We felt a ripple in the cosmic fabric, a tremor of immense power. We assumed… it was related to your… ʼdemonic visitor.ʼ Where is he? And… how did the confrontation proceed?” His voice dripped with sardonic undertones, a veiled mockery of Altanʼs predicament.

Gorthan Steelclaw simply stood there, a mountain of muscle and scales, his reptilian eyes fixed on Altan, radiating a silent, predatory intensity, waiting for answers.

Altan took a deep breath, suppressing his pride, his humiliation, and answered them truthfully, his voice grim, his words painting a stark picture of the terrifying power of Wang Jian, and the unsettling reality of their shared, and growing, cosmic threat. ”He was here,” Altan said, his voice heavy with reluctant admission. ”And… the fight… it did not go as I had hoped.”