The Villain's Story

Chapter 849: Hi, Mom.

”The prodigal son returns, at quite a convenient timing as well.”

The gigantic dragon spoke, raising her head to the skies. The chains binding her body rattled, struggling to contain her might. Dragons of the Adepta type always had the most brute strength, but even then, Ariel was monstrous in her own way.

Even with all the chains that bound her, due to her overstepping her limits, She was powerful enough that no one wanted to mess with her, not even her own son.

”Hey, Mom.”

Another dragon spoke, much smaller than Ariel, perhaps the size of her arm. He was unlike any other dragon, both mentally and physically, and perhaps even spiritually. The entire composition of his body was a result of him doing something he wasn’t supposed to.

Just like Ariel, he had broken a few laws himself. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, after all. However, even despite the flaws in his being, he still stood at the very top.

Ariel smirked, accepting his greeting, however, she didn’t respond. She wanted him to talk more, after all, it had been a long time since they met. Valus had avoided her for a few reasons.

However, his timing for the visit was convenient for him. Alan had just stumbled upon a great mystery in the Sixth Layer, and just as Ariel was about to answer his question about ’them’, Her son had appeared.

”Uhhh, Yeah, that... was a coincidence. I knew you broke the seal on the sixth layer, but the timing is a coincidence. Trust me...”

Would you expect someone who was worshipped like a God by a good portion of the universe to be so awkward when confronting his mother? It was a weird sight to see, considering Valus took on his true form as a deformed dragon. Seeing someone like him almost cowering was... something that would greatly harm the impression his followers had of him.

But then again, he was confronting his mother, who was very mad because he hadn’t visited in a while, it was also important to keep in mind his mother had a short temper, and could lash out at any second.

Surprisingly, Ariel remained silent, her head held high, calmly waiting for Valus to continue. Even her own son was shocked at this silence. His mother wasn’t supposed to act like this.

But then again, he hadn’t seen her for a while, however, he did have an idea.

”... The curse got weaker, didn’t it? I’m glad...”

He said, a bit of hope leaking out his voice, but Ariel didn’t respond. It was then that Valus realized, what he had come here for was fruitless. His mother had made up her mind.

”If you give that boy your authority, the curse will get stronger. These trials are just an excuse for me and Kulak to come to terms with him... but... but...”

He hesitated for a while.

”Don’t do it, please. If you do, we will just be doing the exact thing James wants us to do, What Lanesha was coerced to do. We... are supposed to be better than this. This is a trap. I’m already dealing with a lot... if you give him the Palanquin, you won’t go unscathed.

It’ll hurt you, there is still time... We can stop.”

Ariel sighed, and finally spoke.

”Tens of thousands of years, and your still the same.”

He lowered his head, as Ariel continued.

”But no, I won’t change my mind. It’ll be unfair to Alan. He already commited himself to the trials.”

”But mother! Look at how much the curse has weakened! If you use your authority again, it’ll leave you crippled!”

Valus protested, but in his heart, he knew his words wouldn’t change anything. But he was still frustrated.

James had plotted everything, and his own sister had helped him to get this far. From the start, Alan’s introduction to his house was inevitable when those two were working together. He wanted something from his house, he wanted his creation to have Ariel’s authority.

However, everything else was still a mystery even to the Dragon of Darkness, unles he used his skill on Alan Peccator personally, he was still in the dark. The most obvious was present, but what about the other things?

He was certain that James had other things in mind other than obtaining Ariel’s authority for his creation, but he needed to see the damn creation in person to know all of it. But then again, he was afraid.

What if that thing was supposed to the things he wanted to do? What if that creation of accomplishing Valus’s own greatest goals? Was that knowledge the bargaining chip that James had left to convince him? He had already convinced Ariel, so would Valus follow?

He was afraid to use his skill on Alan, but eager at the same time. He wanted to know, but not know at the same time. Alas, unable to come to terms with himself, he had finally visited his mother, for advice... and an apology.

”I could go there right now, and see everything he wants me to see... but what if what I see eventually convinces me to put you in danger, for the damn greater cause. What if it’s an inevitability? What if I can’t stop it?”

”Valus.”

Ariel called out, but her son was too consumed in overthinking.

”But considering that snake, he should have planned for it, no? Of course he should have! He avoided me the most because he knew what my skill could do, so what if this series of events...”

”Valus.”

But once more, he wasn’t listening. Ariel let out a sigh, as she watched him continue to mumble and mumble.

However, she had to stop it.

”VALUS!”

”Yes?!”

He finally listened, and all it took was a world shattering yell. That was what it took to get him out of his overthinking.

”I’m doing it, because I promised to do it.”

”But why go so far for that thing? You hate the snake even more than I do!”

Ariel sighed, and answered in calm tone.

”I don’t care, basically.”

”...What?”