The air split open as Ariel Starborn drew his radiant sword, the blade glowing with a holy brilliance that burned the surrounding mist away.
Light gathered around him like he was a divine judgment made flesh.
Li Feng, on the other hand, stood there calm and unarmed—his cracked sword lying discarded near the cave entrance.
Ariel lifted his blade.
"Your aura reeks of corruption. Surrender now, and I will grant you a merciful end."
Li Feng laughed.
"Merciful? You walked here expecting to kill me, Hero. Don't pretend you're doing this for righteousness."
Ariel stiffened. "Darkness must be erased. That is my duty."
"Your duty," Li Feng said as his eyes sharpened, "is whatever heaven commands. Mine… is whatever I choose."
He took a step forward.
The world felt colder.
(System Alert)
Villain Emperor Path demands brutality.
Recommended: Break the hero's will before breaking his body.
Ariel suddenly lunged, his sword slashing down with blinding speed.
Lan Xinran gasped. "Li Feng! He's already at Core Awakening! You're-"
"Quiet," Li Feng said without turning.
His presence surged like a shadow rising.
The sword descended
And Li Feng's hand shot up, catching the glowing blade between his fingers.
Ariel's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Li Feng smirked. "You heroes always rely on your blessings. You never expect resistance."
Energy crackled around Ariel as he tried to force the blade down, but Li Feng held it effortlessly. The pressure of Primordial Demon Force flowed faintly through his veins, the remnants of its lingering power giving him an edge.
Suddenly, Li Feng twisted his wrist.
CRACK.
Ariel stumbled back, shocked. "No… impossible. You're not even awakened!"
Li Feng blurred forward.
Before Ariel could regain his footing
BAM.
Li Feng's fist crashed into his stomach. Ariel's breath exploded out of him as his body slammed into a tree, splintering it in half.
Lan Xinran stared in awe and disbelief.
"He… he hit a heaven-favored like he was nothing."
Ariel coughed blood, struggling to rise. His sword flickered weakly behind him.
"You… monster…"
Li Feng stepped on his chest, pinning him to the shattered trunk.
"No," Li Feng whispered, leaning close. "I'm worse."
He grabbed Ariel's face, forcing him to look up.
"Tell me something, hero. When you judged me—when you called me corrupted—did you even consider that you might be wrong?"
Ariel glared through the pain. "Darkness… deserves no pity."
Li Feng smiled.
"Good. Then don't expect any."
He slammed Ariel's head into the ground.
(Villain Merit +40)
Partial Domination of a Heaven-Favored.
Total Villain Merit: 160
Ariel's vision blurred, but desperation lit his eyes.
"I… carry heaven's blessing… I cannot lose…"
He raised his hand weakly. A faint light began forming—heavenly protection triggering automatically.
Lan Xinran panicked.
"That's a hero's Divine Safeguard—it'll heal him!"
Li Feng cracked his knuckles.
"Let it."
The light wrapped Ariel's body, mending bones and sealing wounds. His breathing steadied, aura rising again.
Lan Xinran's jaw dropped. "Li Feng, if he fully restores—"
"He won't."
Li Feng's eyes glowed with pure, cold amusement.
"Let heaven heal him. And I'll break him again."
Ariel's eyes snapped open, filled with revived righteousness. "Heaven protects—"
Li Feng appeared in front of him.
"And I destroy."
His knee smashed into Ariel's chest.
BOOM.
Ariel flew backward like a ragdoll.
He hit the ground, coughing blood once more.
"No… no… heavens chose me…!"
Li Feng walked toward him slowly, shadows gathering around his feet.
"And I choose to ruin heaven's favorites."
He grabbed Ariel by the hair and lifted him into the air like a broken doll.
Lan Xinran watched silently.
Not horrified anymore.
But astonished.
"This… is the Villain Emperor…"
Ariel's voice cracked. "You… can't… kill me… Heaven will—"
Li Feng pressed a finger to the hero's lips.
"Shh. Let me enjoy this."
He slammed Ariel into the ground one last time.
(Hero Defeated)
Heaven-Favored Status temporarily suppressed.
Villain Merit +120
Total Villain Merit: 280
[New Trait Unlocked: Hero-Slayer Aura]
Heroes within sensing range suffer reduced morale and weakened luck.
Li Feng stood over Ariel's unconscious body, breathing steadily.
Lan Xinran approached hesitantly.
"You… won."
Li Feng looked down at the hero with cold satisfaction.
"I didn't win," he said softly. "I set an example."
He turned away, flicking blood from his fingers.
"Every hero in this world will learn what happens when they stand in my way."
Lan Xinran swallowed, both terrified and fascinated.
"What… will you do with him?"
Li Feng glanced back once.
"Humiliate heaven."
And the system pulsed eagerly—awaiting the villain's next move.