I Woke Up as the Villain

Yu-Seong knew his people were good, but he hadn’t thought they would anticipate and move flawlessly according to his plan.

‘I must be blessed.’

While his knowledge from reading the original novel certainly had a role in gathering exceptional people, he was still lucky and felt grateful toward those around him.

Just as he was feeling a bit relieved by the situation, Yu-Seong remembered something else and sent everyone a message, ‘Aside from the Demon King, there may be a Hexagram Master among them. Exercise caution. As absurd as it may sound, they might merge.’

Despite the seemingly illogical nature of the statement, the recipients of the message simply acknowledged the warning and expressed their gratitude.

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"Really, I'm the one who’s truly grateful," Yu-Seong said.

The immense crisis at hand had been ultimately instigated by Evheim, who stood against Yu-Seong. It was due to this situation that Yu-Seong found himself with no alternative but to feel a sense of gratitude.

'No, Eveheim would eventually end up doing so anyway…' 

In a way, they could express mutual gratitude towards each other. As Yu-Seong gathered his thoughts, he discreetly left the airport, ensuring his identity remained hidden. He swiftly slipped into a tranquil alley devoid of CCTV cameras and people, promptly opening a portal that transported him to Paris.

'There's no time to waste.' 

In the present moment in Paris, a dungeon break was unfolding, resulting in chaotic scenes with rampant monsters and the Demon King wreaking havoc. This dire situation led to the real-time loss of dozens, or even hundreds, of lives. There was a genuine risk that Eveheim might discover Yu-Seong's location the moment he crossed the portal.

However, despite the dangers involved, Yu-Seong felt compelled to proceed. After all, he believed he had no other viable options.

'Rather than considering this and that, action is needed.' 

In addition, trust was needed.

'Father is still in Seoul.' 

Moreover, it wasn't solely about Yu-Seong's actions. The cunning old man would certainly not remain idle and oblivious to the unfolding situation. Without a doubt, he was likely furiously voicing his concerns over the phone, rummaging through his confidential files in his office, making preparations for an emergency, and mobilizing both players and the military to respond.

'He has quite a few connections in Japan.' 

Somehow, it would work out.

'Let's be resolute.' 

Like others, Yu-Seong made the choice to have faith in his own influence. It was something he had always known deep within. A single hand could not obscure the sky, but when dozens, hundreds of hands united, they could collectively repel the immense evil embodied by Eveheim. Yu-Seong had to maintain unwavering belief and discard any doubts that arose.

'Both in myself and my colleagues.' 

With his resolve firmly in place, Yu-Seong threw himself through the portal.

***

In the once renowned city of art and culture, Paris, France, the air was now filled with the savage roars of monsters and the piercing screams of its terrorized inhabitants. Within this chaos, death, fear, and hatred converged, fueling the creation of mana.

Above the darkened throne, amidst the ruins of the Louvre Museum, Ira, the Demon King of Wrath, raised his hand with a leisurely smile. With a flick of his wrist, a low-rank demon materialized and obediently followed his command, emitting a piercing screech as it lunged into the crowd of humans desperately attempting to escape.

As the low-rank demon ruthlessly ended a human life, Ira, sensing the surge of mana coursing through him, exhibited a gleaming smile of satisfaction.

[At this rate, I can use all my power before Superbia arrives.]

Constantly relegated to the second rank, he had always existed in the shadow of others. Hindered by a name that carried a hint of unpleasantness, the opportunity he had long awaited had finally presented itself.

[The moment he is summoned as sloppily as I was, I will seize the opportunity to take his life.]

And by absorbing Superbia’s mana, the being known as the strongest and worst of all time, Ira would be able to escape the sorrow of being second in rank forever.

Just as he was fueling his ambition with determination, a group of players fell. They had been fervently fighting in a city filled with screams and agony but ultimately succumbed to the relentless chaos. The air echoed with pleas for salvation and desperate voices calling out to God.

[Oh, the players’ mana are particularly sweet…]

Thanks to that, the power coursing through Ira's body instantly increased by more than half.

[I should eat them up first.]

With his goal set, Ira's eyes glowed as he propelled himself forward. With this much power recovered, there was no reason for him to wait.

[A little faster…]

As Ira rushed through the air with desperation, a green portal suddenly appeared before him. And upon seeing the man who emerged from it, Ira's eyes sparkled.

[You?]

The man was truly extraordinary, surpassing not only ordinary humans but also standing unmatched among the countless players in the city. Most notably, there was a distinct aura about him, a scent that set him apart from the rest.

[So you've killed a Demon King before.]

In a swift and decisive response, the man wielded a gleaming silver spearhead that flashed before Ira’s eyes. Simultaneously, bolts of lightning descended from the sky, enveloping Ira's crimson form. Razor-sharp winds also tore through his entire body, gathering momentum to sever his formidable horns.

[Aargh-!]

In the midst of the chaos, Ira unleashed a piercing scream intertwined with a fierce howl. Brilliant flames erupted from his body, swiftly countering the onslaught of lightning and wind, pushing them back with raw intensity.

“Mmph.” With a determined grunt, Yu-Seong extended his Aqua Shield magic, creating a protective barrier.

Stepping backward, he swung his spear, its blade enveloped by the shield. He was poised for a defensive maneuver.

'Ira of Wrath possesses the power of Fire.' 

In truth, Fire had poor compatibility with Yu-Seong’s ability. Although Yu-Seong had reached the level of being called a Grand Mage through Green, his core was Thunder and Wind.

'Even though I suppressed it to a certain extent with the characteristic of transcendence....' 

When utilizing attribute series other than his own, Yu-Seong found himself only able to tap into roughly a third of his full power. This limitation stemmed from the inherent nature of those attributes.

Of course, it could be argued that Thunder and Wind were effective against Fire, and indeed, it wouldn’t be entirely incorrect to assume so given their shared destructive nature. In fact, in a direct power struggle, Thunder and Wind might even hold an advantage.

'However, that would result in Paris becoming a complete mess.' 

Despite the ongoing loss of lives, there were still individuals bravely fighting to save as many as they could. However, if the clash between Yu-Seong and Ira's powers occurred at the heart of the chaos, it could potentially engulf everyone in its devastating wake, leading to further casualties.

'I need to lure him…' 

Fortunately, his opponent was Ira, Demon King of Wrath. He was known for his formidable combat power and had a reputation for having an exceedingly intense personality. Also, his emotions often took precedence over his reasoning.

“To think I had some expectations as you are ranked second among the Demon Kings… You're not as impressive as I thought.”

At Yu-Seong's words, Ira's eyes narrowed as he was cautiously scouting around. A venomous smirk arose on his lips.

[That human who summoned me to this world mentioned it earlier. A particularly cunning one will come, so I shouldn’t fall for his words.]

“...”

The one who had given the advice was probably the Demon King Worshiper, the Hexagram master.

‘Damn, this move is not going to work.’ 

Yu-Seong inwardly clicked his tongue as he realized this.

[I don’t remember his name. The nerve of a human advising a Demon King…It annoyed me so much I wanted to swallow him whole, but he ran away.]

"Eveheim?"

[No, that's not it.]

"Then it must be James or Talia."

[Oh, James. That's right. That was the name.]

The human and the Demon King exchanged a brief but meaningful exchange of questions and answers, their expressions revealing a shared understanding. Truly, their intentions toward each other appeared to be unmistakably clear.

'Ira is still not complete.' 

Ira wanted to buy more time to recover his mana, because he was well aware that Yu-Seong was not an easy opponent. On the other hand, Yu-Seong was contemplating how to lure him. Neither would easily fall for the other's scheme, knowing the other's intentions.

While pretending to converse, Yu-Seong drew a magic circle with his opposite hand, dropping a powerful star-shaped magic bullet on the monsters and demons attacking humans.

'Star Fall.' 

This Grand Magic boasted a powerful force. It was very useful as it could identify targets. However, it had one drawback.

'The consumption of mana is immense, as expected.' 

While looking at Yu-Seong, Ira asked with a stifled smile.

[What use will that be?]

"You never know."

Yu-Seong maintained a nonchalant demeanor, though his eyes sparkled with intrigue, carefully concealing his growing impatience. Amidst their conversation, he had noticed a distinct peculiarity in Ira's dragon-like visage that set him apart from other demons.

"But you, where have your horns, the symbol of demons, gone?"

The original novel briefly described the deep sense of inferiority harbored by the Demon King Ira toward Superbia. A single challenge and subsequent defeat had resulted in the loss of his horns, a symbol of pride for demons. Since then, plagued by enduring humiliation, Ira dedicated himself to rigorous self-discipline, eventually attaining the position of second in rank among all Demon Kings. However, the wound inflicted upon him remained, a perpetual Achilles' heel.

[What…?]

A reaction was finally received.

"Could it be...you lost your horns to Demon King of Pride? Like a fool? How embarrassing!" Yu-Seong snickered and withdrew his spear. "What's the point of fighting with someone like you and wasting my strength? I'll be going."

The moment Yu-Seong turned his back, Ira gritted his teeth and spewed out a massive flame.

Yu-Seong swiftly twirled his spear, creating wind to split the flame, then tilted his head. "Are you angry?"

[I have no reason to listen to the words of a lowly human in the first place.]

"Well, why don't you chase me then?" Yu-Seong provoked Ira before soaring high into the sky.

Ira quickly followed him. Even at that moment, his mana was rapidly recovering.

'70 percent. That's enough to tear apart a single human without any problem, even if it's special!' 

Consumed by anger, Ira's sanity was gradually eroding. He tore through the atmosphere, ascending above the clouds, with a flickering flame seemingly engulfing the world at the corner of his mouth.

From above, Yu-Seong tightened his grip on the spear as he observed this ominous sight as Ira chased after him. He prepared himself for the impending clash.

'I can't push myself any further.' 

Ascending beyond the atmosphere, Yu-Seong was met with a severe lack of breathable air. He had to rely on his mana to compensate for the oxygen deprivation.

The time had come to decide the outcome of their battle. A prolonged fight was not an option. Undoubtedly, Demon King Ira shared the same sentiment. As if to confirm this, a colossal flame erupted from Ira's mouth, staining the sky crimson.

[Burn to death, human!]

However, Yu-Seong's choice upon seeing the approaching hellfire was already determined.

'Activate the Extreme Polarity of the Wind Thunder Dragon God Art.'

Yu-Seong decided to fight him with power.

RUMBLE-! 

As lightning coursed through Yu-Seong's entire body, the surrounding area momentarily darkened. In response to him, the raging wind began to disperse and divert the approaching hellfire, sending it soaring higher into the sky toward the expanse of space.

Yu-Seong seized the moment without hesitation. He activated his Third Eye, causing time to slow down, and pushed his own movements to their maximum acceleration. In this state, his attack resembled a bolt of lightning descending from the heavens, propelling his human form close to the speed of light. Even a Demon King like Ira would find it impossible to evade.

The combined force of Ok-Rye's heavenly punishment and the power of Yu-Seong's Magic Spear converged, resulting in a devastating strike of annihilation.

'Ultimate kill, One Flash of the Wind-Thunder Dragon God.' 

A supersonic strike tore through the world, descending from the sky to the ground like a divine punishment. The tip of Yu-Seong's spear pierced through the body of Demon King Ira, causing his once-red skin to burn and decay into blackness.

With a gaze that moved slowly, Ira whispered a faint murmur toward Yu-Seong, who had already descended to the ground like a deity.

[Mon...ster...]

Swoosh-! It was the moment when the enraged Demon King Ira met a fruitless extinction.

***

Thuuud-! 

With a thunderous roar that reverberated through the heavens and the earth, Yu-Seong descended to the ground. The lightning bolts and the powerful gusts of wind emanating from his strike dispersed the horde of rampaging monsters.

Although he had restrained his strength to minimize damage while piercing through Ira, the Demon King of Wrath, the impact was still immense. In a single blow, he annihilated the second-ranked Demon King and skillfully controlled his power to sweep away the horde of monsters, achieving a monumental outcome.

After such a feat, Yu-Seong planted his spear firmly into the ground and released a deep breath, his knee bent in exhaustion. "Phew..."

Next, he looked around. The demons that appeared due to Ira's summoning were turning into black dust and scattering. Even the horde of monsters, having realized the death of the Demon King, fell into a panic. They did not know what to do, and began to retreat back to the dungeon.

'I've won.' 

It was quite an effortless victory. Even if Ira was not in a fully recovered state, there was definitely a variable here.

'More than I thought...' 

Yu-Seong was stronger than he thought. Despite just having pulled off such an enormous feat, he still had plenty of mana and strength left.

'Is it the power of the skill?' 

Yu-Seong could not help but let out a hollow laugh inwardly.