The Tale of the Redeeming Villain

A calamity was descending upon the small town situated in the far east. The humungous figure of a wyvern could be seen currently heading toward the establishment with the intention of annihilation.

The nest of a dragon requires warmth and food to spend a few months and the small town was hefty enough for the wyvern.

A massive black wyvern plummets from the sky like a living shadow. Jagged scales shimmer with an eerie, dark sheen, absorbing the light rather than reflecting it. Its eyes, burning like molten embers, lock onto the ground below with predatory intent.

Naturally many people from the town sensed the danger incoming as they looked at the sky with a sense of despair.

“We are doomed….” The townsmen stationed around the town to patrol, fell to their knees seeing the disaster descending.

There was no chance for them to defeat something so big, strong and ominous. Wyverns are known for their extreme hunting style and menacing flames that devour the life out of their prey.

Weapons were dropped and many men fell to their knees, witnessing the impending doom.

However, before the wyvern could crash against the town and swallow several innocent lives, the creature was stopped by a forcefield, which was not there until a blink ago.

“What…is that….”

“A barrier….?” Many of them wondered as they saw the wyvern being pressed against the cyan-shaded magical barrier which prevented the dragon from disfiguring the landscape.

“Return to your house, now!” Suddenly, a booming voice echoed throughout the town as the figure of a familiar man levitated high in the air.

Holding a scythe in his hand and wearing his old battle gear, Blake flew towards the wyvern, which was currently halted by Catherine’s barrier.

“Is he….Cain?!”

“Yes, it’s Cain!” The townsmen immediately recognised the young man, considering not many people in the town were of that age and had such long black hair.

With his eyes trained on his foe, Blake penetrated through the barrier and faced the wyvern.

Its elongated mouth and sharp teeth glistened menacingly under the moonlight as the inhumane creature stared at the prey that had delivered himself to it.

Blake swirled the scythe in his hand before provoking the creature with a bit of his blood lust,

“Come at me.”

The wyvern responded to the provocation and launched into the air.

Blake looked at his weapon, feeling the familiar vibration from it like the weapon was communicating to him and showing the urge to taste blood after so long.

With a deafening roar, the creature swooped down, the force of its descent sending a gust of wind through the roof of the barrier and disturbing the serenity of the surroundings.

He whispered a single word, and the weapon’s blade elongated, becoming a massive crescent of dark energy. He spun it effortlessly in his hand, the air around him warping as its magic radiated outwards.

The wyvern dodged the slash and let out a burst of fire, a molten stream of flame tearing through the air toward him. Blake leapt, using the momentum to leap higher into the sky, his weapon twisting in midair to form a massive shield. The flames crashed against it, but the weapon held strong, absorbing the heat without a flicker.

As Blake’s figure neared the wyvern, the creature had no time to react to such opposition, and in the next instance, Blake swung his scythe while holding it in both hands.

The wyvern flapped its wings, narrowly dodging one of the attacks, but the second strike grazed its side, sending a shockwave of pain through its body.

Blake clicked his tongue and blamed himself for being so rusty. If he had been his old self, then the wyvern would have been sliced in two by now.

The creature shrieked in fury, spinning in the air and diving at him once more, claws outstretched.

Blake landed back on the dome, enhancing the weight of his boots and switching the scythe with a bow and arrow.

Pulling the string, he muttered a single syllable before releasing the arrow,

“Gluttony.”

The arrow was shot at an astonishing pace and, in the next instance, it pierced through the wyvern’s head, ceasing its life almost instantly.

Blake stepped back as the lifeless body of the dragon fell on the dome, and slowly, the darkness of the arrow began to spread and devour the creature.

A rush of energy coursed through Blake as he indifferently stared at the S-rank danger he just ended within a minute.

The sensation he felt through gluttony—a curse which Blake crafted with his own hands—reminded him of those days when he used to do nothing but hunt and eat.

The greed of power became so overwhelming that he became crazy and would have ended up challenging the heavens…until he met someone who made him realise the meaning behind the phrase;

‘There is always someone stronger than you’.

A smile stretched Blake’s lips as he remembered that battle which changed his perception completely.

If he had been the same person as he was before he was defeated, then in this world, he might have become the biggest antagonist, which Carlson would surely have to face.

“Haah…it’s done.” Once Blake finished consuming the wyvern, he signalled towards Catherine with a wave and in the next instance, the barrier was removed.

Blake allowed himself to freely fall to the ground, and softly he landed on one of the rooftops.

Mostly every member of the town has gathered in the complex situated in the middle and were looking at Blake like they are witnessing some kind of deity.

Blake was now feeling regretful for not wearing any mask to conceal his identity. But the situation was so dire that he never got the chance.

Blake glanced at Catherine, who had a smile on her face yet he sensed that sadness she tried to hide.

But well, there was no other option.

“It has been a great time living with you all, but now, we have to leave this town for everyone’s benefit. If we unintentionally hurt someone, please forgive us and continue to live as you do.”

Catherine arrived beside him and looked at the murmuring crowd, who were evidently reluctant to let them go so suddenly.

Interlocking her fingers, Catherine closed her eyes and chanted a spell that would protect the town even in her absence.

All said and done, she held Blake’s hand and gave a polite bow to everyone who had been very kind to them.

Seeing the duo bowing, the people suddenly quieted, and from the crowd, an elderly man walked out.

“Town head…” Blake muttered under his breath as he saw the man, who seldom leaves his house, to be standing there.

The old man lowered his head before stating, “We don’t know what circumstances are pushing you to leave, nor would we stop you from making this decision. But remember, this is your home, so return to us someday.”

Catherine’s eyes moistened and her grip around his hand became firm.

Blake smiled at the man before voicing, “I will keep that in mind.”

********

A/N:- Damn….they are nice people.