Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

How could he not have planned for this?

Austin wasn't reckless.

Not this time.

He knew anything could happen—because this wasn't the first time he was facing Astaroth.

He wasn't the only one who carried memories from the last timeline.

Astaroth did too.

And that made the threat even worse.

So, Austin planned.

He went over every single possibility, even the ones that seemed impossible. And he prepared for all of them.

Because this time, he refused to lose anyone.

He had already paid the price once.

Not again.

Thanks to all his preparation, the people he cared about—his friends, his family and his wife—were now safe. Hidden far away in a system-created artificial dungeon. Somewhere not even a Demon Lord could reach.

Now, Austin could finally face the root of this chaos.

He could finally face him.

The plague named Astaroth.

---

"Where the hell am I?!" the Demon Lord bellowed, his voice echoing across the black void.

He looked around—only to find endless darkness. No floor. No walls. No sky.

Just a strange nothingness that pressed down on him.

He growled, trying to use his power to break free of whatever illusion this was.

But nothing worked.

He couldn't sense his generals. Couldn't break space. Couldn't tear through it like before.

Then—

A calm voice came from behind.

"It's my world, Astaroth."

Astaroth spun around.

And there he was.

Austin.

Calm. Still. Unshaken.

The warrior who had trapped him here.

"You…" Astaroth snarled. "Where did you pull me to? What is this cursed place?"

Austin met his gaze without fear. "We're inside my consciousness," he replied.

"My mind. My world. A space I created just for you."

Astaroth's eyes narrowed. "What nonsense—"

Austin went on, his voice quiet, but steady.

"There's no beginning here. No end. No way out. Only silence… and pain."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the air around Astaroth shifted.

Something unseen moved beneath the darkness.

Suddenly, *CRACK!*

A sharp spike burst from the ground, aiming straight at the demon's heart.

Astaroth leapt to the side—barely avoiding it.

Then another shot out.

And another.

And another.

His body moved fast—dodging the second, flipping over the third, twisting to avoid the fifth.

But then—

"Khuk!"

The seventh caught him off guard.

Then the eighth.

Then the ninth.

Glowing spikes pierced his skin, stabbing through his shoulders and thighs.

He floated mid-air now—helpless, his body locked in place by the burning pain.

Astaroth growled, blood dripping from his mouth. "This… won't kill me."

Austin stepped forward, his footsteps echoing in the void like quiet drums.

"That was never the plan," he said, shrugging.

"If I wanted to kill you, Astaroth, I would've done it the moment I saw you."

He stopped a few steps away from the wounded Demon Lord. His eyes cold.

"My goals are… darker than that."

Astaroth's breath came in rough bursts, but he still sneered. "Torture, is it? You think pain can break me?"

Austin's voice lowered.

"This isn't pain."

He leaned in slightly.

"This… is fun."

Astaroth flinched—not from fear, but from something else. A strange pressure in the air. He could feel it crawling under his skin.

Austin raised his hand.

The space around them shivered.

"Welcome to your cage, Astaroth. There's no door. No escape. Only you, and every regret that ever burned this world."

As his words faded, the void began to shift again.

Voices echoed. Screams. Cries.

Faces appeared in the shadows.

People Astaroth had killed.

Cities he had burned.

His sins, staring back at him.

Endless.

Austin stepped back, turning his back to the monster.

"I'll stand here," he said calmly. "...watch you go through everything you have 'achieved'."

And then—

He was gone from his sight.

Leaving Astaroth to hang in the dark…

With the weight of his crimes, and the torment just beginning.

….

"What is this?" Olivia asked, her voice low with awe as she stared at the floating black orb in front of them.

The thing pulsed faintly, like a heart made of darkness.

"I have no clue," Thea replied, eyes narrowed, "but I'm sure of one thing—Austin and the Demon Lord are inside that thing."

Even saying it out loud sounded ridiculous to her.

How the hell did that kid trap the Demon Lord?

She didn't know. But somehow… it was happening.

"I don't know, but I—" William started to speak, only to stop mid-sentence as a voice rang out:

[Notice.]

Everyone flinched.

"What the—?"

"Where did that voice come from?!"

They looked around, weapons raised, eyes sharp—but there was no source.

No speaker.

No direction.

Just a voice, cold and mechanical, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Then it spoke again:

[The Host is currently going through an evolution. Please maintain a safe distance from the cocoon for your safety.]

A heavy silence followed.

"…Host?" Charlotte asked, her brows furrowed. "Is it talking about Austin?"

"Possibly," William said, slowly nodding. His gaze never left the black orb. "I can feel his energy. It's rising… fast. Too fast."

And it wasn't just strong—it was changing.

What pulsed from inside that cocoon wasn't the same power they'd known before.

It was deeper. Wilder. Something ancient hidden inside was beginning to stir.

"For now, we should keep our distance and wait for him to come back."

….

"What is this place?" Cedric asked, glancing around with furrowed brows.

His voice was quiet—but tense.

Everyone around him stood still, their eyes fixed ahead.

No one spoke.

Because in front of them, just beyond the shimmering barrier, stood hundreds of Giants. Towering, monstrous, and ready to strike the moment the shield fell.

A single crack in the defense—and it would be war.

Valerie turned, scanning the gathered crowd quickly.

Rudolph and his family were safe. Rhea was close by.

Her own parents were here too—her mother leaning against her father's shoulder for support.

The King and Queen stood in front of them, calm but guarded. At their side were a few loyal servants, including Sebastian and Robert.

And right beside her—stood her teacher. Steady as ever.

A deep breath left her lips.

They were alive. All of them.

She stepped forward and spoke clearly, so everyone could hear:

"We're safe."

Heads turned.

"This place belongs to Austin," she explained. "He built it as a backup… in case everything went wrong."

Her words settled over the crowd like a blanket of calm.

Some sighed in relief. Others lowered their weapons just slightly.

But even as the tension faded, the weight of the moment remained.

Sebastian took a step forward and asked, "If I'm not mistaken… didn't Young Master used to come here to train, Miss Valerie?"

His voice carried a note of wonder.

For the longest time, he had watched Austin grow stronger at an unnatural pace. Faster. Sharper. Beyond reason.

And now, standing in this strange world, he finally understood why.

Valerie gave a small nod.

Sebastian's lips curved into a smile, and the pieces in his mind fell into place.

[Ding!]

A crisp sound echoed in the air.

Then, a voice followed—cold, mechanical, and impossible to track:

[This is an artificial dungeon prepared by the system. Time flows differently here. Rest assured, the barrier surrounding you will never vanish.]

Gasps and whispers filled the space.

Rhea tilted her head in confusion. "Why does none of this make any sense…?"

Selner let out a long, tired sigh. Her face showed just how much she had been holding back.

"Just be thankful you're still breathing," she said bluntly. "The Demonic Generals are hunting us—everyone close to Austin is a target."

Rhea froze.

So did many others.

The weight of those words was heavy.

Silence fell over the group.

"Where is Austin? Is he safe?" Sophie asked, her voice shaky with worry.

Valerie stepped closer too, unable to hide the concern in her eyes.

A moment passed in silence.

Then the system's voice returned, calm and unwavering:

[The Host has successfully trapped the Demon Lord. He is currently making him realize the mistakes he has committed.]

That brought a bit of relief—but not enough.

The Queen stepped forward, her voice trembling, "H-He is safe, right?"

Another pause.

Then—

[Indeed, he is, mother.]

The Queen blinked. "M-Mother?"

The voice replied gently:

[The Host declared me as his little sister. Can I not call you mother?]

Sophie's lips parted, taken aback by the sudden warmth in those words.

It felt strange… but comforting.

She gave a soft smile and nodded slowly. "Yes, you can. Um… can I see you?"

There was silence again.

Then:

[I do not have a true form, mother. But… I can appear like this.]

The air shimmered.

Soft gasps spread through the crowd as dozens of golden orbs appeared before Sophie, floating gently in the air like stars.

They glowed with a warm light, dancing slowly around her.

Some people stepped back, surprised.

Others stood frozen, staring in awe.

But Sophie didn't move.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the orbs—each one pulsing gently, as if they were alive.

A soft warmth touched her heart.

She approached the girl before wrapping her arms around the bundle of lights,

"Thank you for taking care of my son."

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.