Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

The moment the system notification ended, Owen immediately noticed a crimson countdown appear before his eyes.

When the countdown reached zero, Leslie would completely vanish—her soul obliterated.

Owen's heart clenched tightly.

An inescapable fate—is this what destiny truly means?

For the first time, Owen felt lost and uncertain.

The sensation of watching an inevitable tragic end while being powerless to change it was like a dull knife slicing through his body.

He desperately wanted to shake off this feeling, to find a way out.

But the path ahead felt like a fixed coordinate. No matter how he tried to steer the chariot of fate, it would inevitably arrive at the same destination.

…

Ferola and the

Lord of the Celestial God Palace

, noticing Owen's unusual despondency, were stunned.

From what they knew of him, Owen always remained calm and composed, even in life-threatening crises or seemingly hopeless situations. Why, then, did he appear so unsettled now?

The confidence and serenity he usually exuded were completely absent.

Something was wrong, they could sense it. While the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

was undeniably fearsome, Owen's strength was in no way inferior to his.

Ferola, looking at the dispirited Owen, patted his shoulder and said:

"If you're not feeling up to it, I'll take care of him for you. Let me teach that thing a lesson!"

Her words were bold—something she wouldn't dare say to the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

under normal circumstances. But Owen's unusual behavior worried her greatly.

"Owen, you've defeated three celestial god-level mages before. He may be a god-mark celestial god, but that shouldn't unsettle you like this," the

Lord of the Celestial God Palace

added, trying to comfort him.

While she suspected that Owen's state wasn't caused solely by the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

's strength, she couldn't identify any other cause. She could only attempt to console him, hoping he would overcome this mental block soon.

…

Sensing Owen's emotional turbulence, the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

decided to seize the opportunity. A massive tentacle, like a whip tearing through the void, lashed out at Owen with terrifying speed and power.

The sudden strike was so swift and forceful that even the two women, closely monitoring the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

, failed to react in time.

In an instant, the tentacle struck Owen, slamming him into the ground and creating a massive black crater dozens of meters deep.

…

"That's the power of a god-mark celestial god? Truly terrifying! No celestial god-tier mage could compare!"

"How could Owen not resist at all? This is unbelievable!"

"Something must be wrong with Owen. What's happening to him?"

The mages observing from afar began whispering in disbelief.

"Still, the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

is an ancient entity with deep reserves of power. This could be one of his trump cards," someone speculated.

…

As countless pairs of eyes focused on the deep crater, Owen suddenly burst forth from the ground.

Though he had been struck and forced underground, appearing somewhat disheveled, he bore no significant injuries. Only a thin layer of dust clung to his clothing.

"I knew it! Owen couldn't possibly be defeated in a single blow. He must've been caught off guard!"

"That last attack from the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

was indeed fearsome, but it didn't seem to harm Owen. Clearly, his strength rivals the Lord's!"

As Owen calmly ascended into the air, the crowd's murmurings turned into a storm of speculation.

…

With all eyes on him, Owen slowly raised his head. He stared coldly at the black octopus-like form of the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

above. His gaze was devoid of emotion, exuding an icy chill that sent shivers through everyone who beheld him.

Even Ferola and the

Lord of the Celestial God Palace

, who had wanted to question him about his unusual behavior, swallowed their words.

Owen was too cold now, and they found it unsettling.

…

Even those closest to Owen, like Rachel, Madelyn, and Seraphina, had never seen him like this before.

Ignoring the stares, Owen fixed his gaze on the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

and said in a frigid tone:

"You've chosen death. Today, I will grant your wish."

The

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

laughed maniacally.

"With your pathetic strength, you dare threaten me? Your end is near, Owen!"

Fueled by the thought of erasing his lingering psychological shadow, the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

became ecstatic. Killing Owen would elevate his power and rid him of his humiliation once and for all.

Without hesitation, the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

summoned numerous longbows from his tentacles. These weapons radiated an aura of boundless desire, their energy drawn from the heavens and earth.

Countless arrows, each infused with overwhelming power, were unleashed simultaneously, all aimed at Owen.

At the same time, the Burning Legion army surged toward Owen in a frenzy.

…

Owen's gaze turned colder as he glanced at the approaching enemies. A chain of lightning erupted from his body, snaking through the infernals and the demon army like a silver serpent.

In mere moments, all who stood in its path—whether infernals or other Burning Legion entities—were reduced to smoldering husks.

Thousands of Burning Legion forces perished in an instant, leaving a vacuum of scorched remains around Owen.

… Your journey continues at m v|l-e'm,p| y- r

Witnessing this, the onlookers gasped in shock.

"Just now, we thought Owen's power was average, but this? We underestimated him!"

While they were still reeling from his display of power, Owen vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared, Godslayer Sword in hand, charging straight at the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

.

As Owen dashed forward, the stars themselves seemed to tremble. The vast expanse of space ahead of him appeared to crumble under his overwhelming force.

…

Sensing Owen's suffocating killing intent, the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

waved its massive limbs. Beams of light, filled with the essence of desire, descended from above.

Everyone exposed to these beams saw their deepest desires and began to lose themselves in the illusions.

But Owen was unfazed. With a single swing of his sword, the

Supreme Sword

burst forth.

A torrent of sword energy surged into the heavens, splitting the void and severing the stars.

The two apocalyptic forces collided.

Shockwaves of unimaginable power rippled outward, covering hundreds of miles in chaos. Blinding lights in every color illuminated the battlefield like a radiant rainbow.

Yet, the dazzling lights vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

Every trace of the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

's attack was consumed by the brilliance of Owen's sword energy.

…

But this was only the beginning.

Owen activated the

Obsidify Dharma Form

, transforming into a massive figure that clashed directly with the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

's black octopus-like form.

The aftershocks of their battle rippled across the Pure Land, felt by every mage within its boundaries. Those closer to the epicenter found their minds on the verge of collapse, unable to withstand the sheer intensity.

…

"God-mark celestial god power is beyond your reach, Owen. Die!"

The

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

roared, wrapping its tentacles tightly around Owen's Dharma Form, trying to crush him.

But Owen's Godslayer Sword flared brilliantly, severing the tentacles with relentless precision.

Then, taking a deep breath, Owen activated the bloodline of his

Primordial Chaos Body

, causing his aura to surge exponentially.

Where he had once been evenly matched with the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

, the release of his bloodline now tipped the scales in his favor. Drawing in mana from the heavens, Owen suppressed the

Lord of the Forbidden Zone

completely.