Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

Rio slowly walked over to the god kneeling on the spear. Every step, making crunching sounds as his shoes crushed the empty glass vials scattered all around them.

He was just thinking about what kind of punishment he should inflict on the god next - what kind of pain would surpass the previous one _ when suddenly a roar like a lion's reached his ears.

"Stop…this madness."

By the time those final words sounded, in between Rio and Aelthar, stood the heroic figure of Leon.

With his back to the god, Leon pointed his sword to Rio and warned him not to come over.

"You will harm him no more. I won't let you."

Rio stared at Leon and then turned his head to look behind him. At the God, whose soul was surrounded by a warm light.

As if rays of sun landed on that shattered soul and started healing it.

Rio could even see a look of surprise on Aelthar's face and a faint flickering hope for survival in the god's eyes.

But then the god sensed something,and met Rio's gaze. Seeing his lips curl up into another smile, sent shivers down the god's spine.

And instantly all the hope and courage brought by Apollo's familiar aura immediately disappeared.

Leon, who turned his head to look over his shoulder, hoping to see the god's grateful expression after his timely rescue _ couldn't help but frown as he noticed Aelthar trembling in fear.

But before Leon could turn his head to see what made Aelthar act like this, what greeted his handsome face was a fist wrapped in thorns.

"Ptuiii.." Leon spit out a mouthful of blood as he felt his teeth come loose amid the shock.

"I've warned you twice before, at the dorsia restaurant and at the academy. Do Not Meddle into My affairs. But you just don't listen." Rio said jumping over his hind leg for a round house kick.

Leon hurriedly dodged the incoming kick by stepping sideways. "And I also told you, I can't stand injustice and cruelty happening in front of my eyes."

Leon's response was firm, his stern tone reflecting the rigid righteous ideals he believed in.

"And what you did…what you're doing now – it's an act worse than a demon's. So I will stop you."

(Chuckle) Hummmm ahha aha ha

Rio couldn't help sneer and then laugh out loud hearing his boast. "Stop me? Are you sure you're even capable of that?"

"Your hands are shaking before the fight even began. Trust me, I'm in a bad mood. And you being a Heartwell, well, _ … it's your final warning."

Rio's blunt response made Leon grit his teeth in anger, making the grinding noise. While his hands couldn't help but clench around his sword even more tightly.

But a part of him was a little glad that Rio had no intention to fight him. In that case, he just needs to delay him for some time and then when Aelthar passes his legacy to him, they could all leave this dungeon peacefully.

But just when he let down his guard, before he could form a response or retort back to maintain his 'stance', suddenly Rio disappeared from his place.

Next instance he directly appeared from the side.

And though Leon sensed the sudden shift in air and danger in time, but his body was still slow to respond.

Leon felt a powerful kick connect to the side of his stomach. And he could instantly feel the pain coursing his mind caused by the several ribs that were broken by impact.

"Forget it. I changed my mind. No warning for you today."

Rio's teasing words sounded in Leon's ears. Making him glare in fury towards the liar.

Yet before he even had time to take a breath, like arrows let loose from the string, dozens of fists landed on his body.

He knew Rio's speed, he had seen it before. But only now did he truly feel what it felt like.

Every hit, even if there was no power behind those hands, landed on his skin like a swinging hammer.

Not to mention the aftereffects of heat from hellfire and soul shaking buffs.

It freaking hurt.

Rio's movements were swift, smooth, and they left behind a blur of multiple afterimages. And even before Leon screamed or struggled to defend, a new hit greeted him.

Leon tried to fight back, but giving that he couldn't move out of the way or Rio would directly bombard Aelthar _ he could just grit his teeth and stand firm.

The sword skills he inherited from under a dead tree in the previous dungeon, and the personal guidance of Apollo he always felt proud of before_ did little to nothing against Rio, and only made him feel like a joke.

He was like a bratty kid swinging sticks with all his strength, and Rio was like that one experienced adult who wasn't in the mood to play.

Every slash of his was dodged, perried, or defended easily without even breaking a sweat.

Like before he even planned his next swing, Rio had already prepared to perry that slash.

Hell if that wasn't enough to hurt his self esteem, the damned 'angel' even started to mimic his moves.

Performing the same sword art with even more skill and experience.

"Arghhh. Don't laugh at me…" Leon grunted and rushed forward like a raging bulll, but it changed nothing.

Rio played around with Leon for a while. The shocked expression and annoyed anger which the hero felt was calming his nerves and making him feel much better.

He easily moved his body to the side, dodging the hero's fatal swing, before hitting him with an uppercut.

As Leon's waist moved back, Rio stepped forward to slap his wrist.

The sudden shock made him drop the sword, which Rio immediately grabbed by his other hand.

"You really have a habit of poking your nose and sticking your leg into others' business. Let me just break em for you."

Rio said and swung the sword with his backhand. Hitting Leon's nose with the plain end.

The hit caused a crunching sound in Rio's ears. And the sight of red blood sipping through Leon's fingers as he held his broken nose, was … pleasing to the eyes.

But instead of useless gloating done by no-name villains, he swiftly swung the hero's sword downwards. Causing Leon to stumble and fall to his knees.

"Just cause some pathetic paparazzi, paid by my enemies for trying to get under my skin, praised you to be my equal or even better _ you think you can beat me."

"That you're some kind of rival..?"

"But in my eyes you're nothing. Not even worth remembering about." Rio mocked.

"No matter what you say, I won't let you hurt him." Leon said with anger fuming in his eyes.

The humiliation he felt while being forced to kneel in front of this man was beyond belief. Yet he still didn't dare to step aside.

"He's innocent." The hero roared. Hoping to resonate with Rio's conscious.

But would that work?

Ofcourse not.

"Innocent, you say?" Rio said as he unleashed his aura and suppressed Leon who was about to stand up. "This bastard is the reason she's in that state…"

"No." Leon shouted, interrupting Rio and breaking free from his restraints. "You hurt her. You're the one whose sword stabbed her heart. Not him. He was just...Urghh"

Leon was still speaking when suddenly Rio grabbed his throat, stopping the words in his mouth.

"Be very careful of what you say, Leon? Your words might get you killed." Rio whispered in his ears before slapping the hero with his backhand. Knocking off another piece of teeth.

But seeing his reaction only made Leon even more sure of his guess, and instead of backing down, he kept pushing further.

Not aware, that at this moment, Rio was really considering whether he should kill this protagonist and get it all over with.

"You're just angry that Aelthar didn't choose you for his legacy. That's why you're torturing him. But you have to know, that legacy simply isn't yours. You're not worthy…"

"Ohh yeah. If not me, then who is it for? YOU?"

"..."

"That's what the dimmed out lodu lamp living in your mind told you about, isn't it? That you're fated, chosen … maybe perfect for this legacy." Rio spoke, his words surprising Leon and Apollo alike.

Rio sneered as he watched color drain from the hero's face, as he wondered if the secret of his god was out.

"What….? What are you talking about?" Leon stammered trying to deny, to change the topic _ while his brain was flooding with notifications from Apollo warning him that if the news was out, he's done for.

"Heh, idiot." Rio mocked and slashed at Leon.

Using the original art of Apollo, instead of the mimicry the hero pulled to deceive others. And kept the real deal as some secret trump card.

Leon watched as a familiar warm glow of light flashed through the swords' edge before it passed right through his shoulder.

And even though he managed to dodge the metal, the magical light ignored everything, and still formed a large scar over his chest.

"Even fools won't believe that a crippled wasteral like you can become like this, without the backing of the god." Rio said, swinging his sword fluently, covering Leon's entire body in various cuts and scars.

"But instead of accepting that fact, you lie, hide.. and act all superior. You're just a waste of time, talent, and all the luck invested in you."

As his words finished, Rio placed the sword under Leon's chin, forcing him to look up and meet his gaze, before kicking him in the guts. And sending him crashing into the very god whom he so wanted to save.

"Being a hero isn't all praises and perks, my protagonist, you also have to pay the price."

Rio muttered under his breath while walking forward and without even looking threw a ball of flame onto Aelthar, who was already struggling under his gluttonous avatar.

Leon tried to rush forward to block, to help – but found his body trapped and tied in place by threads which he couldn't break out of.

"You knew the gap between us, yet you dared to meddle in my affairs." Rio muttered and nudging his fingers which dragged Leon forward.

Leon banged his palms onto the ground, till his nails dug into the ground, yet all his struggles were futile.

And then in an extremely humiliating and agonizing way, he just watched Rio's shoes landing over his skull and burying half of his face into the pile of rubble.

"Now watch as I break your brain, and your spirit alike."

As Rio's words finished what followed next were simply the screams of Leon and Aelthar. Both howling in misery as one felt his soul born in flames and other felt his limbs being broken one by one.

"You'll always be a cripple."

Rio mocked condescendingly, rubbing his soles over the hero's forehead. Crushing all his confidence and charm to the ground in front of the world to see.