Rebirth of the Villain

The Royal House of Gizmo defied reality itself. Corridors twisted in impossible angles, rooms expanded far beyond their external dimensions, and gravity seemed more like a polite suggestion than a law of physics. As Arthur and Hawklight followed their ethereal guide through the labyrinthine palace, Arthur couldn't help but admire the sheer audacity of it all. This was no mere kingdom—it was a statement of power.

"The gathering is already underway, my lords," their guide said, its voice echoing strangely as if speaking from multiple throats at once. "Master Gizmo is most pleased you accepted his invitation."

Arthur exchanged a glance with Hawklight. The commander's scarred face remained impassive, but Arthur knew him well enough to recognize the tension in his jaw. Hawklight didn't trust this place—smart man.

They emerged into a vast circular chamber that seemed to float in a void of stars, though they had never left the palace. Around a massive crystalline table sat the most powerful beings in the known world—transmigrators, rulers, and legends.

At the head of the table sat Gizmo, still wearing the appearance of a child despite the ancient wisdom in his eyes. To his right was Emperor Lyralei, looking frailer than when Arthur had last seen him, but his gaze no less sharp. And there, on the opposite side, sat a golden-haired man in gleaming armor who could only be Cassius, the S-rank hero who had declared Arthur a demon.

Beside Cassius sat a woman who immediately captured Arthur's attention. Tall and powerful, with silver-white hair and subtle features that hinted at her beast clan heritage—high cheekbones, slightly elongated canines visible when she spoke, and eyes that shifted between human and wolf-like depending on the light. Nara, the wolf princess who had married the hero.

Something primal stirred in Arthur at the sight of her. Not just desire, though there was plenty of that, but a deeper recognition—predator recognizing predator.

Gizmo's childlike face lit up as he spotted Arthur. "Lord Arthur, I am happy to see you here."

"Same here," Arthur replied, his voice carefully neutral as he approached the table.

Gizmo gestured between Arthur and Lyralei. "You and Emperor Lyralei are allies. I don't even know what to say."

Arthur's lips curved in a sardonic smile. "Nothing much. We share the same ideology," he said sarcastically. "For now, let's keep our cards on the table."

"Yes, we should," Gizmo agreed, his ancient eyes twinkling with amusement.

Arthur and Hawklight were directed to their seats at the table. From this position, Arthur had a perfect view of both Lyralei and Cassius—and more importantly, Nara. As he settled into his chair, he allowed himself a small, satisfied grin.

"What's the plan, my lord?" Hawklight murmured, his voice low enough that only Arthur could hear.

"I need to assess Cassius first," Arthur replied quietly. "Won't be good to be on the worst part."

Servants—or what appeared to be servants—brought refreshments that changed color and consistency as they were consumed. Arthur noted how Cassius refused his portion, perhaps fearing corruption. Foolish. In a place like this, corruption would hardly come from something as obvious as food.

After the formalities of welcome were complete, Gizmo called the gathering to order. The child-like figure stood on his chair, commanding attention despite his small stature.

"My friends, we face a threat that concerns us all," Gizmo announced. "A new dungeon has appeared at the location of the old Frostspire Mountains, very close to Lyranth." He turned his ancient eyes to Arthur. "Since this is close to your kingdom, what is your suggestion?"

All eyes turned to Arthur. He leaned back in his chair, projecting casual confidence while his mind raced through the implications. A dungeon near Lyranth could be a coincidence—or a deliberate test.

"I have the capability to raid it," Arthur stated, his voice carrying easily across the chamber.

Before Gizmo could respond, Cassius leaned forward, divine light subtly emanating from his perfect features. "Why should you trust an incubus so easily?" he demanded, his voice rich with righteous conviction.

The chamber fell silent. This was the first direct confrontation between Arthur and the hero who had sworn to cleanse Lyranth of his "corrupting influence." Arthur studied him for a moment—handsome in a bland, predictable way, with the absolute certainty of the self-righteous shining in his eyes.

Arthur turned to him, his expression calm but his eyes cold. "Well, so far I am there. I have everything in control."

As he spoke, he allowed his gaze to drift briefly to Nara. Their eyes met for just a moment, but it was enough. Something flickered in her expression—curiosity, perhaps. Or recognition of a kindred spirit beneath the civilized veneer.

"And your system?" Gizmo asked, his childlike head tilted in curiosity.

"No traces," Arthur replied carefully, "but I can feel my powers."

Not a lie, precisely. The void evolution had changed his System in ways he was still discovering. The hunger remained, but after his marathon with the queens, it was temporarily sated, lurking beneath the surface rather than clawing at his control.

The discussion continued, with various transmigrators and rulers offering their perspectives on the dungeon threat. Cassius proposed a direct assault, leading with divine purification to cleanse any corruption. Lyralei suggested a more cautious approach, studying the dungeon's nature before committing resources.

Throughout the debate, Arthur noticed how Cassius repeatedly spoke over Nara when she attempted to contribute. The hero's dismissive attitude toward his wife became increasingly apparent, culminating when Nara began explaining beast clan knowledge of the area surrounding the dungeon.

"The northern approach has less magical interference," she said, her voice carrying the slight growl common to wolf clan members. "My people have hunted those mountains for generations. There are hidden paths that—"

"Beast clan superstitions won't help us against a dungeon," Cassius interrupted, not even looking at her as he dismissed her input. "We need divine light, not animal instincts."

Arthur watched as Nara's expression froze, her eyes flashing momentarily yellow—a sign of her beast nature rising in response to the insult. The tension between them was palpable, and it clearly wasn't new.

Their disagreement escalated into a hushed but intense argument that grew increasingly difficult to ignore. Other attendees began exchanging uncomfortable glances as Cassius's condescension became more obvious.

"Perhaps if you could control your emotional responses, you might contribute something useful," Cassius said, loud enough for those nearby to hear.

Nara stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "Excuse me," she said, her voice tight with controlled fury. "I need some air."

She left the chamber with her back straight and her head high, but Arthur could see the rage in every line of her body. Cassius watched her go with a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment.

"You must forgive my wife," he said to the gathering. "Beast clan blood runs hot. She'll compose herself shortly."

Arthur noted the reactions around the table—the discomfort, the judgment, the pity. And he saw his opportunity.

The meeting continued for another few minutes before Gizmo called for a brief recess. As attendees rose and formed smaller discussion groups, Arthur turned to Hawklight.

"Gather what information you can about the other attendees," he instructed quietly. "Particularly anyone with connections to Cassius or the Church of Light."

"And you, my lord?" Hawklight asked, though his knowing expression suggested he already had a good idea.

Arthur smiled. "I think I'll get some air myself."

Gizmo's gardens were as impossible as the rest of his palace—plants that floated without roots, flowers that changed color as you watched, trees that seemed to grow in multiple dimensions at once. The air was filled with strange, sweet scents that shifted with each breath.

Arthur followed the subtle signs of Nara's passage—a disturbed floating bloom here, the lingering scent of wolf clan there. His void-enhanced senses made tracking her simple, even in this otherworldly place.

He found her in a secluded grove where luminescent plants cast everything in a dreamlike blue glow. She was pacing, her movements fluid and predatory, muttering to herself in what sounded like the beast clan tongue. Even in anger, she was magnificent—powerful, primal, untamed despite Cassius's obvious attempts to domesticate her.

Arthur deliberately made a sound to announce his presence, not wanting to startle a predator.

"He treats me like a trophy," Nara snarled without turning around. "Not as a warrior, not as an advisor. Just something pretty to display."

"Then he's a fool as well as a zealot," Arthur replied, stepping into the clearing.

She spun, startled despite his warning noise. "You shouldn't be here."

"Neither should you be treated as less than the warrior you are," Arthur countered, keeping a respectful distance. "I saw how he dismissed your strategy. It was the best one offered."

Surprise flickered across her features, followed by suspicion. "Why would the demon king care about my tactical opinions?"

"First, I'm not a demon," Arthur said with a slight smile. "And second, I recognize value regardless of its source. Your knowledge of the terrain could save lives during the dungeon raid."

Nara studied him, her eyes shifting slightly toward their more bestial form as she assessed him. "You're not what I expected."

"No?" Arthur took a casual step closer. "What did you expect?"

"Cassius described you as corrupt. Power-mad. Surrounded by your harem of enslaved women." Her nostrils flared slightly. "You don't smell corrupt."

"And what do I smell like?" Arthur asked, genuinely curious about her beast clan senses.

She inhaled deeply, her eyes never leaving his. "Power. Control. And something else... something ancient. But not corruption."

"Your husband sees the world in black and white," Arthur said, taking another step closer. "Good and evil. Divine and demonic. The reality is far more complex."