Rebirth of the Villain

Cassius stood on the crystalline observation platform, his divine aura casting a golden glow that contrasted sharply with the swirling void that surrounded Gizmo's pocket dimension. Below them, visible through a shimmering portal of magic, Arthur Lionheart rode out from Lyranth's eastern gate, his destination clear to those who knew what to look for.

"Well, he is a different type of transmigrated man," Gizmo observed, his childlike form perched casually on a floating cushion of energy. "You can't predict his ways like the others."

Cassius's jaw tightened, divine light briefly flaring around his clenched fists. "What's so special about him? He's corrupted by void energy, consorting with monsters and demons. His harem is an abomination against natural order."

Gizmo's ancient eyes studied Cassius with amusement. "Well, the way he accepted his powers, it's not something everyone would do. Most fight the void, try to purge it, and are consumed. He embraces it, shapes it, uses it."

Through the portal, they watched Arthur dismount near the forest's edge, moving with the confident grace of a predator in his territory. Even from this distance, the shadows around him seemed to respond to his presence, darkening and shifting subtly.

"Gizmo, I am taking this one down," Cassius declared, his hand moving to the hilt of Demonbane, the blessed sword that hung at his side. Divine energy spiraled along the weapon's length, responding to its master's resolve.

The childlike transmigrator sighed, waving a hand to adjust the viewing portal. The image shifted to show the dungeon entrance—a jagged tear in reality disguised as a cave mouth, pulsing with energies that made the air around it waver like heat over desert sand.

"The dungeon is a priority for now," Gizmo said, his voice taking on an edge of authority that belied his youthful appearance. "That way you can judge his ability... and he can judge yours."

Cassius frowned, clearly displeased with the delay. "I need to leave too. I have something to attend to."

"Please let him be for now," Gizmo said, his tone making it clear this wasn't a request.

Cassius stared at the portal for a long moment, watching as Arthur disappeared into the forest. "Well, for now," he conceded reluctantly. "And that is it."

As Cassius turned to leave, Gizmo's childlike face split into a smile that never reached his ancient eyes. The portal shifted once more, focusing not on Arthur but on the dungeon itself, where shadows deeper than the void itself stirred with anticipation.

"Yes," Gizmo murmured to himself once Cassius was gone. "For now."

---

The journey back to the beast clan territories was tense, the silence between Cassius and Nara broken only by the sounds of their horses and the forest around them. Cassius rode slightly ahead, his back straight, his golden armor catching the afternoon sun. Nara followed, her silver-white hair bound in a warrior's braid, her beast clan heritage evident in the fluid grace of her movements.

"Nara," Cassius said suddenly, not looking back at her. "Is there something you need to let me know?"

She tensed, her enhanced senses detecting the suspicion in his voice. Had he noticed Arthur's scent on her? Had someone seen them in Gizmo's garden? She kept her expression neutral, though her heart raced.

"No," she replied evenly. "Either way, you will stick to your opinion," she added, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.

Cassius reined his horse to a stop, turning to face her. The divine light that constantly surrounded him had grown stronger in recent months, making him appear more icon than man. "I make necessary decisions," he said, his tone self-righteous. "Decisions that would change the world."

Memories flashed through Nara's mind—Cassius as he had been when they first met, laughing, passionate, respectful of her strength and wisdom. That man had slowly disappeared as his divine powers grew, replaced by this rigid, judgmental stranger who wore her husband's face.

"Cassius, enough with your stories," she snapped, her eyes briefly shifting to their beast form—vertical pupils in amber irises. "I don't need—"

Her words cut off as she caught a scent on the wind—unwashed bodies, cheap ale, and the distinctive smell of poorly cured leather. "We're not alone," she warned, her hand moving to the curved dagger at her hip.

As if summoned by her words, six men emerged from the trees ahead, blocking the road. Their mismatched armor and hungry expressions marked them as bandits, though something about their positioning suggested more organization than typical road thieves.

"Well, well," the largest man called, a crude axe resting on his shoulder. "Fancy travelers on a lonely road. Toll's due, friends."

Cassius didn't even bother to draw his sword. "Go away," he said coldly. "Nothing good is coming out of this."

The bandits exchanged glances, clearly not expecting such calm dismissal. The leader's eyes narrowed as he took in Cassius's golden armor and the divine light that surrounded him.

"Should we be concerned, boys?" he asked his companions with mock fear. "The pretty man glows!"

Their laughter died as Cassius dismounted, handing his reins to Nara without looking at her. "Stay here," he ordered. "This won't take long."

The first bandit charged with a roar, axe raised high. Cassius moved with blinding speed, his hand shooting out to grasp the man's throat before the axe could begin its downward arc. Divine light flared, and the bandit's scream cut off as his flesh blackened and crumbled, his body collapsing into ash that scattered in the breeze.

The remaining bandits froze in horror, but it was too late for retreat. Cassius raised his hand, and beams of searing light erupted from his palm, impaling two more bandits through their chests. They didn't even have time to scream before their bodies disintegrated.

"Please," one of the survivors begged, dropping his weapon. "We didn't know—"

"Your ignorance doesn't excuse your sin," Cassius intoned, his voice resonating with divine power. Demonbane slid from its sheath with a sound like a distant choir, its blessed edge glowing white-hot.

Nara watched from horseback, her expression carefully neutral despite the churning in her stomach. This wasn't justice or even self-defense—it was execution. The Cassius she had fallen in love with would have disarmed these men, perhaps turned them over to local authorities. This Cassius, this divine avenger, saw only sinners deserving punishment.

When it was over, nothing remained of the bandits but ash and scattered equipment. Cassius cleaned his blade meticulously before resheathing it, the divine light around him dimming to its usual glow.

"Hired thugs," he said as he remounted his horse. "Too organized for simple bandits. Someone wanted to delay us."

Nara said nothing, though she had noticed the same thing. What troubled her more was how little the killing had affected him—no elevated heartbeat, no change in scent that would indicate stress or regret. It was as if he had swatted insects rather than ended human lives.

They rode on in silence, Nara's thoughts turning increasingly to Arthur. His darkness had been warm, alive, responsive—nothing like the cold, rigid light that consumed more of her husband each day.