Reborn As a Villain Son With The Strongest Wife

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Lucius Arden collapsed to his knees.

His once-mighty Radiant Leonis lay motionless, its body drenched in golden blood.

The divine flames that once surrounded it… were completely extinguished.

Ironhorn stood tall, his Ascended Carnage Form slowly fading.

Cracks lined his obsidian armor, and his heavy breathing shook the ground.

I stepped forward, my sword still pointed at Lucius' throat.

The Holy Kingdom's greatest Beast Hunter… now trembling like a rat.

"…Kill me," Lucius rasped, blood dripping from his mouth.

I raised an eyebrow.

"What was that?"

Lucius clenched his teeth, his face twisted with hatred.

"I said… kill me, you damn villain."

He glared at me, hatred burning in his eyes.

"My Sacred Beast is gone… My honor is destroyed… I have nothing left. So do it. End me."

I stared at him for a long, long moment.

The sword in my hand trembled slightly.

I could kill him.

Right now.

End his life.

Crush his pride completely.

It would be justice, wouldn't it?

After all, he came here to kill me.

I could do it.

I should do it.

But then—

I felt Celestia's gaze.

She was watching me… smirking.

"Ara~ Will my dear husband turn into a true villain now?" she teased softly.

I gritted my teeth.

And then… I did something that surprised even myself.

I lowered my sword.

Lucius' eyes widened.

"…What the hell are you doing?"

I exhaled, my voice low and sharp.

"Killing you now would be mercy. And I don't give mercy to people like you."

Lucius froze.

I grabbed his hair, forcing his face to meet mine.

"You don't get to die, Lucius. You get to live."

His expression twisted in disbelief.

"You… you're sparing me?"

"No." I smiled coldly.

"I'm letting you rot in your failure."

Lucius' face contorted in disbelief.

"You… you can't be serious."

I tightened my grip on his hair.

"Oh, I'm dead serious."

I yanked his head back, forcing him to stare at the still, lifeless body of Radiant Leonis.

"Look at it," I whispered coldly.

Lucius trembled.

His once-proud Sacred Beast… now nothing but a corpse.

"You spent years training that beast. You believed it would make you unbeatable."

I leaned in, my voice a dark growl.

"And now? It's dead. And you're still alive."

Lucius' breathing turned ragged.

"Just… kill me," he rasped.

I chuckled coldly.

"No. That would be too easy. Instead—"

I shoved his face into the dirt.

"Live. Live with the fact that your greatest pride was destroyed by the very 'villain' you tried to kill."

Lucius trembled violently. His fists clenched, his teeth grinding together.

"I… I'll kill you one day…" he hissed.

I smirked.

"Good. I want you to try."

I turned to Celestia.

"Let's go. Ironhorn needs rest."

Celestia smiled seductively.

"Ara~ You're so cruel, darling~ Leaving him alive to suffer in his failure~"

I chuckled darkly.

"Killing him would've been mercy. I'm not feeling merciful today."

As I walked away—

Lucius' broken voice screamed behind me.

"I'LL KILL YOU, LEONHARDT! ONE DAY, I SWEAR—!!"

I didn't even turn around.

"You can try."