Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

"Divine Dread."

A small feminine voice echoed within the place.

Before Ragnar could turn, something hit, blasting all over his body.

Like thousands of needles puncturing his entire body.

Ragnar waved his hand, blasting away whatever was touching him.

He quickly pulled himself as he felt a mild burning throughout his whole body.

Ragnar slowly looked up, ignoring the stinging pain.

Mariam stood a few steps away from him, with her trembling hands extended towards him.

Ragnar tilted his head. "What did you—?"

His words halted as a drop of blood leaked out of his lips.

"Cough!"

Ragnar coughed more and more blood out of his mouth.

His gaze turned towards his hand as he saw vines crawling under his skin.

Ragnar's breath grew heavier with each passing second.

The vines crept like veins of fire beneath his skin, writhing and tightening, as if the earth itself had invaded his body.

He staggered, clutching at his chest, but the more he tried to rip them out, the deeper they burrowed.

His veins glowed faintly green, pulsing in rhythm with Mariam's trembling fingers.

Mariam's knees shook, sweat pouring down her brow, but she didn't falter.

Her eyes were half-lidded, her lips moving silently as she whispered the spell again, forcing the vines deeper.

The more time passed…the more he felt it.

There were trees….

….Hundreds and thousands of them growing inside his body.

He felt vines crawling up his throat.

He coughed a mouthful of blood as he extended his hand towards Mariam. "…Mother."

It was only for a split second.

But Mariam hesitated, stopping the growth of the trees just for a second.

And that was more than enough for him.

"….Ret..urn to Zero."

Ragnar spoke with difficulty before his body shook.

Everything that happened to his body reversed.

The spell that affected him was gone like it was never there.

"NO—!!"

Ragnar burst forward before Mariam could get a hold of herself.

An uppercut straight at her jaw sent her flying away from him.

She forced her body to balance as she landed on her feet.

"As emotional as always, aren't you?" He asked, fixing his clothes. "Can't believe you hesitated to kill me."

Mariam's lips quivered, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth as she wiped it.

Her jaw ached from the blow, but her eyes never left Rangar.

Her chest rose and fell sharply, fury boiling beneath her pain. "Shut up—."

"You know father also hesitated." Ragnar cut in her words. "He could have killed me yet he…hesitated."

He glanced back at the half-dead Mortis laying on the ground. "His emotions were pure hate, not yours."

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

Mariam snapped as she conjured hundreds of branches that burst towards Ragnar.

The branches shot forward like a forest brought to life.

He didn't move at first. He simply stood with his arms loose at his sides.

At last, a burning crimson mark began to appear on his forehead.

The air around him twisted, an equal amount of branches burst out intercepting all of hers.

"You forgot who I am, mother." Ragnar spoke, walking towards her. "….I am the greatest Segyal to ever be born."

Mariam refused to respond as her eyes never left him.

Taking in a deep breath, she began forming another spell. "You are nothing but a disgrace—."

"Urgh, shut up."

Ragnar spoke, waving his hand as the crimson mark on his forehead shone.

In an instant, Mariam felt her power deplete, the once enormous mana reserve was now empty just by starting the spell.

"UGHKK—!"

A sudden punch on her abdomen made her buckle over as her eyes rolled back.

Ragnar grabbed her by the hair before slamming his knee at her face.

With the strength and defense of a Primeval, that alone almost made her lose her consciousness.

When Ragnar let go of her hair, she fell on her knees, blood pouring out her nose.

"…. It's such a pity, mother." Ragnar spoke, looking down at her. "Your sacrifice meant nothing."

He slowly crouched down to look right into her eyes.

"You know why I became like this?" Ragnar said, grabbing her hair to force her face up. "It's because of you, mother."

Mariam glared at his once-loved face, her hand moved as she slapped his face.

"I should have never birthed a demon like you!"

Ragnar rubbed his cheek with his thumb while he smiled.

"It is your greatest honor to give birth to me." He spoke, grinning widely. "….And about those two you were trying to save so hard."

Ragnar stood up as he turned to look at the eastern side.

Nerissa and Nymeria had run far away from the city, but he could still see them.

He drew in a deep breath, his body floated in the air and shot in their direction.

It took him only a few seconds to reach where they were.

Nerissa and Nymeria skidded to a halt, the color draining from their faces.

They had been running for what felt like forever, but still—it hadn't been enough.

Nymeria's breathing was sharp and shallow, sweat dripping down her pale skin.

"You thought you could run?" Ragnar's voice rumbled, almost amused. "My eyes see farther than your legs could ever take you."

Nerissa immediately got in stance to fight but—.

"You can't fight me, Nerissa."

Ragnar spoke as the mark on his forehead shone slightly.

Once again he got the advantage of being Sabaoth's Avatar.

Their strength was devoured by an unknown source.

Ragnar grabbed them by their throats before he brought them to Mariam.

The moment Ragnar landed before her, Mariam's heart clenched.

Her battered body screamed in pain, but her trembling hands still reached out weakly.

Ragnar's grin stretched wider as he forced both girls down, slamming them onto their knees in front of Mariam.

"Look, mother." His tone was mocking, cruel, venomous. "…I brought your precious granddaughter and daughter-in-law."

Mariam shook her head, blood dripping from her nose and lips. "Stop… please…"

Ragnar glanced at Nerissa, who was trying her hardest to pull Nymeria behind her.

"…I haven't seen you in a while, Nerissa." He spoke, his voice filled with disgust. "And I still hate that face of yours."

"Shut up." Nerissa said, her voice came out trembling. "…I never wanted to see—."

Ragnar kicked her face, sending her flying.

"Pathetic as always." He spoke, shrugging out his leg in disgust.

But at that moment, his gaze turned towards the sky that had lost its light.

The entire sky was made out of nothing but a cluster of stars visible to naked eyes despite it being daytime.

And shred of mana in the atmosphere was moving in the eastern direction.

He even felt the mana inside of him being attracted to the source.

Ragnar felt an uncomfortable feeling deep within him at the phenomenon.

He instantly thought of ending his work here.

Turning his gaze, he looked at his own daughter, struck still from fear.

He moved towards her.

Nerissa quickly pushed her weak body forward. "No, Rangar, not her—."

He grabbed the girl by her throat, raising her till her feet floated.

He leaned close, his voice low. "You were a fucking disappointment." He spoke. "But you will still serve your purpose."

With a deep breath, he began absorbing the blessing of Anastasia within her.

"Leave her!"

Nerissa pushed herself up, trying to stop him.

CRUNCH.

The sound of flesh getting punctured echoed within the place.

---

[A few minutes earlier.]

[Himmel's POV.]

"….Come down, Edwin." I spoke softly, looking at the man. "Your ancestor would like to have a talk with you."

A vein popped on his forehead followed by more.

"What bullshit are you spouting!?" He snapped, his gaze burning through me. "Have you gone mad!?"

I pointed Naraka in his direction. "….I have tolerated you for a long time." I spoke softly. "I just can't now."

Edwin's chest heaved, his breath sharp and uneven.

His eyes, normally cold and calculating, were now wild, burning with pride and desperation.

"You dare insult me with the name of my ancestor!? You, a child barely crawling in the world of power, think you can stand before me?"

"…You've been blinded by your own shadow, Edwin." I spoke softly, moving towards him. "You think you carry 'my' legacy… but all you've done is stain it."

"DO NOT INSULT HIM." He snapped, glaring at me. "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A—."

"Shut up!"

I snapped back, turning my body slightly to point at Sekhmet floating closely.

"Do you not see, the very goddess that made your entire race!?"

The crimson eyes of Sekhmet, who was looking at me with adorning love, turned towards him.

It was cold and dismissive, like he wasn't worth her time.

The veins bulging across his temple grew even more.

"She is nothing but a fake!" He snapped. "She can—arghh!"

Before he could say anything more, his eyes bulged as he coughed blood.

Despite not having the power of killing directly, Sekhmet still had enough power to influence them.

I raised my hand to stop her as he quickly gained his strength back.

His mouth shut as he kept on glaring at me.

"Come forth."

A voice suddenly echoed within the entire place, making everyone's head turn.

There, a young man stood staring back at me.

"My kingdom."

In an instant, the space around him wrapped as he vanished along with an entire part of the army.

….That face may look like Aimar but not the enormous power behind him.

It was like he was blessed by multiple gods….which Aimar wasn't.

I slowly parted my lips. "….Oli..ver?"

"AHHH!!"

My gaze quickly turned as Edwin rushed at me with a sword aiming straight at my neck.

Edwin's roar cut through the air as his blade sliced forward.

I tilted my head slightly, Naraka already moving.

CLANG!

The steel met my weapon, the impact sending a shockwave between us.

Dust lifted off the ground as our eyes locked.

His face twisted, veins bulging across his forehead.

"I'll cut you apart, Himmel! I'll prove I'm the heir—!"

"Stop barking."

My voice was low, steady. Naraka slid along his sword, redirecting the strike.

I stepped forward and drove my knee into his ribs.

CRACK.

He staggered back, coughing blood, but his grip on the blade never wavered.

He burst towards me with unimaginable strength and speed.

The previous me would have had a hard time following his movements, but not me.

I raised Naraka as I easily deflected all his blows.

At the same time, I used Sekhmet's ability.

A sea of blood ocean formed around me, pushing the vampire away.

My body floated as an enormous wave of blood folded like a cloak.

I threw Naraka high in the air, using the surrounding mana as a weight to hold it in place.

"I WILL KILL YOU!!"

Edwin roared, rushing towards me with his crimson sword.

I leaned in as the wave moved with my movement.

The crimson blood swallowed the vampire, tightening around him as he reached closer.

Bam!

Crack!!

I punched his face with enough force to dislocate his jaw.

But it quickly healed, which gave me more than enough strength to punch him more.

His eyes burned brighter, bloodlust dripping from his aura as he let out a guttural growl.

"You think this will stop me?!"

I didn't answer. My fist swung again, then again.

Each strike broke something in his face, only for his regeneration to pull it back together.

The ocean of blood around us coiled tighter, pressing against his body like a vice.

He struggled, every muscle in his frame bulging as he tried to break free.

"FREE ME!" He snapped, making me stop. "And I will show you real strength!?"

I leaned back as I slowly loosened the grip around him. "Then show me."

He remained momentarily stunned as he looked at me.

Then he began to laugh like a madman. "You made a mistake!"

He pulled back before he gestured with his hand.

"Come forth."

He spoke, his voice filled with relief.

"My kingdom."

A thunderous roar, and my body was swallowed by the space around me.

When I blinked my eyes, I found myself in a completely different space.

The architecture of the place was organic, with walls that pulsed like veins and floors coated in a thin, sticky layer of blood.

Edwin stood there in the middle.

Behind him, a colossal, beating heart was suspended in a cathedral-like chamber at the kingdom's center.

It pulsed rhythmically, pumping blood through visible arteries that snaked across the kingdom.

I tilted my head as I felt a sense of weird nostalgia from the place.

….Like I had been here before.

I turned to look back at Edwin, who was looking behind me with wary eyes.

I turned to look behind, finding the two Goddesses right behind me.

Hm, I never knew they could come inside someone's kingdom as well.

"Don't worry about them, I only brought them to stop the war and intimidate you." I spoke, spreading my arms slightly.

"It cost me almost nothing to bring them out anyway."

He kept on glaring at me as he slowly began to smile.

"It doesn't matter." He spoke, laughing to himself. "You are going to die here anyway!"

He laughed out loud.

"NOTHING CAN SAVE YOU FROM ME!!" He spun, showing his kingdom. "I am an immortal in my kingdom!!"

I tilted my head as I kept on staring at him.

Raising my hand, I crossed my fingers.

He gave me an amused look. "Are you going to summon your kingdom?" He smiled. "Don't you know it's impossible to open a kingdom inside someone's stronger—."

"Come forth."

I spoke softly, ignoring his blabbering.

"My kingdom."

In an instant, his entire kingdom stopped in place.

Crack!

Something cracked and before he could understand, his entire kingdom crumbled.

There was nothing left of the place as we returned back to the battlefield.

He looked around frantically, his once-proud kingdom reduced to nothing but dust and silence.

He stumbled back, his face twisting between disbelief and terror.

"Wh… what did you do? That's impossible! You can't—no one can destroy a kingdom!"

I lowered my hand slowly, my voice calm. "You wish."

Edwin's lips quivered, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "But why are we back…."

"Don't you understand?" I said, looking around. "This is my kingdom."

As in cue, the sky around us vanished as I felt an enormous amount of strength and information.

My mind felt like burning as I forced myself to calm down.

With thousands of stars now illuminating the place, the world felt more alive.

A gust of wind brushed past his face as he immediately began to age.

I immediately moved towards him as he tried to run away.

My hand snapped towards his hand and—.

CRACKHHH!!

I uprooted his entire arm from his body.

Before he could scream, I grabbed one of his legs and arms and pulled them apart from his body.

The battlefield was dead silent as Edwin now lay on the ground gasping for air.

I raised my hand and Naraka returned to me.

I aligned the Naraka at his neck.

"Live eternity in misery."

Just as I was about to swing the blade, I stopped.

My gaze turned as I felt a distinct feeling of resemblance. "…Nymeria?"

"Haha—."

SWISH!!

Edwin's laugh stopped as I cut off his head clean.