Villain: Ultimate Mutation System in the Alternate World

'No, I need to focus on my own problems first,' he thought, shaking his head to push those doubts aside. There was no room for distractions now.

It was finally his turn. For reasons he couldn't fathom, the flaming bird had saved him for last.

"I'm ready! Hit me with your best shot!" Reign stood tall, confidence brimming. He had already figured out how to pass this trial.

The flaming bird complied without hesitation. A wave of orange flame surged toward him.

He steeled himself, telling himself that his choices couldn't be judged by normal standards.

But the moment the fire touched him, the pain was beyond anything he had imagined. It wasn't just heat—his very soul felt like it was being torn apart.

"I was just joking, give me some slack!" he shouted, but the flames didn't let up.

He realized then that all those talks about enlightenment were pointless. This wasn't about some higher understanding; this was raw punishment.

As his skin burned, panic set in. His body was being reduced to ash, inch by inch.

The thought hit him hard—he was going to die at this rate.

Desperately, he gathered every ounce of energy to form a barrier, but the fire scorched straight through it, searing his soul.

"This isn't how it ends," he thought, clenching his fists as his energy fizzled against the relentless attack.

As he endured the unbearable pain, doubt crept in.

Was his heart too evil?

Had all the things he'd done, all the lives he'd taken, finally caught up to him?

"To hell with that," he muttered, a wild grin tugging at his lips. "Of course my heart is dark. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be me."

Drawing on his energy, he began to focused on regenerating the charred parts of his body, forcing his flesh to reform.

The pain was still unbearable, but now he was pushing back.

Every time the flames consumed part of him, he rebuilt it, healing faster than they could destroy.

Now it wasn't just about surviving—it had become a battle of endurance.

"Come on then!" he growled, his voice barely audible over the roar of flames that surged around him.

"Let's see who lasts longer!"

The flaming bird, noticing his stubbornness, intensified the flames it unleashed.

In a moment of desperation, he decided to remove his skill "System Cloaking."

It had been a disguised measure, but it was draining his energy.

However—

'Wait... I'm getting stronger!'

He couldn't believe it at first. The flames that had been burning him just moments ago were now fueling him.

They didn't hurt anymore; instead, they seemed to empower him like he was some kind of solar panel.

The flaming bird, still busy in it's attack, had yet to realize what was happening.

Reign seized the opportunity, deciding to fully embrace the flames. He stepped forward, letting the fire engulf him, feeling its energy coursing through his veins.

[System: A massive amount of Unrefined Divine Energy is entering host body. System is converting it to Divine Energy.]

'So that's what's happening,' he chuckled to himself, finding it all ironic.

'System, can I break through to Demon King using this excess energy?' he asked, feeling the raw divine energy swirling inside him, barely contained.

[System: Host is nearing the threshold for Demon King breakthrough. Divine energy conversion is accelerating the process. Breakthrough is possible, but host must maintain focus to avoid instability.] Find more to read at empire

Reign's grin widened. The possibility of a breakthrough was right in front of him.

Unlike his original body, which had limitations tied to the rules of this world, his second one was different.

It had been born in this world, created to exist within its laws.

There was no need for complicated rituals or workarounds to bypass any restrictions. Here, he could ascend directly, without barriers.

[System: Host has enough energy to transcend. Would you like the system to assist?]

[Yes] or [No]

Without hesitation, he mentally selected [Yes].

[System: Beginning the evolution process. Host should remain focused. Energy instability detected, but manageable.]

His body vibrated as divine energy surged through him, driving him beyond his limit.

Every part of him felt like it was expanding, growing more powerful by the second.

His vision blurred, then sharpened. He could sense everything—the movement of air, the shift of heat from the flames, even the faint heartbeat of the flaming bird in front of him.

Then, the world seemed to slow, as if time bent to make room for his transformation.

Reign gritted his teeth, riding the wave of power as the system helped him refine the massive energy surging through him.

[System: Evolution nearing completion. Host's power is increasing.]

The pressure inside him built to its peak, and with a sudden, powerful release, it exploded outward, shaking the air and forcing the flaming bird to retreat from the sheer force.

Then, like a vacuum, his body absorbed all the scattered divine energy, drawing it back and settling within him.

Unlike his previous transformations, this one was far more controlled, more refined.

The energy within him felt tamed, flowing smoothly through his body rather than raging uncontrollably.

But just because it was calmer didn't mean it was any less impressive.

Wings materialized on his back—four of them this time.

Each one was massive, glowing with divine light, their feathers shimmering with raw power.

The sight of them alone would strike fear into anyone who saw him. The wings weren't just for show; they radiated energy, almost as if they held a piece of the divine within them.

His halo, too, had transformed.

What once had been a simple, glowing circle above his head now had sharp, jagged edges, giving it the appearance of a blazing sun.

It spun slowly, casting a golden glow that intensified the aura around him.

He could feel its power, like a crown of pure energy that marked his new status—something beyond mortal comprehension.

"An archangel!" the flaming bird's shocked voice echoed.

Reign turned to the creature and smiled. "How about I make you my mount?"