Struggling as a Villain

*KLANG*

Ethan has never felt this helpless before. Just a few hours ago, he was finally met by a small flame of hope, and now, a catastrophe has descended on Awsperg.

His whole body was trembling under great anguish but he held his blade and did everything in his strength to protect his mother.

The rescue wasn't going to arrive. He knew it. Someone as unimportant and unworthy as him wouldn't receive any help from anyone. He only has the hope that someone would emerge victorious over the ultimate danger and this series of onslaught would come to a halt.

But how long would it take? Can Ethan hold his ground until then?

The five-foot-tall headless monster was toying with him. Neither killing Ethan nor letting him land even a blow on the Bate.

The Bate was having fun.

"*KHLEEEENNGH*" Bashing its massive fists on the ground the inhumane provoked Ethan to take charge.

Ethan's vision blurred as he glared at the Bate, blood dripping down his head. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his sword so tightly that his flesh felt on the verge of tearing.

He wouldn't lose here—not after his mother had finally been healed!

"Yaaaaaaahhhh!" He roared, charging forward with every ounce of strength in his legs.

Swinging his blade in a fierce arc aimed at the Bate's collarbone, Ethan saw it shift left. With a desperate stomp, he anchored his feet and sharply redirected his weapon, driving it down in a vicious diagonal cut.

"GOT YOU!" Ethan exclaimed, having his weapon interact with the enemy for the first time. However,

*CLANG*

Much to his horror, the sword just tapped on the hard skin of the Bate before bouncing away.

"*GHRRRRUGHH!!*" The Bate howled, feeling insulted after getting hit by the human before it raised its passive claw and slapped it against Ethan's chest—sending him flying like a broken kite.

"Akh!!" Ethan cried as he felt something in his chest breaking and his breathing becoming unsteady. He was barely able to contain his consciousness but his body moved on instinct and sheer will—rising once again to defend his mother.

.... however, the moment he got up and looked at the Bate—he froze.

There was a familiar female who was clinging to the Bate's feet, trying to stop it from moving towards Ethan.

"M-Mom...no...please don't..." Ethan's mind failed to process the whole thing as he weakly mumbled.

His body felt weaker than ever, and in that precise moment, all the dreams he had seen in these past few hours with his mother began to flash through his eyes.

He desperately wanted to save his mother, but he knew he couldn't. He was too far away and the Bate had already raised its feet to crush his mother.

"M-Ma...." Ethan raised his hand weakly in her direction, wishing every God he had prayed before to save her. Save her in exchange for anything. He couldn't bear to live without her. He-he...

**SQUELCH**

But no God heard his prayer, and the Bate lowered its massive feet to crush his mother.

Ethan fell to his knees and stared at the bloody mess which once was his mother. The only warrior who never gave up on life and always encouraged Ethan to keep on moving forward. The only person who never left his side and someone whom Ethan promised to protect.

But...gone...she was...gone...gone....gone...left him....abandoned him.....gone...she was gone...Gone...GONE....GONE....GONE....GONE!!!

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

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Richard stared in disbelief at the pillar of light descending on the surface—like it was responding to someone's cries.

The ground quaked under the sheer intensity of the raw energy. From pebbles to boulders, everything around him defied gravity, rising in a symphony of power as he witnessed the emergence of the Savior.

The Emissary of Light has appeared.

"Young master! Are you all right?" Lilia arrived by his side. Her focus never was on the surroundings nor the radiant tower descending from the heavens. All she did was look at him all over and found her mind racing in concern.

"I am fine. What about Cristina?" His voice seeped through a dry throat but other than the scorching heat he was feeling in his throat, there was not any major injury.

"She is fine for now."

Richard heaved a sigh as he turned toward the behemoth who remained standing.

"Unless that big guy doesn't move, these small Headlings will continue to emerge."

Lilia advised, "For now, take some rest, master. I will keep you safe here—"

"No Lilia. You won't be able to fight those beings alone. Do me a favor and feed me a potion. The one I had burst and got wasted."

Richard felt a pang of guilt for those many potion vials that evaporated due to the intense heat he radiated.

The reward from the System was too overpowered but thankfully, it wasn't something Richard couldn't use.

Lilia took out a vial of recovery potion and helped Richard to gulp it down.

It felt soothing to have something down his throat. Richard felt a lot better as he slowly gulped the potion....when his eyes suddenly went towards th Headless Puppet around which a streak of light was flying.

"What the..." Richard moved Lilia's hand away as he watched the luminescent figure currently striking against the Headless Puppet mindlessly.

"Is that a person?" Lilia frowned, "How can a person fly? And what even is he trying to achieve?"

Richard's eyes narrowed as he slowly mumbled, "Trying to take revenge."

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Eleanor sat on the balcony of the house she was renting. It was situated far away from the town, but from here, she could see everything happening within the town using the far-seeing artifact.

She was having the tea of her preference. Once in a while, she glanced back, and fortunately, the two were still lying lifelessly on the bed.

'She is so gonna get pissed...' Inwardly Eleanor muttered.

She drugged Emily and Elizabeth last night. She knew they would definitely interfere with the incident today and she couldn't let that happen. Letting Ethan get assisted was one thing. She cared for him. She didn't want to see him sad. However, without blessings, not only Ethan but Eleanor, Emily, and every single being living on this planet would suffer.

When she was sent back in time, Eleanor was told a single thing,

'Take all necessary steps to prevent the same mistake from happening again.'

That's why she closed her heart and didn't allow her emotions to manipulate her. If she wants a good life with Ethan, then she needs to keep things according to what this world requires.

**BOOOOM**

Seeing the streak of light crashing mindlessly against the Headless Puppet, Eleanor sighed. She knew Ethan was beyond devastated, and in his agony, he was doing nothing but venting.

The Headless Puppet was not receiving damage from the attacks but possessing the Divine Ether, Ethan must have gathered the attention of the Minx controlling the Puppet.

'Unless the Puppet doesn't move its feet, the Headlings would continue to spawn and slowly Awsperg would cease to exist...' Eleanor judged the situation going a little out of hand.

Ethan was furious and Eleanor was aware of the reason. He lost his mother. She saw her getting killed.

But now, Ethan was putting his strength against an immovable mountain. Although Ethan was now probably a lot more stronger than he could have ever become through his normal training, against the behemoth, Ethan couldn't do anything.

'This equation is going a little off...' Only one person can calm Ethan down in his current state. But that person was currently lying unconscious behind Eleanor.

There was no need for Ethan to stay here...rather the more time he would remain here the more danger he would invite.

Eleanor was getting worried as she stood on her feet and pondered what she could do.

It was then....the Headless Puppet moved.

No, more like, it was trembling.

Its feet moved and the massive behemoth stepped back. But not because of the restless assault of Ethan. Not at all

Rather, the Headless Puppet was responding to a presence beyond any rank, beyond any conceivable measure. This was not just another formidable opponent; it was a force of nature, an existence that shattered the very concept of limits, defying all known laws and hierarchies.

This was a being of overwhelming power, someone destined to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the deities themselves. Their strength was not merely immense; it was transcendent, a power that could reshape worlds and alter the fate of entire realms.

The Witch of Calamity—Duchess Scarlette has joined the battle.

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A/N:- You can absolutely hate Eleanor or relate to her. She is doing everything possible to make Ethan strong and capable enough to finish the task. It's given that she is no Yandere nor obsessed with him.

Now, enough with the note, let's end the chapter. Let me know in the comments if you are hyped for the next one.