Stuck as a Villain!

Chapter 38: Distraction!

The Soulless Sanctuary. The Darkest Abyss. The Void of Existence.

There are many names given to this supernatural monument but the most commonly known name was The Runic Temples.

From the first observation, Seth felt that he has been in this kind of place in the past but still the anxiety he was feeling while entering inside was whole another level.

The Two-Crowned Temple reaches up to 50 feet in height from the ground. The infrastructure was wholly made up of a strange kind of stone that had versatile abilities.

Alchemical experiments to break through these walls never ceased since ancient times but to no avail. Brute strength of High ranking warriors, beasts, and whatnot has also proven to be futile.

Only the attacks with Soul Energy showed some difference. No, it did not affect the Temples whatsoever. But the backlash which the mages felt was something near to irreversible.

Humans concluded that to put a shut on these Temples, one has to destroy them from the inside. There was no other way and so Seth and his group walked on that path.

The group came to a halt around the entrance of the Temple which was huge enough to even allow a three-story mansion inside.

There were scribbles in runic language spread all over but Seth has little to no knowledge of it to even understand a single syllable.

Fortunately, there was no need to understand the language in order to open the entrance since there was none in existence who had completely mastered the literature of Runes.

Professor Cedric extended his hand and transferred his Soul Energy into the small orb built in the middle of the doors.

The students at the back were equally nervous like Seth but unlike the latter, they have the freedom to show their anxiety and console each other in times like these.

It may be because of her undivided attention toward Seth, Anabelle seemed awfully calm. Or to say, the girl she paired up with—Carta Henrique—was borderline petrified because of Anabelle's temperament.

The doors finally parted with a low screeching sound followed by a loud howl of wind which previously was trapped inside of the Temple.

"Don't lose sight of your partner and act responsibly in a state of emergency."

Seth's voice reached up to the group as they instinctively nodded and started walking forward.

Looking to his left, Arata found Serena was slightly trembling. He assumed that she was frightened of the Temple so he did what he felt right at the moment.

"Ah… "

Looking down, Serena found her right hand being wrapped by Arata's as he spoke in a warming tone.

"Don't worry. I will protect you."

Serena wanted to say that she actually wasn't scared and just felt extremely cold but the way Arata said those words, Serena felt it would make him dejected.

With a heavy sigh, she curled her lips in defeat and replied in a whispering tone.

"I will be relying on you then."

_._._

The inside of the Temple was just as bone-freezing as the outside.

The ceiling of the monument was extremely far from the ground. Nearly impossible to believe that something this high could even exist.

The room in which they first walked in was around 3600 sq ft with dim illumination lightened with fire lambs fixated at a decent height.

Since the room seemed like the first stage of the Temple, everyone was no longer advancing forward.

Cautiously surveying the surroundings everyone had their guards up since no one knew from where something might erupt.

Seth who had a clear remembrance of this event, thanks to the notes he prepared just some days after his transmigration, awaited for some moments.

He could have informed everyone sooner but that would have been suspicious.

Roaming his eyes, Seth rested them on the ceiling as he called out for others.

"There they are."

Raising his hand, Seth sent basic Psychic radiation upward as everyone followed his line of sight and paled soon after witnessing what followed.

***KHEEEEK***

**KHEEK**

Tens of dark small creatures descended from the ceiling which some moments ago was entirely invisible to the students despite everyone having enhanced senses.

"Ahh!"

"Don't panic, Rumera!"

"Are they bats?!"

"Shit I can't hit them with my Wind blades."

The students started slowly launching their attacks but very minimal of them actually put any damage against such a heavy amount.

The unison of screeching sounds as if the creatures were creating a loud ultrasonic wave radiation toward the ground level.

Fortunately, Seth attacked them first since now their coordination was quite unbalanced otherwise it would have damaged the listener's hearing.

Along with the sonic echo, the mutated bats were even launching attacks at the humans with their small yet needle-like teeth ready to inject their prey with slow yet effective venom.

Seth was defending himself easily since it was no different to fight the bats he had in his previous life. Just a little bigger, nothing else.

Using a small one-handed staff, he was hammering the creatures who were approaching him without any difficulty. Seth had the means to direct his psychic waves and damage the bats but he didn't do so.

For two reasons he has to play low-key.

First, he was here to inspect the worthy gems. Second, Seth was lazy AF to move more than necessary.

Arata on the other side was using his blade to slash the bats who were trying to attack him and Serena.

He was not having many troubles but the problem was his comrades who were slowly getting overwhelmed by the number.

The Sonic Waves weren't able to unsettle his movements but it was not true for others. And Serena also seemed quite scared of these creatures as well.

Looking over his shoulder Arata expected that maybe Anabelle might also need assistance but she was just standing all alone without a worry in the world.

Arata wasn't sure what she did but the bats weren't even batting an eye at the girl. Like she has detached herself from everyone and stood there just an omnipotent being.

Arata was slightly startled by her nonchalant behavior but his focus soon converged on the situation at hand.

"Rena. Use your Levitation on me and help me get that fire torch."

Serena was surprised hearing the request but she was not a complete amateur to ponder long at moments like these.

Nodding she extended her hand and lifted Arata off the ground. She has become proficient enough with her skill to help Arata reach up to the fire lamp without any jerks except for the obstacles which came in between.

Seth watched the hero proceeding according to the plot.

Arata's motive was to augment his blade with flames and kill the bats with more proficiency. It was just as Seth expected from the proactive protagonist.

However, due to the slight distraction, a single bat suddenly latched on Seth's shoulder and instantly pierced his neck.

"Argh!"

The hot sensation of venom being injected into his blood, made Seth groan. But what he did not expect from this small wound was the massive alterations in the plot which followed by…

___________

A/N: - Drop a comment if you are liking the story. And do let me know if the pace becomes too fast or slow.