Why Am I The Villain?! Reincarnated in My Favorite Novel-Chapter 52: Ashes of Defiance

A psychic pulse erupted around him. Space warped, forming a sphere of antigravity. Comets veered off course, smashing into the ground around him, carving craters that vaporized the desert. The shockwave made him stumble, but he held his ground. His eyes met Darius’s, and for the first time, he saw a flicker of irritation in them.

Darius vanished. Not a quick dash—no, a pure teleportation, made possible by the absolute heat warping physical laws. Nero had no time to react. Darius’s fist, wreathed in plasma, slammed into his side. The impact unleashed a sonic boom, and Nero was hurled across the crater, his body carving a trench through shattered glass.

He coughed, blood trickling from his lips.

’No question about it. I don’t stand a chance. This isn’t just a Deviant. Not even a monster. It’s... a god.’

Darius advanced, his plasma sword dragging behind him, scorching a glowing furrow. The black glass beneath his feet bubbled, turning to lava. His eyes, twin miniature suns, burned with terrifying intensity.

"Let’s end this," he murmured.

He raised his sword. The entire sky seemed to condense into the blade, a supernova poised to strike.

Nero, on his knees, raised a trembling hand. A new singularity formed, denser, more unstable.

The air screamed, sucked into the abnormal gravity. But Darius didn’t stop. He struck.

The singularity exploded, unable to contain the energy. An apocalyptic blast ravaged the battlefield, vaporizing everything for miles. When the light faded, Nero lay on the ground, his body barely recognizable, fractured like a broken statue. Darius, unscathed, stood over him, his sword plunged into the earth.

"Concepts, probabilities. Just words. I am fire. And fire doesn’t forgive."

Nero, barely conscious, mumbled something. Darius frowned and leaned closer.

"What’s that?"

"I... came back... to redeem myself," Nero gasped, his voice broken but clear.

Darius let out a harsh, almost scornful laugh. He raised his sword for the final blow.

"Redeem yourself? For what? Your past? I don’t care, Zeref. You burn, end of story."

But Nero, against all odds, locked eyes with Darius, speaking with absolute conviction.

"I know the demons, Darius."

Darius’s arm froze. His sword, inches from Nero’s throat, trembled slightly. A glint of surprise flashed in his blazing eyes.

Nero coughed, blood staining the ground, but he pressed on, his voice gaining strength.

"I know about the Apocalypse. The demons. The gates. Everything. You’re not the only one who’s seen the Outer World."

A heavy silence fell. The ash-laden wind howled around them. Darius slowly lowered his sword, his gaze piercing Nero.

"How?"

Nero struggled to his feet, his eyes never leaving Darius’s.

"The mere fact that I know—isn’t that enough?"

Darius stood still, sword in hand. Then, slowly, a cruel smile curled his lips.

"So what? How does your knowing change anything?"

He raised his sword again, but there was a hesitation in his movement. Nero seized it.

"You can kill me, Darius. But you’ve seen it too. The world’s going to end, and even you can’t stop it."

Darius growled, his aura flaring. The ground beneath him fully melted, forming a pool of lava. But he didn’t strike. Not yet.

"And you think you can stop it?"

Nero stood, swaying but upright.

"This world can be saved. And I came back to do just that."

Darius let out a hollow laugh. He pointed his sword at Nero, the blade crackling with energy.

"You can barely handle a tenth of my power, and you claim you’ll defeat the apocalypse?"

Nero shook his head.

"It’s not raw strength that’ll save us—it’s hope. And I’ll be the symbol of that hope."

Another silence. Darius lowered his sword just enough for the blade to touch the ground. His burning eyes seemed to search Nero’s.

"Fine," he said at last. "Let’s say I believe you. Let’s say I let you live. What’s your plan, exactly?"

Nero took a shaky breath, his body trembling with effort.

"We find the gates. We stop the demons. Together. You and me. Unlike you, I know more."

Darius burst into a genuine laugh, but there was a hint of respect in his gaze. He sheathed his sword—or rather, let it dissolve in a shower of sparks. His aura dimmed slightly, though still oppressive.

"I’ll give you one chance. One. Prove your ’idea’ is worth something. But if you waste my time..."

He snapped his fingers, and a flame grazed Nero’s cheek. The pain was excruciating, but Nero didn’t flinch.

"...I’ll reduce you to ashes for good."

Nero nodded, a weary smile on his lips.

"Deal." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Suddenly, a cry pierced the scorched air.

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

Klein appeared at the crater’s edge, his hair disheveled, his face flushed with fury and panic. His eyes scanned the ravaged landscape—smoking craters, rivers of lava frozen in chaotic patterns. He stumbled on a cracked sheet of glass, nearly falling, before righting himself, fists clenched. His gaze landed on Darius, and pure, almost animalistic rage twisted his features.

"YOU!" he roared, pointing a trembling finger at Darius.

"Klein," Nero murmured, his voice soft but firm.

Klein ignored him, stalking toward Darius, who raised an eyebrow, amused. The heat around the fiery man intensified slightly, a silent warning. Klein stopped short, not out of fear, but because his body seemed to refuse to advance against that crushing aura. He gritted his teeth, his breath ragged.

"I’LL KILL YOU!" he spat.

Darius tilted his head, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Kid, you should learn to pick your fights. Or at least your words."

He took a step toward Klein, and the air crackled. Klein stepped back instinctively, but his eyes stayed locked on Darius’s, burning with defiance.

"Enough," Nero said, louder this time.

He stepped forward, swaying slightly, his body still marked by their clash. He placed a hand on Klein’s head, a near-paternal gesture despite his condition. Klein froze, turning to him, eyes wide.

"Master, he... he—"

"Enough," Nero interrupted with a tired smile. "And frankly, I’m exhausted. And naked, by the way."

He glanced down at his body, shrugging with exaggerated nonchalance.

"Not my best look, I’ll admit. So, Klein, get us back to the suite. I need a coffee... and some pants."

Klein blinked, thrown off by his master’s light tone. He opened his mouth to protest, but Nero’s calm, unshakable gaze silenced him. He shot one last glare at Darius, lips pursed, then nodded reluctantly.

"As you command, Master," he muttered.

He raised his hands, and a soft, almost silvery light enveloped the three men. The desert faded like a mirage, replaced by the familiar walls of the suite where it all began. The room, though slightly damaged from the initial altercation—cracked floors, blistered paint—felt almost peaceful compared to the chaos they’d left behind.

Nero collapsed onto a couch, wincing as his body protested. Klein, still tense, crossed his arms and glared at Darius. The latter, nonchalant, leaned against a wall.

Darius let out a hearty laugh that echoed through the room.

"I like your guts, kid. But you’re nowhere near the level to glare at me like that."

He pointed at Nero.

"That’s your problem," he sneered. "You’re protecting a guy who uses you as a human shield."

"Enough, Klein," Nero said, eyes still closed, his voice weary but authoritative. "Don’t bother my guest."

Klein clenched his fists but obeyed, turning to fetch a blanket and handing it to Nero. Nero wrapped it around himself with a lopsided grin.

Darius, still leaning against the wall, crossed his arms, his gaze shifting from Klein to Nero.

"Well," he said, breaking the silence.

He paused, then added, almost as an afterthought:

"By the way, the Owl knows you’re alive."

Nero, adjusting the blanket, didn’t react immediately. He sat back slowly, his expression unreadable.

"And?" he asked, almost casually.

Darius chuckled.

"He’s the one who tipped me off about you. He’s looking for you, Zeref. You know what that means."

Nero shrugged, leaning back on the couch.

"I know. But he’s got nothing solid. Zeref’s just a name. He can search all he wants—he’ll only find air."

Darius studied him for a moment, then nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"You’d better pull this off, then. Because if you fail, I’ll personally make sure your ’ghost’ vanishes for good."

Nero met his gaze, his smile unwavering.

"Noted."

Darius straightened, ready to leave, but paused halfway to the door.

"You claimed to know more..."

Nero ran a hand through his hair, wincing as his muscles protested.

"You want proof, is that it?"