Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 557

That's it, that round sphere is the source of the ominous aura.

Despite its beautiful, gem-like appearance, the negative emotions it transmits through the electric field are nothing short of bizarre.

Sweat poured from my entire body as I instinctively backed away from the sphere. Just then, I felt a tug on my sleeve and was startled.

"Huh? No, don't. It's scary, big brother."

I glanced over to see Aria, pale and trembling.

Since she's more adept at handling electric fields than I am, her discomfort must be overwhelming.

"It's okay, it's okay, Pink."

I said, gripping her shaking hand.

No matter what, we need to either destroy that sphere or capture it and quickly figure out what it is.

But at that moment, Gabriel, struggling against his restraints, forcefully reached out and grabbed the sphere, shoving it into his mouth.

"...⁉ What are you trying to do?"

"Who knows? I don't even know what'll happen. But 'he' said that in desperate times, swallowing this would grant immense power."

Gabriel smirked defiantly, then gulped down the sphere.

This is bad. If we don't stop him now, something terrible will happen.

Overwhelmed by the ominous aura, I instinctively grabbed my rapier from the ground.

I infused it with magic, activated my second-level body enhancement, and reluctantly thrust it toward his heart.

"Guh...⁉"

The rapier pierced his chest, shattering the rock behind him.

Gabriel's face twisted in agony as he vomited blood and slowly slumped forward.

"...Did I do it?"

I definitely felt the impact.

But that sphere still bothered me.

As I hesitated, an overwhelming surge of magical energy erupted from Gabriel's body.

"W-what the⁉"

I tried to back away in shock, but my rapier wouldn't budge.

Soon, a grotesque black energy began to seep from Gabriel's body, unraveling the vines that had restrained him... no, wait.

It was consuming them.

Then, as Gabriel raised his head, I saw his face up close and shuddered.

His vitality was gone, his skin turned gray, his eyes dull and clouded, and blue veins bulged across his skin.

"Kuh...⁉"

Staying near him was dangerous.

I had no choice but to let go of my rapier and leap back to where the others were.

The next moment, the horrifying black energy surged toward us, as if trying to devour everything in its path.

"Everyone, hide behind me!"

"Y-yes!"

I expanded a magical barrier into a large sphere to protect everyone.

The black energy collided with the barrier, moving in a creepy, slug-like manner.

"R-Rid-sama! Look at that!"

Dan, trembling, pointed, and I couldn't believe my eyes.

"N-no! Stop! Don't come this way!"

"Go over there! Go that way!"

The black energy was consuming the restrained mercenaries one by one.

And as it did, the mercenaries vanished, leaving only their clothes and weapons behind.

Witnessing this, the remaining mercenaries turned pale and desperately tried to break free and escape.

While maintaining the barrier, I loosened the vines restraining them and used wind-attribute magic, "Wind Spear," to cut the ropes binding the mercenaries near Alice and the others.

"Activate your barriers or run away now!"

"Waaahhhh⁉"

The freed mercenaries scattered like spiders.

But the black energy chased after them, refusing to let them escape.

Some swung their weapons desperately, only to be consumed.

Others tried to activate barriers, but their power was insufficient, and they were devoured.

Some simply ran, but were caught and swallowed.

In an instant, the area became a hellscape filled with the mercenaries' agonized screams.

Amidst this chaos, one mercenary ran toward us, pleading for help.

But the black energy crawling on my barrier noticed him and leaped like a frog.

"No! Don't come this way!"

I shouted, but it was too late.

"N-no! No! I don't want this! Noooooo⁉"

The black energy mercilessly engulfed the mercenary from above.

He reached out to me with a look of agony and despair, but all that remained were his clothes and gear.

The black energy, having consumed him, leaped back into Gabriel.

Could it be using people as a source of magical energy?

I wanted to save the mercenaries, but if I let my guard down, the barrier would fail, and moving recklessly would endanger everyone.

"I hate this. That thing shouldn't exist. It's a mass of misery."

Amidst the mercenaries' cries, Aria covered her ears, trembling as she crouched down.

Ramu, Alice, and Dan tried to comfort her, but she shook her head.

As the mercenaries' voices faded, the black energy merged into Gabriel.

Soon, Gabriel, who had looked like a corpse, began to change.

His eyes glowed with intense light, the blue veins on his skin vanished, and the wound on his chest rapidly healed, forcing my rapier out and onto the ground.

In an instant, he regained the appearance of a living being, slowly looked up at the sky, and took a deep breath.

"Magnificent. Truly magnificent. I never imagined I'd gain such power."

Gabriel turned to us and smiled eerily.

When our eyes met, a chill ran down my spine.

It wasn't his overwhelming strength or magical power.

It was the sight of the mercenaries' agonized faces within him.

And the despair transmitted through the electric field.

"Everyone, step back. He's too dangerous."

"...Understood."

Ramu seemed to want to say something but reluctantly nodded.

Perhaps he realized they might only get in the way.

"It's not that you're weak. Gabriel is... not normal, as you saw. So, I need you to protect her from a distance."

I glanced at Aria, who was still trembling as she crouched.

"Aria calls me 'big brother.' She's my adorable little sister. Can you do this for me?"

Ramu, Alice, and Dan nodded firmly. "Understood. Leave it to us," they said, running toward the carriage group with Aria in tow.

"Foolish. Did you think I'd let you escape?"

Gabriel chuckled darkly and launched a pitch-black magical blast toward them.

"Like I'd let you!"

I immediately activated "Fire Spear," intercepting and neutralizing the blast.

A deafening explosion echoed, and black smoke filled the air.

But Gabriel dispersed the smoke with a wave of magical energy.

"Interesting. You look ridiculous, but your swordsmanship and magic are impressive. Just who are you, Zero?"

"Who knows? If you're curious, try taking off this mask with your own hands."

I pointed at the mask covering my eyes with my left hand, and his eyebrow twitched slightly.