Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Chapter 80 : Paying back the man who now brings misfortune

Jericho’s breathing was rough.

Shallow.

His chest rose and fell unevenly as he stared at his own trembling hands, eyes wide with confusion and fear.

He looked older.

Weaker.

Almost frail.

Olivia was still unconscious in Sakura’s arms, her head resting lightly against Sakura’s shoulder.

Sakura watched Jericho in silence for a moment.

Then her voice cut through the air.

Cold.

Sharp.

"Jericho."

He flinched.

Slowly, he looked up.

His gaze darted around frantically, as if searching for something to hold on to.

A reason.

A mercy.

Anything.

But Sakura did not soften.

She looked down at him like she was staring at a broken tool.

"I told you there would be consequences," she said quietly.

Her tone held no warmth.

No gratitude for his loyalty.

No relief that he was alive.

Only judgment.

She shifted Olivia slightly in her arms, then turned her head toward the teenage boy standing nearby.

"Oliver," she called.

The boy straightened, eyes focused.

Sakura’s gaze moved back to Jericho.

"And as you are now... an old man... we don’t need you anymore."

Jericho’s eyes trembled.

His lips parted slightly.

"We don’t need you anymore," Sakura repeated, slower this time. "You are of no use to us."

Her words struck harder than any blade.

She tilted her head.

"I have repaid you for your services and loyalty... by reviving you again."

The sentence dropped like a stone on his chest.

Jericho’s breath caught.

For a moment—

He almost stopped breathing again.

His throat tightened as he forced the words out.

"Mi... miss..."

His voice shook.

He bowed his head, shoulders trembling.

"Miss, please... forgive me," he said, his tone desperate. "It will never happen again. I am sorry... I am truly sorry."

Sakura stared at him without expression.

Then—

She moved.

Her leg swung forward with brutal speed.

Her kick slammed into his chest.

The impact echoed like a crack of thunder.

Jericho’s body flew backward—

Crashing into a nearby wall.

The stone fractured—

Spiderweb cracks spreading out from the point of impact.

He slid down to the floor.

Cough.

He spat blood onto the ground.

Another cough.

More blood.

His body trembled as he clutched at his chest, lungs burning.

Sakura’s steps were slow and unhurried as she walked toward him.

"The amount of negative karma you have now," she said calmly, "tragedies and misfortune will follow you wherever you go."

Her eyes were cold.

Unforgiving.

"And I’ve already done enough for you," she continued. "If you remember the past... you know that."

She stopped a short distance away from him.

"I have no plans to carry any more dead weight," she said. "Not for the position I am striving for."

Jericho didn’t move.

Didn’t try to stand.

He just sat there, back against the cracked wall, staring lifelessly at Sakura.

"So you’re saying..." he whispered, voice hollow, "that’s it... huh."

He forced himself to look up.

To meet her eyes.

There was no anger in his gaze.

No hatred.

Just a tired, empty acceptance.

Sakura looked back at him without hesitation.

"Yes," she answered. "Your journey stops right here."

The hall fell silent.

For a few seconds—

No one spoke.

Then—

A voice broke through the tension.

"I don’t want to ruin this emotional moment and all," Arthur’s voice rang out, louder than before, drawing everyone’s attention, "especially since I’m a big fan of emotional scenes... in movies... and dramas."

Several gazes snapped toward him.

Arthur walked forward casually, hands relaxed at his sides.

His steps were steady.

Unhurried.

He stopped near Jericho.

The older man looked up in confusion.

Arthur held out Jericho’s sword.

Its blade still faintly stained with blood.

"You can take this back, old man," Arthur said.

He placed the sword in Jericho’s hands—

Then reached out and lightly patted him on the head.

"I’m sure you’ll find some other work," Arthur added with a small grin. "So don’t lose heart, okay?"

Jericho stared at him, stunned.

His fingers tightened weakly around the sword’s hilt.

"You are a good and honorable man... Arthur Celestian," he said hoarsely.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Indeed," he replied. "That I am."

Jericho’s gaze dropped to the sword.

His voice lowered.

"This sword... is the last keepsake I have of my family," he said quietly. "Thank you."

Arthur shrugged lightly.

"You can take it and leave," he said.

Inside, his thoughts moved in a different direction.

’I don’t want that system of yours that drags misfortune along with it anyway... not with all the negative karma you’ve piled up.’

His eyes shifted.

He looked toward the unconscious girl in Sakura’s arms.

Olivia.

’Her system, though...’ he thought. ’That one has some astonishing perks. I definitely want hers.’

His gaze moved to Sakura.

"So," he said aloud, his tone turning sharper, "are we going to start fighting again... or will you come with me quietly?"

The hall tensed again.

Arthur’s eyes swept across the room.

"Think carefully," he warned. "Right now, only you, Sakura... and that red-haired lady can fight."

He tilted his head slightly toward the woman with the wand.

"As for that unconscious girl," he added, looking directly at Olivia in Sakura’s arms, "she’ll only become a hindrance."

His eyes narrowed.

"And I won’t shy away from attacking her... you know."

Sakura’s jaw tightened.

Her teeth ground together.

In her mind, a thought flashed sharply.

"His strength is overwhelming... What the hell happened? This isn’t the future I saw. He wasn’t supposed to be this powerful—not yet atleast."

"Don’t get cocky," she said, her voice low.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

’I still have another trump card,’ she thought.

Arthur’s system voice came inside his mind.

[Another trump card...?]

Arthur frowned slightly.

’What is it now...?’

Sakura’s lips curved into a thin, cold smile.

"Your girlfriend," she said.

Her words were slow.

Deliberate.

"What was her name again?"

Arthur’s expression didn’t change immediately.

His eyes, however—

Sharpened.

Sakura’s smile widened just a little.

"Oh yes," she said softly. "Julia."

Each syllable was like a blade.

"She will lose her life the moment you make another move."

Arthur’s steps halted.

Mid-stride—

He stopped walking.

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A/N:

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