A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

With a beat of his wings, the Duke of Wyvern transformed into a bolt of lightning, hurtling towards Ansel's face. His dragon claws, wreathed in electric fury, struck the shield before Ansel.

Simultaneously, an iron-hued pillar of light, bearing an annihilating essence akin to the earlier black death, surged forth. An ice-blue arrow, seemingly transcending space and time, materialized at Ansel's brow. A bestial energy wave roared, its very sound rending souls.

A berserker charged with a massive blade, stirring a tidal wave of power that even the endless blood flames momentarily recoiled from.

Seven more individuals launched their attacks on Ansel in perfect unison. The surge of ether and terrifying power shook the blood flame-filled realm, creating the illusion that space itself might collapse.

Every fifth-stage extraordinary present was an absolute paragon in their own right. Though disparities existed among them, any contest to the death would invariably result in a grueling battle. When united, their combined lethality far exceeded the mere sum of their individual prowess.

However... the young Hydral did not stand alone against this onslaught.

In the instant he reached out to grasp the arrow that rent space and time, a surge of dark energy erupted from his side, colliding with the oncoming iron-hued pillar of light. The resultant shockwave, were it not suppressed by the feasting flames, would have undoubtedly obliterated an entire mountain range in the outside world!

The extraordinary beings from the Terminus Hall, those who pursued the abyss, unhesitatingly aligned themselves with Ansel. Meanwhile, figures clad in white robes silently raised their staff, enveloping Hydral in a dome of pure light.

When the colossal berserker brought down their massive blade upon Ansel's head, the luminous barrier instantaneously erupted with a fierce, electric radiance, effortlessly repelling the assault.

The bestial energy wave targeting the soul directly was intercepted and dissected by a barrier of light, its soul-shattering roar attenuated mid-trajectory, rendering it ineffective.

More attacks intertwined and thundered towards Ansel, bearing terrifying destructive power. Yet, the vast majority were countered and nullified, while the few that penetrated were easily deflected by Ansel's defenses.

This initial clash lasted but a moment, yet the Duke of Wyvern's countenance had already darkened considerably. His lightning, intertwined with elements of annihilation, merely cracked the shield summoned by Pablo before he was forced to hastily retreat.

This shouldn't be happening... it shouldn't be!

How could so many side with Hydral? Did they not realize that… slaying this monster would truly benefit them all?

The madmen from the Terminus Hall, obsessed with exploring the abyss, were no surprise. But why would Pablo Celsus risk his life for Hydral? Merely because he was Flamelle's student? And the white-robed bishop from the Holy Church had even less reason to intervene! What could possibly be motivating… these guys?

In truth, those standing with Ansel were few. Those directly lending aid or covertly assisting numbered less than ten, not even a third of those present.
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Yet this number already exceeded Aurelian's expectations.

Had he succeeded in gravely wounding both Hydral and Evora simultaneously, surely none would have sided with Hydral. Even with Hydral unscathed, most should have maintained a neutral stance of cold indifference. How could nearly a third choose to aid Hydral?

"Is it so difficult to comprehend?"

Ansel chuckled softly. He gazed at the Duke of Wyvern, whose temples throbbed with bulging veins, and then at the other Dukes who had engaged in combat, their expressions a mixture of doubt and astonishment. His voice was calm and serene as he spoke:

"It's simply because there are always those who truly care about order. Nothing more."

The Western Land maintained its own distinct order, with extraordinary beings reigning supreme, and the Dukes restraining those who stood above all others. While they reveled in the pleasures brought by authority and power, they remained distant from the Empire, rarely subject to the Emperor's oppressive rule.

In truth, this system of governance had endured for millennia. Perhaps each generation harbored individuals who sought to overthrow the existing order, but certainly not all desired to create... an environment devoid of order.

The Empire's structure was diseased and absurd, yet undeniably functional.

Among the extraordinary beings living within this structure, some yearned to shatter all shackles and constraints, elevating their kind to absolute supremacy, with power as the sole measure of authority. Others, however, did not desire destruction, but rather to rectify this distorted and malformed structure, birthing a more perfect new order upon its foundation.

This yearning stemmed not merely from benevolence, but also from differing perspectives on society and self.

Some believed they could seize all they desired from a collapsing order, relishing the thrill of disdaining the masses and holding all in contempt. Others preferred to satisfy their interests with poise and harmony within a well-ordered society governed by sound rules, unconcerned if multiple parties benefited simultaneously... Ultimately, it remained a struggle of human nature.

Regrettably, in this world influenced by the extraordinary, the former often outnumbered the latter. Fortunately, even a minority was preferable to none at all.

"I do not believe Lord Hydral poses a threat to the Empire," Pablo stated coldly, eyeing the Duke of Wyvern. "He possesses both the ability and the conviction to construct a more perfect new order."

The white-robed bishop from the Holy Church, eyes closed, spoke softly: "Lord Hydral's actions speak louder than words. If one wishes to spare the people of this land from suffering, he is infinitely superior to you as a choice, Clement of Wyvern."

Indeed, ultimately... it comes down to actions.

Actions that surpass all words.

The monumental achievement of transforming the Hydral domain into a paradise within mere years, a reputation unblemished since childhood, countless acts of kindness accumulated over such an extended period...

Who truly considers the Empire's people? Who genuinely yearns to bring change to the Empire? Who possesses the qualifications and ability to forge a new order?

Those who truly desire a new order understand these matters with crystal clarity.

Otherwise, would Seraphina and Ravenna have submitted to him solely due to Ansel's methods of indoctrination? Would they still be able to tirelessly work for justice and goodness as they do now?

… No, it's not merely because these guys are utter fools. These... these extraordinary beings! They were handpicked by Hydral himself!

At this moment, even as he was engulfed by endless blood flames, Aurelian felt an icy chill crawl down his spine.

When Ansel emerged from the rift and grasped the gravity of the situation, his order to the Duke of Wyvern was to summon all the… Dukes, not to gather every top-stage extraordinary being in the Empire!

The list of extraordinary beings who subsequently arrived was compiled by Hydral himself!

In other words, he had already screened his targets from the very beginning. This was no coincidence—he had deliberately sought out those idiots with sufficient strength who would undoubtedly stand by his side!

—I should have recognized this from the moment those fools opposed Blatcher's plan!

Clement of Wyvern finally understood.

Indeed, such extraordinary beings existed within the Empire—those who yearned for a new order and believed Ansel capable of establishing it.

But they were exceedingly rare. Perhaps those gathered here by Ansel's summons represented their entirety.

If all of the Empire's extraordinary beings sought Hydral's death, they could only silently observe. However, with the number limited to thirty, trapped in such dire circumstances, and factoring in Hydral's own power... their chances of victory were not nonexistent.

Ansel of Hydral hadn't failed to grasp the situation at all.

From the very beginning, he had intended to eliminate every threat to him right here!

But this realization came too late.

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