Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

Sitting on the cliff, Austin looked down at the scene beneath him.

It was dark, endless. Dared to swallow whatever or whoever falls into it.

A sweet tune came from the darkness. A fragrance that overwrote the sweetest fragrance Austin had ever inhaled.

The darkness was tempting. It was overpowering.

Austin knew for sure that if he jumped now, he would never have to fear anything. No demons, no Gods. He would be above everything.

Then...isn't that a wonderful thing? Who doesn't want to be on top? Who doesn't want to be invincible....immortal?

"Are you seriously thinking of jumping?" Came a familiar voice. A little too familiar since it belonged to him.

Austin glanced at his older self, standing there with his hands in his pockets.

He was looking into the darkness as well.

Austin asked his older self, "Did you jump? Did you accept it?"

The older him shrugged, "I had tasted it...unintentionally. It was too tempting for my four-year-old self."

Austin's brows elevated, "That was the time you awakened. So Scar tempted you to give in." That explains why the older he got, the fewer human emotions he had left.

He gave in.

He surrendered to Scar.

The older one sighed, "Took me a long time to realize that the embrace of darkness is actually affecting me in a way I couldn't have expected."

"It was rotting you, making you inhumane and urging you to become the strongest so you can dominate the world," Austin spoke what his older version would have.

"Keeping the world safe means someone strong has to rule over it—that's what I believed." He said, looking tired, "I was wrong. And the one who helped me realize it was Selner."

"The only human emotion you felt was for her. You loved her." Austin spoke, leaned back, and rested his weight on his hands.

The older one sat down beside his younger self and stared at the blank space below them.

"True power asks for sacrifice. That's what I believed but I didn't want to accept it. That's why, I wished to be...someone like you." Side-glancing at him, the older one added, "You are the perfect version of me, yet I see you despairing. And that...fills my heart with peace."

Austin understood exactly what he meant. Despair and grief come from human relations and emotions, and the older version of him wanted exactly this from his new version.

Emotional connections.

"I really want to punch you for that," Austin spoke with a dry chuckle.

The late Hero tilted his head, "So...what do you plan on doing now? You need to jump if you wish to fight the Gods."

Austin was aware.

Unless he becomes one with Death, the darkness he possesses, he wouldn't be able to face those Primordial beings who rule over the concept of the world.

If Austin wanted to save everyone, he had to sacrifice the human in him.

And with that, he would lose all his feelings for Valerie.

"You are at a very...difficult stage at the moment. Choosing our parents and the people we love would cost you, Valerie. And if you remain with Valerie, you will spend the rest of your life under the burden of their death."

Austin sighed, "You are not making this easier." He leaned forward, rested his arms on his thighs.

"You are me, so I know exactly what you must be feeling or thinking at the moment."

Austin shook his head, "Nope, you aren't me. I am different."

The older he hummed, "True...you are better. But that doesn't change the fact that I am right. You are standing at a very critical point."

Austin nodded, "Yeah...that...is true."

A long, heavy silence descended upon the duo and the only thing that kept the scene alive was the sweet tune flowing from the darkness.

"Have you wondered what that is?" Austin asked, with his gaze never wavering from the Darkness...the fourth fragment of his soul.

"Never got any information. Selner didn't know about it." Glancing at his younger self, he asked, "What about the system?"

Austin shook his head, "She doesn't know as well...however, she hinted that it could be related to one of the Primordials."

"Damn..." That was...shocking. But then, it explains why Austin, despite being a human awakened such an overwhelming Shard.

Another brief silence before the older one asked, "Time is drawing close. You have to make a choice now."

Austin calmly responded, "I have long made the choice." He raised his hand and suddenly all the darkness started to swirl, gather.

Under the confused gaze of the other Austin, Austin gathered the darkness at the tip of his index finger.

All that darkness that could envelop a planet had gathered on top of his finger.

Austin brought it to his lips and swallowed it.

"Woah...was that alright?" Asked the older him.

Austin didn't answer right away. His eyes were closed. Dark veins protruding on his neck and arms...probably all over his body.

His aura shifted, the dreamscape quaking by his presence.

Cracks formed around the cliff but neither of them panicked or showed any intentions to move.

The older one was staring at his other version.

Meanwhile, Austin slowly assimilated the rage and greed Scar brought along.

He didn't hasten it, he didn't need to. He was still in the dungeon, and he trusted the system to keep him safe. So, he took all the time he needed to tame the darkness.

Unlike his previous self, he didn't need to hand himself over to Scar. He would dominate it. And he succeeded.

"You seem ready now." Came the voice from his left as Austin opened his eyes.

Austin looked at his hand, clenched it, and loosened it.

"It doesn't feel too different."

The older him casually responded, "Isn't it because you have been channeling Scar even when your Soul was pitifully weak?"

Austin chuckled, "I am disappointed."

The other him got up and faced him, "Well, I think this is enough for you to deal with what is to come."

Austin coldly stated, "Nothing can stop me from slaughtering that vermin now."

°°°°°°°°

"Ah-" Selner's breath was caught in her throat as she hurriedly looked back at Austin.

He was...crying until a moment ago, crouching beside his dead parents, and now...he seemed like a completely different person.

She staggered back, looking shocked as she asked, "You....absorbed the fourth..."

Austin looked at her, "Yes, I did."

"C-Can you show me your Shard?" She asked, showing great concern given that the fourth fragment was stronger than the other three altogether.

She still remembers the sensation she felt when she touched his fourth fragment. So tempting...so ominous.

She was concerned about his Soul. Although she knew that he had a way to strengthen his soul within seconds using a different dimension, it was still too astounding to think a second was enough for him to assimilate the fourth fragment.

She extended her hand, expecting him to summon the black sword; however, all he did was extend his hand as well.

Selner showed confusion for a moment, before asking, "Where is your Shard?"

Austin shrugged, "I swallowed it."

"..." Selner stared at him for a good three seconds before she finally decided to trust his words and take his hand.

Her brows instantly frowned...as she felt it. The dark and overwhelming sensation coming from his soul.

Meanwhile, Austin glanced at his parents. Their lifeless face allowed him to regain the rage and grief once again.

He rested his hand on his father's chest and softly muttered, "I will bring you back, Father."

"Hmm?!" Selner asked as she heard him, "What did you just say?"

Austin didn't have any reason to hide it from her, so he told her, "I am regressing. One of the gifts from the system."

"...!" Selner's eyes widened.

Going back in time...she has heard it before, after all, it was she who made it possible.

However, this time it was not a witch getting involved. And that brings the question, "...how are you going to face the wrath of the divine ones?"

It was the first time Selner broke a law, which is why all her sisters stood by her side and protected her. But...Austin was alone and even with Selner's support, he wouldn't be able to face them.

Austin looked nonchalant, "Do you think I care about those beings who didn't move a finger when demons slaughtered my people?"

"But Austin-"

"Selner." Austin called out, "I am doing this. I have made the decision." He was firm with his decision.

Nothing was going to stop him.

Selner remained silent for a moment before she glanced at the fallen violet-haired teenager nearby before she said,

"Have you thought about Valerie?"

Austin paused.

"She won't be able to go back in time...and she will forget everything...every beautiful moment she has spent with you." She looked back at Austin before asking, "Are you ready to make that sacrifice?"

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.