Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

There were three of them.

The first, tall and stern, held a long spear wreathed in white flame.

The second, graceful and calm, wore a flowing cloak and carried a shining staff.

The third, fierce and bold, had wings of light and a blade that pulsed with thunder.

Their eyes glowed with divine power. A soft wind stirred around them as they stood—radiant, silent, and unshakable.

Austin squinted slightly, shielding his gaze with a hand. "Could you tone down the halo a bit? Hard to keep my eyes open."

The fierce one spoke, voice sharp like a crack of lightning. "We have already lowered our presence, lest your fragile mind break under its weight."

Austin smirked. "Then maybe you shouldn't have shown up at all if you were that worried."

A moment of silence followed before the one with the spear stepped forward. "Child… do you truly understand the weight of what you are about to begin?"

Austin gave a casual shrug. "Of course I do. I'll revive the Demon King. Every Demonic General. The Hellstains will crawl back to their places. And I'll wipe them out again—one by one."

He had measured the risks. He knew the cost of summoning that dark power again. He knew what monsters he would bring back.

But that price was nothing—nothing compared to what he would gain.

All those they had lost—Sebastian, Rudolph, his and Valerie's parents. Robert, the headmaster… every single one would return.

And for that, Austin would bring Astaroth back at full strength, without hesitation.

The second one stepped forward, his voice heavy with command. "The balance is steady. Let it remain, and we shall honor you. Reward you."

Austin laughed, bitter and sharp. "Balance? Astaroth lives, but he's a shell of what he was. Humans breathe, but they're scattered and dying. That's your idea of balance?"

Any doubts he had about these so-called guardians vanished.

They were broken. Blind.

The spear-bearer's eyes narrowed. "This world cannot stand on one side alone. Light and darkness must both exist. One without the other cannot survive."

Austin's voice dropped, cold and resolute. "I don't accept your order. Your kind only knows how to watch from above while pretending to guide. You speak of balance—but you do nothing when people die in the name of it."

He took a step forward, fists clenched. "You speak of darkness, but it's you who allowed it to grow. Humans may be greedy, but they don't butcher hundreds just to pass time."

There was no immediate reply.

Then the fiery one spoke, his voice sharp and burning,

"But did we allow them to wipe you out?"

Austin let out a short, bitter laugh. "Are you talking about what happened a thousand years ago? Do you really think humanity-or any race—wants to live as slaves again?"

The god snickered, low and condescending.

"It is always the same. Supremacy lies with strength. The strong rule. The weak kneel."

Austin didn't hear it, but he could feel it—the unspoken words pressing against his mind. Just like you should kneel to us.

Crossing his arms, Austin asked calmly, "Then why step in now? I'm no immortal. I'm not building an empire. I just want a world where my people don't have to live in fear."

The air thickened. Heat coiled around him, making his skin prickle.

The fiery one's glow brightened, fierce and rising, like a sun beginning to burn too close. The ground beneath Austin trembled ever so slightly.

He was ready. The Absolute Barrier shimmered at the edge of activation. One wrong move, and it would erupt into place.

But then, the eldest among them spoke.

"Adénum. That is enough. Leave."

The command was simple—but it rang with authority so deep, it silenced the pressure in an instant. The weight pressing on Austin's shoulders vanished like smoke.

The fiery one—Adénum—did not move at first. He stared at Austin, gaze sharp and unwavering. His wings flickered with restless energy.

Then, without a word, his form dissolved into fragments of light—like embers blown from a dying fire.

And he was gone.

The eldest one finally spoke, his voice deep and resounding like a distant bell.

"To tamper with the law that governs this world will cost you dearly, child. You would be wise to find contentment in what remains."

Austin didn't flinch. His response was immediate, firm.

"No. I don't want this life."

His voice was steady—calm, but resolute.

"I've lost too many people. So either I die trying… or I change this present with my own hands."

There was no fear in him. No doubt.

If it meant defying gods to bring back those he loved—then so be it.

The one with the staff stepped forward, voice like a cold wind brushing across the soul.

"You intend to wipe out the demon race. But without them, this world will collapse into ruin. We have seen it."

Austin let out a tired breath, his shoulders slightly sagging—not in defeat, but from the weight of all he carried.

"Even if I wanted to," he said slowly, "I know I couldn't erase every demon. That's not my goal."

He looked up at them, eyes unwavering.

"I just need to destroy their King—and the ones strong enough to threaten my people. That's all."

A grave silence fell over the mountaintop.

They hadn't expected that answer.

Austin wasn't aiming to wipe out the entire demon race. He only wanted the Demon King dead.

And that, in itself, was a problem.

Austin smirked, sensing the crack in their divine composure.

"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're stuck. Can't let Astaroth die... and no words left to sway me, either?"

He was right—and they knew it.

The ancient pact still bound them. A vow etched in eternity: the Demon King must be protected.

To break it would be to risk everything.

A dilemma only gods could suffer—and yet still be helpless before.

The eldest finally spoke, slow and weighty.

"You understand we will stop you… And yet you still choose this path?"

Before Austin could reply, a ripple in the air shimmered beside him.

A woman emerged from the shimmering, folded arms, sharp gaze.

An immortal. Calm, powerful. Dangerous.

She stood beside Austin as if she had always belonged there.

"And how exactly will you do that?" she asked, her tone more curious than mocking.

The younger god growled low.

"Stay out of this, witch."

She didn't even blink.

"Why should I? There is no place in this world I cannot stand."

Her presence made the air still. Even the winds dared not stir around her.

Austin tilted his head. "I'm also curious. What's your move, now?"

The eldest god's voice deepened.

"If the pact is broken, the cost will be catastrophic. We cannot allow you to destroy him."

Austin's lips curled slightly.

"Then try."

His voice was low, daring.

"But remember—opposing a Primordial Being… that's not something you can afford."

That struck a chord.

A flicker passed through the two radiant figures. Subtle. Barely a twitch. But Austin saw it.

He liked what he saw.

Then, with a glare that could split stone, the younger god spoke:

"So be it. If this is the path you walk, then we will meet you in battle. You and your allies will fall before our vow."

Austin's eyes narrowed, jaw tightening.

So persistent. So blind.

Even the calm one—the second—stepped forward now, his tone no longer neutral.

"The pact holds the life of our eldest as collateral. If we let you succeed… we lose him. So yes, we will fight."

Even reason had given way to resolve.

Austin remained silent, his stance unmoving. His next words would choose the battlefield.

"Well, since that's what you have decided I can't tell you to back off." With his eyes narrowed, he added, "But you can't stop me from flipping this world, can you?"

The spear wielder's hold around his weapon turned still as he asked, "I am very curious to know who is the one granting you such...divine blessings."

Austin smirked, "So you can't detect it, huh?"

He was surprised, truthfully. The system was really overpowered that even the Gods could not detect her or stop her.

If they could they surely would have corrupted the system a long time ago and took all his blessings away.

'Seriously, what kind of existence are you, system?'

maybe she was waiting to be asked, she notified him,

[The system has been rebooted. Ready to initiate Divine Mockery!]

Austin smirked at the two pigeons before him as he said, "Okay then, see you in a few days...when Astaroth would be kneeling before him. I am very eager to see how you will protect him."

The two didn't respond and soon they disappeared in blinding light.

Austin sighed as he turned towards Valerie.

There were still ten seconds left.

Just as she moved, Austin pulled her in a tight hug and called out,

"Whatever happens now, I promise I will protect you."

Valerie was startled but she soon responded to his hug and said, "Mm...I will wait for you."

And with that, the world was covered in a golden illumination.

It was time to rewrite a few things.

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.