Secret Route: Villain Unlocked

Inferno didn't charge at him. He raised his left hand, fingers twitching in slow, practiced patterns. Flames gathered around his palm, smaller this time. Sharper, not a full spell, but refined pieces of one. Sparks shot out like needles, whistling through the air.

Julien deflected the first two, then took the third in the side. It didn't pierce through his armor's remains, but the heat drained more than he could afford.

[Mana: 70 / 7000]

[Internal Burn Spread: Accelerating]

[Warning: Core Circulation Faltering]

Should I use… that? I can't use Sun Slash any more.

The next barrage came faster, thin streaks of fire twirling around in looping paths. Julien blocked one, ducked another, but each dodge stole more energy than he could recover. Another hit grazed his gauntlet. Mana slipped away again, trying to keep him from passing out.

[Mana: 60 / 7000]

[Health Points: 432/20000 (Critical)]

Inferno didn't follow up. He just stood there, pacing along the edge of the broken plaza, eyes less energetic and calculating. He wasn't smug anymore. His expression was almost thoughtful.

"You remind me of someone," he said. "Another idiot who thought justice made him invincible."

Julien forced himself upright. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?"

Inferno gave a small shrug, hands behind his back. "Probably not. He died screaming."

Julien frowned. He's probably just bullshitting now he's got nowhere left to run. Hmph.

"You keep pushing like you've got backup coming," Inferno said. "But no one's left to help. Just you and your damn ideals."

Julien adjusted his grip. "Good. Less people to protect."

Inferno raised an eyebrow, then flicked another thread of fire at his leg. Julien blocked it, barely, but the effort cost him again.

[Mana: 45 / 7000]

He's picking away at it. Waiting for me to be empty. I guess it really was a good idea that Jermaine told me to keep it secret.

He breathed out slowly. I only have that left now. The world can't afford any mistake. He might've lost his strongest ally, Blaze, but he'll find a way to rebuild. He always does.

Inferno started to walk again, slowly circling the edge of the scorched stone. The light from the fires flickered across his face, casting shadows under his eyes. For a second he truly looked inhuman, not simply insane like usual.

"Back when I was nobody," he said, "there was this guy. Top of Asanel. Could conjure flames strong enough to melt siege walls. The entire country knew he'd be a hero."

Julien narrowed his eyes. He's still stalling. Buying time or trying to set me up.

"Then one day," Inferno continued, "he vanished. Rumors said he was murdered by the same monster who somehow took his gift. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

Julien's jaw clenched. "Ian Mooring… You bastard. You just had to bring up his name, even after six years. We all know what you did to him."

A slightly maniacal grin twitched across Inferno's lips. "Oh, don't be so sour! I'm just revisiting fond memories. People mourned him, missed him, chased after me for justice. That time was the most alive I'd ever felt."

Julien didn't reply. He just breathed through his teeth and kept his stance.

It's just a ruse, just a ruse. He's trying to get in my head. Can't let him-- I have to focus!

"But here's the funny part," Inferno went on. "He had fans. One of them followed him around like a puppy--not that Ian ever minded. He was kind enough to pretend."

Julien's heart skipped a beat.

How would he know that? I didn't think he ever went to Asanel.

"You're running out of time," he said, now trying to use as little words as possible.

"So are you." Inferno's tone sharpened. "You've got, what, a minute before that last bit of mana bleeds out? Then I win!"

Another flick of his hand--a small fire dart. Julien parried, but the rebound sent a jolt through his arm.

[Mana: 25 / 7000]

He thinks I'm almost beat. Well… he's not exactly wrong, but he won't be expecting the last trick I have up my sleeve.

"You know what made Ian special?" Inferno asked. "He didn't chase glory. He didn't need recognition. He just wanted to do something right. Even if it killed him."

Julien's eyes flicked upward. "Is that supposed to sound noble?"

"Nope. Just a reminder of what happens to people like you."

Another small spell lit in his hand--just enough to sting. He launched it casually, like tossing a pebble into a lake.

Julien knocked it aside--but this time, the cost was obvious.

[Mana: 10 / 7000]

[HP: 204/20000 (Critical)]

[Warning: Loss of Consciousness Imminent]

Julien staggered back.

Almost there. Just a few more seconds. Then I can use it.

Julien didn't look up. If he met Inferno's eyes now, that man might see it--an accepting look, Julien's realization that this was the only way left to go. He kept the sword raised, but it was mostly for show. His arms were numb, his core half-frozen. Pain was all that was left.

Inferno didn't press. That was the only reason Julien was still standing.

Instead, Inferno studied him. No jokes. "Hmm." He paused. "I'm assuming whatever comes next will be it from you."

Julien didn't say anything. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Every second was harder to endure than the last.

He could hear the system's warning chime again, faint in the back of his head. But he ignored it. That warning only pointed out the obvious. Anyway, soon that old system the Marked had relied on for hundreds of years wouldn't be useful to him any longer.

It won't be for Inferno, either. Hopefully.

He took a deep breath and checked his skill list. 

[Unlocked Skills (38)]

[Sun Slash, Lvl.80 (MAX)]

[Purifying Wave Lvl.80 (MAX)]

[Enhanced Physique Lvl.80 (MAX)]

Come on, where is it…

The skill he was looking for was an extremely well-kept secret between him and his closest allies, one he'd unlocked just a few months ago when he'd reached the legendary mythical-tier, something less than a dozen people had ever reached in history. It was a skill that could've been able to turn the tide of any battle in an instant… except for its grim requirements.

Found it.

[Causality Breaker Lvl.???]

He read the description in his mind one last time. 

[Type: Mythical Skill -- Damage]

[Duration: 60 seconds]

[Effect: Grants user absolute control over enemy actions in a 1-mile radius. User is restored to their original state and can activate any skill with significantly multiplied damage. Upon skill expiration, the user loses all remaining Life Force and Health Points. Survivability: 0%]

[Requirements: User must have <0.1% of Max Mana available. User must be on the brink of death.]

It wasn't in his Marked profile. Wasn't even detectable by any skill-reading devices.

He moved it to his active skill slot.

I wonder what it'll feel like. 

Julien sighed. At least it'll be worth it to see the look on Inferno's face. I guess this is the last battle I'll ever fight. I won't get to see the celebrations when the news breaks. Pity. 

Inferno re-summoned his fire whip. "It's been fun. But I've got things to do, governments to overthrow before you use your last-cards."

Julien's fingers tightened around the sword.

[Activate Causality Breaker]

[Warning: Irreversible process. Proceed?]

Yes…

The moment he confirmed it, the world came to a standstill.

There was no flash, no burst of light or sound. Just silence, pure and absolute. As if the entire battlefield stopped and forgot how to keep going.

Inferno froze mid-step. His fire whip flickered, then stopped mid-motion, suspended like it was held by invisible chains.

[Skill Active: 60 Seconds Remaining]

A sharp pulse ran down Julien's spine. Every wound was sealed. His skin knit itself back together. His breath came easy again, as if the pain had never existed in the first place.

[Mana: 7000/7000]

[Health Points: 20000/20000]

[Life Force: 100% (Temporary)]

The sword in his grip gleamed. Every skill he'd ever learned, from basic forms to fabled stances buried in ancient records appeared in his mind all at once, clear and ready. He could feel the multiplier buff throughout his entire body.

He gasped quietly. So this is what power without effort is like.

Inferno's expression changed. His mouth opened like he was about to speak, but no sound came. His arms twitched--then stopped. His body wouldn't respond. Not to him, anyway.

Julien took a step forward. Even the air didn't resist.

Inferno's flames dispersed into mist.

Julien inched closer. His vision sharpened. The swirling dust particles surrounding them moved slower now, like the system was giving him time to choose what to erase first.

You're mine for the next minute.

He angled his sword low, and walked forward like a judge heading for a sentence he'd already decided.

Inferno's body tried to move again--a subtle shift in his foot, maybe an instinct to retreat. Julien didn't allow it. Not yet.

"You shouldn't have talked about Ian," he said.

He didn't shout.

They were just a few feet apart now. Inferno's arm twitched again. Julien turned it just enough to stop him from using a skill.

Inferno's eyes locked with his and there was no taunt in them. No smug grin--just silence, like he knew what was coming.

Julien raised the sword.

The system's notifications whispered at the edge of his thoughts--more skills waiting, more power he could use. He ignored them, since there was no need to overcomplicate this. 

One clean strike was all he needed.

He drove the blade forward.

Inferno couldn't move. Couldn't dodge. The sword pierced straight through his chest, through heart, through spine, through everything that let him stand.

The moment it did, everything stopped.

No explosion. No scream. Just a sharp breath from Inferno--then a slow exhale, like someone letting go of a burden they'd carried too long.

Julien kept the blade there for a second longer.

Then he pulled it free.

Inferno collapsed.

The body didn't resist.

Julien staggered backward.

[10 Seconds Remaining]

Only ten seconds left? Where did that time go?

His vision started fading around the edges. His restored body was already breaking down. Heat drained from his limbs. His mana dropped back to zero in a single flash.

[Mana: 0 / 7000]

[Health Points: 0 / 20000]

[Life Force: 0%]

His knees buckled. He didn't fight it.

That's it, then.

The sky above him was fractured and dim. Clouds of ash drifted where light should've been. A fitting ceiling for a battlefield like this.

He closed his eyes.

I hope they'll tell my story right. All the trials I've been through, the friendships I made. 

Blue system text blinked behind his eyelids.

[Mythical Skill Complete: Causality Breaker]

[Status: Dead]

[Hero's Path: Completed.]

Julien's body stilled.

The system paused, then continued.

[Unlocking Hidden Route: Villain Path – Ian Mooring]

[Initializing Timeline Merge...]

[Syncing Identity Core...]

A heartbeat passed.

And then the world descended into darkness.