THE PERFECT VILLAIN: Another chance with a system
Chapter 6: Demon of Deceit

Chapter 6: Demon of Deceit

"No, I’ve said all I know," Vael replied casually — so casually that he frowned momentarily.

Huh? I just lied. Why didn’t the Authority of Truth work on me?

Notice: The Authority of Truth bears no harm on its user.

So, I’m immune to the Authority of Truth as long as it’s not the copied version, right?

Notice: Negative. Immunity only applies to the forced truth of its original holder. Other abilities may affect you if used on you first.

Oh, okay. So he can’t force the truth out of me. That’s good to know.

Vael looked down at Valin and back at Valak. "Do you think there’s more to it?"

Valak was silent for a moment, then looked back at Valin. "No. That concludes it."

He stretched his hand toward Valin, and without hesitation, released a burning crimson flame that shattered the chains and burned Valin until he had turned to dust.

Both Langer and Cole looked visibly horrified. It happened so quickly that neither had time to fully register the outcome before it was over.

"Well, that should settle it," Valak said, walking past Vael, who stood there looking at Valin, now nothing but ash.

Notice: Unique skill copied. Crimson Flames.

The notice from Claire pulled Vael’s mind back. He immediately turned to leave. As soon as he stepped out, he met Valak by the doorway.

"Are you busy, Vael?"

Valak’s voice came out calmer than usual.

"Sure, do you need me?" Vael responded.

"Yes." Valak turned and began walking toward the exit of the eastern archives. Vael followed behind him.

"I’d like you to help me with some judgments," Valak said, without looking back.

"On what, brother?" Vael asked.

"You’ll see," Valak replied.

​Stepping out of the Eastern Archive, they entered a barren field of rough stones and scorched earth. There, five demons knelt, bound in heavy chains.

What is this?

Vael thought as he approached them. Valak stopped in front of them while Vael stood at his side.

"What judgment am I issuing, brother?" Vael’s voice remained calm.

"These are the weakest of the demon army, deemed unproductive and useless. What shall we do with them?" Valak looked at Vael. "I suggest killing them all, but what do you think?"

Vael remained silent for a while. He didn’t care about any of the demons before him. Whether they lived or died was irrelevant to him. Yet that wasn’t what concerned him most.

He needed my suggestion? Hmm. Now how does this benefit me? Oh. Their abilities. That would certainly be a bonus.

Vael stayed silent for a moment, then looked up at Valak and said, "I think four should die and one should be free to live."

Valak looked at him, briefly confused for almost a heartbeat, before a smile crept onto his face. "Very well then. Who shall we spare?"

Vael didn’t look away from the demons in chains. "I propose a survival of the fittest. The last one standing gets to live."

"Oh, I see." Valak looked back at them, and with a snap of his fingers, the chains shattered like glass. Then he and Vael stepped back, giving them space.

They were three males and two females, all dressed the same, the only distinct marker a color tag on their shirts—red, white, yellow, blue, and purple.

They stood in a circle, feet away from each other, waiting for a signal to begin. Then Valak snapped his fingers.

They all launched into battle at once. Red placed her hand on the ground, and rock spikes launched from the earth. White jumped high above, releasing a barrage of lightning into the field.

Yellow shielded herself from the rocks and lightning. Blue shot a ball of flame upward toward White, who answered with a lightning blast aimed directly at him. The lightning shot through the flame ball and straight into Blue, passing through him and leaving a hole in the ground behind him.

White immediately aimed at Red next, but she defended herself with a rock shield, and the impact sent her flying backward.

As White tried to aim at Red again, a beam of purple light shot toward him, tearing away the lower half of his body. The blast had come from Purple, who had begun panting heavily.

Then, from behind, a thick, sharp spike plunged into Purple, lifting him into the air.

Vael noticed something strange—only Red remained standing in the field; the others were dead. Before he could account for the bodies, a hand passed through Red’s gut. She dropped dead with a heavy thud.

Standing behind her, panting heavily, was Yellow. She was the last one standing.

"Wow, I’m impressed," Vael muttered. Then—

Notice: New skills acquired. Shield, Lightning, Earth Spike, Devour, Fireball, and Perfect Cloak.

Perfect Cloak. It must be what she used in the last minute. Devour? I guess that belongs to the purple tag.

He looked back at the girl in front of him. "You survived. You can go." Then he turned toward Valak. "Is that fair?"

"Certainly." Valak turned and began heading toward his chambers. "You have good judgment, Vael. I like it," he muttered, without stopping or turning around.

Vael took one look at the girl, then, without a word, turned and left.

---

He was on his way back to his chambers when he got a system notification.

Notice: The unique skill Calamity Evolution has fulfilled its first step.

New permanent skill acquired from the fulfillment: Heightened Senses.

Notice: New title acquired: Demon of Deceit.

Notice: 10 skills copied.

Heightened Senses? I like that. Oh, are you keeping tags of all the new titles, or is it a constant title change?

Notice: Constant title changes. Current title: Demon of Deceit.

Oh, alright, that’s fine by—

Vael suddenly stopped. His heightened senses immediately detected something odd. Someone was following him.

He looked back, and the hallway was empty. Then he turned around fully, a cold expression on his face.

"Come out now. Don’t make me wait."

In that instant, an image slowly began to appear, forming into something visible in the hallway, and then the cloak faded entirely.

Standing a few feet away, trembling in fear while still panting, was the winner of his match.

The girl with the yellow tag, looking physically bruised.

"Oh, it’s you. That seemed painfully obvious." He took two steps toward her, his voice dropping an octave, his expression devoid of any warmth as he muttered, "Tell me. Why are you following me?"