I Am The Game's Villain Chapter 751: [Final Event] [Blood Moon Festival] [33] Two Apostles

"This never ends!" John snarled, his boots losing traction on the blood-soaked soil. Dozens of Ante Eden corpses were strewn across the area—some reduced to ash, others severed by his blade—yet more continued to emerge from the darkness like a relentless plague.

His mana reserves were dangerously low. He had hoped to save what remained for a true emergency, but the strain of slaughtering these numbers while maintaining a defensive barrier was pushing him to his breaking point.

(<How revolting. You are drenched in gore.>)

"I really don't want to hear that from you," John barked back. He swung his sword in a lethal crescent, bisecting a charging foe before spinning to parry a stray fireball. "Your magic is the definition of disturbing."

(<You are so cruel! My spells are adorable!>)

"Right, now I see where Layla gets her twisted preferences. You’ve completely ruined her."

(<I did no such thing! Layla has always possessed an affection for all creatures, no matter how hideous. You could learn a thing or two from her.>)

"Hard pass!" John shouted. He leaped backward, his blade carving through the air to release a surge of crimson fire that incinerated several enemies at once.

Their agonizing screams pierced the air—sharp and brief. John winced at the sound. With a heavy grunt of annoyance, he struck again, ending their lives quickly to spare them the pain of the flames.

Yet, the tide did not recede. Dozens more took their place.

"To hell with this!" He raised his weapon once more, but stopped.

A pillar of golden radiance suddenly crashed down from the heavens.

—BOOOOOOM!!

A violent shockwave ripped through the earth, sending debris and bodies flying in every direction. John instinctively covered his eyes, squinting through the haze at the massive crater that now dominated the battlefield.

As the dust settled, a figure emerged. He wore gleaming white armor that clinked softly with every measured stride.

"Who goes there?" John demanded, his fingers tightening around his hilt.

The man stepped into the light, revealing blonde hair and sharp, narrow eyes. His demeanor was composed and strangely courteous.

"You must be John Tarmias," the newcomer remarked.

John remained silent, his eyes scanning the man's plate armor until a realization hit him. He recognized those markings from past encounters.

Slowly, John’s face clouded over. "What business does the Holy Church have here?"

The man gave a soft laugh. "Forgive me. I am Cadmus, a Holy Knight serving His Holiness. I have arrived to safeguard the Apostle of Lumen."

"What?" John blinked in confusion. The day was becoming increasingly bizarre.

Cadmus continued, unperturbed. "You appear quite busy, so I won't linger. However, I have a single inquiry. Would you be so kind as to answer, Lord John?"

John narrowed his gaze. "Ask it."

Cadmus hesitated for a moment, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Where can I find Lord Edward Falkrona?"

John’s expression soured. "No idea. Go find him yourself."

Cadmus laughed again, seemingly entertained. "Understood."

He prepared to depart, but his eyes drifted toward the motionless form of Earth nearby.

"He still draws breath, Milord. Do you wish for me to—"

"He’s dead," John cut him off coldly.

Cadmus looked back, but John’s stony expression didn't flicker.

"I said he’s dead," John repeated firmly.

A subtle smile touched Cadmus’s lips before he vanished in a flash of blinding radiance.

"..."

Quiet returned to the ruined field. John stared at Earth’s body for a long, silent moment. Finally, clenching his fist, he gripped his sword and walked away.

***

A few moments earlier...

"What is going on in this city...?" Jayden hissed, leaping between rooftops as he navigated Central Vedelia. He landed with grace, though his face was pale with shock.

Upon entering the capital, the first thing he saw was the massive red barrier hanging over the city like a lid. It throbbed with a rhythmic pulse, and the suffocating pressure against his skin intensified as he moved toward the center.

A colossal crimson mana circle rotated within the dome, feeding on a liquid that looked terrifyingly like blood.

Whose blood was it?

Everyone trapped beneath the dome was contributing—civilians, soldiers, and the wounded. Every drop of blood shed in the streets was being drawn into the overhead spell.

Jayden reached another rooftop and looked down, his eyes widening at the carnage.

"This is insane... why are they killing each other?"

It defied logic.

Ordinary citizens were clawing at each other like wild animals. Knights were fighting amongst themselves as if they had lost their minds. The capital had turned into a theater of mindless violence.

It wasn't a battle; it was pure insanity.

A deep vibration echoed in his mind.

[⚡️This is Merithra’s spell.⚡️]

The voice of Zeus, filled with irritation, rumbled within him.

"Merithra? Who is that?" Jayden asked, balancing on a balcony railing.

[⚡️Someone you should hope to never encounter.⚡️]

Jayden blinked.

"Great... more cryptic warnings."

He didn't linger on it. Time was a luxury he didn't have.

"The timing of this is terrible," he whispered. "We only came here because of that invitation to the Prophetess’s wedding."

A few days prior, a royal summons had arrived, signed by Claudia Tepes, the former Prophetess.

"Is this all just a coincidence?" Jayden pondered, his brow furrowing.

[⚡️Does the reason change the reality?⚡️]

"That’s a yes," Jayden concluded. "You definitely know more than you're letting on. You wouldn't have pushed me to come here otherwise."

[⚡️You are making assumptions.⚡️]

"No, I'm right. This involves Edward, doesn't it?"

Zeus fell silent for a moment.

[⚡️Perhaps. The Prophetess requested your presence specifically—I am just as interested in the outcome as you.⚡️]

Jayden didn't believe him for a second.

Zeus was hiding something significant.

Indeed, Harivel was gone. It was an event Zeus thought nearly impossible, yet it had occurred. It also lined up perfectly with the return of Deborah Dolphis—or rather, Anasthara.

Even a god like Zeus was unsettled, and he needed to witness the situation personally.

He needed to see Amael.

The Vessel of Samael.

He wanted to gauge what the boy had become and why his divine instincts were screaming that a pivotal moment was approaching.

"I hope the rest of the group is alright..." Jayden murmured. They had separated after entering the city, largely because Jayden had bolted after Zeus gave him a specific piece of information:

His elder sister, Jennyfer, was in the city.

And she was in grave danger.

[⚡️Focus on your own blood. Your sister is in immediate peril.⚡️]

"What?!"

Electricity surged through Jayden’s frame so intensely that the air cracked. In a heartbeat, he was gone, leaving only a streak of blue light.

He tore through the capital in minutes, moving so fast that the architecture became a blur in his vision.

Then—

He spotted her.

Jennyfer.

Years had passed since their last meeting, but he knew her face instantly, even from across the plaza.

She was under attack.

Jayden acted without a moment's hesitation.

Bolts of lightning exploded around him as he threw himself into the fray.

....

...

"W-Who are you...?"

Jayden turned his attention toward Victor.

"Jayden."

His tone was steady, but his eyes softened when he looked at the woman standing behind them. Jennyfer was paralyzed, her mouth agape as if she were seeing a ghost. Jayden felt a surge of relief—she knew who he was. Despite the years and his growth, she recognized him.

"Or," he added with a faint grin, "you might know me as Reinhart."

At the mention of that name, Jennyfer flinched. Her body shook as memories flooded back. She stared at him, her eyes searching his features for the boy she once knew.

The realization finally hit her.

Her lips trembled, and tears began to stream down her face.

"R-Reinhart... is it really you?" she whispered.

"It’s been a long time, big sister," he said, unable to hide his smile.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

Jennyfer ran forward and collided with him, hugging him with such intensity that he nearly stumbled.

"Reinhart!" she sobbed, burying her face against him.

Jayden held her tightly for a moment before sighing softly.

"Sis... we can't do this right now. Not yet."

She stiffened, then nodded and stepped back, wiping her eyes. Her focus immediately shifted to Leon.

Leon, however, showed no emotion at the family reunion. He merely looked annoyed.

He hadn't anticipated Jayden showing up here.

Is the first timeline repeating itself...?

He narrowed his eyes in thought.

In the previous life, Jayden had arrived with a full team of allies because they had tracked Edward Falkrona to Sancta Vedelia. They had come to confront Edward, who had reappeared after a period of hiding.

But in this life?

The villain Edward Falkrona didn't exist.

Amael had never set foot in Sancta Vedelia or the Academy—he had been sent away for recovery instead.

More importantly, Amael hadn't been following Leon’s path.

There was no logical reason for Jayden to be here.

While Leon didn't fear Jayden, seeing him and Victor together in Central Vedelia brought back bitter memories. It reminded him of the moment he was struck down in this very spot during the first timeline.

However, things were different now.

He was significantly more powerful.

"Wait, Jenny—who is this guy?" Victor asked, struggling to stand.

"Jenny?" Jayden repeated, his brow twitching at the familiar name.

Jennyfer looked at Victor, her eyes still wet. "My brother. My little brother... I thought I'd never see him again."

"What?" Victor looked between them, stunned.

She had shared her tragic history with him, but he never expected her brother to just appear—especially not someone with this level of mana. There was also something familiar about the boy's aura.

"You are the Apostle of Lumen."

Alector moved forward, studying Jayden with genuine curiosity.

"I am." Jayden nodded before looking at Victor. "And you... you're the Apostle of Nihil. I can feel it."

To confirm, Jayden pulled back his sleeve, revealing the glowing golden crest on his arm.

In response, Victor’s own mark pulsed with a white light.

"You're an Apostle too...?" Victor muttered, his jaw dropping.

"Yeah—" Jayden started, but he suddenly stopped.

Every instinct he possessed screamed in warning.

His body erupted in sparks as he vanished right as Leon’s sword cut through the space he had occupied.

—BOOOOOOM!!!

The impact shattered the ground, carving a massive furrow through the plaza and obliterating the buildings in its path.

"What the hell was that?!" Jayden reappeared a distance away next to Victor, holding Jennyfer carefully to keep her out of the blast zone.

[⚡️That man is a monster. If you hold back, you will die—and even at full strength, your survival isn't guaranteed. Retreat.⚡️]

Zeus’s voice was sharp and urgent in his mind.

Jayden ignored the advice. He pointed his blade at Leon, his eyes turning cold.

"Wait... I remember you."

A flash of recognition crossed his face.

"I saw you back in the Enigma Dungeon..."

Jayden could never forget that face.

It looked exactly like Edward’s, but the resemblance was skin-deep. Leon’s aura, his eyes, and his presence were entirely different. He was sharper, more malevolent, and far more lethal.

Leon tilted his head, letting out a dark chuckle.

"So you haven't forgotten. I remember you as well—specifically the way you fled like a coward, leaving Nyrel behind." His grin turned malicious. "You should have seen the look on his face when you deserted him. It was pure despair. And as a bonus, I took the lives of two people he held dear that day."

Jayden’s knuckles turned white as he gripped his sword.

Victor blinked. "Nyrel? Who’s that?"

No one answered him.

Leon continued, his voice laced with mockery.

"You people love to talk about justice and honor, yet you are the ultimate hypocrites." He leveled his sword at Jayden, the darkness in his eyes glowing with an unholy light. "It’s fitting for the Apostle of a coward like Lumen."

"You don't know anything about me!" Jayden roared, vanishing in a burst of thunder.

"Reinhart!" Jennyfer cried out, but he was already gone.

—BOOOOM!!

Leon deflected Jayden’s desperate strike with effortless grace. Sparks flew as their weapons met. Leon smirked.

"You haven't changed a bit, Jayden."

Jayden didn't reply. He gathered his power and unleashed a massive bolt of lightning directly at Leon’s chest.

—BOOOOOOM!!

The Sin of Pride flickered around Leon, its absolute defense negating the attack completely.

"Always rushing in like an idiot," Leon remarked. "All because someone insulted your pride. Tell me—how many lies has Lumen whispered to you?"

"Shut up about Lumen," Jayden growled, straining to push his blade against Leon’s, though he was clearly being overpowered. "You're just a psychopath who likes to kill."

Leon’s smirk faded into a cold stare.

"Likes to kill...?" he repeated softly. "Is that really what you think I am?"

The mockery was gone from his voice.

He had taken many lives. But it was never for pleasure. His path was twisted, his actions were beyond forgiveness, and his hands were stained forever. But it was all for a singular purpose:

To forge a new world.

To cleanse the rot from existence.

A future for himself and Gladys... and one that would save the masses.

If the world viewed him as a villain...

Then what was a man like 'him'?

Rickward.

The name flickered in Leon’s mind.

Jayden felt the shift in atmosphere—his survival instincts flared.

He threw himself backward on pure reflex.

—BOOOOOOOM!!

Violet flames erupted around Leon, swirling in a violent vortex. He stood at the center, his eyes burning with an ominous light.

Leon’s smile returned.

"Come then, Apostle. Show me your growth. Try not to run away like a pathetic dog this time."

Jayden gritted his teeth. "Zeus... I’m not holding anything back."

Zeus didn't respond.

But he didn't stop him either.

It meant that if the situation turned dire, Zeus would step in. For now, the god was simply observing.

Leon fascinated him.

Very few knew of the First Timeline, and Zeus was among them. But Leon was an anomaly. His power level didn't make sense; he was strong, but he shouldn't be a threat to the gods or to Eden.

So why...?

Why did Laima—who was always calculating—give her life to fight him?

There was a missing piece to the puzzle.

"Reinhart... he’s too strong," Jennyfer whispered, her eyes wide with fear as she watched Leon standing amidst the purple fire.

Jayden gave her a quick, confident look. "Don't worry. Zeus is on our side."

Hearing that name seemed to calm her slightly. The tension left her frame, though her eyes remained glued to the battle.

Victor moved to Jayden’s side, his blade ready. "For some reason, he isn't trying to kill me," Victor noted. "Maybe it's because I'm an Apostle. He might show you the same mercy."

Jayden gave a short, dry laugh. "That’s a comforting thought." He narrowed his eyes at Leon. "But why would he care?"

Leon said nothing.

But Zeus answered.

[⚡️He is playing it safe. If he goes too far, Nihil might manifest. He won't risk a divine confrontation when his own Apostle could be caught in the crossfire.⚡️]

Jayden blinked. "So he's afraid your god will descend? I'm almost jealous. Would Lord Lumen ever do that for me? Would he actually step into the mortal realm?"

He knew the laws of divine interference were absolute. Gods could not meddle freely without causing a catastrophic backlash from Fate.

[⚡️To be honest—no.⚡️]

Zeus was blunt.

[⚡️In Lumen’s eyes, you haven't proven yourself. You aren't worth the effort of a divine manifestation yet. He won't waste his power on you.⚡️]

Jayden sighed with a bitter smile. "Typical Lord Lumen... always brutally honest."

He didn't have time for a rebuttal.

Without a word, Leon vanished from sight.

—BOOOOM!!

Victor barely tracked the movement, but his reflexes saved them. He swung his sword, the white radiance of Nihil flaring as he blocked Leon’s blade just inches from Jayden’s neck.

"Stay focused!" Victor shouted, his arms shaking under the sheer weight of the blow.

Leon’s casual strike felt like being hit by a falling mountain.

Jayden didn’t