Mystica: Reincarnated Into A Novel As A Villain With 3x Reward System
Chapter 29: Rotten Dark Heart.

Chapter 29: Rotten Dark Heart.

Just as the situation seemed hopeless, a mysterious student stepped forward from the shadows. His hands were raised slightly, his head bowed, and a mysterious smile played on his lips. His presence alone carried an unsettling confidence.

Meanwhile, deep in his subconscious, Arvian struggled to reach the light that revealed the dungeon. With each metre he took closer, Zaryx’s control over his body weakened. The closer Arvian got, the more unstable Zaryx became.

The student who had just arrived suddenly disappeared, only to reappear right in front of Zaryx—so close that their faces were barely an inch apart.

For the first time, Zaryx’s form flickered, his grip over Arvian’s body wavering. His monstrous presence seemed to distort as if something was pulling him away.

The reason was clear—Arvian was fighting back, pushing to regain control. His consciousness was rising, and with every ounce of willpower, he forced himself to wake up.

Zaryx’s entire plan was falling apart. He had been so sure he could take full control over Arvian’s body, use him as a vessel to fulfill his desires and hunger. But something inside Arvian was resisting—something even Arvian himself didn’t understand. For the first time, Zaryx felt something unexpected—fear.

Before he could react, the student moved at lightning speed and delivered a brutal kick to Zaryx’s face. The force sent him crashing into the rough stone wall with a sickening thud. Dust and debris scattered as cracks formed in the dungeon wall.

Zaryx barely had a moment to recover when the student launched himself forward again. This time, both feet struck Zaryx’s stomach with incredible force, completely defying gravity. The impact sent shockwaves through his body.

Arvian, still trapped in the depths of his mind, felt everything. The pain was real. Every attack landed with crushing weight, making it harder for Zaryx to hold on.

Zaryx tried to retaliate, but something was wrong. His control over Arvian’s body was slipping. His powers, once overwhelming, felt distant—like he was trying to grab smoke with his hands.

Meanwhile, Arvian pushed forward in the endless water, reaching toward the blinding light. With every step, the weight of Zaryx’s influence grew weaker. And then—he broke through.

In an instant, Arvian’s eyes snapped open. He was back. His mind was his own again. But his body... it was still in Zaryx’s monstrous form. His breathing was heavy, his claws still sharp, his aura still filled with darkness.

Realizing the danger of staying there, Arvian didn’t hesitate. He gathered his own energy, mixing it with the remnants of Zaryx’s power, and in the blink of an eye—vanished.

A gust of wind followed his sudden disappearance, leaving everyone stunned.

Far ahead in the dungeon, deep within the monster-infested area, Arvian reappeared. Alone. His monstrous form loomed in the dim light, his mind racing.

Zaryx was gone. But for how long?

The students stood frozen, confusion and shock written on their faces. Even the student who had fought against Zaryx was unsure of what had just happened. Everyone had seen the monstrous form, and the professors, who caught a glimpse at the last moment, were certain it was Zaryx.

But then, Lioren stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "That wasn’t Zaryx."

The others turned to him, puzzled.

Lioren continued, "Zaryx isn’t this weak. If it were really him, he could have killed all of us in seconds. I’ve fought him before durimg the city chaos—I know his power."

The weight of his words made everyone hesitate. If it wasn’t Zaryx, then what was it?

Lioren narrowed his eyes. "It could be a high-level monster from this dungeon. Maybe even from the same race as the ones we just fought. Whatever it was, we shouldn’t let fear control us. If we do, we won’t survive what’s ahead. We should continue our dungeon journey and fight other monsters and become stronger."

His words steadied the group, but doubt still lingered in their minds. If it wasn’t Zaryx... then what exactly had they just witnessed?

Despite their doubts, everyone agreed with Lioren’s reasoning and decided to move forward. There was no time to hesitate.

Meanwhile, far ahead in the dungeon, Arvian stood alone, surrounded by massive orc-like monsters. Their hulking figures loomed over him, their glowing red eyes filled with hunger and rage.

Arvian’s breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He could still feel the lingering effects of Zaryx’s control over his body. His mind was clouded, his limbs weak.

Then, suddenly—

[Ding! ]

[Unhuman Mission-05 Failed]

Unfortunately... Oops! You failed to complete the mission, and the consequences are now in effect.

Your Human Heart has been lost.

It has been replaced by a Rotten Dark Heart.

The process of losing your humanity has begun...

_____

A glowing system screen appeared before his eyes. Words began to form on the translucent panel, but Arvian barely had time to read them. The monsters were closing in fast, their weapons raised, ready to strike.

Then, a strange, cold sensation spread through his chest. It wasn’t normal. It was unnatural—like something was seeping into his very being. His entire body felt frozen. His head, his arms, his legs... everything was going numb.

His emotions dulled. The usual fire inside him was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar emptiness. A deep, dark void stirred within him, as if something inside was breaking apart.

What... is this? His thoughts were slow, his mind clouded. He couldn’t understand what was happening.

His breathing became shallow. His fingers twitched.

He needed to fight.

But could he?

Meanwhile, the other students continued moving forward, battling the monsters that Arvian had unknowingly skipped.

Jaxyn, Lioren, and Astrea, however, were growing uneasy. Arvian was nowhere to be seen. At first, they assumed he was with the professors, but when they asked, the response they got sent a chill down their spines.

"Arvian? Who’s that?" one of the professors asked, looking genuinely confused.

It was then they realized—none of the professors even knew who Arvian was. He wasn’t a top student, nor was he famous. He had never interacted with them before. To them, he was just another nameless student among many.

But as they moved forward, reaching the place where Arvian should have been, everyone’s faces twisted in shock and disbelief...