Villain With The Absolute Evil Sytem
Chapter 67 - 65 : The Lord of the Abyss

Chapter 67: Chapter 65 : The Lord of the Abyss

A colossal, bound entity ,its form in constant flux, as if reality itself refused to settle on what it should be. One moment, it was a mass of abyssal flesh, slick and otherworldly, adorned with shifting, starlit scales. The next, it was an ethereal mist, its form dispersing into the air before solidifying once more.

Its spiraling appendages drifted like phantom limbs, their bioluminescent fins casting eerie lights upon the chamber. The curling fractal horns atop its head crackled with energy, static storms frozen in perpetual motion.

But it was the eyes that held Lumian still.

Vast whirlpools of light and darkness, endless voids that pulled at the soul.

The moment he locked onto them, his entire body rejected the creature’s existence.

A deep, visceral hatred rose within him,an instinctual loathing that had no logic, no origin.

His hands clenched into fists.

He wanted to kill it.

He didn’t know why.

But it felt like this hatred had been imprinted onto his very being.

The creature stirred. The chains binding him groaned, ancient links straining against his slight movement.

Then, he spoke.

At first, the words were incomprehensible, a sound that didn’t belong in this world.

It clawed at Lumian’s mind, twisting reality around him.

He took a step back, his breath ragged.

The creature stopped. Then, his voice shifted into something Lumian could understand.

"Do you find it hard to look at me?"

"Do you find me repulsive?"

"Does every fiber of your being scream to tear me apart?"

A pause.

Then, an amused chuckle.

"Of course it does."

"After all, you hate all those who oppose you."

Lumian snarled and instinctively took a defensive stance. Golden arcs of electricity crackled across his body, dancing between his fingertips.

The hatred,it wasn’t one-sided. The creature loathed him, too.

And something about that made Lumian grin.

"What the hell are you?" he demanded. "Why did you drag me down here?"

The creature laughed.

It was a deep, rolling sound, reverberating through the chamber like a distant storm.

"You are truly incomplete," he mused. "But even though we are enemies, I am still benevolent enough to enlighten you."

The chains around him tightened as if to silence him, but he ignored them.

"I shall introduce myself, just as I did to the annoying human who imprisoned me here."

A pause.

Then, with a voice that rumbled like thunder over an endless sea,

"I am the Lord of the Abyss; Nodens."

The air grew heavy.

Even without meaning to, Lumian felt the weight of the name press against his mind.

It wasn’t just a name. For something so abstract as a name, it felt solid, very physical, Lumian couldn’t explain it.

Lumian’s grin didn’t waver, but he did roll his shoulders as if shaking off the unseen pressure.

"Can’t say I’ve heard of you," he said.

Nodens’ whirlpool-eyes flickered.

"Of course not. You are still blind."

The creature shifted, his form blurring between solid and mist.

"I have been asleep since my imprisonment. But the moment you arrived... the moment you used that cursed ability and the energy that flowed with it"

His gaze sharpened.

"I awoke."

Lumian’s fingers twitched.

"[Dread Step.]"

It was the last thing he had used before the ground had swallowed him whole.

He narrowed his eyes.

"And what does that have to do with you?"

Nodens tilted his head.

"Because it is familiar."

"Because it should not belong to you, but it does"

"And that means that we have already met."

Silence.

Lumian stared.

Then, he scoffed. "I think I’d remember meeting someone as ugly as you."

Nodens didn’t react.

"Laugh while you can, boy."

"In time, you will become just like me."

"After all, we are both Heralds."

Lumian’s grin froze.

His mind flashed back,

To the status menu he had seen when the system appeared to him.

’Race: Herald.’

His golden eyes widened.

"...Herald? My new race?"

Nodens let out a deep, amused hum.

"It seems you are not entirely ignorant."

Lumian licked his teeth. "So what? You’re telling me you got a visit from the faceless bastard too?"

At this, Nodens’ form pulsed with contempt.

"No."

His voice turned sharp.

"No god may have two Heralds."

"I was the Herald of Nodens."

"I am Nodens, and Nodens is Nodens. A single entity but separate. Such is the paradoxical existence of all Heralds"

He moved forward, but the chains burned his form, forcing him back.

"And you..."

A dark grin curled across his monstrous face.

"You belong to another."

"Who? Tell me his name?"

Nodens tried to say the name.

But the moment he did, his entire body convulsed.

He screamed.

Not in rage.

But in agony.

The chamber shook. The chains tightened, searing into his flesh.

Lumian tensed, watching as Nodens writhed.

Then, after a long, ragged breath,

Nodens stilled.

"...It seems that trickster doesn’t want you to know some things."

His voice was laced with venom.

"How typical of him."

Lumian crossed his arms. "And yet, you’re still talking."

Nodens laughed.

"I am not as heartless as your god."

His whirlpool-eyes darkened.

"At least, I want you to know as much as possible before I kill you."

Without warning,

A tendril lashed out.

Lumian dodged, retaliating with a bolt of electricity.

The tendril severed,

But it instantly regenerated.

A wicked grin spread across Nodens’ face.

"Killing you won’t change anything..."

His voice deepened.

"...But at least I can piss that bastard off."

They clashed.

Lumian dodged, countered, evaded.

He struck with lightning, but Nodens reformed each time. He fought defensively, but he could tell, Nodens was toying with him.

Then, as their final blows were about to connect,

A voice echoed through the abyss.

"It’s not time for you to fight."

"For now, continue to grow your strength."

A massive hand emerged from the void, and dragged Lumian out.He landed right in front of Shirley and Trinity.

His clothes were torn, his body crackled with residual electricity and he breathed heavily.

Trinity exhaled sharply.

"You have a beef with clothes or what?"

Shirley, ignoring everything, ran forward and hugged him.

Trinity turned to the gathered heroes. "False alarm. Reopen the building."

Then, she fixed her gaze on Lumian.

"You’re going to tell me everything. Every. Detail."

Lumian eyed her.

Then, he smirked.

"No."

Trinity blinked. "...Excuse me?"

Lumian stretched.

"Not until I soak in a nice bath and get some good food."

Trinity clenched her fists. She was annoyed, he pride didn’t sit right with following the demands of Lumian. Then, after a deep breath,

"Fine. Follow me."

Lumian grinned.

"Fantastic."