I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 218  [Final Event] [Closing Ceremony] [18] Jayden Rayena VS Brandon Delavoic

With a thunderous thud, Jasmine fell to her knees, her body trembling with an overwhelming fear that seemed to emanate from Edward. She gasped as a pillar of ominous grey energy shot out from him, enveloping his entire form. The sheer pressure of this energy caused the very ground and ceiling to quake.

Never before had she felt such dread, such power radiating from anyone. Edward's appearance underwent a sinister transformation

—his once white hair turned dark grey, and his amber eyes now bore a chilling shade of grey as well.

"I-Impossible…" Jasmine muttered, witnessing the strength of a Monarch now emanating from Edward. It felt like he was consuming something within himself, his body absorbing a powerful force.

"W-Walter! Get out of here!" Jasmine cried out, warning Walter to flee from the immense power surging within Edward.

"Y-Yeah!" Walter didn't waste a second, running for his life as Edward's gaze shifted toward him, and in an instant, he vanished.

-BOOOOOM!

An explosive shockwave echoed through the space, causing Walter to crash into a wall, but thankfully, Jasmine used her own power to protect him. A reddish-grey energy surged from her body, different from Edward's but no less formidable.

"It won't last long…" Jasmine realized that Edward's newfound strength was only temporary, but she was uncertain if she could hold him back even for that brief moment.

"Move."

-BOOOOM!

With terrifying speed, Edward appeared before Jasmine, wielding the Holy Sword of Nihil. She attempted to defend herself, but her sword shattered under the force of his strike.

"A-Are you kidding me…?" Jasmine gasped, clutching her chest as a deep gash appeared from the attack. The situation had taken a dire turn, and she struggled to comprehend the true extent of Edward's newfound power.

***

On the Garden of Eden, an intense battle raged on, the scenery disappearing into smoke from the heat and shockwaves of the combatants' attacks.

"GodKing's Lightning Blast!" Jayden's voice echoed as he swung his sword, unleashing a blast of white lightning toward Brandon. However, Brandon swiftly countered with his own sword, invoking "Drain," which absorbed all the mana from Jayden's attack, canceling it out.

But Jayden wasn't one to back down. With incredible speed, he appeared behind Brandon, his clasped hands raised high. "GodKing's Lightning Hammer!!!"

-BOOOOOOOM!

Brandon coughed blood and crashed into the ground, creating a deep gouge in the earth. Yet, Jayden wasn't done yet, diving toward Brandon and pointing his palms. His blue eyes shone with power as sizzling lightning enveloped his body. "GodKing's Lightning Roar! AHHHH!"

Brandon, though wounded, stood up with determination, appearing next to the surprised Jayden. "Belphegor's Absorption." His sword glowed with an orange hue as he swung it.

Jayden skillfully parried the attack, but he couldn't neutralize all of it, sending him flying. Despite the pain, Jayden quickly rose to his feet and locked eyes with Brandon. "I will never forgive you! You killed my brother!"

-BAM!

Jayden spat blood as Brandon's knee struck his stomach.

"I didn't kill your brother, Reinhart Eginfer," Brandon retorted.

"Liar-AGHH!"

Brandon delivered another powerful strike, leaving Jayden in agony. "If you used your brain a little, you'd realize we were framed by someone else, so you'd direct all your hatred toward me."

"W-What?" Jayden shook his head. "Z-Zeus confirmed-"

-BAM!

Brandon struck again, attempting to break Jayden's hands, but the agile fighter rolled away and gathered a tremendous amount of mana in his hand. "Mark of Lumen."

Jayden's Mark of Lumen pulsated with raw power, the symbol radiating a golden brilliance as his blue and white lightning surged with increased intensity. His eyes locked onto Brandon with unwavering determination.

"Brandon... I'll make you pay for what you did!" Jayden's voice boomed with anger and resolve.

Brandon's expression remained stoic as he calmly faced Jayden's unleashed fury. "II didn't kill your brother but I did want," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery.

With a fierce battle cry, Jayden lunged at Brandon, his lightning-charged sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. Brandon met each strike with equal skill, their swords clashing in a symphony of sparks. The ground trembled beneath their feet as they exchanged blow after blow, neither giving an inch.

Their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the Garden of Eden, causing the very earth to quiver in response. Jayden's emotions were a tempest, but he channeled his anger into his attacks, driving Brandon back with relentless assault. In turn, Brandon's calculated moves kept Jayden on the defensive, always one step ahead. He kept draining and exhausting Jayden's mana but the latter's strength and stamina was boosted by Lumen and Raphiel.

'They are not even here but they still bother us.' This idea was reveulsing Brandon.

It was like they didn't even find the necessity to intervene even in this dire situation where they could take the Key.

"TAKE THAT!!" The pain of losing him fueled Jayden's determination, pushing him to unlock new levels of power. He swore to himself that he would never lose anyone he cared about again. He was getting stronger by second.

Jayden tapped into the latent potential within him, drawing upon the power of Lumen's light. His movements became more fluid and precise, matching the flow of the powerful energy coursing through him. It was as if he had become one with the lightning itself. The symbol of the Apostle on his hand flickered burning Jayden's body with power.

The clash of their swords intensified, creating a whirlwind of energy around them. Their battle was a dance of power and finesse, each move executed with lethal intent. Jayden's lightning arced and crackled, while Brandon's sword glowed with an otherworldly glow.

"I call upon the Apostle's strength." Driven by this conviction, Jayden pushed his limits further, his power reaching an unprecedented height. He gathered the energy around him, forming a swirling vortex of lightning that encircled his body. The ground beneath him trembled as the sheer force of his energy threatened to tear the Garden of Eden apart.

Brandon narrowed his eyes and drew on a monstrous amount of mana shaking the ground. His horns became longer and his body became bigger and stronger.

With a fierce battle cry, Jayden unleashed his ultimate technique, "GodKing's Lightning Tempest!" The vortex of lightning exploded outward, a cataclysmic storm of power engulfing everything in its path. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves radiating across the Garden, shaking the very foundations of the realm.

-BOOOOOOM!

The vortex of crackling lightning surged forward, colliding head-on with Brandon, engulfing his entire body in a blinding display of raw power.

"Ah…" Jayden staggered, his face pale and hands trembling, as he witnessed the devastating attack. The ground around them quivered, and the golden grasses in the vicinity were reduced to charred remnants.

"Zeus…" Jayden called out, his voice filled with both anger and confusion.

[ϟI lied to you about what I have seen the day your brother died.ϟ]

Jayden's expression turned to shock as he heard Zeus's confession. Anger began to build within him, and he demanded answers. "What...? Why would you lie to me about something like that?!"

[ϟI needed more information about the man who killed your brother. I considered killing him, but his power is too enigmatic for me to fully comprehend.ϟ]

The revelation hit Jayden like a ton of bricks. "Is that supposed to justify lying about my brother's death? He was murdered!"

[ϟI acknowledge that he was killed, but I needed to understand the reasons behind it and the true extent of the threat he posed. It was a matter of ensuring your safety and the safety of those you care about.ϟ]

Jayden shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "Enough of your excuses... just tell me who did it."

There was a brief silence before...

[<Edward Falkrona.>]

Jayden's world shattered at the revelation. "No... it can't be true!"

-Thud

Jayden collapsed to his knees, utterly broken. "It must be a lie... Edward would never..."

-BOOOOOOM!

Another explosion echoed through the smoke, and Brandon emerged from the chaos, half of his face burned and his left arm injured. "You almost had me there, Apostle of Lumen."

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Jayden forced himself to stand, fueled by grief and rage. His body radiated a brilliant aura as the blessings of Raphiel and Lumen surged through him once more.

"Your potential seems limitless. They quite spoiled you." Brandon sneered with disdain, taunting Jayden in the midst of his pain.

"I will-" Jayden stopped speaking.

"..." Brandon also stopped.

At the same time, they both turned on their left and right respectively.

In the midst of the intense battle, an unexpected presence made its presence known. A young man emerged, surrounded by an ominous dark grey energy that seemed to swirl around him like an eerie mist. His dark grey hair floated around him, and his sharp, lifeless eyes bore into Jayden and Brandon, giving off an unsettling aura.

"Edward..." Jayden's voice trembled with surprise and anger as he tightened his grip on his crackling sword.

But before he could react, a sudden spurt of blood erupted from Jayden's stomach. His eyes widened in shock as he looked down to see a pure white sword impaled in his heart. The pain was excruciating, and he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. The aura and blessing that had surrounded him vanished in an instant, leaving him defenseless.

With a heavy thud, Jayden collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from the gaping hole in his chest.

Edward's face remained pale and cold, showing no emotion as he looked down at Jayden's lifeless form. Retrieving Trinity Nihil, he spoke in a chilling tone, "No more Wings."

"..."

As Jayden was revived by his last remaining Wing, Brandon remained silent, observing the scene before him. His attention then shifted to Edward, who seemed to trying to reach out to Jayden. Suddenly, Edward felt a mysterious force pulling him upward, and he found himself standing in a familiar white space.

Zeus' voice echoed with a chilling tone. "I warned you, Edward Falkrona. Now you will die-"

But before Zeus could make his move, an ethereal beauty appeared before Edward, her presence causing even the mighty GodKing to freeze. Laima, with her pure white hair flowing and her gem-like white eyes, stood before Edward, dressed in a sublime white gown. She radiated a divine aura, making her a vision of grace and power.

Zeus was taken aback by Laima's appearance, his eyes wide with astonishment. He was facing one of the women he had once been infatuated with, and her presence seemed to overpower even his own dimension.

Edward acknowledged her presence with a casual "Thanks, Nevia," not even sparing a glance at Zeus as he plunged into the cracks of the dimension that Nevia just had created.

Zeus narrowed his eyes slightly at Edward's familiarity but quickly refocused his attention on Laima. With a dazzling smile, he greeted her, "You are finally showing up, Nevia. I would have never thought that you would be this close to me-"

Laima's gaze was cold and condescending as she looked down at the GodKing. Her white eyes shone with a hint of coldness as she warned him sternly, "This is a warning. Don't even spare a glance at Layla Adriana Tarmias anymore; otherwise, Raphiel will learn of it first. Just because you couldn't obtain her, you turned toward her soul twin. Pathetic."

Zeus, however, remained undeterred by her warning and continued to smile. "Are you perhaps jealous, Nevia? If you are so jealous, then I will-"

"I have ever loved only one man," Nevia interrupted, her tone softening slightly. "And he died at the hands of my own family."

Zeus's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Ahahaah! You should forget him, Nevia. I'm here for you-"

"Enjoy your time as much as you can. You will die by the hands of Amael."

With that, Nevia disappeared, leaving Zeus standing alone in his dimension. The once-dazzling smile on his face faded, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Amael…"