Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

Back in the world outside of Rio's head, after the vision ended there was a pin drop silence as a result. Which was broken by a long sigh coming from the god.

Aelthar took a deep breath and then exhaled audibly to gather his thoughts, before opening his mouth.

"Still something you want to say to me?" The god asked Rio, who was still stuck in shock for everything he witnessed.

He didn't care about where he got the power to destroy all planet or erase all life. Neither did he care about the seven warriors who were led by Leon and blessed by light, following the commands of a mysterious god whose minions blasted him with the celestial dragon. – all he cared about was the fact for what he lost.

Why he lost?

And how?

His mirror self said that no one was left alive on this planet about whom he even remotely cared about, before destroying it… So did that mean everyone he loved now, or would come to love before reaching that point in time would die?

Would Damascus drown in the sea of blood and get shrouded in doom, while his famed castle becomes nothing but a pile of monster carcasses?

Cause that fate wouldn't be much different than what the original Rio had, and after so many years of sleepless nights and bone breaking hardwork, _ no, he could never accept that.

[Host, I know it is a shocker, but you can think about everything else later.] System spoke, distracting him from his dark thoughts, [But first, we have a dead god to deal with.]

[After seeing what you saw, he didn't kill you instantly, it's already him showing his last bit of mercy.]

[So if you cannot convince him otherwise, I think we'll have a hard time facing his wrath.]

System's words brought Rio back to reality, reminding him of their current predicament and the purpose they were here in this dungeon.

It was only now did Rio looked up and felt the aura of danger which locked onto him. The whole temple felt like it had become a trap for him, with no way out but forward. Towards the statue where Aelthar's imposing figure floated calmly, but menacingly.

Rio looked at the god's eyes for a brief second, and could read the conflict of thoughts which probably asked Aelthar to kill him instantly to avoid future doom, or not judge a kid based on crimes he didn't yet commit.

A real question similar to the hypothetical scenario of killing baby Hitler or baby Thanos back on earth.

Though Rio mocked the god's indecisiveness in his heart, at this moment, he couldn't help but be grateful for it. He wasn't afraid of Aelthar in any way, he just needed some time to calm his mind and form a plan which required least effort and had highest chance of success.

But since the mirror showed the fated future of the one who glanced in it, would any lie even be able to counter it. Was that even possible?

[You can _ always tell the truth.] System suggested a way, and without needing any further explanation, Rio understood what it meant.

(Yeah, why didn't I think of that?) Rio thought in his heart and instantly started formulating his next words carefully, for they decided how much he'd need to pay to get this legacy.

"No words." Aelthar spoke again after seeing him silent, "Thought as much."

"Wait." Rio spoke seeing that the god's patience was running out. "I wasn't silent cause I have no explanation, I was just thinking how to start."

"How about you start at what's most important." Aelthar spoke and looked at him with interest, "How did you blow up the planet?"

"...I _ ."

"Don't lie and say you have no idea. Cause I saw your expressions, and that was the only time in the vision where you seemed the least bit surprised." Aelthar said, interrupting Rio in his lies.

Rio looked at the god, and though the question wasn't what he expected to answer first, he still bit the bullet and explained. But not before setting some secrecy for himself.

'System, lock this place.' He ordered, and next second his pocket of points shrank a little as the hungry system gobbled it up and charged a barrier which blocked the prying eyes and ears of other gods, including the ones of Nyx and her followers of night cult members.

Rio wasn't worried about Nyx , as he could just blame it on Aelthar. And knowing the god wouldn't survive the day, his lie would be safe.

"Because that's not me you see in the vision." Once everything was done, Rio replied.

"Heh, out of all the excuses, is this the best you could find?" The god mocked, not buying it.

But Rio ignored the god's words and continued his answer, "It's not an excuse, it's the truth."

"The one you see in the vision, is the primordial god of darkness, the one whose very name means the ruler of doom. He _Is _Erebus."

"Impossible." Aelthar immediately refused. "Because even though I didn't take part in the war of gods, and lived away in my Sanctuary. I know for a fact that Erebus died at that time."

"You're right." Rio said, nodding his head, "But what you don't know is, that Nyx found a way to bring him back."

"...." Rio's answer stumped Aelthar, and though the god had many doubts, he didn't interrupt Rio again, and kept looking for more details.

"Years ago, I received the blessing of fate from goddess Skuld, one which allowed me to look into the future. To see what fate awaited me. And that's when I learned. _ that the goddess of night who chose me, the one who's been protecting me, training me, helping me get stronger _ did all for her own selfish reasons."

"She was simply grooming me, preparing me to be the perfect vessel for her primordial husband."

"I don't blame her though. If I ever lost someone I loved, and found a way to bring them back, I'd do it too. Everyone would."

"But that doesn't mean I was willing to die, so that their love can prosper. And that's why I need your power, to change my fate. To surv…"

Aelthar listened to his story before shaking his hand and raising his arm, signaling him to stop.

"Your story is good, mortal. And if I had no knowledge of primal laws, or the world where we're now trapped in, _I'd even believe it. But Arcadia is different. The concept of death here is…"

"I know about the veil, Aelthar. About what lies ahead for the gods who perish."

Aelthar was speaking in hesitation, choosing his words carefully, lest he spoke some secrets and alarmed the world will, who banned such news. But Rio cut him off midway and spoiled everything, catching the god off guard.

Aelthar raised his eyebrows as soon as he heard him mention the Veil, and looked at Rio in some surprise, before coming back to his senses, and frantically searching around the temple for something.

It didn't take long for the god to notice something else in the temple, something which blocked even his magic from going out.

This discovery made him frown some more, as he thought it was the world will's doing and he would be getting severely punished any second now. _ but then Rio spoke something which shocked the god once more.

"You don't have to worry, the world will can't hear or see anything as long as I'm here." Rio said and ignoring the god's stupefied gaze, continued his speech. "It's one of the few tricks I learned from the future."

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Author note - The questions about the veil or Erebus's death and resurrection won't be answered for now. As they include much bigger plotlines and are important pieces for different arcs.

Hey, wait, did I mention or explain about the veil last time already when I wrote about Dahlia's death? Hmmm I need to check.

adios