Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

Aelthar looked back at Rio and noticed how even the presence of divinity he felt on him before, the aura of night merged with dozens of other blessings he had, was also thinned out.

For a second, he couldn't help but think that if he had such a method back when he built the sanctuary, would things have been different?

But the god shook his hands and buried this thought. It was already a thousand years late.

After hearing the detailed version of his fate, and going back and forth with many questions, Aelthar had most of his doubts resolved, making him somewhat believe that the mortal was indeed telling the truth. But he still had one final question.

"Even if what you said is true, and Nyx does manage to bring back Erebus. He'd only be much weaker compared to his prime. Cause no matter how perfect a vessel you may be, it can't compare to his real body born out of chaos." Aelthar explained his point, "Not to mention even at his peak, when he and hundreds of other gods fought to the death, the world of Arcadia was still able to stay strong."

"And knowing what I know, the world will would have only gotten stronger the more time passes. And many a worlds merges within it."

"You're right." Rio said, agreeing to the god's comment, but this is where his limits to bullshitting hits the fan. And he couldn't come up with any such methods to boost Erebus on that level.

'Damn it, forget Erebus, how the fuck did I grow up to that point?' He couldn't help but think as unlike his bs excuses, he himself knew for a fact that in that vision was his real self.

But pinning this thought on the board of problems of tomorrow, Rio turned his attention back to the god and simply shrugged his shoulders.

"But I don't know this answer either."

"The future I saw in my fate ended when Erebus possessed my body, after that even though I knew my body was alive, all I saw for myself was just darkness."

"So I'm not sure how he got stronger….But knowing Nyx, I'd say nothing's impossible if she puts her mind to it."

This answer was just right, and Rio could see the doubtful expression of Aelthar easing up on his face.

[A good liar never tells a complete or a perfect lie. They spice it up with a touch of messy, broken, confused or unsequential truth _ which is what makes their tale smoothly believable. It's contrasting, but human nature is such.]

System chimed in with it's wise words on human psychology from the sidelines, but Rio slapped it's screen aside, cause it was blocking his vision.

{{{{$$$$ 1st chap ended here with system light moment and then 2nd was supposed to start in serious convo for Aelthar and Rio.}}}}}

Once the melodrama explaining lies about fate and his future including some stuff from the original novel and some from his own creation was over _ Rio hopefully looked up at the god and showed the earnest of expression and went to his knees.

"Now you know everything, so will you help me? I swear on my soul that I would do everything in my power to stop that vision from coming true."

Aelthar looked at the mortal begging for his legacy for some time, and despite the pity he felt after listening about his future, he still shook his head.

The risks were simply too great. He didn't want to give his legacy to someone unworthy, not to mention someone who very possibly may become a possession of the dark god.

Cause he for a fact knew, with his powers, the mortal's vessel would only grow stronger.

"My legacy is not for you, mortal." Aelthar refused in simple yet direct words.

Rio looked up at the god and feigned some surprise and disbelief, even though he had long expected this result.

"Why? Is this cause you don't trust me?" He asked with clenched fists, showing anger and hurt in his eyes.

(Tch tch tch with this level of talent I'm surprised you chose hooliganism instead of picking acting as your career back on earth.) The muted system typed a valid message, only to be ignored by his hateful host.

Hearing his question, Aelthar shook his head and replied, "It's not about the trust, or whether I believe your story or not. It's simply cause you failed the trial."

"My legacy is reserved for someone who's worthy. Not for someone who needs it."

"But…"

Rio wanted to play the part of a persistent beggar, but Aelthar wasn't in the mood to entertain his failed guest anymore, and chose to end their conversation.

"For everything you've said and done for me, I will show you pity, and let you live. But that's as far as my kindness can go." He said, remembering how the mortal lied through his trials, and tried to cheat his legacy.

"So leave my temple." The god said, his voice carrying a hint of pressure which slammed into Rio and pushed him backwards.

But before he could be thrown out completely, Rio raised his arms and stabbed his sword onto the ground. Holding it tightly to resist the pressure.

"I've answered so many of your questions," Rio said while dragging his tongue across the blood slipping across the corner of his lips. "So before I go, can you answer one of mine?"

The god looked at his eyes, and after thinking for a second, nodded his head.

"Thanks." Rio said with a slight smile, feeling the pressure disappear from his body.

"What do you want to know?" Aelthar asked, but before Rio could speak, he himself added a few lines more, "If it's about Erebus or other gods, or anything else to help you survive _ I'll have to disappoint you. Cause I have nothing left to give except my legacy."

"No, no, no. It's nothing like that." Rio said, shaking his head in a hurry, "It's just a simple and unrelated question."

"How did I fail your trials?" He asked. Cause why not? He acted damn well, rote learned every line from Leon, and repeated it with even better expressions and touch ups, _ so where did he fail?

"Hehehe hehe, curious about where your trickery fell, so you can succeed the next time?" Aelthar smiled hearing his question and asked back one of his own.

Knowing his act as an honest kid was no longer needed, Rio too nodded his head in agreement.

"I mean I always knew there was a chance you'd catch on to me. That I'd slip somewhere and you'd notice." Rio stopped smiling and started speaking, "I wished I was wrong. That you'd ignore or let it slide. But alas…you weren't so easy to fool." Rio said with a sigh.

He wished he wouldn't have to resort to his villainous ways to get this legacy, but it can only be blamed on fate.

"Heh, so you do accept your sins now." Aelthar replied.

"My sins?" Rio said with a sneer, "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"Anyway, that aside, do you mind telling me when'd you notice my act?" Rio ignored the god's sharp eyes at this blatant disrespect, and asked his doubt. "Cause I think I nailed my part."

"Humph," the god sneered in response, yet still answered. "You did act well for a mortal. The choices you made, and the words you chose almost convinced me for a while too. But you got a little too hasty in your final trial."

"Your answer came a little too sudden, even before my illusion ended." Aelthar said.

"It made me doubt if you already knew about that trial from before? And then I couldn't help but wonder, if you knew about that, did you know about the others too."

"Cause if you did, then that would mean you came prepared. And with me just asking questions, you could easily act well or lie perfectly. Show me a personality, which isn't yours. Talk about principles, you never believed."

"I mean there were endless possibilities in my mind, but after seeing your reaction as I announced that result, I knew my doubts weren't misplaced."

"Ahhh, so that's it huh." Rio replied and nodded in realisation. He did indeed make a minor slip up when he was suddenly face to face with his life on earth.

When he saw the betrayal of Nashi, he couldn't hold himself back from answering, as he knew if he didn't speak then, the next vision of betrayal would be about her.

And his subconscious simply didn't want to relive that moment again.

"Now that you have your answer, get out of my temple." Aelthar announced sternly.

The pity he felt for Rio disappeared again as he saw no guilt or remorse in the mortal's eyes when he asked these questions, but only disappointment.

(He really does NOT deserve my legacy.) Aelthar thought and swore to test his next successor candidate even more thoroughly, so some cheat con artist with weird blessings wouldn't take his legacy unjustly.

But his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound.

It was the sound of a suppressed snicker, which turned into a lofty smile. And than to a crazy laughter.

Aelthar watched Rio laugh like a madman, before clapping his hands and putting his sword away. A glow appeared on his body, removing all dust from his skin and clothes. Along with the barrier which blocked the two of them earlier.

"Leave your temple?" Rio stopped laughing and repeated in a mocking tone, imitating the god's question. "Sorry, can't do."

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Author note - Many would say Aelthar easily believed a bullshit story Rio spouted but in the god's defense, Rio's story isn't complete nonsense.

Cause otherwise nothing else makes sense.

Before his death, Aelthar heard the world will announce the rules, so it knew gods couldn't participate in any wars against mortals.

But in the mirror's vision, he clearly saw a group of gods coming down to kill 'Rio' personally , after he slaughtered the 7 champions. And taking great pains and making great plans to be able to do that too.

Which is simply even more unbelievable as that would mean, in just a few years from now, the mortal who hasn't even reached the limits of his race yet, was able to surpass even gods and force them to use cheap tricks for a fair fighting chance.

And as for destroying Arcadia, come on who would anyone with more than one brain cell would pick, an ancient primordial god born from chaos, or a human kid who hasn't even passed his puberty.

It's an obvious choice for him.