Reincarnated As a Villain!

Victor changed into casual clothes—a pair of shorts and a T-shirt from his spatial ring—while Kassandra picked out something more combat-ready, practical but stylish in a way that showed she meant business.

Heading toward Victor's sleek black car, they climbed in without a word. The faint smell of leather filled the cabin as Victor adjusted his seat and turned to Kassandra, who, even in her no-nonsense outfit, looked effortlessly striking.

"Make sure you've got my back," he said, a teasing edge to his calm voice.

"As long as you stay close to me," she replied flatly.

"Of course," Victor gave a small nod, his smirk growing just enough to be noticeable before he eased the car onto the road.

Their destination was Suffolk, a county in the northeast, specifically Wingspread Forest, one of its most dangerous woods.

---

The drive out of the city was a calm stretch of winding roads and fields bathed in golden sunlight. Within half an hour, they reached Suffolk, and another fifteen minutes brought them to the forest, about twenty-five miles from Kingswood Estates.

Victor parked near a crumbling wooden hut, its moss-covered roof blending with the dense, ancient trees. The air here was thick with the earthy scent of damp leaves and bark.

"This is as far as we can go. Let's get out," Victor said, stepping out of the car and surveying the dense forest around them.

Kassandra followed, her steps deliberate and cautious.

Together, they ventured into Wingspread Forest, a place infamous for its eerie darkness and suffocating atmosphere. Towering trees stretched skyward, their thick canopies weaving a near-impenetrable shield against the sunlight. Only faint beams managed to break through, casting a soft, ghostly glow that deepened the forest's air of mystery.

"This place is ridiculously unwelcoming," Victor commented, his hands casually resting in his pockets as his eyes swept over the looming shadows.

"Exactly why most people steer clear of it," Kassandra replied, her voice level but her eyes constantly scanning the undergrowth. "You know, I still can't believe we're here because of one of your so-called brilliant ideas."

Victor chuckled, the sound almost too casual for the setting. "A little danger is good for the soul. Keeps life interesting."

"If we make it out alive," Kassandra shot back, her sarcasm laced with genuine concern.

Victor just shook his head, his smile didn't fade.

For ten minutes, they picked their way through the undergrowth, stepping over roots and brushing past thorny bushes. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves and the whisper of the breeze. Shadows deepened, the oppressive silence broken only by their muffled footsteps.

Victor suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing at a nearby tree. Its trunk bore deep gouges, each one jagged and uneven.

"Judging by these marks, this isn't from any bear or tiger," Kassandra observed, her voice calm but tinged with unease. "We're likely in soul beast territory."

Victor's smile barely flickered. "Good. That's what we're here for."

Kassandra sighed but chose not to argue, following his lead deeper into the forest.

After twenty more minutes, they stumbled into a small clearing. The sunlight here was brighter, illuminating a tranquil pool at its center. The water was so still it looked like glass, reflecting the towering trees and slivers of blue sky above.

"Nice spot," Victor remarked, gesturing to a few scattered wrappers and empty bottles near the pool's edge. "Looks like someone else thought so too."

"Yeah, though it doesn't—"

A sudden tremor cut her off as the ground shuddered violently, sending ripples across the once-still pool.

Victor and Kassandra whipped around toward the forest, their senses immediately on high alert. In the distance, trees began to sway unnaturally, their tops bending as if something massive was pushing through.

Then came the roar—a deep, guttural sound that rumbled like distant thunder, shaking the air and scattering a flock of birds, their panicked cries echoing above.

Kassandra instinctively drew her weapon, her sharp gaze fixed on the source of the disturbance. Meanwhile, Victor remained calm, an intrigued glint in his eyes as he watched.

Out of the shadows of the forest emerged two ferocious beasts locked in a brutal battle. The first was a Wind Wyrm, its serpentine body covered in shimmering blue-silver scales that exuded sharp, cutting winds with every movement. Its opponent, a Fire Bull, was a hulking creature twice the size of an ordinary bull, its massive frame engulfed in roaring flames. Its glowing red horns gleamed like molten magma, radiating an intense heat.

The clash was a spectacle of raw power and chaos. The Wyrm darted through the air with serpentine grace, unleashing razor-like gusts that tore through the trees. The Fire Bull, in contrast, charged with earth-shaking force, its fiery attacks scorching everything in its path.

Victor and Kassandra quickly moved, retreating behind thick bushes just in time to dodge debris and stray blasts from the ferocious fight.

"Both of them are two-star soul beasts," Kassandra muttered, her sharp eyes tracking every move of the battle. Her tone was calm, but Victor could tell her mind was already calculating their next move.

Victor leaned back against a tree, hands casually in his pockets, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, this just got interesting. Let's kick back and see who wins. I'll bet on the snake."

Kassandra shot him a glare. "This isn't a spectator sport, Victor."

"Come on, a little fun never hurt anyone. Besides, my money's on the Wyrm. Look at those wind blades—it's got style," he said, gesturing lazily at the ongoing fight.

Kassandra rolled her eyes but didn't argue.

The battle escalated, each blow fiercer than the last. Finally, the Wind Wyrm coiled around the Fire Bull, its blue-silver scales flashing, and unleashed a devastating wind blade directly into the Bull's skull.

The Fire Bull let out one final, guttural bellow, its molten horns dimming as it collapsed lifelessly to the forest floor.

The Wyrm, though victorious, wasn't in great shape either. Its broken fangs and bloodied scales told a story of hard-fought survival. Still, it lifted its head high, a battered champion asserting its dominance.

Kassandra stepped forward, her gaze unwavering, and with a subtle flick of her hand, a sleek sword materialized, glowing with blue mana energy.

"Stay here, Victor. I'll handle this," she ordered, her tone clipped but determined.

Victor raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin spreading across his face. "You've got this, fearless warrior. I'll just stand here and cheer you on."

Kassandra didn't bother replying. She darted forward, a blur of precision and speed, closing the gap between her and the weakened beast.

The Wyrm, sensing danger, began to slither away, but Kassandra wasn't about to let it escape. With a powerful leap, she landed squarely on the creature's head.

The Wyrm hissed and thrashed violently, trying to shake her off, but Kassandra held her ground. With one swift motion, she drove her sword deep into its skull.

Stab!

The sickening sound echoed through the forest as the beast let out a deafening hiss of agony. The runes on Kassandra's sword flared a fiery red, channeling a surge of mana that detonated within the Wyrm's head.

Its massive body crashed to the ground, lifeless.

Kassandra landed gracefully beside the slain beast, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. There was pride in her eyes, tempered by calm satisfaction.

From behind her came the sound of slow clapping. She turned to find Victor strolling toward her, his grin as infuriatingly smug as ever.

"Bravo! A flawless performance," he said, his tone teasing yet oddly sincere.

"You should've known I'd handle it," Kassandra replied, wiping her sword clean, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips.

"I've known it all along," Victor quipped, his grin widening.

"Good," she muttered, turning her back to him as she crouched by the Wyrm's corpse. She couldn't let him see the small, genuine smile that had crept onto her face.

Victor shook his head, still grinning, as he followed her. His gaze lingered on the lifeless creature before them.

"First soul beast I've seen up close," he remarked casually, hands still in his pockets. "Not bad for a two-star. I could've taken it down in one strike, though," he smirked.

Kassandra snorted softly. "Sure you could, hero."

Victor chuckled, glancing around the dense forest. This world was undeniably different from Earth, teeming with creatures straight out of myths and legends. Even dragons weren't just bedtime stories here.

"Let's hope this soul beast has a heartstone," Kassandra said, her voice steady as she gripped her sword tightly.

Without hesitation, she decapitated the Wyrm, her blade moving with precision. Kneeling by its head, she carefully searched its forehead. A small, glowing green stone emerged beneath the bloodied scales.

She held it up, her expression hardening. "Just a soul stone," she muttered, disappointment evident in her tone.

Victor stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the stone. "At least it's a high-grade one," he observed, his voice calm yet analytical.

Kassandra exhaled softly, sheathing her sword. "Let's check the bull," she said, striding purposefully toward the Fire Bull's massive corpse.

Repeating the process, she soon found another stone embedded in the creature's forehead. This time, it glowed faintly—a medium-grade soul stone.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stood. "We'll need to keep searching. If we want a heartstone, a three-star soul beast might be our best chance."

Victor nodded, silently agreeing as they turned to venture deeper into the forest.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, a crushing aura swept through the forest, freezing them in place. Kassandra's body locked up, her breath catching as if the very air had turned to lead. Her wide eyes reflected disbelief, her face pale under the suffocating weight pressing down on her.

Victor felt the same oppressive force, heavy and unrelenting, but it wasn't enough to stop him completely.

Then came the sound—a deep, guttural hiss that rolled through the air, vibrating in his chest. It was primal, raw, and filled with dominance. The ground beneath them seemed to tremble, and in the distance, trees began to crack and fall, one after another, as if bowing to an unseen ruler.

From the darkness, a massive figure emerged with terrifying grace. It was a Wyrm—colossal, five times larger than the one they'd just defeated. Its serpentine body moved with unrelenting power, and its silver scales shimmered faintly in the scattered light. But this one was different. Its glowing red eyes blazed with rage, and its venomous fangs glistened as it hissed again, a sound filled with fury and grief.

But it was the marks on its forehead that demanded their full attention—four glowing stars, a clear, undeniable sign of its terrifying strength.

"A four-star soul beast..." Kassandra whispered, her voice barely audible. Her hands trembled, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and dread as the monstrous Wyrm's presence suffocated the air around them.