She had battled Allen fiercely, his strength rivaling hers and once gaining the upper hand.
Those who could match Livia left a deep impression.
These seemingly false memories had now been confirmed.
Though meeting for the first time, Livia instantly recognized Allen’s face.
It was strange!
Had Allen used some dark magic to erase her memories of him—but not completely?
Livia hesitated; Prince Charlie’s claim that Allen colluded with the Crimson Spiral Cult might not be baseless.
Two Royal Knights moved to seize Allen before he could finish his meal.
Just as their hands reached his shoulders, something changed suddenly!
The once listless Allen’s eyes flared with the ferocity of a cornered beast!
He slammed the heavy silver plate hard into the face of the knight on his left; soup, meat, and broken porcelain shards splattered everywhere!
“Ah!” The left knight instinctively shut his eyes and staggered.
Seizing the moment, Allen crouched like a ghost and lightning-fast, drew the longsword hanging at the right knight’s waist!
A flash of cold light!
Allen’s movement was brutal, with no flair—only primal, deadly ferocity.
With a backhanded slash, he ruthlessly cut across the right knight’s unguarded throat in shock.
Blood gushed instantly.
At the same time, Allen’s footwork twisted strangely, his left foot viciously kicked the exposed knee of the left knight, whose vision was obscured.
“Crack!”
A sickening sound of bone breaking echoed as the left knight screamed and collapsed to his knees.
Allen flipped his wrist; the sword darted like a viper’s tongue, piercing the knight’s heart!
Everything happened in the blink of an eye!
When the crowd recovered, two elite Royal Knights lay in pools of blood, and Allen de Laval—the worthless Robe Noble scorned by all—stood holding a bloodied longsword, his eyes icy and filled with terrifying fury.
“Looking? Never seen someone kill before?”
“Hiss—”
The hall filled with gasps.
Shock froze every noble’s face; they stepped back to safety, leaving a wide path between Allen and the Crown Prince.
Allen ignored the opportunistic experts around him, licking the blood from his lips.
The metallic taste mixed with the burning from the secret drug in his veins, igniting his nerves.
Cunning as ever, Allen had long anticipated tonight wouldn’t be smooth.
He had hidden the Crimson Spiral Cult’s Miracle Drug—seized from the cultists—inside his food, just in case.
He had swallowed the drug while “greedily” eating earlier.
The drug raged through his body, draining his life force but granting him brief, overwhelming strength.
He was used to death.
Since surrendering was impossible, he chose a fight to the death!
Since they slandered him as a cultist, he might as well have the fighting power of one!
Clearly, he did!
In past cycles, Allen often died by the hands of unnamed extras.
Now, after hard lessons, even a minor comedic villain deserved dignity!
If he died, it should be at the hands of main characters!
For this, Allen secretly trained sword techniques and studied various styles.
Without Emblems, he relied on his superhuman willpower and hard training to grow stronger.
After countless cycles, he had engraved the Sword Technique of Villain Reincarnation deep in his soul.
The core was to feign weakness, luring opponents into dropping their guard, then striking with desperate force, exchanging lives to catch them off guard.
The combat instincts and painful memories accumulated over many deaths now fully erupted.
He couldn’t defeat Livia, the unbeatable one, but at least he would make a contemptible prince pay!
“Protect the prince!” the knights shouted, drawing weapons and charging.
Allen was faster!
The drug’s power surged, tearing through him with pain and explosive strength.
He moved like a phantom through the terrified crowd, his sword flashing deadly light.
His swordplay lacked the nobles’ elegance—only street-fighting ruthlessness, every strike carrying the resolve to die together.
Two knights trying to block him fell immediately, exchanged for their lives.
Bloodied and mad, he hacked through the elite knights’ encirclement, aiming straight for Crown Prince Charlie!
To move quickly, Charlie and his guards wore light armor.
Charlie hadn’t expected this Robe Noble nobody to erupt with such terrifying power and murderous intent, suddenly standing before him.
Seeing Allen’s bloodshot, crazed eyes, surprise flickered across Charlie’s face before icy anger replaced it.
He shouted, “You worthless scum, are you revolting?!” and instinctively stepped back.
“Charlie Durand!” Allen’s voice was hoarse and bloodstained, “You hypocritical dog! It’s your greedy, incompetent ruling class that’s left people starving, yet you blame my family! Killing you today is righteous justice! My dad was Tax Farmer for three years and never took a penny. Where’s this ‘rapacious exploitation’? Go down and kneel before my father and admit your guilt!”
Without more words, Allen surged forward like a released arrow.
His sword, filled with all his hatred and burning life, stabbed straight for Charlie’s heart!
Noble gasps filled the hall as Charlie’s face drained of color.
At this critical moment, a white figure flashed in front of the prince.
It was Livia!
She carried no sword but raised her fair right hand, fingers spread.
Before her palm, the air twisted violently, instantly forming a semi-transparent “Wind Sword” made of invisible energy.
This was the power of her Star Emblem, shaped into a defensive blade.
“Clang—!”
Allen’s all-out, life-burning strike slammed into the seemingly illusory Wind Sword!
There was no clash of metal, only a dull thud of energy colliding.
Allen felt as if he had stabbed an invisible yet unbreakable rubber.
A massive recoil shook his arm, nearly forcing him to drop his sword.
In Livia’s clear blue eyes, Allen’s bloody, ferocious face was reflected, and a flicker of true surprise passed.
This once invisible, useless Robe Noble’s son had unleashed power, speed, and desperate fury far beyond her expectations.
His fierce gaze was almost identical to the “Abyss Walker” from her sudden memories.
But Livia’s surprise vanished instantly, replaced by coldness.
She flicked her wrist; the Wind Sword swept forward with overwhelming force.
Allen was caught in an irresistible whirlwind, flung uncontrollably backward!
“Bang!”
Allen slammed hard against the banquet hall’s cold stone wall with a muffled thud.
He felt his organs shift; a bitter sweetness filled his throat as he spat a mouthful of blood, droplets splattering the polished floor and walls.
“Cough… cough…”
Allen struggled to rise, bones aching as if shattered.
The drug’s power raged inside, tearing and burning but keeping him conscious.
Wiping blood from his lips, a nearly mad smile spread on his face.
He had seen the surprise in Livia’s eyes, and it gave him a twisted pleasure.
“Heh…”
Allen wheezed, voice hoarse, “Thank goodness…the cult’s miracle drug is really strong…”
Livia frowned.
Cult?
Miracle drug?
Why had Allen de Laval come into contact with these shadowy forces?
Could he really have joined the Crimson Spiral Cult?
“Livia von Stern!”
Allen propped on his sword, staggering to stand, blood leaking from mouth and nose, eyes blazing with his final flame, “Why is it always you? Can’t you leave me alone? Or do you really love that refined scoundrel, Crown Prince Charlie?!”
His voice faltered, filled with a chilling obsession.
Livia gripped her Wind Sword tighter, starlight swirling, her voice icy cold.
“You truly are a cultist. In that case, I will show no mercy.”
“Mercy?”
Allen laughed bitterly, “Did you ever have that for me?!”
Before he finished, Allen lunged again!
This time without restraint, the drug’s power at its peak.
He became a bloody blur, radiating a desperate aura, charging at Livia.
His sword tore the air with a piercing screech!
“Bang! Bang! Clang! Slash—!”
Their figures crossed in a dizzying blur.
Allen’s swordstorm was relentless, each strike full force and cunning.
Livia was like a rock amid the storm—agile and poised.
Her Wind Sword, though seemingly ethereal, precisely blocked, deflected, and countered!
Her starlight energy formed an invisible barrier, neutralizing Allen’s furious onslaught.
Allen’s swordplay was brutal and desperate, but under Livia’s overwhelming power, skill, and Emblem, it was clumsy and futile.
Her movements were succinct and efficient; every block perfect, every counter targeting his flaws.
The Wind Sword seemed alive in her hands—flexible and unpredictable.
Allen’s wounds deepened, blood soaking his tattered attire.
He felt like fighting an immovable mountain; every clash stirred his blood and numbed his arms.
The drug’s strength drained rapidly, and the cold grip of death crept up from his feet.
“Clang—!”
A sharp crack!
The stolen knight’s longsword, already of average quality, shattered under a fierce clash with the Wind Sword, metal shards flying!
The immense force threw Allen off balance, stumbling forward.
A pristine white high heel came down with unstoppable force, firmly pressing him against the cold floor.
Dust and blood mixed in Allen’s nostrils.
“It’s over,” Livia’s cold voice came from above, emotionless.
Allen’s face pressed against the floor, feeling the chill beneath and his warm blood.
He gave up struggling, turning his head with difficulty, glancing upward.
Against the banquet’s dazzling lights, Livia looked down at him, a few strands of platinum hair fallen loose, her white lace dress spotless.
The foot on his back was decisive, the dominance of a victor.
From this humiliating angle, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
Her dignity and strength reminded Allen of why he started playing Starshine Romance.
He had been drawn to the heroine Livia from the beginning, purchasing the otome game just for her.
Though a man playing an otome game was strange, loving a character meant caring nothing for social norms.
Yet fate played a cruel joke on Allen.
A beautiful game world was an endless nightmare for a villain like him.
Killed by the Feng Aotian heroine thousands of times, his love for Livia twisted into fear and hatred.
“For you, it’s over…”
Allen’s voice was hoarse like a broken bellows, weary and ironic, “But for me…this is only the beginning.”
The gap between a villainous loser and a Feng Aotian with cheat Emblems was indeed an uncrossable chasm.
After a brief silence, the banquet hall erupted in applause and cheers.
“Long live the top student!”
“Amazing, Miss Livia!”
“Truly worthy heir of the Stern family!”
The nobles, grateful to have survived, called Livia’s name excitedly.
Prince Charlie Durand hurried over, concern and lingering shock on his face.
“Miss Livia, are you unharmed? Thanks to your timely intervention.”
His gaze swept over Allen, lying like a dead dog, turning cold with loathing.
“This dangerous traitor must be executed immediately as a warning…”
Allen lay on the floor, feeling his life ebbing with the blood loss.
Hearing the prince’s hypocritical concern and cold verdict, he felt bitter irony.
Charlie Durand was deeply controversial in the original, ambitious and treating everyone as pawns, his love for the heroine merely selfish manipulation.
Only at death’s door did he awaken, realizing he had chased goals given by others, losing all innate happiness.
Thinking of the prince’s route ending, and the doom awaiting him and his rotten regime, Allen used his last strength to lift his head, grinning a bloodied, malicious smile.
“Charlie Durand…you hypocrite! You never…cared for her but as a pawn! You think…this is the end? You treat everyone as slaves to fate! I have no…cursed Emblem bloodline…I can be free…But you and the others…are merely destined to eternal damnation! Hahaha…hahaha…”
Exposed by Allen, Charlie’s face darkened completely, no longer pretending.
His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he drew his sword, its gleaming tip aimed at Allen’s throat.
“You cult madman! Dying now and still spouting lies!”
He raised his arm to strike!
“Wait!”
Livia suddenly spoke, voice catching in urgency she hadn’t noticed herself.
She stepped before Charlie, her blue eyes locked on the barely breathing Allen, showing a faint, subtle hesitation.
“Allen de Laval! What you said just now…cursed Emblem bloodline…what do you mean?”
Everyone, noble or cultist, sought the power of Emblems.
Only Allen spoke so disdainfully and venomously of the nobles’ foundation—the Emblem.
His malicious smile perfectly matched the Abyss Walker Livia remembered.
What had Allen experienced?
What did he know?
Allen’s consciousness blurred; darkness crept in from the edges of his vision.
He was near death.
Is a dying man’s last word kind?
No—
Allen felt only resentment.
He resented this damned world, resented Livia who had killed him again and again.
But looking at Livia’s confident, oblivious face, he suddenly recalled the darkest hidden “Demon King Route” in the original.
In that route, Livia, obsessed with power, loses control as her Emblem backfires, becoming an apocalyptic Demon King.
Her Star Emblem no longer sacred, but a beacon calling forth terrible beings.
Humanity was nearly wiped out by her and her summons.
In the Demon King Route’s ending, survivors formed a crusade and, after brutal battles, managed to wound Livia, briefly restoring her sanity.
Realizing her unforgivable crimes, Livia destroyed her Emblem and died alone, abandoned by all.
A twisted joy and desire for revenge surged in Allen’s heart.
Anyway, next cycle…he’d have to start over again.
This cycle, he would leave her a “gift.”
Allen summoned his last strength to force a mocking smile and spoke in broken breaths.
“Emblems…aren’t blessings…they’re actually…”
His words abruptly cut off!
At that moment, Livia suddenly moved involuntarily—quick as lightning but stiff and unnatural.
She suddenly stretched out her hand and snatched the gleaming sword from Prince Charlie’s grip.
The next second, to everyone’s shock, confusion, and disbelief—
The sword symbolizing royal authority, gripped tightly in Livia’s hands, was driven with resolve and strange power straight through Allen de Laval’s heart!
“Pfshhh—”
The piercing sound of steel through flesh echoed sharply in the silent hall.
Allen’s body shuddered violently; his final words caught in his throat.
Eyes wide, he looked at Livia’s stunning face, filled with shock and confusion, feeling cold pain from his heart.
His lips silently moved once.
His last thought flashed like lightning before eternal darkness claimed him:
Damn, I was just talking nonsense earlier…why such a big reaction?
Could your cheat…really be broken?
The light in Allen de Laval’s eyes finally extinguished, his head falling lifelessly.
The villainous young master, Allen de Laval, quietly met his 999th death.