Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 241- Dead

"richard!" bellarine's voice echoed louder than ithryx's thunder as she saw her beloved being stabbed by the monster.

bella was too stunned to speak, covering her mouth and witnessing the most horrifying scene of her life.

everyone was in a panic, since, despite their connection with richard, it was an inevitable fact that he was fighting from the side of humanity.

even bennet had a grim expression as he clutched the sword and readied himself to deal with the catastrophe.

however, against what everyone feared, richard pushed himself away from ithryx and flew a few meters away.

"goddamn..." richard took several long breaths as he realized that the wound on his stomach was taking longer than usual to heal.

'so that's the eroding factor about which i was warned.' ithryx's weapon and spell erode his enemy, claiming their ability to heal for a long time.

'if i hadn't been using the second heart, that strike might have resulted quite differently...'

[you have gained immortality...but it is borrowed.]

hearing those words, richard couldn't help but chuckle, "and you? your whole existence is borrowed. zulcriz can pull you back any moment he wants."

ithryx narrowed his eyes,

[calling him so casually, don't you fear death?]

richard smirked, "death itself has blessed me. why should i fear it then."

the tension in the air elevated. everyone, who was rejoicing upon seeing the flaming human regaining his stance, again became tense.

a moment of silence, and then,

**thud**

richard blocked the attack of the demon general using his ruyi bang. the demon general narrowed his eyes looking at the weapon,

[something you don't deserve.]

ithryx lunged, his sabers slicing through the air in a deadly arc. richard reacted with blinding speed, twisting his body and deflecting one blade with the ruyi bang. sparks flew as the second saber came dangerously close to his neck.

ithryx appeared behind him all of a sudden, using the thrown saber as a catalyst for teleportation, before stabbing richard in the back.

richard looked down at the curled sword coming out of his stomach. his flames dimmed, and blood spurted from his mouth, as he heard ithryx voicing,

[you can never stand in his place.]

ithryx kicked richard while pulling his sword.

a deep slit was open in his belly as richard staggered forward.

his flames, once roaring, were now dim enough that a mere breeze threatened to extinguish them.

he could see his mother rushing toward him, and the voice of his sister.

he knew the consequences of falling here...to kneel before ithryx and letting his mother fight him.

he knew...what would happen if he got defeated here.

[embrace it...you have no other choice.]

very faintly, richard heard a whisper. it was a familiar voice, enticing him to do something that he had been resisting until now.

but now,

'guess, i have no choice...'

richard suddenly coated his hand with flames and pierced it inside his chest

bellarine paused in her tracks while ithryx frowned upon seeing what the brat was doing.

under everyone's horrified and confused gaze, richard suddenly pulled out his heart....his human beating heart.

turning towards ithryx, richard dropped his heart, and muttered, "a part of me...died today....and you....you will pay the price for it."

the residents of the two worlds and the strongest general of the demonic army witnessed the birth of a deity that day.

---------**---------

a/n:- thanks for reading.