Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 58: Chapter 57- Chaos (2)

The Headless Puppet is a Monarch-ranked Bate who appears at the very end of the novel, just before the King of Death.

The Headless Puppet was named as such because it was controlled by a different Bate which was known as Minx. Minx is a mind-influencing Bate that isn't strong on its own but has skills that can easily manipulate any Bate, regardless of their rank.

In the novel, the Headless Puppet never appears in Awsperg. Rather, the Minx sent several smaller forms of the Puppet to destroy the town.

The smaller form of the Headless Puppet or Headlings, appeared to be the same as its parent body but in a small size and possessing not as much strength as the Puppet.

Lilia and Richard didn't have to wander for long before they came across a Headling which was wandering on the street and crushing every being that came in its path.

The grotesque body of the seven-foot-tall monster gave a very eerie vibe. From what Richard knew, this Bate has only two skills: Body strengthening and enhanced senses.

The chaos among the people was growing fervently. People were crushing each other to move away from the monstrosity. Tens of civilians were already crushed by the demon and many more would meet the same conclusion if someone doesn't put a stop to this.

Lilia's grip on her dagger tightened, and before Richard could react, she had already launched herself at the Bate. Her form blurred, nearly vanishing as she pushed her mastery of 'Enhancement' to its limits.

The Bate slowly turned to face her, remaining unflinching, as if daring her to come closer.

Lilia had no time for second thoughts. She lunged at the demon, both hands gripping her dagger, and drove it into its gut with the force of a spear piercing an ice pillar.

*Shlink*

However, the Bate was far tougher than any ice pillar. The dagger deflected off its skin, leaving only a shallow scratch.

In an instant, the Bate's massive hands shot out, aiming to crush Lilia between them like a ripe tomato. But before it could close in, Richard's spell streaked through the air like an arrow, striking the Bate square in the chest.

*DHHKA*

The Bate took a few steps back and Lilia got the jerk she needed to travel out of that red zone.

"Young master."

"Get a hold of yourself, Lilia," Richard shoved Lilia behind him, his voice sharp with warning as he quickly clasped his hands together, readying another spell.

The Bate adjusted its stance, aligning itself with Richard before disappearing in a blur of speed. Richard's 'Detection' spread out, searching for the creature, but it couldn't keep up with the Bate's unnatural movements.

Thankfully, he had Lilia.

"Above!"

She shouted and the already-prepared spell shot out. A massive fireball roared through the air, slamming into the descending Bate. But to Richard's horror, the creature swatted the fireball aside with ease, continuing its dive.

In the blink of an eye, Lilia shoved Richard aside, erecting a barrier around herself just as the Bate crashed down.

*CLINK* *SHATTERS*

"Lilia..." Hearing his voice, Lilia was able to get out of her trance before she looked at his burning gaze.

Suddenly, a staff made from an ancient, dark wood that seemed to pulse with a faint, mystical energy appeared in his hand. The staff was adorned with golden runes that glow softly, shifting patterns as if alive.

"I am going to demolish the whole place...get Cristina and move away."

"B-But master, the children..."

Richard looked at her indifferently, before asking, "How many do you think we can save without risking our own lives?"

Lilia was stunned before she looked back and found only a bunch of them remained there, while cowering in a corner and waiting for their turn to be crushed.

Lilia didn't say anything any further and dashed in her mother's direction.

Carrying Cristina in her arms, she turned to look at Richard before saying, "Please be safe, my lord."

Richard remained silent, instead leaping into the air. His form melded with the encroaching darkness of the sky. The staff in his grasp emitted pulses of intense energy, each one radiating with a deadly heat that threatened to incinerate his foes.

His staff crackled with ominous energy, its runes glowing fiercely as he prepared for the ultimate attack. The school beneath him was teeming with Bates, their twisted forms darting through the corridors, oblivious to the impending doom.

Having a long breath, he enhanced his body and increased his weight by four times. His left hand held the staff while his right one held the baton he received from his mother.

His targets suddenly paused and looked in the sky, or to be precise at the meteor which was about to crash.

The Bates tried to jump at him, but Richard pushed them back while airborne using his Telekinesis. His eyes became red and blood began to shoot out of his nose because of the excessive use of ether

However, he never considered stopping, and his staff finally landed on the school grounds.

The lightning surged forth with a deafening crack, merging with the raging inferno he conjured. The combined onslaught descended upon the school in a cataclysmic wave, shattering the stillness with an explosion of light and heat.

This wasn't enough for him as Richard struck the baton with utmost strength on the staff, creating an explosion with enough force that the school was engulfed in a tempest of destruction.

**BOOOOOOOOOM**

The very air seemed to burn and crackle as the structure buckled under the relentless assault. The Bates' anguished cries were swallowed by the inferno, their forms disintegrating into ash and cinders.

A massive crater was formed at the spot where he stood and everything around him was in ruins.

Richard's eyes were barely open when suddenly he found a pillar of light emerging from somewhere in the town.

Richard's dizziness evaporated in an instant as he nearly shouted, "Ethan received the Blessings?!"

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A/N:- Don't curse me in the comments for weird fight scenes!