Chapter 220: Villainess
Like a beehive agitated, Bianca unleashed a hailstorm of projectiles. Bullets, icicles, and plasma bursts from her sniper rifle all flew toward Origin.
Yet, even as the detonations and Living Metal shrapnel destroyed the surroundings, when the smoke cleared, her target was—unharmed. Origin was surrounded by some kind of glowing barrier; he had his right hand outstretched with his palm shining blue.
"Tsk. Spineless cockroach!"she snapped.
Despite Bianca’s fierce attacks, none of them hit after the first one. Origin, although he didn’t have a face, had the surface of his head warp as he spoke.
"Bianca Valestra, the Whore of Steel and the Villainess of Death. Do you have any idea of the fate that awaits you should Elian Reed begin his conquest of the Crucible?"
"I do! After we win, we are going to get married, retire, and make a dozen babies! I WILL FINALLY BE HAPPY IN THE ARMS OF THE ONE I LOVE! TO HELL WITH YOU!"
Roaring at the top of her voice, Bianca continued her fierce assault. Sparing nothing, she began to freeze the ground, detonate the air, and even pull out her spare Fralhame Lances.
But her opponent did not fight back. He only scoffed in derision.
"You are delusional, Villainess. I have seen it time and time again. In every world, you find Elian Reed, turn him into a golem with Forged, then unleash him into the crucible! Death to you is a mercy; your future holds not joy but misery and suffering!"
Bianca chose to no longer reply to him, instead dedicating all of herself to shattering his defenses. Waves of attacks battered his barrier without pause, but like eggs on a wall, nothing she did worked.
"Under your command he marches; your abilities as a Psychomancer are what make the legions. You created him in every universe as a protector, but he turns on you! He breaks free of your control and subjugates you. Here, look for yourself!"
Within that instant, a system window began to play a video in Bianca’s vision against her will. She tried to stop it but couldn’t. It prevented her from fighting properly, but as Origin didn’t fight back, it lessened the chance of him taking the opportunity to kill her.
System, stop the video.
[I cannot do that, Bianca. You need to see this.]
W-What?
Flabbergasted at the System calling her by name, she was about to question the System until she heard Elian’s voice.
[Unhand me you bastards! I can walk on my own!]
She looked at him only to see "her" Elian was standing motionlessly. The one who spoke was someone else. It was the video. It was only then that she lowered her rifle to watch.
[So, this is the Villainess, huh? Funny. I would assume you to be absolutely ugly from all the stories I have heard,] the man said in admiration. He looked severely bruised but still did not lose heart.
He was being brought before a gigantic icicle throne. On top of the magnificent structure stood a woman of profound beauty. The face was both familiar and foreign. Like looking through a mirror but not recognizing the one before you.
[Wow. Huff... Big breasts, thick thighs and a tiny waist. Pale skin and you’re even rocking a ponytail. What the hell? You’re totally my type,] the man said as he struggled with his breath.
[Too bad you are just a egotistical lunatic who treats people like insects! Would never work out.]
Bianca felt conflicted as she watched. While she loved Elian now, this man showed an alternate reality of the man Elian could have been.
A grown-up version of the husband she adored, one she robbed him by turning him into a golem.
He seemed to be in his thirties, but everything from his wit, grit, and even his lecherous tendencies was the same. This Elian was smaller than her version but still had a muscular physique.
Above all, a countenance that seemed both reliable and goofy at the same time. Something she found endearing. It was something he showed only her.
It was still Elian.
Her Elian.
Yet the woman on the throne said nothing and simply pointed a finger.
An icicle of black flew at high speeds and pierced the bound Elian through the neck. It then dissolved and flooded down his throat. Before his injury could bleed, it suddenly froze in a case of ice.
Forged.
Lacking the strength to even speak, Bianca remained silent and watched on. Despite her not wanting it to be real, the memories felt vivid. As if her own body resonated with the one in the video. There was no denying it. These visions truly happened.
Her instincts as a Psychomancer said so.
The video showed time passing, and eventually, Elian stood up once more as a golem. Similar to the one in this world. When the other Elian came too, it looked at its hands and shouted in confusion.
[W-What... What did you do to me, Villainess?! Is killing me not enough? Do you have to turn me into one of your minions? I refuse! I would die before I do!]
[So you say. But what about Katri Valkama?] the lofty Bianca on the throne answered.
[...]
[I give you a simple choice. Follow me or she dies. I am aware you lost your parents to monsters. Go against me and I will make you a widower on top of being an orphan.]
The Elian in the video began to tremble but soon stopped. Bianca knew what had happened. Elian had used Adamant to suppress his emotions. It seemed like, in this world, Katri was the woman Elian loved.
[Is she safe?]
[She is alive. And will continue to be so long as you labor to complete your task.]
[What must I do?]
[Destroy the Crucible. That is why I made you.]
Elian clenched his hands and bowed, [I understand.]
Origin explained, despite Bianca knowing what would happen.
"This is it. The day the Tyrant of the End was born. This was the first reality your paths had crossed. If only you two had not met, none of this would have happened. There would be no merciless slaughter! You are both demons!"
The video then changed and showed something different. The contents were so horrifying Bianca’s body froze on the spot.
What she saw was a charred corpse without arms or legs.
It was a black-colored torso chained to a platform. Like a ruined tower, it was forced to stay upright at any cost. It didn’t even look remotely human. It looked like a bust or a disgusting statue of one.
The pitiful creature wore a terrifying mask made from deformed flesh, but its eyes shone radiantly. The moment she saw the figure, Bianca knew instantly.
I-Is that me? What in the world has happened?
She saw the deep gashes on the thighs and shoulders, a testament to the abuse the being endured. The torso no longer had a bosom, as if it had been amputated. Its neck had chunks missing, along with horrifying bruises, as if it had been strangled multiple times.
It was the picture of absolute suffering. Yet despite all that, the woman’s eyes still burned with righteous fury. As if she were an angel just waiting for the right time to attack.
It was then that a large figure approached the mutilated Bianca. Big, clunky, and intimidating, it crushed the ground it walked on. It had one mono eye like a cyclops and was covered in fresh blood.
Much like herself, Bianca instantly recognized the new comer.
After all, no matter his appearance, he moved in the same way. His stride, mannerisms, even armor designs, remained the same.
"Elian?"she couldn’t help but murmur in surprise.
But the one in the video did not acknowledge her; instead, it came to the other Bianca, the one bound like an animal.
[Psychomancer, I have finished. Raise them up.]
Elian ordered in a cold voice. It was a tone she had only heard once. It was when Elian activated Adamant-Heartless.
The chained torso began to snicker in a low voice.
[I refuse. Just kill me already, Elian. I am tired. Who are you even doing this for? Are you still angry I had Katri torn to pieces before I fed her to my dogs?]
Like a machine, the Weapon replied devoid of any emotion.
[I am following my directives. I exist to destroy the crucible.]
[I know, I was the one who gave you that directive, remember? Why won’t you listen to me anymore? Let me possess a new body at least,]the bound Bianca complained weakly.
[Because you are not my master. You are a tool. Nothing more.]
[Then who is, hmm? Who is your beloved master now?]
The Weapon paused but answered, [It does not matter.]
At his reply, the other Bianca laughed even louder.
[This must be how the gods decided to punish me. If I had known Driven Hopeless would cause you to forget me one day, I would have banned you from using it. To think my greatest Weapon would turn on me in the end.]
However, rather than answer her, Elian’s eye glowed. Ashen fluid separated from the chains binding Bianca and then began to enter her body through her skin. Like worms, they dug into her flesh and created new wounds that bled profusely.
[ARGH! NO! You wouldn’t dare! Not that!]
[I grow tired of your delusions, Psychomancer. My words weren’t a request. Do your duty; I will let you expire after I fulfill my purpose. Enslave.]
Against the other Bianca’s will, Elian lobotomized her. Soon, all emotion vanished from her eyes, and she turned into a mindless husk. The video then showed a montage of Bianca resurrecting the dead, then being locked away in a dark room.
Like a piece of equipment, she was guarded and protected, only brought out to do her duty till the next need arose.
This repeated for hundreds of times till eventually it finally showed a different scene.
One day, Elian brought her out and undid her chains. After Bianca fell to the ground, he commanded the Dominator fluids to flow out of her system.
The other Bianca regained her will and began to curse.
[I shouldn’t have ever created you. You backstabbing piece of trash!]
Elian grabbed her by the neck, strangled her, and raised her body up.
[It is done. The crucible is no more. What I promised you, I now fulfill.]
The other Bianca cried tears of rage as she struggled for air, but the Weapon who made her life hell said no more and pierced her torso with his free hand. He grabbed her core, yanked it out of her flesh, and crushed it in his hand.
It was at that moment that the video ended. Shaken beyond all measure, Bianca lost the will to fight. The graphic nature of what she saw was terrible.
"Now, do you see? That is the only future that awaits you, Bianca; I will spare you from all the hardship. Let me help. You do not have to die as a villainess."
"..."
For the first time since she met Elian, Bianca Valestra considered ending her existence.