Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

By the time the blinding light disappeared, Rio opened his eyes to a clear sky. No longer on the planet of Arcadia, but somewhere else.

The air was purer here, without mana for sure, but without any pollution or dirt too. There was this smell of flowers wafting the waves, hitting his nostrils that could calm anyone's senses and make them relax their guards.

The scent of nature is such a magical thing.

Looking around he found himself alone at a grassland. His hand resting on his sword's hilt, let go and relaxed as he spread his mana and found no trace of monsters or any strange creatures around a hundred meters.

He tried to trace the connection with Amy through their telepathic link, yet failed to find her too.

"Out of range or is something blocking it?" He said to himself and shook his head.

Ignoring that thought first, he sat down to the ground, letting the waist length grass cover all his traces.

"System, give me the details, buddy?" Rio said in his heart, as the world system of Arcadia always gave the adventurers little details and background of the world of dungeon after entrance.

This is also one of the advantages awakeners have, which non-awakeners can never overcome without the gods' help.

These details often also include what is needed to clear this dungeon, like a mission but without any penalties.

Though that changes after the second wave of emergence.

Shutting his thoughts, Rio glanced at the strings of letters forming on the transparent screen and focused.

[Dungeon Planet - Phronesia]

[Inhabitant ruling races - Sapinsar and Simir.]

[Ruling God - ????]

[Difficulty level - Peak of C rank.(temporary)]

[Clearance goal - Secure the core of dungeon.]

[Story - The planet Phronesia was built thousands of years ago, and gave birth to life and sentience a couple of centuries later. The planet is filled with life and the energy of nature blooms in every cell of it.

The world is currently in its building years, rising with the trend towards the peak of spirituality.

The ruling inhabitants Sapinsar and Simir, who grew up here, have a higher affinity to nature. Their power lies not in the strength they possess, but the wisdom they hold and the senses they sharpened. Both races are peaceful by nature, but are practical by heart.

Few centuries ago, due to an accident in space time continuum the shell surrounding the planet had weakened. Giving entry to few outsiders thus starting a war of invasion and incursion.

The situation since then has never been the same.]

[Suggestive note - Be practical.]

Rio looked at the details in front of him and noticed two things. First, this world wasn't tough to clear.

How did he get that idea, simple? The more details the world system shares, the less dangerous a planet is. With this much information about the races and background present here, Rio could guess this world was probably another lower level or at best at top lower limit world.

(But that's just his guess as world system too is a selfish bitch who knowingly hid the fact about this one being a meru dungeon.)

Second thing, this wasn't a world which appeared in the novel, meaning it was something that either wasn't important enough to become a highlight of the world inside the novel, or something new which has just been arranged by fate for the protagonist.

"Whatever happens, we can't let Leon shine bright. Anything good done by him now, and that elder of Apollo would take this chance to pick him up as disciple."

"System, you there?" Rio asked as he stood up, taking a mask from his inventory and putting it over his face.

[Yupp. Want some help?]

"Nah, just let me exercise a bit. My bloodlust is making me angsty." Rio said remembering how he couldn't even control his body from shaking when he entered the dungeon.

Weakness is a sin. Be it of any kind.

"Just watch over Amy, and make sure there's no danger to her life."

[Gotta train her too huh.]

"Yeah, something like that."

Taking a deep breath, Rio picked a direction randomly and started walking there. From where he was, he couldn't see anything except grass and random trees here and there. So there was no point in staying here.

Few feet further his steps increased in speed, and he soon started running, rushing ahead like an arrow let loose from the string. His mana senses spread thin to the limits as he kept searching for anything interesting.

It didn't take long for him to come across a few residents of this planet.

He changed directions and hurried into the forests, jumping over trees without making a sound, until he reached the point where he could hear the sound of fighting from up ahead.

Rio stared intently as he saw Valtor fighting with a group of green colored monsters, who possessed traits similar to a chameleon. Able to change the color of their skin and blend into the surroundings easily. Making their attacks sneaky and hard to detect.

Valtor's shadow magic was useful to dodge as there were a lot of shadows where he could jump and travel into. Yet the reptile-like monsters with their long tails and sharp tongue, were also quite smart too. They also figured out that frontal attacks on this weird 'monster' were useless, so they surrounded him and started sneak attacking him from time to time.

The various towering trees in forests also made it easier for the monsters to hide and attack from.

Rio kept following their escape and attack fight, watching with interest as he saw Valtor struggling to battle for a first few minutes before he figured out their tricks and adapted to their attacks.

Valtor could've finished the battle easily too, but just like him, he wanted to learn more about this dungeon and its creatures too. And after noticing that the reptiles were just a weaker bunch, he tried to test their attributes and attack methods.

'Smart guy indeed.' Rio couldn't help but praise him even more after he saw Valtor kill everyone, but instead of leaving the place and running away, staying to check their body for any monster core or other skeletal differences in making, via pouring his mana inside.

The reptiles didn't use any magic type spells and their bodies didn't have a trace of mana inside, so it was clear something else was fuming their skill of transformation.

Soon Valtor found a small stone near the back of their neck, and after making a shallow cut, he pulled it out.

'Is that the energy core for this monster?' Rio had the same doubt as Valtor and when he saw Valtor slashing at a trapped monster's neck and watching it die instantly, without healing slowly like before, they both got the answer.

"Nature's balance." Valtor said as he looked at the dead monster and raised an eyebrow as he poured his mana but found no crystal inside this time.

"The attack on the crystal can kill them instantly, but it would also destroy the crystal, leaving the hunter with no gains." He muttered to himself in realization and stood up after dusting his clothes.

He glanced at his back and threw the stone like crystal in his hand to a nearby tree. "Are you going to just hide and watch, or will you come out now?"

Rio, who heard his words and knew he was noticed, just caught the crystal in his arms and jumped down from the tree. "Hey, Valtor. Good to see you're safe."

"Rio," Valtor muttered after seeing the friendly face, and let down his guard, "You could've helped?" He complained before turning around and walking deeper into the forest.

"They were just small squirrels, you didn't need me." Rio said and started following him side by side. Playing with the crystal in his hand, thinking if there was any way to absorb it, like every other novel has.

And if there is, then what would be the aftereffects.