Struggling as a Villain

For the next thirty days, Richard continued his life as usual. He fought one enemy every single day, got himself injured, returned to his cell and slept.

He was slowly gaining control over 'Perceptive Burst', and his stats were elevating at a gradual pace.

The system has only allotted a single quest in these thirty days, and the reward wasn't very attractive as well.

But, well, since he got himself such a massive levelling-up venue, he wasn't bothering with the system.

If there was any problem with his current life then it was the slow number of death count rising. He didn't know how he would do a massive massacre when the warriors here were veterans and clearly held years' worth of experience.

Currently, he had finished a battle, and while covered in his blood and with his left shoulder broken, Richard returned to his cell. He hasn't gone to check the working quarters here and only left the cell for either to fight or eat.

As of now, his stats look like,

[Name: Scarlette Richard]

[Race: Human, Elemental Ascended]

[Age: 16]

[Rank: C]

[Str: 70]

[Spd: 65]

[End: 66 +10-> 76

[Int: 38]

[Mgc: 982]

[Luk: 50]

[Available stats: 30]

[Special skills: Burning, Hammering]

[Skills: Self-regeneration -> D-> C+

Telekinesis-> C+ {1000 Kilograms}

Barrier-> F {Two layers}

Enhancement-> A-

Detection-> D+ (550 meters)

[Spells: Fireball- D

Amber Arrow- D+

Hell Blaze- S

Flame Maze- C

Molten Platform- D-.

Perception Burst- B

Flood of Flames- A]

[Inventory: Bo-staff: ???]

...

There was no doubt that the progress he could have achieved in a year in the outside world was made possible within a month here.

Slowly walking towards his cell, Richard first had a few mouthfuls of water.

While he was gulping down eagerly, he heard an unfamiliar voice,

"It's strange..."

Richard spun on his feet, his fingers curled in a punch as he targeted the unfamiliar person with his body being enhanced.

With the current force, he could have easily made a crater on the ground...however, that punch was easily blocked by a thin stick that the man held.

*SWIISH*

The air ripples when the two sides collide, creating shock waves and making the bedsheet flutter.

Richard maintained his eyes on the man who wore a three-piece red and back suit and had long black hair. His eyes held multiple shades, making him look nothing but creepy.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Richard demanded in a stern tone. Although his current condition didn't suggest that he could hold a conversation, he not even once thought of yielding.

The man heaved a sigh before suggesting, "I will say you should sit down first."

"No, you tell me your identity." Richard insisted.

The man shook his head from left to right before waving his thin wooden stick around, and suddenly, a warm sensation penetrated through Richard's skin, spreading around his body at an astonishing pace.

However, Richard wasn't able to fight back since it wasn't an offensive spell in the first place. He very well knew that the man just healed him.

Richard's consciousness regained stability but his question persisted, "Who are you?"

The man sat down on the bed and after draping his left leg over the other, he said, "I am a part of the administration that runs and manages the Endless Hold. You can call me, Blaze."

Richard's lips parted as he stared at the man in disbelief for a moment. Someone from the administration came to see him. But why? He didn't even have killed more than forty people on this floor yet.

Richard leaned back on the wall across from the man before asking, "What do you need from me?"

"An answer. It's related to the purpose for which you came here." Blaze says while pointing his stick towards Richard's left arm.

Richard didn't show any movement and just narrowed his eyes. On his left arm was the mark of evil, but making it obvious was never in his mind.

"I don't know what are-"

"Oh, you very well know. You came here to gather the sacrifices to please the evil god who has inflicted punishment on your mother."

Richard clenched his fist; so they knew it all along. The headmaster said that the administration doesn't give a single fuck about the prisoners so they, most probably, would overlook Richard's evil mark.

However, from what he has seen until now, his sudden promotion and this unexpected visit of an administrator...it seems that Richard has become an exception for them.

Blaze grinned before asking, "Do you want me to help with your mission and send you back home early?"

Hearing those words, Richard was baffled as he immediately retorted, "You don't have the authority to release any prisoner from the Endless Hold. Stop spouting nonsense."

"Generally, yes. A warden or administrator doesn't have the authority to go against the rules which the almighty creator of this establishment, created." Blaze spoke, with his left hand on his chest and a dramatic expression he adopted.

However, soon he smiled and added, "However, your talent aligns with the Sentinel's interest; as such, he asked me to forward a message to you."

Richard was feeling this situation to be quite fishy as he kept his eyes narrowed on the man. Many things he was saying don't make sense.

The Sentinels are the beings who founded the Endless Hold and the beings who live away from the chaos of the outside world. The battle between Demons and Gods was never of their concern. And those mysterious beings are showing interest in him?

"I can't believe in you..." Richard slowly uttered.

Blaze didn't react in any manner which suggested that he was not expecting such a response.

However, since he was short on time, he went on with the proposal, "Mister Scarlette Richard, your work was well-liked in the forgery back on the base floor. And I offer you one prisoner in exchange for one blade you remoulded. And if you can craft one, I will increase the number of prisoners by ten."

Richard was left speechless. He was trading human lives for his average blacksmithy? But why?

'No...this isn't as simple as it looks...there is something more to it...' Thinking back, the inspection officer also told Richard when he brought him to the third floor that the forgery was available on this floor as well, indicating that he should continue to work there.

'Did I unconsciously make something overpowered?'

Richard was contemplating his next move when suddenly Blaze stood up and spoke in a heavy tone,

"Mister Richard, you have two options now; first, I go back and we pretend this meeting never happened. In that way you can continue to live as you want, but at a risk that you might not be able to leave on your accord." Richard gritted his teeth hearing that but didn't interrupt him,

"Second, you will accept my deal and accomplish what you came for. And as soon as you achieve your goal, you will be free to leave. And that is a promise."

"I need a binding vow." Richard immediately responded with his head leaning a little and fist clenched.

If he really provides what he was offering in the second option then Richard would utilize all his time in the forgery from here on, despite the hidden motive they have. However, before that, he needed insurance so that his efforts wouldn't go to waste.

...truth be told, now that he has gained the attention of the Sentinel, it would be quite difficult for the Headmaster to pull him out. So this might be his only option.

"A binding vow? Quite an amusing thing...but here we go." A familiar parchment which gave out a purplish glow, appeared before Blaze as he extended it toward Richard.

Richard read the terms before biting his thumb and dropping his blood at the bottom of the contract.

The parchment glowed and then disintegrated, signifying the establishment of the contract.

Richard looked at Blaze who was now smiling in contentment, as he offered his hand for a shake.

Richard took his hand as he heard the man saying, "I hope we can benefit each other with this."

"Same here."

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

Amelia returned to her senses after what seemed like hours.

Parting her eyes she found herself currently bound to ropes and sitting down on a wooden chair.

She tried moving and breaking her restraints, but it was all futile. Not to talk about, her ether was suppressed as well.

The last thing she remembered was that she was trying to draw Richard's face on paper...when someone attacked her from behind...and then she found herself here.

"Ah, you are awake?" Hearing that voice, Amelia turned stiff.

She...knew this voice. She has heard this voice just a few hours ago.

And when that person walked out of the shadows her doubt was proven to be right.

"E-Ethan?!"

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

A/N:- Ah, this arc is so messed up. But everything will be pieces together soon. Thanks for reading.