Struggling as a Villain

[Earth]

Bella has started to lose hope now.

She tried utilizing the research of Anvil but to no avail. She indeed jumped into the dimensional cracks to reunite with her brother; however, every time, she ended up in a different realm.

Not only that, she got pulled out of the realm the moment the crack healed up—signifying that even if she ended up reuniting with her brother, she wouldn't be able to remain there for long.

The loneliness that spread in her heart after realising how difficult it was to reach her beloved brother, has kept her awake for several nights. She hadn't eaten anything in the past seventy-two hours and was constantly sitting inside her room while staring at his picture.

In a corner, she remained curled like a pitiful child who was abandoned by her parents to die on the streets. Her eyes were red and so was her nose. Her dried eyes became moist every time she thought that she couldn't meet her brother again.

Until now, she had a hope that she would someday meet him again, even if it was during her last breaths. However, after going through a series of trials for the past four years, she couldn't keep fooling herself.

"Brother....do you miss me...." Caressing his picture close to her heart she slowly whispered.

The small flame of hope in her heart was flickering. Bella was reaching her wit's end.

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"Warm me up?" Amelia weakly extended her arms and asked him in a pitiful voice.

Those clear eyes, which mostly radiate indifference, were now filled with helplessness, while the girl herself seemed to be in very dire need of some warmth.

Richard gulped before nodding. He felt like he would become a criminal if he rejected such a proposal...no, it was a request!

He drew closer to her and after parting his arms he gathered the girl in his arms, only to hear her sighing in relief,

"Ah~so warm." She snuggled close with her face pressed against his chest and she positioned herself between his legs.

'She's so small...frail...' Holding the girl in his arms, Richard felt that she might break if he put a little effort. She felt soft, warm, and so delicate that he suddenly felt a cute aggression. However, he controlled his urges and kept the raven-haired, trapped in his embrace.

"Your skin is warm...and so comfortable. Why don't I make a nest just right here and we live like this forever?" She softly mumbled while keeping her eyes closed and a soft smile lifting the edges of her supple lips.

Richard chuckled before asking, "Living in a nest? I wonder if the daughter of Duke Hawkbridge can lead such a normal life."

Amelia suddenly parted her eyes and slowly looked up at him. There was evident certainty and determination flaring in her orbs, as she asked,

"If it's with you, I won't mind living in slums or the hell itself."

Richard parted his lips to say something to that...however, joking about her statement felt like he would be making fun of her sentiments, so he just pressed her small head against his chest once again and wordlessly told her to stop talking now.

Amelia had a wider smile of contentment now, and the harsh climate around her suddenly became sweet and quite romantic for the girl.

Every other student was grouped into at least four to five students each. As such being the only couple who shared such intimate space, made Amelia and Richard stand out—becoming the center of the spotlight.

Well, that didn't last long. After a few minutes, water began to fill the dome, and it went up until the whole space inside the umbrella wasn't submerged.

"Bluuooorgh!" Many of those who were taken off guard struggled and instantly pressed the red buzzer. And for god sake, when the umbrella fang parted, the water didn't spill out—showing the immaculate use of sorcery.

Richard stopped moving completely since the more he would move the more his body would utilize the stored oxygen. So he just allowed himself to float for the next three minutes. Ethan also didn't have much problem given he belonged to a town which was situated at a shore. He has gone fishing and diving in the ocean, for like ever, which explains why he seemed so comfortable being submerged.

Amelia also didn't show much discomfort for the most part, and before she could have started struggling, the water slowly began to level down.

"*Cough* *Cough* What the heck are these tests?" Just when they landed back on the ground, someone shouted while coughing violently.

Richard had to agree with him, as it was the first time he had seen such a versatile and unique kind of examination. Well, considering the course they were aiming for, it was quite understandable why they were going to such extreme lengths.

The last three minutes remained for every student to pass the exam who remained in the dome and this time, they had to face heat.

"Agh...fuck..." Someone cursed as he felt the water from his body slowly evaporate under the heat, which easily exceeded 40°C.

"Are you okay?" Richard asked Amelia who was down on her knees and looked slightly uncomfortable. However, upon being asked, she nodded and said,

"I...just don't like diving in the water. But now I am okay." She looked slightly lost when she said that, but she honestly was physically fine.

Richard knew her trauma of deep water, but talking about it right now seemed hasty so he decided to ask her about it later.

The panels of the dome were all illuminated red, and heat waves travelled visibly across the space.

The students slowly began to loosen their clothes and remove their shoes. Some of the guys, the bulky dudes, to be precise, even removed their shirts when they got the opportunity—to reveal their tight muscles and self-made battle scars.

The girls had it difficult since they could not be like boys and start removing their clothes. They could only open a few buttons of their shirt and try to cool themselves off by fanning their faces.

Richard was quite accustomed to heat so he didn't look particularly bothered. He has spent weeks, being enveloped in flames and recently had got burnt several times a day. So this much was nothing for him.

He just sat cross-legged on the ground and looked around at others.

In the group of students, there are two names of characters whom he knows.

The first one was a bespectacled beauty with a large bust and a shy personality. Long pink hair and round eyes gave her a very innocent vibe, and currently, with a few of her shirt buttons now undone, she was attracting a lot of attention.

She was a minor character who would be playing the role of informer and advisor. Someone who spends most of her free time in the library and has good observation skills.

Other than her, there sat a lanky grey-haired guy in a corner who looked completely unbothered by his surroundings. He is the son of the previous knight commander and is aiming to become a hunter, unlike his father, to prove that he is better than his old man.

Typical emo kid with daddy issues who would have tremendous character development and someone who would support Ethan in his journey. Well, until an extent before he dies.

The reason why he was acting indifferently now like he didn't care about his surroundings and he was perfectly fine with the heat, was because he wanted to maintain a cold and dark persona.

'Really a chunni....'

Although the heat reached 50°C within three minutes, Richard didn't show much trouble, but Amelia looked like she would melt at any moment now. Ethan was no better.

It was then,

*Bzzzz*

The buzzer rang, which signalled the completion of the fifteen-minute minimum requirement.

Many students tapped on the red button to escape the hell cell, and instantly the place became a lot empty.

Ethan glanced at Richard before giving a nod and walking out as well.

No one had the endurance to continue being here for another five minutes. Until now, the difficulty has only risen passing each minute, and given these extra five minutes would be granting extra points to the students, it could be guessed the level of torture they might have to go through.

Now, only Amelia and Richard remained inside, as the raven-haired turned toward him and asked, "Shall we go?"

She extended her hand, and to Richard's surprise, despite being in such a disoriented state, she was able to muster up a soft smile.

Richard wasn't greedy for the extra points, given he would be able to gain them once the class began; that's why he was about to hold her hand and walk out.

However,

[Ding!]

[Quest arrived!]

[Challenge for the Unique]

[Endure the remaining five minutes of the test]

[Reward: +10 Quest Points, Voice changing capsules.]

He suddenly held her hand and asked her, "Amelia, go outside with me. I wanna see the limits of my tolerance."

He might not be greedy for student points, but those quest points? He desperately needed them.

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A/N:- Damn...