Minutes crawled by like hours. Leon kept stealing glances at Erin, waiting for some sign that the poison was working. But instead of collapsing or choking, Erin looked even more refreshed than before. His pale skin seemed to glow with health, and his silver hair caught the tavern's dim light.
'What the hell is happening?' Leon's mind raced with panic. 'Shouldn't he be dying by now? Did I grab the wrong bottle? Maybe it was some kind of healing potion instead of poison?'
Leon watched in growing horror as Erin stared at something in the air that only he could see. His eyes moved back and forth, like he was reading invisible text.
'Of course he has a system,' Leon thought bitterly. 'The villain always gets the powerful abilities.'
From what Leon remembered from the novel, Erin's system was twisted and dark. It forced him to complete horrible missions in exchange for power. The poor kid had been normal once, but the system's influence had slowly corrupted him into a monster.
Leon had almost given up hope when it happened. Erin's body suddenly went rigid. His hand flew to his throat, clawing at his neck as if he couldn't breathe. His pale eyes widened in shock and pain.
Then, just as quickly as it started, Erin's hand fell limp. His head dropped forward and hit the wooden counter with a dull thud.
Leon's heart leaped with relief. The sound should have drawn attention, but everyone in the tavern was too focused on Will Reiner's speech to notice.
'Yes! Finally, he's dead!' Leon felt like he could breathe again for the first time in days. 'I don't have to fight anymore. I don't have to die in that arena.'
He wouldn't have to face the villain who had been destined to kill him. He wouldn't have to leave his sister alone in this cruel world. For the first time since arriving in this strange place, Leon felt actual hope.
But as the old saying goes, when you speak of the devil, he appears.
A strange sound echoed in Leon's mind, like a bell ringing inside his skull.
[Ding! You have successfully eliminated Erin Nether, the designated main antagonist and central pillar of the story "Hero's Ascent." This action has caused a critical disruption to the narrative structure.]
Leon blinked hard, thinking he was hallucinating. But the glowing blue text floated right in front of his eyes, impossible to ignore.
Everything around him seemed to freeze. The people in the tavern stopped moving mid-gesture. Will Reiner's voice cut off abruptly. Even the dust particles in the air hung motionless. Leon was the only thing that could still move or think.
[ERROR: Narrative collapse detected. Primary antagonist eliminated before story completion.]
[SYSTEM OVERRIDE: We reject this outcome.]
[SOLUTION: Replacement antagonist required immediately.]
[SCANNING... SCANNING... CANDIDATE FOUND.]
[YOU have been selected as the new main antagonist for the novel "Hero's Ascent."]
"What?!" Leon's voice cracked with disbelief. His hands shook as he stared at the floating text. "No, no, no! This can't be happening!"
[INITIATING TRANSFER: Overriding previous character role...]
[TRANSFERRING: All assets, abilities, and narrative responsibilities of former antagonist Erin Nether...]
[TRANSFER PROGRESS: 15%... 28%... 47%...]
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Leon screamed, his voice echoing strangely in the frozen tavern. "He was supposed to die and that would be the end of it! Someone else should become the villain, not me!"
He knew Erin's story from the novel. He knew exactly how it would end - with the hero cutting him down in a final, dramatic battle. Leon had read that scene. He had no desire to live it.
[TRANSFER PROGRESS: 63%... 78%... 91%...]
"Please, give me a choice!" Leon's voice was raw with desperation. "I don't want this! I just wanted to survive!"
[TRANSFER COMPLETE.]
[Hello, Mark.]
Leon's blood turned to ice. The system had called him by his real name - the name from his previous life on Earth. A name he hadn't heard since waking up in this world.
[Leon Greaves has been successfully designated as replacement antagonist. Narrative stability restored. World regression unnecessary.]
More messages flooded Leon's vision, appearing and disappearing faster than he could fully read them. But he caught glimpses of what they said, and each one made his heart sink further.
[CONSTELLATION CHAT ACTIVATED]
[Constellation (Watcher of Endless Battles): This is unacceptable! The new antagonist is pathetic!]
[Constellation (Devourer of Heroes): Agreed. This weakling will ruin our entertainment.]
[Constellation (Lady of Crimson Fate): He lacks the necessary evil in his heart.]
[Constellation (Master of Dark Arts): We demand his immediate termination and replacement.]
Leon felt a spark of hope. Maybe these powerful beings would reject him and free him from this nightmare.
[Constellation (The Eternal Schemer): Kill him now before he disappoints us further.]
[Constellation (Nightmare Bringer): His death would be more interesting than his life.]
[Constellation (Soul Harvester): I volunteer to personally destroy this inferior replacement.]
The hope in Leon's chest died as quickly as it had appeared. These constellations - the god-like beings who watched over this world like it was their personal entertainment - wanted him dead.
In the novel, Leon remembered, people worshipped these constellations and received power in return. Some were granted systems that gave them quests and abilities. But the constellations were fickle and cruel, treating mortals like toys in their cosmic games.
[Constellation (Supreme Creator): SILENCE.]
The chat went quiet instantly. Even through the text, Leon could feel the immense power behind those words.
[Constellation (Supreme Creator): I have a proposal that will benefit all parties involved.]
[Constellation (Watcher of Endless Battles): ...We're listening.]
[Constellation (Supreme Creator): This mortal's weakness could be his strength. A reluctant villain who fights against his dark destiny? A protagonist who must embrace evil to save what he loves? The dramatic potential is extraordinary.]
[Constellation (Lady of Crimson Fate): ...Intriguing.]
[Constellation (Master of Dark Arts): The internal conflict alone would be delicious to watch.]
[Constellation (Supreme Creator): Furthermore, I propose we give him a modified system. One that forces him to complete villain-like actions, but with enough freedom to make interesting choices. The tension between his good intentions and evil requirements will create unprecedented drama.]
Leon watched in horror as more and more constellations began to agree with this twisted proposal.
[Constellation (The Eternal Schemer): A villain who doesn't want to be a villain... Yes, this could work.]
[Constellation (Nightmare Bringer): His suffering will be exquisite.]
[Constellation (Soul Harvester): I retract my call for his death. This alternative amuses me.]
[CONSENSUS REACHED: 847 constellations in favor, 23 opposed, 11 abstaining.]
[DECISION FINALIZED: Leon Greaves will serve as the main antagonist under modified conditions.]
[WARNING: A small minority of constellations still harbor hostile intentions toward the mortal Leon Greaves.]
Leon felt tears welling up in his eyes. Not only was he trapped in the role of the villain, but he was also being watched by hundreds of cosmic beings who saw his life as nothing more than entertainment.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATION: Antagonist Protocol engaged.]
[ROLE UPDATED: You are now the primary antagonist of "Hero's Ascent."]
[OBJECTIVE: Oppose the hero through any means necessary.]
[FAILURE CONSEQUENCE: Narrative collapse will result in your immediate termination.]
The frozen world around Leon began to move again. Conversations resumed, Will Reiner continued his speech, and the tavern returned to its normal bustle. But Leon stood behind the counter, staring at Erin's lifeless body, knowing that his fate had just become a thousand times worse than before.
He had tried to save himself by killing the villain, only to become the villain himself. And now, hundreds of god-like beings were watching, waiting to see how his story would unfold.