The stench of blood and ash hammered into Adrian's nostrils. He gritted his teeth, leveraging the last of his magical reserves to keep himself upright, leaning heavily on the hilt of the enchanted sword he himself had forged. Before him lay the monstrous, sprawling carcass of the Demon God Chernobog, finally still.
He had won.
He had saved the world.
Yet, the burning pain in his core completely eclipsed the fleeting joy of victory.
"Adrian... You actually did it!"
His lover, Maria's voice, was shaky with emotion. Maria stood among the ranks of the flanking soldiers, her face alight with a dazzling smile directed solely at him. Seeing that smile, a flicker of warmth returned to Adrian's heart. Every sacrifice, every ounce of his life and honor, felt justified.
But in that singular, serene moment...
Thud!
The smile on Maria's face instantly twisted into pure horror. A cold, devastating force pierced Adrian's back, brutally tearing into his vital organs.
"Aargh..."
He could only manage a soft groan. Breathing became a desperate, burning struggle. His eyes, wide with confusion and disbelief, desperately turned to look behind him...
The attacker was none other than Geoffrey. His vice-captain, his stalwart lieutenant, the man everyone considered Adrian's right-hand in the Hero Faction, the one with whom he had weathered countless dangers.
Geoffrey's face was utterly devoid of remorse.
"I'm sorry, Adrian. Your power is too formidable to be wielded by a savior. You could become the next Chernobog. For the sake of the world, for the honor of our Hero Faction... you must die."
Blood gushed from Adrian's lips, and his voice trembled, barely a whisper.
"N-No... You..."
His cries were swallowed by the air. His immense magical energy was draining away, piece by piece. Geoffrey ruthlessly twisted the blade deeper, openly absorbing Adrian's rapidly dissipating power.
It was then Adrian realized that the world's betrayal was far from over.
At Geoffrey's signal, the flanking soldiers and mages—the supposed allies—turned their swords and spells upon Maria and Adrian's remaining loyal subordinates.
With Adrian eliminated, his entire faction had to be purged. All of them were now deemed "potential threats to global stability."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Right before his eyes, soldiers he once trusted savagely slaughtered his lover and his companions.
"Ma... Maria...!"
Adrian gasped for air, crippled by the agony. He caught Maria's final expression—a painful, understanding smile that seemed to say, "I forgive you."
The suffering was unbearable. Not just the wound from the blade, but the devastating sight before him—the total destruction of his soul.
Loss. Grief. Rage.
Everything ripped his heart to shreds. He had saved the world, but the world had betrayed him and taken everything he held dear. His final view was Maria's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, contrasted by Geoffrey's cruel, triumphant face.
'This world that betrayed me... I will make you all regret this!'
That was the last thought of Adrian, the world's strongest Hero.
As darkness enveloped him, and his body finally succumbed to the pain and the drain...
A cold, mechanical voice echoed within Adrian's disintegrating consciousness.
[Condition Met: 'The Ultimate Betrayal']
[Error: Host's Karma Level is Incompatible with System Core]
[System Realigning... 'Hero' Mode Terminated. 'Villain' Mode Initiated.]
['The Retribution System' Is now active.]
[Mission: Survive. Level-up. Bring Retribution to the World that Betrayed You.]
Then, Adrian's broken body vanished in a flash of brilliant light.
A New Beginning
CRASH!
Adrian found himself kneeling on a hard floor. He was instantly aware of the absence of pain and the sudden shift in his surroundings.
He looked around...
He was at the entrance of the Vanguard Hero Academy, wearing simple, unadorned training clothes.
Adrian slowly rose from his knees. The air was clean, devoid of Chernobog's blood-stench, replaced only by the fresh scent of spring.
He was on the Academy's lush green lawn. Golden-hued lecture halls stood tall, and the air buzzed with the laughter of young students and the sharp sounds of magical practice. This was the day he was meant to begin his life as a Hero. The start of an unforgettable past.
He placed a hand on his chest; the fatal stab wound inflicted by Geoffrey was gone. Adrian, having experienced true agony and the cold hand of death, had returned to his body at the age of 20.
This is not a dream...
Memories of the future—his pain, the betrayal—flashed like vivid photographs: the fall of the Demon God, Geoffrey's treachery, Maria's death... All of it was chillingly fresh.
"This world... these 'Heroes'... they are the ones who turned me into a Villain," Adrian muttered under his breath.
His eyes were cold and dry; not a single tear fell. On this very lawn in his past life, he had first met Maria, his beloved. Now, he knew the tragic destiny that awaited them.
His fingers, his heart... everything was whole again, yet irrevocably broken.
A glance at his hands confirmed the temporal shift.
It was ten years before the final clash with Chernobog. The time when Adrian the Hero was just beginning his training. Maria was alive. Geoffrey was still his trusted friend.
But inside his body, the will to be a Hero was extinguished. His entire worldview had been redefined by betrayal.
Just then...
DING!
DING!
DING!
[Host: Adrian]
[Title: The Fallen Hero]
[System: The Retribution System]
[Level: 0 (Villain)]
A screen, edged in purple and black, materialized before him.
Adrian stared intently. The words, clear and legible, confirmed his dreadful new reality. A mixture of sorrow, pain, and overwhelming rage solidified into a cold, determined smirk on his face.
"This time... I will not be the Hero."
"I will bring Retribution to the world that betrayed me."
[The Retribution System]
[Host, Adrian, is now in Synchronization with the Core. Current Timeline: 10 Years Before the Fall of the Northern Empire.]
[Attention: The Hero's Path is Closed. The System's Goal is the acquisition of absolute power through Retribution.]
[Retribution Point (RP) can be used for upgrades. RP is acquired through actions that contravene the Heroic Code, acts of repaying betrayal, and causing psychological devastation that shakes the world.]
Then, the [Status] Window appeared in Adrian's vision.
[Status Window]
Name: Adrian Race: Human
(The Fallen Hero)
Titled: The Betrayed Class: None
(Unassigned)
Level: 0 EXP: (0/10)
Strength (STR): 5 Agility (AGL): 7
Vitality (VIT): 6 Magic Power
(MP): 10
Retribution Point (RP):
0
Unique Skill: [Future
Vision (Locked)]
Goal: Retribution
"Retribution Points (RP)"... Unlike the 'Honor Points' or 'Glory EXP' Heroes needed to level up, his System demands "Revenge".
His eyes were clear and sharp. Justice, love—these were meaningless words.
"Goal: Retribution...." Adrian whispered.
He wiped the slight sheen of sweat from his brow. In his past life, he had sacrificed his life for the dignity of a Hero. Now, those rules meant nothing.
Using his future knowledge, he quickly formulated a plan for rapid level-up.
The Hero Academy's entrance exams... they are a waste of precious time.
In his previous life, he had wasted years following rules and training routines, time his enemies expertly used to grow stronger.
Adrian stood up, brushing the dirt from his modest clothes. His gaze focused on the Academy's eastern wing.
'This is the time when the infamous thief 'Phantom Thief Kael' begins his activities. The item he attempts to steal is The Scepter of Foresight.'
'That Scepter will become the most important magical artifact for the Hero Faction in the future and eventually fall into Geoffrey's hands.'
'A counterfeit Hero like Geoffrey does not deserve to own such an item.'
The thought brought a cynical idea. Adrian was surprised by his own mental leap. A Hero would try to stop the thief and protect the item. But...
DING!
DING!
[System Quest: Assist the Thief in acquiring the Scepter for personal gain.]
[Action Available: Assist the Thief. Reward: +10 EXP, +5 RP.]
"Good... This will be my first Level-up."
Adrian walked toward the Hero Academy's gate, ignoring the students passing by. In place of his former joyful expression was a silent, cold face.
"I was looking for you, Adrian! Today is the entrance day for the Hero Academy. I thought you would be excited."
Her words pierced Adrian's chest like a dagger. Her innocence, her love... all relics of a past life. He couldn't afford to love her again in this life. Because his love meant her death. That was the price he paid for being a Hero.
"Excited?" Adrian's voice was cold and hollow, completely unlike his old self.
Maria's eyes widened. "What's wrong, Adrian? Are you feeling ill?"
"Nothing is wrong, Maria. I... I have things to do."
He tried to turn and leave, ignoring her. In the previous life, he would have held her hand and talked all day. But now...
Just then, another voice emerged. The voice of the man who would truly kill him.
"Maria, what's going on with him? He should be thrilled to enter the Academy today."
Geoffrey. The man with Dark Green hair and confident eyes, the former leader of the Hero Faction. Now, he was just another student at the Hero Academy.
Geoffrey walked up and clapped Adrian on the shoulder. Adrian felt the lie of "If you are a Hero..." radiating from his touch.
"She's worried about you, Adrian. I know your skills surpass all of us. Let's train together and protect the world."
Blood-soaked visions flashed in Adrian's eyes.
'You killed me to 'protect the world'!' he thought bitterly.
The more Geoffrey espoused the Heroic Code, the more Adrian's System became active.
[Detection: Major Target 'Geoffrey' (Future Betrayer) is nearby.]
[Action Available: Verbally insult Geoffrey to ruin his image. Reward: +2 RP.]
Adrian laughed. A cold, scornful sound.
"Geoffrey, have you forgotten that you live in my shadow? Your 'skills' bore me. You'll need to train your whole life just to stand on par with me. Don't touch me."
Adrian's words were not what a Hero should say. They were the arrogant words of a future hero who had gone rogue.
Geoffrey's face instantly paled. All the surrounding students fell silent, their eyes wide with shock.
[Success! Heroic Image (Geoffrey) Damaged.]
[Retribution Points (RP) +2. Total RP: 2.]
Adrian saw the hurt in Maria's eyes. But he didn't stop. He knew this pain was nothing compared to the final agony Maria would suffer.
Adrian turned away from Maria and Geoffrey, not looking back as he walked out of the Academy gate.
Adrian was now in the city, ready to execute the System's mission.
[Mission: Assist 'Phantom Thief Kael' in acquiring 'The Scepter of Foresight' from the Academy's Treasury.]
[Reward: +10 EXP, +5 RP.]
Adrian knew the Scepter of Foresight had to be in his possession before it could fall into the hands of his betrayers.
He vividly recalled Phantom Thief Kael's modus operandi and weaknesses from his past life. Kael would attempt to infiltrate the Academy at midnight. His plan was simple but precise.
It was 6 PM.
Adrian was in the crowded city market. He bought a Dark Hooded Cloak instead of Hero gear.
He opened his System Status Window.
[Retribution Points (RP): 2]
"2 RP... What can I do with this?"
The [Skill Shop] Window appeared.
[Skill Shop - Level 0]
Basic Stealth: (RP 1) - Reduces movement noise.
Basic Lockpicking (RP 2) - Can open common locks.
Heroic Disguise (Passive): (RP 5) - Slightly alters appearance and reduces public suspicion.
"Heroic Disguise will be useful in the future... but I need something practical now."
Adrian selected Basic Lockpicking.
[Basic Lockpicking has been purchased. RP -2. Total RP: 0.]
The techniques, the exact hand movements needed to pick locks, instantly flowed into his mind. As a Hero, he would never have considered learning such a criminal skill.
"The Hero Adrian of the past was truly ignorant," he thought.
As he prepared for the night's operation, The Retribution System delivered a cold warning into his mind.
[Alert: Host's Survival is Priority. Sentimentalism is a fatal weakness. If Host fails to complete 'Malicious' Actions, the System will inflict severe penalty.]
Adrian smirked. The transition from Hero to Villain wouldn't be easy. But... recalling the sight of Maria's death in his past life...
"No need for a penalty, System. My path is darkness. I will rebuild this world with my Retribution."
Adrian donned the dark cloak and headed toward the Hero Academy. It was time to start the first Level-up Quest of a Villain, a path utterly different from a Hero's.
Midnight. Beneath the moonlit sky, the Vanguard Hero Academy was silent. Adrian used his past life's knowledge to effortlessly evade the magical sensors and checkpoints.
He reached the back wall of the Treasury Tower, where the Academy's most valuable artifacts were stored.
He mentally commanded his Basic Lockpicking Skill. His fingers deftly touched the magical lock, and with a soft click, a hidden door slid open.
As he stepped inside, a flash of light illuminated the area, revealing a masked figure standing before him. It was Phantom Thief Kael, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Who are you! How did you get into this Hero Academy?" Kael held up his dagger, ready to strike.
Adrian gave a villainous smirk and replied, "I'm here to assist your operation."
Adrian used his future knowledge to accurately detail Kael's plan and its inevitable failure, effectively subjugating Kael. After a brief discussion, the two agreed to cooperate.
...
A few hours later...
Adrian successfully emerged outside the Academy with Kael, who was holding the Scepter of Foresight.
[Mission Complete: Assist the Thief.]
[EXP +10. Total EXP: 10/10.]
[Level Up! Host has reached Level 1 (Villain).]
[Retribution Points (RP) +5. Total RP: 5.]
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step (Passive): Enhances stealth movement.]
Adrian felt a cold satisfaction. Being a Villain was faster and more effective than being a Hero.
'Finally, I'm on the right path...' he thought.
Maria's face flashed in his mind. Her innocent eyes... her pain...
But this is the only way I can protect you, Maria...
As this single thought of Heroic compassion and lingering love surfaced in his mind...
[SYSTEM ALERT: WARNING! HEROIC SENTIMENT DETECTED!]
[HOST IS VIOLATING 'THE RETRIBUTION SYSTEM' CORE CODE.]
[SEVERE PENALTY INITIATED!]
[Unique Skill: Future Vision (Locked) Temporarily Unlocked.]
Suddenly, Adrian's eyes glowed with a fierce red light, and the most horrifying scene of his past life violently reappeared in his consciousness, lasting only a split second.
Maria's body lying in a pool of blood. Geoffrey's cruel face mocking him.
The intense psychological assault forced Adrian to his knees on the ground, his ears ringing with phantom screams.
Kael spun around, shocked and startled.
"Hey! What's wrong?"
Adrian's whole body trembled from the pain. His heart was now under immense pressure to commit to being a "Villain" and to destroy all "Heroic Sentiment."
[PENALTY EFFECT: HOST'S VITALITY (VIT) IS BEING DRAINED. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL LEAD TO PERMANENT COGNITIVE DAMAGE.]
Adrian felt a trickle of blood leak from his mouth. Even a second of deviation from the Villain path resulted in such a severe penalty.
He forced his eyes open. Before him stood Kael, holding the Scepter of Foresight. Kael's innocent eyes looked at him with genuine concern.
'Be a Villain... Do it now! You must be a Villain to survive!' Adrian roared internally.
Adrian's eyes intensified, the red glow flaring up with rage and resolve. He tried to activate the newly acquired Shadow Step Skill. His intent was clear: to slit Kael's throat and forcefully acquire the Villain EXP needed to override the Penalty.
Would he kill the one who helped him achieve his first Level-up?
Adrian's body vanished instantly toward Kael.