Villain Ch 117. A Bloodthirsty Emperor Inside A Gentleman
Allen and his companions emerged from the shimmering portal, returning to the dark and foreboding depths of the Cursed Crypts. The air was thick with the scent of decay and evil aura.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, the group wasted no time in pressing on, their minds focused on their task. So their return to the Crypts would be brief, for they had a critical mission to complete.
Without hesitation, they made their way to the portal room, knowing that time was of the essence. The first mini-boss was about to spawn and they needed to hurry.
As Allen and his companions made their way toward the portal room, the air around them buzzed with anticipation. But it wasn’t just the thrill of battle that electrified the group – the girls’ excitement and chatter added vibrant color to their steps.
Their voices rang out, bouncing off the obsidian floor of the Crypts as they shared battle strategies and swapped stories of previous encounters. They laughed and joked, their eyes alight with a fierce determination to emerge victorious.
Zoe’s eyes glinted with excitement as she breathed in the musty air of the Crypts. “That was amazing,” she exclaimed. “This is the first time I’ve felt like a full hunter looking for my prey,” she confessed.
Bella nodded eagerly in agreement. “I know what you mean,” she said. “There’s something so thrilling about a real hunt. The danger, the challenge – it’s addictive.” This was their first time killing players without any quest.
But Shea’s expression was more thoughtful. “More than that,” she said slowly, “I was shocked by what Allen did. He really knew how to play his role. The thrill and madness were really something.”
Allen gave her a surprised glance, curious to hear more. “What do you mean?” he asked.
Shea’s gaze flicked over to Allen, who was lagging slightly behind the rest of the group. “You know,” she said, her voice low, “I was surprised by how you had the idea to use that nursery rhyme to make the atmosphere even tenser.”
Allen grinned a hint of pride in his eyes. “Oh, that?” he said casually. “I got the idea from several horror films,” he admitted. “The twisted nursery rhyme is commonly used by filmmakers to provide tension in the film itself. It’s often used in horror and thriller genres,” he explained a bit.
Shea’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really?” she said. “I had no idea. I have never watched them before.” She hated that kind of movie since she was a kid, so she didn’t know about it.
Allen nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah, it’s a pretty effective strategy. The creepy familiarity of the tune combined with the twisted lyrics really sets people on edge. It makes the whole atmosphere feel…off.”
Zoe and Bella, who had been listening intently, exchanged impressed glances. “You really know your stuff, Allen,” Zoe said. 𝘦𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑜𝑟𝘨
To be honest, the girls were surprised by Allen’s quick thinking, who could create something like that right on the spot. But what truly surprised the girls was his ability to adapt his attitude in the blink of an eye. One moment, Allen was the friendly and gentlemanly leader they all knew and trusted. But in the next, he transformed into a bloodthirsty devil emperor, his eyes glowing with a fierce, almost mad intensity. It was a sudden and jarring change, but it was also what made it easier for the girls to do their roles.
When Allen was in devil emperor mode, there was no mistaking the cruel and ruthless vibe that radiated from him. His every move seemed to be calculated to inflict maximum damage on his enemies, and the girls couldn’t help but feel a thrill of fear and excitement as they watched him.
Larissa spoke up. “That was really creative,” she said. “I never would have thought to use something like that.”
Jane nodded, her expression a mix of terror and awe. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “It was terrifying, yet… sweet. I don’t know how you managed to pull that off.”
The other girls turned to Jane, frowning in confusion. “What do you mean, sweet?” Zoe asked, her voice laced with concern.
Jane grinned nervously, feeling a little embarrassed. “I just finished reading a book,” she said. “It was about a girl who falls in love with a psychopath. And the way you were acting, Allen – it reminded me of the male lead. It was scary, but… kind of romantic, in a twisted way.”
Alice wrinkled her nose at Jane’s response. She didn’t understand why anyone would want to read about such gruesome topics. “Your book collection is certainly… something,” she said, trying to hide her distaste.
Shea chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eye. “It’s surprising that it was Zoe who made the odd request, not you,” she teased.
Zoe groaned in annoyance. “Mom!” she protested.
Shea quickly backtracked, apologizing with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean like that.”
Jane shrugged off the comments, trying to downplay her interest in dark romance novels. “It’s just a hobby,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “The thrill is something.”
She glanced at Allen, her thoughts turned to his novel. She couldn’t help but admire the dynamic between the main character’s cruelty and sweet manner. Perhaps she even had a soft spot for the author himself, but she kept those thoughts to herself. When they had first met, she had been shocked to learn that the man she was speaking to was the author of her favorite novel. But instead of admitting her admiration, she giggled along with the others, pretending not to know who he was.
Bella spoke up, directing her question to Allen. “As an author yourself, don’t you have anything to say about all of this?”
Allen chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t read much romance for female readers,” he admitted. “But I do know some female authors, and let me tell you, some of their ideas are wilder than any male author I’ve come across. So, I can’t really judge.”