Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System-Chapter 97: The Backlash of Arrogance

The Backlash of Arrogance

Rex Valquin’s brows knit tightly together, the authority of a seasoned patriarch sharpening his gaze. He looked at the two bodyguards who were still pointing toward Evan.

"Get this man out of here."

The command cut through the hall like a blade.

The bodyguards stepped forward immediately.

But before they could lay a hand on him—

"Dad!"

Gwen Valquin rose abruptly, the hem of her dress swaying with urgency.

"Mr. Evan is a highly skilled expert I invited. He is very capable."

Fingers trembled even though she kept speaking without pause.

A shape emerged from her coat when she slid fingers inside. A scrap of old paper came out, creased many times, color faded like sun-bleached leaves.

"This is the talisman he gave me. Ever since I started wearing it, I’ve been sleeping soundly and haven’t had any nightmares."

Murmurs moved like water across the room.

Still hidden, the truth had not arrived. Nothing showed it clearly. Not one word revealed what was real. Silence held everything back. What actually happened stayed buried.

She couldn’t let Evan leave.

Not now.

From his chair, Evan rose slow, flicking nothing at all from his cuff. A quiet grin tugged one corner of his mouth, like he saw kids bickering over things too small to matter.

"Uncle Rex," he said calmly, "I’m not being arrogant. I’m just stating the truth. Master Togou cannot solve your family’s problem."

The words struck like sparks on oil.

"If I don’t intervene, his actions will backfire—leading to a dead end and bringing harm to the Valquin household."

Gasps.

Whispers.

Togou’s face flushed dark with fury.

"Arrogant child!" he barked. "If I, Master Togou of White Hills, resolve this minor malevolent energy today, will you kneel and apologize to me?"

A low hum ran through the blade, matching the heat behind his eyes. It shook - not much - like it knew what he felt.

Frozen still, Evan’s face stayed blank.

"What if you can’t solve it?" he asked lightly.

A hush fell across the room.

Togou’s jaw tightened.

"If I can’t solve it," he declared coldly, "I’ll give you this Justice Sword."

Faint light slid across the steel, tracing old marks cut into the metal.

That moment, Togou pivoted fast toward his students.

"Bring the incense."

Footsteps quickened as two followers moved ahead, each balancing a carved burner - three in total - etched with protective marks.

A single burner received three heavy rods of incense, one after another. Each stick slid into place with a quiet push. The scent began to rise only once all were set.

Nine in total.

None were lit.

The air grew heavy.

Togou began chanting.

His fingers moved in complex seals, drawing unseen symbols in the air. His voice rose and fell, low and thunderous, ancient syllables echoing against marble walls.

When the final word left his lips—

The nine incense sticks ignited at once.

Without flame.

Without spark.

Smoke poured upward, swirling violently.

The smoke did not disperse.

It condensed.

Twisted.

Gathered.

Until a gray humanoid figure formed in mid-air.

Its shape was incomplete—like a body made of grief and resentment.

The temperature dropped instantly.

Several guests shivered.

Togou turned to Rex Valquin.

"Mr. Rex, this is the malevolent energy condensed by your Valquin household. Once I eliminate it, your family will be safe and sound."

Rex exhaled deeply, as if years of tension were finally loosening.

"Thank you, Master Togou."

His voice trembled slightly.

The family had been tormented for too long.

Nightmares.

Strange accidents.

Unexplainable illness.

This nightmare was finally ending.

"A trivial matter," Togou said confidently.

He stepped forward, raising the Justice Sword.

With a sharp thrust—

He stabbed directly into the gray mist.

The moment the blade pierced it—

A piercing scream echoed through the hall.

It wasn’t sound.

It was pressure.

A vibration that clawed into skulls and chests.

Several guests covered their ears instinctively.

Within seconds—

The mist dissolved.

Vanished.

The oppressive weight in the hall seemed to lift.

The Valquin family members straightened unconsciously, shoulders lighter.

Relief spread across faces like sunrise.

Togou turned slowly toward Evan.

A cold look came from his eyes.

"Now that it’s done, what do you have to say?"

His head tilted up a small amount.

"Kneel and apologize."

Evan didn’t move.

Not a single flicker crossed his face.

"Why don’t you take a closer look," he said calmly, "to see if the malevolent energy is really gone?"

Stillness followed each syllable. A pause settled where speech had been.

And then -

The temperature plummeted.

Flickering wildly, the chandeliers shook with sudden bursts of light.

Out of nowhere, shadows stretched down from above. They crept sideways off the plaster. Then rose up slow from beneath your feet

Fog crept forward once more, slow and steady.

Thicker.

Darker.

More violent than before.

The humanoid figure reformed—but larger.

Twisted.

Its head jerked unnaturally as it surged straight toward Togou.

Togou’s eyes widened.

He swung the Justice Sword repeatedly.

One slash.

Two.

Three.

The blade cut through mist—

But it did not disperse.

The gray energy burst forward like a tidal wave and crashed into him.

Togou screamed.

His body convulsed violently.

His face turned ghostly pale.

Blood sprayed from his mouth.

He collapsed to the floor, twitching uncontrollably.

"Master!"

His disciples rushed forward in panic.

They pulled out a small bronze vial and splashed what they called holy water onto his chest.

The water hissed upon contact with the lingering mist—but did nothing to drive it away.

The smell of iron filled the air.

The Valquin family, who had felt relief moments ago—

Now felt something far worse.

An unbearable pressure descended upon their shoulders.

Breathing became difficult.

It felt as if a thousand-pound stone pressed against their chests.

Several elders staggered.

Some nearly fainted.

The other Exorcists exchanged horrified glances.

"This energy..."

"It’s not ordinary malevolent energy."

"Impossible..."

A few bold ones stepped forward to assist.

They formed seals.

Chanted spells.

One sprinkled holy water in wide arcs.

Another threw protective talismans into the air.

All of it—

Backfired.

The mist surged.

Two Exorcists were thrown backward as if struck by invisible hammers.

One spat blood.

Another collapsed.

The hall descended into chaos.

Rex Valquin staggered, clutching his chest.

His vision blurred.

He glanced toward his daughter instinctively—

And froze.

Gwen stood upright.

Unaffected.

Not a single sign of discomfort on her face.

The talisman in her hand faintly warmed.

It wasn’t glowing dramatically.

It wasn’t flashy.

But the space around her was calm.

Stable.

Could it be—

His breathing grew shallow.

He slowly turned his trembling gaze toward Evan.

The young man stood there calmly, hands behind his back.

As if this entire disaster were merely a rehearsal.

Fear.

Humility.

Desperation.

All replaced Rex’s earlier pride.

He stepped forward weakly.

His voice was hoarse.

"I was wrong earlier."

He lowered his head slightly.

"Please, young friend... save my family!"

The hall fell silent.

Every eye turned toward Evan.

The stage—

Had finally shifted.