The atmosphere froze.
Even time itself seemed to slow.
Knox stood motionless, yet the space around him rippled as if reality could no longer endure his presence.
His eyes had changed.
The darkness within them had transformed into an endless cosmic void filled with countless stars.
Azrael took an unconscious step backward.
"...Impossible."
For the first time in millions of years...
The Ancient Demon Emperor felt fear.
Inside Knox's mind...
The Supreme Villain System no longer sounded mechanical.
Instead, an ancient, majestic voice echoed through his consciousness.
[Supreme Villain Authority: 1% Released.]
[Time Limit: Three Minutes.]
[Warning: The host's body cannot withstand greater power.]
A black throne appeared within the endless void of Knox's consciousness.
It stood alone.
Ancient.
Eternal.
Above the throne floated countless shattered crowns.
Each crown radiated an aura capable of suppressing heaven and earth.
Knox frowned.
"What is this place?"
The mysterious voice answered,
"The Throne of the First Villain."
Before Knox could ask another question...
The vision disappeared.
Back in reality...
Azrael stared at Knox with disbelief.
"No..."
"No mortal should possess that authority."
"Who exactly are you?"
Knox calmly replied,
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
His voice was unusually cold.
Almost divine.
Azrael suddenly roared.
"I don't care!"
"I'll kill you before you awaken!"
His soul exploded with crimson demonic energy.
The entire underground palace shook violently.
A giant demonic hand descended from the sky.
It was powerful enough to flatten mountains.
Seraphina's face turned pale.
"We can't stop that!"
Knox slowly raised one hand.
He pointed a single finger toward the descending palm.
"Disappear."
One word.
Nothing more.
The giant demonic hand...
Vanished.
Not destroyed.
Not blocked.
Simply erased from existence.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Azrael froze.
"What..."
"What did you do?"
Knox looked at his own hand.
"I merely rejected its existence."
[Authority Skill Activated.]
Void Decree
For five seconds, the host may reject one phenomenon within a limited area.
Cooldown: Unknown.
Knox's eyes narrowed.
"So this is Authority."
It wasn't spiritual energy.
It wasn't cultivation.
It was a higher law.
Azrael's expression turned grim.
"I underestimated you."
His body suddenly began expanding.
Crimson armor covered his entire form.
Gigantic black wings unfolded behind him.
Ancient demonic runes covered the sky.
His aura increased several times over.
The Sword Emperor's tomb could no longer withstand the pressure.
Huge pieces of the ceiling crashed down.
Outside...
Elder Tian and several Saint Realm experts had finally broken through the outer barrier.
The moment they sensed Azrael's aura...
Their expressions changed.
"This..."
"This is impossible!"
One elder whispered in horror,
"A Great Emperor..."
"No..."
"Something even older."
Inside the battlefield...
Adrian slowly stood.
Blood dripped from his forehead.
He looked toward Knox.
The distance between them had become even greater.
But instead of despair...
He smiled.
"So..."
"This is your true strength."
Knox shook his head.
"No."
"I'm borrowing it."
Azrael attacked again.
This time...
Thousands of demonic chains shot toward Knox.
Each chain carried the power to imprison a soul.
Knox closed his eyes.
Then opened them.
The stars inside his pupils rotated.
"Break."
Every chain shattered instantly.
Azrael coughed blood.
His soul became unstable.
"Impossible..."
"You've only awakened one percent..."
Knox suddenly appeared before him.
Not by speed.
It was as though space itself had decided he was already there.
He looked directly into Azrael's eyes.
"You've lived long enough."
Knox gently touched Azrael's forehead with two fingers.
"Return to silence."
The Supreme Villain Authority erupted.
The black mist surrounding Azrael began disappearing.
His soul trembled violently.
"No!"
"I refuse!"
"I am the Demon Emperor!"
"You cannot erase me!"
Knox remained expressionless.
"I don't need to erase you."
"I only need to send you back."
A gigantic black gate appeared behind Azrael.
Ancient chains burst from the darkness.
They wrapped around his soul.
Azrael struggled desperately.
"You don't understand!"
"If I disappear..."
"They will awaken!"
"The true enemy is coming!"
Knox frowned.
"They?"
Before he could ask—
The chains dragged Azrael into the black gate.
His furious roar echoed across the collapsing tomb.
"Remember my words, Knox Void!"
"The heavens themselves fear what lies beyond!"
The gate slammed shut.
Everything became silent.
The System immediately displayed dozens of notifications.
[Emergency Mission Completed.]
Reward Obtained:
- Supreme Villain Authority Unlocked (Dormant)
- 50,000 Villain Points
- Ancient Soul Crystal
- Hidden Main Quest Activated
Hidden Main Quest
The Truth Behind the Supreme Villain System
Description:
Discover the origin of the mysterious throne and the First Villain.
Progress: 0%
Before Knox could read further...
A sharp pain exploded through his body.
His vision blurred.
The Authority disappeared.
The star-filled eyes returned to normal.
Cracks spread across his meridians.
His body had reached its limit.
Seraphina caught him before he fell.
"Knox!"
He smiled weakly.
"I guess..."
"One percent was enough."
Then everything went black.
Far away...
In an unknown realm beyond space and time...
Twelve colossal thrones floated in the darkness.
Eleven were empty.
One suddenly emitted a faint black light.
A mysterious figure sitting upon another throne slowly opened its eyes.
"So..."
"The heir has awakened."
Another figure laughed softly.
"The game finally begins."
A third voice echoed through the void.
"Protect him."
"If the Celestial Court discovers the successor of the First Villain..."
"They will descend before he is ready."
Silence returned.
The twelve thrones once again disappeared into darkness.
Back in the Eternal Divine Realm...
The Sword Emperor's tomb completely collapsed.
The inheritance had vanished.
The Demon Emperor had been sealed once more.
Only three people knew what had truly happened.
Knox.
Adrian.
And Seraphina.
None of them realized that the events of this day had awakened forces that had slept since the dawn of creation.
The story was no longer about a hero and a villain.
It had become a battle...
For the fate of every world.
End of Chapter 10
Next Arc: The Ancient Academy Arc — Knox enters the Heavenly Dao Academy as hidden enemies, rival geniuses, mysterious heroines, and the first members of the Celestial Court begin to make their move.