Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start? - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Chapter256-John’s Broken Spirit
Bang!

Owen’s earth-shattering punch, though partially diminished, still landed squarely on John, reducing his body to a pool of flesh and blood.

John suffered devastating damage!

Yet, in a carefully calculated maneuver, this bloody mass flew out of Owen’s domain and hurtled toward Madelyn.

Madelyn, who had been standing at a distance, silently observing Owen’s combat techniques, hoping to learn a few tricks from him, was caught off guard.

After all, not everyone had the chance to receive direct guidance from Owen.

But what she hadn’t anticipated was that John, who had been turned into a puddle of flesh, would rush straight toward her!

A look of shock flashed through her eyes, and in an instant, she sensed the deadly intent emanating from this amorphous mass.

John was still alive—and had targeted her!

Immediately, Madelyn raised her staff high, summoning a sphere of flames that swirled around her like stars circling the moon, trying to repel John.

Yet, the black mist coiling around John’s blood and flesh showed no sign of being hindered by the flames.

Even the residual Order power left on him by Owen shattered instantly!

Without any form of protection, Madelyn found herself completely exposed to John’s assault.

The bloody mass began to pulsate and morph as if preparing to seize her and take her hostage.

John knew well the bond between Madelyn and Owen. No matter what Owen did, he intended to leave him with a scarlet reminder of this battle!

However, just as John was about to reach Madelyn, a furious roar echoed through the air, causing even his half-reformed body to tremble.

Before he could react, a massive, pillar-like serpent emerged in front of Madelyn, roaring at him with all its might.

Owen, having foreseen a situation like this, had instructed Seraphina to stay close to Madelyn for protection.

Seeing how John had descended into madness, throwing away all his principles, Seraphina did not hesitate to act.

“Seraphina? Owen’s pet?”

John recognized the massive serpent at a glance, but instead of being dismayed, his grin widened with manic glee.

Wonderful!

Not only would he have Madelyn, but even Seraphina would fall into his hands.

A double victory!

No matter how powerful Owen might be, he’d have no choice but to bow to him!

In a flash, John’s bloodied hands lunged toward Madelyn, intending to capture her before dealing with Seraphina.

Seraphina opened her maw wide, spewing forth a torrent of searing flames. However, they failed to deter John in the slightest. He seemed about to seize Madelyn when a voice, gentle yet filled with undeniable power, suddenly rang out.

“Stop! You vile creature of darkness!”

The moment John heard the voice, his burgeoning madness seemed to be doused with ice water, calming instantly. He turned instinctively toward the source.

Standing gracefully beside Owen was Rachel, her silhouette as pristine and alluring as a blooming white lotus—noble, pure, and exuding a forbidden allure.

“Rachel!”

At just a single glance, John could never forget the figure that haunted his dreams—a woman he believed to be his fated match.

Owen, too, was caught off guard by Rachel’s sudden appearance. He hadn’t expected her to step out from the small world, much less that John, after just one brief encounter with her, would harbor such deep emotions.

Just a single call from her quelled his rage and drew his attention at such a crucial moment.

Was this the legendary soul connection between the male and female protagonists of the original story?

“You know me?”

Seeing the recognition in John’s eyes, Rachel frowned slightly.

The yearning and excitement that had briefly sparked in John’s heart vanished instantly.

“I… I saved you from Owen’s clutches once before!” he blurted out eagerly, hoping she’d remember.

“It was you?” Rachel thought back. There indeed seemed to be such an incident, but her frown deepened.

“Is this truly you? Or is the real you the one who’s ruthless and willing to stoop to any lengths?”

Although she had remained within Owen’s small world, she had been closely observing the battle through the resonance of the World Tree.

To her dismay, John, rather than confronting Owen head-on, had resorted to every vile tactic at his disposal the moment he started losing.

Facing the woman he adored questioning his very essence, John felt utterly defenseless, as if all his words were stuck in his throat.

When it became clear he couldn’t explain himself, he decided to change the subject altogether.

“Rachel, leave Owen and come to my side! He’s a monster, a ruthless demon!”

“I can give you freedom, I can give you everything you’ve ever desired!” he pleaded, his voice sincere and earnest.

But Rachel felt only disgust for him.

“I’ve been with Owen for a long time now. He’s not the person you think he is. He’s gentle, understanding…” Rachel shook her head, her gaze softening as she looked at Owen, a hint of infatuation in her eyes.

Seeing Rachel look at Owen with such adoration made John’s blood boil. His chest heaved with anger as he vehemently denied her words.

“No! No! No! You must be under his spell! You can’t stay by his side! You’ve fallen victim to his wicked enchantments!”

“No. I’m perfectly clear-headed. I choose to stay with Owen willingly, and I’ll continue to stay by his side, as long as he’ll have me.”

Hearing this, John felt his heart twist in agony, each breath a battle against the pain.

Even though they had only met once, Rachel was the pure moonlight in his heart.

Yet here she was, praising his most hated enemy in front of him—worse, even showing her affection!

Damn it!

In that moment, John felt blood rush to his head, his entire being consumed by a searing rage.

“Rachel, you’re deluded! He’s a scoundrel! He already has someone else he loves!”

“I know.” Rachel nodded lightly, seemingly unconcerned.

This calmness only shattered the last remnants of John’s composure.

“Why? What does he have that I don’t?!”

Seeing John teetering on the brink of insanity, his aura flaring chaotically, Rachel furrowed her brows, replying seriously:

“There’s no comparison between you and Owen. If I had to measure, you don’t even match up to a single strand of his hair.”

Those words were like a dagger, stabbing straight into John’s heart.

In that instant, he coughed up blood, his mind reeling.

It was only now that he truly realized Rachel had fallen for Owen.

And they must have already done everything together—all the things that should have belonged to him!

They were—

They were nothing more than a pair of filthy, wretched dogs!

John’s heart burned with rage, and his gaze turned as cold as ice.

He looked skyward, feeling an unparalleled sense of loneliness and emptiness.

Once, he had Ymir by his side.

After Ymir left him due to Owen’s interference, he clung to thoughts of revenge and his memories of Rachel.

She was the reason he had pushed himself so hard in his training.

But now, not only was all his hard work futile against Owen, but even the woman he idolized had willingly become Owen’s.

At this moment, he felt utterly lost.

Silent for a few seconds, John seemed to go still, as if all life had left him.

Yet everyone present could sense the surging storm beneath that eerie calm.

“If my life is already over, then all of you can join me in Hell!”

When John opened his eyes again, a monstrous aura erupted from within him, accompanied by the maddened cheers of countless Dark Gods, resounding through the world.

John had finally abandoned everything to embrace the darkness!

He had given up his body; now he cast aside his soul!

With the fragments of countless Dark Gods merging within him, John’s form swelled like a balloon, growing to match the towering size of Owen’s Dharma Form.

From John’s now bloated, grotesque body, Owen sensed a chaotic and terrifying energy, as if his body had become a container brimming with savage spirits!

His aura skyrocketed.

Owen’s expression darkened. If John continued on this path, even he would be at risk of falling here.

With a determined glint in his eyes, Owen activated his Dharma Form, radiating dazzling light, and charged straight at John. Then, gathering all his might, he unleashed the Heaven Emperor Fist, ready to shatter the heavens.

Rachel, Madelyn, and Seraphina, sensing the impending danger, joined in, channeling their mana to launch simultaneous attacks on John.