The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Mortalis Veil

In the depths of Skye Drakonis’s cavernous lair, the air crackled with malevolent energy as he gathered his most trusted allies. Valon, his shadowy enforcer with a blade sharp enough to cleave through steel, stood silently with his arms crossed, his piercing amber eyes studying every detail of the plan. Beside him, Kryseis, the alluring sorceress with a beauty that could rival a goddess, stood poised with a sly smile on her ruby-red lips, her silver hair cascading down her back.

Skye’s cold, calculating gaze swept over the room as he addressed them both. “Kael may be nothing more than a distraction in this game, but a thorn can still irritate even the sharpest predator. You two will ensure he stays out of the way. Handle him—discreetly. We don’t need any noise drawing attention to our movements.”

Valon gave a curt nod, his voice a deep rumble. “Consider it done. He won’t even see me coming.”

Skye’s lips twisted into a dark smile. “Good. But don’t kill him, not yet. He’s more useful to us alive—for now.”

Kryseis stepped forward, her graceful movements like a snake preparing to strike. “And what of Lucian and the elf princess?” she asked, her voice as smooth as silk. “Surely you’re not leaving them unattended.”

Skye glanced at Selinthra, who was lounging against the wall with a look of bemused confidence. “That’s where Selinthra and I come in. The Dark Lord and his precious bride are bound by trust, but even the strongest bond can be corrupted.” He turned his attention back to Valon and Kryseis. “You two will create the distraction. Selinthra and I will execute the real plan: seduction and poison.”

Kryseis tilted her head, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. “Seduction, hmm? And what makes you think the Dark Lord and the princess will fall for such tricks?”

Selinthra chuckled, her voice dripping with amusement. “Oh, darling Kryseis, you underestimate the vulnerabilities of love. Aeliana has the heart of a dreamer, and Lucian… well, he may act untouchable, but deep down, he’s as human as anyone else.”

“And then?” Valon asked, his tone neutral but curious.

“And then, once we’ve planted the seeds of doubt and turned them against one another,” Skye continued, his voice dark and commanding, “we slip them the poison. Subtle and slow-acting, enough to weaken them over time but not kill them outright—not until we’ve had our fun watching them unravel.”

Selinthra grinned wickedly, her emerald eyes gleaming with excitement. “You’ve truly thought of everything, haven’t you, Skye?”

“It’s why I’m the one destined to replace the Dark Lord,” Skye said confidently, his tone brooking no argument. “And when Lucian and Aeliana fall, the realms will see them for what they are—frauds. Weaklings unworthy of their thrones.”

Valon and Kryseis exchanged a look, their loyalty evident in their lack of hesitation. “When do we move?” Kryseis asked, her fingers tracing the amulet that hung around her neck, pulsing faintly with magical energy.

“Soon,” Skye said. “The masquerade they’ve attended will keep them distracted for a few more days. In the meantime, prepare your roles. When the time comes, I want everything executed flawlessly. Failure is not an option.”

Selinthra stepped forward, placing a hand on Skye’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll have them wrapped around our fingers before they even realize what’s happening.”

Skye nodded, his grin spreading wider as he turned to face his gathered allies. “Then let’s begin. The end of the Dark Lord and his bride starts now.”

…

Selinthra reached into the folds of her black cloak, producing a small crystalline vial that shimmered in the dim torchlight of Skye’s lair. The liquid inside was an eerie shade of silver-green, swirling and pulsating as if alive. She held it up for all to see, her lips curling into a wicked grin.

“This,” she began, her voice dripping with malice, “is Mortalis Veil. A poison so rare and potent, it’s said to be the undoing of both demonkind and those of the light kin. It doesn’t discriminate—it corrodes the essence of anyone who dares to ingest it. A fitting end for the likes of Lucian and his precious little elf bride.”

Skye stepped closer, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied the vial with a mix of fascination and caution. “And how exactly did you acquire such a thing, Selinthra? Mortalis Veil isn’t exactly something one picks up at the local apothecary.”

Selinthra chuckled darkly, twirling the vial between her slender fingers. “Let’s just say I have my ways. A contact of mine in the shadow markets of Aetheros owed me a favor. It’s brewed from the blood of the Morvyn Blossom, a flower that only grows where both darkness and light meet—places scarred by ancient battles. Combine that with the venom of a Shade Serpent and the tears of a fallen oracle, and you have yourself a poison that no magic, no elixir, can cure.”

Kryseis, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. “No cure? Not even through the strongest healing spells or relics?”

“None,” Selinthra confirmed, her tone smug. “Once the poison enters the bloodstream, it spreads like wildfire, targeting the very core of one’s being. The symptoms are subtle at first—fatigue, confusion, a dull ache in the chest. But as it progresses, the victim’s energy and power are drained away, leaving them vulnerable. Eventually, it consumes them from the inside out, reducing even the mightiest to ash.”

Skye’s lips curved into a sinister smile. “Perfect. It’s poetic, really. A poison forged from the conflict of light and darkness to bring an end to the so-called union of those same forces.”

Selinthra nodded, stepping forward to place the vial into Skye’s waiting hands. “Exactly. All we need is the right opportunity to slip this into their food or drink. Subtlety is key—once it’s in their systems, it’s only a matter of time before their strength begins to wane. And when they’re at their weakest, we strike.”

Skye held the vial up to the light, the liquid within casting eerie reflections on his face. “This will be our ace, Selinthra. With Mortalis Veil, not even Lucian’s demonic resilience or Aeliana’s elven magic will save them.”

Valon, standing silently in the shadows, finally spoke. “And if they suspect something?”

“They won’t,” Selinthra said confidently. “Lucian will be too focused on protecting his bride, and Aeliana will be too consumed by her training. Besides, I’ve ensured that this poison is undetectable by scent or taste. It will feel no different than the finest wine on their tongues.”

Skye’s grin widened as he pocketed the vial. “Then it’s settled. We’ll infiltrate their masquerade under the guise of allies, charm our way into their trust, and when the moment is right, deliver their undoing.”

Selinthra’s emerald eyes gleamed with excitement. “Soon, the mighty Dark Lord and his little elf will fall—not in battle, but by the very hands of those they underestimated. And when they’re gone, the world will finally kneel before us.”

The group shared a dark laugh, their sinister intent hanging heavy in the air. As they continued planning the details of their attack, the vial of Mortalis Veil pulsed faintly in Skye’s pocket, as if eager to fulfill its deadly purpose.

..

Selinthra smirked as she reached into her cloak once more, producing a second vial of Mortalis Veil. She held it up for the group to see, the liquid shimmering ominously in the torchlight. “I didn’t just bring one of these. I brought two. This one is for Lyssira, so she can coat her dagger with it. A single nick, even the smallest scratch, will spell their doom.”

Lyssira stepped forward from the shadows, her lithe figure exuding quiet menace. Her silver eyes gleamed as she accepted the vial from Selinthra’s outstretched hand. “A fitting weapon for a perfect kill,” she murmured, unsheathing her blade and running her fingers along its edge. “With this poison, they won’t even know they’ve been marked for death until it’s too late.”

Skye nodded in approval, watching as Lyssira uncorked the vial and carefully poured a thin line of the poison along her blade. The liquid clung to the dagger’s surface, shimmering faintly as it seeped into the metal itself. “This way, even if they manage to evade the first attempt, the poison will linger, waiting for the perfect moment to strike,” Lyssira explained, her tone calm yet laced with malice.

“Excellent,” Skye said, his voice filled with satisfaction. He turned to Selinthra, his grin widening. “You’ve outdone yourself. With the poison in their food and Lyssira’s dagger ready to deliver a fatal blow, there’s no way Lucian and Aeliana will escape this time. And when they’re gone, the world will belong to us.”

Selinthra tilted her head, her emerald eyes glittering with confidence. “Lucian’s arrogance and Aeliana’s naivety will be their downfall. They’ll never see this coming.”

The group’s laughter echoed through the cave, a sinister symphony of malice and ambition. As Lyssira sheathed her poisoned blade, the air seemed to grow heavier, as if the universe itself acknowledged the dark path that had been set into motion.