Villain MMORPG: Almighty Devil Emperor and His Seven Demonic Wives - Chapter 1477

Chapter 1477: Predictable Death
Villain Ch 1477. Predictable Death

Ront City was bustling as usual.

Merchants were calling out special deals, players shouted for raid groups near the square, and teleport platforms pulsed gently as avatars blinked in and out. But in the corner of the plaza, just near the fountain, two figures reappeared in a soft glow of respawn light.

“Ugh,” Gil grunted, clutching his side even though his HP was full again. “That hurts.”

Elio looked over and raised an eyebrow. “Mentally or physically?” he said in a joking tone.

“Both,” Gil muttered, brushing off dust from his chest armor.

Elio sighed and crossed his arms, golden-glow-infused armor still radiating soft residual energy. “Well, it was a predictable death. But yeah… at least we tried.”

Gil smirked, lips curving despite the obvious pain still etched in his expression. “Hey, we survived longer than usual though. Without a healer. That’s gotta count for something.”

Elio chuckled, lifting his gaze to the city skyline. “True. And this armor… seriously something. It absorbs more damage than I expected. It even buffered that last slash. It felt less painful than usual.”

Gil gave a low whistle, nodding. “No kidding. I thought he sliced clean through you. You were glowing like a damn lightbulb, man.”

The two of them stood in silence for a few moments, taking in the normalcy of Ront City, still high on the intensity of their encounter.

Players around them passed by unaware of the fact that two of the highest-ranked players on the server had just faced down the Devil Emperor—and lost.

Gil leaned against the stone edge of the fountain and stretched. “Not to mention… that was the first time I’ve ever seen the Emperor fight us seriously. Since, like… the beginning.”

Elio nodded. “He was faster this time. Sharper. No wasted movement.”

“Unfortunately,” Gil said with a grin, “we lacked the surprise factor and have no preparation whatsoever.”

Elio smirked. “Yeah. But this is good, too. Shows us how far the gap still is. But we are progressing.”

The sound of light footsteps made them glance over.

Erenblade approached slowly, carrying three mid-grade potions in his hand.

“Elio. Gil.” His voice was low, not quite ashamed, but definitely humbled.

Elio raised a brow. “Eren?”

“Here.” Eren offered the potions, holding them out with both hands like an apology. “I know you guys have your own. It’s just… a thank you.”

Gil blinked. “Wow. Look at you,” he said, grabbing a potion with a grin. “What happened to our cocky new prodigy? Where’s the ego?”

Eren tried to smile, but it came out faint. “Guess I left it back in the Hall of Silence.”

Elio took the potion too, though he didn’t drink it. He studied Eren closely, his expression unreadable. “You fought him, didn’t you? One on one.”

Eren nodded slowly.

“I tried.”

Gil gave a low whistle and tilted his head. “Damn. That explains it. You look like someone just yanked your soul out and put it back in upside down.”

Eren sat down on the fountain’s edge, legs heavy. He stared at his hands for a moment—hands that had trembled the entire walk back from the respawn point.

“I thought I was ready,” he said quietly. “I was excited when he chose me. I thought it meant I was good enough to be on his radar.”

Elio was silent, watching him with that calm, steady gaze of his.

“He didn’t even try at first,” Eren continued. “Just stood there. Let me go all out. Thought I was doing something.” He laughed bitterly. “And then he got bored.”

Gil sat down beside him. “Let me guess. The evil grin?”

Eren looked up, startled. “Yeah.”

“Oh yeah,” Gil muttered, taking a sip of the potion. “That’s the moment you know shit’s about to go south.”

“He pinned me to the wall,” Eren said, voice almost too soft to hear. “Got in close. He didn’t kill me fast. He watched me. Like I was a puzzle he already solved and just wanted to see if I’d figure it out too.”

Elio’s jaw clenched slightly. “That’s his way. He gives you hope just long enough for it to sting when he takes it away.”

Eren looked at them both. “How do you even stand against him?”

Gil shrugged. “We don’t. We just last a little longer every time.”

“That’s enough for you?” Eren asked, voice shaking with something between awe and frustration.

“No,” Elio said. “But it’s the reality. You fight the Devil Emperor not to win. You fight him to understand what it takes to win.”

“And maybe,” Gil added with a small grin, “you amuse him enough to survive.”

Eren shook his head, laughing under his breath. “It’s insane. He’s insane.”

“But now you’ve seen it,” Elio said. “Felt it. That pressure? That dread? It’s not like fighting a boss. It’s like being judged.”

Eren looked down. “I thought I was good. I really did.”

“You are good,” Gil said, leaning his elbows on his knees. “But so was I. So was Liam. So was Darren. And then he showed up and reminded us all—this game has levels we haven’t even touched yet.”

Eren didn’t respond at first.

Then… “Do you think he meant it?”

“Meant what?” Elio asked.

“When he said ‘see you next time.'” Eren’s voice dropped into a whisper. “Does he want us to come back?”

Elio stood slowly. “He wants us to try.”

Gil stood too, giving Eren a solid pat on the back. “And next time, maybe bring some of that cocky attitude. Just a little. Makes the fall easier.”

That finally got a weak smile from Eren.

“I don’t know,” Eren said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Kinda feels like he knocked it right out of me.”

Elio smirked. “That’s the Emperor’s first lesson. Strip you down to your basics. No pride. No ego. Just skill. Then he decides if you’re worth building back up.”

“You make it sound like he’s a twisted mentor,” Eren muttered.

Gil shrugged. “He kinda is. Y’know, if your mentor enjoys stabbing you through the chest and stepping on your pride in front of the whole server.”

Eren let out a small laugh. “Yeah, well… mission accomplished.”

Elio glanced up at the floating lanterns drifting over the square. “Don’t let it stop you. Most players never even get on his radar. You did.”

“Barely,” Eren muttered.

“You stood in front of him,” Elio said firmly. “You didn’t log out. You didn’t run. You fought. That counts for something.”

Gil chimed in with a grin. “Plus, now you’ve got the ultimate street cred. ‘Hey, I got murdered by the Devil Emperor and lived to talk about it.'”

Eren snorted. “Yeah, I’ll put that on my profile.”

“Just don’t make it your title,” Gil added. “Or we’ll never let you live it down.”

Eren rolled his eyes but nodded slowly, more grounded now. “Thanks. Both of you.”

Elio gave a small nod. “Next time, we will bring him down.”

Not soon. Not easily. But someday.