The world was collapsing… but Priyanshu stood smiling.
From the highest tower of Heaven's Crest Academy, he looked up at the sky — now torn open like paper. A claw the size of a mountain reached through the dimensional rift, darkness oozing from it like black blood.
Behind him, Ritika, Nyra, and a few elite students were trembling.
They had seen wars.
They had seen monsters.
But they had never seen a cosmic calamity begin to descend with such hunger.
Nyra whispered, "It's early… The Eclipse Beast… it's already here…"
Ritika bit her lip. "We're all dead…"
But Priyanshu just smirked, the system glowing in his eyes.
[System Integration with Shadow Sovereign Rune: 98%...][Warning: Unstable Mental Load Detected – Control may falter.][Villain Status: Critical Ascension Path Detected]
He turned to the girls and said just one word:
"Kneel."
The pressure from his voice crushed the air around him.
They fell to one knee unconsciously — not from fear, but from instinct.
The man before them… wasn't the same person from before.
He was something more.
Elsewhere – The World Watches
In distant empires, kings and saints opened ancient prophecy books.
They all trembled as the same phrase kept repeating:
"When the sky breaks, the hidden villain shall reign."
Back at the Academy – An Ancient Ritual Begins
Priyanshu raised his hand, and a gigantic black magic circle appeared beneath the entire academy.
The symbol pulsed with runes from a forgotten era — one not even gods dared mention.
"What's that?" Nyra gasped.
He looked at her. "It's a domain. My own dimension. A prison and a throne."
The system dinged.
[Shadow Sovereign Domain: 0% → 10% → 25%...][Current Effect: Nullify All Outside Space-Time Interference within 1000 km][All enemies entering will be marked as "Offerings"]
He had turned the academy into a trap — not for survival…
…but to feed.
In the Heavens – The First Battle Begins
The Eclipse Beast roared.
The sound tore through skies and hearts alike.
Across empires, birds fell, mountains cracked, and oceans churned.
But within Priyanshu's Shadow Domain, the power was sealed, dampened.
The beast's claw slammed into the dome — but couldn't break through.
Priyanshu levitated upward, his hair glowing dark purple, his shadow splitting into thousands of snakes.
[Skill Acquired: Devourer Serpents – Absorb Traits of the Consumed][Villainy Level: Supreme Class – All Rewards Doubled]
He whispered, "Time to feed."
Then he unleashed a single punch.
It wasn't flashy.
No thunder. No lightning.
But it tore the Eclipse Beast's claw to shreds — from the inside out.
The world froze.
Even the beast stopped.
Inside the Beast – Something Stirred
A second consciousness awakened inside the monster.
A voice whispered, "Who are you?"
Priyanshu answered without speaking. His system echoed into the void.
[Response: "The Hidden Villain."][Action: Initiate Infection Protocol – Begin Assimilation]
HE WASN'T JUST FIGHTING THE BEAST… HE WAS TAKING OVER IT.
A New Throne – A New Fear
From the cracked sky, a new scene appeared.
Not destruction.
But a throne — carved from dark stars, rising behind Priyanshu as he floated midair.
He sat on it slowly, like a king returning to his rightful place.
[Shadow Sovereign Ascension: Complete (Rank: Forbidden Lord)][Effects: Total Control Over Consumed Domain, Eclipse Beast Under Corruption 42%...][New Title Acquired: "Skybreaker" – Passive Ability: Dimensional Cuts][Villain Influence: Global Threat Level – MAXIMUM]
The skies bled.
The heavens shook.
And yet, below, everyone stared at him not as a villain anymore…
But as a God.
In the Loyal Dog Organization – Chaos Ensues
Elders panicked.
One shouted, "Why didn't we kill him sooner?!"
Another whispered, "We created him… We created a nightmare…"
Their leader, in shadows, simply smiled.
"It's too late now. Let's see if our 'Hero Project' survives this."
Final Scene – Priyanshu's Smile
As the corrupted Eclipse Beast began to kneel, slowly submitting, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Villain… you are not what the world expected…"
He smirked.
"That's the point."
He raised his hand.
"Let the world burn."