Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead-Chapter 224: Penalty (2)

"N-Noa-Noah...there's something we forgot about..."

I grunted, feeling a sense of foreboding at this idiot system's words.

"...open the system interface and check the missions tab—"

"We've been assigned a penalty by the God...Noah."

[System Missions]

(Fate Re-Stabilization)

Progress: Failed.

Penalty???

.

.

.

Assigning a suitable penalty for failing the main plot mission....

Penalty Decided!!

...the user will be hereon stripped of all his powers granted by the title of "The Fated Villain"

***

The words blinked in front of my eyes, one after the other, each one cutting deeper than a blade inside my chest.

...I was stripped of everything?

Sandpaper seemed to roll against my throat as I tried to use soul siphoning at the kalki, as I tried to pull at the energy that had always been there, waiting, hungry to devour any soul as strong or weaker than me at my fingertips.

But what shocked me even further was that nothing happened when I tried absorbing the Kalki's soul.

Absolutely nothing.

"Wha—" My words stopped at my lips.

I tightened my fists, forcing the command again as I tried to remember that feeling again and again.

Still nothing.

It was gone.

All of it.

The weight in my chest turned heavy, like a blade of ice stuck deep inside my ribs.

My powers weren't just some gift. They were mine, a part of me, carved into my veins, my identity, and my very existence.

And yet, in the blink of a system notification, they were gone.

I couldn't move for a second.

Couldn't breathe.

Was this some sick joke? Was the damn author laughing at me right now?

"No…No, no, no…!" I shook my head, my voice trembling, as my body tried to deny it. "You can't do this…you can't just take it away!"

But the System didn't answer, not did Damien, it was almost like the chatty villain making system had gone totally numb.

The only sound was the sharp, hollow breathing leaving my throat and the heavy,

silence spreading across the courtyard where the Kalki stood in front of us.

I turned, eyes facing toward the 6 foot long monster.

That fucking horned beast.

That monster standing over Pixie.

If I'd really lost my powers...

If my title was gone-

Then what the hell was I supposed to do?

How do I fight with this fucking monstrosity standing in front of me?

My hands shook.

Mind screamed at me to stay back.

To think. To wait for Grandpa Venus, or for Dario, or for someone.

But my chest twisted as I looked at Pixie's motionless body.

No.

Even if I had nothing left…I couldn't just stand here.

My body moved before I could even think. My legs pushed forward, faster and faster, as I ground my teeth, sprinting straight towards the Kalki.

"NOAH!!" Grandpa Venus's voice echoed

behind me, sharp and desperate.

But I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

The kalki turned towards me, those blood-red eyes narrowing into slits. His lips curled back in disgust as he smirked.

"You again."

The monster raised that obsidian sword of its, the scarlet veins across its edge glowing brighter, humming with death.

But I didn't think.

I didn't plan.

I just threw my fist forward, aiming straight for his chest.

Crack!

White-hot pain exploded up my arm, ripping into my shoulder, as I could see my bone protuding.

For a second, neither of us moved, until slowly I felt the pain of it all started registering inside my brain.

"Aarghhh!!"

An almost crazed laugh escaped my lips as I almost went unconscious, my surroundings started to blue even tho I could still hear the ringing of my own scream against my ears.

My fist hadn't even dented him.

Before I could even blink, his massive hand shot forward, closing around my throat.

My feet lifted off the ground as he held me like I weighed nothing.

"You dare strike me?" A thunderous voice seemed to echo inside my ears, as I felt my sensation of hearing go numb.

I kicked, subconsciously trying to claw at his wrist, but nothing changed.

He threw me, my body smashing into the stone courtyard, back exploding in pain as the air ripped out of my lungs.

Dust rose around me with blood visible on the floor I sat on.

I had coughed blood, maybe...

Or maybe I was bleeding, I didn't know anymore.

But I still tried to get up.

My arms shook, my knees trembled, but I pushed, forcing myself onto my feet.

The Kalki tilted his head, eyes burning with mockery.

"Pathetic."

He moved, faster than I could follow.

A huge knee slammed into my stomach, and I folded like paper, crashing to the ground again.

The stone around me had already grinded into cinders.

I tried to roll, but the impact sent my flying nonetheless.

A boot crushed my chest, pinning me flat against the ground.

The air rushed out of me. I clawed at his leg, panic flashing in my veins.

I couldn't move him. I couldn't even breathe.

My mind screamed, I tried to believe that this isn't real, this couldn't be real.

But it was.

It was real.

The powers I thought were mine were gone.

The strength I had relied on was gone.

The title I had carried, The Fated Villain…was all gone.

And I was just a boy.

The same, powerless boy, staring up at his impending death.

The Kalki raised his blade, the tip glowing, humming with power.

"For your crimes…suffer."

"NOAH!"

Grandpa Venus's voice exploded like a thunderclap.

In a flash of movement, faster than even the Hollow's eyes, Venus was there.

His dagger clashed against the obsidian blade, sparks flying and a shockwave blasted through the courtyard.

The weight on my chest vanished as the Hollow was forced back a step, it's glare snapping towards my grandfather.

Grandpa Venus stood tall, dagger steady in his grip, eyes sharp and cold.

"Touch him again…and I'll carve your horns off myself."

I coughed, dragging air into my lungs, holding my ribs as I struggled to rise.

My body screamed at me, my mind spiralling, but one thought burned louder than anything else.

I had lost.

Not just the fight.

Not just the clash with the Hollow.

I had lost everything.

The powers I thought no one could take from me.

The abilities I had gained by sacrificing my very own mana core...all of them had been taken away in the roll of a dice.

And the worst part?

A cold, chilling thought twisted inside my head, as I realised the naked truth.

'If this was the punishment for fighting back, then maybe the greatest villain in the story...was never me.'

***