The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 146: The Elven Loop (1) Let's Protect The Queen

Does the queen experience this every time she enters this kind of quest?

The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I couldn't shake it. It gnawed at the back of my mind, a relentless whisper that wouldn't let go. Aurelia, the so-called "chosen one," pulled into these quests again and again. Fighting the same demons. Protecting the same people. And if she fails—if she dies—does she relive it all?

The pain, the terror, the exhaustion of fighting a war she never asked for?

I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of the question settle on my chest like a stone. If I failed this time, would we be sent back again? Would she experience this nightmare over and over until she gets it right? Would it take ten, maybe even hundreds of attempts? The thought made my stomach churn.

And worse, how much would she remember?

I could still feel the phantom pain from when I lost my arm in the last cycle. The sharp snap of bone, the tearing of flesh. That moment when I realized the demon had ripped away a part of me. The blood, the shock, the cold terror that followed. It was real. Too real.

But this isn't about me. Not anymore.

What's worse for Aurelia isn't just the pain—it's the endless loop. To face the same horrors repeatedly, knowing that each failure means reliving it all, again and again. There's a deep cruelty in that, a kind of torment that most people couldn't even comprehend. No one would ever know what she had gone through if she didn't survive. The isolation, the burden of carrying the fate of the kingdom alone.

Alone, with no one to confide in. No one to share the weight.

A flash of memory—her smile, tired but resolute. That smile she gave me before we fought the demon. Was it because I was the first person who had seen this nightmare with her? The first who could understand? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. All this time, she had faced these battles alone, fighting demons that no one in the real world knew existed.

She had no choice, no way to resist the pull of the quest. No escape until she completed it or died trying.

I have to end this. Now.

The urge to run to her, to make sure she wasn't suffering alone this time, pulled at me, stronger than the pain still lingering in my bones. My thoughts crystallized into one singular goal: finish this quest, end the cycle. Break this damn loop for her.

I took a deep breath, gathering my strength. The pain could wait. Right now, I had to find Aurelia.

I sprinted through the dense forest, the undergrowth tugging at my feet, the shadows of the trees flickering around me like ghosts. It was the same path I'd taken before. The same direction that had led me to her. The forest was still quiet, too quiet, but I could sense it—the pulse of magic in the air, the energy of the quest pulling me toward her.

Just like before, I found her.

Aurelia stood in the clearing, surrounded by elves, their armor gleaming in the faint light filtering through the canopy. Her golden hair caught the soft glow of the sun, her presence commanding even in the chaos. But this time, as I approached, I saw something different.

She smiled.

It wasn't just any smile—it was a beautiful, genuine smile that made my chest tighten. She was relieved to see me. No, more than that. She was reassured. The tension in her shoulders loosened the moment her eyes met mine, and I could almost feel the burden lift from her, even if just for a second.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself grounded. That smile... it wasn't just for me. It was for the fact that she wasn't alone this time. All this time, Aurelia had fought without anyone beside her, without anyone knowing the truth of what she was facing. And now...

she wasn't fighting alone.

I shook the thought away. Now wasn't the time to get sentimental. We needed to finish this. The faster we ended this quest, the sooner she could be free. No more reliving this nightmare. No more fighting demons in the shadows, away from the eyes of the world.

The elves surrounding her looked at me with suspicion, just like before. Their leader, a stern-faced elf with silver hair, stepped forward, eyeing me warily. I knew what was coming next—the same questions, the same accusations. They would point toward the pile of corpses, demons and elves tangled together in death.

And, like clockwork, they did.

"This is the work of demons," the elf said coldly, gesturing toward the bodies. His voice was filled with tension, the same suspicion as before. "But your arrival is still unexplained, stranger. What do you have to say for yourself?"

The air grew thick with tension, just as it had last time. And just like before, the faint shimmer of a time rift appeared in the distance. I could see it, rippling through the air like a mirage. The elves from the ancient times were about to arrive, drawn into this nightmare by the distortions.

But this time, I wasn't going to wait. I wasn't going to let things spiral out of control like they had before.

I stepped forward, letting my dark magic flare to life around me. The familiar cold, malicious energy surged through my veins, filling the clearing with an aura of danger. My creatures stirred in the shadows, waiting for my command, their eyes glowing faintly with dark intent. I let the coldness seep into my voice as I spoke, my tone cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Are you all truly so blind?" I said, my voice low and filled with venom. "If you're foolish enough to kill each other while the demons tear apart your brethren, then by all means, go ahead. Kill each other. But we don't have time for your petty squabbles."

The elves stiffened at my words, their eyes narrowing in anger and confusion. Aurelia glanced at me, her brow furrowing, but she didn't stop me. She knew this had to end quickly.

I took another step forward, my aura growing darker, more oppressive. "Or you could let us handle the first wave of demons and at least save some of your kind from a pointless death. The choice is yours."

The time rift shimmered, and the ancient elves stepped through, their presence causing a ripple in the air. Just like before, the atmosphere tensed up, their confusion and anger rising as they realized they were out of place, out of time.

But this time, I didn't hesitate.

I let my aura wrap around them like a vice, pressing down with the full weight of my dark magic. The ancient elves looked at me, their eyes wide with something close to fear. They could feel the power radiating from me, the cold, unyielding strength that I wielded without mercy.

"If you want to die here, by all means, continue this ridiculous display of pride," I said coldly, my voice like ice. "But if you have any sense left in your skulls, you'll stop fighting each other and fight the real enemy."

For a moment, there was silence. The elves—both ancient and present—glared at me, their hands twitching toward their weapons. But none of them moved. Read new adventures at m_v-l'e|-NovelBin.net

Good. They were scared. They should be.

This is one of the specialties of Draven. His dark magic is linked strongly with his sheer willpower. When his willpower is strong, when he's set to something, his power follows suit. At the original Draven, this potential was halted by his curse, and only unleashed when he was resurrected as an undead. The unleashed dark magic holds power maybe not stronger than all of them combined.

But it is more than enough for a display.

To make them wary.

I glanced at Aurelia, who was watching the scene unfold with a careful expression. Her eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw something there. Approval.

The elves shifted uneasily, their anger still simmering just below the surface. But for now, they held their tongues. The time rift shimmered behind them, its presence a constant reminder that we were running out of time.

I took a step back, the coldness in my voice fading just enough to let them know I wasn't here to kill them—yet.

"Let us finish this," I said quietly, my eyes locked on the elves. "Then you can decide what to do with your pride."

The tension in the air remained thick, but for now, it was enough. The elves didn't move to stop us as Aurelia and I turned toward the direction of the demons. The battle wasn't over yet. But this time, I knew exactly what I needed to do.

It's to kill the demons and protect the queen.

To do so, I need to make sure.

That these elven shits.

Follow every part of my words.