I Am The Game's Villain

"D-Do you know where she is, Zeus?!" Jayden implored.

[ϟI lost contact with Carla Roger at the same time as you, boy.ϟ]

"B-But you told me you always keep an eye on my family!"

[ϟOnly your blood family, boy. Even then, I cannot intervene directly. I am bound to you.ϟ]

Frustration clenched Jayden\'s fists as he grappled with the limitations Zeus. The Miss Eden competition had recently taken place, with Layla claiming victory by a considerable margin. Jayden had eagerly awaited Carla and Milleia after the event, but only Milleia had appeared. Now, Carla was missing, and Jayden\'s search for her yielded no results except for her broken phone left behind in the dressing room. No one seemed to have any information about her, as Layla\'s victory had dominated the students\' attention.

"J-Jayden…don\'t worry. I\'m sure Carla is alright!" Milleia attempted to reassure Jayden, her concern evident in her voice.

"Yes…" Jayden managed a faint smile, though anxiety for Carla was etched on his face.

"T-Thanks for accompanying us, Sir Eric," Milleia said, casting a grateful glance at Eric, who followed closely behind them. However, Eric couldn\'t shake a nagging suspicion about Milleia\'s intentions. He had heard Edward\'s warnings about her, and though he initially dismissed them, he found himself puzzled by Alfred\'s and Jayden\'s behavior in her presence, which seemed strangely at odds with the events in the Game.

"Zeus…I think they might be the ones who killed my brother…" Jayden\'s voice trembled with fear, contemplating the possibility of Carla\'s demise.

[ϟPerhaps.ϟ]

Suddenly, the ground began to rumble, interrupting their conversation.

"An earthquake?" Eric pondered aloud, but Jayden and Milleia were gripped by a different realization.

"N-No…this is…!" Jayden\'s gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the Dorian Capital.

"I-Impossible…" Milleia uttered, her eyes filled with shock as she stood close to Jayden.

"...!" Eric followed their gazes and saw the Dorian Forest outside the capital undergoing an unsettling transformation. The ground tremors grew more intense, and panic spread among the city\'s inhabitants, giving rise to chaos.

Then, as suddenly as the commotion began, everything went silent. Fear-stricken gazes turned skyward, witnessing a breathtaking spectacle unfold before them.

Countless trees of the Dorian forest uprooted themselves, and the ground beneath started to elevate, splitting and creating a dark chasm that seemed to stretch endlessly.

-RUUUUMBLLEEEE!

The whole Dorian Capital shook violently, the earthquake\'s force surpassing anything experienced before. Even the Royal Palace trembled under the powerful forces of nature.

-BOOOOOM!

A tremendous golden pillar of light burst forth, reaching toward the heavens and painting the blue sky with a radiant, golden hue.

The sight left Eric awestruck, evoking a sense of déjà vu as he recalled witnessing something similar in the Game.

\'It\'s starting…\' He realized with growing apprehension. The final of the First Game had begun. The fight which would decide the fate of the Kingdom and potentially of the world.

As the pillar of light continued to surge forth, an ominous presence materialized within, causing awe and reverence among the witnesses.

"D-Dear God…" A hushed voice quivered, and one individual immediately knelt in profound veneration.

"T-This is…!"

"L-Lord Eden!"

The phenomenon left the onlookers awestruck, and one by one, they too succumbed to the overwhelming presence, dropping to their knees in reverence. Through the pillar of light, a shadowy silhouette of a floating island emerged, casting an imposing figure upon the land below. The Golden Island loomed large, its grandeur extending over the vast expanse of the Dorian Forest, engulfing half of the Dorian Capital.

The tales of the Divine Legends echoed in their minds, recalling stories from untold eons past, of how Eden descended from the Golden Sky upon his Holy Garden, slumbering peacefully amidst the shimmering, tall golden grasses that veiled his form in a glistening cloak of gold.

Silence settled like a thick fog, broken only by gasps of worship that echoed throughout the vicinity.

"She is there…" Jayden\'s voice quivered with determination. "I\'m sure they took her there!" His resolve ignited, he darted toward the Dorian Forest.

"..." Milleia\'s gaze locked on the Garden. A small smile appeared on her pink lips before she changed her expression. "J-Jayden!" She hastened to follow, her heart racing with concern.

"..." Eric\'s gaze lingered on the enigmatic golden island, sending shivers down his spine. Part of him wanted to alert Edward to the unfolding events, yet he hesitated, knowing that Edward was likely already aware of the situation.

***

"T-This shouldn\'t b-be…" Charles Celesta stood near the window on the third floor of the Celesta Royal Palace. His face was drained of color, and his entire body trembled with fear and disbelief.

"D-Dear…" Edith approached Charles, gently placing her hand on his quivering shoulder, her gaze fixated on the ethereal sight of the golden sky. "C-Could it be that…"

Only Charles Celesta knew the location of the Holy Garden of Eden; even Edith was unaware of it. But as they both gazed at the floating island, it was unmistakably linked to the Divine Legends of Eden. Edith\'s suspicions were confirmed, judging from Charles\' expression.

"I-It can\'t be!" Charles muttered, his trembling hand removing the golden crown from his head. The crown, a Hallow of Eden, was one of the keys to enter the Garden.

He found it difficult to believe what was transpiring before his eyes. There were several conditions that needed to be met for anyone to access the Garden. First, they must know the well-guarded location, kept secret since the end of the First Great Holy War. Second, they required a Hallow of Eden, and such artifacts were rare and scarce; Charles\' crown was one of these coveted items. Lastly, they needed the presence of someone who strongly inherited Eden\'s genes. Charles himself, who could wield the legendary sword of Michael, possessed the crown, and had achieved the strength of a Monarch, was a potential candidate. However, if it wasn\'t him, then who else could possibly have fulfilled all the conditions?

"...!"

\'S-Sylvia!\'

Suddenly, it dawned on Charles why Sylvia had been kidnapped. She must have been used as an intermediary, the missing piece of the puzzle.

\'W-Why did they choose Sylvia instead of Aurora or Alfred?\'

To successfully access the Garden, they required another Hallow of Eden.

The ones known in the kingdom numbered only four:

The Crown of Dorian Celesta.

The Holy Ferula, belonging to the Pope.

The Holy Sword of Nihil, Trinity Nihil, which had recently appeared and was in Edward Falkrona\'s possession.

The last was kept under tight security inside the treasury of the Palace.

Charles couldn\'t fathom the enemy getting hold of the Holy Ferula or Trinity Nihil, and the Crown was with him. So, what was the missing piece-

"!"

"Charles!"

"...!" Charles hurriedly rushed to a secret room where his youngest son, Lucius, had been resting for years. Behind the bed, there was a concealed wall. Charles placed his hand on it and waited. The wall trembled slightly before slowly opening. Rushing inside, Charles made his way to the end of the room.

"N-No…" Charles nearly stumbled, his heart sinking at the sight of the empty transparent rectangular glass case.

"Charles! W-What happe-!" Edith approached but upon seeing the empty glass case, she opened her eyes wide in shock.

"The S-Scepter....W-Who…?" Charles muttered with a pale face. "W-Who came here?!" The sense of betrayal and vulnerability gnawed at him, leaving him feeling lost and unsure.

Edith couldn\'t look at her husband\'s current broken expression. She had never seen Charles like that.

"C-Charles!" Edith shouted, forcing Charles to look at her. "You are the King! Get yourself together!"

Charles clenched his fists, trying to regain composure, and nodded in response to his wife\'s words. He knew he had to remain strong, especially in such dire circumstances. With resolve, he opened another glass rectangular box, revealing a gleaming golden sword.

It was the Holy Sword of Michael, once wielded by the First King, Dorian Celesta. Though it wasn\'t a Hallow, it was one of the most powerful weapons in the world.

Taking the sacred sword, Charles and Edith left the secret room, making their way to the throne hall. "Edith, you should remain by Lucius\' side."

"Y-Yes, but what about Aurora and Alfred-"

"Aurora is already inside the Palace, and Peter is searching for Alfred," Charles replied.

"D-Dear…" Edith\'s hands trembled as she held onto Charles\'s royal robe. "S-Sylvia…"

"I will bring Sylvia back, dear. I promise you," Charles assured her, determined to reunite their daughter with them.

In the throne hall, Charles sought out Davis, his trusted advisor. "Davis, announce the highest level of alert throughout the entire Capital. All inhabitants should be brought near the castle. Organize a defensive perimeter around the palace. Be vigilant, as enemies may attempt to infiltrate the Palace."

"As you wish, but Your Majesty, where are-"

"The Garden is under my protection," Charles declared, leaving no room for argument.

"Your Majesty! It\'s dangerous!" Peter protested, concerned for the King\'s safety.

"Peter, you will handle the protection of the Palace as I said, while Davis will take charge of the exterior. Ensure the safety of all the High-Ranking Noble Families within the Palace. Summon Donald, he will assist you. Also, find Jarett, Thomen, and Draven swiftly. If you encounter Edward Falkrona, bring him immediately inside the Palace. He is the holder of Trinity Nihil and her son. He is an absolute priority. Lastly, alert the Council of Monarchs and try to determine if Lord Geoffrey is still in the Capital!"

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!" Peter acknowledged, following the King\'s orders with utmost urgency.