The Return Of The Exiled Villain

"......."

Jasmine stood still, mere inches away from him, her silver lashes fluttering slightly as she looked into that chilling smile curling on Gray's lips.

And suddenly...

Fwip!

His hand shot out and grabbed her throat.

"Kh—!"

Her breath caught, her entire body freezing entirely in shock.

"You want me to help you?" Gray growled, his voice was low and cold, like a blade dragged across stone.

"You want to regain your throne using my body? Then there'll be no halfway deal."

His eyes sharpened to slits.

"I want a soul contract."

Jasmine's brows furrowed, her body tensing beneath his hand.

"That's impossible—"

"Make it possible," he snarled.

He shoved her back a step, releasing her throat, and in a single, fluid motion, his rapier was drawn.

Shhk~

The sharp silver blade was already resting against her cheek, cold and gleaming, not enough to cut, but enough to promise it.

Her breath hitched.

"You have no fucking choice," Gray whispered.

"You're the weak one here. Not me."

The blade pressed in slightly, just enough for a single drop of golden blood to rise from her perfect skin.

Jasmine froze.

Her eyes, glowing white like moons, didn't flicker with fear…

But uncertainty and complete disbelief.

"You'd… risk your own life tying it to mine?" she asked, her voice calm, though breathless. "If one of us dies, the other follows. Do you even understand what that means?"

Gray's reply came in an instant.

"I do."

His expression didn't change, but there was a deranged look on his eyes.

"I'm not afraid of dying."

His grin widened.

"I'm afraid of being powerless and not getting my revenge."

He tilted his head slightly, pressing the rapier further until it kissed the corner of her lips.

"You said I was perfect for Destruction. Then give it to me."

"Bind me. Now. Or I swear—"

He leaned close, so close their foreheads almost touched.

"I'll make this bed your grave."

Jasmine's breath was shallow, her chest rising and falling slowly.

"…You're mad," she whispered.

"Kekeke… Yeah," Gray laughed, head twitching slightly.

"But that's why I survived, right?"

She stayed still, gaze burning into his.

Then slowly… her glowing eyes narrowed, her lips curling into something far more serious, and somehow... dangerous.

Her entire tone changed.

"You insolent mortal," she hissed.

"You dare threaten me?"

Gray didn't flinch.

"I don't just dare. I already did."

Her eyes lit up suddenly, blazing like twin stars as her divine aura burst forth.

BOOOM!

The ground beneath her heels cracked. Her silver hair whipped through the air like dancing blades, and her lace gown fluttered from the sheer pressure radiating from her.

"You think just because I'm weakened… I can't kill you?" she said, her voice coming out layered, like the voice of a mortal and a goddess echoing together.

"I'll end this pathetic delusion right here."

A sphere of white light spun to life in her palm, small, focused, humming with celestial energy.

"Die."

She flicked her wrist.

FWOOOSH—!!

The glowing white orb rocketed toward Gray like a meteor, and—

BANG!

The impact was violent.

His body was sent flying, slamming into the far wall with a sickening crunch, stone cracking behind him in a massive crater.

Dust and debris rained from the ceiling. His silhouette was burned into the stone, his arms completely sprawled, head tilted.

Seeing this, Jasmine exhaled, letting out a sigh.

"…Finally... I can't believe a mortal dared to threaten me... but that blow cost me a lot... this is bad, very bad..."

She turned away from him.

But...

Crrk… crrkk…

A sound echoed behind her.

Her eyes immediately widened as she bit her lip.

"…No."

A single foot dragged forward, blood squelching beneath.

Then another.

From the center of the broken wall, Gray stepped out with his skin burned, hanging in shreds. His body was scorched black in places, and blood dripped from every inch of him.

One eye was swollen shut, his ribs were clearly broken, but somehow...

He was still standing, with the same devilish smirk.

"…You really tried to kill me…" he whispered, voice hoarse and broken.

Then he laughed.

A slow, twisted chuckle.

"Ahh… hah… hahahahah—kekeke…"

Jasmine staggered back in horror.

"Y-you! You should be dead!"

But he didn't stop and stepped closer to her.

"Do you think this… this pain means anything to me?" Gray rasped.

"You think this scares me?"

His blood-slick hand rose to his face, peeling skin off his cheek like it was just sweat.

"I lived my life in pain."

And now his voice dropped to a low growl.

"You don't understand… what I actually am."

He lunged.

"Don't—!" Jasmine tried to retreat, summoning another blast.

But this time...

CLANG—!

Gray's rapier was at her throat in an instant, and with his other arm, he grabbed her waist and slammed her against the wall.

"Ah!"

She gasped, hands pushing against his chest, but his weight bore down on her.

Her eyes blazed with rage.

"Let me go! This isn't how a mortal treats a goddess!"

But he didn't listen; instead, he leaned in, his ruined face just inches from hers.

"I don't care what you are."

His blood dripped onto her skin, hot, sticky, painting red lines down her pale collarbone.

"You're not above me anymore."

She tried to turn her face, but he grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look him in the eye.

"You're going to make that contract."

"NO!" she shouted.

"I said... YOU HAVE NO FUCKING CHOICE!"

Her body quivered at his words, tears almost swelling up in her eyes, as she was forced to stare into those emotionless eyes.

Then slowly… her lips parted.

"...F-fine..."

The golden blood on her cheek shimmered faintly, and with a wave of her hand, it lifted into the air, glowing and pulsing, causing small waves of wind

A second later, her nail dug into her own chest.

"Nnngh—!"

Gray blinked as her glowing blood began to float, swirling in the air between them like threads of light.

"Do not regret this," Jasmine whispered, her voice low, barely audible.

"Do not break this bond."

Her hand extended.

"You wanted a soul contract? Then swear it."

Gray didn't hesitate as he instantly bit hard on this thumb!

Blood flowed instantly, and without blinking, he pressed it into hers.

The moment his blood touched her floating essence...

FWOOOOM!!!

A black-red flame erupted between them.

Their souls, two wildly different forces, collided.

And began to weave.

Both of them winced, staggered.

Jasmine clutched her chest, her skin flaring with ancient runes.

Gray gritted his teeth, pain shooting through his spine like lightning.

And finally...

CRACK.

The contract was formed.

A sudden quiet fell, like the room itself exhaled.

[You have formed a contract with Jasmine, the Goddess of Beauty & Destruction. Your presence in the world has increased.]

[You can now access your profile panel.]

"Haaah... keke~"

Gray panted once, his eyes wide… then slowly, he grinned again.

"There…"

"…Now you can't betray me."

Jasmine stood silently, but Gray wouldn't let her rest so soon.

As soon as the soul contract flame flickered out, he lurched forward, grabbing Jasmine's arm again, but this time, with an ever stronger grip.

His blood still dripped onto the black marble, pooling beneath his boots, but he didn't even flinch from the pain anymore.

"You said you healed me before," he growled low, his lips so close to her ear that her skin prickled.

"I need it again."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"What?"

Gray turned her around roughly, pressing her back against the wall, rapier still in his free hand, the tip dragging lightly across her thigh, then across the dark lace covering her stomach.

"Heal me," he demanded.

Her body stiffened.

"I… can't. Not again. I don't have the power left. That contract drained the rest of it!"

CRACK!

His fist slammed beside her head, splintering the wall again. Dust shook down from the ceiling, and her knees almost buckled from the shock.

"I. Said. Heal me," he hissed.

"I'm still bleeding inside. My ribs feel like fucking knives. My vision's not even stable yet."

"Either you heal me, or I'll tear this whole fucking room apart until I find something that can."

Jasmine's glowing eyes trembled as they locked with his. She was a goddess, but now? Her limbs wouldn't even move, and even her divine instincts screamed.

He wasn't bluffing.

"Fine…" she whispered shakily, reaching out slowly with one glowing hand.

She placed it on his chest, right over his heart.

But the moment she touched him… her breath hitched.

It was like putting her hand on the edge of a burning star.

"…So much rage…" she whispered.

"I can barely…"

Her voice faltered.

She gritted her teeth and pressed her palm harder against his chest.

A faint crimson glow began to spread from her hand. It licked across his wounds like burning threads, stitching his skin together, restoring torn muscle, cracked bone, internal bleeding.

His ragged breathing steadied.

The pain… faded.

But Jasmine's knees buckled, and she dropped into his arms.

"Haa… I told you… I didn't have the strength…"

Gray looked down at her.

Her face was pale, sweat was clinging to her collarbone, her hand twitched weakly against his shirt, but he didn't even say thank you.

He simply let her fall onto the velvet chair behind her, breathless and trembling.

Then, standing tall again, Gray rolled his shoulders… twisted his neck left and right with two satisfying cracks…

And finally, he narrowed his black eyes and opened his mouth.

"…Status Panel."