Villian Born from Ruin: My Villian System

A dull trumpet echoed through the marble halls of Serevain Academy, followed by a crystal bell chime. It was time for the freshmen's first sanctioned field mission: an expedition into a Grade-C Rift.

The halls buzzed. Excitement, nerves, and whispers passed like wildfire.

Selene tightened the straps on her borrowed gear, adjusting her dull, scuffed armor. The others around her had gleaming metal, family sigils, custom crests. She had shadows and a half-torn map.

She met Averine near the portal hub.

"You ready?" Averine asked, biting into an apple like this was a picnic.Selene nodded once. "Always."The instructor's voice boomed. "Group Epsilon Step forward. Elian Rhys Caelus will lead."Of course he will, Selene thought. The Saint.

The group assembled: Elian at the front spotless, calm, radiant like he knew the script to the world and was already bored of it. Averine stood beside Selene, bouncing slightly on her heels. Then came the other two.One of them scoffed the second he laid eyes on Selene.

"Great. They put her on our squad? This'll be a charity mission."

He was tall, sharp-eyed, wearing the blood-red cloak of House Drelvain.

"Name's Daren," he said, ignoring Averine entirely and pointing a gauntleted finger at Selene. "Just don't slow us down, orphan."

Selene said nothing.Then came the last member, hands in pockets, expression bored, a lazy grin plastered on his face.

"Kai. I don't do last names, unless you're trying to marry me," he drawled, then winked at Selene. "I'm here for the vibes."

Averine laughed under her breath. "Well, this team's got... variety."They stepped through the gate. The world twisted.

They landed in what looked like a shattered valley. Trees broken. Fog crawling along the ground. The Rift was corrupted, air thick with residue.

Selene's system pinged immediately.

[System Alert: C-Rank Rift |

Creatures: Stalkers, Hollow Wolves, Lesser Shardfiends.

Recommended Caution Level: 7.]

Elian spoke, tone crisp. "We scout the perimeter, retrieve the artifact embedded in the stone monolith, and return. No heroics. Follow the plan."He didn't look back when he said it but Selene felt it was aimed at her.

They moved in formation. Selene kept to the back, scanning the area. Her shadow twitched beneath her boots, alert.

They hadn't gone far when a Hollow Wolf burst from the underbrush.Daren struck first, blade gleaming with crimson mana. He dispatched it with brutal grace."See? Quick work. But next time, don't breathe so loud, commoner," he spat over his shoulder.

Averine growled, stepping in. "Back off. She's here like the rest of us."Daren smirked. "Some of us earned our place. Others... begged."

Selene stayed silent. She had long since learned not to react to people like him. Not yet.Another hour passed. They encountered three more creatures, each one stronger. Elian barely lifted a hand only when the group faltered did he intervene, striking with precision and holy light.

Selene tried to contribute, but her spells barely grazed the enemies. Her control flickered. Her mana wavered. She lagged.

But her eyes her eyes never stopped watching. Learning. Every creature's movement, every mistake they made, every step Kai took that was too slow, every flicker of Elian's magic.They reached the monolith, half-submerged in a corrupted lake.

The artifact pulsed faintly.

"Daren, Kai, watch the perimeter," Elian commanded."Ugh. Babysitting," Daren muttered.Kai chuckled. "Think of it as a date with destiny."

Elian and Averine moved to extract the artifact. Selene stood nearby, pulse steady.

Suddenly, shadows twisted.A Shardfiend lunged from the blackened trees.Selene saw it first. She didn't think.She jumped.

Her shadow flared up sloppily, but strong intercepting the creature mid-air.It shattered the spell.She crashed to the side, body aching. But the distraction was enough.

Elian struck. One flash of radiant powerand the beast fell.

He turned to her. For a moment, his expression unreadable.Then just the smallest nod."Good instinct. Work on your form."Selene stared at him, not blinking.

Her heart was pounding.

[System Notice: Shadow Defense Registered.

Endurance +1.

Control +1.

Skill: Phantom Guard - Initiated.]

[Selene Verline - Updated Stats]

Strength: 13

Speed: 14

Magic: 23

Control: 19

Endurance: 22

Resistance: 15

Affinity: Shadow

Skills: Inkbind, Phantom Guard

Back in formation, Daren scowled. "Next time, let the beast eat her. Might do us a favor."Selene glanced at him. "You're loud when you're scared."Averine snorted.

Kai let out a slow clap. "Oof. She's got teeth."Elian said nothing. But when they started making their way to the gate , his system chimed softly in his mind.

[System Notice: Proximity to Selene Verline increasing. Threat Level adjusted: Moderate.]

Solinar's voice murmured.

"She's adapting too fast."

Elian's gaze lingered on her.

He didn't smile.

"Then I'll break her before she blooms."