When he saw the army arrive, Oscar knew his chances of victory plummeted; the chilling cold crept up his spine.

There were two paths before him.

He could order his orcs to disengage and retreat, ordering them to stall the enemies until he could get away. It would result in the orcs’ decimation and the following assault on his base would result in its total destruction. Stage 5 would basically be over for him.

But he would be alive.

The other option was a grim one: to press the attack. The castle’s gate had been pried open. Even if Oscar could destroy Tanael’s crystal, he would be surrounded by hostile forces. If he was able to cut open a path of life from there, there might still be a chance for him to clinch a victory.

But it was a big if.

A defeat with a high chance of survival or a victory with a high chance of death, those were his options.

…I am Oscar Regisea, and I am NOT a coward!

Oscar led a vanguard of High-Orcs and went deeper into the Nest, leaving the rest of his army to stall Tanael’s forces.

It was a fatal mistake.

The inside of the Nest was by no means undefended. Sakuya and her remaining ninjas utilized the tunnels and corridors of the ant nest-like structure to ambush Oscar and his orcs. Meanwhile, bulky insects with thick carapace that served as moving blockades hampered his path.

After slogging through hardships, in a big chamber, Oscar found a group of four people waiting for him. The Gloomsiders were arrayed against him.

“YOU SHALL NOT PASS!”

Tanael struck the ground with his staff, sending a ring of soul energy spreading outward. It was impressive to look at but not a real attack. Nevertheless, Oscar felt his blood turn to ice.

“Hey! Careful with that!” Izabella protested.

“Sorry,” Tanael gave the Staff of Pestilence back to her undamaged before addressing Oscar.

“There are side entrances, y’know,” Tanael sneered. “Well, while your orcs get eaten, let’s get star-”

“Tanael! I challenge you to a duel!” Oscar’s voice echoed in the big chamber.

“...Excuse me?”

“You and me. Fight one-on-one, with our honor at the line!” Oscar said righteously.

“And why, by all that is holy, should I accept?”

“If you’re certain you’ll win, you’ll accept. Should you not, it is a sign of cowardice. Dueling is a true test of men, show me your resolve.”

Oscar made a stance with his spear, electricity sparked from his body. Ready and equipped for battle.

“He’s got a point,” Jaime looked amused. “What are you going to do, Death?”

Lesse… Is there a line in the Evil Overlord List for this kind of development?

“That question is in your department, War. If you have superior power and numbers against your enemy, why would you duel him mano a mano?”

“...Satisfaction? I want to fight Aravin one on one, that’s for sure.”

“Defeating a whining Meatbag in a duel will bring me no satisfaction though. And accepting his proposal also means I’m a gullible fool so the answer is no,” Tanael looked at Oscar with pity. “Are you going to cry to daddy dear now?”

“Look at your cowardly leader, you three,” Oscar said. “You still follow a prideless lowlife like him?”

“I take pride in the fact that I am not as stupid as you think. Drown him in Artes, guys.” Tanael said with a flick of his hand, as if diminishing something insignificant. The other three horsemen moved simultaneously.

“Lowborn worms! Zeta!”

“Screee!”

From a yellow ball in Oscar’s hand appeared a lightning-clad bird of prey.

“That’s a Thunderbird,” Izabella gasped.

“A beautiful bonded monster,” Jaime's sword swirled with darkness.

Is that a freaking Pokeball!? Tanael eyed the object in Oscar’s hand with envy and greed. It will be mine!

Objects that could house living beings were much rarer than the regular storage items.

It might be useful for Dia.

“Way of Rexilos!” Oscar shouted his Arte’s name and his energy spiked, deflecting War’s sword and Conquest’s Firebolt. Oscar was going all out.

A super-mode, pretty powerful too. Probably won't last long. The most sensible strategy is to evade him until he burns out but I can't let him reach Zerri’s chamber.

Tanael swatted the lightning attack from the Thunderbird as he approached Sakuya.

“Famine, deal with the bird. Take it easy, you’re still injured.”

The bird was weaker than Oscar, Tanael was giving her the easy job and she knew it.

“I’m sorry, Tanael-sama…”

“You’ve done well. Survive. Your clan needs you,” Tanael gave her a pat on the head before dashing to the other opponent.

“Blessing of Flowers.”

Famine gave the other three horsemen buffs as a parting gift before focusing on the angry bird.

Conquest conjured a fire snake and manipulated it skillfully with the red wand in her hand. Izabella’s fire Artes were not very strong but she made up for her lack of strength using various enchanted items at her disposal.

“Shadow’s Edge!” War plunged.

“Watch out!”

Death tackled War from the side. They tumbled to the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“Look closely.”

War invoked his investigative method and he saw tens of invisible wires around Oscar.

It was Oscar’s Unseen Lightning Crisscross Arte.

“Those things are sharp. If you keep attacking you’ll get cut and diced.”

“A little help here!” Conquest's barrier was being attacked by a furious and scowling Oscar.

“Arte - Victa Overload!” War shouted.

Oscar’s body trembled. His Victa was unstable so his Arte was disturbed and couldn't be invoked properly, resulting in a backlash. Oscar managed to minimize the damage to his body. A lesser Pathseeker would suffer thrice as much damage to their Victa pathways.

Jaime Sigley chose the name Backlasher in the Book World because of his ability to turn his enemies’ skills against them.

Oscar didn't let out his attack at Conquest. Her barrier was on the verge of collapse but Death came to her rescue, unleashing a high kick to Oscar’s head. It got blocked by the shaft of a spear but a pulse of energy knocked the lightning user back to the fleshy wall of the Nest.

Desolate Dive Arte was a high-speed descent from a jump as an attack. It was not always suitable so Tanael created an alternative way of utilizing it, by incorporating Arte's power into his strikes, to kicks and punches.

The inspiration for the knockback pulses that he could create came from a superhero king that wore a panther habit.

“Bunch of trash! Rumbling Lightning!!”

War evaded the crackling lightning bolt but Oscar’s aim was not him, it was his Thunderbird familiar.

“Screeee!”

Empowered by the jolt, the avian unleashed an even more powerful lightning bolt at Famine.

Sakuya’s face changed color. She didn't know if her Shukuchi would make it in time but the lightning bolt turned.

An orb in Conquest’s hand absorbed the lightning.

“Made it,” Izabella sighed in relief. “Acha-cha! Hot hot!” She let the scalding orb fall to the ground.

“Darkbringer!” A mighty, dark sword blast from War landed squarely on Oscar. He let out a grunt of pain but was still fine. It should have severely injured him but the son of a Level 5 was only slightly wounded.

“Hehehe,” Death grinned. “This is almost bullying. I wonder how many more life-saving items you have? It won't be enough.”

“Fuck you all to Hell!”

Oscar didn't realize it but there was only desperation in his voice.

***

Viers watched the unconscious Oscar from behind bars of flesh. They were in the Nest’s dungeon.

The battle was over after breaking eleven of Oscar’s life-saving methods.

It took quite a bit of Victa from the four. Sakuya aggravated her injuries from the fight and now underwent healing. The other three also did not come out unscathed from the battle.

Partly because I didn't go all out during the fight. Even counting the injuries and the Victa spending, it is still cheaper compared to the fight with Troy.

“So, mind telling us the reason you’re keeping him alive? Izabella was pretty upset she won't get one-fourth of Oscar’s shards,” Clarissa asked.

“The bloodthirsty Viers did not kill his opponent? Has Hell frozen over or something?” Paina wondered.

“Because it is in my best interest.”

Viers told his tenants about his prediction of the future after referencing his wealth of experience in cultivation stories’ development. Should he kill Oscar, a prominent member of a house that ruled the city, upheaval would follow. A revenge-seeking father would seek him out, causing a travel ban, political and social disruptions, and so on.

The killing of Oscar would cause a chain of developments that revolve around that mess. One that will most likely become Viers’ next arc.

It was not something that Viers wanted to see. He wanted to peacefully grow roots and establish his base, a plan that got postponed after his sudden kidnapping by Aletro. Stability in the city was in his best interest. Some time off from the killing would also allow him to consolidate the gains he got from the entirety of Aletro’s Trial of Fire.

His identity as Tanael already warranted inquisition by the sheer number of people he killed. People would seek him out once the trial was over, especially if he managed to defeat Anne and emerged as the number one. Viers planned to hide Tanael’s identity tight while letting the heat die down.

“Isn't it too late for that? Whether Oscar dies or not, people will turn over every rock and search every crevice to find you,” Paina said a logical thing.

“Oscar’s father, uncle, and aunt are Level 5s, the central pillars of the city. Making it personal for them matters. I’m not afraid of people investigating me because I plan to use my shards to get something that will hide me from investigation methods from Aletro. What I don’t want is the city’s infrastructure thrown into chaos.”

Viers made a sagely expression.

“Knowing your limits is very important. Villains that can only go murderhobo don't live long. Yes, I could kill him and get his shards and soul but then what? Fighting the Aberrants should give us more than enough shards. Every Stage so far gave an increasing amount of shards. Stage 5’s harvest will be plenty if we do it right. Let Oscar rot in the dungeon until it is all over.”

“Oscar will live, though. You usually kill potential threats right away. ‘Pruning future troubles’, your words. Why not this time? Are you not afraid he will make problems for you in the future?” Clarissa asked.

“On the outside I will be Avel, not Tanael. And I figured he will not be too much of a threat.”

“Son of a Level 5 is not a threat?” Farley tilted her head.

“Oscar lacks the MC Factor. I will kill people having that as soon as possible, but he isn't one of them. People without a MC Factor’s threat are only temporary, impermanent. I will defeat them given enough time.”

Viers had no doubt whatsoever he could surpass them.

“If these mooks manage to kill me, I only have myself to blame for neglecting my training. Still, this ‘letting your enemies live’ thing should be reduced to the minimum. I hope this never happens again.”

“Hmn… I see you have thought this through. I'm not one hundred percent in agreement though. By the way, you really like hiding, Viers.” Clarissa amusedly said.

“Becoming invisible in the shadows, erasing evidence after a crime, changing face easily, shielding your mind, making your fate seem insignificant to not be found… Ufufu, Lord Viers is actually more secretive than a cultist of the Seven Devils,” Farley smiled.

“Those who have done nothing wrong have nothing to hide. Viers is the very opposite of this,” Paina sighed.

“And I’m proud of it! I’m a villain, which means I do bad things. Things that will make people despise me. I need to hide and run from them until I grow strong enough to kill them. Cowardly? Despicable? People can call me whatever they want. Let them whine while I rise ever higher. One day I will stand in the sky and look down upon them, crawling in the dirt.”

Fang Yuan showed me how it is done. To me, he’s the pinnacle of evil xianxia MCs. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants.

Viers left the unconscious Oscar to his long and boring days in the slammer. The face he made when he woke up would be a delight to see but Viers had no time to wait for his awakening.

He had armies to raise and wars to wage.