Struggling as a Villain

For two years, Carl has been costly observing the territory of Crimson Claw to make bases and prepare for an all-out attack.

Naturally, during those two years, he formed several hideouts around the mainland and one of those bases can be used by Richard and his people for the time being.

The place Carl brought them was an underground facility which can only be reached if someone knows the exact location of the hideout. In the middle of nowhere, there is a secret passage that opens up under the plain ground, and the gallery leads to the hideout.

Seeing Carl inputting the third password in this five-minute walk, Bella couldn't help but think,

'Paranoia or just caution?' She couldn't comprehend how much grief and regret he must have gone through. Sharing one's pain and experiencing it, are two different things.

Bella or anyone else can assure him of the future and comfort him about the past, but the suffering he went through can never be erased.

*Clinq*

The metal door parted as Carl informed them, "This was a secret laboratory in the past, in which they were experimenting with human cloning."

Carl informed—he has read through the data left behind by the researchers, however, considering cloning is one of the known skills in today's world, it was useless to further pursue the topic.

"Hidden by the eyes of general masses, these people were working over inhumane projects for a long time," Ben added as his eyes went towards the mark of a certain symbol with which Bella and Richard were also familiar.

The Starfall Labs—the place where their mother used to work. And also, the research lab where she developed the virus.

Richard glanced at Bella and wordlessly told her to remain silent over it. If they heard that Bellarine was the cause of this whole mess, then an internal feud was inevitable.

Many people have lost their loved ones because of this apocalypse, and in a way, the things Rena is facing right now are also because of the virus.

They entered the huge space, which looked like an old laboratory, which was divided into two sections.

There were a few folded beds rolled up in a corner and a few fresh boxes of supplies nearby.

Lilia went ahead and checked the surroundings for any moles, but fortunately, there were none.

Emily was checking the situation of the place and she was astonished to find so many unusual and strange things lying here and there.

"Woah..." She pulled open a large box, and instantly, a cold breeze hit her face.

"It's a refrigerator, to keep things cool," Ben explained as he smiled at her reaction.

Emily raised her brows, "They don't use gemstones for this?"

Ben chuckled, "Even though there are things like mana stone available now, I doubt people have stopped using these basic things."

"Young master, if you allow me then can I clean up the place a little?" Lilia was feeling restless seeing how dirty the lab was; her hands were itching, and her left eyebrow was twitching in slight annoyance.

In her current mood, anything apart from yes would have disappointed her, so Richard gave her a nod.

Carl told the other three to help Lilia while Emily decided to arrange the beds and check what could be used to sleep on.

"Carl, bring all the maps you have of Crimson Claw's territory," Richard said before the boy nodded and rushed towards the other side of the lab where he had stored every important thing.

Bella pulled a table and used a cloth to clean it.

Richard closed his eyes and activated his 'Perspective Burst' to see what was happening above them.

'Hmm?' He frowned upon hearing the sound of tires screeching, which urged him to say, "Carl? There is something above us."

Everyone paused upon hearing that, however, Carl's following words eased their tension,

"It must be the regular surveillance. I will check just for assurance." He has several cameras planted on the surface, which is as small as grass, so they remain hidden from the surveillance vehicles.

Carl looked at the camera, and his brows drew closer—ushering Richard to ask, "Is everything fine?"

Emily saw the number of moving carts on the ground to be above fifty, "They are so many...."

Richard grew worried so he advanced towards the younger one and found there were indeed many military trucks roaming around on the ground and searching for something.

Them, possibly.

"How did they realize our position so soon?" Richard wondered. He was slightly astonished at how quickly they were found out.

Ben explained, "The high command always recruits a sensory-type soldier in each battalion. It must be that person who caught a whiff of our presence."

The atmosphere grew heavy—they were several feet under the ground and there seemed to be only a single route to walk in and out. Not to forget, the people above them were all superhuman with possible abilities to sense things under the ground.

If any of them sense Richard and others' presence, they wouldn't even come down and just demolish the base from above.

"We cannot stay here," Richard said to them, "Take all the necessary items and get prepared."

"What are we going to do? We cannot expose our arrival yet." Ben had a severe frown behind his mask as he asked Richard.

Richard looked at his sister before telling her, "When I go out, Bella, you need to erase your restraint over your ether. Let their sensors get overwhelmed by your presence so they won't suspect when the others leave."

If Richard goes out, they will still keep observing the underground facility to keep track of the remaining people. That's why Bella needs to blanket the whole place with her presence so they don't pay attention when the others escape.

Considering Bella's magical capabilities, he knew only she could do this—but,

"Her magical signature is different from others," Ben added, "They will know she is not from this world and will immediately send forces inside."

"You don't need to worry about that," With a confident smirk Richard added, "I won't let them look anywhere else but me."

-------**-------

Above the ground, the enemy forces have long discovered the peculiarity of the area from where they were receiving many presence. They were alerted that a high-ranking enemy had penetrated this world and needed to be handled.

However, the higher command strictly instructed them to bring at least one of them back alive.

The soldiers moved with precision, their boots stomping against the earth above the hidden base. One of them paused, holding a hand up. "The energy signature is getting stronger," he said, his voice sharp over the communicator.

"Focus your scans on the area beneath you," another voice ordered. The soldiers began deploying a series of devices, spikes glowing faintly as they embedded themselves into the ground, transmitting signals below.

Within the underground lab, tension rippled. The faint vibrations from the soldiers' movements above were growing more intense, like drums heralding an impending storm.

"They're closing in," Carl muttered, his fists clenched.

Emily glanced at Richard, her eyes filled with anxiety. "They'll find us any moment now."

Richard didn't answer. He stepped forward, his hand rising to his chest as flames began licking at his skin. His fiery aura erupted like a dam breaking, filling the confined space with oppressive heat. The soft glow of his magic circles sprang to life behind him, pulsing with an ominous rhythm.

"Stay down here and prepare to move," he said, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of finality. "I'll give them something to think about."

He didn't wait for their response. With a sharp exhale, he propelled himself upward, his ether blazing.

Above ground, the soldiers froze as the earth beneath them cracked. A roar of flame erupted like a volcano, sending heat waves cascading across the plain. Richard emerged from the inferno, his form cloaked in a searing fire that danced chaotically around him. His eyes burned with intensity, locking onto the nearest soldier.

"Looking for someone?" he taunted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The lead soldier barked into his communicator, "Target sighted! Engage!"

The moment Richard's fiery form broke through the surface, dozens of rifles snapped to life, spitting a relentless barrage of bullets. The roar of gunfire filled the plain, drowning out every other sound. Tracer rounds lit the air, their glowing arcs converging on Richard's figure with pinpoint accuracy.

Smoke and dust engulfed him as the bullets struck true, forming a cloud of debris that obscured all sight of the target. The soldiers didn't pause, continuing their assault with unwavering precision. Some reloaded, others switched to heavier-caliber rounds, determined to obliterate the intruder.

The firing finally ceased the echo of gunfire fading into the distant hills. A tense silence followed, the soldiers gripping their weapons tightly as they stared at the dissipating smoke, waiting for a sign.

And then, from within the haze, he emerged.

Completely unaffected by the assault that can easily take down a B-rank monster and even damage considerably a beast of the higher rank.

The soldiers were struck with a realization that mentally defeated them at once,

They were facing an immortal.

---------**--------

A/N:- Let there be carnage!!!!