[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-204":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759694,1006,"Chapter 204","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-204",204,"\u003Cp>Kwaaaaaa-!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce explosion caused by the falling violet star swallowed the ruins and the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the dust settled, the revealed scene was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“-!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the sight of Deus instantly rushing in and driving his sword into the heart of the Apostle of Sloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It worked.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Alon let out a small sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus had perfectly followed Alon’s advice, just as he had hoped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Alon had advised Deus was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A technique used in the second phase after players cleared the first phase of the game against the Sin of Sloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the ability to bind ‘mana’ with invisible threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…As expected, teaching the Sin of Sloth how to use threads was the correct answer.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Alon turned his gaze to the Apostle of Sloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle’s condition was anything but normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had both arms been severed, but the right occipital bone was crushed, making it a miracle that he was still standing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus’ sword had pierced straight through the Apostle’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keuhk—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a gushing sound, black blood sprayed in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood surged from the Apostle’s mouth as he coughed it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To anyone watching, it was an undeniable victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Deus prepared to finish the Apostle by pushing his sword in deeper—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle suddenly burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vacant yet strangely serene laughter, different from any emotion he had shown before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus stared at the Apostle, whose face was filled with a deep, unsettling smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiing—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Deus switched his movement, pulling his sword upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fountain of blood erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the body was sliced cleanly from the heart to the head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I admit it. I was careless. I never imagined you could wield your abilities to that extent without borrowing His power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Sloth let out a raspy laugh and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But do you really think this is the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned—a grotesque, skin-crawling smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A laugh so eerie it sent shivers down the spine of anyone who saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Deus wasted no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wrapped the Apostle’s remaining limbs in purple threads and tore them apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shredded body instantly transformed into black threads and was absorbed into the dark veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puhaaaak—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eggs cracked open, and from within, spiders poured out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kreeeek!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiders, each the size of a grown man, were hideous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one had a human face embedded like a marking on its abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They emerged from the shattered eggshells with grotesque, jerky movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sight so repulsive it could induce nausea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was not the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiders that had spilled out began to—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—kill themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Syrkal was stunned, while Reinhardt unintentionally let out a shocked exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiders’ collective suicide did not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if controlled by some unseen force, they tore out their own throats or ripped their bodies apart, ending their own lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their lifeless bodies then collapsed onto the ground, absorbed into the veins below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“_!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Alon finally realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What these spiders were doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground began to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble—!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening noise slammed into everyone’s eardrums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tremors were so powerful that it was difficult to even remain standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is insane—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt, who had spotted something, cursed harshly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was emerging, overturning the entire land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something massive enough to destroy the entire ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monstrosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A creature harboring the Abomination of Sloth—Krakscha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a creature hatching from an egg,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krakscha burst through the ground with a bone-chilling shriek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight of its emergence, the knights’ eyes were instantly filled with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is insane—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt, unable to resist, let out another curse and tightened his grip on his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was marked by utter despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they managed to eliminate all the spiders,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krakscha, like the Apostle, was exuding black mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A situation of absolute peril.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if they fought, there was no guarantee of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst this inescapable predicament, Alon let out a small sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I wasn’t planning to use it here, but—looks like I have no choice.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he reached into his cloak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery before him suddenly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he saw was a starry blue night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he recognized it, Alon instinctively knew where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’m relieved that you arrived early.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl’s voice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But given the situation, I’ll explain quickly.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice of Kalannon, the lightning receiver, echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The way to manifest your true form.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark clouds began to gather over the once-clear sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Literally, the absolute worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s normally expressionless face grew even grimmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Reinhardt gritted his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monstrous entity loomed before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spider of incomprehensible size, its sheer presence crushing the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Reinhardt, the size of an enemy didn’t matter unless it was something like the Rain Altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he felt overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because instinctively, he knew—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thing was a calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mana that the creature was emanating—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no different from the black mana that the Apostle had scattered earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This situation is not looking good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt coolly assessed the current state of affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of urgency flooded his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive spider radiated such an overwhelming presence that even he found himself tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make matters worse, the smaller spiders had completely surrounded the ruins, forming a siege-like encirclement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the most despair-inducing factor here— was the presence of the knights who had entered this place with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had brought them along to prevent the Apostle of Sloth from utilizing the lingering mana in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, they had become a liability instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the temporary seal on the black mana, imposed by Marquis Palatio and Deus, were to break—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the black mana regained its strength—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the knights here would inevitably become mere puppets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What should I do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt glanced around with an anxious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Syrkal, like him, was unable to hide her tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this very moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus was desperately using his purple threads to block the returning black mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if mocking their efforts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hah— I never expected you to push me this far. Good thing I came prepared.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice descended from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the grotesquely distorted sound, Reinhardt instinctively looked up—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re still alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, looming over his head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Sloth, his upper body exposed, stared down at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grotesque-looking Apostle smirked sinisterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Did you really think I wouldn’t have prepared for the worst, after all this? Well, I suppose you could have thought that. Normally, my own power alone would have been more than enough to deal with all of you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But unfortunately for you, I am someone who prepares thoroughly for any situation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack, crackle—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle began severing the purple threads that Deus had woven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus hurriedly reinforced the threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But despite his efforts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already expended far more energy than expected in the previous attack, weakening his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the threads were being cut at an accelerating rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the purple threads holding back the black mana— were completely severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet sigh escaped from someone’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle standing atop Krakscha grinned even wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as the black mana was about to flood the area that Deus had been barely holding at bay—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt suddenly had a realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky, which had been clear just moments ago— was now covered in dark clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip—! Drip, dribble—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if someone had manipulated it artificially— within seconds, rain began to fall from the clouded sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Apostle of Sloth, who had been basking in his impending victory, furrowed his brow in confusion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Palatio, who had remained silent until now, slowly began to walk forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved toward the front of Krakscha, where the black mist was seeping out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not form any seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not chant any incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not recite any passages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor did he even manipulate his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply—walked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward Krakscha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward the source of the black mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a moth to a flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without hesitation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Palatio continued walking, effortlessly stepping past the purple threads that Deus was desperately trying to reinforce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hah, have you given up?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, what in the world—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Sloth let out another mocking laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus shouted in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an instant, everything flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Deus saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that fleeting moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spark of lightning flickered at Alon’s fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint static charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So small—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in this dark, ash-colored world, it shone brilliantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the blue light touched the black mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment contact was made—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle, sizzle, ssshhhhh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mana— began transforming into blue lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Wha—?!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle let out a gasp of shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the static coursing from Alon’s fingertips did not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It surged through the black mana, converting all of it into lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he watched the incredible sight unfold— Alon recalled the words Kalannon had once told him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Handling divinity isn’t particularly difficult. You simply have to bring out the divinity inside you. But to wield the power freely—just bringing it out isn’t enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mana that had once filled the air— was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Replaced entirely by dazzling blue lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kalannon’s voice echoed in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s why what you must do is not just summon the divinity— You must accept it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Die!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing that something irreversible was about to occur—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krakscha raised one of its massive legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the surrounding spiders let out hideous screeches and lunged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Accepting divinity is difficult. It requires a lot more practice than you might think. But this time, I’ll help you. So, you just focus on pulling the trigger. The trigger is—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the pouring rain surged upward, Krakscha’s leg came crashing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A swarm of spiders hurled themselves toward Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even in that fleeting moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon did nothing except raise his left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Lightning—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Catch it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply grasped— the lightning that flickered around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain that had been pouring down—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiders that had been leaping at Alon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krakscha’s massive leg—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the lightning in Alon’s grasp—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if time itself had frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to recognize the eerie anomaly— was Syrkal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re disappearing…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She realized that the countless spiders that had been charging toward Alon just a moment ago— had frozen in midair, turning to dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from the tips of their legs, slowly, as if decomposing into the earth, the spiders crumbled into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manifestation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet voice resonated—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from Marquis Palatio’s body, an explosion of lightning burst forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it sought to consume the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an earth-shattering roar, the brilliant blue lightning erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of blue horns began to emerge from Marquis Palatio’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the storm intensified, even fiercer than before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A god— had manifested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kalannon, the lightning receiver.\u003C\u002Fp>",1908,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","96bcfd7bcd20492dba35f790618d01f054563454d1de52b9ce16197bdcc4b4cb","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-205","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-203",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]