[{"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-94":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},759834,1006,"Chapter 94","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>“Array of Thunder”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning began to crackle across Alon’s body as he took a step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disassemble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crackling lightning transformed into countless blue particles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Alon picked up a fallen Paladin’s sword that had been knocked aside during the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dissolve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue particles were absorbed into Alon’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All Things Circulate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body flickered, shifting like a faint afterimage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Form of the Thunder God.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the completion of a seal, he became lightning itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Branches incoming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the barrier’s ceiling was opened following Alon’s command, branches began to force their way inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s eyes filled with despair at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that very moment, Alon tore through the invading branches and shot toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a deafening roar, shards of torn branches scattered, revealing the silhouette of Marquis Palatio against the backdrop of a blue moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hovering midair, Alon observed the branches now shooting toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As I expected, slow.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the branches were approaching, their sluggish speed reassured him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the hilt of the sword in his left hand, he thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s close, but everything’s ready.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two reasons why Alon had been unable to move swiftly until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was the time it had taken to identify Machina’s weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until this point, Alon had never tried to discern the vulnerabilities of Outer Gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outer Gods who hadn’t yet ascended to godhood usually followed the structure of their pre-incarnate divine forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, most of the Outer Gods he had faced possessed bodies limited to the size of his magic’s effective range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, targeting their weaknesses had never been necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Machina before him was so massive that it dwarfed the scope of Alon’s magic and possessed overwhelming regenerative abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, indiscriminately using magic was not enough to eliminate this adversary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, at this moment, Alon had a clear understanding of Machina’s weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was thanks to an artifact he had acquired in the Holy Kingdom—a game item called Eye Eater’s Pendent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, this necklace allowed the wearer to gradually identify an enemy’s weak points after more than ten turns of combat, increasing critical hit rates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, the weakness was unmistakable: the solar plexus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within Machina’s red branches and statue-like body,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon spotted a glowing blue figure in the shape of a person, positioned at the solar plexus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a deep sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Only one chance. My mana is almost depleted.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the second reason Alon had been unable to move quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of his mana had already been used during the initial attack by Anderde, when he had spent it saving Yuman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Alon needed time to replenish his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, the results were less than ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mana pool, unfortunately meager, had almost completely drained in the fraction of a second it took to manifest magic and launch himself skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained was so negligible that it was only sufficient for a single spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had guzzled two potions in succession, despite the risk of mana addiction, the recovery was painstakingly slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at best, Alon’s mana reserves were little more than scraps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, as ridiculous as it sounded, at this moment, Alon could no longer cast any powerful magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, that is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhaling deeply, Alon extended the sword in his left hand toward Machina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Formation of Thunder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recited the incantation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the words left his lips, the sound of crackling electricity echoed in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remnants of his mana drained away entirely, leaving him completely depleted in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, an intense pain surged through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body spasmed in protest, unable to extract any more mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Alon did not stop chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the spell he intended to cast was not Form of the Thunder God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disassemble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since his return from Raksas, Alon had devoted himself to the study of magic—specifically, the efficiency of material manifestation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone like him, whose meager mana reserves would run dry from a single materialized spell, this research was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dissolve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after half a year of countless experiments, Alon had failed to improve the efficiency of material manifestation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, he had discovered something valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All Things Circulate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of manifesting Form of the Thunder God within his own body, he could manifest it within objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword in Alon’s left hand began to absorb the blue particles, its form shimmering and flickering like an afterimage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a discovery born entirely by chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While desperately researching ways to reduce the mana consumption of material manifestation, Alon had stumbled upon this unintended breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, in this moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Form of the Thunder God (雷神形)”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This accidental discovery manifested itself as the strongest magic Alon could wield at present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wavering sword in Alon’s hand suddenly erupted with blue lightning, sending bright white currents surging outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the sword as though preparing to throw a spear, Alon pulled his arm back and elongated the weapon’s form with a deft arrangement of its energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he created was thin, long, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle-crackle-crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—a lance imbued with the sharp, unmistakable power of lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment everyone, including Yuman, caught sight of Alon holding the lance of lightning under the blue moon, the weapon left his hand with tremendous force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an earth-shattering roar, the lightning pierced through Machina’s solar plexus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the lance of lightning struck Machina’s chest, everything came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive roots that had threatened to consume the entire Holy Kingdom disintegrated into ash, scattering into the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enormous hands that had been moments away from crushing Yuman and the priests dissolved into white powder, floating away like snowflakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble-rumble-rumble—CRAAACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machina’s once-imposing form, composed of countless branches, began to collapse as its structure crumbled into ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, instead of focusing on the destruction of Machina, everyone present, including Yuman, had their gazes fixed on a single figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the blue moon, amidst the swirling white ashes that fell like flower petals, stood a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had single-handedly defeated an Outer God, his expression remained blank, as though the victory was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That man—the Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone could only stare at him in stunned silence, awe glimmering faintly in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is bad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind his expressionless face, the marquis was wearing a truly serious and troubled look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had gone according to plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Positioning himself in the air to prepare magic without interference from the vines—check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Identifying Machina’s weak point with the Eye Eater’s Pendent—check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draining mana recklessly and downing two potions despite the risk of mana exhaustion—check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had unfolded as planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for one critical detail:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not considered what to do after defeating Machina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, he had thought about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his attack, he planned to conjure an ice wall with magic, carve it into a curve, and descend as safely as possible from the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was well aware that even with this method, the likelihood of getting hurt was higher than not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, since this was the Holy Kingdom, he was confident recovery would be relatively easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the priests of the Holy Kingdom, especially those of bishop rank or higher, were capable of healing almost anything as long as the patient was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was the key—the patient had to be alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how skilled the priests were, they couldn’t bring someone back from the dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t expect the mana consumption to be this high…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon lamented the unexpected amount of mana required to adjust the arrangement for Form of the Thunder God, he momentarily pondered how to handle his current predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly realized that his rapid fall had slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, another realization dawned on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yutia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, white, cloud-like substance created by divine power had caught his descent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did well, my Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the sight of Yutia’s radiant smile, framed against the blue moon, came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon mustered his remaining strength to nod in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In conclusion, the Holy Kingdom’s celebration of the goddess Sironia’s birth was completely halted due to Machina’s sudden appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Machina was ultimately defeated, the damage to the Holy Kingdom was catastrophic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a nation as resilient as the Holy Kingdom couldn’t hold a festival under such circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Alon, the one who dealt with Machina—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you all right, Count? Or should I say, Marquis now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I’ll be able to move again soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was being treated in a hospital annexed to the temple for about two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly, he didn’t seem to have sustained any major injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few wounds he bore were a result of his incomplete control over Form of the Thunder God, rather than anything inflicted by Machina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the real issue was his mana core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A week of recovery for mana depletion…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite risking mana addiction by downing two potions in quick succession, Alon had still succumbed to severe mana exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, he was stuck in the hospital for at least a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to be honest…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was desperate to escape the hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, more than that, he wanted to leave the Holy Kingdom altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had accomplished his task and had no reason to stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for his urgency was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re quite the popular man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon sighed. While staying in the hospital, he had been enduring the overwhelmingly burdensome gazes of the priests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced toward the door, where priests passed by, their eyes filled with reverence and admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking as though to himself, he said, “Honestly, I don’t like it much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon understood that being respected by others wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, immediately after being injured, feeling the admiration of the priests had been somewhat gratifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, everyone has a basic need for recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Isn’t this a bit too much?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was overwhelming for every single priest he encountered to stare at him with such wide-eyed admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, truthfully, there was another reason he wanted to leave the Holy Kingdom as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, may I have a moment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Saint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was none other than Yuman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Marquis, come to think of it, I just remembered some information I need to retrieve. I’ll step out for a bit,” said Evan, rising from his seat as soon as Yuman entered. He quickly exited the hospital room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone with Yuman, Alon scratched his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, have a seat first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuman sat down remarkably quickly and immediately began to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is your condition, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said yesterday, it’s not too bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuman nodded, seemingly reassured, then looked up at Alon with a gaze filled with both respect and reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Alon found it unbearably awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining a good relationship with Yuman wasn’t a bad thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Yuman was destined to become Eliban’s right-hand man in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having him come by every day, gazing at him with such admiration and reverence, was honestly too much for Alon to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grateful for his concern but hoping to dissuade him gently, Alon said, “I appreciate your worry, but you don’t need to visit so often. Please, focus on your duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That won’t do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you and I share the same burden, Marquis. No, yours is even heavier than mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knowing this, how could I turn away from you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuman’s eyes shone with even more respect as he nodded resolutely, reaffirming his determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon could only look at him, utterly baffled, as Yuman continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will never abandon you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no way to make sense of Yuman’s incomprehensible declarations, Alon was left staring at him, lost for words.\u003C\u002Fp>",2021,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","b0b1593c515c4ea4e5213530ed16e6aef8fc7edd36f6fab7c71af077f68d4a56","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-95","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-93",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]