[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel":3,"chapter-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-134":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Reincarnated as the Final Villain's Vessel",{"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},699910,934,"Chapter 134: A puppet show[4]","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-134",134,"\u003Cp>We stood there in shock, staring at the skeleton lying on the ground without flesh... and without life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected many things when I rushed to cut the threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that person would be freed from the threads’ control, or become nothing more than an empty body incapable of doing anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or even die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this... to vanish so simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what just happened?\" Izel asked, a hint of fear in her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my head and looked at the sky... where all those threads disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I cut the source that was sustaining his life,\" I muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leona swallowed audibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is the result of cutting the threads that keep the people of this city alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, it makes sense... these people were supposed to have died long ago due to old age,\" Ellen added, while Kyle continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And when the source maintaining their lives was cut off, everything ended as it was supposed to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illogical... but when did things at the top ever follow known logic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one last look at the skeleton lying on the ground, I gestured to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s keep going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to stand here and stare at this scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, people were still around us, and no one wanted what just happened to repeat itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That damned insistence from that man to accompany us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if whatever was in the sky was watching us, yet not moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?... Who knows, maybe we’re just insects behind a glass pane, and it’s enjoying watching our pathetic attempts to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe there’s something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We stepped on the stone ground as we moved forward through the street once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was still paying attention to the movements around us, and so far everything was normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or at least, it seemed that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our footsteps struck the stone ground with muffled sounds as we moved faster than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long for the buildings around us to disappear, and the ground turned into dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast field appeared before us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But more importantly, it was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because this was the time when the residents slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We didn’t stop. We ran silently through the plants, tension rising with every moment we got closer to that tear reaching into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, we crossed the field and emerged from the vegetation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had put a considerable distance between ourselves and the city, and for a moment, I didn’t sense a single human soul within my vast range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because as we got close enough to the wall, I sensed a presence entering the edge of my perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a strong one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, it was heading straight toward us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the massive tear in the wall... our way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, a familiar figure appeared there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With yellow eyes like desert sand, the man called Adam stared directly at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No surprise. No confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he had expected this to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle was the first to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn...\" he cursed under his breath, which had begun to quicken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong?\" Elliot looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I slowed down before coming to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It looks like this won’t be easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others stopped as well, noticing the man who had appeared before us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With unhurried steps, Adam walked toward us calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike him, we were anything but calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do things always end up like this?... What are we supposed to do now?\" Izel’s tense voice sounded beside me, while Elliot clenched his fist tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s strong... very strong compared to us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, we didn’t stand much of a chance against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just prepare yourselves for a fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam closed the distance between us, his eyes examining us like a group of mice in a cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the distance shrank to a few dozen meters, the strange man smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going at this hour, our dear guests?... Aren’t you supposed to be heading to the lady’s house on the other side?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked directly into his eyes... eyes I couldn’t understand, just like everyone else in this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re just taking a walk around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled, tilting his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on, Caius, don’t lie... you were trying to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was strange, not matching his smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my mouth to respond, but he spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t understand why you’re so eager to leave. Just stay here and become one of us, that’s all... isn’t that simple enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strange words sent a chill down my spine, and I even heard Ellen swallow beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man continued walking toward us with a gentle smile on his face, but his words and hollow tone suggested something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry, but you’re not going anywhere... don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. All you have to do is stay here... I promise you won’t feel any pain, you won’t even realize it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve reduced our number by one... but that’s fine, I’ll forgive you as long as you listen to me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is Arthania?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Arthania is busy with some matters and won’t be back anytime soon, so there’s no need to concern yourself with her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile on his face widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And please, don’t disturb the others... things shouldn’t go off the path I’ve set, after all, we’re close.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this thing even talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my jaw without realizing it as I prepared to draw my swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if I refuse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words left my mouth, his expression flipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll break your limbs so no one can leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at the ring on my hand... do things really have to go the hard way every time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I drew my swords without hesitation. At the same time, the others drew their weapons as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle stepped back, his bow already loaded with an arrow in his hand, while Ellen did the same, a short metal blade floating in the air and multiplying several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Elliot and Leona drew their swords, while flames ignited around Izel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six against one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five at Advanced Rank Two, and me at Rank Three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, are the odds in our favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man appears to be at Mid Rank Four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s not in the higher ranks like Arthania, and there isn’t that qualitative gap between us, but he’s still several times stronger than us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe one well-placed strike would be enough to kill one of us... maybe one and a half for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not just my control over essence that improved after reaching Rank Three, my body also received a significant boost in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that boost is pale compared to Rank Four, where their bodies become several times stronger and more resilient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the problem lies in direct clashes... well, that’s if we ignore the possibility that he has some kind of ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that happens, then maybe accepting the idea of having our limbs broken would be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at us as we prepared for battle without making a move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it so hard to make the right decision?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled, essence flowing through every part of my body more than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1221,"2026-06-02T09:38:17.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","d422a4cf8bc922d0cb86074cf9173c684552e3a96e5a98a4079edac62cf68bf8","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-85","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-84",183,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-cover.jpg"]