[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-villain-s-path-system":3,"chapter-villain-s-path-system-villain-s-path-system-chapter-84":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Villain's Path System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1138525,1475,"Chapter 84: The Monster Behind the Mask","villain-s-path-system-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>The scream was so piercing it sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through all three of them. Their gazes snapped instantly toward the dense thickets to the west. They knew in a heartbeat that it wasn’t the roar of a beast — it was a girl, and she sounded like she was pleading for her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s someone crying!\" Sera’s awkwardness vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a sharp, focused intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian turned and asked internally:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>System, is this the mission?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Confirmed. Save Rithra. You have 1 hour and 30 minutes remaining.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Girls, follow me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian sprinted toward the western thickets, with Sera and Elira following his lead. As they ran, Lucian pulled up his system inventory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>System, what items do I have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Current Inventory: Electric Baseball Bat, Air Pen, Concealment Mask]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew exactly what they needed most right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buy 3 Concealment Masks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Purchase Complete. -600 FP.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three masks materialized in his hands as he ran. They were smooth, bone-white, and pointed at the bottom. Narrow eye-slits and abstract designs on the sides gave them a cold, mysterious look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed two of them back without slowing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Put these on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them wasted time with questions. They took the masks and snapped them over their faces as they followed him into the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they put on the masks, a dark grayish fabric began to sprout from the edges, transforming into full cloaks within seconds. Their academy uniforms and Sera’s pajamas were completely concealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped past the thickets, they froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or four knights were looming over a defenseless young maiden. One pinned her hands down, another sat on top of her, while the other two stood by, laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her black hair was matted against the dirt, and her deep red eyes were filled with tears of terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... let me go!\" She thrashed against them, screaming out. As her eyes landed on the three figures standing behind them, she began to plead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please — anyone — help me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the girl’s gaze, the knights turned around. They saw three unknown cloaked figures standing in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One knight couldn’t hold back his laughter. He twirled his sword and mocked them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The hell is this? A Costume party? Festival is not till next month, friends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another knight spat to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep moving. There is nothing for you here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two who stood, joined in the laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sera clenched her jaw and took a step forward. She was about to take another when Lucian, standing in the middle, gestured his finger to her to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, leaning forward and rubbing his hands together in a fawning, sarcastic tone, he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian then leaned forward slightly, rubbing his hands together in a mockingly polite, slimy tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentlemen...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t you think this pathetic behavior is a bit... beneath well-reputed knights such as yourselves? Truly, it is a tragedy to see such fine armor worn by such small men.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight who had been sitting on the girl stood up. His face was covered in scars. He walked over to Lucian with a menacing look and stopped right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell is your problem huh? Can’t you see some exhausted knights are just letting off some steam? We work ourselves to the bone every day... listen, I am only going to tell you one more time: get lo—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could say another word, something happened — the movement of his mouth just stopped. Then, a thin line formed from the center of his forehead down to his groin. In a split second, the line turned red, and in the next moment, his body slid apart into two perfect halves. one falling to the right and the other at Lucian’s feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the color completely drained from the faces of the other three knights. They immediately dropped into their stances and pointed their swords at Lucian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard!\" one stammered. \"Who—who the fuck are you? Who put you up to this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight standing nearby glanced at the corpse, his face scrunching up in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any idea what squad we belong to? If our commander finds out about this, he will bury your entire bloodline!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian raised both hands, waving them dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh no, no... not my family...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he strengthened up, his tone turning icy cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean, how will your commander ever find out when none of you are leaving this place alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his words, the three knights roared in rage and lunged at Lucian with their swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dodged the knight in front, grabbed his wrist, and in a flash, struck the man’s shin. The bone snapped and bent backward. Lucian let go, and the knight collapsed to the ground, letting out blood-curdling screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his comrade groaning in pain, both knights panicked and froze. Lucian didn’t give him a second to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, well, well... if you gentlemen had just listened to me, maybe we could have settled this peacefully, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said it with a smirk, though his mind was already on the next kill. He crouched next to the knight still screaming on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shhh... wait, let me take away your pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He broke the man’s neck.. And he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing two companions down in less than two minutes, the other two knights began to shake uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight on the right, still clinging to his crumbling pride, spoke in a weak voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-hey... let us go, and all of this—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t get another word out, Lucian fired a fire-bullet directly into his forehead without wasting a second. The third knight dropped dead on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes swept over last one\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, what should I do with you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, the last knight dropped his sword and fell to his knees and statred begging for his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-hey please... Please let me go! I promise I will never stumble upon such a mistake again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucian let out a light laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you apologizing to me? Ask the girl behind you. She’s the one you were about to do those disgusting things to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the maiden. who sat frozen in shock, her traditional clothes matted with mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrunken with fear and looking helpless, the knight stared at Lucian’s masked face for a few seconds. He couldn’t understand the intentions. Then he slowly turned toward the maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I’m sorr—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words could fully leave his mouth, his head hit the ground. No one could understand when Lucian had struck or when the cut happened. His corpse collapsed, and a pool of blood formed, looking pitch black in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>",1117,"2026-06-03T12:08:46.872Z","2026-06-03T12:08:55.588Z",1,"novelbin.me","6210100d070958a092c450f34fc89a6bed77af70a4a9ba20d76cf11aec031b4a","villain-s-path-system-chapter-137","villain-s-path-system-chapter-136",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fvillain-s-path-system-cover.jpg"]