I'm a Villain in My Own Game?

[Elena POV]

The Eagle Clan and the Griffon Clan had gathered in front of the entrance to the abandoned mining area.

They stared at the narrow passage leading into the tunnel.

It seemed impossible for all of them to enter at once.

"According to my calculations, only four people can fight effectively inside that tunnel at the same time," Valeria said as she analyzed the tunnel's width and height.

"My magic... won't be effective in such a confined space," I explained.

I wouldn't be able to utilize my speed properly without enough room to maneuver.

"Then what are we going to do?" Geralt asked. "According to our scouts, there are only four entrances into the mine."

We discussed the situation among ourselves.

From our previous battle, it was obvious that Raul had a tremendous advantage in close-quarters combat—even against two of the strongest Knights in our year.

"He only managed to survive because I didn't use my ultimate technique!" Brian protested, clearly unwilling to accept that he had lost to Raul in close combat.

"It doesn't matter, Brian. Ariel is still being held hostage by Raul," Valeria said. "You won't be able to do anything until we rescue Ariel."

She was right.

Brian hadn't been able to finish Raul earlier because he had used Ariel as a hostage.

At least, that was what Valeria had told me.

"Tch. That cowardly noble..." Brian muttered angrily.

The combined forces of the Eagle and Griffon Clans now numbered around fifty people after twenty members from both Clans had fallen yesterday because of Raul's schemes.

If we split up like this, each tunnel entrance would have around twelve or thirteen students entering it.

"Do you think that man has already prepared traps for us inside?" Geralt asked.

The question immediately darkened everyone's expressions.

Raul had already trapped us twice, causing dozens of Clan members to fall.

I believed this was the most terrifying aspect of him.

And he was still hiding the full extent of his Nature Mana.

"Then how about I enter first with some of my Clan members and check the tunnel?" I offered.

Valeria nodded in agreement.

It seemed she had been waiting for me to suggest this, considering that the number of fallen Griffon Clan members had already exceeded seventy since our confrontation with Raul began.

"All right. It's decided. I'll take ten of my members and enter this tunnel."

I and several members of my Clan stood directly in front of the passage leading into the underground mine.

The tunnel was only about two and a half meters high and five meters long.

The deeper we went, the dimmer the light became, gradually reducing our visibility.

I noticed that several wooden support beams had already been destroyed.

What happened here?

Could it simply be because this place had been abandoned for so long?

I moved closer to inspect them.

"Hey, Sarah. Can you activate a light spell?" I asked.

"Of course, Chief."

Sarah raised her index finger.

"Light Haze."

A beam of light appeared at the tip of Sarah's finger, illuminating the entire tunnel.

But the moment the light filled the passage, all of us suddenly became alert.

At the edge of our vision stood a black-haired man.

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He was completely motionless.

His expression was emotionless, and his cold gaze was especially intimidating in such a narrow space.

"You've got some nerve showing yourself in front of me, Raul."

I gave him a challenging smile.

"Did you set another trap for us this time? Are you really that unwilling to fight me?"

Raul simply returned my smile with one of his own.

"No. This time, I'll play with you myself, Pres."

My heart began beating faster.

Could it be?

Was he finally going to fight me seriously?

I would find out myself.

"Blitzkrieg!"

I shot directly toward Raul, throwing a right punch.

Raul avoided it by shifting his head to the side.

He immediately countered with a right jab toward my head, which I avoided by twisting my body to the right.

"Hammer Krik!"

I launched an uppercut coated in lightning toward Raul's chin.

But as usual, he read my movement with ease.

I immediately shifted into a fighting stance.

This was one of Master Raymond's original combination techniques.

Only a handful of people had ever seen it before, and this technique was especially suited for confined spaces like this.

Raul's eyes remained focused on my feet.

It seemed he had already recognized the first movement of the technique.

But I doubted he could defend against the entire combination.

"Tiger Hunt!"

I lunged forward and threw a right hook.

Raul ducked beneath it before taking a step backward.

My leg followed immediately, aiming for his head, but he managed to block it with his hand, absorbing the impact of my attack.

This was it.

"Eagle Rising!"

I began my combination.

Straight Punch.

Right Elbow.

Lateral Flash.

Uppercut.

Cross Elbow.

Left Hook.

Knee Shoot.

Seven attacks.

Not a single one landed cleanly.

Raul effortlessly blocked and evaded every attack I threw at him.

I began to wonder if Raul possessed some kind of Codex capable of seeing the future.

If not, how could he possibly evade and block this combination so perfectly!?

I activated Temper and Blitz on both my arms and legs before charging at Raul again.

But the man suddenly turned around and ran.

"Don't turn your back on me, Raul!"

I accelerated after him and threw another right hook.

He suddenly turned around and shifted his head to the side.

My fist smashed into one of the wooden support beams instead.

Before I could react, Raul grabbed my arm and drove me against the tunnel wall.

Our faces were only inches apart.

"You're pretty good at choosing your battlefield," I taunted him. "I can't use my strongest magic in a place like this."

"Well... It's just a coincidence."

Raul raised his hand, preparing to punch me in the head.

"Magic Arrow!"

Raul released my arm and leapt backward.

A magical arrow shot past my face, barely missing the black-haired man.

"We'll fight together, Leader," Sarah said as she prepared another spell.

"I understand. Everyone, fire your magic to cover me and restrict his movements!"

Sarah and the four other mages at the back of our formation began chanting another spell.

Blue magical arrows appeared in their palms.

I activated my magic once more, channeling yellow lightning through my arms and legs.

"Magic Arrow!"

Five Magic Arrows shot past my head and flew toward the black-haired man.

Both Raul's arms and legs began glowing.

He was using Dual-Casting—Temper and Accel simultaneously.

Since when could he do that?

It didn't matter.

I immediately charged toward him.

Raul avoided three arrows and deflected the other two.

Then he rushed toward me at incredible speed.

We were now face-to-face.

Raul looked as though he was about to throw a right hook.

I responded by preparing a left punch, intending to clash directly with him.

But suddenly—

BAM!

Something struck my head.

My body slammed violently against the tunnel wall.

Ugh...

A feint?

He pretended to throw a hook, but his actual attack was a left kick aimed at my head.

My body collapsed onto the ground.

Raul kicked my heel hard enough to send me tumbling.

Crack!

I saw Raul destroy another wooden support beam.

Instantly, I felt a powerful vibration travel through the tunnel.

Raul immediately turned and fled.

"Leader! This tunnel is going to collapse!" Sarah shouted.

I forced myself back onto my feet while clutching my head.

"Everyone, get out of here! Now!"

How could this tunnel collapse just because a few support beams had been destroyed?

I looked toward Raul as he continued running toward the exit.

Then I realized it.

We had fallen into his trap again.

"Almario del Relampago..."

I activated my strongest spell and accelerated after Raul.

"I'm not letting you get away from me, Raul!"

We escaped the tunnel and entered the inner section of the mining area.

But the moment I reached Raul, he suddenly turned around.

A Rune appeared around his left hand.

He smiled.

A victorious smile.

What kind of magic was he about to use?

It didn't matter.

We were going to exchange attacks.

The strongest one would survive!

"Dragon Fist!"

Lightning surged through my left fist, taking the shape of a dragon's head.

Raul extended his left hand toward me.

BAM!

My fist connected directly with his left cheek.

"Reject Impact..."

Raul suddenly chanted his spell.

My body was violently pushed backward.

At the same time, I saw Raul being blasted away by the impact of my lightning-infused punch.

CRASH!

My body slammed into an earthen wall.

Every bone in my body felt as though it had shattered from Raul's attack.

My vision began to blur.

I tried to stand, but my body immediately collapsed again.

My legs were completely numb.

I tried to activate my magic...

Nothing happened.

Ugh...

I'm going to lose consciousness...

I hope the others can make it out of that tunnel...

---

[3rd POV]

Outside the tunnel, the remaining members of the Eagle and Griffon Clans were waiting for news about Elena and the others.

But nearly half an hour had passed.

They still hadn't emerged from the tunnel.

"What do you think happened in there?" one of the Griffon Clan's mages asked.

Before anyone could answer, they heard a tremendous rumbling sound coming from inside the tunnel.

A mass of earth spilled out from the entrance.

The ground above it began to sink as though the entire area were collapsing into a landslide.

"What the hell is happening!?" Geralt shouted, shocked by the sudden collapse of the tunnel Elena and the others had entered.

"No way..."

Valeria's voice trembled.

"Elena and the others..."

She sounded almost hopeless.

"Damn it..."

Brian clenched his fists.

"That cowardly noble must have done something again!"

The faces of the Griffon Clan members darkened.

The Eagle Clan members, meanwhile, looked increasingly worried about the fate of their comrades trapped inside.

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