A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

The intense sonic boom overshadowed the audience's cheers and shouts. More than half the people in the arena turned towards the source of the sound, only to see a wave of air stirred by the sonic barrier.

Then, the huntress descended from the sky.

As the contestants had just stepped onto the stage and the referee had just announced the start of the match, the tall wolf girl stood in the center of the arena, which she had easily shattered. Her disguised face was full of arrogant defiance.

"Hurry up."

She slightly lifted her chin, not even glancing at the contestants on either side of her. "Only one person can stand on this stage. Are you going down on your own, or do you need my help?"

The audience was silent for a few seconds, then erupted into thunderous cheers.

"Hahaha! Good! Kick their asses! Wolf, I've bet on you to win!"

"This one being chosen by Faust isn't without reason; she's got the attitude!"

The contestants snapped out of their shock. One of them sneered, "So, you're Fenrir... the one Faust personally named?"

He gave Seraphina a once-over, his disdain growing. "Don't make me laugh. Know your place; it's not your time to be on stage."

This adventurer's confidence wasn't unwarranted. According to the script, he was to be the dark horse, fighting his way into the final four, slaughtering a large number of cautious bettors' money, and then making a killing on the final all-in bets before being eliminated.

In other words, he wouldn't lose before reaching the final four.

With the Duke of Azuregold as his backer, this adventurer felt no fear. If this wolf girl tried to disrupt the plan, the Duke would surely intervene, and no matter how fierce Fenrir was, she would be subdued.

"There's still time to step down. Don't—"

In that instant, his brain ceased to function.

Despite his extraordinary abilities, he was still subject to biological instincts that completely took over his body.

— When the massive crimson-black demon wolf materialized behind the girl and descended in an instant, the adventurer was already paralyzed.

Absolute and pure wildness and ferocity, absolute and blazing greed and thirst... The first sight of this demon wolf and the overwhelmingly pure aura of the *beast* it emitted shattered the adventurer's sanity.

This was no longer a battle but a merciless predation.

As the adventurer's pupils trembled for that brief moment, the monstrous claw of the beast had already obscured his vision.

In his last conscious thought, the adventurer realized—Fenrir was also an actor.

Her role was more significant than his; was she here to outshine everyone?

Bang!

The audience heard nothing more than a deceptively simple thud.

The two adventurers, among the top-tier third-stage transcendents, were crushed like fledglings by the wolf shadow behind Fenrir and hammered into the ground, left with barely a breath. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Seraphina released the two inconsequential figures, her initial excitement rapidly cooling.

How boring.

She had hoped for a warm-up before her match with Ansel, but was this the best they could offer?

Ignoring the renewed enthusiastic cheers from the arena, she wore an impatient expression. "Come at me all at once. I don't mind you wasting time, but I do mind you… being this laughably weak."

No one responded. Whether they were guessing if this was part of the script or simply lacked the courage to step up was unclear.

This only made Seraphina more irritable. She had hoped to immerse herself in a fierce enough battle to shake off her inner confusion and worries, but it was infuriating not to find a worthy opponent while the beast within her roared.

Wait, a suitable... opponent.

The wolf, who had just worn a look of disgust, now slowly revealed an eager smile.

She almost forgot about the agreement she had with those idiot revolutionaries.

"She's finally here."

At the highest point of the stands, the Duke of Azuregold, who had been feigning keen interest, finally found genuine excitement.

He himself was still in the Imperial Capital, fiercely debating with other Dukes about the choice of Regent. As the perfect businessman, the Duke of Azuregold, just as Ansel had predicted, vigorously advocated for conducting the Regent's evaluation in the regions ravaged by the Bloodust and Firmanent War.

This naturally received unanimous support from the four Dukes of the Western, and equally unanimous opposition from the three Dukes of Eastport.

The two Dukes of the South maintained an ambiguous stance, essentially saying, "Whatever Lord Hydral says goes."

At first glance, it seemed like a four-to-three advantage for the West. However, internally, the Western Land was far from united, more like a fractured entity, and their cohesion could not compare to that of Eastport. Thus, the situation was at a stalemate.

Since the suggestion came from the Duke of Azuregold, there was still a chance for the West to win over the other two Dukes, as the various factions were locked in a struggle over interests with no resolution in sight.

Despite this, the Duke of Azuregold still took the time to watch this selection tournament with serious attention.

Fenrir, Faust...

The traits revealed during this period had already pointed quite clearly in a certain direction.

Fenrir was a straightforward berserker with high combat prowess but a simple mind. The mysterious Faust, on the other hand, had a mortal servant unusually adept at various tasks, and could produce some peculiar, unconventional creations from the alchemy workshop.

Anyone investigating diligently could link these individuals to a certain significant figure and his associates.

To be honest, the thought had crossed the Duke of Azuregold's mind—what if Faust was, in fact, Hydral in disguise?

Or rather... what if Faust was Hydral?

However, the numerous coincidences were too... convenient.

So convenient, it seemed as if someone was deliberately making them associate Faust with Hydral.

The Duke of Azuregold believed that if that Hydral truly wished to conceal his identity, he would not leave so many clues. Intelligence from the Knell also confirmed that this Faust was a counterfeit.

Regardless, today's battle would reveal initial clues.

Whether it was Faust's background or this wicked wolf's, as a fifth-stage transcendent standing at the pinnacle of the world, could the Duke of Azuregold really not see through even a slight hint?

Instantly killing two third-stage transcendents at third-stage level... indeed bore some resemblance to that immortal berserker. Haha, if you were deliberately crafted to resemble that, then your strength should not disappoint...

How would you fare against a fourth-stage transcendent?

Just as the Duke of Azuregold was about to signal his fourth-stage extraordinary subordinate to enter and confront Seraphina, a gaze shot up from the arena below, halting his raised hand.

"Hey, you, Duke of Azuregold, right?" The girl with crossed arms grinned. "After much thought, it seems you are indeed the most suitable."

"Come."

The demonic wolf behind her beckoned with a claw. "Fight me."

The arena fell into a deathly silence.

Outside, there was indeed a betting pool on "Faust challenging the Duke of Azuregold," but even the most imaginative bookies and gamblers couldn't have predicted "Fenrir challenging the Duke of Azuregold."

The Duke of Azuregold was taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter a few seconds later.

So that's it, completely embodying the persona of that berserk beast, it seems the mastermind behind this put in considerable effort. Didn't they consider how to end this once I step in? And have Faust come to the rescue?

If you enjoy acting so much, it won't be good if I expose you. Wouldn't it be beneficial to add another person with a misguided direction?

Thus, this Duke, who was challenged by a third-stage extraordinary being, not only had no intention of pursuing the matter but didn't even want to fight.

"I am not a contestant, Miss Fenrir, and neither are you."

He said with a genial smile, "My suggestion is to return the stage to the contestants. What do you think?"

"So," the girl on the stage tilted her head slightly, "you don't want to fight me?"

"You can—"

"Apologies."

Before the Duke of Azuregold could finish his sentence, Seraphina's figure had already appeared in front of him. The crimson-black wolf shadow behind her seemed to devour the very sun, enveloping the Duke of Azuregold in total darkness.

"That was not a request."

The long-lost hunger and brutality finally surfaced on the wolf's face.

"It was..."

The wolf shadow behind her roared to the heavens, its claws, capable of easily shattering high-level spells, seemed to unleash crimson-black lightning, intent on tearing apart the Duke of Azuregold's spirit.

"A declaration!"

*