The Villain's Story

150 [150]The talented one,Ezra Fornum[1]

The Talented one.

The copycat.

The legend.

The talent stealer.

The star.

The Trump of Behemoth.

So many names had been given to him by the people.

He was the one, who was 'destined' to bring Behemoth to even higher heights.

Such a talent.

The once in a lifetime talent, one in a trillion.

So many nicknames and all of them are centered around him.

The one to become the strongest.

The one who would be the next saint.

The one that would surpass Hiroto Mitsuki and Arken Miller.

The 'Hope.'

He was the one, the one light.

He is the light.

Ezra Fornum is the one born with the talent of copying others.

Their Physical Technique was stolen by him after just a glance.

Everything they worked so hard to achieve, the techniques it took years for them to learn.

All imitated in the span of a few seconds.

What a miserable sight for them.

To see their dedication, their hard work, and their effort all copied in the blink of an eye.

So Effortlessly as well.

How would one feel when that happened to them?

Would they feel Despair?

Would they feel homeless?

No, it would first shock, and disbelief that would hit them like a truck.

And then they would be hit by the train that would be despair.

As their confidence, their ego, and their hearts, would fall deep into the ground.

He was the one that had traumatized many rising stars of this generation and the previous.

And he did it all, because he could at first.

And then, he realized that his talent was a curse, in some aspects.

He destroyed the dreams of others, his enemies.

But unknowingly destroyed the dreams of his family.

He unknowingly crushed their dreams as well.

The genius of fighting was alone.

And then, he hated it.

So many techniques to fight with.

Yet why must I fight with them?

...he lost what he thought he had to protect.

And then, when he fell, his grandfather, forcefully made him fight again.

He crushed more dreams.

He crushed more rising stars.

And today would be the day he would crush the first spatial Awakened in humanity's history.

But that was for a later time.

Right now, he was meeting someone special to him.

"Hey, Long time no see."

"...?!"

He surprised the lady he had fallen for, and she nearly dropped her glass.

Golden Silk hair, gold eyes, and a face carved by the gods.

A black dress that complimented her magnificent features.

And her face was filled with shock and she looked frantically around the area.

"Don't worry Liz, I got...permission I guess you could say."

Elizabeth Parker gasped in shock as she questioned Ezra.

"...your grandfather found out?!"

"Yep."

"...he did?"

"Yep."

"Why are so calm?!"

" I don't know, he found out and I can't do anything about it, so...yep."

"..."

Elizabeth's mouth was wide open at this man's calmness.

The one person, except for her father, that shouldn't have found out about this relationship...found out.

"...my head hurts."

"Oh come on, it'll work out."

"And how do you propose it'll work out?"

"Just trust me."

Elizabeth looked at Ezra with complete stillness.

"Every time I have trusted you, something bad has happened."

Ezra stayed quiet after her remark, before coming up with something of his own.

"Well, if they try anything, I will just eradicate Behemoth and Titan."

And then it was Elizabeth's turn to remain silent.

To think he would just casually say that he would destroy the two top guilds.

She sighed, and then looked down at the floor below where the party was being held.

She leaned over the balcony, and Ezra did the same.

They watched the party go on and remained silent.

"Hey, when I win, which place do you want to go to?"

"What?"

Suddenly, Ezra asked her something.

"If I beat Alan Peccator, I can take you on a date."

'A date?!'

She was shocked at first, but then remembered a sorrowful fact.

What happened To Ezras Opponents after they fight him, was not a sight she deemed pleasant to the eyes.

"...do you have to do it?"

"..."

Ezra remained silent, and Elizabeth told him something else.

"You don't have to do it, not to another one.

You...already have an arsenal of techniques for you to use...do you have to?

He even belongs to the same class as Elaine, and from what I have heard, he can be dependable at times, although yes he does have some flaws...but do you have to ruin Humanity's first Spatial awakened?

...do you?"

Ezra remained silent, before he walked towards the stairs, and held out his hand.

"Will you join me for a dance, my fair lady?"

Elizabeth stared silently at Ezra, and his attempt to Dodge the question.

"Please?"

...

She sighed and then a simple smile formed on her face, as she agreed.

"Of course, how can I say no when 'you' ask me?"

And then she slid her hands into Ezras, and they walked down the stairs together.

****

[Ezra's PoV]

'Do I have to do it?'

I thought as I danced with Liz.

Do I have to do it?

Do I have to make another fall into despair?

Do I want to?

No, never.

Do I have to?

Yes.

I sent them and let them suffer instead of me.

I can't let them bear the weight of his expectations.

And I can't just give up any chance to spend time with Liz.

I don't know what the Guildmaster of Titan thinks of this relationship, but considering he hasn't done anything...yet.

I can be sure I can do this.

I wonder how it'll feel like to fight a spatial awakened.

I've never fought one, I've fought awakened with a spear, but never one with a spatial awakened.

I think it would be fun.

"What are you think of?"

I heard Liz's voice and looked directly into her beautiful eyes.

Yeah, I guess this is happiness.

"Nothing, just of you."

And at my words, I saw her face turn red for a moment.

Hah, what a sight.

I don't care I guess.

If I have to fuck someone over for this happiness.

I would do it hundreds of times over.

Over and Over, even if it's just for a moment of happiness, I would do it.

***

Oliver sat down on the couch of a private room as he sipped on his drink.

His elegancy in drinking, however, was interrupted by the chugging sounds of Arken drinking straight from three bottles sitting in front of him.

*Chug*Chug*

"This is some good wine!"

"Sigh..."

Oliver sighed at the behavior of his friend, who chugged down bottle after bottle.

"Are you sure you're fine enough to come out like this?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah yeah, my injuries are fine."

Arken replied in a nonchalant tone at Oliver's worry.

"If you say so."

Oliver sipped his drink again and then asked about Alan.

"How is Alan's progress?"

"Alan? He doing good I guess."

"Could you explain in more detail?"

Arken stopped to think for a moment before he explained.

"The thing with Alan is he just blindly charges in without thinking, he has an amazing body, but not the mind to use it correctly.

He's got the hardware, I just need to download the software.

All I need to do is teach him how to fight properly using his body, and then just leave it to him."

"How long does he last against you?"

"If he's with the others, the fight can go on for 7 to 8 minutes, if he's alone, 3 minutes max."

"... I don't think it will be enough."

"Hmm?"

Arken stopped drinking for a while as he looked at Oliver with a weird gaze.

"What do you mean?"

He asked Oliver, who answered.

"I don't think he will win against The Copycat."

"Ahh, the guy that rose shortly after I disappeared?"

"Yes."

Arken fell into deep thought.

Alan was getting better at improving his technique.

Without a doubt, he was getting better.

And although he hadn't seen the Copycat in action, he had a hard time believing someone had the talent of copying something perfectly after seeing it only once.

He didn't think his student would lose as easily.

"I think you're underestimating my student, Oliver."

Arken said to Oliver, Who replied in a firm tone.

"Im not, you were gone when Ezra made his appearance in the world.

But I've seen many talents fall, and I don't think Alan will be different.

So im begging you, don't let him fall into depression, you're his master."

Oliver paused for a while before he continued.

"Be there for him when he's at his lowest."

Arken remained silent for a while.

To be honest, he didn't think Alan would lose 'that' miserably.

Sure he 'might' lose, but fall into depression because of it.

He didn't think it would end like this.