I Really Am A Villain

The ground shook violently, splitting apart as deep cracks spread out from beneath the earth. Xu Zimo looked up to see a colossal stone giant emerging from the ruins. Its body was made of charred rock, glowing with rivers of molten magma that burned across its form. Low, rumbling growls echoed from its mouth.

“It’s a beast formed from a formation,” Ji Jiuning said solemnly. “Shall we work together to take it down?”

Xu Zimo gave her a brief glance but said nothing. Shadow Tyrant in his hand erupted with a brilliant slash that tore through the world. The dazzling light of his blade illuminated the desolate ruins before it exploded forward in an unstoppable arc.

The strike ripped through the ground, carving a bottomless fissure into the earth. The blade’s force annihilated everything in its path.

The magma giant roared but had no time to react, it was instantly reduced to ashes.

“You…” Ji Jiuning froze, stunned for a moment.

“Realizing you’re a side character?” Xu Zimo chuckled, glancing at her.

He stood calmly as a red-and-gold gemstone appeared where the molten beast had fallen.

He reached out and grabbed it, and a glowing number appeared before him: “100.”

“Hm? What’s this?” Xu Zimo frowned.

“Your score,” Ji Jiuning explained. “This battleground is like a grand competition. Slaying an opponent earns you points. The one with the highest score in the end wins.”

She smiled lightly. “Of course, if you manage to kill all your opponents, that would also make you number one, in a sense.”

“Got it,” Xu Zimo nodded, then raised his blade toward her. “Then that makes you worth some points too.”

“S-surely the young master wouldn’t be that heartless!” Ji Jiuning said with a faint laugh, though her eyes flickered with caution. “If you keep me alive, I can guide you. Kill me, and you’ll gain only a few points, nothing that will decide the outcome.”

“So you’re saying your value outweighs your score?” Xu Zimo asked.

“To be frank,” Ji Jiuning said quickly, “I possess part of a map of this battleground.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Xu Zimo said with a faint smirk.

“It’s true. It belonged to a senior from our Northern Hills clan who entered this place in the last generation. He died here, and the map was lost with him.”

“If it’s lost, then how is there a map?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Our Northern Hills Fox Clan has a rule,” Ji Jiuning explained. “Before death, every clansman hides their most important belongings within their own pocket realm. If we find his body, I can open that realm and retrieve the map.” She paused, then added quickly, “And our fox clan can sense unique scents. Within a certain range, I can detect my senior’s presence.”

Her words came fast, she could feel the killing intent radiating from Xu Zimo. This man was far more dangerous than he appeared.

“You have three days,” Xu Zimo said after a moment of thought. “If we don’t find the map, you’re of no use to me.”

“F–Fine,” Ji Jiuning nodded slightly.

This was far from what she had expected. She had come seeking an alliance, to uncover the truth behind the ambush, but now she was bargaining just to survive.

“Let’s go,” Xu Zimo said, sheathing his blade as he walked toward the edge of the ruins.

They hadn’t gone far when the collapsed buildings gave way to a tropical rainforest. Giant banana trees, their broad leaves like massive fans, covered half the sky. The lush green shimmered with humid heat that filled the air.

The trunks were thick, their rings visible as though carved by a blade.

“There’s fighting ahead,” Xu Zimo muttered.

Through the mist that cloaked the jungle, he could sense a clash of power.

He took a step forward and charged straight into the rainforest.

The moment he entered, dizziness hit him, the damp, suffocating heat felt like stepping into a sauna, steam rising from the very earth.

“These vapors are toxic,” Ji Jiuning warned from behind.

After running for six or seven minutes, they reached the source of the battle. The banana grove had been leveled, trunks sliced cleanly in two by blades or weapons.

In the middle of the clearing, a blood-red figure was fighting a panda.

Xu Zimo recognized the man immediately, it was Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth of the Dragon Demon God Realm.

Now he looked like a demonic bull, muscles bulging, limbs braced against the ground. His robe had transformed into heavy armor, and he wielded a massive hammer that cratered the ground with every swing.

His opponent, the panda, wore a straw hat and carried a piece of green bamboo. Despite its round, plump body, it moved with surprising agility, circling the banana trees and easily evading Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth’s blows.

“Stupid bull demon! You can’t hit me! You can’t hit me!” the panda taunted, sticking out its tongue playfully as it dodged.

When Xu Zimo and Ji Jiuning appeared, the two combatants finally paused.

“Well, well, looks like we’ve got company,” the panda said with a grin.

Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth glanced warily at Xu Zimo, then said cautiously, “Work together?”

After a pause, he added, “That’s a Bamboo-Palm Panda. Killing it’s worth ten thousand points.”

“You two take your time chatting,” the panda said, laughing loudly. “But Grandpa Panda’s not sticking around for this!”

Sensing the tension, it turned and bolted into the deeper jungle.

Neither Xu Zimo nor Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth pursued. They stood facing each other instead, their auras intensifying.

“Kill!”

Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth roared, the sound like a bull’s bellow. His massive horns lowered and he charged forward.

Xu Zimo met the attack head-on, grabbing both horns with his bare hands. The immense force drove him backward step by step, his boots grinding against the soil.

“Young Master Xu, I’ll help!” Ji Jiuning’s voice called from the side.

Nine purple fox tails unfurled behind her, swirling with spirit energy that filled the air. Each tail stretched a hundred meters long, whipping toward Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth to bind him.

“Power breaks all!” Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth bellowed, his strength surging. He tore through the bindings and lunged, trying to crush Xu Zimo beneath his charge.

But Xu Zimo twisted midair, flipping onto the bull’s back.

He seized the demon’s horns again as the beast thrashed wildly, shattering banana trees all around them.

“KNEEL!” Xu Zimo roared, his right fist slamming down onto the demon’s neck.

Grand Emperor Heaven-Mammoth let out a pained howl as his massive body collapsed to the ground, raising clouds of dust.

“Get the hell off me!” the bull demon shouted furiously, muscles bulging as he threw Xu Zimo off.

Black demonic mist erupted from his body as his horns lowered again, aiming straight for Xu Zimo’s abdomen.