SSS-Rank Hero retiring to Start his Villain Arc

"You succeed, and too early." Said Darlos, greeting Leon with a handshake.

Leon didn't ignore and responded by stretching his hand forward.

Darlos felt a strange feeling; this was his first time seeing it. A combination of both good and evil, permeating within a single individual.

"They say a man who bore both good and evil lasts no more than a year."

Leon reverted, "Then they must have not seen such a man before."

"Glad to hear; congratulations; you have tamed a monster too. Who thought a beast would bow without pride?"

Darlos could sense the energy of the three-headed dragon, embedded within Leon's shadow. Without permission, it couldn't come out.

Darlos could feel the glare of the dragon; he knew of its great strength. Regardless, it was Darlos who placed him in the chamber as the protector of the crack, the black energy.

They still stood in the tunnel, looking at each other in silence. Even with just eye contact, they could ask each other many things.

"Now that the power has been obtained, what do you want to do next?"

Leon, with his solemn expression, twisted his lips and watched Darlos face. He opened his mouth.

"Empty the jungle; erase every source of food for the king; the king will have no choice but to make his move without hiding."

"But how will you erase every source? If you eradicate one or two, they will have many to target."

Leon began to ruminate about it; he had to make his decision on what exactly he would do.

Even though he had returned, that didn't mean he had come completely prepared. He knew just looking at the goal to eliminate his enemy wouldn't lead him to the paths of that journey.

It was a journey he must create himself.

"We will occupy the basic and the most essential points."

"Oh, are you trying to create more than just a stopping point?" said Darlos, smirking widely as if he felt amused.

But there was more for Darlos to say, to put some sense into the man before him.

"Fool, basics can be created in many ways. If you stole the throne of a demon king or destroy a garden that can only germinate those calamities, that wouldn't be the end. There're limitless possibilities… hang on a second."

Darlos had realized what Leon was thinking about.

"Absurd, that is a foolish thought of yours." Said Darlos in denial.

He didn't know if this was possible; no matter what he tried, it was too obvious that it would be a failure.

"What if… we let the calamities become calamities, but they bite their own owners? What do you think of it?"

Leon further said, "Nor will the owner remain nor will the disasters."

"You're killing everything; besides that, how are you going to erase the basic source?"

Leon placed his hand on Darlos shoulder and said.

"Darlos, your many steps behind. Words wouldn't explain everything; words wouldn't explain anything."

He then asked Darlos.

"Do I go back myself, or you're coming with me?"

Darlos snorted, "How annoying," and snapped his finger only for the whole area to morph into the original room.

With the second snap, they were standing outside the castle.

There was a long journey waiting ahead of them.

***

Under the roof of a gazebo sat a fat man who wore a robe in black, smooth as velvet. Cup of green liquid in hand.

His thick mustache soaked in this liquid. His eyes were drowsy, like he hadn't slept for a fortnight.

His mind was complicated by the strange 'buzz' sound that dwelled in his mind for two weeks. He didn't know what it was, but surely something or someone had to do with it.

A man removed a velvet drape covering the privacy of the king in the gazebo. His soft and light voice asked the king in concern.

"What has bothered you, my liege? For you to not drink properly in these few passing days."

The king had not answered; he was drowsing and was completely absent of his surroundings. The king didn't hear the man's voice.

He was immersed in the sound that had not left him. He was trying to hear something, like the sound was not just buzz but more than that.

"Markolus," The man wheezed, "I have this bad premonition; the kingdom will be destroyed by the arcane."

The fat king's face was flushed; breathing was difficult for him. Even taking a step was harder than taking a sip from the cup.

Markulos assured the king, "My liege, your brother is with you; as long as he's alive, nothing will happen to your kingdom."

"Perhaps, your right."

But the king didn't believe it. He just couldn't trust a man who made him like this. Fat, ugly, and stupid. A tool that can take the blame for his crime.

No matter what, it was too late. He was just a king in name; all the power belonged to his brother. Even though Markulos had sold his own soul to his brother, the king called him.

The devil from the shadows.

"My liege, if you want something, please call someone who might be nearby. There's commotion that needs to be dealt with."

Markulos soon left. Leaving the king alone in his misery. There was no one around, nor will there ever be.

The king stared at the green liquid; this was the only thing he got. When asked for water, it is this liquid; when asked for food, it was this liquid.

He never understood the purpose behind it. His brother wanted power; he had it. What exactly does he want from him except to play the role of false king, even though it was an unwilling pressure.

"Let us have hope in a bright future; maybe a legend will arise to end this devil from the shadows."

And that legend was now inside the kingdom.

***

"Is there something important you want from this place?" asked Darlos. His body had changed, as had his face. It matched more like those around him.

Feeble, poor, and discouraged.

So was Leon in similar conditions. They were looking at some criminals' heads being chopped off by a thick blade.

They were pleading for mercy, fearing death and wondering if there's an afterlife.

On the crime list, there was a woman with her blue hair cascading down. They were long, and her blue eyes and pale skin.

"Are we here to save that woman?" asked Darlos.

"No, we are here to see her die."

"Loathing?"

"No, our first strike should transpire with a blue rose with