Return of the Villain

In an office at the barracks of the 7th Armored Brigade, 27th Army Group, Beijing, China.

A man had his military boots propped up on the desk.

“…So? Lieutenant Colonel Li Juren and an entire company under his command vanished? Without a trace?”

A wolf-like man asked in a languid tone.

“That is the report from the one reconnaissance squad that survived and returned. The entire company is still in non-returned status.”

Senior Colonel Liu Wenxiang, from the same 1st Warrior Division of the 27th Army Group’s 7th Armored Brigade Awakened Auxiliary Force, reported briefly.

“Strange incident. What could possibly be the reason a modern army with overwhelming firepower would vanish without a trace in the desert of another world with inferior civilization?”

Major General He Chen, Liu Wenxiang’s superior, muttered as if puzzled.

“That’s what I want to know.”

He Chen picked up one of the pile of 1-yuan coins on the desk and tossed it casually.

The coin flew toward the trash can at the corner of the office entrance.

Wiiing-

The trajectory of the randomly thrown coin bent under telekinetic force.

Dalkatak.

The coin landed precisely in the center of the trash can.

“We observe the aftermath of operations at Rabat Village, which was our original target, but the residents are carrying on normally. Only the dispatched forces have vanished… it’s certainly puzzling.”

Liu Wenxiang reported while pushing up his gleaming glasses.

“Ah, and Wang Junlin, the youngest member of the Fantasy Paradise Guild in Beijing, has also suddenly gone missing.”

“What? That rascal? Really?”

One of He Chen’s eyebrows lazily rose.

It was his characteristic habit when feeling interested.

“Not just Wang Junlin. Including the Three Battle Wolves, former S-rank First Hunters of the Mongolian superhuman corps.”

“What! Even the legendary Mongolian Three Battle Wolves!?”

He Chen’s eyes widened in surprise.

Liu Wenxiang continued reporting in a calm voice.

“His sister Wang Shuran, concerned about her immature youngest brother’s eccentricities, found them living as tour guides and mercenaries in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and attached a massive reward… but all three suddenly disappeared as well.”

“When exactly did this happen!”

“This occurred three days ago. That’s the report from a State Security Department agent infiltrating the Fantasy Paradise Guild.”

He Chen’s mouth gaped open in shock.

Now he was completely captivated with interest.

His hand moved quickly.

Wiiing- Dalkatak.

A coin thrown in any direction in the office bent and landed in the trash can.

He Chen felt his heart pounding for the first time in a while.

‘Wow, what on earth did I just hear? The Three Battle Wolves? Suddenly missing in the otherworld desert?’

The Great Cataclysm of 1999 brought many changes to the world.

It caused intense fluctuations in existing systems as well.

This was also true for China, one of the world’s three great powers.

The control of communist countries around the world, including China, and dictatorships, was strengthened even more than before.

It was a phenomenon stemming from the characteristic rigidity of their systems.

China was reborn as the most powerful dictatorial state.

Among guilds, there are state-owned national guilds and privately-owned private guilds.

Whether national or private, the contextual distinction is merely superficial.

Naturally, they are monitored with the characteristic control of the Communist Party.

Even the guilds know about the surveillance activities but cannot respond.

This is because they too are beings living with their feet on national soil.

No matter how powerful awakened ones might be, they cannot fight against an entire nation.

“Why did that idiot Wang Junlin enter the gate? Getting himself missing and causing everyone to worry.”

“It was supposedly to tame the Albino Death Worm, one of the Four Great Lords living in the Grabadra Sea of the Shahar Great Desert beyond the gate…”

“Albino Death Worm? The Four Great Lords are roughly S-rank, right?”

“I was personally quite interested in this case and wanted to know more, but that’s all the information the agent detected. With the disappearance of the third son, the atmosphere within the Fantasy Paradise Group is completely in disarray. The Mongolian government is also in an extreme state of emergency.”

“Hmm.”

He Chen made a humming sound and placed his chin on his interlocked fingers.

‘Lieutenant Colonel Li Juren… Wang Junlin… Three Battle Wolves… Albino Death Worm…’

He Chen connected the various puzzle pieces that came to mind.

“…Report all details further. Down to the most trivial things.”

“…I’m not sure if this is relevant, but during Lieutenant Colonel Li Juren’s operation, there were reports of intermittent screams from worms in the vicinity.”

“Worms, you say?”

“The desert worms that inhabit the desert centered around the Grabadra Sea. They refer to the relatively small Death Worms or the larger Sand Worms.”

He Chen’s eyes shone with deep interest.

“Could it be that the worms attacked in a group? They are quite large and strong grade creatures, after all.”

“That possibility is extremely slim. While they are certainly dangerous, instead of developed vision, they have sensitive hearing, so they quickly become scared and run away just from the sound of gunfire.”

“Still, they’re big and strong creatures. If attacked, even a company armed with modern weapons could be threatened enough.”

“To begin with, worms are not creatures that live collectively in hives. At most, they form small family units of three or four. The possibility is considered low.”

“Hmm.”

He Chen fidgeted with his interlocked fingers.

His subordinate’s inference was logical and reasonable.

Based on monster ecology knowledge, that would be expected.

Worms suddenly forming collective hives?

That possibility is low.

Encountering an Albino Death Worm with such rare encounter probability?

That possibility is also low.

‘What could it be?’

He Chen was no longer interested in Lieutenant Colonel Li Juren’s disappearance.

Instead, he burned with curiosity about Wang Junlin and the Mongolian Three Battle Wolves’ whereabouts.

Where did the four S-ranks who departed on the same day and hour disappear to?

It’s impossible for something to happen to Wang Junlin’s safety.

Although a tamer, he is an S-rank hunter with basic physical skills.

Moreover, the spoiled young master was accompanied by reliable guards.

The possibility that the Albino Death Worm encountered the four?

It defeated four S-ranks including Wang Junlin and the Three Battle Wolves?

Such a thing is completely impossible.

Tolga alone should be able to hunt an Albino Death Worm.

The original result should have been the Albino Death Worm being hunted.

The four national power-level figures from China and Mongolia were that powerful.

It simply cannot happen.

“Currently, both the General Staff Department and the Awakened Headquarters are in various states of confusion. The whereabouts of the missing persons cannot be determined. Even with modern technology developed with magical science, it’s unrealistic to search the entire vast desert comparable to the Sahara. The investigation is in a complete deadlock.”

Liu Wenxiang’s calm voice echoed throughout the office.

However, He Chen’s thinking was not normal to begin with.

Originally, he couldn’t even enter the military.

He was a person far removed from society in the first place.

“I see. Lieutenant Colonel Li Juren… Wang Junlin… Three Battle Wolves…”

He Chen finally reached his conclusion.

“They’re probably all dead.”

“Pardon? Why do you say that?”

Liu Wenxiang’s eyes immediately widened.

It was an unexpected inference.

“Well, I wonder why?”

He Chen just smiled instead of answering.

Liu Wenxiang looked at the grinning He Chen with puzzled eyes.

“…Who do you think did it?”

“The Albino Death Worm. It’s his doing.”

Liu Wenxiang’s face was completely stunned.

No matter how well-known an eccentric he might be, this seemed a bit much.

“…Isn’t that too far-fetched?”

“I have a feeling. I’m probably right? We won’t find any traces in that vast desert anyway.”

He Chen looked up at the ceiling with an innocent gaze.

‘What exactly is an ordinary life?’

He Chen asked Liu Wenxiang with a childlike expression.

“You know, what exactly is an ordinary life?”

“…I think you probably know, but do you really not know?”

“I really don’t know. I’ve been an ultra-genius who was good at everything since birth.”

He Chen was a congenital awakened one born to awakened parents.

His aptitude and qualities were overwhelmingly outstanding.

An aptitude called Triple Class right from birth.

As soon as he was born, he killed his own mother with fire magic.

In his growth period afterward, he grew up as a genius excellent in various fields.

All kinds of privileges bestowed upon awakened ones followed.

All of China watched his passionate progress.

There wasn’t a single field in learning or athletics that he couldn’t master.

Even his innate brain was extraordinarily exceptional.

However, He Chen had serious human defects.

He couldn’t feel emotions such as empathy.

He himself also lacked fear and humanity.

At the age of 15, He Chen dismembered his father with telekinesis.

It was because he hated being nagged about stopping killing stray cats.

It was the moment he realized killing humans was more fun.

For the next three years, He Chen became a villain, wandering throughout China.

He was powerful enough to immediately topple China’s formidable villain organizations.

But that distinctive inhumanity inevitably produced betrayers.

At some point, He Chen was arrested by the Awakened Specialist Unit.

He Chen was arrested with an incredibly bright smiling face.

He then served one year in an awakened prison.

Asperger’s syndrome.

Antisocial personality disorder.

Narcissistic personality disorder.

Social communication disorder.

That was the comprehensive conclusion reached by specialists who diagnosed He Chen.

It was presumed to be a side effect that rarely occurs in congenital mana-affinity awakened ones.

The life of the wicked genius was thought to end there.

After the Great Cataclysm of 1999, a wind of enormous competition blew among nations.

Nations possessing strong awakened ones were recognized for their national power.

Even villains rising as candidates was a trend of the times.

Telekinesis ranking 3rd. Fire magic ranking 7th, Transformation magic ranking 10th.

Even by world hunter rankings, He Chen is excellent.

He is comparable to Tolga in his prime.

He Chen was the most powerful among the serving villains.

It was natural for him to be assigned to the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China.

Thus, He Chen was able to come out into the world again.

If he hadn’t chosen the path of a villain?

He would have become a great hero like the Three Battle Wolves.

That was the public’s assessment of He Chen.

“The Albino Death Worm… is the culprit.”

“He and I are both mass murderers. It’s like a feeling between fellow killers?”

“That’s…”

“You know how good my intuition is? Trust me once.”

He Chen enjoyed the sight of his long-time comrade in confusion.

‘Perhaps I’ll meet my arch-enemy.’

He Chen instructed Liu Wenxiang in a deliberate tone.

“Call all the kids after a long time. Was it the Gobi Desert S-12 Gate? It’ll be quick if we go through the teleport transfer stations installed at major guilds. We need to go immediately.”

Liu Wenxiang asked with a doubtful expression.

“…But, do you intend to search that vast desert? The Shahar Great Desert of Elzeria, corresponding to Earth’s Sahara Desert, is of similar size…”

“Ha, really! Don’t you know the method kidnappers use? Have you forgotten one of the games we used to play before I served time?”

He Chen rebuked Liu Wenxiang with a harsh gaze.

“You just kidnap the kids! Show the crying, wailing, and sniveling scene to the anguished parents! Occasionally accompanied by a very light physical measure!”

Understanding dawned in Liu Wenxiang’s eyes behind his glasses.

“Ah.”

He Chen gave a lazy smile.

“Keep thrashing countless worms below, and he’ll definitely come out. It will definitely work?”

Liu Wenxiang added with meaningful words, as if finalizing.

“…Will you be alright? Without reporting to the military?”

“…Since when were we ever soldiers? It’s just pretending. Kuk!”

He Chen grabbed the edge of the desk and stood up.

“As of today, the disgusting soldier game is over.”

He Chen took off his combat uniform field jacket with rank insignia and threw it away.

Hwaryuk-

The field jacket burst into flames as if spontaneously combusting.

A hot, small flame that certainly wouldn’t burn the surroundings rose up.

“…Understood.”

Liu Wenxiang took out his mobile phone and began busily making contacts.

He Chen couldn’t contain a strange sense of elation.

‘How long have I been waiting for this moment?’

Former S-rank villain, current punishment soldier of the People’s Republic of China Hunter Army.

Triple class of Fire Mage, Telekinetic, and Transformation Mage.

The genius villain who had caused a sensation in the world was returning.

He Chen licked his lips like a wolf.

“It’s time to hunt monster worms.”

Meanwhile, at that moment in Akran Village.

“Kyuhwaaaak-!”

“Good! Keep charging like that! Uwaa-!”

Bang! Passuk-!

The cavalry lance positioned on the shoulder of an assassin riding a Death Worm hit the target.

They are conducting something similar to mounted lance charges.

On a training ground temporarily established on the land outside the village.

Training for Worm Riders is in progress.

“Uwaaaaa-! Amazing!”

“To perform horsemanship while riding worms!”

“Worms are desert-specialized mounts! They’re more incredible and powerful than expected!”

Assassins watching the training burst into cheers.

Hot enthusiasm and cheers filled the air all around.

Rumble-!

Beyond, Death Worms and Sand Worms raise dust as they dash forward.

In the hazy yellow dust, assassins mounted on worms threw back their shoulders.

Pyushushushushuk-!

Javelins thrown simultaneously by the assassins flew.

Pak! Pushushushushuk-!

With loud noises, the targets were penetrated.

“Waaaaa-!”

“Uwaaaaa-!”

“Kyaaaak-!”

Exclamations of admiration from the desert assassins followed.

Various other training activities such as archery, stone-throwing, and swordsmanship were also being conducted.

Assassins are specialists in various martial arts.

It was natural for training incorporating their specialties to take place.

“White Sovereign, is training really necessary? They match so well? I wonder why they never understood each other and cooperated until now…”

Nadia asked, looking down at the White Sovereign she was riding.

[Well, but in my view…]

The training between assassins and worms was perfect.

They moved and breathed in unison as if they were one body.

Still, something seemed insufficient in the White Sovereign’s eyes.

‘The most efficient way to utilize worms…’

The White Sovereign looked alternately at the assassins and worms.

The small and weak bodies of the assassins.

The long and powerful bodies of the worms.

How to bind them stably?

“What? You see something lacking?”

[Even wild horses tamed by nature can be ridden forcibly if desired. However, a horse without a saddle or stirrups is extremely unstable. Efficiency doesn’t come out properly. That is not a complete form for human riding. A special device is needed.]

“A device?”

The White Sovereign answered Nadia with telepathy.

[It seems special supplies will be necessary after all.]

It was the method for the desert environment’s ultimate military unit, the Worm Rider, to be truly reborn.