NCCnovel Chapter 961 Forced His Hand
Chapter 961 Forced His Hand
Villain Ch 961. Forced His Hand
Vivian looked up at him, her gaze soft but troubled. "I'm sorry," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I still feel responsible for what happened. For making you reveal your second form."
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Allen's brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before he chuckled, the sound low and resonant. "Is that what's bothering you?" he asked, his tone warm with amusement. "You think I'm upset about revealing my second form?"
Vivian shook her head slightly, her eyes dropping to the ground. "I know you wanted to keep it a secret until the next event," she admitted, her voice tinged with guilt. "But because of me—because of my situation—you had to use it. I feel like I forced your hand."
Allen stepped closer to her, lifting her chin gently with his fingers so that she was looking directly into his eyes. "Vivian," he said softly, his voice filled with reassurance, "you didn't force me to do anything. I made that choice because I wanted to. And because it was the right moment. Keeping my second form hidden means nothing if it comes at the cost of someone I care about."
"But still, I—I shouldn't have put you in that position. I should have been stronger, or maybe I could have handled the situation differently..." she said.
Allen shook his head, cutting her off gently. "You handled yourself perfectly. You fought just like I expected you to. Revealing my second form wasn't a loss; it was a demonstration of what happens when someone threatens what's mine." His voice grew a touch darker, the protective edge unmistakable.
"But I..." Vivian started to argue, her uncertainty still gnawing at her.
Allen's expression softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't doubt your worth or your decisions. I used that form because I wanted to, because you're important to me. Never forget that."
Some players gathered around the healing fountain, restoring their health and vigor. Some used potions or tonics to speed up their recovery, while others sat quietly, letting the fountain's magic work its healing touch.
Father^Alex, his demeanor now marked with exhaustion, sat on a bench near the fountain, gulping down a Mana potion to restore his depleted mana. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, its effects immediate. He glanced around the village, seeing the same look of weariness and frustration on his fellow players' faces.
Soon, Red_King approached the bench and sat down heavily beside Father^Alex. His armor clinked slightly as he settled. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with unspoken thoughts and shared despair.
Father^Alex was the first to break the silence, his voice low and weary. "We really thought we had a chance this time, didn't we?" His eyes remained fixed on the ground, the bitter reality of their defeat gnawing at him.
Red_King let out a deep sigh, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "We did... we thought we were prepared this time. We had a plan, we had the numbers, but it didn't matter. It's like they're always ten steps ahead, no matter what we do."
Father^Alex nodded, his own thoughts echoing the same sentiment. "It's more than just their strength, though. It's the way they fight. They seem to know exactly how to break us, how to exploit our weaknesses." He shook his head, frustration clear in his voice. "We just tried our luck."
Red_King let out a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he leaned back on the bench. A small, almost unexpected smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Indeed," he agreed, but then his expression shifted to something lighter, almost playful. "But most importantly..."
He turned to Father^Alex and patted him on the shoulder. "This was the first time I saw you like that," he said, his tone happy and almost teasing.
Father^Alex turned to him, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Saw me dead pathetically?" he asked, a hint of self-deprecating humor in his voice.
Red_King chuckled, shaking his head. "No, not that," he replied with a grin. "You shouted and ordered them. You stepped up and took charge out there, even when things were going south. I've never seen you like that before."
Father^Alex blinked in surprise, his expression softening as he considered Red_King's words. "I... I guess I did," he murmured, a bit taken aback by the realization. "I just felt like I had to do something, you know? You were dying, and I couldn't just stand there and let it all fall apart."