「Heroes Kneel Before The Villain's」
—PROLOGUE—
“Funny how life applauds you for winning—until it rips the floor from under you.”
I finally did it. I became someone people recognized by name alone.
Years of suffering paid off—endless nights without sleep, days stitched together by overwork and ambition. I traded youth for success, warmth for stability, and loneliness for numbers that kept climbing. I had no family to go home to, no one waiting. Only results.
Then came the typhoon. Metal screamed. Glass shattered. And just like that, everything I built slipped out of my hands. I had finally reached the starting line—and still, I died.
Too young. Too soon. Just when life was supposed to begin.
I guess success tastes like ash when you have no one to share it with.
They’ll remember my name—but not the nights I spent paying the cost.
“I wonder if they’ll mourn—or just admire the numbers I left behind.” - RIP ME
—CHAPTER 1—
Author’s Note:
This story shifts between first-person, second-person, and third-person points of view for storytelling purposes.
Nothing begins without what came before. A shadow of what once was, stirring beneath the surface.
The dream came without warning.
It was always felt like hell, walking through the fire...
It was never clear—only fragments. A man on the ground, blood soaking through what used to be white. A woman’s voice tearing through the noise, hoarse and breaking as she screamed one word over and over.
Fire swallowed the edges of everything. The air burned. Screams blurred together until they were no longer voices, just sound. Heat. Red. Pain that didn’t belong to him—yet felt too close.
After that I finally jolted awake, my lungs dragging in air like I'd been underwater.
Mr. Vaelor
*Gasp* Haa.... Ah...
For a moment, I stayed silent clearing my mind. My heart stayed frozen, staring at the ceiling as my heartbeat slowed.
My room was dark, quiet... Unlike in my dream that was messy, touch by fire everywhere and many death bodies. Just the way to start my morning it seems.
Mr. Vaelor
... That dream again. *Mumbles and sigh while pushing his hair backwards*
I slowly sat up, rubbed a hand over my face, and exhaled. No matter how many times it repeated I can't seem to puzzle, what my dream was telling me.
It never changed, I didn't dwell on it. Because it's just a fanfic dream, and it will never happen in reality anyway.
Mr. Vaelor
*Stood up and start walking toward the bathroom*
Shower. Clothes. Black tie, perfectly straight. Coffee I barely tasted. The city outside my window was already alive and noisy.
By the time I stepped into the office, I was already faced with so many paper works on my desk, as meetings stacked and numbers rose on the screen, one thought lingered beneath everything.
Mr. Vaelor
Clear my afternoon and evening schedule. *Signing the last document*
Vaelor didn’t look up as he spoke. His pen moved steadily across the paper, signature after signature lining up with mechanical precision.
Mr. Vaelor
And call Mr. Tomson. I want to speak to him personally *I continue*
Mr. Vaelor
Reserve a private room at a good Chinese restaurant.
Mr. Vaelor
Somewhere quiet. I want dumplings.
Tiffany stood straight in front of his desk, tablet held to her chest. Her voice was calm, but her fingers twitched just slightly as she noted everything down. Working for Vaelor meant adapting to speed—his, not yours.
Mr. Vaelor
This evening....
Mr. Vaelor
I want no interruptions.
Tiffany
Understood. *Fix her glasses*
Vaelor finally set the pen down, glanced over the last document, and stamped it without hesitation. The stack of papers that had towered over his desk hours ago was now neatly filed away. Another day compressed into results.
Tiffany bowed lightly and turned to leave—
The office door opened without warning.
A voice with a cheerful tone walked in.
Kylie
Still terrifyingly efficient, I see.
Kylie strolled in like he owned the place, coat half-buttoned, hair a mess in the deliberate way artists liked to pretend was accidental. He dropped himself into the chair across from Vaelor’s desk, crossing his legs comfortably.
Tiffany blinked once, then recovered. She bowed again, this time deeper.
Tiffany
I’ll… leave you two alone. *said and retreated*
The door shut softly behind her. Vaelor leaned back in his chair, expression flat.
Mr. Vaelor
You're late. *I said*
Kylie
*Wave it off* You love me any more *with a smug look of confidence in his face*
Mr. Vaelor
No *Reply calmly*
Mr. Vaelor
I tolerate you.
Kylie laughed, unbothered, and leaned forward.
He pulled a tablet from his bag and slapped it onto the desk, eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Kylie
I came to show you my new work.
Mr. Vaelor
*Raised an eyebrow.* Another piece that wouldn't sell?
Kylie
Five, actually and yes it will sell.
Mr. Vaelor
*Pause*....Five
Kylie
*nodded proudly* five full series.
Mr. Vaelor
*Exhaled through his nose* That explains the reckless confidence.
Kylie ignored the comment and swiped open a page, showing colorful concept art, dramatic fonts, and bold lettering.
Kylie
Title’s *Villains Kneel Down to the Heroes.”
Vaelor stared at the screen for a long second.
Mr. Vaelor
That's a lame title... 😑
Kylie recoiled like he’d been stabbed.
Mr. Vaelor
Aren't heroes overrated? *Leaned back to his chair*
Mr. Vaelor
They’re praised for doing what they’re supposed to do. Villains, at least, are honest about their intentions.
Kylie
*groan and leaned back* You're impossible!
Mr. Vaelor
Efficient. *I corrected*
Kylie rolled his eyes but quickly leaned forward again, swiping through pages with renewed excitement.
Kylie
Okay, okay, ignore the title for now. Look at the art style.
Character designs flashed across the screen—heroes in shining armor, villains cloaked in shadows, dramatic poses frozen mid-conflict.
Vaelor skimmed them with polite disinterest.
The screen showed a single character: light-haired, sharp-eyed, dressed in muted colors. No exaggerated villain flair. No heroic glow. Just someone standing alone, expression unreadable, blood staining his sleeve like it didn’t bother him anymore.
Mr. Vaelor
Who's this? *I asked quietly*
Kylie
*Glanced down* Oh, him? That's—
He said the name casually, shrugging.
Kylie
He’s one of the villains. Kind of a side character at first. Ends up dead later.
His gaze stayed fixed on the image, a strange pressure building behind his eyes. The design was too clean. Too familiar. The angle of the face, the calm resignation in the eyes—
Mr. Vaelor
You killed him... *said flatly*
Kylie
Well, yeah. He dies for plot development. *laugh it off*
Mr. Vaelor
*looked up at him as if judging him* that's lazy.
Mr. Vaelor
He looks innocent... *Tilt his head* or at least... Undeserving.
Kylie
*blinked*you barely glanced at him.
Mr. Vaelor
That was enough. *put down the picture and cross his arms*
For a moment, Kylie studied his friend more closely. Vaelor was still composed, still cold—but something subtle had shifted.
Kylie
Did you eat something or did you wake up in the wrong side off your bed?
Mr. Vaelor
I'm fine. *replied immediately*
The conversation moved on.
Kylie talked—about themes, arcs, symbolism, sales potential. He always talked. Vaelor listened just enough to follow, occasionally correcting logic flaws or pointing out pacing issues. Eventually, Kylie leaned forward, suddenly serious.
Kylie
So... *rub the back of his neck* the real reason I came.
Mr. Vaelor
*sigh* There it is.
Mr. Vaelor
You need an investor.
They said in the same time as Kylie looked at vaelor with a smile of capitalism lol...
Mr. Vaelor
*eye unreadable* you're asking me to fund this?
Kylie
Well not just fund! *Said quickly* believe in it.
Vaelor glanced at the tablet again, at the character who wouldn’t leave his mind.
Kylie
I mean it's okey if you don't fully trust— *froze* wait what!??
Mr. Vaelor
Don't make me repeat myself. *Said flatly*
Kylie let out a shout of victory, nearly jumping out of his seat
Kylie
And that's why I love you!! *Make a heart sign*
Mr. Vaelor
Don't. *warned tone as he felt gross out in a friendly way*
Kylie
*laughed and pushed five thick books across the desk.*
Kylie
Finished copies. Read them. Tell me what you think.
Mr. Vaelor
All of them? *Eyed the stack*
Kylie
*Stood, slung his bag over his shoulder, and paused at the door.* Don’t overanalyze it too much, okay? It’s just fiction.
Vaelor stared at the books for a long moment.
Then he opened the first one.
—CHAPTER 2—
A single moment that changed everything.
Pages turned at a steady pace, eyes scanning, absorbing, dissecting. Meetings interrupted him—calls, negotiations, decisions that affected thousands. Each time, he closed the book, handled business, then returned exactly where he left off.
By midnight, four books were finished
Ten hours, minus meetings.
He didn't miss a single page.
By the time he sat in the backseat of his car, city lights blurring past the window, he was deep into the fifth book. His jaw tightened with every chapter.
Mr. Vaelor
*Look down at the book frowning.*
Mr. Vaelor
This is ridiculous *muttered*
The character—the one from the art—kept suffering. Misunderstood. Framed. Used. And then—
Vaelor slammed the book shut.
Mr. Vaelor
Kyle, that brat...
He snapped, irritation bleeding into his voice.
Mr. Vaelor
This is trash. Why did he die when he was innocent?
The driver glanced nervously in the mirror but said nothing.
Vaelor pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over Kylie’s contact.
His vision drowned in red.
A piercing sound tore through his ears, like glass shattering inside his skull. The world tilted violently. His phone slipped from his hand.
Voices overlapped. Panic. Brakes screeched.
Vaelor’s thoughts fragmented.
The last thing he saw was flashing lights, figures rushing toward him, and the distant wail of an ambulance—
Then everything went dark.
The word "THE END" hovered on the screen.
It lingered there, stark and final, before a soft click echoed through the darkness—
A voice followed. Low. Amused. Smooth in a way that didn't belong to anything human.
————
How did you like your ending? *hum in a chuckling sound*
Mr. Vaelor
*Stood frozen.*
In front of him stretched a massive screen, wide and curved like a cinema display. On it played scenes from his life—his childhood reduced to fragments, his rise compressed into highlights, his death replayed from angles he had never seen.
Cold asphalt. Shattered glass. Blood.
Mr. Vaelor
*clenched his jaw*
The figure beside him snapped his fingers.
The screen vanished, replaced by shadows and dust. Stone walls rose around them, cracked by time. Broken stained-glass filtered dim, colorless light onto the floor. An ancient church—abandoned, forgotten, and heavy with silence.
At its center sat a throne carved from blackened stone.
The figure lounged there casually, elbow resting against the armrest, chin propped on his hand as if this were nothing more than a private showing.
Mr. Vaelor
*Exhaled sharply*
Mr. Vaelor
No. *said flatly* why would I like it when my life ended that fast?
His voice carried irritating—not rage, but warning. The kind that came right before it.
He looked away from the throne and took a step forward, choosing one of the old chairs lining the hall. Dust puffed up as he sat.
Mr. Vaelor
You don't look like God. And you don't have horns like a demon. *Glanced around the decaying church.*
Mr. Vaelor
And where is this? Why am. I even here if I'm already dead? *Eyed narrowed*
Mr. Vaelor
Shouldn't I be sent somewhere peaceful?
A soft chuckle echoed through the hall.
The figure said smoothly, rising from the throne.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
A constellation god—
?¿?Hermes?¿?
if we’re using terms you humans are fond of... The kind you read about and romanticize.
He stepped closer, boots tapping against stone.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
And you? *Tilt his head*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*Laughed* Oh, please.
The sound was light—but it crawled under Vaelor’s skin.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You can't find peace with how you died. *calmly said*
In a blink, he appeared in front of vaelor.
Kairoth raised a finger and pressed it lightly against Vaelor’s chest.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You don't accept it… *whispered* that's why you're here.
Mr. Vaelor
*breath hitched*
It was beautiful. Perfect. And wrong.
Angelic, yet unmistakably cruel.
He stepped back giving vaelor space, as he return to a comfortable distance.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Let's just say~ *spread his arm slightly, voice lifting* I want you~
He then paused, then waved a hand dismissively.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
No—scratch that...
?¿?Hermes?¿?
I want to give you a chance.
Vaelor studied him carefully, suspicion sharpening his gaze. He crossed his arms.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
To live again. *he finished, pleased with himself*
Mr. Vaelor
What's your deal? *asked coolly*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*chuckle* straight to the point I see~ I like that.
He walked back toward the throne, movements lazy, confident. Sitting down, he leaned forward, eyes glowing faintly as he looked down at Vaelor—dominant, assessing.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
My deal is simple~
?¿?Hermes?¿?
I want you to live again.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You have ambitions. A sharp mind. A refusal to bend. You were wasted where you came from.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*smiled widely* but I can't tell you what you'll be doing...
Mr. Vaelor
*Eyes narrowed* then why me?
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Because why not you? *said it back*
Mr. Vaelor
Don't play mind games with me. *cold sharp tone*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Let's face it, you didn't accept the fact you died like that. *slightly shrug his shoulder*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You don't accept that peaceful ending..
Mr. Vaelor
*scoffed* you don't know that.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*tilt his head* you died... Screaming inside, as if you want someone to save 'YOU'.
Then words landed cleanly.
Mr. Vaelor
What's the catch? *he asked, clenching his fist*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
There is always one~ *playfully said while waving both his index finger cheerfully*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You'll live in another world.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
To be precise something you have already seen.
Mr. Vaelor
*breath stilled*... That book..
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*snapped his finger in delight* EXACTLY!
Mr. Vaelor
*expression darken* you want to throw me into that mess?
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Throw? *Laughed* No. No. No...
?¿?Hermes?¿?
I'm placing you.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*leaned back against the throne* as someone who shouldn't exist.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
You'll keep your memories.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Your intelligence... Your instincts...
Mr. Vaelor
*finger tighten around his arms.*
Mr. Vaelor
And if I refuse? *said quietly*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*smiled faded*
For the first time, the church felt truly ancient.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Then you wake up nowhere... A place you call peace until every single bit of your memory faded like ash in the sea.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Just silence.
Mr. Vaelor
If I did accept...
Mr. Vaelor
Do I get to change the ending? *eyes gleamed*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Depends on how you're willing to play your part in that world.
Silent once again stretched.
Mr. Vaelor
What do I get in return of this.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
*smiled victoriously* I'll grant you three wish~
?¿?Hermes?¿?
But of course there's a line weather your wish is acceptable or not, of course it still depends on me. *Tap his finger on his chair*
Mr. Vaelor
A wardrobe... Only I can see or access I want to used all my old clothes and accessories in my world.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Hmm... Okay I'll grant that.
Mr. Vaelor
Okay... A pet anything that can communicate or protect me.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
I really like you. *I smiled* you don't me picking what type of animal I choose right?
Mr. Vaelor
As long it's not big like elephants... *Exhaled sharply*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
And the last one?
Mr. Vaelor
Protection. I want protection to any type of danger I might be in.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Done. *click his finger*
Vaelor barely had time to inhale.
A swirling portal tore open beneath his feet the moment kairoth snapped his fingers.
Vaelor pitched forward, gravity ripping the sound straight out of his lungs.
Mr. Vaelor
YOU SCAMMMERRRRRR—
His scream echoes as he fell, voice cracking somewhere between fury and betrayal.
Above him, kairoth leaned casually over the edge of the portal, laughing like he'd just pulled off a harmless prank.
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Read the fine print next time *cheerfully, giving lazy wave*
?¿?Hermes?¿?
Goodluck and don't dïe immediately!
Silent returned to the ancient church.
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