Chapter 3: Owen Regulus [2]
The name of the character I had unexpectedly transmigrated into was Owen Regulus.
Initially, Owen held the role of a minor villain within the pages of the novel. He played a supporting role, causing occasional mischief and serving as a minor obstacle for the story's main characters.
However, as the narrative progressed, things took a dramatic turn.
It was in Volume 5 of the novel that Owen's fate shifted significantly. He underwent a transformation within the storyline and was elevated to the position of the main antagonist for that volume.
If my memory served me right, Owen Regulus hailed from a prestigious lineage known as the Four Season Family, specifically belonging to the illustrious Family of Winter.
Owen, in particular, was considered a prodigy within his family. His remarkable talent manifested at an astonishingly young age when, at a mere ten years old, he learnt the family's primary sword art known as the Luminous Edge.
Learning this technique was no small feat, and it garnered admiration, fear, and respect from all who witnessed him in action.
Within the walls of his family, Owen was cherished and admired unconditionally. His extraordinary talents were a source of pride, and he was nurtured with love and care. As the heir to the Family of Winter, his every accomplishment was celebrated, and he was groomed for a future of great responsibility and leadership.
Owen was a complex tapestry of traits, and among them, one that stood out prominently was his condescending attitude. It was an aura that seemed to exude from him, making people around him feel as if they were beneath his notice.
From the very beginning, Owen had been born into a life of privilege and luxury, provided with every comfort and desire at his fingertips. This upbringing was akin to being born with a golden spoon in his mouth, and it had a profound impact on his character development.
Growing up in such an environment, it was almost inevitable that Owen would develop a certain arrogance. He had become accustomed to the idea that the world revolved around him and that his desires were commands that others should fulfil.
This sense of entitlement led to his condescending demeanour, as he believed himself to be superior to those around him.
It was a character flaw that coloured his interactions with others and created a tension that would play out in the course of the novel.
Owen's condescending personality didn't just stop at making people feel inferior; it extended to his deep-seated hatred for Ryan, the novel's protagonist. Ryan, despite Owen's best efforts, always seemed to outshine him, growing stronger and more capable with each challenge they faced.
It was a bitter pill for Owen to swallow, as no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't surpass Ryan's strength and prowess.
This relentless comparison and the growing gap between their abilities became a source of intense frustration for Owen. He couldn't stand the thought of someone overshadowing him, especially someone he considered beneath him.
This jealousy and resentment festered within him, pushing him further towards the path of becoming one of the story's main antagonists.
Owen's animosity towards Ryan was a driving force behind his transformation into an antagonist. It was a character arc defined by the turbulent emotions of envy and rivalry. As the story unfolded, the clashes between the two characters would become a central conflict.
As his hatred and desire for power consumed him, Owen made a fateful decision. In his relentless pursuit of strength, he resorted to using a forbidden skill, one that had been sealed away by his own family due to its perilous nature.
The consequences of invoking this forbidden skill were catastrophic. While it did grant Owen a massive boost in his all stats and abilities, it came at an unbearable cost.
The forbidden skill stripped him of his humanity, erasing his intelligence and leaving behind a remorseless killing machine.
Driven solely by his thirst for power and his sinister goal, Owen unleashed his newfound, ruthless self upon the world. His actions led him to target the academy where Ryan was.
As the academy came under siege, Ryan and his companions were forced to confront Owen, who was now an unrecognizable and lethal entity.
They fought hard against Owen's strong new powers, and in the end, they had no choice but to defeat him, even if it meant they had to kill him.
"Will I meet my end at the hands of the protagonist?"
Surviving in this tumultuous world and from the protagonist had become a daunting challenge, and the key to survival seemed deceptively simple: avoid any association with the protagonist and his allies.
It was a strategy that many characters had adopted in their quest to live to see another day.
The less one was entangled with the hero of the story, the better their chances of escaping the perilous situations that often came his way.
However, for me, there was a significant problem. I was already connected to one of the protagonist's allies, a bond that had formed way before the beginning of the novel.
It was a connection that I couldn't easily sever, and it left me in a precarious position. The closer I was to the hero's inner circle, the greater the risks that I would be drawn into the dangerous quests and confrontations that defined the narrative.
To further complicate matters, a looming shadow hung over the horizon. The story's progression hinted at a devastating war against the demon forces that would engulf the world in chaos and destruction.
People were destined to perish in the midst of this apocalyptic conflict, and I needed to brace myself for the impending calamity.
To stand a chance of surviving in this world, I needed to become strong, strong enough to withstand the horrors of the upcoming demon invasion and to defy the odds of death that loomed over me.
While I may have possessed a degree of strength, I knew that it was far from sufficient to contend with the elite characters of this world.
My aim was not to engage in a physical confrontation with the protagonist, nor did I wish to face the prospect of being thoroughly defeated.
As I pondered my options, I couldn't help but consider the idea of acquiring a cheat item, much like the ones the protagonist often came across. The main character will already be incredibly powerful, so I doubted that one or two extra items would make a significant difference to him.
The real question was, which cheat item should I choose?
The solution became clear in my mind: if I could obtain that specific item, my safety and survival would no longer be a constant source of concern.
This item had remained untouched by the protagonist throughout the story, largely due to his infuriating plot armour that seemed to protect him from all harm.
Glancing at the clock, I noticed it was 12:37, and the hour was getting quite late. It seemed impractical to venture outside at this hour, and I decided that it would be wiser to make my way to that location early in the morning when the world was bathed in the light of day.
***
As the morning sun filled the streets with golden light, I ventured outside my apartment.
I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'd somehow ended up in a novel. It felt like a dream I couldn't shake off. But as I stepped into the street, I was met with a scene that took my breath away.
The world around me was like something out of a sci-fi movie. Cars zoomed above me, flying through the air with a gentle hum. The city itself was a wonder, a mix of futuristic technology and shimmering holograms that danced in the air.
It was like stepping into a whole new universe, and I couldn't help but feel completely amazed by it all.
Well, in reality, I am in a whole new universe.
To navigate my way, I activated the GPS on my watch and set the destination for the train station.
With the digital guide now leading the way, I felt a sense of assurance. The watch's screen displayed a map and directions, making it much easier to find my path in this unknown territory.
With the looming start of the academy just a week away, there was a sense of urgency in the air.
I had to swiftly adapt to this new body I found myself in, honing its strengths and addressing its weaknesses before the academic journey began. Yet, my primary focus was set on securing that relic.
My current location was the bustling and vibrant Reddison City, the very heart of the human domain and its capital. and my goal was to reach the Last Forest where that relic lies.
As I checked on the map, I noted that it would take approximately three hours to traverse the distance between Reddison City and the Last Forest.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone