This Villain's no Cannon Fodder

Nausea twisted my stomach the moment I stepped through the portal.

A chill ran down my spine, my body tingling like it had been torn apart and reassembled in an instant.

I swallowed hard, forcing down the rising bile.

Yeah…

Now I understood why people still prioritized carriages over teleportation.

Not to mention the sheer amount of power needed to create a stable portal—something only a handful of mages in the Demon Realm could achieve.

I took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady myself.

That's when the smell hit me.

The sharp tang of metal flooded my nostrils, thick and overwhelming.

Iron. Copper.

A scent unmistakable in its origin.

Blood.

I raised my gaze and took in the sight before me.

The River of Blood of Luchar.

It stretched endlessly, a crimson expanse that shimmered under the eerie glow of the demon moon.

Thick, slow-moving currents reflected the sky in distorted ripples, the surface never quite still.

Dark silhouettes floated beneath, vanishing as quickly as they appeared, like something lurking just beneath the surface.

The banks were jagged, carved from ancient black stone that bore the marks of centuries of conflict.

Skeletal remains peeked from the cracks, long forgotten by time.

This was one of the oldest sites in the Demon Realm.

A battlefield turned landmark.

I barely had time to take it all in before a voice called out.

— Well, it seems some of you handled the trip better than others.

The Grand Regent.

I turned just in time to see him stepping forward, his long robes shifting like liquid shadow.

His sharp features were accentuated by the dim light, his expression holding the illusion of warmth.

His smile was a different story.

It was friendly. Welcoming, even.

And yet, something about it made my skin crawl.

The Grand Regent let the moment stretch.

His gaze sweept over each of us with deliberate amusement.

Then, he raised his hand.

A pulse of energy spread through the air, reverberating in my bones like a distant drum.

— Let's make sure none of you die too quickly — he said, his voice smooth, almost playful.

A thin, translucent layer coated my skin, seeping into my very being.

It felt… strange...?

Not unpleasant, just present.

— Consider this a protective measure — he continued. — It should keep you from perishing immediately. Probably.

Someone scoffed nearby.

Others exchanged cautious glances.

I exhaled through my nose, testing the sensation of the enchantment.

It wasn't overwhelming, but it was noticeable.

Like an extra layer of myself.

The Grand Regent gestured toward the river.

— The River of Blood of Luchar is ancient. It has swallowed countless warriors, nurtured legends, and perhaps, if it deems you worthy… — He paused for a second. — It may even bless you.

I knew what he meant.

The Blessing of the Blood.

A rare, passive enhancement that fortified the body, making the skin more resistant and accelerating regeneration.

Only those recognized by the river received it, and there was no guaranteed way to earn its favor.

A ripple ran through the crimson waters, as if the river itself had responded.

My fingers curled slightly.

— The enchantment will prevent you from drowning — the Grand Regent continued, — But crossing… that depends entirely on you.

No more warnings. No more explanations.

The test had begun.

One of the heirs—both of the twins, that is—were the first to move.

Without hesitation, they stepped forward and plunged into the river.

The red water swallowed them whole.

Seconds later, they surfaced, shaking the liquid from their face before kicking off toward the other side.

That was all the confirmation we needed.

One by one, the others followed.

I walked to the edge, feeling the warmth of the river as I stepped in.

Despite its ominous presence, the water was surprisingly buoyant.

I took a deep breath and dove in.

The moment my body was submerged, the world fell silent.

The water wasn't just thick—it was heavy.

It clung to my skin, a dense, liquid force that seemed to pulse in sync with something deeper.

Something alive. 

Could this thing be related to spirits? But weren't they closer to elves?

But it didn't slow me down.

I moved easily, cutting through the river with strong, controlled strokes.

Then, the first shadow darted beneath me.

A long, sinuous creature twisted through the depths.

Another followed.

And another.

Their movements were erratic, unnatural—bodies writhing like serpents but with limbs too jagged and sharp to belong to anything so simple.

Its eyes burned a sickly yellow, and its mouth gaped open, revealing jagged, uneven rows of teeth.

They examined my structure real quick.

Was I some kind of delivery food for that? Very likely, yes.

The first attack came swiftly.

Clawed limbs lunged from below, reaching for my leg.

I twisted mid-stroke, narrowly avoiding the grasping limbs.

The creature snapped at empty water, its teeth glinting in the river's dim, reddish glow.

Then, it wasn't alone.

More of them rose from the depths, circling me.

I ducked as another monster surged upward, then lashed out, my fist colliding with its snout.

The thing's skin was kind of slimy. I could feel it even through the water.

It recoiled, but not for long.

I clenched my teeth, trying to recall what I knew about these creatures.

There had to be a weakness.

A pattern.

Anything.

The thing was, the protagonist never went through this place. Everything was just quotes.

At first, the passive skill belonged to an annoying advanced boss.

Wait. That was it.

A clue.

I looked up once again.

In the distance, the others were far ahead, gliding through the river without issue.

The twins were the ones with the best rhythm.

They coordinated their swimming with each other perfectly.

It was no wonder that they would come to have an unbearable pattern of combined attacks.

But something was abnormal.

Not a single attack. Not a single struggle.

They could play the Michael Phelps act without any problem.

Except for me.

And her.

The Beast Queen.

She fought like a cornered animal, clawing and tearing through anything that came near.

And yet, despite her ferocity, she was barely holding them back.

Something clicked.

No one had said we needed to cross the entire river.

No one had explained the right way to earn the River's Blessing.

Nor the game actually dived deeper on how the Beast Queen did obtain it.

A useful gift said to harden one's skin, making it impervious to damage, while granting accelerated regeneration.

But if that was the case… then why were we the only ones being attacked?

I exhaled sharply.

This wasn't a battle.

It was another test. The own river's one.

It had once again chosen the Beast Queen to be tested...

And I was caught in the middle of it.

Moreover, I had been failing it from the start.

My eyes moved from the Beast Queen downwards.

The creatures were approaching again.

They had noticed that I posed no danger, right?

The chill of the water ran through my bones as I gave an awkward smile.

Without another thought, I took a deep breath.

Then plunged deeper into the crimson abyss.