How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 181

Novel: How to Survive Against Villains Author: BreakTL Updated: Jun 02, 2026

Font Size

18px

Now reading: Chapter 181 from How to Survive Against Villains, a Action novel by BreakTL.

Chapter 181: The Starting Point of Change

Kal stood in silence, gazing up in the direction of the mine.

Grrrmmmbbll—!!!

Thick dust, dark as the night sky, surged beyond the forest, and the violent tremors pounded against his entire body.

Theremore had exploded.

Even without seeing it, he knew—the mine had collapsed.

"Did it finally blow up?"

The mine was an extrely important strategic point for the growth of their power. Yet, they had still chosen to destroy it. Beyond rely hiding the existence of the "passage," eliminating the opposition had been deed the greater advantage.

Kal clicked his tongue briefly as he surveyed his surroundings.

He saw the berserkers, one by one, collapsing powerlessly.

They had missed the perfect chance to capture Alex. He had been so certain this was his strongest card, only to be blindsided.

Before receiving Rengua's report, Kal first asked Arcane about sothing he had been curious about.

"Did you see his divine na?"

Arcane simply stroked his chin, not responding imdiately.

He stood still, silently staring at Rengua, who was bellowing furiously.

"Can’t you hear ?"

"If you're asking about Alex, I did not see it."

"Then, does that an Alex isn't the master of a divine na?"

"I cannot say for certain."

"I don’t like word gas."

[Rengua Field – Descendant of the Blood Oak Shaman (Madness)]

[Madness Contagion]

[Madness Explosion]

Arcane, who had been watching Rengua, now turned his gaze toward Kal. His fierce glare was unmistakable.

"If we're talking about what I actually saw, then no, Alex is not the master of a divine na. However…"

"However??"

"I had a strong, instinctive feeling that he was hiding sothing."

"And you don’t know what that is?"

"The weapon he used just now—it was special. Have you looked into his bow?"

Arcane’s gaze shifted back to Rengua.

Through his earring, he had been recording Rengua’s divine na changes in real ti.

It was quite the fascinating sight.

[Rengua Field – Descendant of the Blood Oak Shaman (Madness)]

[Madness Control]

[Madness Contagion]

[Madness Explosion]

‘His divine na returned??’

As expected, he hadn’t been mistaken.

The mont Rengua was struck by an arrow, [Madness Control] had vanished from his divine na list.

And then, chaos erupted.

Kal and Rengua both seed unaware of the cause, but Arcane was certain—this was the result of a single arrow.

‘A power that can interfere with divine nas…’

Divine power or a divine artifact.

Such abilities did exist in the world.

But this was exceptionally unusual.

Which ant it had to be confird.

Was it Alex’s ability, or the bow’s?

"The bow? I don’t know the details."

"Did he have a bow when you first t him?"

"No. Back then, he was nothing more than a pathetic assassin. He definitely received it from him."

"...Him again."

That sa person.

The one who twisted what was believed to be an immutable law—the fate of divine nas.

Was it the whim of a god, or a power he had cultivated himself? Kal wanted to find out.

It was the reason he had started interfering in Tobaron’s affairs—to et that person.

But now...

‘It seems unlikely I'll et him in Tobaron.’

The mine had collapsed, and they had failed to capture anyone connected to him. The trail had gone cold.

There was no guarantee that staying here any longer would bring him closer to him.

Still, one thing was clear.

"The bloodstained bow."

[Thanks to that tongue of yours, I got this 'bow.' Consider it a token of my gratitude.]

Alex’s words resurfaced in his mind.

If he could get his hands on that bow, he might find traces of him.

It was a crucial lead, but the Kal standing before him seed far more interested in the bow’s owner than the bow itself.

"The dead?"

"My apologies for disappointing you. There are none."

"...Not even one? Not a single one?"

"Among the masters of divine nas, no."

Kal bit down on his lip.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice the blood seeping from his lips. Instead, he simply let out a savage grin.

Even after bringing down the mine, there were no casualties.

"This makes no sense."

How had they survived the explosion of Theremore?

At Kal’s gesture, the hesitant Rengua quickly stepped forward.

"Wiley?"

"W-We brought him."

Following Rengua’s indication, Kal spotted Wiley—collapsed in a corner, looking like a tattered rag.

He had clearly been caught in the explosion.

Kal had discreetly sent the Black Market branch master with a team of shamans to retrieve Wiley, and it seed they had succeeded in recovering him.

"His condition?"

"He can still be saved."

"Did we at least avoid the worst outco? What about the entrance?"

"Lochter was the first to enter, followed by the branch master, who went in to set off the explosives. Alex and Karl were the last ones to go in..."

"They were the last ones?"

"Yes. Since Theremore exploded inside the mine, they’re all dead. The heavens must be favoring our lord—"

"Shut up."

"Where did it go wrong?"

Through Arcane, Kal confird that Lochter and Karl were alive. Which ant Alex, who had been with Karl, was also likely alive.

"I overestimated you."

"I-I am deeply sorry."

"Engrave this failure into your heart so you don’t repeat it. There will not be a second chance."

"U-Understood!"

Rengua could tell from his master’s icy response that the situation was not unfolding as expected.

He wanted to ask questions, but even if he had ten mouths, there was nothing he could say. He simply lowered his gaze.

They had lost so much and gained nothing.

Just as Kal was lanting this worst-case scenario—

"I believe this is where we part ways."

Arcane abruptly declared, fastening his travel pack.

"What are you saying?!"

Rengua flared up in anger, shouting furiously. But at Kal’s gesture, he bit his lip and stepped back.

Arcane was not soone they could hold back if he wished to leave.

"You intend to leave Tobaron?"

"I do."

"You must have found a place within Hell Gri that interests you."

"I rely go where fate leads ."

Arcane planned to head to the heart of Hell Gri—to the library of the Ivory Tower—to research the bloodstained bow.

The ancient records might hold sothing about its abilities or origins.

‘The flow of fate has changed.’

Arcane stood still, looking at the man before him.

Kal Blazer, Lord of Blyer.

From his perspective, seen through the lens of fate, Kal was once destined to rise as the ruler of Tobaron—a man born under the "Star of the Massacre."

But today’s battle had erased that star.

Fate had shifted away from Kal and onto soone else.

With that change, Arcane no longer had a reason to assist him. He would inevitably be cast off the wheel of fate.

Of course, there was still a minuscule possibility...

[Kal Blazer – The Greedy Lord Who Walks Two Paths (Ti)]

The Greedy Lord Who Walks Two Paths.

The aning of "walking two paths" could introduce various possibilities depending on interpretation.

If Kal had fallen from the "Star of the Massacre," it could also an that another path was now open to him.

"I have a request."

At those words, Rengua flinched.

A request.

It was the first ti he had ever heard his lord use that word toward anyone.

"I need a direct contact who can connect to the mages."

"It would be faster to go through the Black Market."

"The situation has changed."

With the passage gone, negotiating from a position of power with the Black Market was no longer possible.

Their deal had been simple—providing Hell Gri with slaves every year through the passage.

That was the foundation of their transactions.

But now, even the gold mine was gone.

Money and other ans no longer provided many bargaining chips with the Black Market.

If they had captured Alex alive, they could have extracted his information and gained an enormous advantage. But since that had failed, using Arcane to find another way was the best option.

"Do you seek sothing from Demtor?"

"Only Demtor can provide what I need."

Demtor, the Arcane Order.

A traditional collective of mages.

It was the formal na of the Mage Tower Alliance, a group with centuries of history.

"I'm not sure you possess anything that Demtor would be interested in."

"I do. An offer they cannot refuse."

"May I hear it first? I might just accept your request on the spot."

"The thod to break the Phantom Forest’s barrier."

"...Quite the hand you’re holding."

Even Arcane, normally composed, showed a rare expression of surprise.

If the Phantom Forest’s barrier could be broken, the witch hunts could begin.

And for Demtor, who was obsessed with witches, they would surely accept even unreasonable conditions.

"Can you introduce under your na?"

"If what you claim is true, I stand to gain significantly as well. There's no reason for to refuse."

"You think I’m lying?"

To negotiate with Demtor on equal footing, he needed Arcane’s introduction rather than the Black Market’s diation.

A mana blade, a shield bracelet, and three Theremore bombs—

The things Demtor had provided in exchange for information had far exceeded expectations.

And there was only one reason for that.

"Arcane’s presence, no doubt."

If they had even provided large-scale weapons like Theremore, it ant Demtor had an inseparable connection with Arcane.

Arcane silently locked eyes with Kal.

A deep and heavy gaze.

As if trying to discern the truth.

After a brief pause, Arcane nodded.

"Very well."

"And in return...?"

"Information on him, and everything Alex possesses."

"The deal is made."

Kal accepted without hesitation, and Arcane pulled out a small orb from his robes—

A communication device, one that would allow direct contact with Demtor under Arcane’s na.

"You'll need to explain well. They won't believe easily."

"A witch’s true nesis isn't a mage—it's a dark shaman."

At Kal’s response, Arcane slightly bowed and stepped back, seeming sowhat convinced.

"Then, may the call of the divine remain with you."

Arcane offered a polite farewell before turning away from Kal.

Kal did not stop him from leaving.

The mont Arcane disappeared into the darkness, Kal clenched the communication orb tightly and grit his teeth.

"We return to the territory."

Demtor.

To be honest, they were not an opponent he could negotiate with easily at this mont. But at this point, overturning the situation without their help was impossible.

"Beyond the passage lies the Ordor Forest."

For soone from Tobaron to enter Hell Gri, there was only one possibility—as a slave.

Which ant their destination would undoubtedly be Ordor Forest.

Because the Witch of Ordor Forest, Lily Base, resided there.

'I have to act before he makes his move on Ordor Forest.'

From now on, it was a race against ti.

To secure an alliance with Demtor—and to prepare everything needed after forming that alliance—he would need more than just one body.

"The hunt... isn’t over yet."

There was still one chance left.

If he could leverage Demtor, he still had a chance to turn the tables.

Leading the remaining forces, Kal made his way toward the scorched castle.

***