The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"You're right," he said, his voice carrying that familiar tone of superiority. "But my time in this world is not long." He glanced at the pen still clutched in my hand, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the artifact's significance once more. "Only under certain conditions can I manifest in your world, just like this."

I frowned, my mind already racing. His words weren't just casual observations; they were the key to something far deeper. "What conditions?"

Gilgamesh would be the greatest ally I could rely on.

Gilgamesh's eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, the amusement faded, replaced by the cold calculation of a man who had seen the rise and fall of empires. "The balance of power must tip, Draven," he explained, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "The forces that govern this realm, those that watch over the fabric of time and space, have strict rules.

Even for me, a king, to cross from my own existence into this one, the world must be in flux."

He gestured to the chamber around us, to the rift in time and space, to the remnants of the dungeonification process that had torn through the tower. "This," he said, "this is chaos. Time itself has unraveled, and the balance is broken. That is why I was able to appear. But such moments are fleeting. They are rare."

I absorbed his words, my sharp mind already piecing together the implications. If Gilgamesh could only appear under such conditions, then his presence here wasn't just a stroke of luck. It was a warning, a sign that the world was on the brink of something far worse than what I had anticipated. And when he left, when his time ran out… we'd be on our own.

"How long do you have?" I asked, keeping my tone steady, though inside, I could feel the weight of urgency creeping in.

Gilgamesh shrugged, as if the question was inconsequential. "Long enough to amuse myself, but not long enough to make a permanent difference." He paused, his gaze drifting toward the remnants of Malakaroth's shattered essence. "The demons are stirring, Draven. Their influence is growing. But they are only one part of the problem."

He turned back to me, his eyes gleaming with a knowing intensity. "The rifts in time and space, the dungeonification process… they are symptoms of a much larger issue. The world is unravelling because forces beyond your comprehension are pulling at the very threads of reality. And if left unchecked, this world will fall into ruin."

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I met his gaze, my mind quickly processing the severity of his words. This wasn't just about stopping a demon king or closing a rift. It was far bigger than that. The very fabric of existence was at stake, and if even Gilgamesh, with all his power, could only stay for a limited time, then the challenge ahead was far greater than I had imagined.

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"Then what happens when you leave?" I asked, my voice cold but direct. "What are we supposed to do when you're gone?"

Gilgamesh chuckled softly, his arrogance returning in full force. "Is that fear I detect, Draven? I thought you were made of sterner stuff." He waved his hand dismissively, as if brushing away the notion of my concern. "You'll do what you always do—survive. Adapt. And fight."

His words were confident, but there was an undertone to them, something that suggested he wasn't entirely indifferent to what would happen once he was gone. He glanced at me again, his gaze lingering on the pen. "That artifact I gave you… it is a key, in more ways than one. Use it wisely, and it may grant you the strength you need to stand against what's coming."

I tightened my grip on the pen, feeling its faint hum of magic pulse through my hand. It had already proven itself a powerful tool, but now, I realized it was more than just a simple artifact. It was a connection, a bridge to something far greater.

"What are we up against?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with the cold efficiency I always used when preparing for battle. "What is causing the world to fall apart?"

Gilgamesh's eyes darkened, and for the first time since his arrival, there was a hint of something more—an emotion that went beyond his usual arrogance. "There are forces at work, Draven, forces that even I cannot fully comprehend. They are older than the demons, as old as the gods themselves. They exist beyond time, beyond space. And they are watching."

A chill ran down my spine, though I kept my expression steady. I had imagined myself dealing with demons, with the demon kings, and with monsters from the darkest depths of this world and beyond, but this… this was something different. Something far more dangerous.

I could feel it from his expression.

"You'll face them soon enough," Gilgamesh continued, his voice low and serious. "They are drawn to chaos, to the unraveling of reality. And once they take notice of this world… well, let's just say that Malakaroth was nothing more than a distraction. But you will face the other friends of Malakaroth first before you would face, this force of chaos,"

I clenched my jaw, my mind already preparing for the worst. If Malakaroth had been a mere distraction, then the true threat was something far beyond anything I had faced before. But I wasn't one to back down, not now, not ever.

"I'll handle it," I said, my voice cold and resolute.

Gilgamesh smiled again, though this time, there was a hint of admiration in his gaze. "I expected no less." He turned his attention back to the chamber, his eyes scanning the rift in time and space that still lingered, though it was beginning to close now, the dungeonification process slowing. "But remember this, Draven. Even with all your strength, you are still just one man. You'll need allies."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Allies?"

Gilgamesh nodded. "Yes. There are others in this world who can help you. People with power, with knowledge. But more importantly, people who can stand beside you when the time comes."

I thought of the people I had met since arriving in this world—Aurelia, Elandris, and the others. I had built alliances, yes, but true allies? People I could trust to stand with me against whatever horrors were coming? That was a different question entirely.

"And where do I find these 'allies'?" I asked, keeping my voice level.

Gilgamesh smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, you'll find them. Or rather, they'll find you."

Before I could respond, the golden light around Gilgamesh began to flicker, the edges of his form shimmering as if he were being pulled back into the void from which he had come. His time here was running out.

"It seems my stay in your world is coming to an end," he said, his tone light, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "A shame. I was starting to enjoy myself."

The golden light intensified, and I could feel the immense pressure of his presence beginning to lift, the air around us growing lighter. But before he disappeared entirely, he looked at me one last time, his expression serious.

"Remember, Draven," he said, his voice echoing with authority. "The forces that are coming… they are beyond anything you've faced before. But you are not powerless. You have my blessing, my artifact, and the strength to survive. And when you defeated the other demon kings, the true source of chaos would appear, and perhaps I won't be there to help. But be at ease,"

He raised his hand in a parting gesture, and with a final flick of his wrist, he was gone. "The one to who I have given the seed of my strength and legacy, the man called Darius Caelum who has reached the level of the Rising Sun would assist you," The golden light dissipated, leaving the chamber in silence once more.

I stood there for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle over me. Gilgamesh was gone, but the threat he had warned me about was very real. The world was falling apart, and soon, I would be faced with an enemy unlike any I had ever seen.

But I wasn't afraid.

I glanced down at the magic pen in my hand, feeling the pulse of its power once more. I had survived this long, and I would continue to survive. No matter what came next, no matter how powerful the enemy, I would face it head-on.

Because that's what I did.

And as I turned my gaze to the now-quiet chamber, I could feel the stirrings of something far darker, far more dangerous, lurking just beyond the horizon. But I would be ready.

"Darius Caelum, huh..."

"I wonder who that is,"