Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 531 Power Convergence Array

As Vulkor traced the familiar lines of energy flow, he felt a disconcerting emptiness. His signature, a subtle twist in the pattern, had vanished.

Intrigued, Vulkor delved deeper, his brow furrowing further. His inspection revealed a shocking discovery. Nestled beneath the existing formation, like a parasite clinging to its host, lay another array, a foreign and unfamiliar one.

This additional array, crafted with an impressive degree of finesse, was siphoning off a portion of the energy flowing through the Earth Vein and Heaven Vein. But it was currently inactive, a dormant predator waiting for its moment to strike.

A shiver ran down Vulkor's spine. This was no random anomaly. This was deliberate sabotage, a calculated attempt to disrupt the very lifeblood of Ironscale Forge Settlement.

The question that burned in his mind was why? Who would dare tamper with the core of their energy supply? And where was this stolen energy being directed?

He spent the next several hours dissecting the foreign array, his frustration mounting with each passing moment. The craftsmanship was impressive, but the purpose remained a mystery. The array, designed to redirect energy, offered no clues about its ultimate destination.

Despite the lack of answers, one thing was clear - this was a threat that couldn't be ignored. Vulkor knew he needed to alert the leadership, but the implications were daunting.

He mulled over his options, a storm brewing within him. Finally, he decided on a course of action.

He wouldn't raise an immediate alarm, but he would discreetly inform a select few, those he trusted implicitly.

Together, they would investigate further, gather evidence, and then present their findings to the leadership.

Little did Wang Jian and Yu Qing know, their meticulously planned operation had snagged on an unexpected snag. A lone devil, meticulous and observant, had seen through the veil of concealed tactic.

Days blurred into weeks as Wang Jian and Yu Qing weaved their web of deceit. Each infiltration was a thrill, a test of their combined skills. Wang Jian, a master of stealth, navigated the heavily guarded settlements like a phantom. Yu Qing, ever vigilant, provided backup, her celestial energy a potent deterrent against any unforeseen encounters.

Their routine became clockwork. Infiltrate, modify, vanish. Each settlement saw the same seamless integration of the Celestial Silver Disks, each leech silently siphoning a portion of the star's lifeblood.

Their confidence soared with each completed settlement. Thirty settlements completed, then forty. The intricate network of sub-arrays stretched across the star's surface, a silent serpent slowly constricting its prey.

Meanwhile, within the Infernal Steller Smith Tribe, a different kind of storm brewed. Vulkor, the Array Grandmaster of Ironscale Forge, shared his unsettling discovery with a select few – trusted colleagues holding prominent positions in other settlements.

Zhurga, the stoic Elder of Blackrock Quarry, listened intently, his obsidian beard twitching with suspicion. Xal, the fiery Overseer of Molten River, bristled with indignation. Drakos, the cunning Foreman of Cinder Peak, narrowed his eyes, his mind already calculating possibilities.

They formed a clandestine group, united by a shared sense of unease. Vulkor detailed his findings, the foreign array, and his inability to decipher its purpose. The air crackled with tension as they grappled with the implications.

"This is a threat of the highest order," Zhurga rumbled, his voice deep as an earthquake. "But who would dare attack us in such a manner?"

"Perhaps a rival tribe, seeking to weaken us before a strike," Xal suggested, her voice laced with fiery defiance.

Drakos shook his head. "No, the precision of the attack… it suggests someone familiar with our systems, someone who can move unseen."

A chilling silence descended upon them. The realization struck them all at once - a traitor in their midst.

Thus began their own covert investigation. Each member, leveraging their positions within their respective settlements, discreetly examined their Central Grand Power Array Formations. They searched for any anomalies, any telltale signs of tampering.

The weeks that followed were a tense dance of subterfuge. Wang Jian and Yu Qing continued their relentless march, their final objective drawing closer. Vulkor's team, driven by a growing sense of urgency, meticulously scanned each array, their findings painting a grim picture.

Every settlement they examined, save Ironscale Forge, bore the mark of the foreign array. The evidence was irrefutable – a coordinated, multi-pronged attack was underway, its ultimate goal shrouded in mystery.

Finally, after weeks of tireless work, Wang Jian and Yu Qing reached their final destination. A desolate valley, far removed from the bustling Infernal Steller Smith settlements, lay sprawled before them. It was here, in this barren expanse, that they would unleash the culmination of their plan.

Wang Jian withdrew a series of intricate formation disks, far more complex than the ones he had used previously. These were the heart of the Power Convergence Array, the ultimate recipient of the stolen energy.

He carefully arranged the disks in a specific pattern, channeling his celestial energy to activate their intricate designs. Lines of power pulsed between the disks, forming a web of shimmering blue light. Soon, the barren valley crackled with an otherworldly energy, a beacon waiting to be filled.

"It's beautiful, in its own destructive way," Yu Qing remarked, gazing at the completed array with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

"Indeed," Wang Jian replied, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Now, the real game begins."

Days bled into weeks as the Convergence Array pulsed with a steadily increasing power.

The stolen energy, ripped from the heart of the Infernal Steller Smith star, thrummed within the intricate formations.

It was a monstrous transformation, twisting the lifeblood of the celestial body into a weapon of immense destruction.

Within the array, the stolen essence crackled and writhed, condensed into a single, concentrated beam of raw power.

This devilish mixture was a fusion of Earth Vein and Heaven Vein energies, and it was aimed directly at the star's core, a silent harbinger of its impending doom.

The process was slow, agonizingly so. Each passing hour brought the star one step closer to its demise.

Wang Jian and Yu Qing remained vigil, a tense anticipation hanging heavy in the air. Their audacious plan was finally reaching its climax, and the outcome remained uncertain.

One bleak morning, a ripple of disturbance broke the silence.

Wang Jian, his senses finely tuned, raised a hand to silence Yu Qing. A group of devils, their presences unmistakable, were approaching the desolate valley.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through them. They had been discovered, their meticulous plan exposed. Panic threatened to overwhelm Yu Qing, but Wang Jian's voice, calm and measured, cut through her fear.

"Don't panic, Qing'er," he said, his eyes narrowed. "They're not the elite guard. Just a scouting party."

He gestured towards a nearby rock formation, a natural crevice that offered a perfect hiding spot. With practiced efficiency, they retreated into the shadows, watching as the devils materialized in the valley.

There were five of them, all seasoned warriors with the distinctive markings of the Infernal Steller Smith Tribe. Their expressions were grim, etched with a mixture of confusion and growing apprehension.

They moved with a practiced caution, their celestial energy crackling at their fingertips. It was clear they sensed something amiss, a disruption in the natural flow of power within the star.

As they approached the pulsating Convergence Array, a low hum resonated from the ground beneath their feet. Their eyes widened in recognition. They weren't fools; they understood the purpose of the strange formation and the devastating energy it channeled.

"Someone," one of the devils growled, his voice laced with fury, "is tampering with the star's core!"

"We need to report this back to the Elders immediately!" another shouted, his voice tight with urgency.

But before they could turn to leave, a voice, cold and menacing, echoed across the valley.

"Going somewhere so soon, gentlemen?"

Wang Jian and Yu Qing stepped out of the shadows, their faces etched with a dangerous calm. The devils whirled around, their eyes widening in shock.

They recognized the telltale signs of a Blue Moon Eclipse Devil on Wang Jian, but the human beside him was a surprise.

"Who are you?" the leader of the group demanded, his voice trembling slightly despite his bravado.

A cruel smile played on Wang Jian's lips. "Call me… the harbinger of your demise."

The devils exchanged panicked glances.

But the Infernal Steller Smith Tribe didn't shy away from a fight. With a guttural battle cry, they charged.

The ensuing battle was swift and brutal. Yu Qing, a whirlwind of celestial energy, carved through the devils with her signature swordsmanship.

Wang Jian, a master of deception and shadow manipulation, danced around his opponents, his attacks precise and deadly.

Within minutes, the valley floor was littered with the fallen. The once proud devils lay lifeless, their expressions frozen in a mask of disbelief.

As the dust settled, Wang Jian surveyed the carnage, a hint of grim satisfaction playing on his face. "That takes care of the immediate threat," he murmured, turning to Yu Qing.

"But the real battle is yet to come," she said, her voice laced with concern. "They'll know soon enough what we've done. We need to act fast."

Wang Jian nodded, his gaze fixed on the pulsating Convergence Array. The energy flow was nearing its peak. The star's core was on the verge of implosion. "Indeed," he said, his voice filled with steely resolve.