Chapter 11 - The Aftermath

Aric emerged from the Song Estate with a feeling of triumph, his mind already plotting his next moves. The trip to the Song Estate had gone as planned. The engagement was broken, Sylvia was humiliated, and he had gained significant villain points.

As he returned to his villa, a system notification appeared before him.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have received +500 Villain Halo +5000 villain points for affecting the mentality of the Daughter of Destiny, Sylvia Song.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +5000 Villain Halo and +50000 Villain Points for changing the direction of the plot.]

Aric smirked. He had anticipated this ripple effect. The engagement's cancellation would not only create chaos within the Song family but also disturb Jarod and his plans. Aric needed to be cautious, especially with Jarod's mysterious master.

Back at the Song Estate, Sylvia was in turmoil. The family's prestige was at stake, and calls were flooding in from other influential families, questioning the sudden engagement breakup. Contracts were being threatened, and alliances were wavering.

Sylvia felt a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, she was relieved that the engagement with Aric was over. She had always been in love with Jarod, and the thought of marrying anyone else was unbearable. However, the way Aric had taken control and humiliated her in front of her family was a new and painful experience.

Aric had been a devoted dog licker to her in the past, always eager to please and never showing the assertiveness she secretly desired. His sudden transformation into a domineering figure both infuriated and intrigued her. 

In her heart, she felt an unexpected loneliness at the loss of Aric's constant attention. Despite his previous subservience, there was a comfort in having someone so devoted to her. Now, that comfort was gone, replaced by the cold reality of her family's anger and the harsh consequences of the broken engagement.

Her family, however, was not as understanding. The elders were furious, and she was scolded harshly.

"How could you let this happen, Sylvia?" her uncle bellowed. "You know how important this alliance was to us!"

"Uncle, I didn't—"

"Enough!" he cut her off. "You've brought shame upon us. Do you realize the repercussions of this broken engagement?"

Sylvia bowed her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't expect Aric to react this way."

"You didn't expect?" her aunt interjected. "You should have managed this better. Now look at the mess we're in!"

Feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders, Sylvia retreated to her room. She dialed Jarod's number with trembling fingers, seeking comfort and reassurance.

"Jarod," Sylvia whispered, her voice breaking, "I can't take this anymore. Aric humiliated me, and now my family is falling apart. You promised me that Aric would be dead, but he's still alive!"

Jarod's voice was firm but comforting. "Sylvia, I'll make this right. Aric won't get away with this. We'll handle it together."

"Handle it together?" Sylvia snapped, her frustration boiling over. "You promised to kill him! Now look at the mess we're in. My family is furious, and everyone is blaming me."

"Sylvia, calm down," Jarod said, trying to soothe her. "I didn't expect Aric to survive either. But we'll figure this out. I'll come up with a new plan."

"You better," she hissed, her voice cold. "Because if you don't, my family will never forgive me. And neither will I."

As Aric arrived back at his villa, Alicia was waiting for him, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

At the same moment he received another notification.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +500 Villain Halo and +5000 Villain Points for angering the protagonist Jarod Lei.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10000 Villain Points for creating conflicts among the love affair of the protagonist and the daughter of destiny.]

"Master Aric, how did it go?" Alicia asked, stepping forward to take his coat.

Aric smiled, a dark glint in his eyes. "Better than expected, Alicia. The engagement is broken, and Sylvia is in turmoil. The Song family is in disarray."

Alicia's eyes widened. "That's wonderful news, Master. You've truly turned the tables."

"Indeed," Aric replied, sitting down on a plush chair. "But this is only the beginning. I need to capitalize on this chaos."

Alicia poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him. "What's your next move, Master?"

Aric took a sip, savoring the taste. "First, I need to deal with Jarod and his soul master. Then, I'll continue to gather more power and strengthen my cultivation."

Alicia nodded, her admiration for Aric evident. "You've come a long way, Master. I'm proud to serve you."

Aric's expression softened slightly. "Thank you, Alicia."

Aric decided it was time to visit the system shop and invest his points wisely. He needed something that could counteract the influence of Jarod's master.

"System, show me the items available for purchase," he commanded.

A list appeared before him:

Soul Suppression Talisman (50,000 points): Temporarily suppresses the power and influence of any soul or spirit.

Shadow Cloak of the Abyss (40,000 points): Grants invisibility in darkness, perfect for stealth missions.

Demonic Pact Scroll (30,000 points): Summons a powerful demon to fight for you in exchange for a portion of your life force.

Nightmare Seed (20,000 points): Plants a seed of fear in an enemy's mind, causing them to experience their worst nightmares.

Aric's eyes gleamed as he reviewed his options. The **Soul Suppression Talisman** seemed like the perfect tool to deal with Jarod's soul master.

"System, purchase the Soul Suppression Talisman," he ordered.

[Purchase successful. Soul Suppression Talisman added to your inventory.]

Aric held the talisman in his hand, feeling its power. With this, he had a chance to level the playing field against Jarod and his master.