Prologue: “People are not born villains; they're created.”

"You did it, hero. " Blood dribbles down the slits in the black iron helmet, dripping from the chin and pattering on the sword lodged in the hulking armored figure's chest. "You took everything from me, Hero."

The hero sneers triumphantly at his despised foe in the silence. "Villain, your reign of madness and tyranny is over. We have triumphed, and your evil will no longer taint these lands."

The burbling laughter wheezing from the shadowy helm fills the dark throne room, spurts of blood thrown out with each giggling gasp. "So certain of your inherent goodness. Oh, to be so naive "The villain murmurs.

"Give up Villain, your de-" the Hero's sneer turns to an irritated grimace.

"Defeated!? My armies have been routed and scattered! My advisor has been killed by your hand! My lands are now on fire, and my people are either dead or dying!" The blood cascades from the helmet and runs down the chest plate in a ruby waterfall, the Villain's eyes blaze crimson balls of fire from within the shadows of the helmet, his voice stronger than before. One gauntleted arm sweeps out onto the open balcony, gesturing to the vision of hell outside, the orchestra of suffering and bloodshed clear and booming even from the throne room high above the now-burning city. "Everything is lost." There a violet flash appeared but oh so briefly.

"WE DID NOT WISH TO BE A PART OF YOUR EMPIRE, 'HERO.' WE WISHED TO BE LEFT ALONE! WE DID NOT HAVE AN ARMY, AND WE DID NOT HAVE A CAUSE TO FIGHT! WHY!? WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO US?"

The hero is thrown back and collides with the throne behind him. He now sees the black armored king while slumped in this dark oak chair. The king rises to his feet, a river of blood flowing from the sword impaled in his chest. Runes in sickly purple light up the armor, and a ritual circle inscribes itself in the king's blood at his feet. The king addresses the limp and staring figure on the throne: "Why, dear 'hero'? Why have you brought such misery and unjust suffering to my kingdom's people? Why must you murder caring fathers? Why do you have to rape weeping mothers? Why do you have to suffocate wailing children? Why?!!"

The king's voice has grown stronger, but it is now quiet and sad, like a child who has been punished but does not understand why. The hero is able to find his voice and responds with a trembling voice, "We didn't have a choice! The Church has summoned us to battle your evil! You are blasphemers and heretics! Evil personified! To save all of us, your country must be destroyed...."

There is a deep, uneasy silence. The Villain then speaks.

"If the Gods have condemned us. Then I reject them." The Villain raises his arms to the sky, his voice legion, and turns away from the hero slumped on the broken throne. "You came here to fight a monster, to find an excuse for all the misery and suffering you've inflicted on innocent people. You've destroyed everything and left nothing wholesome behind. How well you carry the mantle of "hero." So I'll take up the mantle bestowed upon me. You desired a Villain, a True Monster to defeat. Oh, 'hero', your existence has been undone by your own hand."

Across the land, from the highest mountains to the deepest valleys, from the kingdom's capital to the empire's vast cathedral, many voices in a choir of chaos were heard. The altar to the gods within the holiest of holies was shattered in this hellish declaration. And everyone heard the Villain's pleading.

"GOD'S UPON HEAVENS HIGH! I RENOUNCE THEE! YOU HAVE SENT YOUR CHILDREN TO SLAUGHTER MINE OWN IN JEALOUS ZEALOTRY! HEAR ME! OH, YE DEVILS AND DEMONS! HEAR ME! BESTOW UPON ME YOUR TERRIBLE STRENGTH, SO THAT I MAY STRIKE BACK AT THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED ME! Make me a creature worthy of nightmares... Make. Me. A. Monster."

The sky darkened, and an almost ethereal voice was heard by the villain himself.

"I can already see what a great villain you'll be, king #l##e."

Thus a King and his kingdom perished, and a Villain was born.