Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

Aric stood at the entrance of his lavish villa, the twilight casting long shadows across the stone steps. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine, but Aric's mind was far from the peaceful atmosphere. He had just returned from another successful venture, but his thoughts were fixated on the rumors that were now spreading like wildfire across the continent of Velara.

As he entered the grand hall, one of his trusted informants approached him, bowing deeply.

"Master Aric, as you commanded, the rumors about Ye Chen have spread throughout Velara. They say he practices demonic cultivation, that he's a danger to anyone who crosses his path."

Aric's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. The seeds of discord he had sown were bearing fruit. These rumors would not only isolate Ye Chen but also draw unwanted attention from powerful enemies. The more isolated Ye Chen became, the easier it would be to destroy him.

Aric leaned back into his chair, his mind drifting to the past. He recalled the tragic history of Ye Chen's family—the once-powerful Ye Family of the Zhungong Dynasty. The Ye Family had been a second-rate family, but their potential had always posed a threat to the other families.

The coalition that had destroyed them included the Shen, Wu, Qiao, and Han Families, each driven by greed, envy, and fear.

Aric knew that if the truth about Ye Chen's lineage came to light, these families would act quickly to erase him from existence, just as they had done with his family. With this in mind, Aric penned a letter, his words dripping with calculated intent:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To the Esteemed Heads of the Shen, Wu, Qiao, and Han Families,

I write to inform you of a grave threat that has emerged, one that could undermine all that you have worked to secure. The last surviving member of the Ye Family, Ye Chen, has been found. It is said that he has been practicing demonic cultivation, growing in strength and gathering allies.

I strongly advise that we take immediate action to eliminate this threat before it escalates. Ye Chen may already be aware of the past, and if he seeks revenge, your families will be his first targets. I am prepared to offer my assistance in this matter to ensure that he does not become a problem for any of us.

Aric

-------------------------------------------------------------------

After sealing the letter with his personal crest, Aric handed it to his most trusted messenger.

"Deliver this to the heads of the Shen, Wu, Qiao, and Han Families. Make sure they understand the urgency."

The messenger bowed and swiftly departed, leaving Aric alone in the dimly lit hall. His mind shifted to another scheme that was unfolding perfectly—the systematic isolation of the Song Family. The Song Family, known for their neutrality and reluctance to engage in the power struggles that plagued the other families, had always been a thorn in Aric's side.

But with the recent death of his brother, Jarod, Aric saw an opportunity to turn the other families against them.

Aric had conducted a public mourning session for his brother, Jarod, making sure that everyone knew Ye Chen was responsible for his death. The mourning was grand, attended by all the major families, and Aric had played his role as the grieving brother perfectly. His tears were sincere, but they were not for Jarod—they were for the perfect setup to bring the Song Family to its knees.

Meanwhile, Sylvia, had just received the news of Jarod's death. She felt a pang of sorrow, but it was fleeting. Jarod had been a distant figure in her life, and her focus was more on the increasing pressure and challenges her family faced. She was determined to find a way to protect her family, but she knew it would not be easy.

Aric, sensing that the time was right, decided to strike. He sent a private message to Sylvia, inviting her to meet him in a secluded location, far from prying eyes. The message was clear—if she wanted to save her family, she would come alone and tell no one.

Sylvia hesitated, but her sense of duty to her family overpowered her caution. She knew that Aric was dangerous, but if there was a chance to protect her family, she had to take it. She prepared herself and left without informing anyone, just as Aric had instructed.

The meeting place was a secluded grove, hidden deep within the woods, far from the city's bustling life. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Sylvia arrived first, her heart pounding in her chest. She stood in the middle of the grove, her senses on high alert.

But Sylvia had no idea that Aric had prepared a deadly trap for her. The grove was not just a secluded location—it was a place of execution. Hidden beneath the soft earth were numerous dark energy arrays, meticulously arranged to activate the moment Sylvia stepped into the center.

These arrays were designed to drain life force and sever the connection between the soul and the body, ensuring that even the most powerful cultivators would be helpless.

"Aric,"Sylvia called out, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "I'm here. What do you want?"

Aric stepped out from the shadows, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in his usual dark attire, his eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity.

"Sylvia," Aric greeted, his voice smooth."I'm glad you came. I knew you would. You always were the sensible one."

"What do you want, Aric?" Sylvia repeated, her tone sharper this time.

Aric smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent chills down Sylvia's spine. "Your family is in danger, Sylvia. The other families have already left your family. And you know what that means."

Sylvia's eyes narrowed. "We have nothing to talk about Aric. Last time we met, i clearly mentioned that i cannot accepet your requests."

"Requests" Aric scoffed. "That was your last chance. But i am kind. I will offer you something you will like."

Sylvia clenched her fists. "Why are you telling me this? What's your angle?"

Aric began to circle her slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because, Sylvia, I'm offering you a way out. Join me. Pledge your family's loyalty to me, and I will protect you from the others. Together, we can crush Ye Chen and secure your family's future."

Sylvia's heart raced as she weighed her options. Aric's offer was tempting, but she knew there was more to it. Aric never did anything without a reason, and she couldn't trust him. But what choice did she have? The pressure on her family was mounting, and without allies, they would be wiped out.

"What if I refuse?" Sylvia asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Aric's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "If you refuse… well, let's just say that Ye Chen won't be the only one facing my wrath. Your family will be next. And I don't think you want that."

Sylvia felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew Aric was right. Refusing him would mean certain death for her family. But accepting his offer would mean selling her soul to a man she despised.

"What do you want in return?" Sylvia asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

"Your absolute loyalty," Aric replied, his tone firm. "And I want you to eliminate Ye Chen. Do that, and your family will be safe."

Sylvia's breath caught in her throat. He was asking her to betray someone who had once been an ally, someone who had done nothing to harm her family. But she knew she had no choice.

"Fine," Sylvia said, her voice cold. "I'll do it. But know this, Aric—if you betray me, I'll make sure you regret it."

Aric's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Sylvia. I'm glad we understand each other."

With that, he stepped back and subtly triggered the activation array with a wave of his hand. Suddenly, Sylvia felt a powerful force pin her to the ground, her body freezing in place. She looked around, her eyes wide with shock and fear, as dark energy erupted from the ground, forming a cage around her.

"What… what is this?!" Sylvia gasped, struggling to move, but the more she fought, the more energy was drained from her.

"It's nothing personal, Sylvia," Aric said, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion. "But your family's resistance is becoming a nuisance. And you're too smart for your own good. It's a shame, really. But you've outlived your usefulness. And i dislike you."

The energy cage tightened around Sylvia, and she felt her life force being sucked out of her, her strength waning by the second. Panic surged through her as she realized that this was the end—Aric had no intention of letting her leave this grove alive.

"You… you bastard!" Sylvia choked out, her voice weakening.

Aric merely watched, his expression unreadable. "Goodbye, Sylvia."

Sylvia Song's breath came in ragged gasps as the dark energy cage constricted around her, the air growing thin as if the world itself was suffocating her. Her body trembled involuntarily, muscles spasming as the energy drained her life force. The vibrant colors of the grove around her seemed to dim, fading into an oppressive grayscale.

The once-bright moonlight now appeared cold and distant, casting eerie shadows that danced like specters on the forest floor.

She tried to scream, but her voice was barely a whisper, choked off by the force that was slowly, mercilessly, crushing her. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, her hands clawing at the ground in a desperate attempt to escape, but there was no way out. The dark energy pulsed around her, feeding off her fear, her despair, her very essence.

The cold seeped into her bones, a biting chill that gnawed at her from the inside out. Every breath was a struggle, her chest tightening with each attempt to draw air. Her vision blurred as tears of pain and frustration welled in her eyes, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of regret and helplessness.

She thought of her family, of the Song Clan she had fought so hard to protect. Would they even know what happened to her? Would they understand the sacrifice she had made, or would they think she had simply abandoned them? The thought of leaving them vulnerable, without her guidance, cut deeper than the physical agony she was enduring.

Sylvia's strength was fading, her body growing weaker with each passing second. Her arms, once strong and capable, now felt like leaden weights, unable to lift even an inch. The energy cage around her pulsated with an ominous glow, tightening its grip as it fed on her dwindling life force.

Aric watched from a distance, his expression impassive, eyes cold and devoid of empathy. To him, this was nothing more than another necessary step in his grand scheme. Sylvia was a loose end, a potential threat that needed to be eliminated, and he had no qualms about doing so. Her death would serve his purposes, and that was all that mattered.

Sylvia's head drooped, her strength nearly gone. Her breathing was shallow, each exhale a shuddering gasp that barely escaped her lips. Her once-bright eyes, full of determination and resolve, were now glazed over, losing their luster as her life slipped away.

The dark energy began to surge with renewed intensity, a final crescendo that would sever the last ties between Sylvia and the world of the living. The pain was unbearable, a fiery lance that shot through her veins, making her entire body convulse violently. But even in her final moments, Sylvia clung to a shred of defiance, her thoughts echoing with a single, desperate plea:

My family… I must protect them…

But the plea was in vain. With one final pulse, the energy cage tightened to an unbearable degree, and Sylvia's body went limp. The light in her eyes dimmed completely, and her last breath escaped her lips in a silent sigh.

Aric watched as the dark energy dissipated, leaving behind the lifeless form of Sylvia Song.