The road to the Temple of the Nine Stars was wrapped in silence and clouds.
Carved into the side of a mist-wreathed mountain, the temple was a place untouched by time or bloodshed, sacred even to enemies. It wasn't known for its combat strength or wealth—but for something far more dangerous.
Clarity.
The Oracle there could see glimpses of the threads of fate—blurred, incomplete, and often dangerous to speak aloud. But when she did speak, empires trembled.
And she had summoned Priyanshu Yadav.
Officially, he was still a scholar visiting the capital. But the Oracle hadn't asked for a scholar.
She had asked for him.
The Hidden Villain.
He arrived at the base of the temple under the guise of a quiet traveler. No guards, no horses, no banners. Just him, wrapped in a dark robe, hood low, steps soft. Only the ring on his hand—the symbol of the Dark Heaven Society—glowed faintly beneath the cloth.
He climbed the long staircase in silence.
Hundreds of steps. Each one felt like a whisper from the heavens, trying to pull secrets from his bones.
But Priyanshu smiled.
Let them try.
He reached the gates, where two silent monks bowed and opened the path without a word. As he entered, the world shifted. The air turned thinner, and time felt slower. Lanterns lit themselves as he passed, and the sky above was no longer blue—but layered in swirling stars, as if the temple had peeled the heavens open.
At the center of a giant courtyard, surrounded by floating constellations, stood a single figure.
A woman in pure silver robes.
Eyes blindfolded.
Hair like snow.
She stood barefoot on air, levitating an inch above the stone.
The High Oracle.
"I've been waiting," she said softly, her voice like wind brushing a dream.
"You knew I'd come," Priyanshu replied, calm as ever.
"You were already on the path," she whispered. "I only lit the way."
He stepped closer. "So, tell me. What do your stars say?"
She raised her hand, and the sky above shimmered. Stars moved. Patterns twisted. And then—
A figure appeared in the sky.
A shadow cloaked in gold.
Sitting on a throne of broken crowns.
Underneath him, sects burned. Kingdoms bled. Heroes bowed. And villains wept.
"You," she said, her voice low, "are the king that never exists. The throne that cannot be seen. The shadow that rules without ever being known."
She turned her head toward him, though her eyes remained blindfolded.
"Do you know what that makes you, Priyanshu Yadav?"
"I'd love to hear it," he murmured.
She stepped closer.
"You are the Unseen King."
Priyanshu didn't flinch. Not at the title. Not at the prophecy. But a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.
"And what does that mean, dear Oracle?"
She extended a hand.
"It means you will destroy everything—without ever taking credit for it. Your name will never be feared. It will be forgotten. But your influence will live in every law, every war, every whisper across generations."
"Poetic," he said.
"But not the full truth."
The Oracle tilted her head. "No. Not yet. You're still writing the final act."
Priyanshu took a slow breath, then stepped right in front of her, close enough to touch.
"You summoned me for a prophecy. What do you want in return?"
She didn't answer.
Not with words.
Instead, she leaned in.
And whispered one sentence into his ear.
A single sentence that made even Priyanshu pause.
His calm faltered.
Just slightly.
And then the Oracle stepped back, her face once again blank.
"Thank you for your visit."
He didn't ask questions.
He simply nodded—and left.
The walk down the mountain felt different. The air colder. The silence deeper.
And in his chest, something stirred.
Not fear.
But interest.
The Oracle had whispered, "There's someone in this world who can kill you without ever meeting you. And they've already started moving."
—
Back at the Dark Heaven Society's base, the upper ranks had gathered.
Arthas leaned on his weapon, chewing roasted meat with indifference.
Zhao Miya sat in lotus position, her black qi swirling gently around her.
Anaya paced by the map, scribbling down troop movements and rebel activity.
When Priyanshu returned, they all turned to him.
"Well?" Miya asked. "Did she try to trap you?"
"No," Priyanshu said, removing his robe. "She gave me a title."
"What kind of title?"
He looked up.
"The Unseen King."
Silence.
Then Arthas let out a short laugh. "Fitting."
"I don't like it," Anaya muttered. "Kings get targeted."
"Not if they're never seen," Miya replied with a sly smile.
"Exactly," Priyanshu said. "We'll begin Phase Four."
The map on the table shifted, showing five major sects. With a flick of his hand, he marked them each with a black lotus.
"These sects have stayed neutral too long. We turn them."
"How?" Anaya asked.
"Each one will receive a savior," Priyanshu said. "A rogue cultivator who'll rise through their ranks, fix their crises, save their disciples—and secretly pledge loyalty to us."
"You're going to create fake heroes?" Miya asked.
He smiled.
"No. I'm going to create real heroes. Just ones who report to me."
He pointed at one spot on the map—the Phoenix Ash Sect.
"Their prodigy just went missing. We'll send in our own."
"And what about the prophecy?" Anaya pressed. "That someone can kill you without ever meeting you?"
"I'm counting on it," Priyanshu said softly. "I want to see who dares."
Later that night, he sat alone in his chamber, the black lotus glowing gently on his palm.
The Hidden Villain System activated once more.
[New Global Path Unlocked: King of Shadows]
[You can now influence factions through puppets, proxies, and planted legends]
[You may now build a Shadow Empire beneath the world's surface]
[Warning: Opposing Fate Forces have detected your anomaly]
[The game begins]
Priyanshu leaned back in his chair.
A slow, quiet smile on his lips.
The Oracle had tried to warn him.
The stars had tried to bind him.
And now fate itself wanted to challenge him.
Good.
Because what was a villain's life without a little rebellion from the heavens?
And when the world finally screamed for a savior, they wouldn't find a righteous hero or a shining sword.
They'd find nothing.
No banners.
No declarations.
Only the soft echo of footsteps in the dark.
And a whisper.
"You've already lost."