I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 150: The Trial (9)

Chapter 150: The Trial (9)

[Novel undergoing editing]

The staircase spiraled down into darkness, but the faint glow from the zodiac tiles above clung to the walls like distant stars. Verena’s grip on Vivienne’s hand tightened—not just for balance, but a quiet reassurance. Even if the girl was a walking disaster zone, she wasn’t about to leave her behind.

At the bottom, the chamber opened up into a vast cavern, lit by ethereal blue light radiating from crystal clusters embedded in the walls. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and magic simmering just beneath the surface.

Isolde smirked. "Welcome to the Heart of the Labyrinth. This is where things get really interesting."

Verena raised an eyebrow. "Heart of the Labyrinth? Sounds like a bad romance novel title."

Vivienne peeked around nervously. "So, what’s the trial?"

Before anyone could answer, a deep rumble shook the cavern. The crystals pulsed, and from the shadows emerged a massive creature—a chimera made of swirling astral energy and fragments of constellations. Its lion’s mane blazed with starlight, wings of shimmering mist spread wide, and eyes like black holes sucked in the ambient light.

"That’s a Zodiac Guardian," Isolde said, voice steady but excited. "We have to defeat it. Or at least survive it."

Verena groaned, dropping into a defensive stance. "Guess it’s fight time."

The beast roared, a sound that echoed like thunder across the cavern, and charged.

Vivienne closed her eyes, reaching deep into her Dreamtide magic. She summoned illusions of crashing waves and drifting clouds to confuse the creature’s senses, buying precious seconds.

Isolde stepped forward, blazing with Leo’s fiery aura. Her sword glowed as she sliced through shards of astral energy, each strike resonating with the power of the sun.

Verena gritted her teeth, channeling Aries’ fierce determination. Her attacks were swift and relentless, aiming to disrupt the guardian’s rhythm.

But the beast adapted quickly. Its constellation fragments reformed after every blow, harder and brighter.

"Keep it distracted!" Verena shouted, eyes scanning for a weakness.

Vivienne’s illusions shimmered and flickered. "It reacts to emotions... Maybe if we shift its focus with feelings instead of attacks?"

Isolde nodded, flames intensifying. "I’ll draw its anger—let it burn itself out."

Verena exhaled sharply. "Vivienne, can you calm it down? Use that Dreamtide thing of yours."

Vivienne swallowed her nerves, stepping closer. She reached out with her empathy, weaving gentle currents of calm and sorrow, trying to drown the guardian’s fury.

The creature hesitated, eyes flickering with confusion. The roars softened into mournful echoes, and the astral fragments slowed.

"Now!" Verena yelled.

Together, they struck—Isolde’s fiery blade piercing through the softened constellation, Verena’s charge breaking its core, and Vivienne’s illusions wrapping it in waves of soothing light.

The guardian let out one last celestial roar before shattering into sparkling stardust that drifted harmlessly around them.

Breathing heavily, the trio exchanged looks of disbelief and triumph.

Isolde laughed breathlessly. "Well, that was fun. And by fun, I mean barely alive."

Verena smirked, wiping sweat from her brow. "At least we made it. Let’s see what this labyrinth has next."

Vivienne smiled softly, still feeling the aftershocks of her Dreamtide magic. Somehow, despite everything, she felt a little more... connected.

They walked in silence for a time, the air thick with the kind of hush that comes only after confronting ghosts—literal or otherwise. The path had smoothed beneath their feet, the silvery mist lifting like a curtain, revealing an expansive chamber ahead, circular and domed like the inside of a moonlit cathedral. At the center stood a pedestal, glowing faintly.

Verena squinted. "That’s either something good... or something cursed."

"Why not both?" Isolde said with a shrug. "Everything’s cursed if you poke it long enough."

Vivienne, ever the cautious one, took a hesitant step forward. "This might be the checkpoint for Trial Two."

A soft chime echoed through the chamber as they stepped closer, and sure enough, a translucent system window blinked into existence in front of them:

[TRIAL TWO COMPLETE]

Virtue Acquired: Compassion

Team Synchronization: 72%

Participants Progressing: Verena Aurelian, Vivienne Lunarelle, Isolde Vireya

Unlocking Final Segment of Labyrinth: Trial Three — The Echoing Citadel

Reward Unlocked: Evelyn’s Affection – 100%

Reward Item: Celestial Memory Shard – x1

"Wait, wait, back up," Verena blinked. "Evelyn’s what now?"

Vivienne turned slowly toward her, cheeks flushed pink. "I—I didn’t even know I had affection points installed!"

Isolde was already laughing. "Congrats, you romanced a girl just by existing. That’s talent."

"I’m not trying to romance anyone!" Verena snapped. "That’s literally not on my route!"

The system window pinged again:

[Note: The affection system does not care about your route.]

Verena groaned, dragging her hand down her face. "I hate this Labyrinth."

But even as she protested, a small smile tugged at her lips. It was absurd, yes, but... warm, in a way. A reminder that she wasn’t fighting this alone.

The pedestal pulsed again, and a staircase began to descend from the far wall—spiraling and ancient-looking, carved into starlit stone.

"That’s our way into Trial Three," Verena said, adjusting her gloves. "Let’s move before the Labyrinth decides to change its mind."

As they descended, the walls around them flickered with memories—not their own, but of past teams. Snippets of arguments, reconciliations, and tearful goodbyes played like fading echoes, reminding them that the Labyrinth was as much about people as power.

Eventually, the staircase opened into a vast, cathedral-like citadel, its high ceilings held up by constellations etched in shimmering crystal. The space buzzed with energy, like a heart waiting to beat again.

From above, a voice boomed—not male, not female, but something ancient and crystalline.

"Welcome, Seekers. Trial Three shall test your bond. Only those who echo in harmony may awaken the final gate."

Isolde huffed. "Bond trial. Of course it is."

Verena smirked. "Time to see how much you actually like me."

Vivienne gave a small nod, her voice soft. "We’ve come this far... let’s finish it together."

As the doors to the final trial creaked open, the team stepped forward—not just as three individuals, but something closer to a unit.

Even if they were still a little chaotic, a little awkward, and one of them had accidentally maxed out a romance meter.

Hey. Progress was progress.

***

The citadel was silent. Not the peaceful kind of silence—no, this one crawled under your skin, like the world was holding its breath.

"I don’t like this," Verena muttered, adjusting the strap of her satchel. "This is the kind of quiet that says, ’Oops, you’re about to die.’"

"Agreed," Isolde said, summoning a radiant blade from thin air just in case. "Where are the dramatic monster hordes? Giant illusions? Cursed singing dolls?"

Vivienne let out a weak laugh. "Maybe this trial really is about trust. No tricks. Just bonding."

"Then we’re screwed," Verena and Isolde said in perfect unison, then looked at each other and scowled.

Before they could bicker any further, the citadel lit up—crystalline panels along the walls shimmered to life, projecting holographic versions of the trio. Verena. Isolde. Vivienne. But they weren’t alone. Dozens of faceless figures surrounded them, whispering, jeering, shouting.

"You always take control, even when no one asks."

"You act like you’re better than us."

"Why are you even here?"

Verena’s throat went dry. The holograms were... memories. From past parties, failed missions, maybe even school.

"This is cruel," Vivienne whispered. "We’re being judged by our worst moments."

"Correction," Isolde said, voice low. "We’re judging ourselves."

Another echo boomed overhead:

"To pass, face the truths you hide from each other."

"Oh no," Verena groaned. "It’s a team-building trial. Like, emotionally."

The floor beneath them divided into three glowing circles. The girls were pulled to separate platforms, suspended mid-air, unable to reach one another.

Then the real horror began.

Each girl’s fears, insecurities, and grudges were spoken aloud—projected like spotlit confessions. Verena watched as her projection accused her of always pretending to have things under control, even when she was falling apart. Isolde’s image sneered at her for pushing everyone away before they could leave. Vivienne’s cried, confessing she feared being a burden so much that she’d rather be invisible.

It was raw. Ugly. Real.

And in the middle of it, the real Verena shouted, "Enough! We already know we suck sometimes, okay?! We’re human!"

The projections paused.

Verena exhaled and turned to the others across the gap. "But I trust you. Both of you. You’re annoying, unpredictable, and overly dramatic—"

"Thanks?" Isolde raised a brow.

"—but you stayed. And honestly, that’s more than enough."

Vivienne’s eyes welled up. "I trust you too... Even if I accidentally romance people by offering lap pillows."

"Still not over that," Verena muttered.

The circles beneath them glowed with radiant warmth, and the platforms began to descend. A final echo filled the room:

"Bonds acknowledged. Echoes aligned. Trial Three — Cleared."

The door at the far end of the citadel opened, light pouring in like dawn after a long nightmare.

They’d done it. Together.

And maybe, just maybe, they were ready for whatever came next.

As long as no one else tried to offer her a damn lap pillow.