Grayson made his selections without a moment's hesitation.
Among the five options offered by the Villain Simulator, there was no real choice at all.
The first item—[The Third Level of the Ancient Dragon Elephant Sutra (Hathi)]—was indispensable.
It would elevate him instantly from a mere mortal to a true cultivator, granting him powers far beyond the reach of ordinary men.
Although not comparable to the monstrous geniuses of the Ironwood Empire's capital, he would easily surpass common talents—and perhaps even rival the heirs of major families.
At the third level of cultivation, Grayson would possess tangible mystical abilities.
Ordinary firearms would no longer pose any threat.
With a single blow, he could flatten a fully armed gang or tear down reinforced steel doors.
Such strength would even allow him to command respect within the Imperial system itself, earning positions, privileges—and power.
But that was not enough.
Without the second item—[Awakening the Supreme Emperor Bone]—his newly gained cultivation would be meaningless.
Without awakening the Supreme Emperor Bone and lifting the curse, any spiritual energy he accumulated would swiftly dissipate, causing his progress to collapse.
At best, he would regress into a powerless mortal once again.
Thus, the first two rewards were complementary, essential, and non-negotiable.
As for the remaining rewards...
The fourth item, a "green hat" for Luke, was simply distasteful.
Maybe it would psychologically damage Luke, but Grayson had no interest in petty revenge.
He was no amateur villain driven by juvenile pettiness.
He was building an empire.
The third reward, however—the blue-grade talent [Greased Lightning]—was another matter entirely.
It had already demonstrated its value in the first simulation, allowing him to escape both the destined protagonist and the sinister forces lurking behind him.
Even beings capable of slaughtering Saints hadn't been able to catch him immediately.
The fifth item, partial destiny energy from Anya, was tempting but ultimately inferior.
Luck was fickle. It was external.
It could save him in a crisis—or betray him at a critical moment.
In contrast, [Greased Lightning] was permanent and irreplaceable.
He had seen firsthand how crucial mobility and escape were in this treacherous world.
Thus, without the slightest regret, Grayson finalized his selections:
First, Third level of Ancient Dragon Elephant Sutra.
Second, Supreme Emperor Bone Awakening.
Third, Blue Talent: Greased Lightning.
The moment his choices were confirmed—
Boom!
The power of the Villain Simulator erupted with terrifying force.
A "long river of time" tore through dimensions and unfolded before him.
Countless ripples shimmered across it, showing fragmented scenes from his first simulated life.
There, lying broken on the ground, was his own corpse—spine ripped out, face frozen in eternal horror.
Hovering above the corpse were five fruits, each pulsing with a different brilliant glow.
Swish!
Three of the fruits detached themselves and flew toward Grayson.
As they merged with his body, a terrifying transformation began.
An ancient roar—half-dragon, half-elephant—reverberated deep inside him.
Muscles tightened and bulged beneath his skin.
An unimaginable strength flowed through his veins.
Power of Ten Elephants.
A punch could now rip steel apart.
A kick could topple reinforced concrete.
The [Ancient Dragon Elephant Sutra] had fused perfectly with his flesh and bones, making him a walking natural disaster.
But even this monstrous strength paled in comparison to what happened next.
Within his spine—the seat of his soul—a hidden force stirred.
The Supreme Emperor Bone awakened fully.
A chilling scream, ancient and primal, echoed through his mind.
The roaring dragon-elephant within him instantly fell silent, submitting humbly to the newly awakened Supreme Emperor Bone.
It was as if the Dragon Elephant itself had bowed to a Supreme Monarch of Heaven and Earth.
Grayson's aura, previously raw and wild, condensed to the point of non-existence.
No energy fluctuations leaked out.
No hint of his monstrous strength was visible.
To the outside world, he remained an ordinary young master.
Yet his power had reached terrifying heights.
From the driver's seat, Shawn—his loyal seventh-level Saint protector—felt something unnatural.
Glancing into the rearview mirror, Shawn's heart seized.
Those eyes—deep, dark, oppressive—stared back at him with a gaze that transcended mortal understanding.
Instinctively, Shawn averted his gaze, sweat beading on his forehead.
That oppressive presence…
Even the Grierson family's Patriarch had never made him feel so powerless.
And Grayson hadn't even formally cultivated until moments ago!
"How... how is this possible?" Shawn thought, utterly shaken.
"The young master... is a monster."
The casual contempt he once harbored vanished completely, replaced by a deep, instinctual awe.
This was no pampered playboy.
This was something far more dangerous.
Grayson smirked slightly as he sensed Shawn's reaction.
Good.
This was the feeling he craved.
Dominance.
Supremacy.
Control.
He turned his attention inward, and the Simulator's System Interface appeared before him:
[Host: Grayson Grierson]
[Age: 18]
[Realm: Mystical (Third Level Hathi )]
[Cultivation Technique: Ancient Dragon Elephant Sutra (Heavenly Grade)]
[Constitution: Supreme Emperor Bone (Awakened)]
[Talent: Greased Lightning (Blue Grade)]
[Number of Simulations Used: 1/2]
[Villain Points: 0]
Grayson studied his panel with satisfaction.
With the third-level cultivation and Supreme Emperor Bone combined, he could now easily shatter elite warriors—and even early Saints would find him troublesome.
Yet he had only just scratched the surface of his power.
"There's no time to waste," Grayson murmured.
Five minutes had passed since his first simulation ended.
The hidden enemies had not yet made their move in the real world.
It was time to act.
"Villain Simulator," Grayson said inwardly. "Initiate Second Simulation!"
A chime echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Second Villain Life Simulation begins.]
[Insufficient Villain Points detected. Skipping Talent Extraction.]
[Simulation Commencing…]
Inside the Second Simulation:
[You are Grayson Grierson, the second son of the Grierson family.]
[Having learned from your previous death, you act with far greater caution.]
[You do not step out of the Maybach to rescue the unconscious Anya.]
[Instead, you sit silently, waiting.]
Time ticked by.
An hour later—
[Luke arrives, panting heavily, desperate to find Anya. His eyes flicker with panic as he scans the surroundings.]
[He spots the Maybach.]
Grayson's lips curled into a cold, predatory smile.
This time, there would be no games.
No second chances.
[Without hesitation, you command Shawn—your seventh-level Saint protector—to kill Luke immediately.]
[There is no need to capture him alive. Twist off his head.]
Grayson leaned forward in his seat, hands clasped calmly.
In this simulation, there would be no mercy for "protagonists."
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