Reincarnated as the Last Villain

Three days passed since the siege.

Repairs began. New recruits trickled in — mercenaries with no flag, scholars disillusioned by the Church, refugees with blades and nothing left to lose.

And Kael knew…

A war could not be won alone.

Not with speeches.

Not with faith.

Only with a council.

He stood in the main hall of Ravengarde — torches lit, banners tattered, the floor still stained with ash. The room once belonged to tyrants. Tonight, it would belong to a broken army trying to become a nation.

[Faction Event: The First Rebellion Council]Choose 5 Core Seats: Military, Intelligence, Diplomacy, Resources, ShadowsSuccess will unlock access to advanced faction upgrades and elite missions.Failure risks internal collapse.

Kael stepped forward.

"This rebellion can't just be my sword," he said to those gathered. "It has to be our hands. Our minds. Our blood."

From the shadows, Serana nodded.

"I'll lead the army," she said. "I've commanded troops. I know war."

Kael nodded. Seat One Filled: Commander of Arms.

Next came Nilo, eyes tired but fierce. "I'll handle arcane logistics. Defense wards. Magical relay stations. Alchemy rations. You'll need someone who understands how to keep a fortress standing — and hidden."

Seat Two Filled: Keeper of Resources.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Vaenira stepped forward.

"I don't care for banners," she said. "But I know how to read people who wear masks. I know spies. I know lies."

Kael locked eyes with her.

"Do you want a seat, or a knife in the back of one?"

Vaenira smirked. "Why not both?"

Seat Three Filled: Master of Shadows.

Two seats remained.

And that's when the cracks appeared.

The First Fracture

Duran stepped forward, fury in his voice.

"You'll give her power?" he barked. "She served Zerath. She fought at Kaelmoor when my unit burned."

The hall went silent.

Kael didn't answer right away.

But Nilo did.

"And now she fights with us. Don't tell me loyalty means never changing."

"You trust her?" Duran spat.

"No," Nilo said. "But I trust Kael to deal with her if she turns."

Kael looked around.

"This is how it starts," he said. "This is what power does — even to people like us."

Council Incomplete

That night, two things happened.

First, the Council was temporarily set with three seats filled. No one else stepped forward.

Second, someone tried to burn the council room.

A firebomb planted in a wine barrel — a spy's trick. No casualties. But a message.

[Faction Warning: Internal Saboteur Detected]Someone inside Ravengarde wants the rebellion to fail.Until discovered, upgrades and unity will falter.

Kael stood alone in the scorched hall.

The broken banner above him — black and red, with no emblem yet.

"We're trying to build something better," he whispered.

"But maybe the world only understands fire."