The city was asleep, but Priyanshu's mind was wide awake.
He stood on top of the rooftop, the wind blowing gently through his coat. Below him, the world moved quietly, unaware that a monster was watching from above—no, not a monster. A shadow. A planner. A villain the world didn't even know it feared yet.
But tonight, something big was about to begin.
Priyanshu had already made his move. One call. One signal. And chaos would bloom like a well-watered flower in the garden of peace these people foolishly believed in.
He smiled.
In the distance, an explosion broke the night's silence.
Boom.
Screams followed. Panic spread like wildfire. The Crimson Claw Mercenary Guild's hidden warehouse was now burning. Dozens of illegal weapons destroyed. Half their members were either dead or running.
And the best part?
No one would trace it back to him. Instead, the evidence pointed toward another rising group—the White Fang Syndicate. A fake organization Priyanshu had created just for this purpose.
They would become the enemy. He would remain clean. Untouched. And in the shadows, he would keep pulling strings.
Minutes later, Priyanshu walked calmly through the streets. No one recognized him. No one looked twice. He was just a face in the crowd.
He entered an underground bar hidden behind a bookstore. Inside, a man in a black suit stood up and greeted him. "Boss, the job's done. Just like you wanted. Not a trace left behind."
Priyanshu nodded, not even breaking his stride. "Good. Now leak some false documents. Make it look like the White Fang is planning another attack on the Eastern Police Department. We'll watch how the authorities react."
"Yes, Boss."
He sat in the private lounge and poured himself a drink. This wasn't victory. No. This was only the beginning of a larger plan. One where heroes were tools, villains were pawns, and the real king remained invisible.
Meanwhile, in the outer city, Aryan—now being seen as a local hero for stopping a minor gang—was enjoying his new fame. He didn't even know that everything happening around him was controlled by Priyanshu.
In fact, Priyanshu had personally helped boost Aryan's reputation. Set him up. Made him look like a righteous figure. The people loved him. The media adored him.
Priyanshu smirked as he watched Aryan's news footage on the lounge screen.
"Let the world believe he's the light," he whispered. "I'll be the darkness that keeps that light alive."
But not everyone was blind.
A girl, watching from another city, narrowed her eyes as she replayed the footage of the burning warehouse. Her name was Lavanya. A high-level investigator with a sharp brain and a sharper sense of justice.
And unlike others, she didn't believe in coincidences.
"Too clean," she whispered. "Too smooth. Someone wanted this to happen. Someone is hiding in the dark."
Back in the lounge, Priyanshu received a message from the Hidden Villain System.
[New Mission: Orchestrate a conflict between the White Fang and the Central Guards.]
[Reward: Dark Strategist Title + 100 Villain Points]
[Time Limit: 72 hours]
He didn't even blink. "Easy," he said, already dialing a new number.
This time, it was a corrupt officer. Someone Priyanshu had helped cover up a past scandal. Now, the man owed him.
"You'll receive a tip tomorrow," Priyanshu said calmly. "Make sure your team moves fast. Arrest three White Fang members. But let two escape. One of them must reach District 9."
"Yes… yes, sir!"
He cut the call. Another move placed on the board.
And behind it all, Priyanshu was still the nobody everyone ignored. Still the quiet college boy who smiled awkwardly in class. Who stayed invisible. Who held doors open and never raised his voice.
He lived in two worlds.
One above.
One below.
And in both… he ruled.
Later that night, in a secret room beneath his apartment, he opened the black crystal—an artifact stolen from the Night Saints Clan two weeks ago.
Inside it, a rare soul essence twisted with dark energy. One that would allow him to awaken a long-lost ability… Shadow Communication.
If it worked, he could speak through shadows, deliver messages from across the city, spy, and control more than ever before.
He crushed the crystal. The black mist wrapped around his hand. Pain surged through his arm, but he didn't scream.
A voice entered his mind. "Who dares…"
"I do," he whispered back, gritting his teeth. "Now serve me."
The mist accepted him. The bond was formed.
A new system message popped up.
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Voice (Lv. 1)]
[You can now transmit your voice through shadows up to 1km away.]
Priyanshu exhaled slowly. "Now, I don't even need to move to command an army."
He walked to the mirror. Looked at his reflection.
Gone was the weak, confused boy from Earth.
Now, he was a villain who could wear a hero's mask when needed.
"Let them all chase justice," he murmured. "While I build an empire in their blind spots."
The next morning, news channels screamed of chaos. Police prepared raids. The White Fang name spread like wildfire.
And Aryan?
He was nominated for a local bravery award.
Priyanshu looked at the newspaper.
"Good," he whispered. "Let the hero shine bright."
He folded the paper, tossed it aside, and walked toward the next stage of his plan—one that would drag even kings into the palm of his hand.
Because in a world obsessed with heroes and villains… the true mastermind is never seen.
And that was exactly how Priyanshu wanted it.