I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

Britannia, located in the northeastern region of the Holy Continent, stood as one of the most renowned empires in its history. Its legacy was forged in the fires of legendary battles and conquests. Among its most iconic figures was none other than King Arthur Pendragon, whose quest to unify the fractured lands of Britannia remains one of the greatest stories of the Holy Continent.

From the year 1418 to 1426 of the Imperial Calendar, Arthur waged a relentless campaign against the fragmented, unofficial territories surrounding Britannia, with the goal of bringing them all under a single banner. His dream was to unite the land, and he achieved it through sheer will, strategic brilliance, and the help of his legendary companions.

At the heart of his conquest were the Knights of the Round Table, an elite brotherhood sworn to his cause, along with his trusted advisor, the greatest mage of the age, Merlin. Armed with the divine power of the Holy Sword, Excalibur, Arthur carved a path to victory. The unification of Britannia brought peace to the warring factions, ending centuries of strife. No longer would its people wage war against one another—they were all Britannians now, bound together by a shared destiny.

Arthur's triumph reverberated across the Holy Continent, shaking the neighboring kingdoms. His story became legend, immortalized in books that sold by the millions, spreading the tale of his conquest far and wide. Yet, it wasn't only his military feats that made him a revered figure. Arthur's devout adherence to the Savior's Faith—a powerful religion dominating much of the continent—endeared him to the Holy Church. His piety furthered the reach of the Church, as his victories were seen as divine blessings. With Arthur's support, the Faith gained countless new followers, solidifying its presence throughout Britannia and beyond.

The pinnacle of Arthur's recognition came when the Pope himself journeyed to Camelot, personally blessing the king for his righteous conquest. This act cemented Britannia as a stronghold of the Savior's Faith, a beacon of the Holy Church's power and influence.

But it was perhaps this very alliance with the Holy Church that painted a target on Britannia's back. It became the main focus of Seraphiel's followers, worshippers of the Evil Goddess.

The invasion came like a shadow in the night—swift, silent, and deadly. Only a month ago, Britannia was plunged into chaos as it was invaded from all sides by the forces of Gevurah, the followers of Seraphiel. Their strategy was meticulous, almost surgical. In the span of a single week, the once-mighty empire fell, piece by piece.

Gevurah's forces severed all lines of communication and aid, isolating Britannia from any hope of reinforcement. The cities on the outskirts fell first. Even Camelot, the heart of Arthur's empire, was besieged at the very onset of the attack. The kingdom was surrounded and suffocated, with no way in and no way out.

The fall of Camelot was swift, and within days, all of Britannia followed. The world stood in shock, as the once great empire crumbled before their eyes, its defeat echoing across the whole world of Arcadia.

When all was said and done, the neighboring kingdoms found themselves powerless to aid Britannia in its darkest hour. Fear had gripped their rulers, each of them more concerned with reinforcing their own borders than with extending a hand to their fallen neighbor. Their anxiety was not unfounded—Gevurah's ambitions were no secret. For years, their ultimate goal had been clear: to spread their own twisted faith through force and terror, conquering all who stood in their way.

Though Gevurah had long been seen as a looming threat, the scale of their ambition had only recently come into sharp focus. In the past, they had targeted smaller villages and towns, conquering in increments, but what occurred a month ago—known now as the Fall of Britannia—solidified Gevurah as the greatest menace across the Holy Continent. The conquest of an empire as mighty as Britannia was not merely a victory; it was a declaration of Gevurah's power and a warning to the rest of the continent.

Now, Britannia lay under Gevurah's complete control. Its lands, once united under the banner of Arthur Pendragon, had been absorbed into the empire of the Fallen Goddess, Seraphiel. 

Yet, there was a glimmer of hope amidst the fear. Despite their swift victory, Gevurah showed no immediate signs of continuing their campaign of conquest. For now, the surrounding kingdoms could breathe.

***

Britannia was far from Aurion.

The quickest way to reach Britannia for normel folk was by sea, where a two-to-three-day voyage would bring one to its shores. The overland route, though possible, would take even longer, with numerous kingdoms and territories standing between Aurion and Britannia. Border controls and checkpoints would make it an even more arduous journey, one Ivan had no time for.

There was also the possibility of using an airship, a faster mode of travel, though it would still take several hours at best. However, none of these options were suitable for Ivan. Time was not a luxury he could afford. By tomorrow, he was expected to be back at the academy, and his current task could not wait any longer.

Fortunately, Ivan had an alternative—one that bypassed the need for ships or airships entirely. Among the many rare artifacts in his possession, there was one that could solve his problem: an ancient teleportation device, divided into two parts. One half was securely hidden in Camelot, while the other remained with Ivan, an artifact from the vast treasure troves of the Pendragons, hoarded over centuries of conquest and rule.

This artifact, though powerful, had its limitations. It could only be used three times, and Ivan had already used it once before. Today, however, he had no choice but to use it again. He needed to be in Camelot to complete the final stages of a carefully laid event, one that had been in motion for the past month.

The official marriage between him and Gwenyra Pendragon.

As he gripped the shimmering golden key, Ivan activated the key, and in an instant, it glowed brightly in his hand. The light intensified, engulfing his entire figure in a blinding brilliance. 

***

Since the fall of Camelot just a month ago, the city and its people had undergone drastic and painful changes—none more evident than the new, harsh policies imposed by their conquerors. Ivan's Legion had seized control, and with it, they brought not just destruction, but a systematic dismantling of everything Camelot once stood for.

First, the residents of Camelot were forced to strip their homes of all religious symbols of their Savior. Statues, holy relics, and sacred texts were burned or shattered under the threat of death. No questions would be asked. Resistance wasn't tolerated, and the penalty for disobedience was swift and brutal. But the desecration of their beliefs wasn't the end of their suffering. The very people whose homes had been destroyed in the invasion were now ordered to rebuild the city—rebuild what Ivan's Legion had razed to the ground. They had no choice.

The city's inhabitants found themselves trapped in an impossible situation. Many still clung to their faith, indifferent to their own fate, but Ivan's people knew how to break their spirits. Hostage-taking became a cruel but effective tool. Families were torn apart, with children, spouses, and parents used as leverage. If an individual refused to renounce their faith or convert to Gevurah's religion, their loved ones would be executed before their eyes. It was a cold, ruthless method, but it left the people with little option. Most chose to live, even if it meant betraying their beliefs. Few were willing to sacrifice their families for the sake of principle.

Even in such a bleak, oppressive atmosphere, hope flickered faintly. The people of Camelot had one figure who kept them going—their First Princess, Gwenyra Pendragon. For the citizens, she was a beacon of strength and courage, a comforting presence in the midst of despair. Her words and her compassion seemed to offer peace of mind, giving them a reason to endure the daily suffering. However, none of them knew the truth. 

Gwenyra was playing the role Ivan had asked her. While Ivan hadn't forced her hand, Gwenyra knew well what would happen to her family if she disobeyed. Her compliance wasn't driven by fear for herself, but by the knowledge that her refusal would mean the death of those she loved.

Under these circumstances, the people of Camelot toiled day and night to restore the very city that had been taken from them. Men worked relentlessly in construction, rebuilding walls, homes, and streets, while women cared for the wounded, tending to the countless injuries that came from the invasion. They also took on the responsibility of feeding the people, managing the limited supplies left in the wake of the destruction. Even children weren't spared—they helped wherever they could, whether by assisting the adults in their tasks or tending to smaller jobs around the city.

Overseeing all of this were the soldiers of Ivan's Legion, a force of about a 1000 men. They patrolled the streets, ensuring that no one defied orders and that the rebuilding efforts continued without disruption. Although one thousand soldiers seemed far too few to manage a city of millions, they were not alone. Reinforcements had since arrived from Gevurah, bolstering the occupying force and tightening their grip on the city.

Camelot was more than just a city to Gevurah. Its strategic importance as a center of power and influence on the Holy Continent made it an essential prize. Losing control over it was not an option, and Gevurah knew that the only way to maintain their dominance was to place it under the control of their strongest and most trustworthy man.

There was reason why they gave Ivan both the task to bring down Camelot and also the freedom to rule however he sees it fit Camelot. As long he kept Camelot under his control, they gave him free rein.