My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 52: Tyrant

Elian remembered the story. Everyone did.

In the year 2030, Dungeons began appearing on Earth. That was over five decades ago. In that time, society changed. They came without warning. Creatures of immense strength and intellect. Terrifying monsters that did not kill humans for sustenance but sport.

Hundreds of thousands of people died to them. Governments collapsed. Entire countries turned to rubble. In a few short years humanity was in danger of being eradicated.

But when all hope was lost, the Breakers rose.

Led by Chad "Daybreak" Dawson, they turned fear into victory.

The world called them saviors.

From their knowledge came the activators—machines that turned humans into heroes.

This was the history he had been taught. The one printed in textbooks. The one whispered in every classroom like sacred truth.

But after everything... the dungeons, the lies, the Crucible—Elian had to ask himself one terrifying question: What if none of it was real?

"Why do the dungeons allow their occupants to come out, once they are invaded and not before?"

Bianca’s questions turned that entire narrative on its head. The Celestial Crucible didn’t just reframe the dungeons—it redefined them. The monsters weren’t mindless beasts. And the dungeons were just the homes of invaders.

Suddenly, Elian understood why the system that enforced the dungeons was called the Celestial Crucible. Crucibles were vessels meant for purifying metal. Metaphorically, it meant testing the grit of people under conflict or trials.

They were tests. And humanity— may have already failed.

Fluffy closed her eyes and thought long and hard before she replied. "Well, I can’t say for sure. But in essence that much is true. At least for Fralhame’s case. We investigated the dungeons and preyed on those who invaded. They were a bunch of green salamanders."

"What do you mean?"

At Elian’s question, Bianca suddenly created a table, and figures made out of ice. There were tiny humans, ants and snow wolves. A map-like image appeared on the table that had borders and divisions.

"What Fluffy means is that your assumption about the dungeons is half right and half wrong. According to her memories, the crucible actually links separate worlds together. That is why you can only enter one via a portal."

Bianca then created a tunnel and placed it between the group of Ants and Humans.

"Dungeons aren’t just tests. They’re fragments—pieces of worlds. The portals link them together like forward bases. That means the land we stand on right now, was once a piece of Fralhame’s world."

Elian’s mind began to quickly connect the dots from Fluffy’s comments.

"I am sure. To invoke a new expedition, the current one must be eradicated. That’s the only way a new Tyrant can be chosen—at least for Earth."

"I do not know who made the dungeons. Only that they come to any world deemed powerful enough by the system. Earth has met the minimum requirement to join the crucible. The dungeons are the testing ground. Earth’s goal is to raise a Tyrant."

The preliminaries end when Earth gains a tyrant. Then if each Tyrant is meant to lead an expedition, humans would also be expected to invade other worlds. If it escalates, both sides would hate each other and might even try to make each other extinct.

So that’s it... The Crucible forces entire worlds to pick fights with each other.

Elian felt his stomach drop. Bianca, unaware, continued her explanation.

"A world’s standing is determined by the victories they earn. Fralhame is relatively new. So, they only chose Earth for this round. Once this expedition ends Fralhame will be given the option to return to Earth or try a different world."

But of course, it wouldn’t be that simple. After all, bullying the weak had its perks. Even if Fralhame tries to attack someone else, Earth may come for them due to winning once.

"There are multiple brackets. The system rewards those who conquer. Each expedition is a match. The more victories a world claims, the higher it climbs—and the more control it gains over others. They can ally, trade, enslave or even erase the losers."

Elian didn’t even have to wonder what the benefits had to be. Humanity’s own history was rife with examples. Only the Celestial Crucible allows humans to vent their lust for battle on conquest on something else for a change.

They already did with the Snow wolves. Treating them as livestock, to be culled when someone wanted to eat them for dinner. Why am I not surprised?

Elian furrowed his brow. The Crucible had countless moving parts—but one defining rule.

Each world needed a leader. A Tyrant.

The Tyrant represented the player. He or she got to decide how Earth played the game. Be it aggressively or defensively, a person’s own core values would shape how Earth fought the other worlds.

They could be cruel and bring other to absolute ruin.

They could be chivalrous and save multiple worlds.

It all depended on who sat on the top.

Wishing to be lucky was complete insanity.

And that would be the point that would dictate everything. The Tyrant would control the fate of the entire world. Such a position would grant immense power, influence and greed.

Wait. If that is the case, then aren’t the most probable Tyrant candidates are those who already ruled humanity...No....

Elian’s eyes burned brighter at the realization. Bianca who noticed his gaze nodded while smiling wryly.

"Yes, Elian. Gaining this information, I finally understood why humanity could not tolerate my existence. Even after my attempts to live in seclusion, they couldn’t risk me becoming a Tyrant."

Suddenly, the sound of metal striking filled the air. It was with enough force that small sonic booms echoed. The culprits? Every inch of Living Metal rippled.

Even Elian’s own body.

If earlier, he trembled from the realization that he was a murderer. Now his body shook from rage.

The crucible was the reason. It wasn’t the humans. It wasn’t the monsters. This entire system of genocide forced them to kill each other for sport. Bianca died in the crossfire—not for a higher purpose, not even for a valid reason. Just an afterthought.

The ground rumbled.

Elian’s entire existence violently erupted in rage. The Living Metal surrounding him screeched like the war cry of an entire army.

"Master... your boyfriend is going berserk."

"Sigh. And what would have me do Fluffy?"

"How should I know what humans do? If he was a wolf, I would push him down and lick him till he calms down."

"What? I-I can’t do that!"

"Why? You two act like you’re mates already!"

"I don’t know, okay?! S-Shut up!"

Hearing the silliness of his family, Elian’s rage began to cool. While he was still furious. He couldn’t call the entire situation bad.

Although he was no longer human, he had a family. And despite all the pain he endured because of his lack of Talents, he found his purpose.

If not for the Crucible... I’d never have met her.

Elian then imagined what his life would have been like if the dungeons never made it to Earth. He might have just graduated, found a safe office job, and grown old. He might have found a girlfriend, married her and even divorced.

Elian might have had kids; they would grow older and eventually leave. At the end of it all he could retire in his old age and die in peace.

He would never have been betrayed.

Bianca too might have lived peacefully. No titles. No trauma. Just... a quiet life. She wouldn’t even need a weapon. Fluffy would likely have never come to Earth.

The three of them would have lived their own lives never crossing paths. Just shadows lost in separate worlds.

At that realization, Living Metal turned silent.

This might be better.

"Oh? He managed to cool down on his own. What a shame..."

"Fluffy, your cousin was right—you’re too lecherous for your own good. It’s a miracle you remain chaste till now." freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Haha, I just haven’t met someone worthy. Sir Elian fits the bill though. If you don’t want him..."

"W-What? When did I say I didn’t want him! F-Find your own! Elian is MINE!"

Elian looked up and saw Bianca trying to pound Fluffy’s head with her fists as the Wolf ran away.

"Sigh, yeah. This is definitely better."

If that’s all it takes—then I’ll become one. And I’ll butcher anyone who stops me.

Elian called out to Fluffy and dropped a question that would change the trajectory of Earth.

"Fluffy. How do I become a Tyrant?"