[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-am-i-the-villain-or-not":3,"chapter-am-i-the-villain-or-not-am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-164":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Am I the Villain or Not?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},571619,820,"Chapter 164 - 166: The One-Winged Angel","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-164",164,"\u003Cp>[The City of Advancement, Tiepoh]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gears atop the massive clock tower turned stiffly, and the hands dragged their rusted bodies downward with effort, letting out dull \"clang\" sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, much heavier vibrations gradually drowned out the creaking of meshing gears. Armor collided in waves, and a formation of iron-clad soldiers marched neatly into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man was surrounded at the center of the army, entering slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jace Lesser had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince was also at Jace's side. He raised his head to admire the mechanical city before him and let out a long breath, filled with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're back again, Jace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know you carry resentment in your heart, but Viktor isn't an ordinary person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jace's face still bore traces of bruising, with his left cheek slightly swollen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept his head lowered. His voice was no longer like before, but carried a dull heaviness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, Your Highness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince sighed and said calmly, \"Recently, the Mage Council has prepared a title for Viktor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the twelve councilors of the Mage Council, each person specialized in a different field and therefore possessed a corresponding title by which they were known to the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Haim Horn, his self-created illusion magic was extremely powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the fact that no one had ever seen his true appearance, people called him the \"Phantom of a Thousand Faces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, the Empire's current mage councilor, Rachel Azure, because of his self-created magic [Natural Sparrow], could distribute himself to any corner of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Natural Eye of Observation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Rachel's title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each councilor represented an exceptionally high level of achievement in a particular magical domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, only today did the council finally settle on a title for Viktor, the newly appointed councilor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Judgment of the Stripping of All Phenomena]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Viktor's battle records, every spell he used was extremely violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he wished, any location could be turned into purgatory, even altering the surrounding ecosystem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even massive mountains could be leveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This title was hailed as the absolute embodiment of combat mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, many mages began trying to imitate Viktor's style, chasing after powerful large-scale combat magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those difficult and complex large-area combat spells that had once been buried among tens of thousands of magics now occupied a place of their own within the magical field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet not a single person could cast magic as effortlessly as Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any large-scale offensive spell required the caster to spend time preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Viktor was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to completely ignore chanting altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his magical reserves were terrifying, nothing like those of a normal fourth-tier mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince calmly watched the army enter Tiepoh City and continued speaking lightly to Jace beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember what Uncle always told us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Learn to endure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the Crown Prince slightly clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At most two years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as I can ascend to that position, the grudge of your Lesser family will be repaid sooner or later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had endured for decades already. Enduring a few more years meant nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jace remained silent, never replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking Jace didn't want to continue the topic, the Crown Prince casually asked, \"How is Aunt doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jace shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After what happened last time, Lady Cassandra's condition hadn't been very good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She returned to the royal capital and kept her doors closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when the palace sent people to invite her back, she refused to see anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although it's a pity, forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, I don't need her abilities for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A magic-powered car floating in midair slowly stopped in front of the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They sat in the back row, feeling the floating sensation as the vehicle slowly started up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, they passed all kinds of wealthy nobles and saw various machines driven by magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From appearances alone, this mechanical city was still as prosperous as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the two entered a dim tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical fluorescent lights on both sides of the vehicle flickered constantly, barely illuminating the road ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until light once again poured into their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive castle appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint magical power continuously drifted upward into the sky, but this time, that magic seemed somewhat depleted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lesser main estate looked far more desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were far fewer researchers coming and going, only a handful of bespectacled figures hurried between laboratories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corners, several of the newest mechanical lifeforms had lost power, piled together like scrap metal, completely neglected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the previous terms, the Lesser family had suffered massive financial losses and been forced to lay off many employees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of this concerned the Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked familiarly into a research lab in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two passed countless researchers and gradually moved deeper into the facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a dark laboratory, a primitive door slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jace Lesser and the Crown Prince entered side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one else around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around, countless lights turned on, illuminating the surroundings brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside this enormous white room, many glass tanks filled with thick green nutrient fluid were neatly arranged along the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the green liquid floated remains of various kinds of magical creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like specimens, they were completely frozen within this confined space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was one particularly enormous tank, containing the body of a massive magic dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This body was missing only its head, as if it had been deliberately severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Crown Prince passed by, he looked at the giant magic dragon with some delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had once been his trophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had earned him no small amount of military merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking upward...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin, transparent tubes were inserted into the bodies soaking in nutrient fluid, as if extracting the power those creatures once possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green solution, mixed with black vapors, flowed endlessly upward into the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince shifted his gaze away from the dragon's corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, I need new military achievements, greater accomplishments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only then can I surpass Owiser and suppress him completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he finished speaking, Jace behind him still didn't respond, remaining silent as he followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked deeper inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing through a long, dark tunnel, a door at the end appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dense mechanical screws on both sides of the upper half of the door slowly retracted. Warm steam poured out through the gaps, filling the dark tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the massive iron lock at the front of the door twisted open layer by layer, as if a key had been inserted, releasing three levels of restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A red beam of light pierced through the top and bottom of the door, spreading outward layer by layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sealed chamber appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside stood an enormous glass tank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the nutrient-filled tank floated a pair of gigantic wings, one white, one pitch-black, quietly suspended, as if wrapping around the humanoid creature submerged within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the top of the tank, rings of transparent tubes were connected to interfaces along the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magical creatures seen in the previous room seemed to be converted into power, injected layer by layer into the tank before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince slowly raised his head, looking at the being inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as she's still here, nothing is a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing their arrival, the being inside slowly spread her wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was filled with coldness and indifference, her pupils glowing faint green, like a venomous snake waiting to hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was gaunt, with several strange patterns running crookedly from her forehead down to her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she possessed an eerie, heroic beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long white hair parted in the middle cascaded down to her waist, draping behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore extremely simple clothing, little more than two thick, differently colored pieces of cloth tightly wrapped around her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her body gradually stretched out, the black-and-white wings folded behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince stared at her, his eyes brimming with fanaticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She must be even stronger now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My ultimate weapon, Safiroth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he failed to notice that in one of Jace's eyes, a pitch-black color flashed briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Viktor's study, Vega stood on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His single eye flashed with deep black coloration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor held a book in one hand, leaning back in his chair. As he read, he asked casually, \"What did you see?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A monster? Maybe something a bit more complicated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if thinking of something, Vega suddenly giggled, squinting as he looked at Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you supposed to know everything? Let me quiz you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know what I just saw?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor didn't even lift his head, responding calmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Describe it in detail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like a woman, with a pair of wings, one black, one white. Oh right, she has a name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor closed the book and placed it on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yellowed cover and the elven script stood out conspicuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After only a brief moment of thought, the name left his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Safiroth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega blinked, somewhat puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you went into fortune-telling, people would definitely treat you like a con artist prophet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks for the compliment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor closed his eyes and began to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Safiroth, the final boss of Chapter Three of the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was known as, 'The One-Winged Angel'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a boss that relied heavily on stacking raw stats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she herself was created with the goal of being the \"ultimate human weapon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She possessed the physique of a top-tier warrior, along with damage output comparable to a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a cyborg, her body contained the genes of no fewer than a hundred magical creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were even powerful dragon species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, she possessed at least hundreds of different monster abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, if the Chapter Three boss appeared at this point in time and fought him, even Viktor would feel some pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But according to the game's progression, she shouldn't be that strong yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Chapter Three, Safiroth developed her own consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was created in the name of protecting humanity, but after the Lesser family fell, she no longer had anyone to obey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, her emotional awareness led her to believe, that to protect humanity to the greatest extent, all humans must be enclosed and controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could the safety of every human be guaranteed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Viktor sighed. \"Another extremist terrorist. Hopefully she doesn't provoke me too early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Otherwise, Viktor would have no choice but to blow this boss up ahead of schedule.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Might not be able to win?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just felt some pressure, not that he couldn't win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would just take some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, it's time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor stood up. The little yellow book on the desk fluttered as if blown by the wind and automatically flew back onto the bookshelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Vega flew onto Viktor's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's today's activity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, Gwen becomes a teacher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his feet, a pale blue magic circle slowly lit up, and gales spread throughout the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive bookshelves swayed violently, and several corners of the carpet were lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the winds gradually calmed, blue light flashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, one man and one crow completely vanished from the now-settled study.\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-05-30T15:48:18.711Z","2026-06-01T04:31:37.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","b0dbe144bd56ba1ad689f070afb909963b50212b267100f02c5be066c4918c69","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-254","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-253",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fam-i-the-villain-or-not-cover.jpg"]