[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-237":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759727,1006,"Chapter 237","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-237",237,"\u003Cp>Alon calmly let out a breath and looked ahead once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the canyon, soldiers stood armed with bows and spears, ready to rain them down at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the cliffs, monsters with abnormally long limbs drooled incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ahead of them, a massive congregation of cultists blocked their path—so large in number it drew a sigh by itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red tendrils wielded by Rumurfa, currently holding back Rine’s golden crown, had begun to engulf the entire canyon, as if to show they still had power to spare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began a vicious cycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear gave birth to despair, and despair birthed grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spread, creating despair and grief in others, and in turn, more fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That endless loop stripped away hope from everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as those before them desired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon assessed the situation with cold precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, breaking through such an overwhelming army and escaping toward the alliance was virtually impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the enemies before him were at the level of the priests they had faced before, it might have been possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they weren’t some weak rabble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They must be able to wield divine power.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sickening divine energy emanating from the soldiers made that clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It told him unmistakably—these foes were on an entirely different level from those they’d fought until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Apostles.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon frowned as he looked at the two apostles standing ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both wore expressions twisted in pleasure and were obvious threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had already revealed their power, but the other remained a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, even if Alon were to act alone now, the chance of escape was slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he took down the apostles, he couldn’t possibly defeat every soldier present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why a change was needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A change that could turn this crisis around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to bring that change—hope was needed once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon turned his gaze behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to enter his sight was Ryanga, standing with a hardened expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next was Nangwon, holding his sister’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Ar, who trembled just as much, were soldiers sinking into despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them, Alon chewed his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless words that could ignite their fighting spirit flashed through his mind—only to vanish again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should he say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What story would help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he break the chain of despair?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a time shorter than a blink—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon pondered, pondered, and pondered again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rangban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he made a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—to show them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without answering Rangban’s puzzled response, Alon simply walked forward and summoned his divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His black coat crackled with lightning, and the gray world was suddenly dyed with brilliant blue lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two horns sprouted from above his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderlight flickered in his black eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at last, what appeared was the god of lightning—who had saved other races from peril time and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alon knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t enough to dispel the despair clouding the soldiers behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor enough to obliterate the cultists of Baarma, who were already preparing to strike the moment he changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon took it one step further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Alon cloaked himself in lightning, the monsters screamed and charged toward the soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia quickly cast a wide-range shield to create a barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters slammed into the shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the barrier only covered the troops within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had already moved toward the enemy army, stood exposed beyond its reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, the monsters instantly changed direction and lunged at Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, they were within striking distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permafrost—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon flicked his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackkkk—!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black magic surged from Alon’s gauntlet as an icy chill swept through the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a spell Alon always used when fighting formidable foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spell created simply to stand upon a ‘land of permafrost,’ anticipating the loss of magical ability due to divine constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, things were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzzzzzt~!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within the frost, blue lightning erupted and electrocuted all the monsters near Alon, killing them instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horrific screams rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the monsters already caught within the permafrost zone turned helplessly to black ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…! Full assault—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the scene, Rumurfa shouted in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that very moment, six arms formed behind Alon’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the cultists, under the apostle’s command, all rushed to kill Alon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first Ice Seal formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After gaining his divinity, the first thing Alon discovered with Penia’s research was shapeshifting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second Ice Seal formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But shapeshifting hadn’t been Alon’s original goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely an incidental result—Alon’s true research objective was something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the third Ice Seal formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His research was focused on using magic while enveloped in divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had dedicated immense time to this study, was only able to reach a conclusion after coming here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth Ice Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic used while cloaked in divinity carries the traits of that divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultists, already closing in under the apostle’s orders, raised their weapons to strike at his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of monsters leapt toward him, trampling over the bodies of their electrocuted kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes wide with fanatical madness, they charged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even in the midst of it all, Alon formed the fifth Ice Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, clouds grew thicker, darkening the ashen world even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic he created, imbued with the traits of divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the sixth Ice Seal was completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trait Transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Ice Seal complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder Ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with Alon’s murmuring, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lightning strike that trapped everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban felt despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—it wasn’t just him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here felt despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy forces vastly outnumbered theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly, the apostles were here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostles of Baarma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those irrational beings who could single-handedly take on hundreds of alliance soldiers and even oppose the gods themselves—there were two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban thought everything was over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how strong Alon was, facing two apostles was close to impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he despaired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Until the world was split in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban found himself muttering as he looked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a massive pillar of ice and lightning, born from the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gigantic lightning bolt that had descended from the sky remained, its form intact, splitting the world down the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the icy formation were countless cultists who had just moments ago charged forward with vicious momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just the cultists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even one of the apostles—who had stood so confidently just seconds ago—was now frozen inside the ice, still wearing an expression of disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in front of them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stood a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His black coat fluttered, his lips pressed into a firm line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who said nothing—no, a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At someone’s awed gasp, every gaze turned to the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man standing proudly, splitting the world left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eyes of the soldiers looking at his back, there was no longer fear or despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear that had ruled over them was now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“GRAAAAHHHH!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—transferred to the cultists, unlike the apostle trapped in the ice, Rumurfa, who had barely escaped the range of the lightning but lost his entire right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vivid scream reached them all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And spread to the cultists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expressions of the cultists, who had previously felt joy at the thought of hunting other races, twisted into fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terror spread among the soldiers who had rushed in to kill Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bizarre zealotry that had fueled them began to dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching it all, Rangban—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Alon meant earlier when he said, “I’m counting on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile rose to Rangban’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped the sword in his hand tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, which had felt like waterlogged cotton soaked in grief, now moved as if that weight had never existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With more strength than ever before, his hand gripped the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, prepare for battle!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban’s voice boomed across the canyon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers, who had been dazed while staring at Alon’s back, came to their senses and quickly grabbed their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No longer did fear show on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no sign of despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No trace of grief either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new emotion sparkled in everyone’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unmistakable hope shone brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Comrades! Raise your weapons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban shouted once more, raising his weapon high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With resolute eyes, he looked around at those standing beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope begets hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firmly gripped weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes unshaken as they stared down the terrified cultists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shared hope with one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not be afraid!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his words, courage surged into everyone’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For we—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRRAAACKKK—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice that had trapped the apostles and cultists and split the world in two exploded in a shower of white snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice that split the skies burst forth and pushed away the ashen clouds, allowing light to shine through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brilliance they hadn’t seen in so long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Radiant sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as they saw Alon’s back standing against that brilliant sun,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“God is with us!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban’s thunderous shout echoed across the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers, roaring like thunder, began charging toward the cultists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the symbol of hope engraved deep in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>",1575,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","be31b4537ef3cda8afbab3d0cbf99a15add52e20cfbd0b01c210f8d48d58324b","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-238","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-236",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]