[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-109":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","THE VILLAIN'S POV",{"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},336746,598,"Chapter 109 109: New Power","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-109",109,"\u003Cp>- Frey Starlight's Pov -\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clock had just struck midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an intense training session with Carmen, I used the remaining time for solo practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen sat nearby, immersed in her meditation. I assumed she was training as well, but I paid her little attention—the searing heat coursing through my muscles demanded all my focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded violently as my strength surged, little by little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after relentless training and consuming the finest Starlight elixirs, I could feel it—a breakthrough approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every swing of my sword, the aura radiating from my body grew stronger, more potent, until I suddenly froze in place. A dark violet light engulfed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm breaking through...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment black, blood-tinged sweat seeped from my pores, I knew—I was undergoing a transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body was purging impurities, reshaping itself into something stronger. But because I had forced the process rather than letting it occur naturally, the pain was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an entire hour, I endured the torment, my body convulsing, drenched in sweat. Then, at last, the agony subsided. My body finally settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lifted my hands, studying the changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My skin had become clearer, and my entire body felt lighter—significantly so. But more importantly, my aura reserves had expanded drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally... Rank C-.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At long last, I had left Rank D behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Rank C onward, training would only grow harsher, and the gaps between ranks would become much more pronounced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, I had already raised my talent to Rank S. Otherwise, reaching Rank C- this quickly would have been impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, a new problem loomed—Rank C.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mission required me to reach it before the month's end. That left me with only twenty days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with my current insane training pace... I wasn't sure if I'd make it in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I increase my talent again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No… That would cost me 8,000 Achievement Points—an amount I didn't have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I pondered my next move, a powerful surge of aura erupted nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned toward the source—Carmen. She sat with her eyes tightly shut, her body radiating an intense white light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One look at her, and I immediately understood what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She's at a bottleneck...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen was currently at the peak of Rank S+, just one step away from Rank SS-.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, I took a seat at a distance and observed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were high-rank training methods still the same as I had written, or had they changed? I wanted to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For hours, I split my focus between my own meditation and stealing glances at Carmen whenever possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, at last, she opened her eyes—with a scowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That look told me everything. She had failed to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied with my findings, I smiled. At the very least, high-rank training methods remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen looked frustrated, but she quickly noticed my presence. One glance, and her sharp eyes caught on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You broke through.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... I entered Rank C- a few hours ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed skeptical, falling into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me... How long did it take you to go from Rank D+ to C-?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not entirely sure, but I think... around a month? Maybe a little less.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My answer only deepened her doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You advanced that quickly, despite your talent only being Rank A?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since I returned from the Nightmare Lands, Carmen had sensed something off about me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, I was feeding into her suspicions even more—intentionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Credit goes to your hellish training... and Ada's support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... Even with that kind of training, this speed is still unnatural.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what about you, Carmen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I steered the conversation away from myself, hoping to stop her from prying further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... You're close to breaking through, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinarily, she should have been pleased. But she wasn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, she seemed frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't understand a damn thing, kid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, but I do. I know you need external help to break through.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had hit the mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she had been stuck at the peak of Rank S+ for over a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reaching Rank S, the gaps between tiers became massive—practically different worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many spent their entire lives training, yet never surpassed Rank S, no matter how hard they tried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Frost Moonlight, for example. A prodigy who tore through the ranks at an astonishing pace—but now that he had reached Rank S-, his progress had slowed to a crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Carmen, from what I knew, her talent was SS at best. Meaning she was nearing her limit, which explained her stagnation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, Awakened individuals like her needed external assistance—someone with a higher aura level to help them shatter the barrier preventing their breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant she needed someone at Rank SS or higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why the Starlight family hadn't produced an Awakened of that level since Abraham. Their strongest members had only ever reached Rank S+.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were rare exceptions, like Snow—those capable of surpassing their limits without external aid. But Carmen wasn't one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that I was well aware of her situation, Carmen sighed in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the past, we had Abraham... If he were still alive, we wouldn't be struggling with something like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen always changed when she spoke about him—Abraham Starlight. The father of this body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even helped me solely because she owed him a debt, or so she claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was that really all there was to it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Carmen... Abraham—my father. What was he to you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brow furrowed the moment I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I wasn't sure. But now, I was almost certain. Call it an author's intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sly grin, I asked her casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You loved him, didn't you? Am I wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen's eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Bingo… I was right.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had suspected it for a while but dismissed the thought at first due to the age difference between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then I remembered—age gaps worked differently in this world. Applying my past world's standards here had been a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I felt an oppressive force as Carmen ran her fingers through her hair, clearly irritated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch... You're really starting to get on my nerves, kid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that pressure alone, she locked me in place—I couldn't move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think that just because you reached that weak Rank C-, you're qualified to mess with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flicked my chest with her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're still just half a man who doesn't know his place. I can't even use you for my own needs, yet you have the audacity to play games with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen's finger barely tapped my chest, but each touch sent a shockwave of force through me, making my organs tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, I simply laughed at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not trying to play games with you, Carmen… Ugh… I'm making you an offer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, withdrawing her hand, giving me space to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smirk tugged at my lips the moment she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can help you break through to Rank SS—the goal you've been chasing for so long. In fact, I can make you even stronger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression remained unreadable, but the look in her eyes was clear—she thought I was insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus on your training and survival, kid. Stop spewing nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned away, intending to leave, but I called out to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stopped. \"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My training speed… How I managed to land a hit on you before… How I survived for an entire year in the Nightmare Lands… Tell me, does any of that make sense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated. Even she couldn't fully explain those things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you can accept all that, then why refuse to believe that I can help you reach Rank SS?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn… I never realized how persuasive I could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen slowly turned to face me, her gaze searching. I had her attention now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extending my hand, I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll make you far stronger than you ever imagined… So, Carmen, become mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you even realize what you're saying, kid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oops… Maybe I went a little too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know exactly what I'm saying. Form a contract with me. I'll give you power—I'll share my secrets. In return, you'll be my eyes, my hands, and my sword.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen suddenly burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want me to serve you? Kid, you're the boldest young man I've ever met. I'll give you that. I can't remember the last time someone dared to speak to me like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then think of it as a partnership,\" I countered. \"Carmen, you were willing to do anything for my father. Now, I stand before you as his son… Why not give this a chance?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the only reason she hadn't blown my head off yet was the fact that I was Abraham Starlight's child. But I had to take this risk—I needed strength to survive in this den of wolves. And who better than Carmen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's enough. I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense. Your father has been dead for a long time. Don't use his name to bargain with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how about this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a slow step toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll prove that I can make you stronger. If I succeed, will you at least consider my offer seriously?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen fell silent, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her, I was just a reckless boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even she knew—appearances could be deceiving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in my case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, I had convinced her to give me a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're messing with me, Frey… don't blame me for what happens next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave her a lopsided smile and immediately set my plan in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you've agreed, let's begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised a brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Begin what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracking my knuckles, I stretched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your training, of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me like I was an idiot but followed my instructions nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had her sit in the center of the training field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I positioned myself behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen, kid, the only way to speed up my training is with the help of someone who has far greater aura than me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And that's exactly what I'm about to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she was completely lost—especially when I placed both hands on her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm going to assist you. Try drawing aura from me. I can't control it properly yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her patience was wearing thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And just how the hell will your pathetic Rank C aura help me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed. This conversation was dragging on longer than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just trust me, Carmen. Do as I say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated, then reluctantly closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Abraham… I swear I'm trying… But your son…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting her teeth, she allowed her aura to connect with mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scorching pain ignited inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura channels within my body flared violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the outside, glowing violet veins pulsed beneath my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was unbearable… But I had no choice but to endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, as Carmen forcibly pulled my aura out—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a shattered dam unleashing a devastating flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See, kid? I told you—there's no benef—HAAAARGH!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen's scream tore through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monstrous force surged through her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cries echoed as the overwhelming aura of Rank SSS drowned out her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took only five seconds before her body was drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gasped for air, her eyes twitching as if they were about to burst from their sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-What the hell…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With great effort, she turned to face me—only to see a body on the verge of exploding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violent purple light surged beneath my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes—empty, glowing with the same ominous radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rank SS+...? No… It's far beyond that…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen struggled to compose herself as her ironclad self-control crumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This power… It surpasses Emperor Maekar himself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clenched her eyes shut, trying to process what she had just experienced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That barrier preventing her from reaching Rank SS- …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one she couldn't even scratch for years…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she connected with a boy far weaker than her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had begun to crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she wasn't the only one training here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By forcing out the ocean of aura trapped within me, Carmen had put me through excruciating pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in return, it would accelerate my progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, I was subjecting my aura channels to a pressure they couldn't withstand. It was only a matter of time before they burned out completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once they healed, they'd return far stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was my bet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would break this body, let it heal, then repeat the cycle over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time, I would grow stronger—until I reached my goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a reckless gamble… but it was my only way to climb the ranks before time ran out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two birds with one stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trickle of blood dripped from my nose as I approached my limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, my grin only widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carmen… You're mine now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",2175,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","56330fb3735009e7f10d32d7fa857901027536d6771f520c513a0c1a21c96c40","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-110","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-108",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]