[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-161":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},336848,598,"Chapter 161 161: The Island Trial (1)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-161",161,"\u003Cp>— Frey Starlight's Pov —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first day back at the temple since my return…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a full month behind the others in training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not only that—I'd be facing upper-year students in an exam I knew nothing about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to finalize my preparations for the Victoriad…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I seriously started to question whether I had enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skills I had stored until now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phantom Steps\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hawk Eyes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascension\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignition…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were all meant to help me deal with the protagonist, Snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Ignition. I was hesitant to use it at first because of its overwhelming power—and the severe side effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really began to wonder if the other skills would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no time left to try and obtain another one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I had no choice but to rely on these skills, along with my Ten Thousand Steps of Shadow technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all I could count on—for now. The mysterious ability I had received from the system still remained inactive:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow Adaptation: 0\u002F7…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a tired sigh as I stepped out of my room, dressed in my temple robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…It's fine. Even if it kills me… I'll win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I headed to the classroom, my mind weighed down by heavy thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was walking, lost in them, someone suddenly smacked me hard on the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd sensed him coming from a distance, but I didn't expect that kind of welcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're finally back! A whole damn month, man!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey Danzo… where do you get all this energy in the morning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is how a real man should be… You're the one acting like a sissy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There you go again with that description…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's your fault. That face of yours isn't helping.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I looked intimidating now—with my white hair and new features—but Danzo clearly had a different opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We walked together, blending into the crowd of students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been a while since I attended a temple class…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I said that, Danzo stopped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—guess you haven't heard. There are no morning classes today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replied as we continued walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today's the announcement. I mean the announcement—the test that leads to the Victoriad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I heard Danzo's words, I stopped in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was genuinely surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I really getting my answer this fast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the Victoriad would begin earlier than usual this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine—a mixture of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excitement. Anticipation. Fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was close… closer than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo led me to a massive coliseum-like structure that had clearly been built recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, a huge number of temple students had already gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them were waiting for the grand announcement, which would take place any moment now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, the entire empire would be watching what was about to unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For real… how did I not know something like this was coming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa hadn't said a word. Was this her idea of a joke?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we entered, I followed Danzo to the seats that had been prepared for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, I spotted a few familiar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, I noticed my fellow assassin, Ghost. He did the same and gave me a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Class A was seated around him… and at the very front sat the one destined to be my greatest obstacle—Snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked the same as the last time I saw him… but I could tell he'd grown stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Class B was seated nearby as well. Everyone seemed as usual—except for one person who looked different this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna Cloud. He looked completely devastated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo noticed too, and explained with a grim expression:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ragna… His father died in the recent raid against the Ultras. It hit him hard…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isaac Claud. After his death, things had been difficult for Ragna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the live was cut recently, the empire had been dominating the Ultras. So imagine what it was like for Ragna to learn his father died right after that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must've been hard, especially since he had no idea what had actually happened there. He didn't even know who killed his father—Lawrence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to keep my distance. His situation didn't concern me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered to me… was the announcement that was about to be made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if responding to my thoughts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple's new instructors stepped up to the platform, signaling the beginning of the long-awaited event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new instructors entered one after another, each in a majestic manner, radiating powerful auras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to recognize most of them, since many things had changed compared to the original story…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn't help focusing on that young man who walked in slightly later than the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brown hair… blazing crimson eyes on a still youthful face… his stance was flawless, his robes dignified, and that fiery aura surrounding him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I not recognize him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see you've already noticed,\" Danzo remarked, catching my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could I not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's become an instructor here at the temple. The youngest ever to earn that title, at only 25 years old.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phoenix Sunlight…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo chuckled just thinking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's the youngest ever to break into the SS rank at that age. Only one person in history surpassed him—your father, Abraham Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I listened carefully to Danzo's words. Abraham was someone I knew nothing about. According to what I had written, Phoenix Sunlight was supposed to be the greatest prodigy of all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His talent was simply supernatural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it in perspective…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frost Moonlight had won the Victoríad three times and lost it three times as well. Yet he was still considered a prodigy among his peers. He was simply lucky not to have been in the same generation as Phoenix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Phoenix had won the Victoríad six times—an undefeated record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such an influential figure standing right in front of me, in the flesh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I felt a bit of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Phoenix wasn't the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly mattered was the event about to be announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if waiting for the perfect moment, Headmaster Ivar appeared along with his aides, immediately stealing the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood there, releasing his overwhelming aura. Somehow, I could feel his lightning aura clashing with Phoenix's flame—competing for dominance. It was quite a thrilling sight.\u003C\u002Fp>",1064,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","36a0b968e6f1219c4ea21d26ad7cef51e9a2fc4aab3105706a35b2790e0a08c9","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-162","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-160",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]