[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-170":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},336857,598,"Chapter 170 170: Storms on the Horizon","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-170",170,"\u003Cp>The Empire—last bastion of the world, protected behind colossal walls…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had kept at bay the monstrous hands that lurked in the dark beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far from the Trial Island—deep within the heart of the capital, Belgrad—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside one of the massive research facilities near the royal palace…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stood a short man, his face worn by time, eyes sunken with exhaustion and sleepless nights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the principal laboratory of the empire's greatest mind—Ashol Eduardo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The famed scholar stood before a vial of dark crimson liquid, the subject of countless experiments and tests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he studied it, the more his expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir… is this…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another researcher entered the lab—an old man himself, but one who addressed Ashol with sincere deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashol scowled as he tossed his gloves aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the blood we recovered from the battlefield—where Oliver Khan fought that creature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that battle, Oliver had landed a devastating blow on his opponent, Godfrey, unleashing a violent torrent of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, Godfrey had continued to fight as if the massive wound were nothing more than a scratch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with that blood in their hands—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashol pointed at the monitor, displaying the vile blood under the microscope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The researcher watched, stunned, as the particles clashed and writhed like living things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared in bewilderment, while Ashol's voice turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn't human blood. And it's not demon blood either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began pacing slowly, hands clasped behind his back, weariness clinging to him like a shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's something in between. Demon blood—typically a deadly poison to humans—has fused seamlessly with blood bearing human characteristics.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it was as if—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…a half-human, half-demon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashol exhaled in frustration, while the other scientist could hardly believe what he was hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A human mother… and a demon father? Or the reverse? That's impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It defied all logic—biologically, spiritually, theoretically. Humans couldn't conceive with demons. The very idea was madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashol shook his head and exited the lab, his mind weighed down by the implications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't even want to think about it…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, he left the cursed blood sample… and an image of the tyrant, Godfrey, displayed beside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in his life—Ashol Eduardo, the empire's foremost scholar—was afraid of the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world was shifting—rapidly, violently—and no one was spared from its storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Island of Sicelia—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sanctuary of the Followers of the Lightbringer, their self-proclaimed heaven on earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing pure white robes, the devout had gathered in massive numbers, chanting praises to their god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the island's center stood a towering church—The Twilight Cathedral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It loomed high at the summit, beside the legendary monument where the Lightbringer's revelation was said to have descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the cathedral's colossal doors, three men stood, cloaked in majestic aura, watching the masses ascend the stone steps toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The pilgrims will arrive soon,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said Bishop Michael Platini, calm and composed. The two men beside him nodded in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph Blatter stepped forward, his ceremonial robe flowing as he raised a commanding hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Open the gates!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, the massive doors began to creak open—just as the distant chants of the pilgrims reached their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Church's next Champion will soon be revealed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blatter proclaimed, his voice booming with aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the first time in four hundred years, the chosen one shall receive the will of the Lightbringer!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And with it—comes the time to bring forth the Sword of the Sovereign—Vermithor—to choose its next master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pilgrims roared in unified praise upon hearing the bishop's announcement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the one who shall bestow this divine gift upon the chosen apostle… will be none other than the only believer who can hear our Lord's voice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the cathedral gates slowly opened…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A divine and awe-inspiring sight awaited within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast, empty hall—majestic in its silence—adorned with intricate glass ornaments that shimmered in a kaleidoscope of colors and light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its heart stood a grand structure resembling a shrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, seated in solemn stillness, was a lone woman. Her robe, impossibly white, flowed around her like mist, while golden hair cascaded over her shoulders—part of it neatly braided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned, revealing piercing crimson eyes that glowed like embers in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, a colossal sword lay embedded in the ground, emitting a radiant, blinding light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many looked on in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Saint Eurasha… and the Sacred Sword.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, the saint reached out and drew the blade—Vermithor—which yielded without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a breathtaking sight. Vermithor had long defied the faithful, refusing to be drawn regardless of how devout the hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, it rose with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bishop Blatter nodded with deep satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To the Victoriad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There… the chosen hero would awaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Frey Starlight's Pov—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>15 hours had passed since the trial began on the forsaken island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now 3:00 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already on the move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a bad feeling about this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd been ambushed twice so far—both times by standard third-year students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elite hadn't made their move yet, which meant they likely hadn't pinpointed my location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one's gathered enough points to track others yet…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, my bounty had risen to 30 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made me a prime target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make things worse, powerful Nightmare Creatures had started appearing as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"La~ la~ la~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The haunting melody echoing around me left no doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Brains of Mensis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monstrous nightmares that roamed under moonlight—creatures that assaulted their victims' minds with overwhelming illusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies were ordinary. But their heads… massive, exposed brains lined with dozens of blinking eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those brains would split open, revealing gaping maws teeming with writhing tendrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were a nightmare to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"La~ la~ la~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That song of theirs… a form of psychic hypnosis meant to pull you into madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no choice but to stay sharply focused, leaping silently from tree to tree, putting as much distance between us as I could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster: Brains of Mensis\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rank: A\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reward: 15 Points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A little late for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scoffed at the Smartwatch delayed notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was headed toward checkpoint G3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My goal was to collect as many points as possible—early—because something told me things were only going to get worse from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, picking a fight with a Mensis Nightmare was absolute lunacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A creature like that couldn't be handled through conventional means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quietly, I continued slipping past them, avoiding confrontation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadly, not everyone had my caution. Many of the other players had already fallen victim to that grotesque horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the outcome? Truly grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a Mensis Nightmare managed to penetrate your mind… even an emergency extraction and immediate treatment couldn't guarantee recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You wouldn't die. But you'd spend the rest of your life mentally broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a miserable state of affairs...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Temple might lose more students than ever this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored the chaos around me and pushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>",1156,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","b799a580251770e113102ccf70102d173f162e2eae68ceffe0f8501c7c58301b","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-171","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-169",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]