[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-173":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},336860,598,"Chapter 173 173: Clash of the Elite (2)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-173",173,"\u003Cp>Far to the west…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full day had passed since the start of the exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man was running like mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was terrified—his body covered in wounds, his weapon lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if you looked closely… it was clear those injuries had been inflicted by a human weapon—not a nightmare creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man, a bit older than most, screamed out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop! Why are you chasing me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in full panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did I even do?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept yelling, but no answer came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, there didn't seem to be anyone at all…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn't true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blink, a shadow swelled beneath his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that black void, a young man emerged—jet-black hair, with eyes just as dark and terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost grabbed the guy immediately, dragging him into the darkness as the latter screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darkness swallowed them whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Agh… wh-where am I…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was trembling in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost held him tight, a dagger pressed to his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't repeat myself. You better answer right away. Understand me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what do you want?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frey Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere changed instantly at the mention of the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you and your group planning? What's your objective? What are you hiding?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy—clearly a third-year and part of the extremist faction targeting Frey—shifted completely once Frey's name was brought up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Death to that bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost immediately threw him to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems like you don't understand your position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost stepped toward him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're inside my shadow now. A space cut off from the outside world—no one out there will see or hear what happens in here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at me. I'm an assassin. I can pluck your damned eyes out one by one and torture you—and trust me, your stupid shield won't activate. So think very carefully before you speak again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost's presence was suffocating, and the terrified boy was already trembling violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still, he didn't back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fuck you… and fuck Frey Starlight too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You fool. You don't value your life…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stab!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? AAAAAAGHH!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy's scream tore through the void as Ghost drove his dagger into his left eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood streamed down the young man's face like a waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't understand why you people make things so difficult for yourselves…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost muttered in frustration as he pulled out the red eyeball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much do you need to bleed before you talk? Is the Moonlight family really this blind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was clearly irritated—it showed in the way he spoke more than usual. Meanwhile, the other young man screamed in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn you, damn you, damn you! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost kicked him hard in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up. I haven't even started yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?! Why are you doing this?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood mixed with tears as the boy sobbed violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Both my parents died in that attack… I lost everything! All because of the Ultras…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He broke down completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They wouldn't have come if it weren't for that bastard Frey! He's working with them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost's expression darkened the moment he heard those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You actually believe that nonsense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the young man wasn't finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You! You're working with him too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're all gonna die! All of you! Frey won't leave this island alive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy laughed maniacally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He won't make it out! The elders will kill him! Then they'll come for you too! You'll all die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Elders…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die! Die! Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash !\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost cut through the boy's neck with surgical precision. His blade severed the carotid artery, ending the young man's life in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even give his armor time to activate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost's face was grim as he silently stepped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Elders…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly was that man talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyed, Ghost continued his hunt—crossing one more off his list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All except for the instructor he couldn't reach…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this island, the assassin was far more terrifying than any nightmare beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>– Frey Starlight's POV –\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days since the start of the exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Rankings Updated!—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at my wristwatch, exhaustion written all over my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'd been moving like a madman for the past two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When was the last time I pushed myself this hard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, getting hunted by third-years every time they saw me had become a daily routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I'll just eliminate all of them before the month ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was getting irritating now, especially since their elites had started to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One-on-one, I could handle them easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when they ganged up on me like this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It got tricky—and the new injuries on my body were proof of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to find a way to stop this… The exam was far from over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a tired expression, I checked the updated leaderboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>10 – Dawn Polaris: 460 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5 – Jessica Thivenin: 640 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>4 – Magnus Grell: 700 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3 – Frey Starlight: 780 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2 – Snow Lionheart: 850 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1 – Daemen Valerion: 870 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(You can now spend 500 points to locate a participant of your choice!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seriously...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow and Daemon... what the hell are they on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I've been fighting like a maniac for two whole days, and they're still ahead by that much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to compete with monsters like them is pure foolishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now… I just need to make sure I qualify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a deep breath and surged forward, cloaked in the aura of darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that matters… is that I'm the one who wins in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students' suffering… was entertainment for others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The events of the island were now being broadcast across the entire Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People cheered for their favorite champions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce battles between students became a breathtaking spectacle to their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, Snow Leonhart is insane! Did you see how he took those things down?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But… Daemon's still ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and Frey's amazing too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Citizens discussed everything in taverns and cafés like it was some kind of football championship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the higher-ups joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headmaster observed everything with keen interest, surrounded by a group of instructors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your son is truly something, Headmaster Ivar. Just as expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructors praised their superior, though he remained stern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He still has a long way to go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others didn't argue—pleasing this man was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the first-years this time are strange… they've completely overshadowed everyone else. Maybe we should've sent them to the other island instead, haha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the instructors laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the island where fourth to sixth-years had been sent...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things there were far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battles were on an entirely different level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellen White had blown up an entire mountain simply because it blocked her path to the objective point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Saintess Candidate, Uriel Platini, had cleansed most of the nightmare beasts in her area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters from the other Student Council…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was pure chaos over there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructors kept debating the situation nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the headmaster continued watching—his gaze focused more intensely on certain individuals than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that Frey Starlight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the instructors pointed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's doing great… but unfortunately…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His talent's only ranked A. I doubt he'll go much further than this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivar said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent ranks and aptitude limits… those were seen as absolute truths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a shame…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have someone like Frey buried beneath a trash-tier talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's probably what he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course… he had no idea that Frey's talent had already changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did… that stern face of his would've collapsed into something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Island Trial… was still far from over—and promised much more to come.\u003C\u002Fp>",1285,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","ecdb327dd7941d469914a339cc4edab10920020fb0d4b6f41aecb41b9c6ddcf4","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-174","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-172",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]