[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-181":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},336868,598,"Chapter 181 181: The True Predator","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-181",181,"\u003Cp>Above the desolate island ground…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few players remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was safe to say they were the best of the Temple's surviving students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one had lived their own story since the start of the trial…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near one of the island's darker corners—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That colossal tree still served as a sanctuary for the princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa, along with Adriana, had been staying there—and now, Jessica Thivenin had joined them not long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain fell often, so the trio found shelter inside the tree, which resembled a natural cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa—her golden hair soaked, eyes tinted with black—stared absently at the gloomy sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew what occupied her mind at that moment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could say for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess… staying out in the rain like this isn't good for you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine, Jessica. I like the feeling of rain soaking through me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica called out to her from inside the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had tried several times to convince Sansa to come in—but the princess refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adriana, on the other hand, had stayed inside the whole time—quiet and composed, likely because Jessica was nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sansa never moved from her place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain washing over her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the princess, it felt comforting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As though it were cleansing her of everything that had scarred her wounded soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath that downpour,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She found something close to peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faint smile, Sansa turned toward Jessica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure you want to stay here, Jessica? You were in the top ranks not long ago…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true—Jessica Thivenin had held a very high rank since the trial began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ever since choosing to stay close to the princess, she had slipped out of the top ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's no point in trying… I can't beat monsters like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After her crushing defeat at the hands of Snow, Jessica had accepted that first place was out of reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She'd already secured qualification—since the second-years hadn't been particularly outstanding this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, she remained at the princess's side—to protect her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that's your decision… I won't argue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you… my princess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica Thivenin treated the princess with deep respect—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when it came to Adriana, she was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Jessica, the girl was little more than a leech clinging to the princess for selfish gain,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Sansa had declared her a friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the second-year's strongest had already begun to think of ways to get rid of her soon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid all that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica's body suddenly tensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Sansa and Adriana frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of footsteps—heavy, constant—pounding the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was growing louder and louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever was approaching…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a lot of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get back, Princess!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica darted forward, gripping her crescent-shaped sword and placing herself in front of Sansa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess remained perfectly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, Adriana readied her spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds were overwhelming—like an army charging their way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just a few seconds later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finally saw the source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With multiple limbs and mask-like faces, they were…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrifying creatures of the Baij.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feed me! Feed me! Mee! Mee!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens appeared at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The numbers were so insane that Jessica's face darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess! I'll try to hold them off—please, run!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica charged straight into the approaching nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing her aura to the limit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She released a powerful field of gravity, forcing the creatures back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her signature blade, she lunged at the closest one—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feed me! Feed me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica slashed with ferocity, clashing against the Byge horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had the upper hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her strikes severed its limbs quickly—then she crushed it down with her gravity field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that only worked…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a one-on-one fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Jessica slain one of the Baij, covered in its foul blood, than a massive swarm of the same creatures surged toward her, tearing through her gravity field with overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate… she'd be completely devoured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were Nightmare creatures attacking in such overwhelming numbers? It didn't make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something about the Baij's behavior felt… off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't seem to be attacking—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't process her thoughts properly amidst the chaotic stampede of Nightmare creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, Adriana grabbed Sansa's hand, her face pale with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sansa! We need to run! We can't fight them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adriana was already trembling—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could barely hold her spear, let alone fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sansa remained perfectly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled her hand away from Adriana and walked toward the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you suggesting we abandon Jessica while we run for safety?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adriana said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew it would be a cowardly act…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn't see any other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at those things made her shiver—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her nerves couldn't handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sansa didn't flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They won't lay a finger on her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa's eyes darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't allow it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back on the front lines, Jessica was completely surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She barely deflected the flurry of wild attacks coming from every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feed me! Feed me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the Baij found a gap in her defenses—its limbs were just about to strike her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the impact never came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica blinked—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive black hand had appeared out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That terrifying, shadowy hand gripped the Baij mid-scream…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its suffering didn't last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand slammed it violently into a massive boulder, crushing its skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blow was so brutal, the Baij turned into a mess of pulverized flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa now stood beside Jessica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of them—dozens more of the same creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess extended her hand toward them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked as though she was inviting them to grab her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn't it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her hand moved forward, Sansa's shadow expanded, stretching far ahead, covering the ground beneath the Baij horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nightmare creatures suddenly found themselves standing atop a shadow…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow pulsing with cursed aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with another flick of her hand—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of massive, spear-like tendrils shot up from the ground, piercing through the Baij like mad,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skewering them into twisted sacks of spikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies were lifted high by the black tendrils,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as streams of crimson blood gushed down the black spears, staining them with a darker hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a horrifying sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica Thivenin stared in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess beside her still wore the same calm expression…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she looked like a completely different person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just her eyes that had turned black—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even her golden hair now showed streaks of black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica didn't know what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she grabbed Sansa's shoulder—who looked like someone caught in a trance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound of her voice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if Sansa snapped out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow receded, and the impaled Baij fell from the sky—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crashing to the ground, powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa held her head, a blank expression on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica hesitated before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess… are you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa answered quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's nothing. Everything's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither did Adriana, still trembling behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were both likely thinking the same thing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What… was that power?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was vague…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that aura they had felt—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sent a chill down their spines, shaking them to the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the corpses of the Baij, they didn't even have a moment to think—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the ground suddenly trembled,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far more violently than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What now?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It only took a single second for her expression to darken completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three girls heard it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, sorrowful wail, accompanied by a terrifying roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adriana looked like she could faint at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all stared at the enormous creature approaching them…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the realization hit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica finally understood what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Baij weren't attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were fleeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running… from a predator far more terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lady of Eight Legs…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That monstrous being—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her countless limbs and grotesque spider-like form—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was now unbelievably close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They'd been too caught up fighting the Nightmare creatures earlier to notice her presence…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, she was right there—within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all froze in place, staring at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stared back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of horrific eyes locked onto them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs was watching from a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all her eyes were fixed on just one person—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those black eyes met hers…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Lady stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stood frozen, unable to comprehend the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica felt like her heart might explode at any second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Adriana—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs remained motionless, simply staring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, something strange happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs stirred—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn't approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she turned away… and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief, watching the Nightmare creature walk away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Avoiding them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't believe what she'd seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a stunned expression, she turned her head toward the princess—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was still staring intently at the Nightmare Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What just happened?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why didn't she attack?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jessica didn't know the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was certain the reason was standing right next to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because maybe—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs wasn't the apex predator on this island…\u003C\u002Fp>",1534,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","4a20f05a1ab0537f855507c9278a6217ff91c1cd74b7976be4e2da5e28ec7e21","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-182","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-180",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]