[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-209":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},336646,598,"Chapter 209 209: Before the Final Battle","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-209",209,"\u003Cp>\"Haaah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a deep breath, Frey tried to steady his consciousness ... Struggling to stay awake after the brutal, blood-soaked battle he had just fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning heavily against the shattered wall,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desperately trying to reattach his severed arm ... He barely managed to keep himself from collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his condition ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surprised Uriel Platini approached him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring in disbelief at the sorry state he had driven himself into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't think you were this insane, Frey Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a dazed, weakened gaze ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey barely recognized her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What… are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uriel took his severed right hand and began working to reattach it herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you pushing yourself this far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this tournament really worth all of this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave, Uriel... Everyone's watching.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey muttered, forcing a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uriel—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Saintess candidate— Simply smiled back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn't expected him to be worried about her even in a state like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calling me by name as if we're the same age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not leaving. My duty from the beginning ... was, and still is, to save people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a strange warmth ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sacred power of Uriel healing his broken body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That warmth ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was something strange to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had only ever been met with blows,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beaten by swords or bare fists alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only warmth he had ever known ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the burning heat of his own spilling blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to rest like this ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Uriel Platini's arms ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey wondered if he was somehow betraying his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy guilt weighed inside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His overwhelming desire to return to his own world ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had unconsciously twisted into an obsession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he wavered from his goal—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He punished himself mercilessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts always drifted to negativity ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worrying about the strength of his next opponent,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worrying if he was wasting precious time by even sleeping when the Final Boss still awaited him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body has its limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey lost consciousness ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right there, in the arms of the Saintess candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the arena ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chaos erupted as the crowd finally processed what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cursed Frey viciously ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blaming him for their lost fortunes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others called his victory a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even claimed he had cheated somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn't realistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daemon Valerion had dominated him in every measurable way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Frey ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had stood again and again .. Fueled by nothing but sheer willpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was that even possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could one truly push this far ..On mere emotion alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Starlight family's viewing stand ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ada stared down at the arena, Her mind clouded with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why… does he push himself this far?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time Frey was wounded ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he was beaten..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ada felt something inside her tearing apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was her only remaining family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And perhaps because of that ..She understood, even if just a little, How desperate Frey was to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw it clearly ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those seemingly lifeless eyes he bore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did Victoriad mean to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was Frey hiding?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ada realized bitterly just how little she truly knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how helpless she was to offer anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very beginning ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight had chosen his path—And walked it alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Ada ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though another family member was slipping away from her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A firm hand gripped her shoulder from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Carmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold yourself together, Ada.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who had experienced this kind of pain many times before knew exactly what she was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now, just believe in him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And one day, sooner or later ... you'll get your chance to help him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life was a filthy thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It threw you around, battered you senseless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it also ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gave you chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until that chance arrived ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All you can do is wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight had to fight his own battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his fight and his alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had chosen it and he would finish it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The semifinals were over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one match remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight vs Snow Lionheart\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final battle ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would erupt exactly three days from now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iris Sunlight watched from above ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blank expression on his face—As Frey Starlight lay unconscious in the arms of the Saintess candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that scene ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Began drawing the eyes of everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension was clearly rising ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially from the side of the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he appeared composed ,The faint glint in Bishop Michael Platini's eyes was anything but reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Iris Sunlight paid no attention to any of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire focus ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was locked onto Frey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His piercing gaze seemed to dig into the boy's very soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man from the Sunlight family gestured toward Phoenix, standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When was the last time his talent was measured?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix blinked ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised by the unexpected question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a new instructor at the Temple,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already reviewed the files of most students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he answered naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The last time was when he entered the Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before that, it was during his time with the Starlight family. His talent was confirmed as an A, without question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent could not be changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unalterable truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only in extremely rare cases ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such as with the Ultras who had sold their souls— could it be tampered with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, human talent was something you were born with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something completely out of your control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wouldn't hurt to test it a third time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can arrange it, can't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix frowned slightly ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baffled by the old Sunlight's insistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you suggesting the reports were falsified?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a possibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, that's not possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe they could tamper with results inside the Starlight household, but not here, inside the Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I've personally verified it myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix had harbored his own doubts ever since the island trial ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after careful investigation ..He had confirmed that Frey's talent evaluation had been genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmmm…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you still look so unconvinced?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the old Sunlight still suspicious even after all that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's my intuition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intuition ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix's eyes widened slightly ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering the weight that word carried within the Sunlight family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iris didn't use that word lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when he did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was never wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll handle it after the Victoriad is over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoooh? You'd do that for me, Even knowing it's probably meaningless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea of changing one's talent was absurd ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So absurd, they hadn't even considered it seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix decided to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've learned that sometimes it's better to listen to you, No matter how trivial it sounds, Uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're a rude brat, you know that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They both chuckled lightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Victoriad continued moving forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Lionheart had witnessed the last battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name of the opponent hadn't meant much to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning it was Frey ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply left without a word. But he had seen it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How Frey had struggled ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How he had fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow found himself wondering ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he, too, one day fight that fiercely for something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand moved to his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fingers brushing against his shirt—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling out a pendant hidden beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaped like a dove with outstretched wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow clutched the pendant tightly in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And continued walking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes shining brighter than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow in his prime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the clock ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was ticking rapidly toward the final day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Victoriad continued with powerful performances from the senior years' semifinals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the first-year matches had stolen the spotlight ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battles fought by the seniors— Were no less impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd, Consumed by roaring cheers and wild celebration for the warriors, Hardly noticed the passage of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first night flew by in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>",1322,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:12.387Z",1,"novelbin.me","be008e1ebaa7ce870a289822b752dae16acc329e0157e68ccdad9fceefe582f0","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-210","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-208",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]