[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-261":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},336598,598,"Chapter 261: A Step Into the Darkness (1)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>– Frey Starlight's POV –\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Face to face with Oliver Khan, whose suffocating killing intent still weighed down on me like a storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how many lives had he taken with those hands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've really lost your way this time... Lord Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver walked toward me in slow, deliberate steps, while I staggered back with a half-smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was just looking for a place to spend the holiday. Heard the winter atmosphere at Moon Castle is lovely this time of year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't respond with words ... but with something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely leapt back in time to dodge his sudden strike. For a moment, I thought I had succeeded ...until the burning pain in my gut told me otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a horizontal gash across my abdomen, I stumbled backward. Oliver followed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your senses are impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely managed to block his daggers with my sword, struggling to hold my ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about? I failed to dodge that,\" I gritted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was aiming for your intestines.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks burst from the clashing of metal as Oliver ramped up the speed of his strikes. All I could do was parry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you really think you'd walk out of here alive just because you're the young lord of House Starlight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued tearing through me with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of clashing metal echoed throughout Moon Castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you thought your name alone would be enough… how disappointing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was humiliating ...how he managed to beat me down and mock me at the same time, while I could barely breathe under the pressure of his attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sudden kick, he launched me into the wall once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few seconds into the clash, and the place was already starting to crumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gasped for air and stood, leaning on Balerion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd asked me if I thought my status alone would keep me safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest… I didn't think so either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming here like this, without a plan or backup ... that was sheer idiocy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear I couldn't get past Oliver Khan's eyes because of a skill he possessed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Soul Domain.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could extend his aura to cover a massive range. Anything that crossed that space—he would sense it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only way to bypass it was to either have a skill stronger than his ... or simply be stronger than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And clearly, I had neither.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ordinarily, I wouldn't have come here this way…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was reckless. Completely reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the system's directive was the only clue I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no other options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I fought back with Balerion as the wounds on my body piled up one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you want to die?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His daggers cut across my face ... he did it on purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah… I did, actually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until recently, I really wanted to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I can't die yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dying pointlessly like this wasn't an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then show me how you'll survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hadn't even been ten minutes, and I was already covered in blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea what kind of performance Oliver wanted from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somehow, it felt like he didn't actually want to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver Khan wasn't known for talking ... only acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toying with his opponents like this wasn't his style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he really meant to kill me, I'd be dead already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know much about his character ... especially since in the version of the story I wrote, Sansa didn't survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oliver I knew and the one standing before me were vastly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I was certain they were the same man. And that was the bet I made , the reason I hadn't used anything but Balerion and not the dark sister .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you come here, Frey Starlight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another explosion rocked the hall, splattering more of my blood across the floor. I kept fighting ...and talking at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I came to see the Princess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And why do you want to see her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation was turning strange. Oliver answered me so casually, as if we were on a stroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, I struggled just to stay upright under the pressure of his onslaught .. let alone speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many injuries had I taken by now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm worried about her,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was… I came because of the mission. But that wasn't a complete lie. If I could help the Princess, I would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to help her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said that, panting, as Oliver paused to look at me. I had no idea what expression he wore under that mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those crimson eyes ... they never lost their glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke calmly, while a terrifying blue aura swirled around his right dagger. The pressure of his aura lifted his long white hair into the air .. and I froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now… you may die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even see how he moved his hand ... but his dagger shot out like a missile, aiming straight for my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with my Hawk Eyes, I could barely follow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my current state, that would've killed me without a doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cursed, as everything turned black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn't the usual darkness of losing consciousness… it was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver Khan's explosive dagger stopped mere inches from my face ... ensnared by hundreds of black threads, cocooning it like a spider's web.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognized it immediately. That shadow ability…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frey!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa rushed toward us, her steps quick and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My battered body trembled as I looked up at her. I noticed small changes—her hair had darkened, and there were shadows under her eyes—but I was in no condition to dwell on the details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey… Sansa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess frowned the moment she saw the state I was in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess this scene had become familiar by now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa clenched her fist, and the shadows dispersed. Oliver's dagger clattered to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the meaning of this, Oliver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained calm, just as he had the entire time he was beating the hell out of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He committed a crime by trespassing into royal grounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's someone I know,\" she said firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even so… he must be punished.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And he already has been.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed to the gashes and bruises from my 'friendly' exchange with Oliver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver stared at her in silence for a moment, then gave a slow nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Sansa exhaled in relief and turned back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sneaking into royal territory… I'm not sure whether to call you brave or just insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Probably a little bit of both,\" I said, lifting myself up with effort. Then I dismissed Balerion too ... hoping to ease the constant pressure Oliver had been pouring over me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the princess, I could finally get a proper look at the changes that had come over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only been a few days since our last meeting, yet she already looked different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you come here, Frey?\" Sansa asked, with Oliver still standing behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I came to see you, of course… You left without saying a word.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you… worried about me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed genuinely surprised by the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that what friends are for?\" I shrugged casually. Sansa gave me a small, quiet smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you're not really that kind of friend, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of scumbag do you take me for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered her question with another. She sighed, defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, there was a bit of sincerity in what you said… Come on. You're my guest now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa turned and gestured for me to follow her.\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.346Z","2026-06-01T04:30:12.387Z",1,"novelbin.me","f181eb4838a9917f2fdf744c129b220b17310a8b07192c874af3d0b43086f76b","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-262","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-260",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]