[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-372":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},336921,598,"Chapter 372: A New Era (1)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-372",372,"\u003Cp>The Land of the Ultras...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the end of the mountain range, far from the Puppet City that had been wiped from existence..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clutching his chest with one hand, trying to keep the gaping, bleeding wound from tearing wider, and supporting himself against the wall with the other—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight walked with a broken body and an exhausted soul, step by step, leaving a trail of blood behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whites of his eyes had turned crimson from all the blood, clouding his vision to the point he could barely see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agony he was enduring wasn’t something a normal human could survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey never fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m still standing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered through clenched teeth, trying to give himself strength as he panted heavily, each breath a battle after having inhaled far too much smoke and toxic gas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I haven’t fallen yet...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bitter feeling swelled in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had come such a long way ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a boy who once didn’t even know how to hold a sword—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To a warrior capable of surviving life-and-death battles against SS ranked threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see the bloody path he had walked to get here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A path soaked in pain and loss—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain that never left him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Struggling to breathe in the air around him..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey gazed up at the sky in quiet suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had fallen, marking the beginning of his fourteenth night in the Land of the Ultras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this place was far from home—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moon and stars above him were still the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still the ones that had always lit his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stumbling for what felt like forever—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey finally crossed the city’s edge and collapsed against the jagged mountain wall, hiding in its crevice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head tingled with growing numbness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had grown strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had won the battle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escaping a hellish siege alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had given everything ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... where had it gotten him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing’s changed... not a damn thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still entangled in the threads of a fate woven by others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clana was dead .. She had thrown away her life for his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now his soul was shackled by that burden more tightly than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Frey ask himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had he been fighting for all this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how strong he became—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hard he tried—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I destined to survive... only to keep watching everyone around me die, powerless to stop it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey had always known he couldn’t save everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That idea had never been realistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the number of people he did want to save ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So few, they could be counted on one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could save just them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would be satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful he grew..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept losing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey felt something he rarely allowed himself to feel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear that what happened to Clana would happen to the others who still mattered to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that happened—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then all the blood and sweat he had shed would mean nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of all this ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey felt his body begin to collapse,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His will starting to break under the crushing weight of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to shut his bloodshot eyes and just sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To leave it all behind ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To sink into the dark and disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely able to keep them open—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dim eyes stared ahead as he forced a faint, bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried circulating aura through his shattered body, Forcing it to begin healing on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t fall...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suffering of this level wasn’t enough to bring him down anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not after walking through every kind of hell—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hell that had forged his soul and mind in fire,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making them colder each time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight was no longer the same boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t lose... I won’t be defeated again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wrapped his cold, blood-drained body in a long black cloak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sat quietly, tending to his wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, he should’ve already lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With half-lidded eyes,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And barely a thread of awareness left ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey remained awake,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a wounded predator,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Licking its wounds in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t lose again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the only words he repeated every now and then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing breaking the stillness around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were his fuel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His anchor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with them ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey kept moving forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, beneath the full moon overhead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bitter struggle reflected faintly in those glassy, blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right... Frey Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing atop one of the distant peaks, watching from afar .. The blue-eyed man observed Frey to the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t you dare give up... I’m waiting for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind tugged at the Engineer’s long black cloak as he turned his gaze elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On the other side... I’m waiting for you.\".\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll suffer. You’ll bleed. And you’ll lose—again and again—until death becomes your only desire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll feel like you’ve lost everything, like your strength is no longer enough... but no matter what ... don’t give up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between Frey, who had spent his life running through a dark tunnel, clinging to a thread-thin strand of hope—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a man who had lived his entire existence for one goal and nothing else ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Engineer spoke, his words whispering beside the ear of the wounded boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill the boy inside you, Frey...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill the weak child who breaks beneath every challenge. Kill that weakness—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And let it be reborn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let the monster awaken... Frey Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a world as dark as the one they lived in,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only way to defeat the monsters that ruled it from above with iron fists and unimaginable power—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was to become a monster yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey already knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t help but wonder ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What price would he have to pay to become that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing himself to stay awake,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinging to consciousness with sheer will ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey spent the night healing the wounds from the massacre he’d just endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clana Starlight was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with her ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last lead Frey had to reach the rest of his companions was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tragedy wasn’t his alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the elite camp, Selena had broken the news—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had lost the magical signature that tracked Clana’s presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, she was telling them Frey was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reactions varied greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were those who accepted it immediately—like Scarite Sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there were those who gave no reaction at all, as if it meant nothing—like Lara Croft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even Aegon Valerion, who simply laughed when he heard the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were the ones who refused to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones who immediately rejected the possibility—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey’s own group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clash of opinions led the elite camp to a deadlock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting for days, hoping Frey would return .. They were now crushed by the announcement of his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix Sunlight was one of those who had staunchly refused to leave without him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the chance of Frey’s survival growing slim ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Miracle of the Sunlight family couldn’t risk the lives of the remaining students over a false hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already done everything he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to move forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, after several tense arguments within the elite class, Phoenix Sunlight made his decision:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re leaving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had weighed his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the end, he wasn’t willing to gamble any further—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not when they already had a route that could lead them back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His decision was final..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it brought relief to many of the elite students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not all of them agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor Phoenix, please reconsider your decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo was the first to speak up, stepping forward boldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know much about magic or whatever, but calling him dead just because his signature vanished? That’s ridiculous. There could be a hundred other reasons for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I agree with Danzo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow stepped forward too—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to ignore Frey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know what Frey’s capable of. He’s stronger than me—and he’s not going to die that easily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tried to change Phoenix’s mind ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was no use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was made up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry. But I can’t risk fifteen lives on a hope that doesn’t exist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then run away from this place if you want. You’re free to do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I have the freedom to do what I believe is right, too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa stepped forward, her voice calm but unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe Frey is still out there somewhere. So I’ll stay and wait for him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was ready to be left behind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And both Snow and Danzo chose to stay with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Phoenix didn’t like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d said from the beginning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t leaving any students behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as the tension was about to boil over ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon’s laugh cut through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his usual smug grin,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon Valerion mocked them all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re all such hypocrites.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1522,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.347Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","cc7d6fd09ca3d37aedfd5eebe6255efba175c1553b3559a7c4b0ea691f430edc","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-63","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-371",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]