[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-373":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},336923,598,"Chapter 373: A New Era (2)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-373",373,"\u003Cp>He accused them bluntly, without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at you. Refusing to leave—just because you feel he might still be alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s your friend, so I get it. I understand what you’re trying to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what I don’t understand ..what I can’t stand .. Is your damn hypocrisy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If losing the witch’s mark isn’t enough proof that he’s dead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why did you declare the other four students dead the moment their signatures disappeared?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehehe... what brilliant logic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a point ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And no one could deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By what right do you stay behind for him? Wait for what, exactly? He’s already dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegon spoke with a smile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his thoughts betrayed his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Frey wouldn’t die so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had tried to kill him several times already—and failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still, Aegon didn’t need a reason to keep stirring the pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mockery came naturally to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phoenix, however, would never allow them to stay behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The prince is right. None of you should stay here waiting for him—you’re not suited for something like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Ghost who finally spoke after remaining silent in the corner for so long, as he usually did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sansa and the others wanted to object,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ghost didn’t give them the chance. He continued right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You shouldn’t stay here. One person is enough—and that person is me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one with exceptional stealth skills ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skills that allowed him to survive longer than anyone else in the Land of the Ultras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As an assassin, my talents are best suited for this. I’ll find him—no matter what it takes. And when I do, we’ll return home together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just trust me... and leave this place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pleading with them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost Umbra declared his readiness to stay behind alone and search for Frey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the beginning, Ghost had always been a shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a shadow must always follow its light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that light ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had always been Frey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ghost Umbra... I’m sorry, but I won’t allow you to go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before him, Phoenix released a burst of aura to block his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ghost merely shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me, Professor Phoenix... but I don’t need your permission. And I think you’re misunderstanding something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost’s body shifted ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Becoming nothing more than a dark, shadowy figure that melted into the ground and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I left this place long ago. What you’ve been talking to all this time was just a shadow clone. My real body is already far, far from here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost had deceived them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had slipped away unnoticed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what they had seen was nothing more than a projection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stealth was so advanced,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Phoenix couldn’t pinpoint when he had pulled it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they didn’t know ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that Ghost had already left days ago—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before Selena announced the loss of Clana’s magical signature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had moved faster than anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All for one reason:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To find Frey Starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the elite class reached a critical juncture in their struggle within the Land of the Ultras ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside world was also shifting,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the incident of their abduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the catastrophic battle in Shizclar Bay,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which ended in a victory for the Ultras and a crushing defeat for the Empire—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the win,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth, one of the demon lords, had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Emperor Maekar Valerion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would’ve died ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Beatrice not intervened and saved him in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth cursed violently once his body had finally recovered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of the demonic vitality that allowed him to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he hadn’t regained his full strength yet, His body had healed enough for him to fight again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he returned to his base—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tower built for him by the Ultras in the capital, Caeled,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which he had claimed as his domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still fuming from the humiliation dealt to him ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Maekar... and Beatrice, who mocked him to his face—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth found himself spiraling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was fraying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Insanity nipping at the edges of his thoughts as he cursed the day he ever came to Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where the hell are you, Lord Wesker...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked through the tower’s entrance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moving toward his throne,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories rising from the moment he first set foot on this cursed planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth, the 19th-ranked High Demon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was a loyal servant of one of the Four Demon Lords—Wesker, ranked 4th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In pursuit of his master,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth had searched the world for him, step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arrived on Earth, a planet whose gates had supposedly been sealed in ancient times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Astaroth found them wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had destroyed the seal and left it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wesker’s trail ended here—on Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the last place the 4th-ranked demon had ever been seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left Astaroth with far too many questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had Wesker gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had happened to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He searched for answers...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could resume the search,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An order came from above—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assigning him to rule over this insignificant world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An order rumored to have come from Agaroth himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning Astaroth couldn’t leave anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was being humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By mortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beings he considered pathetic, lowly creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t understand—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had Wesker vanished to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had the slumbering Agaroth suddenly awoken ..Only to issue such an order?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thoughts drove him mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t grasp what the higher beings were thinking—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beings who saw what he could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached the throne built for him by human hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Astaroth came to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped into the dark chamber that had become his new home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon’s eyes locked onto the throne—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, the figure seated upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in a black suit and long coat,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resting his hands on a sheathed sword,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing back at him with cold, emotionless eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the meaning of this... Gavied Lindman?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth unleashed his aura in fury—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crushing, SS+ level force that shook the entire hall, Directing it straight at the Ultras Lord who sat on his throne, seemingly unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From out of nowhere, a second aura clashed with his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An aura equal in strength pushed back,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting Astaroth’s pressure head-on and forcing him to halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SS+ rank?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look surprised... Astaroth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied Lindman slowly unsheathed his blade,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark markings forming around his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must be humiliating, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see one of those insignificant creatures you’ve always despised... sitting on your throne, defying your rule.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since when?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth barked, unable to comprehend the overwhelming pressure radiating from someone who was supposed to be far beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the very beginning... Astaroth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied rolled up his sleeve, revealing cursed tattoos carved into his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... broke the pact?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That revelation stunned Astaroth into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had broken the demonic contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A feat so rare, it was considered nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one to ever achieve it was Dragoth ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same man who had once battled Abraham Starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragoth was the only known human to ever shatter the pact and free himself from the demon’s control,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaining full access to his powers without being bound by their commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Dragoth was hailed as a hero among the Ultras—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The symbol of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one human who had escaped the demons’ chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was supposed to be the only one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here stood another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied Lindman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had conquered his pact too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiding his true power all this time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting for the right moment to sever the hold of the demon who sought to control his destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was right in front of you this whole time, Astaroth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But your arrogance blinded you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t fathom that a mere ’mortal’ had risen high enough to stand on the same stage as you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth’s face twisted in fury, scoffing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The same stage as me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You think just reaching SS+ qualifies you to stand in my world? How naïve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within SS+ rank,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a vast difference between someone who had just reached it and someone who had mastered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gavied didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reveal yourself, Aether...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth cloaked himself in a terrifying aura of lightning ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then burst forward at blinding speed to finish Gavied with a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gavied Lindman didn’t even flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He revealed his hidden blade at last—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden hilt with a magnificent silver edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phantom Form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated his strongest sword form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied Lindman became untouchable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Astaroth’s claw neared his chest,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confident of victory—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand passed through Gavied’s body completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he were trying to pierce a ghost...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a man of flesh and blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied no longer had a physical form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth couldn’t touch him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as he moved past him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied turned sharply,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blade in hand, eyes darkened by the abyss,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His SS+ aura roaring to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You demons...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve always looked down on humans—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Used them for your twisted games and experiments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a swift motion,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gavied slashed across Astaroth’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black demon blood splattered to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astaroth didn’t understand what happened ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until he saw the blood pouring out of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s see now .. What will you do... when you die at the hands of one of those ’insignificant’ humans?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unexpected war erupted between the Ultras Lord and the Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>",1581,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.347Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","e8d599b79c2e0d4bfc0e86f5ef2ed634e817bf809ee0aae3593ab12a80f04da5","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-64","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-63",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]