[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-48":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},336835,598,"Chapter 48 48: Enhance the level of difficulty (1)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-48",48,"\u003Cp>-Frey Starlight Pov-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slowly opened my eyes, immediately greeted by the sterile scent of a hospital—the one smell I had always despised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't recognize this ceiling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange medical equipment surrounded me, most of which I couldn't even identify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat up slowly, casting a sharp glance over my body, which was wrapped in layers of bandages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dull stiffness spread through my limbs as my muscles failed to respond as quickly as I wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though my external wounds had completely healed, it seemed my internal injuries hadn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That last strike must have put too much strain on my body, severely damaging my aura pathways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, I swung my legs off the bed and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things are getting out of hand... I'm not even sure if this is still the story I wrote anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a nurse walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze at the sight of me standing, then quickly rushed over, gripping my shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think you're doing?! You're still injured—you shouldn't be out of bed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to push me back down, but no matter how much force she used, I didn't budge an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brushing her hands away indifferently, I began peeling off the bandages wrapped around my chest and waist, exposing my bare skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm fine. I've already recovered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it had only been a few hours since I was brought in, covered in wounds. Yet now, the body before her was unblemished—pale skin without a single scar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, her face flushed red as she realized she had been staring too long. She quickly averted her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring her predictable reaction, I retrieved my temple uniform from my ring and put it on before heading for the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! You can't leave yet!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply waved a hand at her as I walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My destination was the reception desk, where I needed to retrieve my smartwatch and the belongings taken from me while I was unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in a formal black suit sat behind the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped in front of him and got straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm here to collect my belongings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face remained expressionless as he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Name and class number?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frey Starlight, Elite Class B9.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression flickered slightly upon hearing I was an elite student, but he quickly masked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He retrieved a card, a smartwatch, and a few gold coins, placing them on the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are the items we managed to recover. Unfortunately, your clothes were too damaged and had to be discarded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed, taking my things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to leave when the man stopped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also… these arrived for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed two glass vials on the counter, both filled with a pale green liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recognized them instantly—high-grade healing potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up one, I frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who sent these?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, ever professional, recalled the details immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first one came from A-3, Aegon Valerion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected. So this was his first gesture of goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait… the first one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the second?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hesitated slightly before bowing his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My apologies, but the second individual requested anonymity. They also kept their face hidden, so I couldn't identify them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking both potions, I turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stepped out of the infirmary, I flipped the vials between my fingers absentmindedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a suspicion about who sent the second one, but I wasn't certain yet. It didn't matter for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fastening my smartwatch onto my wrist, I powered it on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, a flood of notifications popped up, displaying multiple missed calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ada Starlight – 16 Missed Calls\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the news already reached her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll call her later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glance at the time told me it was already 6 p.m.—I had missed all my classes for the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Might as well head back to my room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked through the temple grounds, the crisp evening breeze brushed against my face, a reminder that autumn was nearing its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From time to time, I passed temple students chatting and laughing amongst themselves, enjoying their school life without a care in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blissfully unaware of what the future held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the setting sun, then resumed my path toward the elite dorms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, I didn't run into anyone and slipped into my room unnoticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat at my desk and powered on my laptop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same interface. Everything in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the screen for a long moment before finally speaking aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there something you want to tell me, you damn system?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't play dumb. Whoever's behind this screen, I know you're listening. I want answers—now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the moment I woke up, this question had been clawing at my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had fought Snow Lionheart, faced his strength firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe someone else wouldn't have noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew everything about the protagonist of my story. And one thing I was certain of—he wasn't supposed to be this strong at this point in the timeline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should have been his level without the ring that restricted his powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him to display such strength while still wearing it… something was undeniably wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if in response, my laptop screen flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar jester emblem appeared, followed by blood-red text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As expected of the author… quite perceptive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp breath escaped me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My question was ignored as more text appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Due to the author's unexpected rate of growth, the world's difficulty has been increased to the maximum level—'Nightmare Mode.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All characters, both heroes and villains, will experience a significant power boost to align with the narrative. Additionally, previously ambiguous plotlines have been rewritten to enhance world-building.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first arc, 'Ultras Invasion,' has been adjusted accordingly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Main Quest: Survive until the end of the raid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reward: 1,000 Achievement Points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good luck… you'll need it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat frozen, processing what I had just read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard system, hold it right there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping my laptop, I leaned in, my voice seething with frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Answer me! Who are you? What do you want? Why did you bring me into this world?! And how the hell do I go back?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bombarded the screen with questions, but the jester emblem had already vanished, leaving behind only the newly issued quest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a growl, I slammed my fist onto the desk, cracking the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Increased difficulty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Son of a—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I struggle through the Nightmare Land, endure hell just to get stronger—only for the difficulty to be raised the moment I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what was the point of all that suffering?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I just entertainment? A toy for someone's amusement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, not just the protagonist—everyone would grow stronger. Every single one of them would become an obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back in my chair, I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell do I do now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1175,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.067Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","4c0982ff81df7722798a2a926761af9a2d736d5be8be2e0d48f36bee3737841d","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-49","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-47",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]