[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-493":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},336580,598,"Chapter 493: This Is Not the Boy You Once Knew (1)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-493",493,"\u003Cp>\"Apologies for the delay. Now, where were we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey said that to Zenith as he calmly sat down beside her, having just taken down six of the Empire’s finest warriors in mere seconds ..barehanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith was impressed by the display, but not surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already seen what Frey was capable of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His effortless victory was expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the old witch didn’t anticipate, however, was what happened next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Frey turned back to resume his conversation, they found themselves suddenly surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of knights ..both men and women .. appeared seemingly out of nowhere, their threatening auras unmistakably brimming with eagerness for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s the meaning of this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey asked, glancing over the large crowd that had gathered around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, the requests came flooding in:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Starlight! Allow me the honor of dueling you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! I asked first—get in line!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fight me, Frey Starlight!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenge after challenge rained down, so many that Frey couldn’t even make sense of what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith, seated beside him, couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems like everyone was curious about you, Lord Frey. And the moment they saw that fight, they all pounced at once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the strange rumors had begun spreading about him .. his feats, his alleged miracles, even comparisons to Abraham Starlight ..countless eyes had been locked onto Frey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none had dared take the first step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment those six earlier challengers broke the barrier, the rest wasted no time in seizing the chance to test the man whose blade was said to be godlike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, Frey sighed in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m supposed to be the one watching you fight so I can evaluate your strength, Zenith... not the other way around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, Zenith slowly leaned away and pulled out another luxurious cigar, lighting it with amusement in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for my debut until the next real battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, they’re all yours, Lord Frey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her deliberately distance herself to avoid being dragged in, Frey stood up again with an annoyed huff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a dependable subordinate you are...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning back toward the soldiers who had come for him, Frey briefly considered his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he just release a wave of killing intent alongside his aura and scare them all off in one blast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was confident it would work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he quickly abandoned the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had other plans for the Empire’s soldiers, and if he pushed too hard now, it might backfire later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, with a resigned sigh, he stepped forward ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and stood calmly in the center of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentlemen, you came seeking a duel, and that is what you shall receive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come at me, one by one ..don’t hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight me with the intent to kill, not to spar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He declared as he assumed a relaxed stance ..full of gaps and openings .. without even summoning the blades he was famous for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It left many in the crowd wondering if he was even taking them seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that offended quite a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to step forward was a towering soldier with a massive greatsword resting on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long black hair, a muscular frame, and a giant scar running across his chest and neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like a true battle-hardened warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Frey Starlight... I know there’s no smoke without fire in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the rumors say you’re strong, then you must have something to back it up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t the Champion of the Victoriad for nothing .. many had already witnessed his feats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping his greatsword, the seasoned warrior stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Davos of House Sunlight. Allow me to test the strength that makes you stand so casually in front of me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that bold declaration, Davos lunged forward at a shocking speed ..surprising some, considering his massive build.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swinging his sword in a powerful vertical arc, he aimed straight for Frey’s head .. intending to cleave him in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strike was incredibly fast, and out of nowhere, his blade ignited with flames,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>turning the attack into a blazing catastrophe meant to erase Frey from existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Frey barely needed any effort to see it coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very last second, he shifted his body to the right by mere centimeters,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>letting the flaming greatsword crash into the ground where he had just stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his blade miss its mark, Davos gathered his strength to attack again ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only to find he couldn’t move his weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to pull the sword free, he realized ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey was stepping on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one foot ..casually pressing down on the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Davos pulled with all his might, veins bulging across his muscled arms,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but no matter how hard he tried, the sword didn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lost a contest of raw strength...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to a lean young man who wasn’t even trying, merely resting his weight lazily on one leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What stung Davos most wasn’t just the power .. it was that Frey hadn’t even taken him seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Davos of House Sunlight... you place too much trust in your physical strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that puts you in a terrible spot when your opponent is stronger than you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey said as he moved for the first time since the duel began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that motion ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Davos suddenly saw the world flip upside down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was slammed into the earth with a single blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Find your true weapon, Davos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world is full of monsters far beyond what brute strength alone can overcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey ended the match with those words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as Davos remained sprawled motionless on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even seen the last strike coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a duel . it was a one-sided demonstration of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his arm raised over his face, hiding it from view, Davos slowly stood up and dragged his greatsword away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for the match, Lord Starlight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said it quietly, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear in the silence that followed the earlier display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey, on the other hand, simply nodded indifferently and announced:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, a second challenger stepped forward ..a swift assassin specialized in speed and precision strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Frey brought him down easily—with a single blow, once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your stealth technique is useless once I’ve already sensed your presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiding your aura isn’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stealth extends to your breathing, your heartbeat, and every sound your body makes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey ended the second duel with another piece of advice, then raised his voice again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so it continued ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>duel after duel, challenger after challenger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens upon dozens of soldiers stepped forward to face the young prodigy who had stirred their curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey faced every kind of warrior,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but not a single one lasted more than ten seconds against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was terrifying ..a true martial artist of the highest caliber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like no matter what kind of opponent or situation he was placed in,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey adapted flawlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbeknownst to them, his Shadow Adaptation ability was at work ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and one by one, the soldiers began to see him in a completely different light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, cheers began to erupt across the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area was no longer filled with dozens, but hundreds of soldiers, all watching in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bit by bit, the atmosphere shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They no longer challenged Frey to shatter his legend,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or to test his strength out of skepticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fought him simply because they wanted the honor of standing before a great warrior ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to see how far they could push themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey ended every duel with advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And strangely, those small insights always seemed to be the missing piece in the challengers’ combat styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nineteen-year-old looked less like a peer...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and more like an ancient master who had lived for centuries,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>versed in every combat style under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Frey was called a miracle for a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And miracles were never meant to make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His knowledge came from more than just experience ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it came from countless life-or-death battles, and from the insight he’d inherited through the Nameless Mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Starlight had far exceeded their expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s why the crowd kept growing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>more and more filled the grounds, eager to watch, eager to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed ..one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much time went by that Zenith had already left, leaving Frey to face the endless stream of challengers alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But contrary to what one might expect,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>laughter began to fill the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers were enjoying themselves, cheering every time Frey brought down another opponent with effortless grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before he even realized it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey had just defeated challenger number one thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>",1463,"2026-05-30T03:41:22.347Z","2026-06-01T04:30:12.387Z",1,"novelbin.me","a6ac157dfb58a1360aa3abc828fa52270e5366a5e2b119d082eacbf1765d0596","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-494","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-492",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]