[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-pov":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-pov-the-villain-s-pov-chapter-524":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},337077,598,"Chapter 524: The Stand Against Oblivion (4)","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-524",524,"\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, dozens of imperial soldiers and allies were turned into skeletons ..right before their comrades’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic erupted across the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terror. Screaming. Death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the true nightmare had only just begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hands slithered across the battlefield at terrifying speed, like serpents signaling an impending massacre...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere seconds, hundreds had already been reduced to skeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before the situation could escalate further ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They heard his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ten Thousand Steps of Shadow: Supreme Art : Abyssal Wave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was fast—so fast their eyes could only catch the trails of violet aura he left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a spinning buzzsaw, Frey shredded through the massive gray hands in mere moments, scattering their rotting black blood across the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping the attack that nearly annihilated them, Frey reappeared at the front with blinding speed, his blades pointed in a single direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get a grip. The enemy is right ahead,\" he said, unleashing a colossal cleaving arc that tore through the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brace yourselves. We’re facing one of the Nightmare Lords ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cosmos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strike blew away the mist ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he would soon wish it hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true form of the monster that had attacked them was finally revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grotesque abomination, crawling out from the very depths of hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like a giant wraith, its skin ghastly white. From inside its body sprouted hundreds of colossal gray hands that carried it aloft. Its long black hair flowed like a waterfall, dragging across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its face—was a living nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the bravest of soldiers couldn’t bear to look at it for more than a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if this creature was the embodiment of every curse imaginable—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hideous beast sculpted from mankind’s deepest fears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beside the Cosmos, another presence could be seen .. One exuding immense, suffocating power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in a black suit, a massive scythe strapped across his back..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cursed man stood beside his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many recognized him at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Hollow... Ludwig,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Lionheart whispered his name, clenching Vermithor tightly, ready to unleash the War King’s form at a moment’s notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This will be a tough one,\" he said, signaling the troops to follow him and Frey in subduing these monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before they could even move forward, they froze ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As their ears were shattered by a scream that tore the skies apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A harrowing cry unlike anything they had ever heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quake struck the earth from out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Announcing the arrival of another nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar... they saw her coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taller than all the mountains surrounding them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monster crawling on eight limbs, a single eye on her head and a gaping mouth splitting open her chest ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another Nightmare Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight of her... despair overwhelmed the troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much that many collapsed on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when yet another overwhelming aura descended upon them, suffocating their lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fourth presence had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could all feel him approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man carrying immeasurable power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"M-My Lord...\" a soldier said, trembling, barely able to speak the words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One of the enemy commanders has been spotted...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Human Demon—Dragoth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier burst into laughter ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs finally giving out under the weight of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is insane...\" Snow muttered, his expression growing darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cosmos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Eight Legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragoth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of them... monsters of SS+ caliber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Abraham Starlight, Dragoth had never lost a single battle in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at his worst, not even Sir Alonne could kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That man had arrived, alongside two Nightmare Lords and one Hollow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full-scale disaster had befallen them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir! We have to retreat! There’s no other way! We’ll be wiped out if we stay!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier cried out, pleading with Snow to give the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to run...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow Lionheart ..the commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one whose word determined whether they lived or died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The church’s champion, staring down the monsters before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fully grasped the scale of the catastrophe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how he looked at it, he reached only one conclusion ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would be annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a situation like this, there was only one option left ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they wanted to survive, that was the only path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just about to give the order—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone on the battlefield froze in place ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an overwhelming pressure spread, pushing back the combined auras of the Nightmare Lords and Dragoth alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a terrifying aura ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One that wrapped around them and banished the enemy’s power completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its source... was none other than the man who always stood at their front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With eyes burning bright in violet light—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a face carved for killing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey Starlight turned to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Retreat? Who’s retreating? And where the hell would you run to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping forward, he declared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The enemy is right in front of you. So why are you hesitating?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering every ounce of his strength, Frey roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wake up, for fuck’s sake! This is war!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re standing on a battlefield!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And our enemy is right here ..how could we possibly show him our backs?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really think you’ll survive if you run?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at them! They’re monsters—monsters bred to hunt down humans like us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The moment you turn your backs on them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re already dead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his gaze returning to what stood before him, Frey Starlight declared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d rather die a warrior fighting on his feet than be buried as a coward who fled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frey took his first step forward, uncaring of what order Snow Lionheart might give.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him... his shadow thickened, and from it emerged Sansa, cloaked in a black aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Another suicidal move, huh? What if no one joins you? Will you face them alone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she sighed, exasperated by the reckless lunatic she was stuck with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he just chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not. I know you’ll come with me. So...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing toward the colossal creature in the distance, one so massive it blotted out the sky...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want you to handle that one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was madness. A request so insane that Sansa blinked, glancing from the monster to Frey in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really want me to fight that thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eight-Legged Lady was so immense that despite being dozens of kilometers away, her outline was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Frey wanted her to take it on alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I trust you can handle it. And if anything goes wrong, I’ll come save you. So don’t worry,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he said, turning his back to her and facing Snow and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll deal with their leader. Sansa will intercept the Eight-Legged Lady. That leaves you with the Cosmos and her cursed son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what do you say, Snow? Will you join me once more?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or will you run with your tail between your legs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared him down, forcing the hero to make his choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow met Frey’s gaze, then glanced at the terrified soldiers behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a long breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I turn back now, I’ll never be able to catch up to you again... Frey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As golden runes crawled over his skin, Snow Lionheart stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Soldiers of the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you wish to flee, I won’t stop you. I won’t blame you. The enemy ahead knows no mercy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But because of that, we must stop them here and now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, only death and defeat await us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the soldiers, at his comrades, Snow made his choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We fight!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He declared, resolute, and Frey responded with a nod and a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Snow, Ghost remained with the rest of the troops, ready to offer support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their enemies were monstrous, but Frey and Sansa had already committed to facing two of them alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifying one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was the only choice they had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers still hesitated... but Frey gave them no time to ponder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good luck.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, just before his feet slammed into the earth and launched him like a comet toward the battlefield he had chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, a pair of black wings unfurled from Sansa’s back. She soared at supersonic speed toward the Eight-Legged Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That towering monstrosity would spell doom if it reached the frontlines—so the Demon Princess had no choice but to intercept it, no matter the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Snow and the others, they charged toward the Cosmos and her cursed spawn, the hollow Ludwig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What awaited them now were brutal, hellish battles...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fights that could decide the very outcome of the war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing his sights on Dragoth, Frey finally saw the man who had once defeated by his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being at the peak of the SS+ tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monster once called immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing he was about to clash with such a foe, Frey couldn’t suppress the twisted smile curling across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the Nameless Mask, he placed it over his face, hiding his expression as he tightened his hold on his twin swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a violet meteor screaming across the sky, Frey shot forward ..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.. toward Dragoth, the Human Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>",1534,"2026-05-30T03:41:39.413Z","2026-06-01T04:30:13.202Z",1,"novelbin.me","656d09b5dc409fe481bb6ffd3e30a87509efd9d8212caa47c75da2b9a516ef8f","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-525","the-villain-s-pov-chapter-523",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-pov-cover.jpg"]