[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-villain-s-story":3,"chapter-the-villain-s-story-the-villain-s-story-chapter-374":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Villain's Story",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},747049,986,"Chapter 374 [374] The Empire[10]","the-villain-s-story-chapter-374",374,"\u003Cp>Alan entered the 19th floor, a large hallway that showed grandeur once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now reduced to almost rubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped over a chandelier and continued to walk further into the hallway, littered with rubble and flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have entered the 19th trial, The Trial of Entrance.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My head hurts…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan muttered, almost stumbling over a piece of rubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had beaten the mage on the previous floor to bits with his bare fists, The Ame-No-Sakahoko had gone into his inventory and refused to come out for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suleras…Lanesha, are you there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing, nothing but silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why ask for outside help?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the metallic voice of the tower rang in his mind, worsening his headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asked Alan, what did this tower want now? And what is this headache?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head felt muddy, he wasn't able to garner his thoughts properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[To observe the trials of a tyrant.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tyrant…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Questioned Alan, his vision and headache worsening. But even then he endured and managed to walk a straight path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You of course…Had you cleared the previous trials, unlike a tyrant? Forgotten have you…your deeds?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deeds? What deeds? I just cleared the trials.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rebutted Alan. He just cleared the challenger's trials like normal, the way everyone would do!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing like being a Tyrant in his trials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So you choose to act oblivious…Or is it an external…or rather internal illusion cast upon you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan stops to stare at the giant statues upon marble pedestals that decorate the expansive hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, it was the palace of an emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Or do you just believe you are strong? The protection your weapon offered you was gone the moment you went against its wishes…The items gifted to you, are given to another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aren't you all alone now?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teal eyes stared at the statue of a spearman, the head was destroyed by god knows what but the Spear remained intact. Alan marveled at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What protection are you on about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cursed Alan, as he took deep breaths to calm himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It seems you have forgotten, or have been made to forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The delusion you live in is laughably pathetic.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roared Alan. He grabbed his head in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Should thou not think more of the trial in front of you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Infront…Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, everything became clear. His pain disappeared as he stared at the knight standing in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sword as large as his own body, and wearing armor that seemed to be made from gold itself, he stood in front of a large golden gate, filled with decorations and other carvings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An immense pressure reverberated throughout the hall, causing the statues to shake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alan took a step forward and got into a stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no weapons. So he decided to fight with fists. He got into his regular Muay Thai stance and thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's gone…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headache was gone, the cloudiness in his head had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was only one thing remaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The will to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight threw away his large sword and also wielded fists. Respecting his code of Chivalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chivalry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remarked Alan, almost laughing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes had lost all reason as he charged forward and attacked the knight ferociously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"YOU THINK THAT CAN SAVE YOU?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*********\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah entered the 19th floor and met a knight at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight was covered in golden armor and wielded a sword as big as a pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Welcome, savior.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed to show utmost respect to Elijah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Please follow me, the Emperor awaits.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah followed the knight quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They traversed through the grandeur hall filled with gold and late oil paintings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah keenly observed his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall was majestic, fitting of the abode of an emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That painting was created by Ahsan, he liked to dabble in magic and arts.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explained the knight. Elijah had been focused on a singular oil pointing to a bright flame that lit up the dark background in the canvas beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahsan is the mage…correct?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asked Elijah, he was barely able to hear the old skeleton's name. So he asked for confirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, he was the greatest mage of all, praised by even the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was one of the few who could equally duel the emperor in his exceptional years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached the Hall of Heroes. Pedestals of marble held statues of the heroes of the empire, all who had risked their lives for the greater cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each was in pristine condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...wait now that I think about it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Elijah stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He observed the surroundings a bit more keenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...everything is fine here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It contrasted the theme of the lower floors…where everything lay destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hall, which led to the throne of the emperor didn't even have a speck of dust here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It would be of the biggest disgrace had we let the emperor's most beloved place be sullied.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said the knight. It was as if he could read Elijah's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after walking past the hall of heroes, they approached a large golden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decorated with the symbols of tigers and lions, the strongest creatures in the most precious metals, the door truly was a marvelous structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah could feel an unknown power from behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vile…disgusting power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was familiar with it…it was the power of the shadow beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It has been ages since the emperor alone withstood the might of the shadow beast. Even in death, the damned creature chose not to forsake his majesty and our empire.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight faces Elijah and says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Will you enter?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asked the knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah replied instantly, not fearing the task ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Elijah couldn't see the knight's face because of the ornate helmet, he was sure the knight was smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Go forth then hero, place thy hand on the entrance and you will meet the emperor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Rumble!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elijah stepped forth and entered the 20th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight wielded his majestic blade and unleashed his aura, ready to stop everything that would dare disrupt the graceful end of his home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I wish that there were more people like you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Said the knight, praising Elijah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Rumble!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unfortunately, most are either blinded by greed, desire, need or even live in a delusion cast by none other than themselves.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He braced himself to fight off the horde that would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would stall for as long as possible until the hero could give his home a satisfactory end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Thank you, Saviour…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He caught sight of the undead, marching forth; they had infiltrated the Emperor's Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Now…I shall do my task!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung his blade and cut down a hundred at once.\u003C\u002Fp>",1108,"2026-06-02T11:57:26.352Z",1,"novelbin.me","448b6f0eeae92211a3d69a84c938d7d2e3b0a26291dfb5b5026735537d371cab","the-villain-s-story-chapter-375","the-villain-s-story-chapter-373",910,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-villain-s-story-cover.jpg"]