THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 7 7: A Step Towards Hell (1)

-Frey Starlight POV -

Distinguishing between beast and man was an impossible task during the Age of Legends.

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The conflict between the human race and the foul Extermination Corps reached its climax three centuries ago during the War of Light.

Humanity was merely one of many targets for the Demons, who carried out a campaign of genocide against various life forms throughout the boundless universe.

In reality, the human race was far from the most powerful of their victims. Nevertheless, the arrival of the first Extermination Corps within human borders nearly resulted in total annihilation.

As the world underwent a violent metamorphosis, the latent potential of mankind exploded—ancient powers were forged in the fires of planetary upheaval. Kezess Valerion, the premier warrior and founding emperor of this realm, emerged from this chaos.

He confronted the highest-tier demons and ultimately gave his life, detonating his very soul to seal the dimensional breach and halt the demonic incursion.

For decades, the lingering will of this legendary figure drifted across the world, seeking a successor worthy of his legacy.

Snow, the story's protagonist, was that destined individual. He was the one I was condemned to lose against.

My fingers curled into a tight fist at that realization.

The power of the One-Sword Style was undeniably supreme...

Yet, at this moment, I possessed no combat style whatsoever.

A swordsman lacking a definitive style is essentially powerless. Regardless of their dedication or training, reaching the pinnacle of strength remains an impossibility.

However, I felt no anxiety regarding this fact.

Let us consider the hero revered by the masses of this world—the One-Sword, Kezess Valerion.

Was his power genuine?

Certainly. He was a formidable SSS-class entity capable of altering the world's fate.

But was he truly the zenith of human potential? The ultimate warrior?

I would argue otherwise. In fact, I strongly doubt it.

While the One-Sword was great, he was not the sole peak. As the author of this tale, I am aware of this truth... even if the One-Sword led the populace into a grand misconception.

Numerous legendary fighters surfaced during the War of Light—some perhaps even eclipsing the One-Sword.

Figures such as the Sword God Avalon and the Black Death Patriarch, Chun Ma, come to mind.

Both possessed the capability to replicate the One-Sword’s feat... yet they chose not to.

They recognized a grim reality: the "seal" placed upon the rift was little more than a toy to the Demon King. Even his subordinate high-ranking demons had the power to demolish that supposedly "unbreakable" barrier.

Earth would have vanished long ago if the demons hadn't been occupied with a multi-front war against other cosmic races.

Knowing this, masters like the Sword God had zero interest in martyrdom or sealing doorways.

They were warriors of a more primal, bloodthirsty nature.

They were natural-born killers even before their powers manifested. These were fanatics who sought to invade the demon realm itself, leaping through the rift to wreak havoc on the enemy’s home turf.

The technique I currently hunted belonged to one of those madmen: the "10,000 Steps of Shadow" created by Chun Ma.

My entire strategy would crumble without it.

Acquiring this style was an absolute necessity, regardless of the difficulty.

Fortunately, I was privy to its secret location.

In the original plot, Snow was fated to discover it much later while searching for a new blade—finding Chun Ma’s weapon and his martial manual by chance. By that point, however, he had already perfected the One-Sword Style.

That narrative arc served mainly as world-building for ancient lore.

I knew the location, but a significant obstacle remained.

Chun Ma was of Chinese origin. His techniques were hidden within the ruins of his Sect, buried under the remains of the Himalayas.

Currently, that territory is the core of the Nightmare Land, a hellscape crawling with S-class monsters and even more terrifying threats.

My likelihood of surviving a trek from the Eastern Empire's frontier was non-existent.

But surrender was not an option.

I possessed a hidden gambit. Although it relied heavily on theory, I placed my faith in my intuition—the intuition of the person who built this universe from scratch.

Success or failure... only the passage of time would reveal the outcome.

I drifted into sleep before I even realized it.

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Early the next morning, I woke up in my training hall quarters as I always did. I had long since lost track of how many mornings I had spent staring at this particular ceiling.

Driven by the muscle memory of this body, I rose at exactly six o'clock. Following a lengthy bath necessitated by my fixation on hygiene, I spent the remaining time at my own leisure.

Today, however, marked a turning point. At 7 AM, I would take my first genuine step into this reality:

A three-day trek to the Oklas Mountains, where the Starlight Family’s main base was situated.

Leaving Starlight Palace for the first time filled me with a mixture of thrill and dread—I felt like a bird finally tasting freedom.

After selecting an outfit from Frey's extravagant collection, I stepped out of my chambers.

The staff had finished the preparations, and Ada was already downstairs awaiting my arrival.

She was to serve as my protector during the upcoming inauguration ceremony.

In the original storyline, Ada would never have agreed to live with Frey, let alone act as his escort.

Yet, the reality had shifted.

The Starlight siblings were finally standing together.

I took a seat opposite her and ate my meal in silence. Aside from standard morning pleasantries, we hadn't shared a real conversation during breakfast for the past month.

This arrangement suited me. As long as our alliance held firm, I required nothing else.

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-Ada Starlight's POV-

My eyes kept drifting toward him.

A month had passed since I moved into the residence of my younger brother—the boy labeled a demon by all.

I used to despise him with every fiber of my being.

He was a stain on our lineage, a corrupt soul who had no right to the Starlight name. I had been certain of that.

That is why I found the current situation so hard to process.

In the past, Frey was a walking catastrophe. He was a selfish, reckless individual who lived only for his own desires.

But somehow... he had transformed.

The change began when he surrendered his inheritance and status to me, granting my deepest wish so easily that I initially suspected a trap.

From that moment, I began to observe him closely.

My brother, Frey.

He had suddenly committed himself to a grueling daily training regimen. He began ordering various Cultivation elixirs and would occasionally ask me baffling questions—things he should have mastered years ago.

Even more shocking...

Frey had ceased his abuse of the household staff.

He used to erupt in violence over the smallest inconveniences, causing chaos wherever he went.

Previously, he spent his time pestering noble ladies and possessed a long-standing fixation on the daughter of the Moonlight Family’s patriarch. Now? He didn't give her a second thought.

He had become distant and frigid, carrying himself as if the weight of the entire world rested on his shoulders.

When he mentioned wanting to focus on his path as a swordsman and escape the family’s lethal internal politics... his mention of their assassination attempts left a bitter lingering feeling in my heart.

Was I feeling pity? No. He had earned the world's scorn through his past actions.

However...

If he had truly committed to this change—if he was finally becoming serious and turning back into the sweet brother I once knew...

Then I would use all my power to shield him.

These thoughts occupied my mind as I followed him out of Starlight Palace, the servants bowing as we made our exit.

Our journey to the ancestral estate was beginning.

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-Frey Starlight's POV-

I entered the carriage that was stationed at the palace entrance.

Ada took the seat across from me. I was still adjusting to the exotic technology of this world.

The vehicle looked like a luxury limousine, but it lacked wheels and hovered silently above the pavement.

I recalled writing about these things—transports fueled by aura that glided through the air.

Actually seeing it function in person made me realize how surreal my own imagination was.

A slight vibration ran through the cabin as the driver engaged the engine.

An armored lead vehicle paved the way, while a contingent of outriders flanked us for protection.

We faced a journey of over a thousand kilometers.

While the distance shouldn't have required three full days, there were two specific reasons for the delay.

First, high-altitude travel was suicidal. The skies were the territory of monstrous predators that allowed no intruders.

Second was the nature of our destination. While the empire utilized teleportation gates for city travel, the Starlight headquarters was a restricted military zone with no public gates nearby.

Thus, we had to take the scenic route.

The world outside the window turned into a blur of high-speed motion.

Occasionally, I spotted other travelers and crafts zooming along the transit paths.

I marveled at the architectural wonders—structures I had once only visualized in my mind.

Seeing my creation come to life brought a sense of joy.

Yet, being trapped inside it was devastating.

As the landscape shifted, I found myself longing for the moment before I arrived here—back in the car with my real family.

I desperately hoped for that blinding light to return and whisk me back to my own reality.

But I knew that was just a futile fantasy.

"Frey."

"Yes?"

"It's nothing..." Ada looked away, biting back whatever she was about to say.

"If there's something on your mind, speak up. This trip might be our final opportunity to speak without constraints."

I wasn't exaggerating. I was about to start a path that would likely lead to my grave.

"I'm aware. Don't mind me... I was just rambling."

I saw a flash of sorrow in Ada's eyes, though the reason escaped me.

I had no way of knowing she wanted to ask, "Frey, why do you look so heartbroken?"

I wouldn't know, of course. I didn't spend my time looking in mirrors.

The three days went by faster than I anticipated. We rested only at secured stations and traveled mostly during the early hours.

Eventually, we reached Starlight territory. The transition was obvious; the area was packed with checkpoints and devoid of any civilian presence for miles.

I looked up at the massive peaks that seemed to touch the heavens: the Eastern Border Peaks of Mount Oklas. Stretching for thousands of kilometers, they served as a natural wall against the Nightmare Lands. The Starlight stronghold was nestled in their center.

Our arrival was imminent.

The sight that met me was staggering.

An immense fortress stood before us, rivaling the scale of the surrounding mountains.

It was a literal city of white marble—the trademark color of the Starlight House.

A cluster of magnificent palaces formed a stunning mountain skyline.

"Unbelievable..." I whispered.

Ada gave a small, amused huff, clearly entertained that my stoic mask had finally slipped.

I couldn't help it; the vista was truly awe-inspiring.

The vehicle stopped, and we were met by guards in heavy plate armor as we disembarked.

I felt my body tense immediately.

A heavy, invisible pressure emanated from them—a clear sign of their massive power.

Even though I was only F-rank, the realization that mere gatekeepers held such strength made me wary.

It was a raw display of the family's power.

The knights saluted us before moving aside. Their faces were hidden behind visors, showing no emotion—they were like living weapons.

We entered a massive training ground where hundreds of soldiers were practicing, their collective aura creating a suffocating atmosphere. Some trained with blades, others with their fists, but the majority held rifles.

Indeed, firearms existed in this world.

Traditional combat arts were difficult to master, and not everyone possessed the talent for high-level Cultivation.

With humanity at war with demons, a shortcut was needed.

The answer was high-tech weaponry that utilized aura-charged ammunition.

This allowed even the average person to contribute to the war effort.

While guns were far weaker than swords used by true masters of martial techniques, they were still effective.

I was fascinated.

Until I could master the Shadow technique, I desperately needed a way to defend myself.

The solution was right there in front of me.

I was so preoccupied with watching the target practice that I didn't notice the massive man walking toward me.

I only sensed him when a crushing weight suddenly slammed into my spirit, nearly forcing me to my knees.

I looked up to see a hulking man with snowy hair and a jagged scar across his eye.

I struggled to keep my footing just as Ada stepped in front of me, blocking his path.

"Greetings, General Byron. It has been some time."

The oppressive aura vanished as the giant—Byron—grinned at Ada.

"Haha! What an honor," he bellowed. "It’s been too long, Lady Ada. And you... Young Master Frey."

His voice turned gritty, and he made no effort to hide his contempt when addressing me.

He spoke to Ada with reverence, but his tone toward me sounded like he was holding back the urge to spit.

I remained quiet, letting Ada handle the interaction.

"Your A-rank prowess is as sharp as ever, Byron... but I suggest you remember your place before a member of the main bloodline, even if you think you're being funny."

Byron’s eyes popped in genuine shock at Ada's sharp rebuke.

I was just as stunned as he was.

He was likely thinking, "Since when does Ada Starlight protect this brat?"

My own thoughts mirrored his: "Why is she defending me? I thought she hated Frey."

Byron eventually offered a forced apology and stepped out of the way, though his eyes still burned with dislike.

As expected, Frey was a pariah here as well.

It made sense—he was the villain destined for a miserable end in every timeline.

However, my admiration for Ada grew.

Byron was an A-rank powerhouse, while Ada was only at the D-rank level.

Yet, her contributions to the family's success gave her a level of authority that bypassed raw combat power.

A small smile touched my lips.

"You really have a remarkable sister, Frey."

With Ada leading the way, I walked deeper into the lions' den.