THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 706: Where Blood Awaits

The further I traveled, the more frequent the encounters with enemy swarms became.

Several Upper Demons blocked my path, forcing me into combat...

Among them were Valak, the Rank 32 Upper Demon,

and Dantalion, who held Rank 28,

along with numerous others.

While Valak commanded the shadows,

Dantalion utilized a grotesque power designed to dominate and manipulate the minds of others.

I cut them down without much effort...

especially since I now maintained the Black Hole Aura throughout every engagement.

To be perfectly honest, keeping the volatile power of the Black Hole under control was pure agony...

however, the method taught by Nameless was proving effective, even if the progress was gradual.

I was currently consuming massive quantities of aura,

yet through his technique, I managed to recover roughly 30% of it.

That amount was pitifully small when compared to Nameless,

who possessed the ability to reclaim 99% of the energy he expended.

Nevertheless, for a start... I felt content.

It served as proof that I was growing more powerful on a subconscious level.

Because I was a unique anomaly, there existed no standard metric to accurately gauge my strength.

On paper, my status was SS-rank.

But once I unleashed my full arsenal of weapons and abilities,

I ascended to SSS-rank...

though my specific standing within that tier remained a mystery.

Snow Lionheart occupied a similar position...

since he served as the second coming of the Pure Vessel,

whereas I functioned as the vessel for Nameless.

These circumstances permitted us to surpass our contemporaries

and completely dismantle the established balance of power.

My might continued to surge...

yet none of it assisted me in locating Ada or Carmen.

The realization infuriated me.

As I wandered through the inferno of the dying Empire, I crossed paths with many survivors.

I gathered information from them, learning that the heroes of the previous generation had resurfaced to gather and shield a vast number of civilians.

Nova Starlight, my predecessor, was among them and had saved numerous members of the Starlight family...

including individuals who had been in the company of Ada and Carmen.

But my sister was not found among those rescued.

In my system interface, her name—and Carmen’s—remained highlighted in red.

Where on earth were they hiding?

As this search dragged on, my patience began to fray, and I felt my remaining composure slipping away.

Yet, Nameless suppressed my outbursts every time, reminding me that fury was useless in my current situation.

He had once been completely devoid of emotion, a trait that allowed him to make optimal choices regardless of the stakes...

even if he was now somewhat influenced by my own feelings.

At this stage... I truly began to speculate about what had occurred.

Could Ada... be held captive by Wesker right now?

Was that the reason he brought her up during my duel with him alongside Snow?

The more I pondered it, the more improbable it felt.

Wesker had remained on the Ultras’ continent this entire time...

and I had never once detected Ada being targeted by a demon.

I had been constantly ready to fly to her side the moment trouble arose...

though it was possible my fight with Wesker had slowed my response time.

Still... what could have happened?

While I was lost in these doubts, Nameless’s voice resonated, offering a vital clue.

"The person who targeted Ada Starlight was not a demon... but a human."

My eyes snapped wide at his words, and I ceased my aimless wandering.

"A human..."

Who would commit such an act?

A member of the Ultras?

Or...

"A human belonging to the Empire..."

A human... who nurtured a grudge against my sister Ada...

or against Carmen.

Standing in the wreckage of a ruined Imperial city,

a sudden realization hit me, causing all the scattered pieces to fall into place.

In an instant...

my frame erupted with violet light as I prepared for spatial teleportation.

"I have found the location."

Leaving nothing but a trail of stardust in my wake,

I departed the broken city...

and materialized in a completely different environment.

It was a familiar sight...

one I hadn't laid eyes on in a very long time.

As I stood before the entrance,

I silently observed the facility that had been ravaged

by the relentless assaults of the Ultras and demons.

"The Temple..."

The walls remained unchanged.

Everything appeared as it once was.

And yet, it felt more desolate than ever...

a barren land haunted by spirits.

I began to walk inside, moving slowly, one step at a time.

I passed by numerous recognizable locations...

the lecture halls, the training grounds...

and the Elite Residence where I had spent two years of my life.

Rain began to fall under the cover of night,

further obscuring the bleak landscape ahead of me.

"I never thought I would return to this place... under these circumstances."

A bitter laugh escaped me as a faint, grim smile touched my lips.

While these familiar scenes evoked memories...

I refused to let myself get lost in them.

The present was far more critical.

I pressed on, descending the stairs that led to a very different area...

the subterranean dungeon located beneath the Temple.

The very place I had been confined to

when I sought to end my life and take everything down with me.

The only sound in the quiet corridors was the echo of my own footsteps.

But I was not alone.

Because I already knew...

the people I was searching for were definitely here.

After a few more seconds, I arrived at my goal.

The last person I ever expected to be the mastermind appeared before me.

Deep within the bowels of the Temple,

sitting in front of a heavy iron gate,

he was waiting.

His hair was stark white...

and even while seated, his stature was imposing—far taller than mine.

Clad in a long white robe and wearing round spectacles,

he still held onto the image of a church that had long since collapsed.

His dark eyes locked onto mine...

before he offered a soft smile.

"You've finally arrived... Frey Starlight."

"You... Maika Starlight."

I whispered his name.

I had never met him in person...

but his identity was obvious, especially given how much he resembled his mother.

"Carmen's son."

He was the only child Carmen had ever given birth to.

That single fact was the only thing stopping me

from ripping his head from his neck right then and there.

"Where are they?"

I demanded, my patience vanishing.

He seemed prepared for that very inquiry,

as a small grin formed while he pushed open the door behind him.

"Follow me."

Maika gestured for me to enter, and I moved forward with heavy, deliberate steps.

"Stay alert. I detect a bizarre power on the other side."

"I'm aware."

Nameless’s warning rang in my head,

but I already perceived what he meant.

Maika was merely a weak SS-rank combatant...

yet the atmosphere of this place felt entirely wrong.

The sinister aura I felt here was no illusion.

Gradually, my eyes began to shimmer with a violent light.

Once I verified the safety of Ada and Carmen...

I intended to destroy this place

and everyone within it.

My mind was already set.

Blood would certainly be shed tonight.

Without a doubt.