THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 755: The Path Toward the End (2)

— Frey Starlight’s Pov —

It was like hot lava from a volcano infiltrating my eyes.

The feeling burned intensely... searing hot.

These Void Eyes...

I started to doubt what they really were.

I sensed it plainly... their complete power remained untapped.

Much more lay concealed in this power.

Amon’s recent blow had been truly perilous.

His assault struck from all sides simultaneously, trapping me utterly...

so dodging became impossible.

Teleporting instantly far away wasn’t feasible,

since he’d enclosed the area with a barrier.

The barrier’s edges matched exactly the extent of his onslaught.

Amon had blocked off all ways out completely.

His strategy showed chilling accuracy.

Nevertheless...

Even so, I perceived his attack with total clarity.

Thanks to these eerie Void Eyes, I could detect thousands of lightning-quick strikes beyond light’s speed,

despite them launching at the same time from various spots.

The entire world faded to gray.

Devoid of hues.

Without vitality.

But then purple trails and routes burst forth everywhere, bringing movement back...

And it seemed like those routes were directing me.

"That’s right, Frey."

Nameless’s voice resounded, confirming what I thought.

"The Fifth Stage of Shadow Adaptation... The Void isn’t just a simple sight-enhancing power."

"It provides the route to attain what you want."

"At this moment, your mind is set on surviving and dodging this fatal barrage.

Thus, the Void has created every possible way to make that happen.

See."

Encircled by that barrage of strikes,

I viewed the whole battlefield in sharp detail.

What shocked me the most...

Was the fact that only one route didn’t exist.

Numerous ones appeared.

Endless routes.

"Though this onslaught looks perfect— so mighty that dodging feels out of reach—

that idea is mistaken.

The Void exposes the reality."

Against the surface impression,

scores of practical escapes were available here.

From those, I selected the one that suited best...

And allowed the shadows to steer my form along it.

"Let your form dive completely into that route," Nameless directed.

"Then the Void will guide you toward your goal."

"Avoid thinking.

Avoid moving.

Simply concentrate on that route."

Precisely that is what I carried out.

My blade shifted following the route.

Almost enchantingly... but perfectly...

It sliced through the assault’s pattern at its frailest spot.

I parried each blow with Soulfire and Black Hole Aura,

surging ahead quicker and quicker, repelling the strikes sequentially.

In the midst of Amon’s earth-shattering onslaught...

Purple radiance blazed intensely...

And within under a second...

Amon’s gaze widened in surprise as I appeared directly before him.

The astonishment showed plainly.

He probably never imagined I’d break his unbeatable move so easily.

Amon attempted to respond...

Yet I refused to give him any opening.

"Activating skill... Screen Shot."

Right as Amon tried pulling back...

His form got fully immobilized.

He remained utterly unable to budge.

The Screen Shot skill lets me halt time for a short moment.

However, that moment suffices for me...

particularly as it affects foes at this tier.

"Frey Starlight’s Style: Supreme Skill..."

Pulling forth the maximum of Soulfire and Black Hole Aura...

I released my mightiest strike.

"Nameless Judgement."

A tremendous shadowy energy burst from my blade,

funneling immense levels of aura.

A ray of utter ruinous force swallowed Amon whole...

and kept growing, scorching and consuming earth and heavens equally.

This marked the peak strike possible at my present strength.

And it hit him square.

Amon had no means to avoid harm from this.

Truthfully... I hoped it would finish him off.

Yet I realized it wouldn’t prove so straightforward.

As the remnants of my strike died down...

I spotted the demon positioned afar, among the wreckage.

"...As expected. This isn’t sufficient."

Through Nameless’s Aura Circulation, I regained nearly all the energy spent on Nameless Judgement,

preventing any fatigue...

since the fight continued unabated.

Across from me...

Amon sank to one knee, breathing raggedly while blood flowed from all over his frame.

"Pathetic..."

Even in his wretched state, Amon raised his head chuckling before rising again.

Gradually, I observed shadowy aura enveloping his form, healing him.

What caught me off guard most...

Was his failure to deploy his earth-shattering power yet.

"Vessel of Nameless... are you maybe holding out for me to unleash my power on you?"

Amon’s grin widened as he resumed his fighting pose.

"I’m sorry to say no. My power ranks among the Five Forbidden Taboos of the demon race.

Activating it requires my foe to far exceed me in might."

"And sadly... you haven’t attained that yet."

His aura’s force erupted fiercely from inside...

And he rushed directly toward me.

I countered likewise, striking with all my force.

The instant we collided anew, the demon loomed right before me.

"You know... even after my words, I genuinely admire you, Vessel of Nameless.

You’re remarkable."

"Your prior strike didn’t defeat me, yet you held your ground without backing away once.

That shows seasoned skill... and unbreakable determination in combat."

"Reaching this height at your age... it’s a real pity you serve as that man’s vessel.

You surpass your father by far."

While we battled fiercely to the end, I came to see...

Amon was indeed an odd figure.

From his punches and his ruinous blows,

No ill intent radiated from him.

No grudge.

No spite.

Not a hint of scorn.

His words rang true.

His current actions stemmed purely from unwavering devotion to his king,

who’d commanded his presence here.

As I pondered that...

For the first time in this clash,

A subtle smile crossed my features.

"There’s still so much about this world I need to grasp..."

Gradually, I shut my eyes, plunging into profound shadow.

...

...

...

Profound... deep in the chasm residing within Frey Starlight...

That realm existed.

An ocean of blood.

Blood that had congealed rapidly after Frey ruthlessly incinerated souls,

forcing them wholly under his command.

In that emptiness, a noise resounded...

The noise of etching.

A subtle crack of breaking.

Below, Nameless remained still, arms folded across his torso, watching steadily.

Regarding Frey Starlight...

He etched a lengthy trail into the earth using his blade,

tracing it personally, molding it through his determination.

Nameless refrained from meddling.

He avoided any involvement.

He merely observed quietly.

Until Frey completed it...

And plunged his blade into the trail’s conclusion.

In that barren, hushed domain...

Frey and Nameless positioned themselves together, gazing at the trail ahead.

Their eyes gleamed with identical light...

a shadowy V igniting inside.

"I understand... this is the route you’ve decided to follow."

Nameless uttered, a hint of wonder in his tone.

"Yes. This marks the peak of my fight... and the close of my drive,"

Frey answered steadily, face unmoved.

"This is the route I selected.

The route I etched myself.

The aim I resolved to chase."

The ultimate target.

The final push.

"This is my conclusion... and the height of my growth.

All led to this route.

I get it fully now."

Upon hearing that, Nameless paused briefly...

then responded.

"Are you sure?"

"Following this route... you’ll arrive at a fate harsher than mine."

He glanced at Frey...

then at the trail inscribed in the ground.

Nameless couldn’t conceal his wonder.

As for Frey...

His determination stood firm.

Nothing could sway it henceforth.

"Yes...

Either I succeed—

or I perish in the attempt."

Frey gripped his fist tightly, nearly crushing it, proclaiming with iron will...

"I will shatter this tainted world using my own hands."

Upon those words...

Nameless shut his eyes.

Then reopened them, displaying eyes laden with significance.

"Then proceed.

To slay beasts, you must turn into one yourself.

And to vanquish immense wickedness... you must embody an even vaster one."

"You’ll endure immense pain.

But you won’t crumble again...

no matter if you evolve into my full form,

or into something wholly new... like Agaroth."

"The decision stays with you always."

"This is the route you picked yourself...

and the route we both tread from now on."

Gradually...

Shadow engulfed the realm.

And Frey along with Nameless disappeared entirely,

lost in the depths of the chasm.

...

...

...

Author’s Note:

Hello again, readers... we’ve arrived at this point.

I’d like to share some thoughts now that we’ve hit this milestone.

A lot of you might not grasp the full weight of this immediately, and it could require hundreds more Chapters to fully register... but this Chapter signals our entry onto the road to the story’s conclusion.

Don’t get me wrong... plenty of Chapters remain, possibly exceeding those already out.

The key change is the start of the finale’s direction, and with it, The Villain’s POV kicks off for real.

I’m truly thrilled to guide Frey straight to the finish...

to depict his climb to the summit of growth from here, and the ways his deeds will mold the world.

Thanks for sticking with the novel this far,

and catch you in the next Chapter.