THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 697: Legends Awaken

A savage conflict within the Empire's fortifications had finally unmasked its horrific reality.

Humanity was reeling from a total invasion. Geppetto had unleashed his legion of the undead, bolstered by a terrifying contingent of high-ranking demons.

These were not the noble variety of demons.

These were the primal ones; feral, nightmarish entities with gray, necrotic flesh, towering horns, massive skeletal wings, and talons forged like jagged steel.

This was the ancient demon race, a nightmare humanity hadn't encountered for centuries. Now, they had returned to consume the world.

In the beginning, the slaughter was absolute. Whole districts were wiped off the map in less than sixty minutes.

However, the tide suddenly shifted.

The age of Heroes had returned.

To the east, a massive, broad-shouldered figure appeared, his pure white hair contrasting with his obsidian eyes. Though he appeared to be in his forties, his aura was suffocatingly powerful.

Single-handedly, that man tore through the demonic ranks before him.

"Stardust Style: Cannon of Light."

A pillar of brilliant radiance erupted from his blade, cleaving through the darkness and vaporizing thousands of undead and demons in one magnificent flash.

His arrival brought a flicker of hope back to the people.

"Fall back to the Oclas Mountains! The Empire has fallen!"

He bellowed, his voice recognized by those familiar with his legendary portraits.

This was Nova Starlight, the First Star of the Starlight Family.

A battle-hardened veteran who once fought alongside the hero Kazis, he was a true relic of the Age of War.

Nova possessed overwhelming Cultivation, enough to hold the entire eastern Starlight territory by himself.

But then, his eyes caught sight of yet another enemy battalion advancing.

"Demons are the same as ever, no matter how many centuries pass..."

Nova spat a curse, tightening his grip for another strike.

But before he could act...

A torrential wave of searing fire roared across the field, turning the demons to ash in a heartbeat.

Nova knew those specific flames instantly.

The Eternal Flame—a power wielded by only a single individual.

"What’s the delay, Nova? I thought you were supposed to be the quickest among us?"

Perched upon a nearby ridge, Enver Sunlight, the Founder of the Sunlight Family, stepped forward.

His hair was a vibrant, burning red, and his face was set in a stern mask.

Strangely enough, he looked even younger than Iris Sunlight, one of his distant descendants.

"Enver."

Nova greeted him as the man plummeted down to land at his side.

"You’ve finished cleaning up the Sunlight lands already?"

Enver gave a short nod.

"They weren't much of a challenge. I headed here assuming this area would be more troublesome. It seems I miscalculated."

He let out a breath, stretching his arm.

"We’ve been in stasis for far too long... waking up to this feels bizarre."

"It has been hundreds of years since our last battle. That feeling is only natural," Nova replied, his gaze drifting toward the horizon.

Eons ago, each of them had utilized unique methods to seal themselves away, surviving until the promised day arrived.

With the exception of Semiramis Moonlight, who had discarded her physical vessel entirely...

The others had kept their bodies intact in secret. Enver had slept deep within volcanic depths, leaving his skin bronzed by centuries of intense heat.

They had all been waiting for a single signal—a specific presence.

"You felt it as well?" Enver questioned.

Nova nodded solemnly.

"A familiar aura... it called out to me. That was when I knew the hour had arrived."

"That outsider... the one they call the Engineer," Enver grumbled, referring to Gehrman.

"Which signifies that the prophesied one has finally come forward... the individual destined to conclude this conflict and grant us our final opportunity."

Nova’s voice carried a hint of wary hope.

They had all endured the long wait for this person to appear.

What kind of leader would he be? How would he guide them toward a victory?

Countless lives had been sacrificed to reach this turning point.

"I can only hope that man’s prophecy wasn't a blunder," Enver sighed, leaning a hand on Nova’s shoulder.

"First, let’s locate Semiramis and the others."

"Agreed."

They prepared to depart...

But a blind, elderly man approached them.

"Gentlemen... there is no cause for worry. The one you have been waiting for has already arrived."

They spun around, failing to recognize him at a glance. However, his aura was impossible to mistake.

"You... Avalon?!" Enver cried out, visibly shaken.

Nova remained composed.

"The years have been cruel to you."

Avalon appeared frail and hollow, a mere shadow of the man he was before the catastrophe at Helmund.

"Time has been cruel to us all. I am here to escort you to the Shadow Sect. We have no moments to spare."

Enver’s eyes sharpened.

"What of Semiramis... and where is Zephyr?"

Avalon hesitated.

"Semiramis is currently occupied defending the Moonlight capital. She cannot be moved yet. As for Zephyr..."

A heavy silence followed.

Zephyr... the warrior whose name had been purged from the annals of history.

Avalon closed his eyes, the memory of that terrifying man resurfacing.

"Zephyr departed from Earth a long time ago. He refused the path of hiding."

"What does that mean?" Nova asked, stunned. Avalon nodded.

"His current status is unknown."

Neither Enver nor Nova had anticipated this. Every member of Kazis's squad had committed to the plan.

Zephyr was no exception. No one thought he would be the one to betray their pact after they entered their slumber.

"Dammit... Zephyr was the strongest among us. His absence is a massive blow to our strength."

Enver cursed, but Avalon shook his head dismissively.

"We must go. We can discuss this further once we arrive at the Shadow Sect."

Avalon spoke, and both Nova and Enver conceded. However...

Just as the trio prepared to leave...

They went rigid.

A staggering pressure crashed down upon them, making their eyes widen in pure shock.

The shock didn't stem solely from the intensity of the force...

But from the fact that it didn't belong to a demon.

It was something entirely different.

With agonizing slowness, they turned to look back.

There, perched on a high hill, staring down at them with a cold, arrogant gaze—as if a monarch were looking at common pests—was the origin of the pressure.

All three were paralyzed, though for different reasons.

Enver was stunned that a mere human could emit such a monstrous force.

Nova, however, recognized the truth immediately.

The man was utilizing the Stardust Style. Even without a clash, it was obvious.

The Ten Stellar Nodes were radiating around him, as bright as the midday sun.

"He’s at my level... No... wait—"

Nova’s eyes narrowed.

Both of them had attained the pinnacle—Ten Stars.

But there was one jarring difference.

Nova’s stars were tranquil and steady. This man’s stars were ablaze.

That realization caused Nova’s expression to darken considerably.

"Impossible..."

Meanwhile, Avalon’s hands clenched into fists.

He was the only one who knew the man's identity.

"That is... Abraham Starlight."

Avalon whispered the name in sheer disbelief.

Both Nova and Enver turned to him, shocked.

"So he’s one of your kin, Nova. Doesn't that make him an ally?" Enver asked.

Nova let out a harsh, joyless laugh.

"Does an ally radiate this kind of suffocating killing intent?"

There was no longer any doubt. Abraham was not there to help. He had come to end them.

"What in the hell is going on?" Avalon hissed.