THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 706: Where Blood Awaits

The further I traveled, the more frequent the demonic swarms became.

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

Among those I faced were the Rank 32 Upper Demon Valak,

the Rank 28 Dantalion,

and various others.

Valak commanded the shadows,

whereas Dantalion utilized a grotesque power to manipulate and seize control of minds.

I butchered them without difficulty,

particularly since I was now maintaining my Black Hole Aura at all times.

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

nevertheless, Nameless’s technique was proving effective, however slightly.

Though I was currently exhausting massive quantities of aura,

I was able to reclaim roughly 30% of it by employing his method.

The amount was pitifully small when compared to Nameless,

who was capable of recovering 99% of the energy he expended.

Still, as a starting point... I found it satisfactory.

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

Being a unique anomaly, no standard metric could accurately gauge my true strength.

On paper, my status was SS-rank.

But when I fully unleashed my weapons and innate abilities,

I ascended to SSS-rank...

even if my precise standing within that tier remained a mystery.

Snow Lionheart occupied a similar position,

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

while I acted as the vessel for Nameless.

These circumstances allowed us both to surpass our contemporaries

and completely dismantle the traditional balance of power.

My might continued to swell,

yet it did nothing to assist me in locating Ada or Carmen.

That realization filled me with rage.

As I roamed the incinerated remains of the Empire, I crossed paths with many survivors.

They informed me that the heroes of the previous generation had resurfaced, gathering and shielding a vast number of civilians.

Within their ranks, my predecessor Nova Starlight had saved many of the Starlight kin,

including the group that had been accompanying Ada and Carmen.

Yet, my sister was not found among those rescued.

Her name—and Carmen’s—remained highlighted in red on my system interface.

Where on earth were they?

The longer this search persisted, the more my composure and patience began to fray.

However, Nameless suppressed my outbursts every time, reminding me that fury was useless in this moment.

He had once been entirely devoid of emotion, allowing him to make optimal choices regardless of the chaos...

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

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

Could Ada... be a prisoner of Wesker right now?

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

But the more I analyzed it, the less plausible it seemed.

Wesker had remained on the Ultras’ continent during this entire period...

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

I was constantly prepared to fly to her side the moment danger struck,

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

Even so... what could have happened?

While I was lost in these contemplations, the voice of Nameless resonated, providing a vital clue.

“The individual who attacked Ada Starlight was no demon... they were 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 perhaps...

“A human from within the Empire...”

Someone who harbored a grudge against my sister Ada...

or against Carmen.

As I stood amidst the wreckage of a fallen Imperial city,

a sudden epiphany struck me, making all the pieces fall into place.

In an instant,

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

“I’ve found them.”

Leaving nothing but a trail of stardust in my wake,

I departed the ruined city...

and materialized in a completely different location.

A place I knew well,

one I had not set foot in for a long time.

Appearing before its gates,

I stood in silence, observing the site that had been ravaged

by endless attacks from demons and Ultras.

“The Temple...”

The walls remained unchanged.

Everything looked as it once did.

And yet, it felt more desolate than ever—

a vacant land inhabited only by ghosts.

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

I passed by numerous familiar landmarks,

the lecture halls, the training grounds...

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

Under the cover of the night, rain began to pour,

further shrouding the abandoned landscape in darkness.

“I never thought I’d return here... under these circumstances.”

A bitter chuckle escaped me as a thin smirk touched my lips.

The sight of these familiar scenes brought back memories,

but I refused to let myself get lost in the past.

The present was far more critical.

I moved forward, heading down the stairs toward a very specific destination—

the subterranean dungeon located beneath the Temple.

The very place I had been imprisoned

when I had attempted to end my life and take everything with me.

My footsteps were the solitary sound vibrating through the quiet corridors.

But I was not alone.

I already knew it—

the ones I was looking for were undoubtedly here.

After a few more seconds, I reached the end of my journey.

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

In the deepest reaches of the Temple,

seated in front of a massive iron gate,

he was waiting.

His hair was stark white...

even while seated, he appeared tall—considerably taller than me.

He was dressed in a long white robe and wore round spectacles,

still clinging to the symbols of a church that had long since crumbled.

His dark eyes locked onto mine...

before he offered a soft smile.

“You finally arrived... Frey Starlight.”

“You... Maika Starlight.”

I whispered his name.

I had never met him in person before,

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 off right then and there.

“Where are they?”

I demanded, my patience vanishing.

He seemed to have anticipated that very question,

for a small grin surfaced as he pushed open the heavy door behind him.

“Right this way.”

Maika signaled for me to enter, and I walked forward with heavy, deliberate steps.

“Exercise caution. I detect a bizarre power on the other side.”

“I'm aware.”

Nameless’s warning rang in my head,

but I already grasped what he meant.

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

yet the atmosphere of this place felt profoundly wrong.

The malevolent aura I detected here was no illusion.

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

The moment I confirmed that Ada and Carmen were safe...

I would destroy this entire place

and everyone within it.

My decision was already made.

Blood would be spilled this night.

There was no doubt about it.