THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 708: The Trial of Blood and Betrayal (2)

Amon refused to permit anyone to progress without the necessary qualifications.

Due to his strict standards, the hierarchy of the Upper Ten had remained stagnant for ages. While Amon sat at the Eleventh position, the true extent of his power remained a mystery to the masses.

This secrecy was compounded by the fact that he possessed a unique ability shared with Agaroth, much like the rest of their circle.

"Speaking of Amon... his arrival on Earth is imminent. Once he joins us, we shall conclude this struggle permanently."

Wesker gave a firm nod as the strategy was reaffirmed.

"Starting now, the campaign to wipe out the Shadow Sect and the lingering members of Nameless begins. Our objective is total elimination, with Saint Gehrman as our primary target. Furthermore, we must capture Frey Starlight and escort him back to Helmund."

Wesker detailed the goals of the upcoming blitz once more.

It was to be a total offensive designed to leave nothing of their enemies behind.

Zibar was in complete agreement; this plan promised to finally settle the chaos on Earth.

"We will launch a full-strength assault on Frey Starlight. The moment he falters, the Shadow Sect will be forced to intervene to rescue him. By crushing them all, Gehrman will have no choice but to reveal himself... and that will mark his demise."

Wesker, the Fourth Seat.

Zibar, the Tenth.

The revived monstrosity known as Abraham Starlight.

And the master of corpses, Thanatos Geppetto.

The impending raid was destined to bring about utter ruin.

Their sights were set on Frey and every ally supporting him.

"Let the extermination commence."

At the Fourth Seat’s order, that group of monsters set out toward Frey—who, at that very moment, was searching for his sister on the far side of the globe.

...

...

...

Meanwhile, within the Empire's borders...

Frey Starlight had arrived at the temple, a sanctuary where he had spent many years of his life.

Waiting there was a person he never expected to encounter.

It was Maika Starlight, the son of Carmen who had been missing from the public eye for an eternity.

Frey followed him as they descended into the darkest, most secluded depths of the temple structure.

They eventually reached a massive hall that looked like a combat arena, partitioned off by a thick wall of glass.

The instant they entered, Frey stopped in his tracks; his long search had finally come to an end.

Two women lay unconscious in the middle of the arena floor.

One was Ada Starlight, a young woman in her early twenties.

The other was Carmen Starlight herself.

Both appeared to be in a deep slumber, showing no signs of physical trauma or injury.

Frey stood frozen for a heartbeat before lunging forward to reach them—

—but Maika, standing beside him, blocked his path immediately.

"I wouldn't take another step if I were you, Frey Starlight."

Frey paused at those words.

It wasn't merely Maika's intervention that stopped him, but a sudden, ominous warning from Nameless regarding the surroundings.

Frey turned his gaze slowly toward Maika, his eyes burning with a terrifying intensity as a thick killing intent flooded the chamber.

"What have you done?"

His voice was freezing, his words cutting into Maika like sharp blades.

Unconsciously, Maika recoiled a step, perspiration rolling down his brow under the weight of that suffocating bloodlust.

He struggled to keep a grin on his face, though his resolve wavered before the man who had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

He was painfully aware that Frey could end his life in a heartbeat without even trying. He fought to remain composed, though he was barely holding on.

In the meantime, Frey analyzed the situation.

Though Ada and Carmen seemed unharmed, their names were pulsing with a crimson light within his system interface.

This was a clear sign of danger. Something was fundamentally wrong, and he was determined to extract the truth from Maika.

Maika took a breath, and a faint aura began to radiate from his form—

Only for a violent explosion of dark, stellar aura to instantly suppress him, locking him in place from all sides.

Maika was paralyzed, the humming vibrations of Black Hole Aura hovering just a hair’s breadth from his skin.

"Choose your next words with extreme care. They may be the last you ever speak," Frey cautioned, his patience nearly exhausted.

Maika tightened his fist.

"You truly are the monster they said you were," he replied, letting out a brief, strained chuckle.

In that instant, his aura surged, manifesting into a bizarre structure behind him.

The energy expanded until it took the form of a massive black scale with two weighing pans.

A cluster of aura floated on each pan; one was dim and fragile, while the other was vibrant and powerful.

Energy filaments connected each cluster to a specific individual.

The threads from the smaller cluster led to Ada, while the larger one was tied to Carmen.

Seeing this, Frey’s face twisted into a dark scowl.

"Explain the meaning of this."

Maika’s grin only grew wider at the question.

"Why don't we engage in a small game, Lord Starlight?"

He moved forward with cautious steps, the spectral scale drifting in the air behind him.

"A game where the stakes are human souls."

He gestured toward the area beyond the glass partition.

"Look closely. Do you realize what is on the other side? Your sister... and a wretched woman who has no right to draw breath."

He spoke with pure venom, his hatred peaking at the mention of the latter.

"As you can see, I have bound the souls of Ada Starlight and Carmen to this artifact... the Scale."

"It is a magnificent device—it provided the foundation for this entire show!"

Maika's voice rose to a shout, while Frey’s expression grew increasingly grim.

"What kind of nonsense are you spewing?"

"N-no, Frey Starlight, I wouldn't advise attacking me right now. The outcome would not be to your liking."

Maika spoke rapidly, sensing that Frey was on the verge of tearing him limb from limb.

"As I explained... this Scale permits me to bind souls and deliver a fair and precise judgment. That arena on the other side of the glass has been transformed into a courtroom..."

"The defendants are Carmen Starlight and Ada Starlight.

The proceedings will only conclude once a verdict of guilt is reached for one of them.

The one found guilty... shall perish.

The one who is cleared... shall live.

It's quite straightforward, isn't it?" Maika concluded with a manic laugh before laying out the specific rules of the trial.