THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 716: The Last Thousand Steps (1)

A trio of violent auras collided, each intent on the total annihilation of the others.

The battlefield trembled under repeated bursts of light, the earth groaning beneath the staggering weight of this monumental confrontation with every passing second.

The combat unfolded at a velocity that defied comprehension—fast enough to fracture the world itself, yet so turbulent that tracking its rhythm was nearly impossible.

Frey Starlight managed to endure only by utilizing his spatial manipulation abilities, constantly swapping his coordinates with Zibar and Abraham to evade lethal strikes.

"How long do you plan to rely on these pathetic tricks of yours, Frey Starlight?"

SLAASH!!!

The crescent-shaped Katarina Blade possessed overwhelming might; occasionally, Zibar succeeded in landing a punishing blow directly on Frey.

"You cannot win. There is no hope for you here..."

Moving in flawless harmony with Zibar’s taunt, Abraham’s sword of concentrated light slammed into Frey’s flank, sending him tumbling away.

"Whether it’s me or your father, we’re both stronger than you. You’re the same weak brat you’ve always been. This power of yours will accomplish nothing... you can’t even injure me."

Zibar gestured toward the Katarina Armor, which had successfully repelled every single one of Frey’s desperate lunges.

The Tenth-Rank Demon’s physique remained unscathed. Not a single one of Frey's strikes had been able to penetrate his defenses.

The resilience of demons was legendary; they were capable of maintaining their assault even if their forms were torn apart. To overcome Zibar, Frey needed to deal a catastrophic wound... a feat he had yet to achieve.

The situation was no different with Abraham, whose entire form was manifested from pure aura, making him appear completely invincible.

"I see you know the truth, Frey... the truth that we don’t want to kill you."

A predatory smirk crossed Zibar’s face as he and Abraham closed the distance together.

"You are essential to our King. That is the only reason we have refrained from ending your life, despite having numerous opportunities to do so. However, our objective has shifted this time."

Zibar reached out, his fingers curling into a tight fist.

"We will break you here... and escort you back to Helmund. Once there, the King shall deal with you personally."

His voice grew cold, stripping away any pretense to reveal his grim intent.

"The time for games is over. The tragedy known as humanity is reaching its finale... and so is your part in it, Frey Starlight. Once you are in the Demon King’s grasp, resistance will be futile. Neither you nor the Nameless within you will be able to act. That shall be your conclusion, and the portal through which the King returns to dominate the world once more!"

Zibar shrieked his proclamation, throwing his arms wide like a madman delivering a prophecy.

In response, Frey pulled himself back to his feet, resetting his combat posture.

"You talk too much..."

BOOOOOOM!!

Frey launched himself forward like a dark celestial projectile, propelled by the intensity of his Black Hole Aura.

He slammed into Zibar, the momentum driving the demon backward through several layers of shattered ruins.

A terrifying tempest of blade strikes erupted from Frey—swings so rapid they transformed into a blur of obsidian streaks—effectively pinning Zibar down.

Yet the Tenth-Rank Demon met the challenge, matching Frey’s ferocity blow for blow.

"So be it! Let us conclude our previous struggle right here and now!!"

Zibar’s grin stretched wider as he shouted.

"But do not forget... I am not the only one you are fighting this time."

Frey’s focus shifted instantly to the blade appearing before his eyes—Abraham’s sword.

But the strike failed to connect.

At the final millisecond, Frey traded places with Abraham.

BOOOOM!!

The cycle of violence continued: Frey lunged, Abraham deflected, and Zibar seized every minor lapse, his blade carving a jagged wound across Frey’s torso.

"It seems your little spatial trick won’t help you much anymore..."

The demon’s assessment was accurate.

In a high-speed clash of this caliber, even if Frey dodged nine out of ten attacks, the tenth would eventually find its mark.

His adversaries were no novices; maintaining a perfect defense against both was an impossible task.

Frey attempted to create distance, but Abraham pursued him relentlessly, with Zibar following close behind.

Despite the dual pressure, Frey remained disturbingly composed behind the eyeholes of the Nameless mask.

"Zibar... a Tenth-Rank Upper Demon at the peak of SSS Stage Three... and my father, who somehow stands as his equal."

Frey couldn't fathom how his father had attained such power, though the Absolute Manipulator ability seemed the most likely culprit.

"Both of them are more powerful than I am... both of them."

He briefly considered if bringing Snow would have balanced the scales.

But he dismissed the thought as false.

Abraham had already defeated Snow with trivial ease.

While Snow had grown stronger following the encounter with Wesker, it wasn't enough to bridge the gap between her and these two monsters.

Frey was in the same position... save for one crucial factor:

He was currently tapping into the full potential of the Black Hole Aura.

"Even with this strength... I cannot withstand their combined assault for long."

Frey was certain of this reality, which brought him to a secondary realization:

"...They are holding back."

Both Zibar and Abraham were deliberately suppressing their true capabilities.

With every exchange of swords, Frey could sense the hesitation.

"It feels as though the real battle they came for... hasn't actually started."

Zibar wasn't fighting with the same bloodlust as the clone Frey had previously destroyed.

Furthermore, Abraham had refrained from using any large-scale techniques.

They focused on fierce defense and steady pressure, clearly aiming to drain his stamina entirely.

BOOOOM!!

A massive shockwave of aura flared out as the three warriors continued their dance of death.

"Are they afraid of Nameless surfacing again...?"

If Nameless seized control of Frey’s body, the dynamic of the fight would shift instantly.

Even with only four stages of Shadow Adaptation, Nameless could access the mask’s vast knowledge in a way Frey could not.

A four-stage Nameless was more than capable of obliterating Zibar.

Even with Abraham’s assistance, their survival would be in doubt.

"For them to stand a chance... Wesker would have to step in..."

As Frey weathered the crushing pressure, a new thought dawned on him:

"...Why hasn't Wesker appeared himself?"

Had the Fourth Rank demon joined the fray instead of just sending Zibar and his father, the battle would have been over long ago.

Slash!!!

Abraham’s sword ground against Frey’s, adding new scars to his body, yet Frey’s concentration remained unbroken.

"Wesker isn't a fool. There’s no way he overlooked something as obvious as this..."

Which meant...

"That bastard is here... lurking nearby."

Frey swept his eyes over the surrounding area before refocusing on the enemies in front of him.

The Fourth Rank Superior Demon was undoubtedly close, watching the spectacle with a satisfied grin.

"I wonder... are you enjoying the show, Aegon?"