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

— Frey Starlight’s Pov —

It was like molten lava from a volcano was forcing its way into my eyes.

The feeling burned fiercely .. intense and searing.

These Void Eyes...

I started to seriously 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 was out of the question.

Teleporting instantly to safety far away proved impossible,

since he'd enclosed the area with a barrier.

The barrier's edges matched exactly with the scope of his onslaught.

Amon had blocked off all ways out completely.

His strategy was executed with chilling accuracy.

Nevertheless ..

Even so, I perceived his incoming attack with crystal clarity.

Thanks to these eerie Void Eyes, I could track countless lightning-quick strikes beyond the speed of light,

despite them all launching at the same time from various spots.

The entire world faded to gray.

Devoid of hues.

Without vitality.

But then violet trails and routes burst forth everywhere, bringing everything back to life ..

And it seemed like those trails were directing me.

"Exactly, Frey."

Nameless’s voice resounded, confirming what I thought.

"The Fifth Stage of Shadow Adaptation .. The Void isn’t just some basic sight-enhancing trick."

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

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

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

See for yourself."

Enveloped in that frenzy of strikes,

I viewed the whole battlefield in utter detail.

What shocked me the most ..

Was the fact that it wasn’t only one route available.

Numerous ones existed.

Endless routes.

"This onslaught might look perfect—overwhelming enough that dodging feels hopeless—

but that idea is incorrect.

The Void exposes the reality."

Against the surface impression,

scores of escape options were there to get out of this mess.

From those, I picked the one that suited me best ..

And allowed the shadows to steer my form along it.

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

"And the Void will take you to your goal."

"Don’t overthink.

Don’t move on your own.

Simply concentrate on that route."

That’s precisely what I followed through on.

My blade shifted following the route.

Almost enchantingly .. but perfectly ..

It sliced right through the assault pattern at its frailest spot.

I parried each blow with Soulfire and Black Hole Aura,

surging ahead quicker and quicker, hurling the strikes aside one by one.

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

Violet radiance blazed intensely ..

And within under a second ..

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

The astonishment was obvious.

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

Amon attempted to react ..

But I refused to give him any opening.

"Activating skill... Screen Shot."

Just as Amon tried to pull back ..

His form got locked in place entirely.

He was utterly immobile.

The Screen Shot skill lets me halt time for a split second.

Yet that split second suffices for me ..

particularly as it affects foes at this caliber too.

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

Pulling forth the maximum of Soulfire and Black Hole Aura I could muster ..

I released my most potent strike.

"Nameless Judgement."

From my blade, a massive shadowy power burst out,

infused with extraordinary levels of aura.

A ray of utter ruinous force swallowed Amon whole ..

and kept spreading, scorching and consuming the earth and heavens both.

This marked the mightiest blow I could deliver in my present state.

And it hit him square on.

Amon had no chance to avoid harm from this.

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

But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be so straightforward.

As the remnants of my strike died down ...

I spotted the demon standing afar, amid the wreckage.

"...Just as I figured. This isn’t sufficient."

With Nameless’s Aura Circulation, I regained much of the energy spent on Nameless Judgement,

avoiding any drain ..

since the fight was nowhere near finished.

Across from me ..

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

"Pathetic..."

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

Gradually, I observed dark aura coiling around him, healing his wounds.

What caught me off guard ..

Was that he hadn’t unleashed his world-shattering power yet.

"Vessel of Nameless... are you holding out, hoping I’ll deploy 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’re not there yet."

His aura’s intensity exploded outward fiercely ..

And he rushed directly toward me.

I met him head-on, unleashing all my strength against him.

The instant our forces collided anew, the demon was already upon me.

"You know... even after what I said, I genuinely admire you, Vessel of Nameless.

You’re remarkable."

"Your previous strike didn’t take me down, yet you didn’t back off one inch.

That shows true experience .. and unbreakable battle spirit."

"Reaching this stage at your age... it’s a real pity you’re that man’s vessel.

You outshine your father by far."

While we battled to the end, it dawned on me ..

Amon was indeed an odd fellow.

From his punches and his ruinous blows,

No ill intent flowed from him at all.

No grudge.

No spite.

Not a hint of disdain.

He spoke with complete sincerity.

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

who commanded him to be here.

As that realization hit ..

For the first time in this clash,

a subtle smile crossed my lips.

"I still have so much to learn about this world..."

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

...

...

...

Profound .. deep in the chasm lurking inside Frey Starlight ..

That realm existed.

An ocean of blood.

Blood that had congealed rapidly after Frey ruthlessly incinerated souls,

forcing them under his control.

In that emptiness, a noise reverberated ..

The noise of etching.

A subtle crack.

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

Regarding Frey Starlight ..

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

crafting it personally, molding it through his determination.

Nameless stayed out of it.

He offered no meddling.

He merely observed quietly.

Until Frey at last completed it ..

And plunged his blade into the trail’s terminus.

In that barren, hushed domain ..

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

Their eyes gleamed identically ..

a shadowy V igniting inside.

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

Nameless uttered, a hint of wonder in his tone.

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

Frey answered steadily, face impassive.

"This is the route I selected.

The route I forged myself.

The aim I resolved to chase."

The ultimate target.

The final push.

"This marks 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?"

"Taking this route... you’ll wind up in a fate darker than mine."

He glanced at Frey ..

then at the trail inscribed on the ground.

Nameless couldn’t conceal his amazement.

As for Frey ..

His determination was set in stone.

Nothing could sway it anymore.

"Yes...

Either I succeed—

or I perish in the attempt."

Frey gripped his fist tightly, almost breaking it, proclaiming with iron will ..

"I will shatter this rotten world by my own hand."

At those words ..

Nameless shut his eyes.

Then reopened them, showing eyes laden with significance.

"Then proceed.

To slay beasts, you must turn into one.

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 self,

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

"The decision stays with you."

"This is the route you picked for yourself ..

and the route we’ll both follow starting now."

Gradually ..

Shadows engulfed the domain.

And Frey along with Nameless disappeared entirely,

lost in the depths of the chasm.

...

...

...

Author’s Note:

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

I’d like to share a bit now that we’ve hit this milestone.

Plenty of you might not grasp the full weight of this just yet, and it could take hundreds more Chapters to really click... but through this Chapter, we’ve embarked on the road to the story’s conclusion.

Let me clarify .. tons of Chapters remain, maybe even surpassing what’s out already.

The key change is that the finale’s journey has kicked off, and with it, The Villain’s POV kicks into high gear for real.

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

to depict his ascent to the top of his development from here, and the ways his deeds will reshape the world.

Thanks for sticking with the novel this far,

and catch you in the next Chapter.