THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 818 The Night Before the End (1)

Perched on a hilltop above the Shadow Sect, Frey stared into the horizon with serene calm.

His pitch-black eyes stayed utterly still—like a perfect mirror's surface, free from the tiniest wave.

In the middle of each eye, a V-shaped mark had appeared, representing his Void power...

a force now fused inseparably with him, constantly engaged.

He gazed down at the vibrant Shadow Sect…

the sanctuary holding all that's left of humankind.

A whole species… teetering on the edge of oblivion.

Through the Eyes of the Void, Frey could perceive everything inside...

its inhabitants, roads, structures.

With enough concentration, he knew he could peer through barriers too.

Yet he refrained.

He merely observed them… for some time.

During these scarce instants of tranquility and quiet, memories of the Sect from years past flooded Frey's mind.

The way he had first stepped into it… soaked in his own blood.

"Back then, it was just me and those statues—

the only inhabitants of an abandoned, ancient place…"

"And now… it has become the last city of mankind."

A subtle smile curved Frey's lips as he breathed out a puff of steamy air into the frosty surroundings.

The air felt sharp… invigorating.

"It almost feels like winter has come again…"

For an instant, winter truly appeared to have arrived once more.

However, that wasn't true.

The coldness permeating the air stemmed not from the natural world...

but from a person.

Occasionally, Frey would silently watch his old allies as they drilled relentlessly, desperate to close the distance.

Seris Moonlight shone brightest among them.

Her mastery of ice had advanced to a superior stage.

Markings like iced rose petals decorated her form.

Her aura projection surpassed others her age by a wide margin.

"SSS-level output… but it isn't truly her own power."

Frey instantly detected the alien energy coursing through her.

The Moonlight bloodline's heritage had mysteriously taken root within her.

"It's somewhat similar to my situation with Nameless… yet fundamentally different."

Semiramis Moonlight had opted for a spectral existence over a corporeal one, preventing her from materializing like other legendary human figures.

Rather, she selected Seris as her host—

bestowing tremendous might while surrendering full command to her.

Besides Seris, Uriel Platini drew equal attention.

Her holy golden aura... bestowed by the Church's primordial saint, blazed with splendor.

Her power had progressed so she could mend wounds in a flash and on instinct,

plus acquire many attack skills tailored to counter demons.

"She'll be a valuable asset in the coming battle… without a doubt."

Frey kept scanning the rest.

Dawn Polaris, bearer of that bizarre world-shattering talent that sparked his interest.

Selena, the witch, with her ruinous striking force.

And Daemon Valerion, who had merged his frame with gleaming armor.

Then there was…

Sansa.

The demon girl his gaze instinctively sought out each time.

Sansa kept apart from everyone else.

She avoided the training areas and the troops entirely.

She stayed within a structure...

alongside her uncle, Oliver Khan, her sole surviving kin.

The masked warrior had endured the prior terrors…

yet endured grave wounds barring him from combat again.

As for Sansa—

Her situation proved unique.

Unlike her peers, her strength showed no growth whatsoever.

Her rank lingered at SS+ peak, despite her utmost efforts.

And while she once ranked among the mightiest at war's outset—with Frey and Snow...

a massive chasm now separated them.

For her might… was only a sliver of another's force.

Mixed feelings swirled within Sansa over this truth.

Frey had never supported her through it.

She bore the burden in solitude.

"Weakness is a sin in this world…"

"But Sansa… when it comes to you…"

"It's okay to be weak."

His words came soft as he shifted his sight from her, then raised it skyward.

"You're not required to achieve anything."

"There's no reason for you to grow stronger than you already are."

"So… you're not meant to walk this dark path."

Out of everyone...

Just one figure was truly fit to tread that road beside him.

Ghost.

The individual Frey had personally selected.

"What about me? Am I suited for it?"

A voice he knew well rang out abruptly behind him.

Frey turned with a faint smile.

His gleaming golden partner stood there.

"You?" Frey chuckled gently.

"You're far too bright compared to me."

"And you're far too dark," Snow countered, moving to his side.

"You're so shrouded in darkness that you choose to lurk in the shadows… observing your friends from a distance instead of approaching them."

Beside him, Snow stood, staring off in the identical direction.

"They plan to launch the final battle tomorrow."

He faced Frey directly.

Frey gave a slow nod, avoiding eye contact.

"I know."

"Then you realize that you and I count as final weapons—

not deployed until the battle's absolute end."

Snow explained the strategy set by the Shadow Sect's leaders.

"Nearly everyone gets thrown into the fight."

"While we just observe… waiting for the enemy's top powerhouses to appear."

He fell silent.

Then he murmured softly:

"Which means… you may never see them again."

"Today marks your final opportunity."

"…Are you truly content with mere observation?"

The ultimate clash—

humanity's desperate stand against the demons—kicks off tomorrow.

Survival remained uncertain for all.

Any person could perish… and meet their end.

Today, you could fight shoulder-to-shoulder with someone...

only for them to vanish eternally tomorrow.

Most ex-Temple students were picked for the initial assault, excepting Frey and Snow.

They stayed out unless Higher Demons or a Duke of Hell showed up.

In the meantime, they held position at the back—with Fulghor the Planet, Dragon Emperor Kalameet, and Engineer Gehrman.

Abraham Starlight stood as the sole supreme powerhouse allowed in from the start, named army commander overall.

Warriors from the Shadow Sect, ancient human legends… and assembled Dragon Kings would back him.

Frey grasped this fully.

Today could be his sole shot.

"Watching from afar suits me just fine."

"No need for me to go see them."

The gap he'd forged seemed to satisfy him…

as though he intentionally kept it that way.

Snow wasn't spared either.

If Snow hadn't approached him first, Frey wouldn't have sought him out...

even though they formed the Shadow Sect's most harmonious duo in reality.

They'd even fused their world-breaking powers once against Wesker—

a stunning achievement highlighting their perfect synergy.

"You appear changed," Snow remarked, sharing his inner musings.

"Like something within you has shifted…"

"You think that?" Frey answered steadily.

"To me… I remain exactly as always."

"I've just discovered my true path."

His tone stayed hushed… icy.

Snow eyed him briefly before sighing.

"I guess that works."

"Provided we battle together, I've got no gripes."

Snow retreated a step, gaining space while facing Frey.

"Word is your strength surged after facing Thanatos."

"Shall we give it a quick test?"

Pulling his sword, he challenged Frey to spar.

Frey stood up accordingly.

"Sure you can handle the letdown?"

While speaking, the shadowy Valerion gauntlet enveloped his arm, Dark Sister appearing in his hand.

Snow chuckled.

"We'll find out."

Instantly, they both let out brief laughs.

Yet in under a second—

their faces hardened utterly, like heading into a deadly duel.

Frey stayed frigid.

Snow turned keen… wary.

Even after the warm vibe just before, Snow struggled to read this Frey.

Thus, words aside...

he picked the blade.

The sword spoke purest truth among fighters, after all.

One look revealed Frey's immense growth to Snow.

Frey leaped two stages ahead, hitting SSS rank's third level.

Snow lingered at the first.

First stage boosted every SSS trait.

Second stage vastly stretched a fighter's boundaries and promise.

Third stage unlocked one's racial essence.

Yet Frey skipped the human gift.

Rather… he summoned the essence of Nameless's ancient Krat race.

Beyond that...

Frey commanded way more world-breaking skills than Snow.

Frey owned eight.

Snow just two.

Evidently... Frey outstripped him anew.

Still...

Snow craved to feel that gap personally.