THE VILLAIN'S POV Chapter 819 The Night Before the End (2)

Without a moment's notice, he unleashed his Light Soul, accompanied by the fiercely burning Pureflame. Snow then activated both of these abilities simultaneously, merging them together. A brilliant, pure white armor promptly encased his entire being. Witnessing this, Frey couldn't help but express admiration for the output of Snow's aura. "Incredible…" he murmured. "Even I cannot manage to fuse my abilities in such a manner." Frey offered a slight smile as he imbued his sword and arm with an aura that resembled an overwhelming black hole. Concurrently, his body became engulfed in a tremendous Soul Fire. However, this was no ordinary flame; it emanated a terrifying pressure. Frey utilized just one soul, yet it furnished him with an effectively boundless reserve. This was because that particular soul belonged to an immortal entity—Thanatos, who now endured torment within him. Snow was momentarily taken aback by the sheer immensity of Frey's power. Nevertheless, he didn't hesitate and launched an immediate assault. The fusion of Pureflame and Light Soul bestowed upon him immense offensive capabilities. Yet, Frey managed to block it with effortless ease. Soon after, the formidable power of the black hole collided with Snow's radiant light. In a mere handful of seconds, the two exchanged an overwhelming flurry of attacks. And still… they deliberately held back their full strength. Neither party unleashed their ultimate power, mindful of the potential destruction it could wreak upon the entire region. Warriors of their caliber, if they were to fight seriously, could indeed sink an entire continent—a fact both of them understood profoundly. Their clash bore a closer resemblance to a sophisticated sword duel rather than a battle between transcendent beings. They exchanged strikes with meticulous precision, each combatant striving to outwit the other. Snow possessed the upper hand in terms of experience, a benefit stemming from his memories as a Pure Vessel—the very First Lord of Light. But even with that advantage… he couldn't land a single hit on Frey. Frey managed the duel with an absolute composure. His control over his aura was frighteningly flawless. His gaze meticulously tracked every movement—every strike, every subtle fluctuation of aura emanating from Snow's body. He anticipated an attack… even before Snow conceived of launching it. To Frey… Snow was an open book. His reconstructed body, enhanced by the Absolute Manipulator, enabled him to perfectly synchronize with his perception… thus affording him a flawless, seamless response in every single movement. The output of the black hole aura had escalated dramatically… while the Soul Fire granted him an even greater explosive force. All of it… every single one of these formidable abilities… was fused together with absolute, impeccable control. And that… was a direct consequence of the innate trait possessed by the Krat race, a gift Frey had only recently acquired. The gift bestowed by Krat was not a combat technique. Nor was it a devastating offensive ability. It wasn't even a defensive power akin to the resilience of ghouls or the sheer durability of the Pantheon. What it bestowed upon Frey… was something far more subtle. It granted him a different way of thinking. New senses. It was as if his entire cognitive process had undergone a transformation. Instead of thinking as Frey… he had started to embody Nameless. Frey had perpetually pondered: Why was Nameless so demonstrably superior to him? Even when Nameless assumed control of his body… he didn't employ any external power source. He utilized Frey's own inherent power. The very same abilities. The identical skills. Yet, in Nameless's possession… they manifested with far greater strength. Now, upon reaching the third stage of SSS rank—Origin Revelation, Frey finally grasped the underlying reason. The secret… lay in control. The capacity to draw forth 100% of one's innate potential. Frey remained considerably distant from the perfection Nameless had attained. However, after acquiring the inherent trait of the Krat race— he had drawn closer than ever before. Far surpassing his former self. It was a subtle alteration. But the outcome… was an overwhelming surge in power from the perspective of his adversaries. The duel did not persist for an extended duration. Merely a few short minutes elapsed— before Snow found himself on his back, his face etched with undisguised shock. Frey's sword was plunged into the ground directly beside his head. Frey stood over him, looking down with a faint, weary smile gracing his lips as he withdrew his blade. "I believe this concludes our dual," he stated. He slowly stepped backward, permitting Snow to rise. The White Knight of Earth appeared utterly speechless. The experience he had just undergone had far surpassed all his expectations. Despite unleashing his fused, world-breaking abilities… he had not succeeded in breaching Frey's defenses even once. But what unsettled him the most… was the sensation he perceived when their swords made contact. He felt… nothing. No discernible emotions. No discernible intent. Not the slightest trace of anything emanating from Frey. From the initial clash right through to the very last… Frey had remained utterly inscrutable. It was as though he was deliberately concealing his true self. Snow suppressed his rising frustration and compelled a faint smile. "I had assumed my improvement was proceeding rapidly…" "But after facing you… I find myself beginning to question that notion." He exhaled softly, acknowledging his defeat. It had been a brief and straightforward duel… and both combatants had intended to bring it to a swift conclusion. Yet, it appeared that the reverberations of their intense clash had already reached other ears.

The reason was simple: Kalameet and Fulghor materialized precisely as the previous encounter concluded. One of them seemed particularly eager for a confrontation.

"How incredibly shameless, you warriors of the Shadow Sect..."

"To be enjoying your little duel all by yourselves."

Kalameet's gaze was locked solely on Frey as he spoke.

"This was no display of power," Frey responded with composed demeanor.

"Merely a friendly match."

This wasn't their first interaction; they had exchanged brief words before, but nothing substantial had ever transpired between them.

A smile touched Kalameet's lips.

"Then you should have concealed this location behind a barrier."

"The repercussions of your battle had already reached me—it was far too late by then."

He summoned his formidable spear, directing its point towards Frey.

"I've heard whispers that you are currently the strongest within the Shadow Sect."

"Permit me to put that claim to the test."

"Didn't you already witness the outcome of my battle against Thanatos?" Frey countered, his voice steady.

"That should have provided more than sufficient evidence."

Kalameet, however, merely shook his head.

"I did not behold it with my own eyes."

"Your accomplishments hold no weight in my assessment."

"I understand..." Frey lifted his sword.

"Then, proceed."

That was all the invitation Kalameet required.

Their duel commenced.

Given the nature of their sparring, neither combatant harbored the intention to inflict a fatal blow. Despite this circumstance significantly diminishing the peril of their clash...

in the presence of both Fulghor and Snow...

Frey emerged victorious over Kalameet as well. The Dragon Emperor crashed to the ground before him. Though his silver armor had successfully prevented any physical injuries...

he had been utterly vanquished.

'I am at the pinnacle of the fifth stage of SSS...'

'And he is merely at the third...'

Kalameet mused, a sense of bewilderment washing over him.

'Yet, he completely surpasses me...'

'Even sheer physical strength proved ineffective against him...'

It was an undeniable, total defeat.

"I trust that satisfies your inquiry," Frey stated calmly, taking a step back. He then encountered another figure standing directly before him.

The colossal giant...

Fulghor.

"Allow me to be your next adversary," the ancient war general of the Shadow Sect declared in a voice that resonated deeply.

Frey's brow furrowed slightly.

"You as well..."

He let out a sigh, raising his sword once more.

"Please... go easy on me."

"I doubt I can possibly match your overwhelming aura reserves."

Fulghor shook his head, conjuring a pair of golden dual spears from his potent energy.

"Not at all."

"Your strength profoundly eclipses mine."

Genuine respect laced his tone.

Then—he surged forward.

Their subsequent clash proved to be considerably more ferocious, owing to Fulghor's immense stature and expansive aura. Yet, the outcome remained unchanged. Even the colossal giant ultimately succumbed.

It seemed as though defeating Frey had become an insurmountable task.

The four of them continued to spend time together afterward.

Exchanging blows.

Sharing their accumulated experiences.

They were, after all, the ultimate combat contingent of the Shadow Sect.

Later, Abraham joined their gathering and engaged in sparring with several members. They conversed, and among them, Kalameet was the most talkative, producing his drink as he recounted tales from his past campaigns. Fulghor, in turn, shared numerous anecdotes from the ancient Nameless Sect, while each individual proudly boasted of their personal triumphs and battles. Frey, Snow, and even Abraham felt a sense of humility when confronted with such vast reserves of experience. They had, understandably, lived only a fraction of the years compared to others.

However, this disparity did not impede their burgeoning camaraderie. It was a lengthy night—one that immediately preceded the commencement of the decisive battle that would determine all.