THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 422: The Aftermath (2)

Unlike the other times when he’d lost consciousness, Frey only slept for a single day before forcing his recovering body back into motion once again.

You could say that only Frey was capable of recovering from such a state in the first place.

After repeatedly detonating his [Ignition] and maintaining his Blood Form in constant battle, his body was a chaotic mess inside.

Yet he moved as though nothing was wrong.

After his brief rest, he spent the following day with Ada, recounting what had happened on the Ultras Continent .. carefully avoiding the parts about how many times he was stabbed, crushed, or nearly killed.

The Elite Class was the talk of the Empire.

Everyone was shocked that they had survived such a deadly trap, and most of the credit naturally went to Phoenix.

As expected, the Lord of Sunlight had done more than enough to earn their praise.

But even he wouldn’t have survived alone in the Ultras Continent without the help of his fellow elite classmates.

The younger generation had proven themselves, showing the Empire—and especially their enemies—that they were no ordinary talents.

Stories of the boy who faced a thousand soldiers alone, the demonic girl who tore through armies, and the young man who wielded every element... spread quickly.

These feats earned them an early graduation from the Temple.

The situation had changed completely now, and war was inevitable.

Frey was well aware of this.

But for now, he didn’t care much about the war.

His focus was solely on one person.

He had been asking about him nonstop.

Danzo.

Taken away by his father, Adam Smasher, who had turned his Silver Dragon Guild into a makeshift hospital, desperately searching for a way to save his only son.

Watching the giant, hulking Adam running frantically through the halls in desperation to save his boy was a pitiful sight.

But it was the harsh reality they were forced to face, especially for Frey, who couldn’t stop trying to find a way to help his friend.

With the 10,000 Achievement Points he’d earned, Frey turned to the System’s advice, hoping it might hold the answer.

Whether it was random... or direct...

The answer was the same as before .. three question marks, adding yet another burden to his already troubled heart.

The Complete Devil Seed.

Curing something like that was simply impossible for Frey, who despite his vast knowledge of the world and its many mysteries, still couldn’t figure out a way to save his friend.

Drowning in despair, Frey found himself returning to the temple the next day, having hit a dead end.

The temple, now nearly deserted after losing its director and suffering through events that had completely ruined its reputation, was a hollow shadow of what it once was.

Ignoring the curious gazes directed his way, Frey searched for the only person left whom he could turn to for help.

Thankfully, she was still there.

The Saintess Candidate of the Church... Uriel Platini.

She had remained behind in the temple, spared from participating in the last war because the bishop refused to let her endanger herself.

She was already chosen as the next Saintess after Yurasha, and thus they couldn’t afford to risk her safety.

But by staying behind, Uriel remained unaware of most of the terrifying events that had unfolded over the past few days.

And then, Frey appeared before her out of nowhere, prompting her to instinctively greet him with a long embrace.

”Uriel...”

Frey spoke with a grim expression, and Uriel slowly loosened her grip on him.

”Welcome back... Frey.”

Her smile was like something sacred in itself. But that smile gradually faded as she registered the state Frey was in.

”What kind of battle did you fight to end up like this?”

”I’m fine,” Frey answered briefly, but Uriel immediately rejected that claim.

”No, you’re not! Your internal organs look like they’ve been trampled several times over.”

Summoning her holy power, Uriel reached out to heal him, but Frey stopped her by grabbing her hand.

”I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not the one who needs your power right now.”

Even though they were standing in the middle of the temple courtyard under the gaze of countless onlookers, Frey didn’t hesitate to ask Uriel for help.

”I know I already owe you, but please, Uriel... I need your help again.”

Frey was desperate.

Even more desperate than when he had come to her for Sansa’s sake.

You could say he was a man who had hit a wall so hard that he had no idea what his next step should be.

Seeing him like this, Uriel didn’t play around. She became serious too.

”How exactly can I help?”

She asked directly, and Frey let out a tired sigh.

”We’ll need to leave the temple first.”

Hearing that, Uriel gave a small, weary smile.

”Don’t tell me you’re going to make me put my holy power into another sword, are you?”

Frey smiled as well, unable to help himself as he recalled the time when she helped him save Sansa.

He truly wished their situation now was as simple as it had been back then.

”I want you to try and heal one of my comrades. I think there’s something demonic inside him. Maybe your holy power can help.”

Uriel was the destined successor of the Saintess, a girl whose power was said to far surpass even Yurasha’s.

Blessed with the purest form of holy energy, Frey believed she might just be able to help Danzo.

Without hesitation, Uriel agreed to follow him to the Silver Dragon Guild’s headquarters.

The sight of the two walking side by side attracted countless stares, especially since both were well-known among the public.

But neither of them cared.

”You know, Frey, you already owe me one favor. How are you planning to repay me this time? This makes two, you know.”

Uriel tried to lighten the heavy mood, speaking to him as she used to in the past.

But Frey answered immediately, his voice steady with resolve.

”I’ll do anything you ask.”

Hearing the tone of his voice, Uriel realized just how serious he was.

”Anything...?”

She repeated softly, her mind wandering as she wondered what ”anything” could possibly mean.

But Frey interrupted her train of thought when he suddenly stopped walking.

”We’re here.”

The Silver Dragon Guild wasn’t far, and before they knew it, they had arrived.

Without further delay, the two of them stepped inside.

Frey had already explained Danzo’s situation to Uriel, so she knew exactly why she was there.

On the other hand...

Adam Smasher wasn’t letting anyone near the room where his unconscious son lay.

But Frey was an exception ... as Danzo’s friend and the one who had endured that same hell alongside him.

Adam couldn’t refuse him, especially when he had brought Uriel Platini, the Saintess candidate, with him.

Despite his enormous frame and terrifying presence, Adam Smasher couldn’t hide the signs of collapse written all over his face.

For all his physical might and brutal strength, Danzo was his only family. His wife had passed long ago, leaving him with no one but his son.

Adam had tried every method imaginable to heal his child, but Danzo hadn’t opened his eyes once.

When Frey and Uriel followed him, Adam led them to a secret chamber .. the most secure place in the entire guild.

The moment he opened the iron door for them, the sharp scent of medicine hit their noses, filling the air as they stepped inside and surveyed the room.

It was a vast, sterile chamber, where Danzo lay unconscious on a bed, his body connected to dozens of wires and tubes.

His gray hair was a mess, and his face bore an unprecedented weakness, dark circles painting his features.

The once muscular body he had honed through years of training was now covered in scratches and wounds.

Gvardiol had crushed every bone in his body, leaving him completely paralyzed and unable to summon even the faintest trace of aura.

The moment Uriel placed her hand over his chest, her expression darkened. A deep frown settled on her face before she looked up, her eyes filled with sorrow at the boy’s condition.

With his core and aura channels utterly shattered, Danzo was left crippled.

Forget fighting .. he wouldn’t even be able to walk again.

Perhaps she might have been able to heal him if he could still draw on his aura, but in this state...

There wasn’t much she could do.

Channeling a massive amount of holy energy into him, Uriel Platini gave it her all, restoring some color to Danzo’s pale face and healing the internal injuries Adam’s medical team couldn’t reach.

But even after she had poured every ounce of her power into him, scanning his body again and again...

She found nothing of what Frey had warned her about.

Turning toward him, Uriel shook her head regretfully.

But she said nothing in front of Adam Smasher, who showed genuine gratitude, thanking her and Frey repeatedly, his relief palpable.

Frey, however, only frowned deeper.

As soon as they left the room, leaving Danzo behind, Uriel immediately apologized.

”I’m sorry, Frey... I couldn’t find any trace of the demonic power you spoke of. I checked him several times, but... there’s nothing.”

She wanted to ask if he was sure.

But looking at Frey Starlight’s expression, she realized he wasn’t speaking from doubt or fear. He knew.

Yet even so, there was nothing she could do. Her holy power was useless against whatever was afflicting Danzo.

And that was what pushed Frey closer to the edge, unable to find any way to save his friend.

Twenty-eight days remained before the deadline.

It was a race against time .. a race that threatened to break something deep inside him.