THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 489: Echoes Before the Storm (2)

Reading those vile words from the system again and again, I felt a dry, involuntary laugh escape my throat.

’That damned system...’

My assumption was right.

More or less, I was beginning to understand why those cursed demons had come.

”The real game has begun.”

We humans... and even the Ultras... we’re just pieces on a giant chessboard.

And now, the real players .. the ones moving the pieces from behind the curtain .. were finally stepping onto the board themselves.

”Hunt them, or be hunted.”

That’s likely the reason for their arrival now—orders straight from Wesker himself.

”They’re here to take down the big fish. In other words, those standing behind the humans on this board.”

Maybe they’re targeting the Engineer... or the other mysterious humans who were with him.

In short, while we fight our war against the Ultras on the frontlines, there’s another war about to erupt .. one that will take place in the shadows, between beings powerful enough to tear apart the sky and crush mountains.

Understanding this terrifying truth, part of me was gripped with dread about the future ahead... while another part lingered on the final words of the system.

If I manage to complete the mission... it’ll reveal its true identity to me.

Then there are Wesker’s shadows.

Four in total, but the fourth is still unknown.

With each one I slay, I’ll unlock a new phase of Shadow Adaptation. Beatrice is the easiest. Zibar—or the fourth shadow—will be the hardest.

Whoever that fourth one is, it doesn’t change the fact that this is the toughest mission I’ve ever received.

There’s no explicit time limit... but judging from how things are moving, it’s safe to say I have until the end of the war.

They want me to reach the peak of the High Ten demon’s... in this short a window?

Clenching my fist so tightly my fingers nearly dug into my palm, I turned back to Ghost.

”The countdown has begun, Ghost. This time... we might actually all die.”

I chuckled quietly, as my eyes blazed with a radiant violet light.

”But even if we do, make sure of one thing.. I’ll take down as many sons of bitches as I possibly can.”

The mission the system just issued didn’t really change anything.

The goal had always been the same since the very beginning.

I still needed power... much more of it.

And I would pursue that power .. the overwhelming might capable of tipping the balance.

As I renewed my resolve, I walked alongside Ghost toward the imperial encampment.

”Ghost, for now... keep the appearance of the high-ranked demons a secret. Don’t report it.”

I spoke seriously, causing Ghost to hesitate, uncertain if that was truly the right decision.

”Hiding something like this could bring disaster on all our heads later.”

”There’s no point in informing the Empire’s commanders. It would completely shatter troop morale. Many might surrender on the spot just to preserve their lives.”

I needed the imperial soldiers to fight longer. I couldn’t let them give up so easily.

Ghost gave me a firm nod.

”I understand your reasoning. To be honest, I never planned to inform the general public .. only a few in command. But if keeping this between us is what you want, Frey... then so be it.”

”Thank you.”

I thanked my assassin friend before casting a brief glance toward the shadows behind me.

”You too, Sansa.”

The moment I said her name, Ghost’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden emergence of our shadowy demon ally. He hadn’t sensed her presence at all.

Sansa didn’t look pleased.

”Frey... don’t tell me you’re thinking something reckless like handling this on your own.”

She frowned as she spoke.

”I felt their presence the instant their feet touched the ground .. and they sensed mine in turn. They’re not like Beatrice. They’re unlike any enemy we’ve faced so far. Frey... if you fight either of them now... you will die.”

She had already sensed the power of our new foes, which explained why she rushed to me immediately after our skirmish with them.

I figured I’d alarmed her by vanishing earlier when I charged off to save Ghost.

Sansa had always been able to read my intentions. She spent so long watching me from the shadows, always close ..even before I was aware of her.

And that was how she knew... that I had intended to fight them.

She reached out to me instinctively, and I could do nothing but take her hand in mine.

”Don’t worry. I don’t plan to fight them alone. This isn’t my war to fight alone... We’ll face it together.”

I reassured her .. and Ghost, who stood beside her.

The three of us returned to the camp, our hands still linked, as none of us wanted to let go.

Feeling her warm touch... sensing her true emotions toward me... I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

’Sorry... Sansa. But I lied.’

With my expression darkening, I looked ahead as the gears of my mind began forging the path forward.

In this world, nothing mattered but power .. overwhelming power and nothing else.

The only thing that would never betray me. The only thing I could rely on.

Was myself... and my own strength. Nothing else.

I was already prepared to move forward ..

To kill every last one of my enemies.

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The days passed, one after another, since Frey returned with Ghost .. both having realized that foes greater than ever before awaited them.

The imperial camp, its numbers reduced to barely two thousand, had tightened into a defensive formation along the shores of the Demonic Sea.

For the past few days, the mages had worked tirelessly, night and day, in a desperate push to complete the massive teleportation array...

The array that would serve as the gateway for the Empire’s real forces.

At this point, the vanguard was vulnerable to an ambush at any moment. If the Ultras somehow breached them and destroyed the array, all the mages’ efforts would be lost, and they’d be forced to start over from scratch.

To prevent such a catastrophe, the vanguard’s strongest warriors took turns standing guard around the clock .. 24 hours a day.

Frey Starlight, in particular, spent each entire day seated at the frontmost ridge of the camp, gazing into the distant horizon.

With his full aura unleashed, there wasn’t a chance that any enemy could slip past him unnoticed.

It could be said that much of the Empire’s current confidence stemmed from his mere presence nearby.

Whatever showed itself ..Frey would obliterate it on the spot.

That was what the imperial soldiers believed, and it was a belief growing stronger by the day, alongside Frey’s rising status.

He had brought back the era of miracles, sparing them countless tragedies.

Ghost Umbra, on the other hand, had reported the truth about the Ultras’ use of nightmare creatures, along with the overwhelming armies he had seen firsthand.

His intelligence gave the Empire a true strategic advantage.

What he uncovered was immediately passed on to the high command, who had already begun working on their countermeasures.

And as the mages neared the completion of the teleportation gate ..

The Empire’s forces waited.

Waited for the Ultras to strike.

Waited for round two... to officially begin.

Clustered behind Frey Starlight and the vanguard unit, many soldiers were once again prepared to put their lives on the line and follow Lord Starlight .. just as they had in the previous battle.

Many of them longed to return to that state .. when they thought of nothing but killing the enemy before them, driven forward by an invisible force.

It had been the first time they ever felt truly significant.

As if they’d achieved something... something worth remembering for the rest of their lives. Something that would etch their names into the pages of history.

They all wanted to fight again.

But no matter how many hours or days passed... the enemy they so desperately waited for never showed.

So much so that the teleportation gate was completed without them even realizing.

”It seems that our enemy this time isn’t Gavid Lindman... but Beatrice.”

With those weighty words, Frey stepped down from the frontline and returned to the camp.

Unlike Gavid Lindman ..the military commander who led from the front .. Beatrice, the demoness, preferred manipulating her enemies from the shadows.

The complete absence of enemy forces, and the fact that they were allowed to summon their reinforcements without interference... was most likely her idea. Gavid Lindman would’ve never allowed something like that to happen.

All the Imperial side could do now... was wonder what kind of game the Eternal Witch had prepared this time.