THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 551: Between Shadow and Light (3)

If they had been at full strength, it might have been a different story. But after a battle that had drained them to the brink, none could endure it—especially Phoenix Sunlight.

The man stood at the rear, staring at the beam of light that threatened to engulf him.

”I... am going to die”

There was no chance of survival

The miracle of the Sunlight family realized his life was about to be erased—killed not even by a true foe, but by a weapon wielded by someone else.

In his final moments, Phoenix laughed at the irony of it.

”What a pitiful way to die...” he muttered, closing his eyes.

But the death he awaited never came.

Instead, something else entirely cut through the light ..

”Ten Thousand Steps of Shadow: Frey Starlight’s Style—Nameless Judgement!”

Before the angel’s beam of light could annihilate everything in its path, another overwhelming strike erupted from a different source—colliding with it violently and halting its advance.

A surge of dark aura split the beam in two, shielding everyone at the very last moment.

Frey Starlight had appeared out of nowhere, standing directly before the angel, stopping it in its tracks.

His blow cleaved the beam apart, yet it failed to touch the angel itself.

Frey could barely fight in his current state—forcing his broken body to unleash a devastating technique like Nameless Judgement.

Blood streamed endlessly from his mouth and nose. He had barely managed to repel the attack, taking advantage of the delay Beatrice’s spell had granted them .. otherwise, he could never have endured those full three minutes against it.

The instant he miraculously deflected the beam, Frey vanished again, reappearing beside Phoenix Sunlight.

Grabbing hold of Phoenix’s broken form, Frey clenched his teeth, resisting the pull of unconsciousness that gnawed at his mind.

His shattered body flared once more with that ominous violet light, enveloping them both.

”Frey! What are you trying to do?!”

”Get us out of here! Can’t you see?!” Frey barked, frustration lacing his tone as his body refused to obey him fully.

The fight against the angel wasn’t over—others were still battling it, given a second chance thanks to him.

But Frey had no intention of staying to witness the outcome.

Locking onto Snow and Ghost’s locations through the Bond System, he poured the last dregs of his strength into completing the teleportation.

With my condition... this is all I can give.

At the very least, he intended to take Phoenix with him.

”Maekar Valerion... Sir Allon—your survival is up to you.”

Those were Frey’s final words before he and Phoenix vanished entirely from the battlefield, leaving the others to clash with that cursed angel—one capable of killing the strongest warriors with its light alone.

The teleportation took no more than fractions of a second. In an instant, both Frey and Phoenix materialized in the midst of the Imperial army, which had just concluded its own bloody battle against swarms of attacking angels.

Their sudden appearance—and in such a wretched state—sent ripples of fear through the soldiers, as if heralding another catastrophe.

But, fortunately... nothing pursued them.

Within seconds, Snow Lionheart arrived, placing the legendary sword Vermithor before them in an attempt to heal their wounds. Yet even the sacred light of the blade was not enough to immediately pull them back from the brink.

Phoenix, assured they had reached safety, collapsed at once ..his charred and mangled body falling still.

Frey lay beside him, staring at the sky with a grim expression.

”Damn it... I can’t feel my body...”

It had been a long time since he had driven himself this far. How many times had he forced himself to unleash Nameless Judgement?

Two, at most. But today, he had far exceeded that.

”No more fighting today...”

Checking Ada’s status through the system interface to confirm she had followed his orders, he finally closed his eyes once assured she was safe.

And so, Frey Starlight’s struggle for that day came to an end.

...

...

...

A full month had passed since the Empire’s campaign against the Ultras began.

The war had taken an unexpected turn when the Church turned against the ruling family, declaring themselves a third force in the conflict.

Ultimately, the battle between the colossal angel and the gathered SS+ class fighters ended with both sides withdrawing—each too damaged to continue. The angel had taken heavy injuries, but so had the Empire’s champions.

Maekar Valerion and Sir Allon escaped in critical condition, just as the Ultras retreated with their own losses.

By the end of the fight, all were shaken by what they had seen. If the Church possessed even one more angel of equal power to the one they had just faced, it would spell the end for them all.

The ”Purging” lasted for hours, leaving devastation in its wake.

Every member of House Starlight and House Valerion within the Empire’s walls was slaughtered, their lands reduced to ash by cleansing fire.

Countless Higher Blood warriors fell that day, along with a significant portion of the Imperial army.

Yet despite the carnage the Church had wrought, their work was far from complete—many of those named by the Lord of Light still lived.

Their failure to kill them all prompted Platier to issue another decree that same day—a message carried by angels to every corner of the world:

”To all soldiers of the Empire, heed my words carefully.

Our enemies are everywhere, and evil has flooded our land.

Among your ranks, the condemned hide—those whom the Lord has judged for death. Know this: anyone who harbors them becomes an enemy of the Church as well.

Remember, soldiers of the Empire—they are the sinners, not you. Remember that your families, your wives, your parents, your children are now in our hands.

Do not drag them into the abyss with you. Stand with the righteous! Deliver the condemned, and do not protect them. Only then will you and your loved ones be spared the cleansing flames.

House Valerion and House Starlight are dens of filthy demons that must be purged. Among these beasts, there are five with the highest priority for extermination—five monsters who must be slain without delay.

Any who aid in delivering them shall be rewarded with glory and wealth beyond measure.”

With those words, a heavenly edict was issued—naming the five powers that had to be destroyed at all costs, regardless of the Ultras.

”Number 5 among the Special Powers: Sansa Valerion — (Demonic Powers)”

”Number 4 among the Special Powers: Aegon Valerion — (An Existence Whose Actions Cannot Be Predicted)”

”Number 3 among the Special Powers: Sir Allon Valerion — (A Lifetime of Experience and Wisdom Forged on the Battlefield)”

”Number 2 among the Special Powers: Maekar Valerion — (Exceptional Individual Combat Power)”

And finally...

”Number 1 among the Special Powers: Frey Starlight — (Unknown Potential and Limitless Abilities)”