THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 552: Between Shadow and Light (4)

These five held the highest execution priority.

Anyone who colluded with them or dared to protect them would be deemed an accomplice and punished without mercy...

Especially Number 1 and Number 5.

The first was a monster who must never be allowed to grow stronger.

The fifth—a human who had turned into a vile demon.

Her mere existence was an insult to the Lord of Light, and thus, she had to be eradicated.

Days passed, one after another, and the tension in the air only grew heavier.

So much so that the commanders relocated every member of House Starlight and House Valerion present at the frontlines, keeping them apart from the rest.

With their families and loved ones held hostage by the Church’s forces, nothing guaranteed they wouldn’t turn on their comrades at any moment.

Among them—hidden inside a certain tent pitched at the edge of the camp—sat Frey Starlight.

He had regained consciousness some time ago and now stared at the list issued by the Church.

”Four from House Valerion... and only one from House Starlight. Looks like I’m the only one honoring my family’s name,” Frey remarked, surrounded by many familiar faces.

”It’s only been a few days since they issued this decree, but the tension among the soldiers is already suffocating,” Oliver Khan said from across the table.

”What about the Ultras?” Frey asked. Snow was the one to answer.

”They’re completely quiet. Looks like they’re discussing their next move... just like we are.”

”We’ll have to deal with the Church one way or another. We can’t fight the Ultras with our backs exposed to an attack at any moment,” Snow affirmed, gripping the Vermithor sword tightly.

”The Church no longer gives me any consideration. These extermination orders came directly from the Lord of Light himself. My word means nothing to them now—even if I’m his so-called messenger of God.”

That was why he hadn’t been informed about anything happening at present.

”We’ll have to gather with the rest of the commanders to decide how to move forward,” Oliver Khan suggested, noting the absence of the higher-ranking powers from their current meeting.

Sansa and Ghost were present, but both remained silent.

”But how exactly are we going to deal with them? Do we split our forces now and send part of the army back to the Empire? That would destroy us completely—and I doubt the soldiers would fight when their families are being held hostage...” Snow voiced their current dilemma.

The answer came from a predictable source.

”The answer is simple, Snow Lionheart. We’re not sending an army to fight the Church.”

The tent’s flap was lifted as a group of blond-haired men entered.

At their head... stood Prince Aegon Valerion.

”Isn’t that right, Frey Starlight?” His words were directed at Frey, who had sensed the prince’s presence long before he arrived.

”The prince... and Ivar and Luc Valerion,” Oliver Khan greeted them, but Frey cut him off, skipping the formalities.

”If you have a plan, spit it out,” he said to Aegon, who chuckled lightly.

”No need for that tone. I’m willing to bet you and I have been thinking along the same lines.”

”Don’t compare yourself to me. We’re nothing alike. Look—I’m first on the extermination list, and you’re fourth. There’s a difference in rank here,” Frey said with a straight face that drew surprised looks from those around him.

The prince was the only one who laughed, clearly amused.

”You do have a talent for attracting your enemies’ attention, Frey. I can’t compete with you in that field.”

Stepping closer to the table at the center of the tent, Aegon moved on to the real matter.

”Shall we get to the plan, then?”

Drawing everyone’s attention, Aegon Valerion began.

”First, we can’t split our forces in two. That’s a stupid idea that will get us all killed. On top of that, we’ll need at least three SS+ class fighters—or equivalents—nearby at all times. Our primary enemy in this war is still the Ultras.”

No one objected to his first point, so he moved on to the second without pause.

”Now... while it’s true that our main enemy is the Ultras, dealing with the Church has become necessary. But let me first correct your view of the current situation—you’re wrong to think of those idiots who follow the Lord of Light as a ’third faction’ in this war.”

Pointing toward the angels who had previously swept across the world, Aegon explained.

”Let’s not forget—the Church, in its normal state, is no more powerful than one of the major houses at best. What made them seem like a major force in this war came down to two factors: first, the angels that fought in their place; and second, the timing they chose to strike. Those factors made them look like the strongest side in this war—but that’s not the truth at all.”

Frey exhaled in mild annoyance.

”Those angels are nothing but tools. Burning weapons ..like the swords Snow and I wield.”

”Exactly!” Aegon was pleased to see Frey following his line of thought, highlighting an important point.

”In other words, there’s a single person controlling all of them. If he falls, they fall with him.”

The moment he said that, everyone began to grasp his meaning.

”So all we have to do is take out the one controlling the angels... Joseph Blatier,” Snow said, astonished at how simple it sounded.

”That’s right,” Aegon nodded with satisfaction—until Ivar Valerion interjected.

”Aren’t you all being a little too optimistic? If your assumptions are correct... doesn’t that mean Blatier will hide in the safest place he can find to ensure he never falls into our hands?”

Listening to his uncle, Aegon nodded once more in agreement.

”Yes, that’s exactly what he’ll do. And the only suitable place is their holy island... Sicily. That’s where Nlatier orchestrates all his schemes.”

Aegon pointed at the map, his finger landing on the island lying south of the Empire.

”So? How exactly do we intend to get them? Just covering the distance from here to the Holy Island alone would take an eternity, not to mention the fight and defeating Blatier and his forces.” Snow highlighted another critical point, and Aegon already had an answer.

”Well... the entire plan now depends on the number one among the Special Forces... the great Frey Starlight!” He gestured toward him in an almost theatrical fashion, as if announcing the entrance of a celebrity.

With playful ease, Aegon tossed the responsibility to Frey—only for the latter to feel even more annoyed when he realized his own idea matched Aegon’s plan.

”Frey... you can use long-distance teleportation, can’t you?” he asked.

Everyone immediately understood where this conversation was headed.

With a sigh, Frey answered.

”For distances that far, someone who carries my Mark must already be at the location I’m aiming for. In other words, to reach the Holy Island of Sicily, I need someone who meets that condition to already be there...”

He paused for a few seconds, and then a faint gleam lit up his eyes.

”And that condition... has already been met.”

That final statement caught everyone in the tent by surprise.

He didn’t tell them about the Affection System, instead weaving the story around the Mark to conceal the truth.

But it wasn’t entirely a lie.

”Above the Holy Island, there’s someone I can use my ability on... and that person is none other than the Saintess—Uriel Platini—who is, as we speak, on the Holy Island of Sicily.”

”In other words, I can teleport there instantly... and take a few companions with me.” Frey’s lips curved into a sharp, dangerous smile.

”We can hunt down Joseph Blatier before he even gets the chance to hunt us.”

In that moment, the Empire had finally found a way to strike back against their new enemy.

...

...

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Author’s Note:

This marks the end of the first arc of the volume: Opening of the War, and the beginning of the second arc: Between Shadow and Light.

There are four arcs in total:

Arc 3: Wesker’s Shadows

Arc 4: Clash of Legends