THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 849 Dark Devotion

Wesker was the first to respond ... summoning a massive surge of shadows.

They gathered, swelling into a colossal tide—an ocean of darkness meant to swallow Alexander whole in a single strike.

But Alexander answered with a single punch.

The tide of shadows vanished .. erased as though it had never existed .. leaving Vayneʼs body completely exposed.

”Impossible… he dispelled the Kingʼs Shadow with one blow…?!”

Weskerʼs expression darkened as he attempted to summon the shadows again...

But Alexander was already in front of him.

”Too slow.”

Weskerʼs world flipped upside down.

Blood burst from his mouth, eyes, and nose as Alexanderʼs fist drove into his abdomen.

The impact exploded out through his back—everything behind him shattered instantly.

As for Wesker—

His torso was completely destroyed.

The lower half of his body fell one way… the upper half flew in another, torn apart before the furious Alexander, whose metallic body steamed with intense heat.

He was about to strike again—to finish Wesker completely ...

But Vex moved.

Taking advantage of the brief opening, the assassin struck ... delivering a killing blow meant to end Alexander instantly.

Vex was an assassin.

Killing blows were his specialty.

His shadow carried explosive force—enough to kill any being in a single strike.

But when his attack landed ...

He froze.

Before him, sparks erupted—dark, burning friction as his strike collided with the black metal of Rybakʼs body.

The attack rebounded.

It could not pierce him.

It barely left a scratch.

Something that had never happened to Vex before ...

As though he had not struck a living being at all.

Realizing the danger, Vex dissolved into shadows—attempting to escape.

But a single swing of Rybakʼs arm erased the darkness itself ... And with it… half of Vexʼs body.

Still, Vex was not bound to flesh.

He escaped through the shadows ..

But Alexander understood instantly.

”A filthy trick… and a pathetic one at that! It only proves your cowardice!!”

Alexander clenched his teeth .. then punched the very space around him.

A massive sonic explosion erupted, its pressure spreading in every direction ...

Erasing all shadows and darkness beneath a blinding light.

And for the first time—

Vexʼs true body was revealed.

An old man.

Frail, white-haired, dark-skinned.

His eyes sagged… filled with terror.

His concealment—completely destroyed.

His terror only worsened when he found Alexander Rybak already standing before him.

”Perish, you filthy rat.”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

Aura erupted once more ... another nuclear strike of a punch and one of the deadliest assassins to ever exist was erased from existence.

Rybakʼs figure stood tall within the void, unshaken, while Maskith hovered high above him.

Wesker had retreated far into the distance, concealing himself after barely managing to reattach his shattered body… and in that moment, he realized something crucial.

ʼThat man… heʼs strong. Incredibly strong.ʼ

Strong to a terrifying degree—so much so that only a handful could even hope to rival him.

And perhaps the only one capable of standing against him now… was Maskith.

Alexander slowly raised his head toward the old man, a deep, cold blue aura enveloping him.

”Come forth… servant of the Demon King.”

Alexander Rybak stood ready for battle, and even Maskith showed a flicker of unease upon witnessing the power of this raging beast.

ʼThis monster… how long? How many years did he spend training his fist to unleash this level of destructive force with a single strike?ʼ

One thing was certain—

This was no longer the same Alexander Rybak who fought in the ancient war between the Shadow Sect and the demons.

He had become something else entirely.

Maskithʼs body began to glow, and the clash between him and the ancient warrior of the Shadow Sect loomed on the horizon.

Meanwhile…

Inside the ancient mausoleum…

Gehrman had finally arrived.

He staggered forward through a long, dark corridor, holding Freyʼs body close—forcing himself to endure until the very end.

A faint chuckle escaped him as he let out a breath of relief.

”Alexander… you damned monster. At this rate… heh… it wonʼt be long before the day comes when you surpass me…”

Gehrman laughed weakly, continuing forward as he staggered along the path.

Step after step, he moved ... carefully cradling Freyʼs broken body.

”All this suffering… all this fighting… just for this day.”

In the final stretch, Gehrmanʼs chest tightened, and a dim light flickered in his eyes—betraying immense exhaustion.

As though all those years had come crashing down upon him at the most critical moment.

Yet the engineer pressed on regardless… until he reached a vast chamber, shaped like an ancient arena buried deep within the structure.

Within that old and sacred place, another set of footsteps echoed—different from his own.

Gehrman turned toward the sound—

And found a woman standing before him.

Her hair was a deep violet, her features aged, bearing the weight of countless years. She wore worn, tattered black robes that spoke of a long, forgotten past.

She looked at him… then at Frey in his arms.

Sorrow and fear filled her expression.

Gehrman met her gaze for a moment… before breaking the silence.

”Heʼs alive, Shiva… heʼs alive.”

He spoke while stepping forward unsteadily, prompting the woman—Shiva—to rush toward him, supporting his weakened body.

”Youʼve done well, Gehrman… truly well. Youʼve done well to make it this far.”

Tears welled in Shivaʼs eyes as Gehrman offered a strained smile.

”Itʼs too early for hollow praise… weʼre not finished yet.”

Slowly, Gehrman lowered Freyʼs body to the ground.

He was still in a dreadful state—his chest torn open, his limbs severed, half his mask shattered.

At the sight of him, Shiva nearly erupted in fury… but she restrained herself, following Gehrmanʼs command.

”Bring out the final pieces.”

She nodded.

Raising both hands high ...

A powerful aura gathered around her, and within seconds… relics from a distant past were summoned—artifacts preserved through countless ages.

Shiva had safeguarded them all this time, maintaining them in their finest condition.

”Armor of Zenith Night… and the Sword of Sovereign Shadows. The weapons of my king, entrusted to me for thousands of years… I now return them to him.”

Between Shivaʼs arms appeared a terrifying dark armor—overflowing with ominous power that caused the surrounding space to tremble.

It was a complete set ... covering the entire body except for the head.

An armor unlike any ever forged.

Its gauntlets held a massive sword nearly two meters long, radiating overwhelming power that Shiva could barely contain.

With utmost care ...and the highest reverence ... she equipped the armor onto Freyʼs body.

Each piece was placed perfectly, precisely where it belonged.

And the sword… she left within his grasp.

Frey lay at the center of the grand chamber, clad in a magnificent black armor, holding a colossal blade of destruction.

Shiva stepped back slowly, standing behind Gehrman.

”Master Gehrman… please, begin.”

He nodded.

Closing his eyes… then opening them once more, he raised his hand high—forming a majestic blue rune upon his palm.

At that instant—

The entire chamber trembled.

Passageways opened, and from within them flowed a dark, metallic liquid—like something born of shadows themselves.

The substance spread across the floor… engulfing the chamber.

It swallowed Freyʼs body whole—consuming him entirely.

Gehrman stood there, arm extended toward his king.

”You are the one I chose to follow… until my final breath.”

His body trembled violently.

Even speaking had become a burden—his voice strained, his strength fading—as the rune in his hand shone ever brighter.

”I gave you my power. I gave you my loyalty. And I gave you my dream.”

Slowly, Gehrman dropped to one knee, no longer able to remain standing.

His body gave out at last, and a tear slipped from Shivaʼs eye—she stifled her voice as she watched that great man break before her.

Unlike her, who wept… Gehrman smiled.

A wide smile .... one that reflected… relief.

”I gave you everything I had. I offered you the years of my life, striving to carry out the ancient plan you entrusted to me.”

”I did it, my lord… I truly did.”

”But, my lord… in the end, I realized something…”

”I had not given you everything. Not yet.”

Gehrman slowly closed his eyes, his expression settling into calm dignity and quiet reverence.

”And so… I now offer you the last thing I have left in this world.”

”I offer you… my life.”

”The life I devoted to you… until the very end.”

As his final words echoed ...

Gehrmanʼs vessel shattered completely.

His body broke apart into countless fragments, scattering across the chamber, while a sphere of light rose from the remnants of his form ... piercing straight into the chest of Frey, who lay submerged in darkness.

And thus…

The Engineer fulfilled his mission.

At last, he found rest—after wandering alone for thousands of years…

Alone, striving to fulfill his lordʼs will.

A will he remained faithful to… until the very end.