THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 498: Path of Blood (2)

My voice echoed across this cosmic library .. but as expected...

No answer came.

So, with a long sigh, I returned to reading the book in my hands.

The Path of Blood demands countless sacrifices...

I need to kill more... and more enemies. I need to spill their blood until it forms rivers.

Only then will my body evolve on its own and ascend to new heights... far faster than any normal method could ever offer.

Nameless once used that very method to push himself to the peak of the SSS-rank.

It’s astounding how he surpassed every stage of that rank this way.

There are seven stages within the SSS-rank, listed as follows:

1. Throne Beyond Existence

The first and hardest stage. It’s considered the ceiling most can never break through.

2. Pulse of Chaos

The stage where raw power begins spiraling out of control, far beyond one’s limits. Reaching this stage often results in gaining entirely new abilities... abilities that transcend human comprehension.

3. Origin Revelation

A mysterious stage where one reaches the full potential of their race. It’s an anomalous phase .. one that varies from species to species. Because each race holds unique traits, it’s impossible to predict what kind of power a person might awaken upon reaching this level.

4. Aura Boil

A stage that affects one’s aura specifically.

To put it simply — SSS-ranked warriors wield an aura fundamentally different from all other beings.

Their aura is exponentially more powerful than the norm.

It erupts with volatile, boiling force. The way it functions is akin to the concept of literal boiling .. making every attack they unleash feel like something from another world entirely.

...

As I read these details — most of which were still new to me — I began to understand just how far away I truly was...

From the power I sought.

I hadn’t even reached the bare minimum required to attempt stepping onto this path.

And the biggest issue?

The books I’d read so far only detailed the first four stages.

As for the fifth, sixth, and seventh... I knew nothing beyond the names I’d once scribbled onto a piece of paper, back when I was still just an author.

An author... who lived his life inside a fantasy.

”I really believed I was the one who created this world...”

But the deeper I dove into these books .. into the long history of this world .. the more I realized...

I was nothing but a single piece within this vast universe.

All that prior knowledge I had... the story I once wrote...

They were nothing more than coincidences.

Easily explainable in a dozen different ways.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Engineer had a hand in it all.

To be honest, that sounded like the most logical scenario to me.

But then... when I think like that, I can’t help but remember what Agaroth — the Demon King — once said to me, during our very first meeting.

”My creator... the one who made me.”

That’s what he said.

The great Demon King claimed that I was the one who made him.

His words... completely contradict everything I’ve been trying to convince myself of.

Was Agaroth lying?

Was he just trying to manipulate me?

For some reason...

I didn’t feel like he was the type to say such things lightly.

He didn’t strike me as someone who would lie just for the sake of it.

Closing the book in my hands, I laid back on the library’s white floor and stared up at the countless floors above...

”Which one is true? I wonder...”

Closing my eyes, I sank deeper and deeper... into the void of my consciousness.

I still know so little .. about myself, and about this world I now live in.

Am I merely a vessel for some cosmic being far greater than I can comprehend?

Or am I... something else entirely?

What is it that the Engineer truly wants from me?

And what did Agaroth desire?

I had no answer to any of these questions.

So I rose once more, preparing to leave this imaginary space.

”There’s nothing I can do but keep moving forward.”

I won’t lose. I won’t fall again.

I made that vow to myself long ago ..

The next time I’m defeated will be the day I die.

And that’s a fate I cannot allow.

So I’ll keep moving forward, no matter how much I change...

No matter how drenched these hands become in blood...

I will never stop ..

Not until I kill all of my enemies.

...

...

...

The long-awaited day had finally come.

The day the Empire would launch its first campaign on the continent of the Ultras.

The atmosphere was thunderous. Morale had reached its peak as an army of 70,000 soldiers prepared to march.

To lead such a force, the Empire had entrusted several seasoned veterans with command.

Foremost among them was the current Lord of House Sunlight ...

The old warrior, Iris Sunlight.

Both Ser Allon and Aegon Valerion had granted him full authority over the army, placing their faith in his decades of experience.

By his side stood his brother, Gal Varion, as well as Raphael Bloodmader, commander of the Vanguard, and the Grand Warden himself ..Oliver Khan.. who had joined the war effort personally.

These four were the direct commanders of the army.

Each of them led a designated number of elite warriors under their command.

Among them, Bloodmader retained command over the special Vanguard forces, the very first to engage the enemy.

Those forces were divided into squads ..

Each assigned to powerful warriors who were granted the title of ”General” in this war.

Among them stood Phoenix Sunlight.

But what drew the most attention...

Were the two squads placed under the command of young men who hadn’t even reached the age of twenty.

One squad was led by Snow Lionheart—

And among his ranks marched the Saintess Yurasha herself.

The other followed the modern miracle ..

Frey Starlight.

It was he who requested to be the very first to face the enemy head-on.

Was it courage?

Or was the Dark Star of House Starlight simply insane?

Frey Starlight’s squad consisted of one thousand soldiers, including eight elite warriors from the previous vanguard who had chosen to follow him.

Most notably ..

Sansa Valerion and Ghost Umbra had joined him of their own free will.

And so had someone else.

As Frey donned his armor, a figure approached him in the ceremonial robes of a battle priestess..

Her radiant blonde hair glowing more brilliantly than ever.

It was Uriel.