THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 505: A Throne Built on Blood

The Imperial Capital – Belgrade

On the other side of the world, far from the battlefield...

The citizens of the Empire lived their lives as usual, far removed from the horrors of war.

That, in itself, was a blessing ..one they hadn’t been granted during the last war that unfolded upon their own land.

Ordinary people like them were the easiest prey for the enemy.

It was true that all humans had gained the ability to manipulate aura centuries ago, but the majority never made any significant progress in strength. Millions remained stuck in the lower ranks for their entire lives.

Only a chosen few were destined to rise and shine at the top.

Now that these ordinary people had been spared the suffering of war, that alone had lifted a tremendous burden off their shoulders.

Still, the tension hadn’t vanished completely. This was just a temporary calm.. what truly mattered was how the war would end.

In the worst-case scenario, if the Empire’s army lost, it would mean the end for many of them.

Prince Aegon Valerion was well aware of this. He knew that his people wouldn’t sleep soundly if left in the dark.

So, he ensured a continuous broadcast of the war’s events .. always with just enough delay to give him time to manipulate the facts.

He showed them only the victories, occasionally mentioning a few defeats to make the coverage feel more realistic for those still capable of critical thinking.

By combining his skills and terrifying talent for manipulation, his plan succeeded flawlessly, turning an entire continent into spectators who saw and heard only what he allowed.

Ever since the hard-won victory at the Bay of Shezclar .. where Frey Starlight alone had turned the tide .. the war had entered an entirely new phase. The best way to describe it: The Calm Before the Storm.

Forces from both sides clashed daily on the battlefield, and naturally, hundreds died each day.

The Ultras began using nightmare creatures, while the Empire responded by assigning at least one high-ranked combatant to every unit .. enabling them to survive so far against both the beasts and Ultras alike.

Yet, despite the bloodshed, this was merely the beginning.

The real war would only begin when both sides committed their full power.

All of the leaders—both imperial and ultras—knew this well. That’s why they held back for now, engaging with caution and avoiding major risks.

Of course, this excluded one reckless suicide squad that kept plunging deeper into Ultras territory without rest...

The leader of that squad was none other than Frey Starlight, whose name had recently spread like wildfire.

He became a symbol of inspiration to many... and a constant headache for people like Iris Sunlight, who no longer knew how to keep him under control.

And yet, even in such a volatile situation, Prince Aegon Valerion had still managed to exploit Frey .. using his name to manipulate the hearts of the Empire’s people.

No matter how you looked at it, that infamous young man... Frey Starlight was writing his own legend before their very eyes.

In times of war, achievements and tales of battlefield heroes held the greatest sway over the masses ..and that was exactly what Aegon Valerion had gambled on.

At this moment, the prince wandered alone through the countless halls of his family’s Imperial Palace.

Reviewing the latest war updates with great interest, more and more of them mentioned Frey Starlight.

”Like father, like son... isn’t that right?” Aegon chuckled.

Who would’ve thought that Frey Starlight would grow strong enough to become a monster akin to his father, Abraham Starlight...

Perhaps even greater. After all, in the War of Light, Abraham had already surpassed the age of thirty .. while Frey had thrown himself into this war at only nineteen.

”If he’s given more time, he might even surpass him.”

Frey truly did resemble his father... in more ways than one.

Just as the father had been used during the War of Light, the son was now fated to follow the same path in the War of Darkness.

A devastating weapon on the battlefield, a symbol and hero off it...

”The Starlight family really has provided some excellent material all these years,” Aegon muttered, stopping in front of a particular door.

Without warning, he reached out to open it.. only for a violent bolt of lightning to form out of nowhere, aimed straight at his head.

A devastating strike carrying horrifying power .. but Aegon casually deflected it with the back of his hand.

Then, before it could crash into the ground and cause destruction, he swiftly extended his hand and conjured a black vortex that absorbed the lightning entirely.

”My foolish father really went all out hiding and fortifying this place...”

It had been concealed by high-tier magic—dozens of traps and barriers.

That final lightning trap had been the last obstacle Aegon faced.

He seemed annoyed .. not only because he had to bypass these defenses, but because he had to disable them without leaving a trace.

Not only that, he had reconstructed them afterward, making it seem like the room had never been breached.

To do so, Aegon had demonstrated an immense level of power ..wave manipulation, magic, and more.

Had anyone else witnessed what he had just done, they would’ve been utterly shocked. The prince’s abilities were truly inscrutable.

With a flick of his hand, Aegon pushed the door open and stepped into the frigid room.

A room that no one even knew existed.

It contained nothing but ice... and a single glass coffin at its center.

Aegon walked inside calmly.

”My father never left this room, annoyingly enough... which made it impossible for me to enter. As if he were hiding the world’s greatest treasure in here...”

Throwing a glance at the man inside the coffin, Aegon’s eyes gleamed for a moment, revealing an unreadable scowl... but it quickly shifted into a smile.

”Abraham Starlight... sleeping in such a dark place. You, who were supposed to be the brightest star of all mankind... what a joke.”

Aegon chuckled lightly, continuing to explore the place.

”But that man’s obsession with you truly went too far. To the point of preserving your corpse for all these years... I’m starting to question his preferences.”

Maekar Valerion had been utterly obsessed with Abraham Starlight—an obsession that made him view the man unlike anyone else.

Abraham had been the blade that defended the legacy of the former Emperor, Maekar.

The man whose very presence kept enemies from breaching the Empire’s walls. The one who won wars and battles in his name.

Their relationship had been purely transactional. Maekar used Abraham many times...

And the Starlight family’s shining star always executed the mission to perfection.

He was flawless ..perhaps that’s what drove the obsession.

”You never disappointed me, Father... no—Maekar Valerion. Having you recover this corpse really was the right call after all!”

Aegon couldn’t help but laugh—laugh at how easy it was to manipulate the people he lived among.

”Humans really are fascinating creatures... driven by such trivial urges and emotions. Be it a maddening obsession with someone, blind faith in a false god, or shallow desires .. they act just like animals, willing to do anything for them.”

The current war was the perfect example.

”An Empire fighting with all its might, believing they’re the righteous ones. Humans siding with demons, desperately trying to prove they are the true humans...”

Aegon paused for a moment, his smile deepening.

”A church, waiting for the right moment to strike and fulfill the will of their so-called god... and many others moving in the shadows, driven by goals and motives of their own.”

So many factions, so many variables—it truly entertained Aegon.

”This war will become the ultimate canvas of chaos! A masterpiece worthy of being remembered for ages!”

Placing his hand atop the coffin and gazing down at the sleeping man within, Aegon laughed.

”A masterpiece can’t be complete without its brightest stars, can it?”

As his words echoed, a strange dark aura shimmered from Aegon’s hand, slowly creeping across the glass surface of the coffin.

”I wonder how Frey is faring on the other side...”

That young man who had endured so much, unaware of the truths unfolding behind the scenes.

The future still held many stories for the warrior who continued to push forward...