THE VILLAIN'S POV

Chapter 138 - 138: A Struggle to the End

-Frey Starlight's Pov-

"A Demonic Contract."

I wasn't mistaken… Those distinct markings covering the upper half of Baylor's body…

So, he really did forge a contract.

The pressure around him had intensified significantly, and most of his wounds had healed.

On the other hand, visible cracks had begun to form on Rem's face, as if she were nothing more than a fragile piece of ice on the verge of shattering.

"Hey, hey, Ice Shard. You were the strongest summon under the Ice Queen herself… Are you already finished?"

"Shut your mouth."

For the first time, Rem stood up. The massive hole in her abdomen had already closed.

"How much longer do you plan to disgrace this family? The Moonlight Family has fought against demons and Ultras for countless years, yet you had the audacity to taint your blood with theirs… You, the one who was supposed to be this family's lord!"

Faced with Rem's fury, Baylor simply sighed.

"Is there any point in telling me this now? Ice Shard… Your Lady created you without eyes, so you're incapable of seeing the truth."

He opened his palm, and an orb of energy began to take form, growing slowly as it absorbed both icy aura and demonic power alike.

"You failed to understand reality… The reality that this empire never stood a chance against the Ultras, let alone the entities lurking behind them."

Drawing from the aura that had gathered within the Ancient Library for three hundred years, Rem began preparing to strike.

"And so what? Are we supposed to surrender? Follow your path and submit to a vile entity that devours life itself?"

Baylor smirked as he pushed the celestial sphere toward Rem.

"That's exactly right."

The devastating energy sphere crashed into the dozens of barriers Rem had conjured.

One after another, they shattered, yet they barely managed to deflect Baylor's condensed attack.

"I have no interest in dying alongside an ignorant empire… nor in fighting a war whose outcome was decided from the very beginning."

Baylor continued laughing as he launched a fresh assault with each passing word.

"Even your so-called Lady… The Founder, Semiramis, knew the truth."

"Don't you dare utter her name with that filthy mouth of yours!"

From between the cracks in her defenses, Rem launched a surprise attack—a destructive aura beam—yet Baylor deflected it with a single hand, effortlessly.

"It's the truth. After all, you and this entire library…"

"You're nothing more than a refuge… A sanctuary meant to preserve whatever could be saved when the day comes that the demons consume everything in this world."

"What…?"

Baylor suddenly appeared before Rem, swinging his fist.

"Even a blind tool like you should be able to grasp it, right?"

His punch halted just before striking her, as Rem froze the very space around them to block the attack.

Yet Baylor didn't care. He simply continued his relentless assault.

"This place we're fighting in right now… A space this vast was the only chance your Lady left for you all to survive. A library? Don't make me laugh."

His movements, his footwork—everything about the way Baylor fought belonged to a seasoned warrior, not just a Wave Controller who relied on ranged combat.

With the aid of his demonic contract, Baylor had become a near-perfect combatant.

That was the conclusion Rem reached through her heightened senses.

Their battle had obliterated all those elegant bookshelves that once defined this place.

Now, we stood amidst ruins, beneath a false sky.

As I observed everything through my Hawk Eyes, I glanced at the women beside me.

Ada was anxiously watching the fight unfold… I had no idea what she was thinking. Perhaps something entirely unrelated to this situation.

But I wasn't concerned with her right now.

What I needed… was the woman standing before us.

"Carmen…"

I called out weakly. Even speaking was a struggle at this point.

Carmen was completely dazed, a look of deep concern etched onto her face. She didn't seem to hear me.

"Carmen!"

"Huh?"

This time, she heard me loud and clear after I shouted.

She had forgotten my presence behind her, too fixated on what was happening before us.

When she turned to glance at me, I caught a flicker of pity in her eyes.

Blood, wounds, white hair, and a pale complexion…

To her, I must've looked like a zombie.

But I couldn't care less what she thought.

"Prepare to return to battle… We're moving soon."

Carmen hesitated. My command must have sounded strange, which was why she didn't respond right away.

"Return? You expect me to fight alongside that puppet against him?"

I nodded.

"I'm not asking you to fight beside her. But I will need you there soon."

Carmen had been following my orders for some time now, so I gave the command without a second thought. But judging by her reaction, she still didn't understand what I intended.

"Frey… I don't think this is a good idea."

This time, it was Ada who spoke.

"I doubt Carmen can make any real difference at this point."

Those words wounded Carmen's pride, but she didn't refute them.

She knew the reality of the situation better than anyone. Aside from Baylor and Rem, she was the strongest here. If she thought stepping in now would be meaningless, she had good reason.

Her fists clenched, her body glowing faintly.

"My fight with Eleanor drained me so much that I can't launch any large-scale attacks anymore—especially now that Baylor has gotten even stronger."

Her gaze shifted toward the chaotic battlefield as she gestured toward him.

"He was already stronger than me before. And now, with the demonic contract, he might have reached SS+ rank. If I interfere now, I'll only be a burden."

"That's not true."

"…What?"

She stared at me,

After that, everything else would be simple.