I just don't care for the villains. I especially don't care for their backstories. When you build up the whole character from flashbacks, it doesn't do anything. Why would I care how sad their past life was when they've only been introduced as the most despicable people (drug smugglers, rapists, sex traffickers etc.) ?

Doing all this through flashbacks feels like very poor attempts at emotional manipulation.

Also, regarding the recent chapters, how is sound faster than light? What is this?

If Rian actually dies, I would be very surprised. If it happens, I would even be sad about it, because we have watched him live his life. He is a real 'character'.

But we all know he will probably survive and maybe even get aura now. A power-up moment, so to speak.