The Author's POV

"I presume you all know why we're meeting right?"

A tall robust man with dirt blond hair spoke up. Just his casual words caused the air around him to crackle as thin lightning bolts revolved around his body.

He was Maximus von Dexteroi, third in the Hero ranking, and one of the seven heads of the Union.

"Hmm, It'd be strange if we didn't. Especially after that rat's betrayal."

A snaked-eyed person replied. He was seventh in the Hero ranking, Ceasar Kuliner.

An extremely famous Hero that was renowned for his dagger techniques that could mutilate opponents with a single look.

"Who would've thought that Tasos was a traitor."

"...Mhm, I guess looks can be deceiving."

Two melodious voices rang inside of the room.

The voices belong to Julia Romantica and Daphne Lawrence, respectively second and ninth in the hero rankings.

Adorned in jewelry and piercings, Daphne was a black woman. As one would expect, she had a wild beauty to her that would make any man grovel at her feet.

On the other hand, sitting next to her was Julia who in contrast to her was tall slim white beauty with white hair and blue eyes. Most frightening about her was her power, as she was only one rank behind the number one spot.

"Quiet, the meeting is about to start."

A soft voice suddenly enveloped the whole room. The moment the voice spoke, everyone subconsciously stopped speaking.

That was because the person who had just spoken was the number one ranked hero in the human domain, 'The sovereign', Octavious Hall.

The most powerful human in existence.

With brown hair and languid eyes that seemed to be devoid of any emotion, an aura of oppression and destruction exuded from his body. Completely suppressing the other auras in the room.

The power radiating from his body was so strong, that with every breath he took, tangible mana appeared in the air.

Closing his eyes, Octavious suddenly waved his hand.

"Let's begin."

The moment he waved his hand, the space in front of him tore apart and a small black void appeared out of thin air.

"Thank you for having me."

An ethereal voice suddenly rang inside of the room.

Not long after, a silhouette stepped out of the void. With ruby-red eyes that glistened underneath the lights of the room, long-cascading black hair, and fair skin, a male figure leisurely walked out of the portal.

Stepping out of the void, the man casually looked around and bowed his head slightly.

"Been a while since I last saw you, heads."

Indifferently staring at the man who had just entered the room, Octavious's mouth opened.

"Wahid 'aelah"

"In the flesh."

Also known as the one above all in Arabic, and the head of the Monolith.

Not much was known about him, but what everyone in the room could feel from the faint undulations of magic resonating from his body was that his power was on par with Octavious, if not even stronger.

The room instantly became tense.

"It seems like everyone is here."

Taking a seat all the way over on the other side of the table, Wahid 'aelah propped both of his elbows on the table before supporting his chin with his hands that were interlocked together.

"I'm sure you heads know why I asked to meet, right?"

"You wish to stop the war?"

Maximus coldly spoke from the side.

"Correct."

"Psh, so you want to stop a war you guys started, just like that?"

"You only want to cease the war now that you guys suffered a loss at our hands? Laughable."

"Indeed."

Julia and

response to their mockery, Wahid 'aelah

so? Then what are the seve..scuse me, I meant five heads of the Union gonna do about

Maximus suddenly stood up.

—Kracka! —Kracka!

body as he glared at Wahid 'aelah. Raising his hand, a lightning bolt that was filled with

solution. How about I just kill you and stop

"Sit."

Maximus off was Octavious's indifferent voice. Turning his head, Maximus glared at

tell me you're not going to jump at the opportunity presented

five of the strongest humans present in the human domain in the same room. The leader of the Monolith was present in the same room

for them to

devoid of any emotions, Octavious

not his real

"Hmm, you could tell?"

surprised look appeared on

here I thought that I had fooled

pity flashed Wahid

want." Ceasar cut in. "I don't have much time to waste

words, Wahid 'aelah smiled. He then

looked at everyone in the

"A person?"

air, black flames appeared on the tip of Wahid 'aelah's fingers. Thereafter, the image of an individual riddled with scars formed in the middle of the flames. Turning his head and looking at the image, Wahid

I want

picture

fit the descriptions of

came from the survivors of the secret operation, everybody knew that the

of this, everybody

of the others,

correct. Give him to us, and I promise you a truce with the Union. We can sign a contract if you don't believe me. Well, that is as

"A truce?"

Octavius's voice rang out.

that they didn't hear wrongly. Being stared at by five of the strongest people

you did not hear

appeared on the faces of the people inside

real

an excuse used to propose the

the Monolith suffering similar large losses with both Mo Jinhao and Tasos heavily injured from the explosion, the two organizations at the moment

that they both lost multiple ranked heroes. If the war

alone had weakened the Monolith so much

that smile could vividly be felt by everyone in the room as the

tell you what, I'll make this offer even juicier. From what I've heard, you guys seem to be close to developing portals but can't quite get there

"Right..."

Julia cautiously responded.

a breakthrough in portal technology over recent years, they had

revealing what you are missing, as well as proposing the truce, I want you guys to help us find 876. How about it? Not a bad deal,

was merely a

portals. At most a year or two, and they would achieve it. The only reason Wahid 'aelah proposed such

prideful the people

"..."

enveloped the room

continued for a while before

it with the other

"Go ahead."

of the Union, completely covering them whole. This was a sound barrier that

barrier completely enveloped them, the first one to speak

should take the

while, but this offer is ridiculous.

well as saved the backbone of the Union, Daphne couldn't understand why

at Daphne,

you. What are we

as many people

quickly responded without

nodded at her

priority is the lives of the citizens. If the

the person that saved our members for the

"Correct."

"But..."

"Maximus has a point."

a complex look

of the day, if this was the price to pay

"What, you too?"

look appeared on Daphne's

at Daphne who was beside

as many people as possible. Sacrifices will be made in the process, and you should know better than anyone since you are one