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."

from the side. Julia and Daphne joined after

response to their mockery, Wahid

that so? Then what are the seve..scuse me, I meant five heads of

Maximus suddenly stood up.

—Kracka! —Kracka!

crackled all over his body as he glared at Wahid 'aelah. Raising his hand, a lightning bolt that

better solution. How about I just kill you and

"Sit."

indifferent voice. Turning his head, Maximus glared at

to jump at the opportunity presented before

in the human domain in the same room. The leader of

opportunity for

a face devoid of any emotions, Octavious

his

"Hmm, you could tell?"

appeared

here I thought that I had

trace of pity flashed

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

Ceasar's words, Wahid 'aelah smiled. He then raised his

only demand one thing." Pausing Wahid 'aelah casually looked at everyone in the room, before continuing. "...to be more precise, I want

"A person?"

hand in the 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

want

the picture Daphne muttered

to fit the descriptions of the person

of the secret operation, everybody knew that the person that Wahid 'aelah wanted was the same person

of this,

minding the reaction of the

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.

"A truce?"

Octavius's voice rang out.

didn't hear wrongly. Being stared

you did not

on the faces of the

was the real

excuse used to propose the

of their heads, including Monica, and the Monolith suffering similar large losses with both Mo Jinhao and Tasos heavily injured from the explosion, the two organizations at the moment couldn't afford to go

multiple ranked heroes. If the war

had weakened the Monolith so much that they were forced

contained within that smile could vividly be felt by everyone in the room as the air around him thickened up considerably

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

"Right..."

Julia cautiously responded.

they had still not quite perfected it yet. At least not for commerical

one better, in exchange for 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

merely a customary

developing portals. At most a year or two, and they would achieve it. The only reason Wahid

knew just how prideful the people before him

"..."

his proposal, deathly silence enveloped the room as

while before

it with

"Go ahead."

formed around the five heads of the Union, completely covering them whole. This was a sound barrier that was made to prevent anyone from overhearing their

completely enveloped them, the first one

take

this for a while, but this offer is ridiculous. Did you guys forget that if

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

Daphne, Maximus spoke

let me ask you. What are we supposed to do

keep as

responded

nodded at

priority is the lives of the citizens. If the war

we sacrifice the person that saved our members for

"Correct."

"But..."

"Maximus has a point."

a complex look

was the price to pay in order to stop the war, she was willing to go through with

"What, you too?"

look appeared on

looking at Daphne who was

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