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

to their mockery, Wahid 'aelah

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

Maximus suddenly stood up.

—Kracka! —Kracka!

lightning crackled all over his body as he glared at Wahid 'aelah. Raising his hand, a lightning bolt that was filled with killing intent appeared in his hand,

about a better solution. How about I just kill you and stop

"Sit."

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

to jump at

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

perfect opportunity for

a face devoid of

his real

"Hmm, you could tell?"

appeared on Wahid 'aelah's

thought that I had

trace of pity

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

Wahid 'aelah smiled.

everyone in the room, before

"A person?"

of an individual riddled with scars formed in the middle of the flames. Turning his head and looking at

I want

at the picture Daphne muttered

to fit the descriptions of the person

read the reports that came from the survivors of the secret operation, everybody knew that the person that Wahid 'aelah wanted was the same person that had rescued,

of this,

reaction of the others, Wahid 'aelah

Union. We can sign a contract if

"A truce?"

Octavius's voice rang out.

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

did not hear

on the faces of the people

was the real reason behind

an excuse used to

similar large losses with both Mo Jinhao and Tasos heavily injured from the explosion, the two

especially so given the fact that they both lost multiple ranked heroes. If the war continued, then both organizations would be at risk of completely crumbling

person alone had weakened the Monolith so much that they were forced to call out for

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

make this offer even juicier. From what I've heard, you guys

"Right..."

Julia cautiously responded.

a breakthrough in portal technology over recent years, they had still

in exchange for revealing what you are missing, as well as proposing the

was merely a

they would achieve it. The only reason Wahid 'aelah proposed such a deal

how prideful the people before

"..."

silence enveloped the

continued for a while before Octavious finally opened

discuss it with

"Go ahead."

around the five heads of the Union, completely covering them whole. This was a sound

the first one to speak

take

a while, but this offer is ridiculous. Did you guys forget that if not for him

as well as saved the backbone of

looking at Daphne, Maximus

you. What are

to keep as many

quickly responded without

nodded at her

citizens. If the war continues, a lot of lives

implying that we sacrifice the person that saved our members for the sake of stopping the war

"Correct."

"But..."

"Maximus has a point."

a

end of the day, if this was the price to pay in order to stop the war,

"What, you too?"

look appeared

who was beside

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