The Author's POV

"All the mana compressors have been placed as you have ordered. We are now waiting for the next set of instructions."

Hemlock appeared emotionless as he sat on his throne and stared ahead.

His attention was drawn to the empty space in front of him, where a black circular sphere was displaying a number of different scenarios simultaneously.

The space around him warped, and he opened his mouth.

"Have you done as I've asked? While you were installing the mana compressors, have you been vigilant for any creatures or animals that may have been hiding nearby?"

"Yes."

A black man with a fierce scar running through his face responded to the question while kneeling on one knee and wearing all black.

"We have, as you've suggested, pretended not to notice them. What should we now do? Should we alter the placement of the mana compressors?"

"No."

Hemlock shook his head.

His gaze began to wander in the direction of the mana compressors that were depicted in the void projections that were in front of him.

"Keep the mana compressors as they are, and don't let the little animals die. Make sure to be oblivious to them."

"As you wish."

The reply came from the individual dressed in all black, and then he vanished from the scene, exiting the grand hall, which was at that time occupied by sixteen different people.

Everyone was looking wearily at Hemlock, whose expression did not change at all despite the extremely solemn and chilly atmosphere that permeated every inch of the hall.

Without waiting for anyone to say anything, Hemlock opened his mouth to speak.

"I'd like an elder to make their way to each of the mana compressors. Alliance members will likely soon make their way to the mana compressors with the intention of destroying them. I would like for you to ambush them when they are least expecting it."

"..."

"..."

His words were met with silence, and the temperature in the room suddenly dropped to an extremely low level.

Hemlock, who had become aware of the palpable lack of conversation in the space, looked around at the various occupants of the room without making a sound.

"...I understand that you are all wary after what happened not too long ago, but I assure you. It will not happen again. Their sacrifices were for a greater cause."

Once again, the hall fell into silence.

Hemlock's eyes sharpened at the sight, and he slowly stood up.

His gaze lingered over each and every one of the figures that were currently seated on their respective thrones, and as it did so, a potent aura started to emerge from his body.

He opened his mouth again.

This time, his tone was a lot more threatening.

"I'll rephrase myself. I will spare your life if you make yourself useful and listen to my orders..."

As his aura continued to expand, the pressure that was already permeating the room started to expand as well, making it increasingly difficult to breathe for those who were present.

"...So long as the Monolith finds you useful, you should anticipate being spared. Mo Jinhao and his companions had long served their cause and were no longer of any use. You can count your blessings in retrospect. I could have chosen any one of you to sacrifice yourself for the cause...but I didn't. Why, you ask?"

Hemlock licked his lips slightly.

"The answer is rather simple. It's because you were lucky enough to still be useful for the cause."

when they had entered, it was now at an all-time high

one dared to utter a single word,

of their lives was

had been implanted in their heads contained a potent explosive device that

knew that there was something with the

Monolith, muttered to himself, his gaze coldly lingering over Hemlock's

the chip in their heads, not having it was really not an option

they were contracted to obey Hemlock's every

that was far beyond their

not even the demons they had contracts with could do anything, it was obvious that

do at the moment was lower their heads and

no choice

***

"How's it going?"

soon as I emerged from my own training room, the first thing I did was make my way to Ryan's room, where everyone was congregating and staring at

mana in the air

located

was able to

"You're finally out."

a couple

lean in too closely. It's bad for your

outstretched and

turned around and pointed

already had surgery on my eyes. They won't

"...You do you."

and cocked her head ever-so-slightly as one of the birds moved up her arm and chirped

changed, and

into the atmosphere. If this continues, the entire city will become engulfed in demonic energy, and the

"Hmm..."

to her report, the brows between my

'This is getting troublesome'

fact that contractees were able to simultaneously wield demonic energy and

of demonic energy into the atmosphere would give the forces of the Monolith a significant boost in strength, which would put the alliance in

to get rid of the compressors as soon as possible. If they

good fortune that, with Ryan and Ava's assistance,

on everything at all times, and as a result, I knew the exact location of each

you suggesting that we get ready? I'm sure

had been silent up until this

the end of the room with his legs

guy without a black eye

whose fault do you

brow raised, glancing at him from the corner of

one of the reasons why he is in the

"Keum...I stopped...I stopped..."

his nose, Leopold looked away

me to shake my head, and just as I

hold off on the operation for now. I have a bad feeling about

"What do you mean?"

Ryan, and I moved a

frowning deeply

specifically, the area around

to be a little bit too easy. Take a look at the

the screens with

know, we are currently observing the movements of the Monolith through the cameras installed in the animals that Ava controls. Although I don't believe the Monolith will care much about a few rats and birds scurrying about, the fact that none of

"Hmm...you have a point."

bottom of my chin, deeply contemplating

things were as Ryan said, then the situation was certainly suspicious. Was the Monolith