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."

relatively low when they had entered, it was now at an all-time high as absolute silence prevailed throughout the expansive halls

that they would incur Hemlock's wrath, no one dared

the fate of their lives was in his

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

something with the chip from

Manual, one of the elders of the Monolith, muttered to himself, his gaze coldly lingering over Hemlock's

having it was really

instructed by the demons with whom they were contracted to obey Hemlock's every command without uttering a

was something that was far beyond

anything, it was obvious

thing they could do at the moment was lower their heads and

had no choice but

***

"How's it going?"

did was make my way to Ryan's room, where everyone was congregating

a number of strange objects that appeared to be funnelling the mana in the air and causing some kind of dense black

located all of

with the objects and was able to recognize

"You're finally out."

his face a couple of inches

closely.

with an arm outstretched and a couple

around and pointed at

had surgery on my eyes.

"...You do you."

head ever-so-slightly as one of

expression quickly changed, and she

eight mana compressors are concealed within the outskirts of Ashton City, slowly releasing demonic energy into the atmosphere. If this continues, the entire city will become engulfed in demonic energy, and the Monolith's forces will have an advantage

"Hmm..."

to her report, the brows between my eyes began to

'This is getting troublesome'

to simultaneously wield demonic energy and mana was the primary factor that made them so scary

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

If they stay, it

good fortune that, with Ryan and Ava's assistance, I had eyes over the majority of the

to keep an eye on everything at all

ready? I'm

been silent up until this point, finally

on the sofa at the end of the room

I haven't seen that guy without a black eye ever

do you think

glancing at him from the corner of her

you're one of the reasons why he is

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

nose, Leopold looked

head, and just as I was about to say something, Ryan's voice

for now. I

"What do you mean?"

I moved a little

that he was currently frowning deeply as he stared intently at the screens

the area around

to be a little bit too easy.

pointed at the screens with

I don't believe the Monolith will care much about a few rats and birds scurrying

"Hmm...you have a point."

rubbed the bottom of my chin, deeply

the situation was certainly suspicious. Was the Monolith perhaps trying to set up