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."

it was now at an all-time

one dared to

fate of their lives was in

discovered that the chip that had been implanted in their heads

knew that there was something with the chip from

Manual, one of the elders of the Monolith, muttered

in their heads, not having it was really not

they were contracted to obey Hemlock's every

was something that was far

they had contracts with could do anything, it was obvious that someone with an unfathomable amount

they could do at the moment was lower

had no choice

***

"How's it going?"

I emerged from my own training room, the first thing I did was make my way to

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

located all of the

the objects and was able to

"You're finally out."

a couple of

closely. It's bad for

said, standing beside him with an arm outstretched and a couple of birds

and pointed

my eyes. They won't get any worse

"...You do you."

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

quickly changed, and she

within the outskirts of Ashton City, slowly releasing demonic energy into the atmosphere. If this continues, the entire city will become engulfed

"Hmm..."

I was listening to her report, the

'This is getting troublesome'

were able to simultaneously wield demonic energy and

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

compressors as soon as possible. If they stay, it is highly likely that

of good fortune that, with Ryan and Ava's assistance, I had

both working for me, I was able to keep an eye on everything at

I'm sure Liam would love to have

silent up until this point,

on the sofa at the end of the room

that guy without a black eye ever since we returned

fault do

glancing at him from the

of the reasons why

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

the bridge of his nose, Leopold looked away from

as I

for now. I have a bad feeling about

"What do you mean?"

to look at Ryan, and I moved a little

frowning deeply as he stared

area around

bit too easy. Take a look

the

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

"Hmm...you have a point."

bottom of my

said, then the situation was certainly suspicious. Was the Monolith perhaps trying to set up a