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."

in the room had been relatively low when they had entered, it was now at an all-time high

incur Hemlock's wrath, no one dared to utter a

the fate of their lives was in

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

there was something with the chip from the very

elders of the Monolith, muttered to himself,

chip in their heads, not having

the demons with whom they were contracted to obey Hemlock's every command without uttering a single word about

something that was

it was obvious that

thing they could do at the moment

had no

***

"How's it going?"

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

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

like you guys have located all of the mana

objects and was able

"You're finally out."

face a couple of inches away from

too closely.

outstretched and a couple of birds perched

turned around and

had surgery on my eyes. They won't get any worse by the blue

"...You do you."

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

and she

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

"Hmm..."

I was listening to her report, the brows between my eyes began to furrow

'This is getting troublesome'

able to simultaneously wield demonic energy and mana

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

the compressors as soon as possible. If they stay, it is highly likely that they will cause trouble further

and Ava's

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

get ready? I'm sure Liam would love

been silent up until this point,

on the sofa at the end of

that guy without a black eye ever since we returned from Immorra. I'm sort of feeling

do

him from the corner of her

have no right to talk when you're one of the reasons why he

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

his nose,

me to shake my head, and just as I was about

for now. I have a bad

"What do you mean?"

to look at Ryan, and I moved a little

currently frowning deeply as he stared intently at

specifically, the area around the mana

to be a little bit too easy. Take

the screens with

Although I don't believe the Monolith will care much about a few rats and birds scurrying about, the fact that none of them did anything or even noticed the animals

"Hmm...you have a point."

of my

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