The Author's POV

"Khhuakk.. auhk"

"It's futile."

Jezebeth beamed as he gazed at the Protector, who was in his grasp. The look of utter disbelief and despair on their faces brought nothing more than joy to Jezebeth, who wanted to savor the moment for as long as possible.

…There was once upon a time when he looked at them with the same gaze.

They reminded him of his past self.

"Hm?"

Shhhh―! He suddenly became aware of a powerful force moving in his direction from the right. Jezebeth didn't even bother to look at the attack and instead simply raised his hand in response to it.

Clank―!

The blade came to a stop on Jezebeth's hand, and dark blood dripped from his palm. Even though it hurt a little, Jezebeth didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to the discomfort.

He just wanted to take in their expressions.

…He couldn't get enough of them.

"Come now. Don't struggle anymore when the results are already set in stone."

He secured his grip on the sword and pulled it with his hand.

"Akh."

As the second Protector fell forward, he reached out with his free hand and grabbed hold of her neck, firmly securing it in his hand.

"Ah… Now, this… this is a sight I would die for."

Two Protectors… and they were both in his grasp.

Rumble―!

Just as he was savoring the view, the space around him began to warp, and four massive fissures appeared.

The massive sun that was facing him shrank, and within the cracks that were created, four figures materialized.

There were two orcs and two dwarves in the group.

Jezebeth experienced a tremendous amount of pressure almost immediately after they made their appearance. Greater than what the two Protectors he was holding in his hand had previously given him, and almost caused him to lose his hold on them.

"Demon King."

The space filled with the sound of a voice that was both ancient and ethereal. It belonged to one of the Orcen Protectors.

The sight of him made Jezebeth smile even more, and his head lowered.

"Ah, if it isn't the Protector of the Seat of Patience."

Ignoring Jezebeth's words, the Protector's icy gaze passed over Jezebeth before pausing on the two Protectors that he was holding in his grasp. His brows were drawn together, and the tone of his voice conveyed obvious dissatisfaction.

"Let them go."

"Oh."

As the eyes of the two Protectors in his hand changed, Jezebeth's expression shifted to one of obvious dissatisfaction.

…The despair and horror that were previously clouding their faces were gone.

'What pity.'

He nodded his head.

"Okay."

Crack. Crack.

within his grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles that floated in the space in

"Come."

orbs materialized in his hand as he extended his thin finger, and

wonder what

it, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't figure out what

attempted to absorb them, but they were not something that he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was concealed

might as well give this to my

absorb them, that did not mean they were useless

runes surrounding the orbs, if one was capable enough and studied

his subordinates managed to learn a bit about the

'But is two enough?'

were seven clans and only two orbs… clearly, there weren't enough

his head and looked up at the other Protectors, whose expressions had become distorted after the deaths of the previous

peel off. A tidal wave of power gushed forth from each of their bodies, and the space started to fluctuate

"You'll pay for that."

in unison. Their voices in sync

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard

his head and stared at the four Protectors while he stuffed the

I need those yellow orbs of

***

[Planet Idoania]

the elite elven force had decided to settle in. It was

the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, a world that

air was perfumed with the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass. It was an idyllic

this paradise was

sky dimmed. The refreshing scent of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive, iron-like scent that

substances splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs followed

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

air, and the ground shattered

taken over the

midst of this chaos, Angelica stood

was surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed to

brows furrowed at the sight of

Xiu!

head to avoid the arrow, and just in time, she

her body, and just as she was about to retaliate, she sensed

"Tsk."

clicked her tongue and stopped whatever she was

a small barrier formed in front

color and rather thick. The arrows came, and like

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

who stared at her barrier with a dumbfounded

a nonchalant look before waving

"Hey wha―huak!"

if tranced, one of the elven warriors turned around and stabbed

snapped out of it and gazed at

"What just happened?"

eyes wide

Puchi!

before he could figure out what had

look filled with disbelief. His figure fell to the ground

Thump!

was the most

I handle

on her pretty features. Twirling her body toward the elven warrior

"He―"

elven warrior suddenly fall over from the tree branch they