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.

and the bodies of the two Protectors vanished from within his grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles that

"Come."

materialized in his hand as he extended his thin finger, and he observed them in a composed

what

hard he tried,

they were not something that he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was

might as well give this to

that did not mean they were useless to

the faint golden runes surrounding the orbs, if one was capable enough and studied them properly, they'd be able to come

subordinates managed to learn a

'But is two enough?'

were seven clans and only two orbs… clearly, there

whose expressions had become distorted after the deaths of

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

"You'll pay for that."

unison. Their

"Oh."

heard it many

Protectors while he stuffed the two yellow

then… I need those yellow orbs of

***

[Planet Idoania]

verdant paradise was the planet where the elite elven force had decided to settle in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned to hold back the demons and Jezebeth from reaching planet

planet was blessed with lush forests, rolling hills, and crystalline rivers that sparkled in the sunlight. It was

cloud in sight, and the air was perfumed with the scent of wildflowers

this paradise was not

of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive,

splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs followed

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

air, and the ground shattered

over the

the midst of this chaos, Angelica

surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed to be struggling

glowed mysteriously, and her brows furrowed at the sight of a silver streak heading

Xiu!

to avoid the arrow, and just in time, she

sprang forth from her body, and just as she was about to retaliate, she sensed multiple

"Tsk."

her tongue and stopped whatever she was

brought her hand forward, and a small barrier formed in front

The arrows came, and like the sound of someone tapping on

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

warriors who stared

them a nonchalant look before waving her hand

"Hey wha―huak!"

the elven warriors turned around

elf snapped out of it and gazed

"What just happened?"

his eyes wide with

Puchi!

through his chest before he could figure out what

on his body with a look filled with disbelief. His figure fell to the ground shortly after, and Angelica's gaze shifted toward the furthest elven

Thump!

was the

should I handle

elf, and thinking for a moment, a smile crept up on her pretty features.

"He―"

however, didn't last for long as it soon froze. She witnessed the elven warrior suddenly fall over from the tree branch they were standing on, and a head slowly rolled in