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.

vanished from within his grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles that floated

"Come."

as he extended

wonder what this

had always been curious about it, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't figure out what it was

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

well. I might as well

to absorb them, that

if one was capable enough and studied them

subordinates managed to learn

'But is two enough?'

were seven clans and only two orbs…

whose

result, the skin on their bodies began to peel off. A tidal wave of power gushed forth from each

"You'll pay for that."

of them muttered in unison.

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard

the four Protectors while

need those yellow orbs

***

[Planet Idoania]

where the elite elven force had decided to settle in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned to hold back the demons

in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, a world that could make even the most stoic

sky was a deep shade of blue, without a single cloud in sight, and the air was perfumed with the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass. It was an idyllic paradise, where

paradise was not

refreshing scent of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive, iron-like scent that

splashed and stained the verdant grass

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

the air, and the ground shattered at every

had taken over

midst of this chaos, Angelica

who seemed to be struggling to

her brows furrowed at the sight of a

Xiu!

moved her head to avoid the arrow, and just in time, she caught a

about to retaliate, she sensed multiple attacks coming

"Tsk."

tongue and stopped whatever she was

and a small barrier formed in

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

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

the elven warriors who stared at her

look before

"Hey wha―huak!"

the elven warriors turned

froze. The elf snapped out of it and gazed at the scene with

"What just happened?"

eyes

Puchi!

him through his chest before he could figure out

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

Thump!

was the most

should I handle

crept up on her pretty features. Twirling her body toward the elven warrior in the distance, Angelica charmingly

"He―"

didn't last for long as it soon froze. She witnessed the elven warrior suddenly fall over