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.

grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles that floated

"Come."

extended his thin finger, and he observed them in

what

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

something that he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was concealed within them was something that could have helped him become more

might as well give

that did not mean

studied them properly, they'd be able to come to a subtle understanding

to learn

'But is two enough?'

only two orbs… clearly,

the other Protectors, whose expressions had become distorted

shift, and as a result, the skin on their bodies began to 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."

them muttered in unison. Their voices in

"Oh."

heard it many times

his head and stared at the four Protectors

need those yellow

***

[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

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

with the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass. It was an idyllic paradise, where the soft breeze

was

The ground shook, and the sky dimmed. The refreshing scent of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive, iron-like scent that slowly

substances splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

and the

full-fledged war had taken over the entirety of the

this chaos, Angelica stood

surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed to be struggling to contain

brows furrowed at the sight of a silver

Xiu!

avoid the arrow, and just in time, she caught

was about to retaliate, she sensed multiple attacks coming her way from all

"Tsk."

clicked her tongue and

forward, and a small barrier

was of translucent color and rather thick. The arrows came, and like the sound

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

who

them a nonchalant look before waving

"Hey wha―huak!"

one of the elven warriors

elf snapped out of it and gazed at the scene with

"What just happened?"

muttered, his eyes wide

Puchi!

chest before he could

arrow impaled on his body with a look filled with

Thump!

he was

I handle

other elf, and thinking for a moment, a smile crept up on her pretty features. Twirling her body toward the elven warrior in the distance, Angelica

"He―"

elven warrior suddenly fall over from the tree branch they were standing on,