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.

exerted pressure with his hands, and the bodies of the two Protectors vanished from within his grasp as they

"Come."

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

wonder what

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

absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that

well. I might as well give this

to absorb them, that did not

was capable enough and studied them properly, they'd be able to come to a subtle understanding

to learn a bit about

'But is two enough?'

and only two orbs… clearly,

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

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

"You'll pay for that."

in unison. Their voices in sync with one

"Oh."

He'd heard

shook his head and stared at the four Protectors

I need those yellow

***

[Planet Idoania]

in. It

forests, rolling hills, and crystalline rivers that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, a world that could make even the most stoic of individuals stop in

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

this paradise was not

The ground shook, and the sky dimmed. The refreshing scent of flowers faded,

stained the verdant

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

screams reverberated through the air, and the

had taken over

the midst of this chaos,

warriors, who seemed

her brows furrowed at the sight of a silver streak heading her

Xiu!

to avoid the arrow, and

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

"Tsk."

and stopped whatever she was

a small barrier formed in front

rather thick. The arrows came, and like the

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

who

them a nonchalant look before waving

"Hey wha―huak!"

elven

the atmosphere froze. The elf snapped

"What just happened?"

muttered, his eyes wide

Puchi!

pierced him through his chest before he

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

Thump!

was the most

should I

and thinking for a moment, a smile crept up on her

"He―"

long as it soon froze. She witnessed the elven warrior suddenly fall over from the tree branch they were standing on, and a head