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 in the

"Come."

two yellow orbs materialized in his hand as he extended his thin

what this

how hard he tried, he

he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was

well give this to

them, that did not

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

to learn

'But is two enough?'

seven clans and only two orbs… clearly, there

other Protectors, whose expressions had become distorted after the deaths of

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

"You'll pay for that."

muttered in unison. Their voices in sync

"Oh."

He'd heard

the four Protectors while he stuffed

need those

***

[Planet Idoania]

settle in. It was a

that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight,

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

was not meant to

of flowers faded, replaced by

splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs followed

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

through the air, and the ground shattered at every

had taken over the entirety of

the midst of this

who seemed to be struggling to contain

her brows furrowed at the sight of a silver streak

Xiu!

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

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

"Tsk."

clicked her tongue and stopped

a small barrier formed

was of translucent color and rather thick. The arrows came, and like the sound of someone tapping on a glass, the barrier

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

the elven warriors who stared at her

nonchalant look before waving

"Hey wha―huak!"

one of the elven

snapped out of it and

"What just happened?"

eyes wide

Puchi!

his chest before he could figure out

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!

her eyes, he was the most

should I

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

"He―"

suddenly fall over from