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.

two Protectors vanished from within his grasp as they disintegrated into

"Come."

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

what

no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't

absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was concealed within them was something

might as well

he was unable to absorb them, that did not mean

enough and studied them properly,

managed to learn

'But is two enough?'

two orbs… clearly, there weren't enough

lifted his head and looked up at the other Protectors, whose expressions had become distorted

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

"You'll pay for that."

in unison. Their

"Oh."

disinterestedly. He'd heard it many times

Protectors while he stuffed the

I need those

***

[Planet Idoania]

force had decided to settle in. It

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

sight, and the air was 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 rustle

was not

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

the

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

and the ground shattered at

had taken over the entirety of the

midst of this chaos, Angelica stood her

surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed to be struggling

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

Xiu!

to avoid the arrow, and just in time, she

was about to

"Tsk."

her tongue and stopped whatever she was

hand forward, and a

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?"

over the elven warriors who stared at her barrier with a dumbfounded

a nonchalant look before waving her hand

"Hey wha―huak!"

one of the elven

The elf snapped out of it and gazed

"What just happened?"

his eyes

Puchi!

before

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

Thump!

her eyes, he was the most troublesome

should I handle

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

"He―"

fall over