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.

Protectors vanished from within his grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles

"Come."

extended his thin

wonder what this

matter how hard he tried,

he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power

as well give this to my

unable to absorb them, that did not mean they were

one was capable enough and studied them properly, they'd

subordinates managed to learn a bit about

'But is two enough?'

were seven clans and only two

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

peel off. A tidal wave of power gushed forth from

"You'll pay for that."

muttered in unison. Their voices in sync with

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard

shook his head and stared at the four Protectors while he stuffed the two yellow

those yellow orbs of

***

[Planet Idoania]

elite elven force had decided to settle in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned to hold back the demons and Jezebeth from reaching planet

in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking

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

paradise was not meant to

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

splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

reverberated through the air, and the ground shattered at every

war had taken over the entirety

of this chaos, Angelica stood her

three elven warriors, who seemed to be

glowed mysteriously, and her brows furrowed at the

Xiu!

and just in time, she caught

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

"Tsk."

and

a small barrier

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

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

over the elven warriors who stared at her barrier with

look

"Hey wha―huak!"

tranced, one of the elven warriors turned

elf snapped out of

"What just happened?"

eyes

Puchi!

arrow pierced him through his chest before he

froze, and he stared at the arrow impaled on his body with a look filled with disbelief. His figure fell to the ground shortly after, and Angelica's gaze shifted toward the furthest

Thump!

was

I handle

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

"He―"

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