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.

from within his grasp as they disintegrated into yellow particles that floated in the space in front of him, leaving

"Come."

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

wonder what this

it, but no matter how hard he tried, he just

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

I might as well give this

was unable to absorb them, that did

the orbs, if one was capable enough and studied them properly, they'd be able to come

managed to learn a bit about

'But is two enough?'

two orbs… clearly, there

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

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

"You'll pay for that."

in unison. Their voices in sync

"Oh."

disinterestedly. He'd heard it many

Protectors while he stuffed the two yellow orbs into his

then… I need those yellow

***

[Planet Idoania]

had decided to settle in. It was a

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

without a single cloud in sight, and the air was perfumed with the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass. It was an idyllic paradise, where the soft breeze

was

flowers faded, replaced

stained the verdant grass as limbs followed

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

screams reverberated through the air, and the ground shattered at

had taken over the

the midst of this chaos,

was surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed

brows furrowed at the sight of

Xiu!

and just in time, she caught a glimpse of

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

"Tsk."

her tongue and stopped whatever

hand forward, and a small barrier formed

rather thick. The arrows came, and like the sound of someone

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

warriors who stared at

gave them a nonchalant look before waving her

"Hey wha―huak!"

the elven warriors turned around and

spurted out, and the atmosphere froze. The elf snapped out of

"What just happened?"

muttered, his eyes wide

Puchi!

chest before he could figure out what had

with disbelief. His figure fell to the ground shortly after, and Angelica's

Thump!

her eyes, he was

should I

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

"He―"

She witnessed the elven warrior suddenly fall