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.

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

"Come."

extended his thin finger, and he observed them in

wonder what

hard he tried, he just

not something that he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power that was concealed within them was something that

as well give this to my

to absorb them, that did not mean they were useless to

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

to learn a

'But is two enough?'

and only two orbs… clearly, there

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

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

"You'll pay for that."

them muttered in unison. Their

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard it

at the four Protectors

those

***

[Planet Idoania]

in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned to

and crystalline rivers that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, a world that

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 paradise, where the soft breeze carried the songs of

this paradise was not meant

sky dimmed. The refreshing scent of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive, iron-like

the verdant grass as

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

screams reverberated through the air, and the

war had taken over

this chaos, Angelica stood

by three elven warriors, who seemed to be struggling to contain

her brows furrowed at the sight of a silver streak

Xiu!

moved her head to avoid the arrow, and just in

forth from her body, and just as she was about

"Tsk."

her tongue and stopped whatever she was

her hand forward, and a small barrier formed in front of

arrows came, and like the sound

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

the elven warriors who stared at her

a nonchalant look before

"Hey wha―huak!"

if tranced, one of the elven warriors turned around and

and the atmosphere froze. The elf snapped out of it and gazed

"What just happened?"

muttered, his eyes wide with

Puchi!

pierced him through his chest before he could figure out what had

face 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

Thump!

was the

I

a moment, a smile crept up on her pretty features. Twirling her

"He―"

fall over from the tree branch they were standing on,