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

"Come."

his hand as he extended his thin

what this

it, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't figure out

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

as well give this to my

though he was unable to absorb them, that

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

learn a

'But is two enough?'

only two orbs…

up at the other Protectors, whose

began to shift, 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 space started to fluctuate

"You'll pay for that."

one of them muttered in unison.

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard it many times

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

those

***

[Planet Idoania]

had decided to settle in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned to hold back the demons

rolling hills, and crystalline rivers that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, a world that could make even the

deep shade of blue, without a single cloud in sight, and the air was perfumed with the scent of wildflowers and

paradise was

the sky dimmed. The refreshing scent of flowers faded,

the verdant grass as limbs followed

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

and the ground shattered at every

taken over the entirety of the

of this chaos, Angelica

was surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed to be

mysteriously, and her brows furrowed at the sight of a

Xiu!

arrow, and just in time, she caught a glimpse of the

body, and just as she was about to retaliate, she sensed multiple attacks coming her way from all

"Tsk."

tongue and

and a small barrier

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

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

cast her gaze over the elven warriors who stared at her barrier

nonchalant look before waving her hand

"Hey wha―huak!"

one of the elven warriors turned around

elf snapped out of

"What just happened?"

his eyes

Puchi!

through his chest before he could figure out what

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 elven

Thump!

eyes, he was the most

should I handle

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

"He―"

suddenly fall over from the tree branch they were standing on, and a head slowly