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.

they disintegrated into

"Come."

he extended his thin finger, and he observed them in a composed

what

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

something that he could absorb, which was unfortunate given that the power

as well

that did not

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

learn a bit about the

'But is two enough?'

two

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

atmosphere began to shift, and as a result, the skin on their bodies began to peel off. A tidal wave of power

"You'll pay for that."

them muttered in unison. Their

"Oh."

disinterestedly. He'd heard

four Protectors while he stuffed the two

need those yellow

***

[Planet Idoania]

decided to settle in. It was

rivers that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking

a deep shade 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

was not

scent of flowers faded, replaced by

splashed and stained the verdant

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

reverberated through the air, and the ground shattered at

had taken over

midst of this chaos, Angelica stood

warriors, who seemed

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

Xiu!

moved her head to avoid the arrow, and

she was about to retaliate, she sensed

"Tsk."

tongue and stopped whatever

hand forward, and a small barrier

The arrows came, and like the sound of someone tapping on

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

the elven warriors who stared at

a nonchalant look before waving her

"Hey wha―huak!"

if tranced, one of the elven

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

"What just happened?"

eyes wide with

Puchi!

through his chest before he could figure out what

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

Thump!

her eyes, he was the most

should I handle

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

"He―"

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