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

"Come."

yellow orbs materialized in his hand as he extended his thin finger, and he observed them

what

how hard he tried, he

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

I might as well give this to my

he was unable to absorb them, that did

one was capable enough and studied them

to learn a

'But is two enough?'

were seven clans and only two

Protectors, whose expressions had become distorted after the deaths of

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

"You'll pay for that."

in unison. Their voices

"Oh."

nodded disinterestedly. He'd heard

the four Protectors while he stuffed the

then… I need those yellow

***

[Planet Idoania]

decided to settle in. It was a strategic point, strategically positioned

sparkled in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight,

sky was 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 meant to

refreshing scent of flowers faded, replaced by a repulsive, iron-like scent that slowly took over the

splashed and stained the verdant grass as limbs

"Huak!"

"Ehk!"

and the ground

full-fledged war had taken over the entirety of the

this chaos, Angelica

was surrounded by three elven warriors, who seemed

at the sight of a silver streak

Xiu!

arrow, and

about to retaliate, she sensed multiple attacks coming her

"Tsk."

tongue and stopped whatever she

forward, and a small

rather thick. The arrows came, and like

But that was it.

Tik. Tik. Tik.

"That's it?"

over the elven warriors who stared at her barrier

look before waving her

"Hey wha―huak!"

the elven warriors turned

out, and the atmosphere froze. The elf snapped out

"What just happened?"

muttered, his eyes wide with

Puchi!

chest before he could

on his body with a look filled with disbelief. His figure fell to the ground shortly after,

Thump!

her eyes, he was the

should I handle

up on her pretty features. Twirling

"He―"

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