At Orbis, a shelter for travelers...

It was famous as an intermediate point for renting horses and carriages before entering the Orca Kingdom. The Orca Kingdom set up Orbis as a peace zone to control immortal humans and settled various disputes there. Orbis was surrounded by castles given to immortal humans and there were constant sieges between them. This was why it was the place where the largest number of users was gathered.

At this place, the soldiers of the Orca Kingdom entered.

“This is a royal command. Kill them all!"

The soldiers of the Orca Kingdom committed relentless slaughter. There were many screams.

“W-What is going on?”

“Run away!”

“Kyaaaaak!”

All of them were targeting immortal humans, but they didn't have the ability to distinguish immortal humans. Therefore, there were many cases where existing NPCs and good citizens of the Orca Kingdom were sacrificed.

“......”

The expression of Kaes, the knight commander of the Orca Kingdom who had received such an order, wasn't quite right. Now his inner thoughts were very complicated.

'I'm a knight. A knight must always follow their master's command...'

He was upright and insisted on always following his principles. He was a loyal knight and a knight should always fulfill their master's command without hesitation. However, his master's order currently being carried out by Keas was very confusing. 

“Kyaak!”

“......!”

Another delicate woman died. Immortal humans could be distinguished after death. If their body disappeared like it scattered, then they were an immortal human. The delicate woman just bled to death...

“...Keuk.”

Keas gritted his teeth. The soldier had just killed a citizen of Orca, not an immortal human. Keas immediately pulled out his sword. Then he didn't hesitate to cut the neck of the soldier who killed the good woman.

“K-Keas...!”

The soldier's head rolled off his neck as he looked surprised.

Keas blinked and shouted at the soldiers around him, “Get rid of only the immortal humans! I will immediately execute anyone who kills a good citizen of Orca! Knights, take the torches and set fire to this place! There can be no more immortal humans here! It is in the name of His Majesty, Leonardo!”

Orbis' sky burned red.

* * *

At Erebos Castle, the Zeus Guild's base...

Two men sat face to face with a long rectangular table between them. Michael opened his mouth first toward the man in front of him.

“...It is an honor to fight together.”

“That is what I should say. Fate is really unknown.”

The man sitting across from Michael, Zhen Sulong, smiled in a relaxed manner. The two strong men were facing each other. Originally, Zhen Sulong liked to act alone, but he had undergone many changes since the last World Compet.i.tion. He decided to create a force. The guild's name was Martial Arts. It literally meant 'people with outstanding martial arts.'

“Congratulations on becoming the guild leader. I wish for the development of the Martial Arts Guild.”

“Yes, thank you. In any case, I think it is better to get to the main point quickly. Even now, I heard that Demon King Ashtar is pus.h.i.+ng to this place.”

“That's right. I heard he is coming to Erebos. Maybe he will arrive soon. First of all, can I see the object you mentioned?”

Zhen Sulong nodded at Michael's words. Then he took something out of his inventory and placed it on the table. It was a pair of huge scissors. Michael examined the information of the scissors in front of him.

[☆Star Piece, Dimensional Scissors of the Executioner of Love]

[Rating: Star Relic

Usage Restrictions: Monarch of Poor Love

Strength +10, agility +20, knowledge +20

*Scissors of All Things (Pa.s.sive) - There is nothing that the dimensional scissors can't cut. It can cut stones, objects, water, roads, and all things. It can even cut the body of a G.o.d. The Executioner of Love threw it to the human world, saying that it is an object harmful to the G.o.d he wors.h.i.+ps.]

Michael's eyes slightly widened as he stared at the Star Piece in front of him. He heard it was something that could kill a demon king, but it was literally a Star Piece with tremendous ability.

“...Tell me what you want.”

Michael looked up at Zhen Sulong. Zhen Sulong had said he wanted something as a condition for fighting Ashtar together. Therefore, they arranged such a meeting.

“I want to ally with Erebos.”

“By ally, do you mean the Forbidden City that you obtained a while ago?”

“Yes.” Zhen Sulong nodded. Not long ago, he was able to get a castle with the support of the Chinese government. The name was the 'Forbidden City.' It was a name that the government decided and Zhen Sulong didn't really like it. However, it was still a territory he should rule.

“Exactly what type of alliance do you want?”

“Honestly, it isn't economically inconvenient. However, as the distance between the Forbidden City and Erebos City is close, my condition is that we don't invade each other. If we are in danger, then it is better if we can help each other.”

Michael thought for a moment. Originally, this was Damian's specialty, but Michael felt like he could make the decision. In any case, it was good for both of them. It wouldn't be burdensome. Additionally, Damian always made this type of choice.

“Okay. I promise on my name.”

“Good. Please look after me, Sir Michael.” 

Michael approached Zhen Sulong and shook his hand respectfully. Just then, the door opened and Reina, the executive of the Zeus Guild entered.

“Now isn't the time! He is here!”

"......!"

"......!"

Their eyes met and they rushed out quickly. They quickly climbed onto the wall and looked out. Shortly thereafter, they saw a person walking.

Step, step.

Against the backdrop of the blazing sunset, there was a giant with two heads and four arms. It was Demon King Ashtar, who captured five castles alone before coming here.

[The demon king, 'Commitment to Greed,' is revealing its presence!]

* * *

Around this time, my group was able to enter the Vulcan volcanic zone where the camp was located. I was fine due to my resistance to fire, but it was different for the others. Kerenos and Edward distributed potions that raised fire resistance to the soldiers.

I summoned Punghee to get rid of the hot wind around me while letting her blow cold wind at the same time. Thus, we had a short time to sit and rest.

“S-She is that white weasel?”

“Yes, that's correct. She is called Punghee.”

“Punghee...” Edward stared at Punghee with a blank expression. He looked like he was fascinated by something. Then Edward's cheeks turned red.

“Are you sick?”

“N-N-No...! I'm not sick! Cough. I'll go to Punghee for a while!”

Edward said so and ran away. Edward started talking to Punghee. Punghee remembered Edward and the two of them quickly became close. I was looking at the two people when Kim Sujeong suddenly appeared behind me. Next to her was Kerenos. They had crossed arms.

“It looks like it, right?”

“I've never seen the lord look like that before. I think you're right.”

What were these guys saying? Kim Sujeong and Kerenos exchanged looks and smiled at each other.

I immediately s.h.i.+fted my gaze to others. It was the place where Ma Seokdu and the vigilantes were located.

“What should I do...?”

“Brother, just pick anything.”

“s.h.i.+t, would you like to be dragged into the room of honesty?”

“Why should I go there?”

"Hey, hold this jerk tightly. Go to the room of honesty.”

“I understand, Brother.” 

“Ack! Let go, you crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.ds—!”

Ma Seokdu still seemed to be struggling with the problem of choosing a constellation. I offered to pick out someone good, but he said he would choose on his own. I decided to leave it alone. He was an adult and I didn't see the need to get involved.

“Let's depart! We will arrive in just 10 minutes!”

At this moment, a knight shouted and everyone stood up. Edward and Kerenos got on their horses while I got on the pegasus that stood nearby... no, I got on Jinny. Jinny neighed for no reason. She really sounded like a horse.

“Ohh—!”

“He can easily get on something that no one else can ride.”

“Jackson must've received divine grace!”

Once again, Metheus' soldiers murmured to each other. In fact, I let Edward ride Jinny because he wanted to try it. However, Jinny didn't allow Edward to ride it. He just pa.s.sed straight through. Kerenos tried it and it was the same. I was the only one who could ride on Jinny.

“Cough.”

In any case, I rode proudly on Jinny's back.

[The third apostle, 'Atlas,' is giggling at you.]

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is giggling as well.]

“Ah, noisy! These two brothers have gone crazy at the same time.” By the way, Atlas abandoned his nickname and revealed his true name. I reminded him that 'heavy smoker' was a bad word. He didn't listen, but eventually Prometheus told him to change it and he did. It was confusing if this was a good brotherly relations.h.i.+p or if he just didn't want to listen to my words.

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' is flicking a booger at you.]

[The third apostle, 'Atlas,' is throwing ear wax at you.]

“...These dirty and unlucky guys.”

It was amazing that both brothers were equally dirty. If all the original apostles were like this... No, not everyone was like this. By the way, Atlas was the third apostle. Then the second one was...

“Punghee, this is a gift! I made a wreath of aiolia to give you!”

“Wow, thank you, Edward! I will eat it well. Nyam ~♡”

“Gasp!”

Edward's proud expression as he presented the wreath quickly turned into a crying expression.

“Hah.”

I would have to teach Punghee not to eat gifts.

“We've arrived!”

“I can see the camp!”

I could hear the scouts yelling from ahead. The camp of the subjugation army looked like a castle and it was entirely made of stone. Well, it was natural since it would be burned if it was made of wood. In any case, we were able to arrive at the camp of the subjugation army.

“Welcome.”

I pa.s.sed through the gates and got off the horse, only to be greeted by a familiar face. It was Damian, the leader of the Zeus Guild and the captain of the US national team in the World Compet.i.tion. I greeted him. “It has been a while. Have you been well?”

“Yes. I'm always doing well. You must've had a lot of trouble coming here. By the way, this...?”

Damian looked at the pegasus under me with amazement... 

No, he was looking at Jinny, who was transformed into a cloud horse. It was too bothersome to explain, so I just looked around.

“It is just my pet.”

“Ah, I see. There are so many strange pets.”

“What is so special?”

“Haha, indeed. Then let's go into the barracks. We are having a meeting. A group of reinforcements came from the magic city of Oz. They are all witches and wizards.”

“Hoh, really?

I knew the magic city of Oz. Most magician users started there. They made Oz their starting place just like I chose Mulan. In any case, precious wizards and witches had come. They would be a great help to the subjugation army in the future.

“Cough. Then let's go in.”

I headed into the barracks with my hands behind my back and the meeting immediately started. It wasn't anything special. It just described the characteristics of the enemy. As expected, this place had the guy called Belphegor. The reason I knew beforehand was because Punghee told me what the phoenix's egg had said. The phoenix was said to have been killed by Belphegor.

Oz's representative was wearing a black hood so I couldn't see their face. I decided not to care about it. There was no need to fight for nothing before the battle. In any case, the meeting came to the successful conclusion. I left the barracks to smoke the cloud confection for a bit.

“Chuntaek orabeoni?”

“......?”

Someone called out to me.