"The person who recommended you to me because they believed you were that guy..." her lips curled. "They’re easily the most unpredictable and one of the most dangerous beings in the universe." "But sadly, I can’t disclose their identity to you," Lilith said dismissively.

"What? We had a deal."

"I know we had a deal, but there are simply some things you don’t want to mess with. As much as I believe I’m much stronger than they are, believe me when I say they have quite the troublesome ability that’ll break even the most arrogant Primordials," she said in a serious tone.

Arc fell silent for a moment. He wasn’t naive enough to think she was lying, and knew there was the existence of truly dangerous beings in this world. But for even the 22nd Authority Devil like Lilith to be cautious of them said everything.

"Could you repeat the first thing that you said? I don’t think I caught on," he finally said.

"You heard me correctly. I need you to kill the leaders of two Great Factions."

Arc scoffed in disbelief. "What? Me? Kill not just one, but the two most powerful beings in the universe?"

It was simply an outrageous and suicidal request.

"But if I may ask, why do you want your leader dead?"

"Leader?" Lilith snorted disdainfully.

"You’re an Authority Devil, right? Aren’t you from the Demonic Faction?" Arc asked in confusion.

"I’m happy you’re wrong for once," she said in amusement.

"I was indeed, once a general and high council member of the Demonic Faction when it still served its purpose, but that has nothing to do with me being an Authority Devil.

"Authority has no ties with the Demonic Faction and is bestowed upon those found worthy of its power and responsibilities by the Abyss," Lilith explained.

"So, are you saying Goddess Zemira could be an Authority Devil?" Arc asked in surprise.

"Zemira is, in fact, an Authority Devil."

"Let me guess; the 23rd or 24th?" he asked curiously.

Lilith scoffed disdainfully. "Zemira is the Sovereign of Creation: the 20th Authority Devil."

"What? What about the Dark Lord... and this someone?" Arc asked sharply.

"I see what you did, Arc. You can’t trick me into revealing any information about them. But they’re both beneath me in Authority."

Arc was confused. If they were all beneath her, why then did she need a mortal man like him to assassinate the leaders of the two Great Factions? Why was she cautious about exposing this person’s identity? And who the hell were the 23rd and 24th Authority Devils if not these influential beings?

He laughed coldly. "They’re all beneath you, yet you fear them all and expect me to be capable of killing them? Is this some sick joke?"

"Sorry to break it to you, but you’ve been ripped off. I’m not the guy you want, and as much as I want to conquer this world, I don’t plan on making unnecessary enemies in the process." Arc turned to walk away before pausing to look back, still amused at the absurdity of her request.

"And to think you ever believed I have a shot at killing the..." he snorted and began walking away.

Lilith was extremely calm and didn’t get angry at his reaction.

"I don’t believe you can do it as a mortal player... but what if I made you the 24th Authority Devil?" she said calmly.

Arc paused in his steps.

"What?"

Every word that came out of Lilith’s mouth sounded crazier than the last.

The 24th Authority Devil?

"When I said I was looking for a guy, I was looking for a compatible vessel to embody the 24th Authority Card, and the person who recommended you to me is not one to fool around. They must’ve seen something in your future that made them think you could do it. So don’t berate yourself now simply because you aren’t there yet."

"Are you crazy?" Arc laughed in disbelief. "Alright, I’m listening," he said mockingly.

"Do you know the purpose of this world, Arc? You once said you knew the Authority Cards were the key to this world’s endgame. Do you know why that is?" Lilith asked calmly.

Arc couldn’t reply. He didn’t know for sure what was down the rabbit hole.

"This entire realm revolves around one being: the Witch Master. He was bested in the great war between the two Great Factions by his very own lover, Goddess Zemira. He is and will always be my leader, and for as long as that traitor sits on the throne, I do not identify with the Demonic Faction until his return," Lilith said, her voice laced with something deadly.

Arc was listening now.

"The Witch Master is in a deep slumber which could take him an eternity to recover, but his Authority has been stripped from him and buried deep within this realm. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Your purpose as a player is to break the seal and find it. And when you do, you don’t get to keep it, because it will be seized from your corpse by whoever gets to you first, be it the White Faction or the Demonic Faction."

The moment Arc heard that statement, it was as if a rusty gear shifted in his head, and the strange memories came in structured fragments.

’Everyone’s dead...’

Flashbacks within a flashback. Different faces... women... all dead.

Arc found himself in a colossal throne room resembling a chapel. He stood before a behemoth throne where a ruling figure sat with a glowing obsidian card hovering above its lap.

The next moment, Arc was holding the card, facing several Primordial beings charging at him from all directions. They broke down the doors, crashed through the windows, tore down the ceiling.

The 20th Authority Devil...

The 21st Authority Devil...

The 22nd Authority Devil wasn’t present... they were dead.

The 23rd Authority Devil...

[Do you wish to absorb the 24th Authority Card?]

The daring obsidian notification.

[You have been found worthy of bearing the 24th Authority Card]

[You are now the 24th Authority Devil: THE HARBINGER OF APOCALYPSE.]

[Do you wish to merge all accumulated Talents into a Singularity?]

’Everyone’s dead...’

They had died to create a ladder of corpses for him to climb.

These people had taken them... and everything away from him.

He had the power to change the tide of battle now. But what use was that to him?

In his quest for power, he lost everything that mattered to him to these people.

The same people who wanted to erase him from the face of the universe now.

A sadistic grin spread across his face. At the same time, the first wave of attacks from his pursuers was only a hair’s breadth from obliterating him.

His lips slowly parted.

"EVERYONE... BE GONE."

The world went blank.

[You have destroyed your timeline]

[You have died]

...

...

...

[Do you wish to respawn?]