After David ran away, the apex crowd remained frozen while staring at Ben Higgs.

However, that wasn't because they wanted to. Instead, this group couldn't move.

"What are you so shocked about?" Ben asked.

However, there was no answer.

"How the lines have blurred. Most of you are people that I would've likely worked alongside before. And now, look at this. So much anger, and just because you want to have your cake and eat it too."

Those people here couldn't imagine how much Ben prepared, but he was eventually able to snare all those Apex monsters without direct conflict.

"Things are indeed changing, though. And you're going to play a role in that. Well, at least your corpses will. If only we had more time, but we don't."

Ben sighed.

"You came here so anxious, gleaming even, but for the shittiest reasons. You're becoming so mindless. How can you be so anxious for no reason? The world isn't ending if you don't make it so."

"But you can't hold back, can you? As the world cools down, you must strive to reach new heights at all costs. And the worst? I understand. But unlucky you, I'm still here."

---

Ben slowly prepared for this day. He knew that he would eventually tire out.

But he didn't let it all go before building an army that would last even without his intervention, an army of mindless apex puppets.

However, he knew that even his thorough preparation would crack over the weight of time.

The organizations he helped would slowly cease to exist, and new chaos would reign.

Yet, as he fell into a coma again, his heart was light this time. He didn't fear the end of the world. Instead, he looked forward to it.

After living through so many identities and meeting so many people, he was satisfied.

It was just a couple of millions of years of freedom, but the time he spent studying himself and this world strengthened his guesses.

And although he wouldn't see whether such guesses were correct, he found immense satisfaction from the fact he felt like himself, free.

In a world that was so overly sculpted, Ben stuck out like a sore thumb even now that the heavenly grip had become loose.

So when Ben looked at those people building new systems, striving for insane goals, he smiled, thinking that perhaps, in the end, he wasn't that insane.

---

"We haven't got any contact. So, Higgs must have gone into slumber." Dough Highpeak said.

"I'm worried, but what else can we do?" Priscilla Aravyz asked.

"Fortunately, our ancestors became friends with such a monster before leaving. Would we have lasted this long if not?"

"Sure, but not as concisely. And to be fair, I'm just happy that the worse won't be coming under my lifetime."

"That, and Higgs also promised he wouldn't allow the last few years to be a complete nightmare for us."

"I almost laughed when he said that he wouldn't be getting stronger, but the world would be weaker. So, protecting our descendants at the time won't be an issue. Hearing something like that from the one who is already undoubtedly the strongest in the world hurt."

"I don't think he cares about your ego."

"I don't think he would hesitate to make me into a puppet so that my children could live. So heartless, we're both cursed and blessed."

"Yeah, but I don't think I would achieve such a broad perspective alone."

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"That's for sure. We would be instead feasting on those weaker than us. Scrapping for every ounce of energy. If we didn't have this weird legacy, even if we had survived, we would be just like our peers."

Both sighed since, despite being safe, they still felt powerless.

---

"David, why are you so worried? Didn't you come back alive? This chaos is a good chance!"

"Did I ask for your input?"

David's right hand couldn't understand it. While they lost contact with every other leader, they could still see that their conquest had some impact since they saw no sign of the zombies.

However, despite their master returning alive, he seemed like a changed man with no intention of strengthening his position.

---

Bia Highpeak ran through a dark and decrepit corridor.

However, despite her surroundings looking sinister, this place she was so used to was the base of their fallen clan.

Their chains, but also their last defense against the Empire surrounding them.

Bia was barely 30 years old. But she already led this place with her twin sister. Or at least whatever they had left from their ancient clan.

Unfortunately, they've been living in isolation for hundreds of thousands of years. Ever since the Luminious Empire decreed them as traitors.

However, despite the incessant attacks, their ancestry ground kept them safe as if to prove their long and unique history.

Nevertheless, Bia was used to this feeling of grandeur being merely a vague shadow of the past. Yet, she knew this place wouldn't fail anytime due to her familiarity with her legacy.

But all that past meant nothing if she could only live her whole life as a prisoner.

She hated it.

Yet, despite everything, when she felt her family's shiny heirloom acting up, she ran madly while fanatically recounting the rules imprinted in her mind.

She followed the protocol that she couldn't forget even if she wanted to.

But remembering it was the lesser issue, she also couldn't leave this place since her bloodline was a blessing and a curse.

She could only live in the shadow of those that came before her.

And she hated it. Yet, when the story imprinted in her head finally happened, she felt this overwhelming excitement.

When this piece of jewelry she carried everywhere reacted, she knew change was near. Events proclaimed by people so long gone that Bia couldn't fathom how those stories survived this long.

She could only think of a single sentence.

'The promised return of the Demon Lord.'

'The promised return of the Demon Lord.'

'The promised return of the Demon Lord.'

Yet, as Bia arrived at the Highpeak's main library room, deep underground, she found a sight that made her heart cold.

Her sister was on the floor, surrounded by bottles of alcohol from outside their base.

"You're eventually getting yourself poisoned like uncle Diego."

"Ah, leave me alone!" Tia Highpeak yelled, turning around to avoid seeing her sister's worried eyes.

It wasn't the first time Tia was caught red-handed.

So, she expected the usual quarrel. However, she only heard the sounds of her sister jumping into the main table.

Tia turned around slowly since she felt too groggy. And when she finally did, she saw her sister tinkering with her family heirloom, that damned piece of jewelry that had total control over their lives.

"What you doing?"

Yet, no response came. As if possessed, Bia didn't even look at her.

Tia noticed how Bia kept looking for something from inside the drawer from that place she was responsible for keeping organized.

Socked, Tia stood up, despite the alcohol clouding her head.

"What are you doing?" She asked more loudly.

"Second drawer, at the far back," Tia whispered.

Bia quickly closed the drawer she was searching through and looked inside Tia's recommendation.

Her sister automatic reaction made Tia pale. But she still limped toward the table while using the mess around her as support.

Tia had indeed not been keeping this place clean and organized. She did the bare minimum while following the protocols, even if such actions caused her incredible headaches.

She just hated it too much. She didn't sign up for this.

But despite her feeling, she still remembered every protocol. So, when she saw the heirloom placed inside its indentation on the table, she quickly guessed what her sister needed.

And she was correct. Bia hurriedly retrieved a pen and some paper from the second drawer and placed them at the side of the heirloom.

Tia had tried relocating those old objects out of anger and was drowning the corresponding pain with her secret stash.

However, despite abusing her drinks, she couldn't sleep. She couldn't even pass out.

She also tried to leave this place but couldn't either.

She could only remain here and keep drinking as if lying that she was still cleaning this place up.

And even then, meanwhile, those inclinations inside her head grew stronger and stronger.

Tia grew perturbed by this sense of wrongness.

And Tia knew she couldn't leave those artifacts misplaced.

She could only bicker alone inside her mind until she lost it.

And she hated it. Yet, that wasn't the first time she had done this.

So, she knew how that trance flared up. And when she saw her sister putting one hand on the crystal ball and holding the reliquary pen with the other, goosebumps took over her body.

Also, once she revealed her prank, the inclination inside her head disappeared.

And as the room energy began oscillating, her drunkenness also vanished.

Tia also fell into the same trance her sister was in without noticing. However, despite her weird state, she was still fully conscious.

She knew she was under strict protocol because Tia had felt like this when she assumed the clan's head position with her sister five years ago. And then a few other times when she played rebel.

This magical experience was the confirmation of the curse. And the ceremony five years ago was the only one the sisters expected to go through because that was the reality of their clan since they became isolated from the rest of the world. Everything became a waiting game since they couldn't act on those ancient protocols.