Less than an hour after the failed nuclear strike, the throne room of Xerxes was no longer empty. Twelve portals of shadow opened, and from each one, a general emerged, dragging a terrified human behind them.
The President of the Hunter Association, the commanders of the world's elite guilds, and the politicians who had signed the execution orders—all of them were now kneeling in front of Arthur's throne.
Zane and Elara were there too, kept alive only so they could witness the total collapse of the world they once ruled.
"Arthur... please... we were just following orders!" the President of the Association cried, his expensive suit covered in dirt and snow. "We thought you were a monster! We were trying to protect humanity!"
Arthur stood up and walked down the steps of the throne. His footsteps didn't make a sound, but the pressure he radiated was making the humans cough up blood.
"Protect humanity?" Arthur laughed, a sound that chilled their souls. "You protected your bank accounts. You protected your status. You let F-Rank porters like me die every day in dungeons just to keep your 'balance' intact."
He stopped in front of Zane. "And you... you called me a friend while you were planning to leave me for the spiders."
Zane couldn't even speak; his jaw was trembling so much.
Arthur looked at his generals. "These humans are obsessed with Ranks. So, let's give them a new rank. System, create the 'Eternal Slave' Rank."
[Ding!]
[New Rank Created: Eternal Slave.]
[Effect: Targets are bound to the Shadow Realm. They cannot die, they cannot rest, and they must work the obsidian mines of Xerxes for all eternity.]
With a wave of Arthur's hand, the humans were transformed. Their skin turned a dull grey, and heavy shadow-chains appeared around their necks. They were no longer the masters of the world. They were the first laborers of the Shadow Empire.
"This is just the beginning," Arthur said, looking at the countdown on his system. [29 Days Remaining until the Great Twelve arrive.]
"I have secured the Earth. Now, it's time to build a weapon that can kill a Creator."