Arthur stood in the center of the silent city, the dark gold aura slowly receding into his body. He looked at the 100 'Divine Sparks' in his inventory. Each one could turn an ordinary human into an S-Rank awakened. With this, he could create an army that would dwarf any guild on the planet.
"Igris," Arthur said.
The Shadow Knight appeared, his armor now shimmering with the captured essence of the Sun God. "I am here, my King."
"Take the legion. Spread them across every major city. Tell the leaders of this world that the 'Dungeon Era' is over. This world is now under the protection of the Omni-Monarch."
As Igris and the million-soul army vanished into the shadows to fulfill the decree, Arthur felt two familiar mana signatures nearby. They were hiding in a ruined subway entrance, trembling with fear.
Arthur turned his gaze toward them. With a flick of his finger, the earth moved, forcing the two figures out into the open.
It was Zane and Elara.
They looked pathetic. Their high-tier gear was cracked and useless, and their faces were covered in soot and tears. When they saw Arthur looking at them—the same Arthur they had left to die in a spider's nest—they fell to their knees.
"Arthur! Please!" Zane sobbed, his voice cracking. "We were wrong! We were scared! The Association forced us to do it!"
Elara reached out a trembling hand, trying to look at him with the same eyes she used to use to manipulate him. "Arthur... honey... remember us? We were a team. I still love you! Please, share some of that power with us... we can rule together!"
Arthur looked at them, but he didn't feel anger anymore. He felt nothing. They were like ants trying to bargain with a mountain.
"Share my power?" Arthur whispered. "You had a choice in that cave. You chose your greed. Now, I choose your fate."
Arthur didn't kill them. That would have been too merciful. He raised his hand, and a small puff of grey shadow entered both of their chests.
"I have stripped you of your mana," Arthur declared. "You are now lower than F-Ranks. You will live the rest of your lives as the very 'trash' you used to despise. Every time you see a shadow, you will remember what you threw away."
Zane and Elara screamed as their power vanished, leaving them weak and fragile. Arthur turned his back on them, walking toward the glowing rift in the sky.
[Ding!]
[Global Quest Initiated: The War of the Heavens.]
[Objective: Prepare the Earth for the arrival of the 'Great Twelve' Gods.]
[Time Remaining: 30 Days.]
Arthur looked at the countdown. Thirty days. In thirty days, the creators of the system would come in person to reclaim their farm.
"Thirty days is plenty of time," Arthur said, a cold, majestic smile spreading across his face. "By the time they get here, I'll have a hundred gods' souls in my collection."
He stepped into his own shadow, vanishing from New York and appearing atop the highest peak of the Himalayas. He looked out over the world, his kingdom. The weakest porter was gone. The Monarch was ready for war.