System's POV
chapter-365-1

The current monarchs, with the exception of Lawrence Seaton, had reached their rank through freeloading.

This was the reason why they weren't as battle-hardened as the Monarch of the Central Government, who had fought on the front lines during the fateful day when the world first faced its first Genocide-Level Threat.

Self-aware of their lacking ability, they never risked their lives to fight against the other Genocide-Level Threats, which had led to the Jinns and Majins successfully conquering the continents of Antares and Rigel.

If they were dealing with Rank 7 Sovereigns, the Monarchs would not hesitate to fight them.

However, if they were Rank 8 threats, they would think twice before making a move.

In short, they were people who bullied the weak and feared the strong.

Thirteen was even certain that when the Rank 8 Sovereigns descended upon the Cygni Continent, only Lawrence Seaton and the current Monarch who ruled the Cygni Continent, Douglas Griffin, would give their all when fighting Rank 8 threats who'd descend.

They would only fight half-heartedly and would retreat once their lives were in the slightest hint of danger. The world would once again experience the downfall of another continent, and Jinns and Majins would have another continent under their rule.

As much as Thirteen hated the Monarchs, he had to admit that the current Pangea still needed them.

Since his preparations weren't complete yet, he would leave them alone for the time being.

Once his preparations were completed, the world no longer needed to worry about any calamities equivalent to a Genocide-Level Threat.

Thirteen understood the importance of the upcoming invasion in the Cygni Continent. The moment their defenders failed to stop the conquest of the Jinns and Majins, Pangea would no longer have any future.

The Wanderers would lose heart and would dreadfully live their lives waiting for the next Genocide-Level-Threat to fall upon the Sirius and Aldebaran Continents.

Not wanting to let that happen, Thirteen planned to become the Supreme Commander and take full control over the armies of the world.

This was also why he had purposely provoked Renz Elrod and initiated a competition with him.

In the future, he would also face similar opposition. Because of his age, people subconsciously wouldn't want to entrust their lives to him.

There was a saying that desperate times called for desperate measures. This was one of those times, so Thirteen had to do something to make the big shots of the world truly recognize his abilities. Only then could he use them as pawns for the battle that would happen in three years.

'Rank 9 Sovereigns might still be too much for them, but Rank 8 shouldn't pose a problem if done right,' Thirteen thought as he walked the hallway of the Leventis Aircraft Carrier, followed closely by Arthur, Michael, and Hans.

Right after the discussion in the Dvalinn Tower ended, the young man ordered his subordinates to relocate to the Leventis Naval Fleet so that they would be able to join the expedition that Thirteen had planned in mind.

"Gramps, please stand guard outside the door," Thirteen said. "No matter what you hear inside, do not go in."

"Understood," Arthur replied as he stared at the door of Thirteen's room. "Will it take long?"

"I don't know," Thirteen answered. "But I will come out as soon as I'm done. Until then, make sure that no one will interrupt me."

Arthur nodded. "Very well."

Right after the teenage boy entered the room, Arthur and Hans stood guard to ensure that no one would disturb him.

Michael, on the other hand, went to the Control Room to confirm if their ships had been properly resupplied with food, ammunition, and other important resources.

While everyone was getting ready for their departure in the morning, Thirteen activated the Ring of the Apocalypse on his finger.

A second later, he found himself in the Conference Room of the Apocalypse, where some of the members were having a discussion.

"Thirteen! It's been a while!" Camazotz happily walked toward the teenage boy and lightly patted his shoulder. "When are you coming back to Solterra? I'm ready for another adventure."

Camazotz had earned a lot of Apocalypse Points in the battle of the Arcadia Archipelago, allowing him to unlock the Third Layer of the Treasury.

The other members of the Order were surprised about this development.

Camazotz had not been in their organization for a long time, yet he already managed to be on the same level as some of the other members who had also unlocked the Third Layer of the Treasury.

"There is something that I will need from you, Camazotz," Thirteen said solemnly. "I need to borrow your 'you know what.'"

The Death Bat immediately frowned. He knew that Thirteen was talking about the armor that he gained from fighting against the Artemian Sovereign, Zazriel, who would've ended Camazotz's life if it weren't for Thirteen coming to his rescue.

"How long will you need it?" Camazotz asked.

Obviously, he was hesitant to part with it. The armor was what enabled him to deter his neighbors, who had ganged up on his territory as soon as he returned to his Domain.

Ever since he gained the armor, he felt invincible. As expected from a Pseudo-Divine Equipment, he was nigh-untouchable as long as he was supplying a bit of his life force to it.

Equipped with such overpowered armor, the Death Bat hadn't hesitated to attack his aggressors. He had decimated their forces and made them submit to his rule by force.

Three years after the battle in the Arcadia Archipelago, Camazotz had finally stabilized his domain. Those who wished to defy him had long pledged allegiance to him, including two Majin Princes.

"Not more than a month," Thirteen replied. "I promise I will return it."

"Fine," Camazotz nodded before dragging Thirteen towards the Treasury, where Metatron would keep their transaction private.

Any negotiations or deals done between the members of the Order of the Apocalypse were done in his presence, in order to ensure that none of them would break their agreement.

Those who do would lose their qualifications as members, and their tokens would be handed over to the person whom they had wronged.

When they arrived at the treasury, they immediately saw the Bird Man standing near its gate.

The moment it saw Thirteen, it immediately rushed to attack the boy, but its clawed hands stopped a foot away from the human boy's head.

"What's wrong?" Thirteen asked in a teasing tone. "Can't hurt me?"

"Damn you!" the Bird Man said through telepathy. "It's all your fault!"

"Of course, it is," Thirteen replied. "But, before anything else, why don't you kneel first?"

"I will never kneel to you!" the Bird Man roared.

However, as soon as he said those words, he felt a pressure descend upon his body, forcing him to kneel.

Thirteen then looked at the kneeling monster with amusement and lightly tapped the Bird Man's right cheek.

"What's wrong?" Thirteen asked. "I thought you weren't going to kneel to me?"

"Kill me!" the Bird Man shouted. "Just kill me!"

"Why would I do that?" Thirteen smirked. "I'm sure you already tried to kill yourself many times, right? But what happened? You can't die, right?"

The Bird Man glared at the human boy, which made Thirteen chuckle.

No one could kill anyone within the Order of the Apocalypse because Metatron wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.

Even if someone died, they would just revive as if nothing had happened because, in this world, Metatron was God.

And everyone in it would need to play by his rules or risk incurring his wrath.