Noah looked at the forty-five elites for a long time. There was no anger on his face. Instead, he had an amusing smile, the kind a scientist might give a strange bug under a microscope.
"Oh? You want to destroy this empire?" Noah asked calmly. "But why? Aren't we all humans? Why would you want to destroy a fellow human empire? In a universe filled with dragons, spirits, and monsters, shouldn't we be standing together?"
The young man at the front, Valerius, didn't answer.
It was another man behind him who stepped forward. His face was twisted with disgust, as if the very air Noah breathed was toxic.
"Shut up, ant!" the youth screamed. "How dare you ask us questions? We are not humans from the same lineage. We are far superior to you. In our eyes, you are nothing but trash that shares our shape. You are not allowed to be called humans at all. If you want to be our slaves, then we might spare your lives and let you serve us. That is the only mercy you will get."
