The Shields all gathered around the congregation of Adversaries.
All of the Corruptors were dead.
Envy didn't count as a Corruptor anymore since it had become an Adversary.
Now, Envy joined the Duo of Destruction, making it the Trio of Destruction again.
Humanity had finally gotten rid of the Corruptors.
The Corruptors had been the biggest issue plaguing the normal people.
And now, they were gone.
War, Envy, and Pestilence couldn't dedicate all their time to micromanaging different cities.
Death realized that it had fallen into Aegis' trap.
It hadn't thought that humanity would manage to convince the Salt Trident to help them.
How would they even come into contact with it?
Death immediately contacted the Salt Trident to ask for an explanation.
The Salt Trident told Death the truth.
Death hadn't given it any food, but Aegis was willing to give it three Peak Protectors.
If Death wanted some help in the future, it needed to give the Salt Trident some food as well.
Of course, the Salt Trident was quite a bit weaker than Death, and if Death wanted, it could kill the Salt Trident.
However, the Salt Trident knew that it was far too valuable.
If it died, Death would lose its biggest shield.
So, despite the Salt Trident's betrayal, it wouldn't kill it.
It just looked at the Shields.
The Salt Trident said that it would attack anyone who entered since the deal was already fulfilled.
This meant that the four Adversaries were safe.
Death just wanted to see what humanity's next move would be.
And humanity showed its next move promptly.
All of the Shields dispersed and returned to their positions.
They knew that Nick couldn't sense the Adversaries since that would expose him.
For now, the four Adversaries were beyond their grasp.
This was the smartest move.
Forcing a final battle would be too risky.
The Salt Trident and the Shark Mother might strike if humanity overcommitted.
Maybe even the Eternal Hunger, which created all the black blobs, or the False Hope, which created all of the fake forests, might join in.
Forcing a final battle right now might kill all of humanity.
It was better to take home with the substantial gains they had acquired today.
All of the Corruptors were dead.
Managing the cities would become many times easier now.
Zephyx production would shoot through the roof, and the Agents and Protectors would have more time for other duties.
Today, humanity had officially taken the upper hand over Death's faction.
Yet, there were still the Eternals.
While the Eternals were still alive, humanity was still helpless in front of the Specters.
However, the most immediate threat, Death, had been substantially weakened.
Humanity had much more freedom to expand and advance now.
Nick returned to Aegis' headquarters to claim his reward.
"You did a tremendous job today, Julian," the Champion transmitted.
"My reward?" Nick asked.
"As promised, we will turn you into a Peak Fallen and then give you 200 years of freedom," the Champion said.
"Thank you," Nick answered.
"In five days, you may start your advancement," he added.
"Happy to work with humanity," Nick said.
The Champion just wordlessly nodded.
Three days after their talk, the three Peak Protectors entered the ocean.
The Salt Trident gladly accepted the free food.
Two days later, it was time for Nick to advance.
He entered the usual Containment Unit.
He assumed his usual disguise and waited.
The Prephyx inside the Containment Unit was pulled out, and Nick was substantially weakened, as always.
Some hours later, the doors opened.
The person who entered was the Left Arm.
The Left Arm probably had the biggest number of daily duties.
It was unusual to send him to work with Nick for a long time.
The door closed behind the new Left Arm.
All of the Prephyx was sucked out again.
'I knew this day would come,' Nick thought.
'I just didn't expect it to come so soon.'
The Politician pulled out a device and activated it.
A moment later, he was enveloped by a cloud of Prephyx, which hovered around him.
"You contributed more to humanity than anyone else in history," the Left Arm said.
"If you were a human, you would be our hero."
"You would be the savior of humanity."
The Left Arm pulled out his guns.
"Your power is already far too terrifying, and you are only a Mid Fallen."
"As a mere Demon, you took down Pride and Lust."
"As a Fallen, you took down the remainder."
"You played the Specters for fools."
"And you intend to play humanity for fools as well."
"But we are not fools."
"Humanity recognizes dangers."
"The Corruptors are dead, and Death's forces are weakened."
"Our Shields are more powerful than they have ever been."
The Politician pulled out his guns.
"Humanity doesn't need you anymore, and you are too dangerous to be kept alive."
"If you manage to grow, you will one day kill us."
The Politician aimed one of his guns at Nick.
With all of the Prephyx sucked out, even a Specter would be helpless.
Nick's Zephyx storage was empty.
"Farewell, Julian Winter."
"It was an honor working with you."
The Politician pulled the trigger, and everything inside the Containment Unit exploded.
Since the shot was fired in an enclosed space, even the Politician took damage from his shot.
Luckily, his Barrier was strong enough to resist the destruction, but it still consumed about 50% of his Zephyx.
After the destruction calmed down, only black smoke remained.
The Politician watched as the remainder of Julian's disguise turned into black mist, which scattered across the Containment Unit.
He took special note of the fragments of his Specter Core.
He wanted to be absolutely sure that Julian was dead.
Julian's power terrified him.
Julian was probably the most terrifying Specter he had ever seen.
Even while watching his literal body vanishing, he still felt nervous.
After some seconds, the Politician walked out.
He closed the door behind him and changed the settings of the Containment Unit.
All the Prephyx was drained.
If Julian were still alive, he would starve.
And then, he locked down the Containment Unit.
This Containment Unit wouldn't be opened ever again.
Julian was just that dangerous.
"Mission accomplished," the Politician transmitted.
"Good work," the Champion answered.
Finally, the Politician went back to his duties.
Inside the Containment Unit, the black smoke gathered, and Nick reappeared.
In his hand was a device emitting Prephyx.
He had seen this coming from a mile away.
His accomplishments in engineering were incomparable, and it hadn't been difficult for him to secretly alter the Containment Unit without alerting anyone.
'And thus ends Julian Winter's life,' Nick thought.
Then, he turned into mist again and left through the minuscule one-way tunnel he had created.
The author's . If he gets more than 1000€ per month, he will increase the number of words in the chapter.