The Author's POV

"How pathetic..."

Looking back at those two emotionless eyes, Jin's mouth opened and closed a couple of times.

...Though he tried, no words came out from his mouth.

-Thud!

Kneeling on the ground, Jin lowered his head and stared at his blood-soaked clothes.

Those words hit him straight into the heart.

No matter how much he wanted to refute...he couldn't.

He couldn't even defeat a bunch of nobodies, and yet he dreamt of people erecting statues of him?

'How pathetic'

...No other words better matched how Jin felt at the moment.

Expresionesly staring at Jin's sorry figure, Ren spoke

"Is this all your pride amounts to?"

"..."

Staring at the ground, Ren's words went from one ear to the other...the world around Jin became dyed black and white, and all sound around him became faint.

Seeing Jin's state, walking next to him, Ren looked down on him

"So this is the real Jin Horton huh?"

An insecure brat with an overly inflated ego.

That's who Jin Horton was...

Only in his darkest moment did his true personality become evident.

People around him thought of him as a genius and a prodigy.

They lauded his talents and efforts continuously...but in the end, all that did was fuel his ego and insecurities.

Just like a castle made out of cards, all it took was a simple push, and everything came crashing down.

-Bam!

Staring at Jin's sorry figure for a couple more seconds, Ren raised his foot and kicked him in the stomach.

"kaahhh.."

Feeling a strong force on his abdomen, Jin curled on the ground as he gagged multiple times.

"To think your pride only amounted to this much...all it took was a couple of setbacks and this is the result...pathetic"

Walking over to Jin, Ren grabbed him by the hair and dragged his face towards his.

"You disappoint me"

-Pa!

Slapping Jin on the face once, Ren released his hair and flung him to the side as if he was a piece of garbage.

"I honestly couldn't care less if you died, but..."

Looking at Jin's pathetic figure for a couple of more seconds, Ren turned around and headed towards the exit of the room.

As he left, in an almost inaudible voice, he mumbled

"...I didn't want to discard such an important chess piece"

Watching Ren's figure leaving, leaning against the wall, Jin looked up and weakly said

"Y-ou y-our that guy called Ren Dover right?"

"..."

As if he didn't hear Jin's voice, Ren kept walking towards the exit of the room.

bitterly smiling, Jin looked down and

"It's you isn't it?"

haha.

thought another person stronger than he

didn't know the full extent of his power, he knew he killed

fast that even he, someone who specialized in speed,

didn't that mean he was stronger than

up at the ceiling of the room, Jin

happening to me? What did I deserve for this to

again his pride took another

goal, another obstacle

-Bang!

the

why!! Why is this happening

Jin's hysterical screams, Ren's footsteps halted. Looking

be happening

staring at Ren, Jin glared at

you know!

opened his

wouldn't I understand?...What did you actually do to make yourself stronger? Train? Spar? or suck onto your

"What ar--"

to refute, cutting

you ever fight with your life on the line? Did you actually ever think about what the others had to sacrifice in order to get to where they were now? You keep comparing yourself to Kevin, but do you

character had their own

age fought with his life on the line, Amanda was alone for the most part of her life...Emma and Melissa too had their very own setbacks that shaped

they fought through it and got

Jin?

did he

a rich second-generation young master that was continuously fed the

an easy life with no setbacks or reality checks that helped him mature. He was merely an overgrown

right did he have to be prideful and

Ren's words, Jin fiercely glared at him

you telling me all my effort wasn't worth

and tears he shed when he trained? All the days where he would sacrifice his sleep to train

Jin, Ren looked at the room. Pointing towards the black-clad

In the end, you're the one that almost got killed

at the room which was now a mess, Jin looked at the

nonsense since

his stomach, with the aid of the wall, Jin weakly stood

I've been through! What I did to get to where I am. How much effort I put to

at a time, jin walked

as if you know

got to Ren,

criticize me when you hide

words as he slowly moved closer in his direction, Ren's

not a once of anxiety nor fear on his face...just

if you know

a time, Jin slowly made his

-Halt

in front of Ren, Jin looked at him straight into the eyes and

have no right to talk to me like that when you know

from him, Ren extended his hand forward and

"uh?--kghhh"

in the air,

all the time, you don't seem that impressive

"Khhhh...let go!"

by Ren, Jin struggled to speak as he swung his legs

"It's useless..."

on Jin's neck, Ren looked at him in the eyes and

when you're doing whatever you are doing...I want you to remember this moment...I want you to remember my hand at your throat as you heavily gasp for air and

retaining his hold of Jin's neck, Ren emotionlessly looked at Jin who kept trying to free himself from

"Khhh...damn it! Let go!"

Jin tried to do, he couldn't free himself from Ren's grip.

"khhh"

of his grip to shut Jin

your mind...Realise that no one cares about that stupid pride of yours...whilst everyone around you is getting stronger, you're the only getting

to remember this moment...this humiliation...remember the moment where your pathetic self almost lost to a bunch of henchmen...remember me, Ren Dover

listened to Ren's powerful voice, the less

stopped struggling

before had he ever felt so

on his neck, Jin realized at this moment

more Jin wanted to deny what he was saying. He wanted with all his being to release himself from his grip and beat him to