The Author's POV

Days passed, and eventually, five more months flew by. It had now been about seven months since I had entered this place, and a lot of things changed.

Especially since my fight with Xavier, which took place around half a year ago.

Ever since then, the number of successful subjects increased from three to fifteen, and the conditions I had been living in had improved drastically.

Once again, my room changed. This time, it was a lot more 'practical' as although it lacked any luxury, it had a private training facility.

As a result of the improved conditions, my strength saw a significant boost.

Training every day, and being fed all sorts of weird stuff, my strength surged at a faster rate than ever before. Even more than when I was at the Lock learning from Monica and Donna.

Within half a year, I had reached rank, almost rank. Something that I would've never thought possible when first arriving here.

In around seven months, I shot up to almost rank. This was a speed that perhaps only Kevin could rival.

Other than that.

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[★★★ Full-body martial arts]

Hand-to-Hand combat technique dedicated to utilizing every single part of the body to incapacitate the enemy. It may be a 3-star art, but upon mastery, it can be used to complement other forms of martial art.

===

This was the technique that I had been learning for the past two months. A generic three-star technique that every subject was forced to learn.

And because I was learning this, my swordsmanship saw no significant boost during the past seven months. I wasn't saddened by this as I had now tackled one of my biggest weaknesses. Fighting without a sword.

But not everything was good.

Splash—!

Walking towards the sink and washing my face, I turned my head slightly. Brushing my hair up, I looked at a small scar on the back of my head.

"Khh...it still hurts."

Touching the scar, my face twitched in pain.

About a month ago I underwent a surgical procedure at the hands of Joseph. A chip was installed into my brain.

The chip was something that Joseph had created and what it did was essentially increase the computational abilities of the user. In short, it made someone think at a much faster rate than before. A basic necessity for the super-soldiers he wanted to create.

That was good and all, but unfortunately, there was also a tracking device installed in it. Unaware of such a device existing in the novel, I was unable to prevent this, and thus, stuck with the chip inside of my head, I had to delay my escape plan for another couple of months.

To make matters worse, two months ago, apart from one that I had been saving for a while, I had run out of healing potions.

The only reason I was able to remain sane till now was that the number of dosages I took also saw a dramatic decrease compared to before.

But this was a given.

After all, the dosages did damage the nervous system. Too many and they would only give the opposite effect of what they wanted. Instead of a super-soldier, they'd get an idiot.

Clank—!

"876, it's time to go"

Barging into the room and disrupting me out of my thoughts, was the same guard that had been attending me for the past seven months.

Throwing me a look of disdain, he stepped to the side and gestured with his hand.

"Hurry up, don't waste the professor's time."

"…"

Turning around, I Indifferently looked at him. No words escaped from my mouth.

Since I was supposed to be 'emotionless' I had to act the part. Therefore, without speaking a word I complied with everything the guard was saying.

of the abuse he was throwing at me, I endured and pretended to not feel

no longer

fists, I closed my eyes.

all day."

"…"

I moved towards the entrance of

"Tsk, what an idiot."

leave the room, my footsteps halted. Turning around, I looked

room,

of this

Seven months.

waiting for this day. The day that I would

planning, the time was finally

now the optimal time for me to escape. Especially since most of the

"What are you doing?"

voice reached my ears. Silently turning around, I took a step

*

of the corridor that led to the training ground. Tapping

both of

"..."

raised both of my hands. On them

—Click! —Click!

into my bracelets and unlocking them, I could instantly feel my mana replenish as my rank rose all the way to

I've removed your

Mark patted his hands and put the bracelets away. Inching closer to my face,

rank. That's stronger than me.

and looking at the corridor to make sure that there were no

—Pa!

the corridor.

me?

"..."

my reaction, or lack of reaction, Mark waved his hand and

it's time for your

"..."

surprise, however,

You've got something

brief moment, opening my mouth, I

"W-what—khu"

my mouth, Mark froze on

hand, to Mark's horror, he watched as my hand arrived before his throat. It was

"Khh..."

grabbed his

Yet.

much Mark struggled, he couldn't free himself

Let go!

at Mark, a small smirk appeared on my lips. Instantly, a look of

part of the Monolith. What betray?" To begin with, for someone to be betray something, they had to be

"W-what?"

impact on Mark as his face

never brainwashed,

my grip on his throat tightened. "If I wasn't so pressed for time, I would've taken my sweet

Now that I was presented with the chance to get rid of him, a part of me really wanted to

But.

I didn't have

"T-th—"

with you any longer." Clenching my teeth and once again increasing the strength of my grip on his throat, I hoarsely said.

Kracka—!

I finished those words, without giving Mark any chance to speak, clenching

if I couldn't torture him, I wanted him to realize

—Thud!

body on the ground, I closed my eyes slightly. 'That's the

"...Next."

a small black bracelet, I channeled my

was slowly dying on

"Stay still."