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.

all of the abuse he was throwing at

that no longer

closed my eyes.

all day." The guard

"…"

not responding, I moved towards the entrance of the

"Tsk, what an idiot."

guard, just as I was about to leave the room, my footsteps

room, I closed my eyes

of this room is the moment

Seven months.

this day. The day that I would finally escape

planning, the time

union continuously escalating each day, it was now the optimal time for me to escape. Especially since most of the

"What are you doing?"

my ears. Silently turning around, I took a step out of the room and closed

*

all too familiar with, the guard, Mark, stopped in front of the corridor that led to the training ground. Tapping onto his finger, a key appeared in his

both of

"..."

both of my hands. On them were two

—Click! —Click!

key into my bracelets and unlocking them, I could instantly feel my mana replenish as my rank rose

I've removed

key away, Mark patted his hands and put the bracelets away. Inching closer

that you're rank. That's stronger than me.

to make sure

—Pa!

the corridor. The right side of my cheek started

what if you're stronger than me? In the end, you can't

"..."

reaction, or lack of reaction, Mark waved

time for your training

"..."

surprise, however, I

You've got something

brief moment, opening my mouth, I said. "...as a

"W-what—khu"

my mouth, Mark froze

he watched as my hand arrived before his throat. It was so

"Khh..."

texture of his throat, I grabbed his throat.

Yet.

struggled, he couldn't free himself

doing?! Let

small smirk appeared on my lips. Instantly, a look of fear appeared on Mark's

A small chuckle escaped from my lips. "I've never been part of the Monolith. What betray?" To begin with, for someone to be betray something, they had to be a part of it. Not once did I recall

"W-what?"

great impact on Mark as his face visibly paled. He was slowly

You were never brainwashed, to begin

on my face disappeared. "You know..." Staring at Joseph, and recalling how he had tormented me for the past months, my grip on his throat tightened. "If I wasn't so pressed for time, I would've taken my

presented with the chance to get rid of

But.

I didn't have enough

"T-th—"

with you any longer." Clenching my teeth and once again increasing the strength of my grip on his throat, I hoarsely said. "The only reason I'm even speaking to you is so that you know who

Kracka—!

to speak, clenching my hand, the sound

I couldn't torture him, I wanted him to realize who he had messed

—Thud!

body on the ground, I closed my eyes

"...Next."

hands inside of my underwear and taking out a small black bracelet, I channeled my mana and

at Mark who was slowly dying on

"Stay still."