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.

===

[★★★ 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.

abuse he was throwing at me, I endured and pretended to

longer applies as of

my fists, I closed my eyes. The

I don't have all

"…"

responding, I moved towards the

"Tsk, what an idiot."

as I was about to leave the room, my footsteps halted. Turning around,

back at the room, I closed my eyes

is it,' I thought. 'The moment I step out of this room is the moment

Seven months.

for this day. The day that I

the time was

each day, it was now the optimal time for me to escape. Especially since most of the higher-ups were out holding

"What are you doing?"

Silently turning around, I

*

route that I had been all too familiar with, the guard, Mark, stopped in front of the corridor that led to the training ground. Tapping

both of your

"..."

my hands. On them were two thick

—Click! —Click!

could instantly feel my mana replenish as my rank

I've removed

away, Mark patted his hands and put

that you're rank. That's stronger

the corridor to make sure that there were

—Pa!

the corridor. The right

what if you're stronger than me? In

"..."

or lack of reaction, Mark waved his hand

time for your training to

"..."

his surprise, however,

got

mouth, I said. "...as a matter

"W-what—khu"

those words escaped from my mouth, Mark froze on the

my hand arrived before his throat. It was

"Khh..."

of his throat, I grabbed

Yet.

he couldn't free himself

W-khmm-at are you doing?! Let go! A-re you betraying

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

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

"W-what?"

my words had a great impact on Mark as his face visibly paled. He was slowly starting to understand

were never brainwashed, to begin

"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

to kill this piece of scum before him. Now that I was presented with the chance to get rid of him, a part of me really wanted to torture him. Torture him and make him go through the hell I had been

But.

didn't

"T-th—"

the strength of my

Kracka—!

without giving Mark any chance to speak, clenching my hand, the sound of bones

couldn't torture him, I wanted him to realize

—Thud!

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

"...Next."

out a small black bracelet, I channeled my mana and a wooden mask appeared

was slowly dying on

"Stay still."