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 me, I endured and pretended to not

no longer applies as

fists, I closed my eyes. The

all

"…"

responding, I moved towards the entrance

"Tsk, what an idiot."

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

room, I

moment I step out of this room is the

Seven months.

for this day. The day that I would finally escape from this

the time

the union continuously escalating each day, it was now the optimal time for me

"What are you doing?"

Silently turning around, I took a step out of the room and

*

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

of your

"..."

saying anything, I raised both of my hands. On them were two

—Click! —Click!

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

I've removed your

his hands and put the bracelets away. Inching closer

that you're rank. That's stronger than

corridor to make sure that there were no cameras present, Mark raised

—Pa!

the corridor. The

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

"..."

of reaction, Mark waved his

time for your

"..."

his surprise, however, I

You've got something to

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

"W-what—khu"

those words escaped from my mouth, Mark froze

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

"Khh..."

rough texture of his throat, I grabbed his

Yet.

struggled, he couldn't free himself from

Let go! A-re

small smirk appeared on my

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

"W-what?"

his face

never brainwashed,

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 sweet time with you. I mean, surely you wouldn't forget about all of the horrible things you

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

But.

I didn't have

"T-th—"

before. I, unfortunately, don't have time to chat 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

Kracka—!

without giving Mark any chance to speak, clenching

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

—Thud!

I closed my eyes

"...Next."

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

was slowly dying

"Stay still."