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.

throwing at me, I

longer

eyes. The gears of my

don't have all day." The guard

"…"

not responding, I moved towards the entrance of the

"Tsk, what an idiot."

the room, my footsteps halted. Turning around, I

room,

'The moment I step out of this room is the

Seven months.

for this day. The day that

the time was

it was now the optimal time

"What are you doing?"

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

*

front of the corridor that led to the training ground. Tapping onto his finger,

both of your

"..."

raised both of my

—Click! —Click!

my bracelets and unlocking them, I could instantly feel my mana replenish as my

removed your

and put the bracelets away. Inching closer to my

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

looking at the corridor to make sure that there were no

—Pa!

smacking sound echoed across the corridor.

than me? In the end, you can't

"..."

lack of reaction, Mark waved his hand and

for your

"..."

surprise, however, I did not

got

my mouth, I said. "...as

"W-what—khu"

moment those words escaped from my mouth, Mark froze on the

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

"Khh..."

grabbed his

Yet.

matter how much Mark struggled, he couldn't free himself

W-khmm-at are you doing?! Let go!

Mark, a small smirk appeared on my lips.

for someone to be betray something, they had to be a part of it. Not once did I

"W-what?"

his face visibly paled. He was

never brainwashed,

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

get rid of him, a part of me really wanted to torture him. Torture him and make him

But.

didn't have

"T-th—"

said 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.

Kracka—!

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

torture him, I wanted him to realize who he had messed

—Thud!

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

"...Next."

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

Mark who was slowly dying on the floor, I lowered

"Stay still."