The Author's POV

"I'm bored."

Over the course of Lightning Dragon's short life, the same words had been repeated so many times that he had also gotten bored of saying them.

But he couldn't help it.

He had truly gotten bored.

'Prodigy.'

'Next Union head.'

'Humanity's hope.'

Originally known as Liam Nefeli, Lightning Dragon was once hailed as one of mankind's brightest prodigies.

In the past, he had attended the Lock, and that was where he gained his fame.

In spite of this, he had no pleasant memories of the place.

As a transfer student, he had great expectations when he first arrived at the Lock.

Why wouldn't he? It was supposed to be the number one academy in the human domain.

It was a world filled to the brim with huge prodigies who would one day become the backbone of mankind.

His first year at the Lock was probably the best year he had ever had. His constant drive to improve himself, along with his friendship, kept life from becoming monotonous.

As a matter of fact, he had also acquired a rival while at the Lock. An individual who pushed him forward and followed him from behind.

His name was...

What was it again? Givan? Gary? Gilbert?

Ah, it was such a long time ago that he had already forgotten.

But those were truly fun days for Liam.

It was probably the last time he had ever truly been happy.

Unfortunately, those days never really lasted long.

After his talent began to outshine everyone else's, his so-called 'friends' began to look at him differently.

It was no longer out of friendship, but out of greed.

'If he becomes the next of the Union he will support me in the future.'

'I should stay closer to him.'

'He will make a good connection.'

They didn't need to say anything for him to understand what they were thinking. Their faces said it all.

Life became duller from that point on.

Despite this, he continued to train hard, and his strength continued to rise at an alarming rate. It had gotten to the point where almost all the big guilds in the human domain were salivating over him.

He would constantly get secret offers from the top guilds or even the Union itself.

He naturally rejected them.

He wasn't interested in such things. Responsibilities weren't his thing.

They were boring.

That said.

In spite of losing a lot of his friends, Liam kept staying at the Lock because of his rival, or should he say, best friend?

Yeah...

That sounded about right.

Bests friend...

As far as he was concerned, he was the only one who hadn't given up on him.

…It was kind of fun.

But, that too inevitably came to an end as his rival soon stopped comparing himself to him and pushing himself like he once did.

He tried to remedy the situation by holding back a lot, but in the end, his friend and rival found out about his intentions and stopped talking to him altogether.

Whenever they met thereafter, he would greet him with a short nod and disappear into the distance.

It was from that point on that Liam's world became dyed in grey.

His life had become monotonous as nothing excited him anymore.

"How boring…"

he found himself on a school excursion trip along

but reality proved to be

out, it wasn't just a

attack seemed to target all Lock students. Or at least on the surface as the true target was him as several Marquis-ranked demons were dispatched

success of their plans, and stop any reinforcements

like this happened, however, they too were stopped as the several Marquis ranked demons, including the

away the

one that didn't run away that day was Liam. At that moment, he didn't stay behind because he wanted to save his classmates nor because he want to be a hero; he was

at a powerful enemy, he

strong that it could

it also brought color to his dull gray

shone and a smile

could

like that if they had been present, but Liam didn't mind. As far as he was concerned, he only wanted to fight against the demon in front of him. Nothing else mattered

alleviate himself from the boredom that had been plaguing him

he was inevitably left

Crash—!

against one of the trees, the demon raised his head and gazed

stronger than what the reports

that. I was holding back

back of his head as he stared

"How boring."

up muttering as he stared at the

guess I should finish this

at that

just

his

"What about it?"

He asked.

tree, the demon pondered

"Why are you bored?"

"Why am I bored?"

head, Liam thought for

past experiences, and lack of challenge

"Because I'm too strong."

"Too strong?"

And the older ones won't fight me because they don't want to hurt me. They think that I am

him also contributed to his boredom, as they prevented him from getting into any fights that could endanger his life. Had it not been for the demon's carefully thought out plan,

but their actions only

he had gotten so bored that he had started questioning whether living

It was then that.

you want

his head to look at him, Liam

to do. I won't fall for it. I'm not

you to sign

demon shook his head as he murmured in a barely audible

not crazy enough to sign a

do

took a step forward and raised his hand, prepared to

stare

you can fight at your heart's content with

came to a

"…Speak."

quickly started to inform Liam

the more relaxed his hand became as an

become

"Interesting."

across Liam's face as he thought back

for a

do I go

me to

brows furrowed when he heard

I know that you aren't messing with

was at

Spurt!

to pierce his stomach with his sharp nails. black blood spilled

to toss

"Here you go."

looked at the

"What's this?"

"It's my core."

The demon answered.

control my life and death. Is this enough proof that I will keep my

couple of seconds,

"Alright."

Spurt—

off his arm and

shocked the

"You…what are you doing?"

Liam put the demon core away and

Nefeli is dead. He died during a fight against a demon trying

to