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…"

boring life continued until he found himself on a school excursion trip along with his classmates during

proved

out, it wasn't just

at least on the surface as the true target was him as several Marquis-ranked demons were dispatched during the

success of their plans, and stop any reinforcements from coming, the

however, they too were stopped as

rival, ran away the moment they spotted the

save his classmates nor because he want to be a hero; he was filled with inexplicable excitement for the first time in a long time as his dull

at a powerful enemy, he felt

that it

also brought color to his dull gray world as he proceeded

eyes shone and a smile spread

someone who he could go all

mind. As far as he was

wanted nothing more than to alleviate himself from the boredom that had been plaguing him

was inevitably left disappointed

Crash—!

his head and gazed in his direction. His eyes were clearly clouded with

what the reports

back a lot of

his head as he stared at the

"How boring."

as he stared at the demon in

guess I should finish this

at

just

furrowed, and his feet came to a

"What about it?"

He asked.

his back against the tree, the demon pondered for

"Why are you bored?"

"Why am I bored?"

Liam thought for a

back about his past experiences, and lack of challenge in his life, he

"Because I'm too strong."

"Too strong?"

least for my age. And the older ones won't fight me because they don't want to hurt me. They think that

boredom, as they prevented him from getting into any fights that could endanger his life. Had it not been for the

intentions, but their actions only

had gotten so bored that he had started questioning

It was then that.

want is excitement

asked him. Turning his head to look at him, Liam

won't fall for it. I'm not going to sign a demon

asking you to

as he murmured in a barely audible tone. Still enough for Liam

to sign a contract

do you

step forward and raised his hand, prepared to kill the demon

stare at

you can

came to a

"…Speak."

face as he quickly started to inform Liam

the more relaxed his hand

winner will become the

"Interesting."

as he thought back on

a bit,

I go

me to

furrowed when he

know that you aren't messing with

at

Spurt!

demon suddenly raised his hand and proceeded to pierce his stomach with his sharp nails. black blood spilled on the ground,

then proceeded to toss

"Here you go."

Liam looked at the

"What's this?"

"It's my core."

The demon answered.

it, you control my life and death. Is this enough proof that I

couple of seconds, Liam

"Alright."

Spurt—

off

shocked the

"You…what are you doing?"

arm on the ground, Liam put the

dead. He died during a fight against a demon trying

proceeded to