The Author's POV

Calm.

When Malik's eyes stopped on me and our eyes met, I felt completely at ease.

His pressure…

It was terrifying. More than I could've bargained for. Enough to make me feel suffocated with just a single breath.

' rank.'

Although it was unclear to those watching, I, who was close to achieving rank, could discern from a quick glance what level he had attained.

The way the mana around him bent to his will…

The way the world seemed so focused on him…

And the pressure that closely resembled a couple of figures I had met in the past…

Without a single doubt, he had broken through to rank.

"Hm?"

Before I knew it, he was a couple of steps away from me.

"You must be Ren Dover…or should I say, 876?"

His voice echoed out. It sounded crisp and pleasant to the ear, yet, at the same time, felt extremely chilly.

Nevertheless, I didn't get shaken up by his voice or pressure. At this moment, it seemed as though the emotion known as 'fear' had completely dissipated from my body.

My head tilted slightly as I asked in a rather monotonous tone.

At this point, I was starting to doubt whether the one speaking was me or the other me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

As he said, Malik Alshayatin, or lesser known as Hemlock, took a step to the side and gestured in the direction of Smallsnake's grave.

"...I'm here to pay a visit to my friend."

His remarks would've normally have made me angry, but as I've said before, the emotion known as "anger" vanished from my body. His reply aroused no emotion from within me.

At this point, I realized that something was wrong, yet at the same time, had no time to understand what was going on.

"Friend? Last time I heard, you were the one responsible for killing his own mother? I'm sure no friend would actually do that."

"…So he's still hung up on that."

Hemlock quietly whispered to himself.

The whisper was low, but it was audible enough for me to hear. He then repeatedly pointed toward his chest.

"You see, it was only because I was his friend that I did what I did. I did it to make sure he understood...understood just how serious the situation is. In the end, I did everything for his benefit. I wished to show him the reality of the world!...and the death of his mother was the only way that I could open up his eyes. I wanted him to understand just how feeble human life is."

Without realizing it, my brows knit as I noticed signs of agony on his face.

is he making

was starting to grow curious. What exactly was he trying to say?...and why did it seem like he genuinely felt that his actions

are you

of

"He..."

met my sight. He let out a

to avoid extinction. We won't be able to protect ourselves

of

blurt out loud these words, but as

numb when this realization dawned

noticed my reaction and a thin smile formed on his

are aware of the seriousness of our situation. Your inability to refute my arguments suggests that you are aware that

started

of

His words…

my body underwent, I realized that the demon king was an entity that was simply

after multiple regressions defeating the demon king would be possible, but it didn't

regressions occurred, it always ended with the

as an absolute psychopath, but for

…and that was worrying.

sudden look

expression on your face. You can't really grasp how hopeless the situation is until you actually meet him. It was

Hemlock's words that snapped me out

about the demon king

tell me to know this much. I already knew and experienced the helplessness that came with meeting him. Hence why I

know that Smallsnake

"Smallsnake?"

his eyes a couple of times. Seemingly unable to understand

I pointed at his tomb

"Oh, you mean Brian?"

"Right…"

was indeed his

Turning around to look at Smallsnake's tomb,

I was too busy trying to break

side,

like you whom we have been keeping a close eye on after it

stared back at him

Monolith, it wouldn't be strange for them to know my movements. Although I took a series of precautions to ensure that they didn't know all of my movements, it was inevitable for them to hold some information about

little lump of mana into his body just before we parted ways. There was no grand purpose behind it. It was so that I could find him as long as I was nearby. Just by feeling the mana, I would be able to get a general idea of where he was...It was also

received was far off from what I assumed

anything to him over the past couple of years because I hoped that he would slowly start

I was too busy with several problems that occurred

words. From the way he was looking

referring to the 876 incident. Who would have imagined the incident would

preparing to approach him again after solving all the issues that you caused, but no matter how hard I looked for him, I was unable to locate him. How astonished was I, do you know? I briefly believed that he had passed away before realizing that I

there I realized that he was outside of the human domain, and waited. Waited for him

to cover his face,

by Octavious when he sent me a fake corpse of what was

inched a little

that came out of his body became extremely

deep and sinister voice

ever imagined. First, with all the troubles, you caused at our headquarters,