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

reality are you

got the better of

"He..."

his head and met my sight. He

the only way for humanity to avoid extinction.

sort of nonsense is

these words, but as soon as my mouth

mind grew numb when this realization

to have noticed my reaction and a thin smile formed

that you are aware of the seriousness of our situation. Your inability to refute my arguments suggests that you are aware that they are not mere heresy from a psychopath, as the others appear to make it

started

out of anger, but

His words…

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

multiple regressions defeating the demon king would be possible, but it didn't seem to be the case as both Kevin and

occurred, it always ended with the

would've perceived Hemlock as an absolute psychopath, but for someone like me, who understood the truth…his words...they

…and that was worrying.

a sudden look of understanding on

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

that snapped

was still rambling about the demon king and

this much. I already knew and experienced the helplessness that came with

you know

"Smallsnake?"

times. Seemingly unable to

was only after I pointed at his tomb that he understood who I was talking

"Oh, you mean Brian?"

"Right…"

was indeed

nodded his head. Turning around

year. I was too busy trying to break through to notice that

hair to the side, he fixed his eyes on

me? Especially from someone like you whom

at him without saying

of precautions to ensure that they didn't know all of my movements, it was inevitable for them to hold some information about me, such as who worked

put a 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 because of this that I knew that he was working in the black

received was far off from what I

years because I hoped that he would slowly start

was too busy with several problems that occurred due

From the way he was looking at

have imagined the incident would have, in its own

was 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

realized that he was outside of the human

cover his face,

up. I got totally played by Octavious when he sent me

a little

came out of his body became extremely overbearing, sealing all my

low, deep and sinister voice reached

times than I could've ever imagined. First, with all the troubles, you caused at our headquarters, then when you sent us