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.

making such a

grow curious. What exactly was he trying to say?...and why did it

are you

better of me in the

"He..."

met my sight. He let

to avoid extinction. We won't be

of nonsense is

wanted to blurt out loud these words, but as soon as my mouth opened, I

numb when

noticed my reaction and a

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

started

it wasn't out of anger,

His words…

to correct them. After observing the various regressions that my body underwent, I realized that the demon king was an entity that was simply too strong

possible, but it didn't seem to be the case as both

after hundreds of different regressions occurred, it

anyone else but me, they 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

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

snapped me

still rambling about the demon

this much. I already knew and experienced the helplessness that came with meeting him. Hence why I shifted the topic away

you know that Smallsnake was

"Smallsnake?"

his eyes a couple of times. Seemingly unable to understand who Smallsnake

pointed at his tomb that

"Oh, you mean Brian?"

"Right…"

was indeed his

head. Turning around to look at

last year. I was too busy trying

side, he fixed his

you whom we have been keeping a close eye on after it was revealed to us that

at him without saying

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 for me

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

far off from what I assumed

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

I was too busy with several problems that occurred

the way he was looking at me, I knew about

Who would have imagined the incident would have,

human realm as soon as I 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 him. How astonished was I, do you know? I briefly believed that he had passed away before realizing that I was still connected to the mana I

realized that he was outside of the human

cover his

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

inched a little

pressure that came out of his body became

and sinister

get angry easily...but...you...you've managed to anger me more times than I could've ever imagined. First, with all