The Author's POV

Caissa headquarters.

"Everything is going as Ren has predicted."

Ryan mumbled something under his breath as he bit his nails and studied the monitors that were situated in front of him. Ava was standing next to him at the time, and she gave a slight nod as a bird perched on her arm.

"In approximately one week, the forces of the Monolith will make their way to Ashton city. As Ren had predicted, they began their assault on us by first destroying the four cities at the edge of the human domain. They will almost certainly make a brief stop on the outskirts of the city before attempting to breach the city's defenses."

"I agree…"

Ryan kept gnawing on his fingernails as he moved the pointer of his mouse around the screen and gazed at the deserted streets of Ashton city. In particular, his gaze was drawn toward a few distinct buildings, and he turned his head to inquire about something.

"Have you already set everything up?"

"Yes. Everything has been arranged. All we have to do is wait for Ren to give us the go ahead before moving."

"How long do you think that will take?"

"Probably two more months."

Ava truthfully answered.

"He did mention in advance that he would be extremely busy over the course of the next three months. One month has already passed, and there are still two more months to go. Because Angelica is not here with us either, we are unable to proceed with our plans just yet."

"So are we just going to stay here and do nothing while the Monolith attacks next week?"

Leopold's voice could be heard as he walked into the monitor room with his daughter Sophia following closely behind.

She waved her hand lightly at the two, who waved back at her.

All of the members' families were escorted to the headquarters in order to ensure their own personal safety.

Hein's parents and siblings, Ava's family, Ryan's mom, Leopold's daughter, and so on…

This place had basically become the home of all the members' families. Fortunately, the warehouse was big enough to house everyone without any problems.

"Yes, for now, that is."

Ryan replied to Leopold without looking at him. He had already seen him coming a few seconds ago so he wasn't exactly surprised.

to do in the meantime,

one of the sofas at the back

guess you should enjoy your time with your family. Ren did say that after he finishes whatever he's doing, we won't have time to spend with our families for quite some time, so make the most of

gaze at his daughter.

you guys put it that way, then I will do my best

***

Within a dark void.

Swoosh—! Swooosh—!

sword moves as his sword danced through

Swooosh—! Swoooosh—!

each new set of moves he would

he was. The figure was restrained by a number of chains, and it just stood there and stared expressionlessly at Ren as he worked on the sequence of moves in the void

eerie silence

he was doing and looked at the other

This is what I've

"…"

to stare at Ren without uttering a

unconcerned as he sat down on the ground and dropped the

green book appeared in

across multiple moves. The more move sets one executes, the more precise and potent their attacks become. It is said that a person's body would sustain so much damage during the

uttered the words out loud while his eyes continued to move slowly over the pages of the book he was holding

he discarded the book

colored book appeared in

on perfecting the human body in order to release the latent and raw power that is within the muscles of the human body. The harsher the conditions that their bodies undertake, the more powerful they will become. It is said that upon reaching

the two sword arts, he eventually set that book

"The Keiki style…"

it to the side of the room. He cocked his head back and looked up at the pitch-black abyss that loomed over him

that there would be

head to the side

been quiet for quite a while, now, haven't you? It's been about a month since I decided to practice over here, and yet, not once did I ever hear you speak during the time that I

feet and moved in the direction of the figure that was restrained in chains. His feet eventually came

that training outside of here would be more efficient given all of the equipment that is available to me, but I chose against,

to stare emotionlessly at the space. His face looked completely dead, and Ren's words seemingly passed through his head without ever

to mind this as he

decide to train here is because I

his head forward and whispered in his

I be able to create a new sword art and reach