The Author's POV

The aperture in the cell was so small that very little light could pass through it. It was eerily quiet and pitch black. He had no idea how long he had been locked up for. He had long stopped keeping track.

He just felt numb.

Thinking about his wife and daughter, he felt his heart get torn into pieces.

He was innocent. He didn't do anything, but for some reason, he was framed. It wasn't just him; Levisha and Gravar were put in the same circumstances as him.

… They had been wondering why, but the only response they got was a list of charges. Each worse than the other.

The looks of scorn and the contempt he received from the guards were something he'd never experienced in his whole life.

'Why are they doing this to me?'

Toshimoto's head slowly raised as he gazed up at the pitch-black ceiling above him with a blank expression on his face.

He felt so empty…

Rumble!

Suddenly, he heard a muffled rumbling sound coming from a distance, and he lowered his head to look in that direction.

"What's going on?"

He wondered, weakly raising himself and moving toward the door.

Rumble!

Another muffled rumble reverberated. This time, it was a lot closer, and Toshimoto was able to make it out clearly.

'Did something happen in the facility?'

He felt his heart beat quicker.

Rumble!

The rumbling was getting louder and louder with each passing second, and it wasn't long before it reached his direction; he could feel the entire room shaking as it happened.

"This power?"

It felt terrifying and oppressive.

"Mia?"

He was able to instantly recognize it due to the heaviness of it. What was more terrifying was the fact that it was getting weaker and weaker by the second.

'Is she fighting against someone?'

It soon became clear to him that something major was happening. An attack perhaps? He wasn't sure… but for it to require Mia's personal intervention... It had to be extremely serious.

Booom!

The terrifying sound of an explosion came from nowhere, and at the same time, the door of the cell was violently blown open.

Toshimoto had to quickly cover his eyes with his arm in order to protect himself from the sudden influx of light that filled the room.

"Argh!"

He still nonetheless felt his eyes sting.

"W,what is happening?"

forced himself to open his eyes

deep blue eyes staring at him. With a

nice to meet you… Uhm,

***

Master? Benefactor?

he wasn't the same person

Or was he not?

this is so

to address him. In the end, I still came to the decision that it was appropriate

that his martial manual had granted me. Without it, I

"Y,you, who are you?"

from the Keiki that I

I had met back then, he looked much older and more malnourished. The skin on his face

leave the questions for later. Let me help you get out of here

glanced at with caution.

but you really have no choice but to take my hand. It's either you take my hand or

before he eventually

"You're right."

calmness and composure in dealing with the unexpected matter was rather surprising, but how should I put this... As

grabbed hold of my hand. It was at that point that I directed my

his posture began to

looked like a

"This…"

sudden changes, but I merely smiled

do for now. Let's

Rumble!

a strong force

"…How annoying."

hand forward, a figure slammed into the nearby wall,

"Cough… Cough…"

and I found myself on the other end

"I,impossible."

trying her best to get

my eyes and turned to look at Grandmaster

"What's wrong?"

was akin to that of

"T,that… How?"

"Don't worry about it."

other two prison cells. After pointing at them, the doors suddenly blasted open, revealing two elderly men in poor health. One's stature was larger than the

'Grandmaster Levisha, Grandmaster Gravar.'

my direction. When they arrived, I pressed my hand against each

to

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

moment before turning their attention back to me. As soon as they laid eyes on me, I smiled

an honor to

them looked at each other before shifting their attention

apprehensive the three of

I been in their situation, I'd have reacted the same

"Ukh… Cough…"

speaking when I was startled by a series of coughs coming from behind me. Turning around, I saw Mia standing

'She's quite tenacious.'

what are you

"Can't you see?"

fairly obvious from

at me more fiercely and took a step forward. Her hair was all over her face, and

"D,don't you da-pftt"