The Author's POV

[Agh! Someone help me!]

[M, monster!]

[Help me!]

The room was filled with the sound of people screaming in anguish. They originated from a specific video that was projected onto a screen, and showed an image of a young man with glossy black hair and deep blue eyes taking care of a series of guards in an effortless manner.

The expression on Octavious' face remained the same as he sat in front of the holographic projection. His eyes were as listless and hazy as they had always been.

It was as if the happenings in the projection were of no interest to him.

[Would you like to replay the video?]

The video soon came to an end, and silence filtered across the dimly lit room.

The next couple of minutes were spent with Octavious's gaze intently fixed on the projection. It wasn't until a subtle shaking began in the room that he finally showed any kind of reaction, and he got up out of his chair.

Swoosh―!

The entire room became tinged with white, and all of a sudden, a tremendous amount of pressure filled the space. The pressure began to have an effect on Octavious's face, and for the first time in a while, his eyes began to show visible signs of change.

He slightly lowered his head.

"How may I be of service?"

His tone was composed, but there was a hint of fear hidden deeply within his words.

[I trusted that you would've accomplished the mission without a problem. What has happened?]

An ancient, and deep voice reverberated throughout the room.

[There is a purpose behind why I have bestowed upon you the power that you currently possess. Because you haven't let me down in any way up to this point, you are still alive. That, however... is being tested at the moment...]

As Octavious listened to the voice, he could feel sweat running down the side of his face.

He hurriedly lowered his head further.

"I apologize for the situation."

[…Find the culprit behind the incident and make sure to eliminate them. I do not wish to expose myself.]

"I understand."

Octavious nodded his head, and knelt down on one knee. He then placed his hand over his chest.

"I will carry out the task to the utmost, Protector of the Seat of Diligence."

[I really hope that you won't let me down. There is no "next time" in this scenario.]

alone in the room. While he rested both arms against the table, a trickle

must find the

clouded once more, and his face went back to its usual expression of

some adjustments to his suit, he turned around and quickly exited

going to personally take

***

"It's as I expected…"

tried to organize the thoughts and images floating around in

'Fuck.'

processing the information. I learned very little from the memories, but by combining them with what I already knew, I was able to form a hypothesis, which left me in a state of complete

stare at

reason why they're being targeted

had a strong intuition that this was almost certainly the case. From what I

world, he was the strongest person

the martial

saw from Melissa and seeing that they were practically the same as the ones from

I can't

shook my

the hypothesis proved to be correct,

It was too much…

"Huuuu…"

took another deep

was then that I heard Grandmaster

"…Did you find anything?"

my head, I looked at him and soon nodded

going on. I just am not one hundred percent sure yet. However, from

bastard, Octavious! Power has gotten

cursed out loud while gnashing his

been eying the three of us. I knew that something was wrong from the very

may not necessarily

armrest of

Octavious is definitely responsible for what happened to you guys, the motive behind it is definitely not because he feels threatened

of person who strived for excellence in everything he did. He was a man of great pragmatism and was

would have assumed that he was to blame for the deaths of the three grandmasters who lived in my world. However, I knew that wasn't possible considering that he wasn't yet powerful enough to deal

and was thus aware of the fact that there was something else at play over

world were really not due to the demons, then I'm afraid there's some sort of higher power hidden within both worlds, controlling

think of one such

I still don't have enough evidence to prove

of my seat, bracing my hands against the edge of the couch as I did so, and stood up. After that, I turned my attention

ask the three

their backs.

that we can do,

their eyes, I knew

It was just that…

scratched the side of my