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.]

gone completely, leaving Octavious alone in the room. While he rested both arms against the

must find

his eyes clouded once more, and his face went

adjustments to his suit, he

to personally

***

"It's as I expected…"

moment to compose myself by drawing a deep breath, and then I sat myself down on the sofa. As I tried to organize the thoughts and images floating around in

'Fuck.'

combining them with what I already knew, I was able to form a hypothesis, which left me in a

my head to stare at the three

reason why they're being targeted is because they are

this hypothesis at the time, I had a strong intuition that this was almost certainly the case. From what I gleaned from their recollections, I was able to deduce that Octavious

he was

still learned the martial manual or skill that made him the way

was like that back when I saw him at the Union Tower, and thinking back at the memories that I saw from Melissa and seeing that they were practically the

I can't

shook my head

to be correct, then I wouldn't know

It was too much…

"Huuuu…"

took another

that I heard Grandmaster

"…Did you find anything?"

my head, I looked at him and soon nodded my

of what's going on. I just am not one hundred percent sure yet. However, from what I've gathered, you have indeed been targeted, and the reason is possibly because you are all

Power has

loud while gnashing

eying the three of us. I knew that

necessarily be the

fingers drummed over the armrest of

guys, the motive behind it is definitely

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

that he was to blame for the deaths of the three grandmasters who lived in my world. However, I knew

of the fact

grandmasters in my world were really not due to the demons, then I'm afraid there's some sort of higher power

only think of

still don't have enough evidence

bracing my hands against the edge of the couch as I did so, and stood

ask the three of you a

straightened their

something that we can do, then we will try our

their eyes, I

It was just that…

the side