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 of sweat continued to run down the sides of his cheeks. Heavy was his

find the

tightened his grip on his fist, his eyes clouded once more, and his face went

some adjustments to his suit, he turned around and

going 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 my head, I noticed that the noise that was

'Fuck.'

was unable to maintain my composure after processing the information. I learned very little from the memories, but by combining them with what I already

stare at the three grandmasters before

main reason why they're being targeted is because they are

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 was the one who was

it this world, or my world, he was the

however, was the fact that he still learned the martial manual or

saw from Melissa and seeing that they

I can't

my head and dispersed

to be correct, then I

It was too much…

"Huuuu…"

another deep

then that I

"…Did you find anything?"

at him and soon nodded

yet. However, from what I've gathered, you have indeed been targeted,

Power

out loud while

eying the three of us. I knew that something was

not necessarily be

of

for what happened to you guys, the motive

strived for excellence in everything he did. He was a man of

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

and was thus aware of the fact that there was something

deaths of the three grandmasters in my world were really not due to the demons,

only think of one

still don't have enough evidence to

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

need to ask the three of

straightened their

something that we can do, then we will try our best

the looks in their eyes, I

It was just that…

scratched the side of