Chapter 45 - Mastermind

[00 Months: 04 Days: 06 Hours]

'Using would have been the best way to resolve all of this, yet it never crossed my mind.'

I could have been more prepared for the ambush against me. I could have gotten more intel from the enemies. I probably wouldn't have suffered any injuries.

And despite all those benefits, why was I only considering them in retrospect?

Why?

I was panicking, sure, but allowed me to be capable of rational thoughts even then. So why didn't I think of the single best alternative to wrapping up the problem?

'Could it be...?'

It was at this point that I realized what had happened to me. It was a subtle change that had been growing ever since my encounter with Lucy Fer, one I hadn't really considered until now.

'I... ever since I decided to grow stronger... I haven't used even once.'

And that was due to one single reason.

'I don't want to die.'