Chapter 59: Imprisonment [part 2]
The room filled with a heavy silence as I stood before the examiner. His cold and calculating gaze cut through me like a blade.
There was no room for hesitation; I knew my survival depended on my performance.
The examiner nodded, and one of the guards handed me a sword.
It was heavy and poorly balanced, clearly designed to make my trial even more difficult.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frantic heartbeat. I had to focus on my determination to escape and seek revenge.
"The first task," the examiner announced in a monotone voice, "is simple: defeat your opponent."
With another nod, another guard opened a side door, and a man emerged from the shadows.
He was muscular and wielded a massive axe, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light. He wasn't a "simple prisoner" like me but a trained killer.
My opponent advanced slowly, brandishing the axe with ease.
I felt the cold tendrils of fear snake through my mind, but I pushed them away. I couldn't afford to fail.
Our duel began with a furious exchange of blows.
My sword was heavy and difficult to handle, but I used my agility to dodge the devastating strikes of my opponent.
Each movement was accompanied by excruciating pain, but my determination drove me forward.
Time seemed to slow as we fought, the clash of metal against metal reverberating through the hall.
Finally, I found an opening.
With one last desperate effort, I struck my opponent in the side, causing him to collapse to the ground with a choked groan.
Silence fell over the room again, broken only by my labored breathing.
The examiner nodded, apparently satisfied.
"Very well," he said, his tone devoid of emotion. "You have passed the first test."
The guards dragged me away, leading me to another room. This one was smaller and darker, lit only by a single torch on the wall.
In the center of the room was a hooded figure, their hands bound behind their back.
"The objective of your next trial is to obtain information," the examiner said, his tone even darker.
"This prisoner knows something of vital importance to us. Find out what they know."
The hooded figure raised their head, and I felt a pang of pity.
But I couldn't afford to be weak. I had to find a way out of this hell, and this was just another step toward my freedom.
I approached the prisoner, my hands still trembling.
"Tell me what you know," I ordered, trying to make my voice firm.
But inside, the darkness continued to envelop me, a constant reminder of my desperate situation.
The prisoner slowly lifted their head, revealing a gaunt face and eyes full of terror.
"I... I don't know anything," they stammered, but there was something in their gaze that suggested otherwise.
My mind raced, trying to figure out how to extract the information without resorting to brutal and extreme means.
I leaned in close, whispering with a determined voice. "Listen, I don't want to hurt you. But if you don't talk, we'll both die. Tell me what you know, and I'll find a way to help us both."
The prisoner looked at me for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Alright," they said in a faint voice. "I'll tell you everything. But promise me you'll help me get out of here."
I nodded, my heart heavy with promises and responsibilities.
"I promise," I said, trying to reassure them and obtain the information they held.
"Now speak."
The prisoner swallowed hard and began to speak, their voice a hoarse and trembling whisper:
"There's a key," they said, "hidden in the torture room, behind one of the loose stones in the north wall. It will open one of the doors leading to the upper levels."
I nodded slowly, memorizing their words. "Which door exactly?" I asked, trying to maintain control.
"A hidden door behind a red curtain, near the main corridor," they replied, their gaze full of desperation. "It's our only chance."
I stepped back, reflecting on their story. I couldn't afford to take everything at face value. I had to verify its truthfulness without arousing suspicion.
The examiner approached, his gaze devoid of empathy. "Have you obtained what you wanted?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
"I need more time," I replied, trying to maintain a submissive tone. "He hasn't said everything yet."
The examiner sighed but nodded. "You have one hour," he said, "then I'll return. And make sure you have something useful to report."
When he left, I turned to the prisoner. "Did you tell the truth?" I asked, my tone harsher than I intended.
The prisoner nodded frantically.
"Yes, I swear it's the truth," they pleaded. "Help me, please."
I had to be sure. I approached one of the guards outside the room. "I need a tool to verify the information I've obtained," I said, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
"A dagger, a lever, anything that can help me check the information."
The guard looked at me suspiciously but eventually nodded and handed me a small dagger. "Don't try anything funny," he warned. "We're watching you."
I returned to the prisoner's room, the dagger hidden under my cloak. "I need to verify your information," I said, cutting their ropes with a swift motion. "If you're lying, I'll know soon enough."
The prisoner nodded, visibly relieved. "I'm not lying," they said, rubbing their freed wrists. "I'll help you."
I quickly led them to the torture room.
The silence was oppressive, and each step echoed like a drum in my ears. Arriving at the north wall, we began searching among the loose stones.
Finally, we found a slightly protruding stone. With my heart in my throat, I pried it open with the dagger, revealing a small, rusty key hidden behind it.
"It was all true," I whispered, clutching the key in my hand. "You told the truth."
The prisoner nodded, relief evident in their eyes. "Now we must find that door," they said. "And get out of here before the examiner returns."
"I agree," I said. Then, I turned to him, the dagger still in my hand.
The prisoner looked at me with a mix of hope and terror, unsuspecting of my next move. I had to be swift and silent.
"I'm sorry, but I have to make sure you can't reveal this information to anyone else," I whispered as my hand moved with lethal precision.
The prisoner didn't even have time to react. The blade sank into his chest, and his gaze slowly dimmed. I gently laid him down, avoiding any noise that might alert the guards.
I had to move quickly.
There was no time for remorse. I took the key, wiped the dagger on his cloak, and headed toward the hidden door behind the red curtain.
Every second counted, and I knew the examiner wouldn't be long in returning.
I reached the door, the key trembling in my hand. I inserted it into the lock and turned, holding my breath.
With a reassuring click, the door opened, revealing a dark passageway.
I stepped into the corridor, feeling the weight of my actions and their potential consequences.
But I had to think about my survival, my revenge.
As I advanced, the passageway opened into a larger room, with stairs leading upward. It was my way out.
I felt a wave of relief and determination. I wouldn't stop until I reached freedom and my revenge.
I continued climbing, step by step, leaving behind the darkness and the blood.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but one thing was clear:
I wouldn't stop until I reached my goal. And nothing would stop me from succeeding.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone