Capítulo 58: Imprisonment [part 1]
Darkness enveloped me completely, but my mind never found the peace of unconsciousness.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the searing pain that pervaded every fiber of my being.
I was lying on a cold, hard surface, my hands and feet shackled with heavy metal cuffs.
The Vrasgar's black flames had disappeared, but their memory still burned in my flesh.
I was in a cell; the rough stone walls were damp and covered with moss.
A faint light filtered through a small opening high above, too narrow for a person to pass through.
The air was thick and stale, each breath a torment.
I tried to move, but the chains held me tightly, preventing any sudden movement.
"Where am I?" I thought, trying to remember the events that had brought me here.
The last thing I remembered was the Vrasgar collapsing, its black flames extinguishing as I succumbed to the darkness.
"Finally, you're awake," a deep, guttural voice broke the silence.
I turned my head with difficulty and saw an imposing figure standing at the entrance of the cell.
It was a man, or at least he seemed to be, but his eyes glowed with a sinister light, and his skin had an unhealthy pallor. He wore dark armor adorned with symbols I did not recognize.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice hoarse, each word an agony for my parched throat.
The man did not respond immediately.
He remained silent for a long moment, as if assessing my every reaction.
The faint light filtering into the cell barely illuminated his face, highlighting his harsh, expressionless features.
When he finally spoke, his voice was like the sound of stones grinding against each other.
"My name is of no importance to you, prisoner. What matters is what I need to know."
He took a step forward, moving closer to the light.
Now I could see the details of his armor better: it was covered in ancient runes, engraved with incredible precision. It was clear that whoever had made the engravings on it was a master runecrafter.
"Why am I here?" I asked, trying to hide the fear in my voice.
The man stepped closer still, the sound of his footsteps resonating like a somber war drum in the small cell.
He leaned toward me, his face now just inches from mine.
I could feel his cold breath on my skin, a glacial contrast to the pulsing heat of my pain.
He ignored my question and continued to stare at me with an icy gaze.
He seemed to be searching for something in my eyes, perhaps a sign of weakness or resistance.
"Do you know where you are?" he finally asked, his voice a hiss that echoed off the cell walls.
His question resonated in my mind like an echo, and the answer I gave seemed to come from a remote corner of my memory.
"In a prison run by the Ryushin family," I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and pain.
The man smiled, a smile devoid of warmth, which seemed to accentuate his sinister aura.
"Very well," he said, with a tone that suggested my answer was just the beginning of what I needed to reveal. "And you also know which level of the prison you are currently in, then?"
I shook my head slowly, the pain throbbing in every fiber of my body making even the smallest movement difficult.
"No, I don't know," I replied in a faint voice, trying to remain calm despite the growing fear.
The man sighed, a sound that seemed laden with disappointment.
"Pity," he said, his tone cold and detached. "I had hoped you were more informed."
He stood up, his imposing figure casting a threatening shadow on the cell walls.
"You are in the deepest level of the prison," he continued, his voice now a whisper that seemed to come from every corner of the room.
"Here, no one can hear your screams. No one will come to save you."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I tried not to show my fear.
"So, we are inside the fifth level, the frozen hell. So, what do you want from me?" I asked, with a falsely brave voice.
The man smiled again, but his smile was cold and devoid of compassion.
"The fifth level, the frozen hell. I see you know a bit about our prison," he said, with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
He leaned toward me again, his oppressive presence like a malevolent shadow.
"What I want from you is very simple. I witnessed your fight against the Vrasgar earlier, and I must say you were impressive to be able to kill a mana entity like a vital core phase with a weapon you barely know how to wield."
His words hit me like a wave of ice; I wondered how long he had been watching me, why he hadn't made any moves and kidnapped me then.
'There's something more to this,' I thought, 'but I can't quite figure out what it is.'
"So, what do you want from me?" I repeated, trying to maintain a calm tone despite the turmoil inside.
The man straightened up and took a step back, keeping his gaze fixed on me.
"I want you to use your skills for us," he said, his voice now colder and more determined.
"You have potential that can be exploited to our advantage."
"Fight for you?" I asked incredulously. "Why should I do that? What is your purpose?"
The man smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Our purpose is not your concern, prisoner," he said in a sharp tone. "You only need to know that your survival depends on your cooperation."
I tried to buy some time, trying to learn more about my captors and find a way to escape.
"And what guarantees me that you won't kill me anyway once I do what you want?"
The man approached again, his eyes shining with a sinister light.
"Trust, prisoner, is something that must be earned. Prove your usefulness, and you might gain your freedom."
I felt a cold determination taking over.
I had to pretend to cooperate, at least for now.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked finally, trying to keep a submissive tone.
The man nodded, apparently satisfied with my surrender.
"Good," he said.
"You will start with a test. A mission to prove your loyalty and your skills."
He made a gesture, and the guards entered the cell again, lifting me with brutal strength.
"Take him to the proving grounds," he ordered, and I was dragged away, my body still aching and weak.
As I was led through the prison corridors, I tried to memorize every detail, every corner, and passage.
Every fragment of information could be crucial for my escape.
We finally arrived at a large room, illuminated by torches and filled with instruments of torture and training equipment.
A tall, slender figure awaited me in the center of the room. He wore a dark robe and had a piercing, shrewd gaze.
"This is the examiner," one of the guards said, pushing me forward.
"He will determine if you are worthy to serve."
The examiner observed me for a long moment, then nodded.
"Let's begin," he said in a sharp voice.
"Prove yourself, prisoner, or your end will be swift and painful."
My hands trembled slightly as I was led to an area of the room equipped with various weapons and obstacles.
My life depended on passing this test.
But inside me burned a flame of rebellion.
I would prove my strength, yes, but only to find an opportunity to escape and take my revenge.
Focusing on the present, I took a deep breath and prepared myself.
The test was about to begin, and every second counted.
I would fight, I would resist, and, in the end, I would find my freedom.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder