บท 14: The Bonds of the Cage
Seun-mi Ho was alone, trapped in this energy prison, his thoughts spiraling in a whirlwind of frustration and anger. The bluish light of the cage pulsed gently around him, creating an impenetrable barrier. Every attempt to break free was met with relentless resistance, the complex magic of the cage absorbing all his energy.
"There has to be a way..." he muttered to himself, his eyes methodically scanning the runes etched into the glowing walls. He had seen similar devices before, used by sorcerers or mercenary groups specialized in capturing powerful targets. But this cage seemed far more sophisticated than anything he had encountered before.
He tried drawing on his mana, attempting to activate "Magic Perception," a skill that usually allowed him to detect flaws in spells and enchantments. But as soon as he focused his mind to access his powers, a glaring notification appeared before him.
[Error: Skill blocked.]
[Reason: Active energy cage.]
[Current status: Mana usage impossible.]
Seun-mi growled in frustration, clenching his fists. He knew these cages were designed to neutralize adventurers and prevent them from using their magical abilities, but he had hoped his high level would allow him to bypass its effects. Apparently, the mercenaries knew exactly who they were dealing with and had taken every precaution.
"I need a different approach," he told himself, this time trying to force the walls of the cage with his brute strength. His muscles tensed, and he pushed against the barriers, trying to physically break them. But with each blow, the magical walls shimmered more intensely, absorbing the impact without showing the slightest sign of weakness.
[Error: Excessive physical force detected.]
[Status: Maximum physical limit reached in the containment zone.]
[Warning: Risk of energy backlash if further attempts are made.]
"Damn it," Seun-mi cursed, panting slightly after expending considerable energy with no result. He knew this cage wouldn't kill him, but it was designed to wear him down and keep him in a state of total helplessness.
He opened his Interface, hoping to check his stats, but even that seemed hindered by the surrounding magic. A new series of notifications flashed before him.
[Current status: Interface partially blocked.]
[Access to stats: Denied.]
[Access to skills: Denied.]
[Access to inventory: Denied.]
[Access to communications: Denied.]
"They really thought of everything," Seun-mi muttered as he analyzed the restrictions imposed by the cage. Every aspect of his power—whether it was his skills, mana, or even his inventory—had been locked down with surgical precision. They had left him no room to maneuver.
Passive Intimidation, usually an invisible force that gave him a psychological advantage over his enemies, was not even a usable tool here. It had shaken Aven earlier, but the other mercenaries seemed more hardened, or at least mentally better prepared.
Seun-mi closed his eyes, trying to calm his growing frustration. He knew that giving in to anger would only exhaust him further. He needed to think, stay calm, and observe.
Meanwhile, just a few meters away, Aven and the other mercenary, whom Seun-mi had heard earlier, were finishing discussing their plan. They sat around a small campfire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. The atmosphere was tense, but the worst seemed to be behind them.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Aven asked, his voice still shaky after the earlier encounter. He cast quick glances in Seun-mi's direction, as if expecting the adventurer to break free at any moment.
The older mercenary, a man with a prominent scar on his face, nodded confidently. "Yeah, it'll work. The cage is foolproof. We've used it on targets way more powerful than this guy. As long as we don't screw up, he's not going anywhere." He glanced at Aven, his eyes narrowing. "And you, calm down. This guy rattled you, but he's harmless now. He can't do anything as long as he's in there."
Aven nodded, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah... yeah, you're right. It's just... I don't know, there's something about him. Even without his powers, he freaks me out." He ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Do you think he knows what's coming?"
The older mercenary laughed. "Of course he knows. He's not an idiot. But that's not our problem. We hand him over, take our money, and disappear. What happens to him after that is none of our concern." He stretched and tapped his Interface, which projected a faint, glowing halo in front of him. "Speaking of which, we should conserve our energy. Switch your Interface to rest mode. We'll need to be fresh tomorrow to escort him to the rendezvous point."
Aven hesitated, then agreed. He opened his own Interface screen and deactivated several functions, reducing its energy consumption. His screen dimmed slightly, entering standby mode.
"It's safer this way," the older mercenary added, doing the same. "The last thing we want is to run out of energy when we need it." He cast a glance at the cage where Seun-mi still stood motionless. "Anyway, he's not going anywhere. Get some rest. Tomorrow, it's over for him."
Seun-mi watched the scene from a distance, his eyes piercing through the fire's glow. He had heard every word, and though he was trapped, a flicker of hope remained. These mercenaries were confident, maybe a bit too much. Their arrogance could very well be their downfall.
He had noticed something important: they had put their Interfaces into rest mode. This meant they were now less reactive, less alert. Even though they were physically present, they no longer had access to the same resources and abilities as before. It was a small opening, a potential flaw in their plan.
"They think I'm harmless," he thought. "But they're still underestimating the possibilities."
Seun-mi knew the mercenaries' Interfaces were likely connected to the cage, and any decrease in energy on their systems could potentially affect the stability of the magical barrier. He wasn't sure how to use this information yet, but it gave him hope, however slim.
He leaned back, resting against the walls of the cage. For now, he could do nothing. But he knew the moment would come. He just had to wait, watching for the slightest sign, the smallest opportunity.
"They think it's over for me," he murmured, his eyes slowly closing as he tried to conserve some energy. "But they don't know what I'm capable of yet."
And as the night thickened around them, Seun-mi Ho, despite the cage that trapped him, was already beginning to devise his escape plan.
End of Chapter 14.
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