บท 13: Redemption Tower

Davis thought for a moment before answering, "I have heard about it before. Wasn't it used to free prisoners or criminals who had a change of heart? Isn't that why it was named Redemption Tower?"

"You're right, but the truth is very different from the known facts..." Claire shook her head lightly.

"First, there are three levels to clear the Redemption Tower. Many prisoners will give anything up to have a chance at the Redemption Tower."

"Skipping over the first two levels, what you need to know is about the third level, the last level, the Redemption Level. That is where the prisoners face their heart demons and cleanse their soul of impurities. If a prisoner clears the last level, they would even have a chance of being recruited by the Imperial Family." Claire sighed.

"However, all of this is partially true, and part lies..."

"The truth is that no prisoner will be able to clear the level as it would use up the treasure placed in the formation. It only induces the arousal of the heart demon with the help of the formation. While the prisoner is busy taking care of the heart demon, another formation will act. Once the prisoner manages to 'clear' the last level, the other formation placed there will imprint a slave seal on their souls. The Imperial Family then takes them and assigns them to a certain squad or place them openly in the army. That slave has no choice but to obey the Imperial Family!"

"This is the ugly truth, and it is certainly a part of this Empire."

Claire looked at Davis's dumbfounded expression.

"What? Did you get disgusted by our Empire?" Claire asked while smiling weakly.

There was a moment of silence.

"Yes, because being a slave... I've experienced it once, and it sucks a lot." Davis laughed ruefully.

Claire became shocked at his revelation.

"But, if they were used to protect you and father during the rebellion, then all is worth it. I don't care as long as those scums live their lives, protecting mother and father."

"Woah! You have some twisted views over there, but protecting mother and father instead of the Empire… I like it." Claire smirked as she chuckled.

"But, you are indeed sharp, they were used as meat shields for us to protect us from the rebels. I did feel some pity for them at first, but after learning that they did some evil crimes, I stopped caring about it." Claire explained her experiences and said.

"Davis, remember, we as the Royal family won't hesitate to sacrifice others' lives as long as we can protect our family!"

Davis nodded his head, giving her a sign that he understood the meaning behind it. He had the same idea because he felt that he couldn't be the same as he was on Earth in this world. There, he could afford not to kill people and live but here...

He narrowed his eyes. He was very clear that he would have to step on thousands of corpses to reach the apex!

However, for his kind and caring mother to utter these kinds of words...

'Did she experience betrayal in the past?' Davis mused as he didn't know his mother's past. The only thing he knew that she wasn't a person of the Loret Empire before she married Logan.

"I'll ask dear to disable the first two levels and place the full, complete formation, to help one in conquering heart demons in the third level. Normally unless in an emergency, we won't use the treasure, but since you are a genius in Soul Forging Cultivation, more importantly, since you are my son, we can't miss this opportunity either." Claire beamed.

"Thank you, mother!" Hearing that, Davis became ecstatic.

He was rather worried that she really wouldn't allow him but respecting his wishes, she allowed.

======

The next day.

Outside the Redemption Tower.

Davis wore a black robe and a mask that covered his features and his body. For his small stature that wore a black robe, he could well scare people in the night, walking outside like a small ghost.

"You sure are lucky, only less than ten percent of the potency of the treasure is left, which is more than enough for your stage or else if the potency were more than fifty percent, I would've used it to breakthrough long ago." Logan lamented as he said.

Claire didn't come. Hence, Davis was accompanied by his father, anonymously.

His Soul Forging Cultivation was meant to be kept a secret after all.

"But, are you sure that you are up to the task?" Logan cast an eye on him and probed.

Davis nodded his head and didn't say anything.

Logan knew that he couldn't change his child's mind, so he didn't say anymore.

Davis started walking in the direction of the Redemption Tower.

"Then go straight to the third level, which is on the third floor of the Redemption Tower. Make sure you conquer your heart demon… from your previous life..."

Davis paused for a moment before starting to walk ahead again. His lips curved into a smile, hidden behind the robe's hood.

======

In the Redemption Tower, the third floor.

A silhouette could be seen coming out of the entrance at the third level.

Davis removed his hood and investigated the room. The surroundings were brightly lit, glowing like a sacred place. There was an altar in the center that stood tall.

The room was filled with candles around the bright altar. In the center of the altar, there was a mat that made it obvious for him to recognize.

He moved straight to the mat and sat on it.

When he sat on it, the ceiling above the room vibrated and covered him in a spherical glow of light. Davis knew that the formation had started, so he started cultivating Sacred Luminance Mist.

He then realized that he was slowly starting to get dizzy. It felt like something was trying to get hold of his heart, like a pull of tug that could take his emotions away. He immediately concentrated on it.

Before Davis could even realize, he was transported to a different place.

"This? Where am I?" Davis became startled even though he had been prepared.

The change of scenery was just too quick! He checked his surroundings, and his eyes widened.

"This place seems oddly familiar..."

"It's… It's my old cag- home!" Davis became shocked.

He started to tremble in agitation.

'Calm down, me. This isn't reality, remember, remember, yes, this is just my heart demon.'

Davis had a stiff face as he muttered, "I didn't want to come back to this place ever again. The formation pretty much helped screw me over..."

Suddenly, a cry resounded out.

"Mister, argh! Please don't hit me!"

A ten-year-old child cried miserably. His teeth were broken, and his body was covered full of bruises. A middle-aged man could be seen stepping on the child.

"Ouchh!! Mister, please let me leave!"

*Bang!~*

The child was sent flying, kicked by the middle-aged man right on the stomach. The child spun in mid-air and crashed on the wall.

"Call me father, pet." The middle-aged man had a twisted expression on his face, clearly enjoying beating the child up.

"What was your name again? Ah, Tian Long? Right? Hahaha!"

"From now on, you belong to me, and you are my slave. From now on, you are just a dog. Let me give you a dog's name, but wait; I guess you don't deserve a name, let me just call you mutt! Hahaha!" The middle-aged man laughed wildly.

Davis, who was watching all this, produced an angry expression on his face, wanting to tear the good looking middle-aged man in front of him to pieces. He ran towards the middle-aged man and delivered a full power blow to his face.

*Zzz!~*

The middle-aged man's face distorted, letting his fists go through him.

Davis stood behind the middle-aged man, his face revealing a dumbfounded expression.

"I... can't... touch him..."