The Author's POV

'How long has it been?'

I wondered to myself as I dully stared upwards.

By now, all I could see within my vision was empty darkness. Nevertheless, I continued to keep my focus on my body.

As long as I could move my body...

'The body strengthening method requires me to suffer quite a bit in order to practice it, and at the moment it is of no use to me. However, the very first part of the exercise does not require me to do anything of the sort, since all I need to do is feel my muscles in order to feel the nerve connections to my body which might actually be able to solve my paralyzing problem...'

Focusing my attention on the muscles of my body, I shut my eyes and thought about the martial manual Han Yufei had given me.

With the aid of the chip inside of my head, I was able to somewhat recall most of the most important points of the first technique, body hardening.

'This is my only hope.'

There was only one goal I had at the moment, and that was to move my body again.

Only that way could I figure out what was actually happening to me.

'Now that I think about it, what exactly happened?'

My memories were hazy since all I could recall at the moment was seeing the portal swallow me up with Jin. Everything was sort of a blur as, after that, I had no recollections of anything.

Actually, thinking about it, there was indeed something else.

'I do faintly remember having my body carried somewhere. Did I perhaps pass out during the incident and got taken prisoner by the demons?'

Suddenly, different scenarios began to appear in my mind as my heart slowly sank.

'If that's truly the case, it makes sense as to why I'm here and my mana is sealed.'

Not only that but to have also taken my dimensional space…

The situation was a lot more precarious than I had originally thought.

'What happened to Jin?'

When my thoughts paused there, I suddenly recalled that Jin was beside me right before everything happened, and my eyes immediately darted to my right and left.

I was only able to see darkness at the moment.

I didn't give up though.

As I closed my eyes, I tried to focus on my hearing to see if there was anyone else nearby.

'If I can hear his breathing…'

Drip— Drip—

After a few minutes, I realized I was all alone inside of this space as the only sound I could hear was the sound of the liquid dripping from the side of the room. Its rhythmical drops messed up my concentration several times as my face contorted.

Struggling to hear for the next minute, I eventually gave up.

'Fuck, just what in the world is happening?'

I became frustrated once again as I stopped whatever I was doing and concentrated on practicing the art Han Yufei had taught me.

An impending sense of danger washed over me.

***

"Ugh…"

Jin's mind was currently in a haze at the moment as he could hardly think straight. While his stomach churned, his head throbbed.

"...Where am I?"

echoed out. Opening his eyes, all that

to quickly adjust himself to as he had long been accustomed to such darkness no

"Hm?"

then that found that he was unable to move

mind immediately became alert. However,

"Ren! Kevin!"

at the top of his lungs

rage rise from within him as he remembered the events leading up to his

drugged

to me!? Let me go this instant before

again shouted as he lied in

didn't let him go

I get out of here!

with

"Bastards!"

more as the veins on his neck protruded and his face reddened. He could even feel

then, he was met with no response...forcing Jin to calm down and

eyes a couple of times, he

"Haaa...haa…"

you wait you

inwardly cursed as he finally calmed down and

inside of what appeared to be a small, rocky room that was covered

there was a small section

Drip— Drip—

water falling brought

a knit of his brows, Jin

'What's going on?'

"Huh? My mana?"

his eyes to see if there was something

that, he couldn't feel his dimensional ring on any of his

rang inside of his

This…

prank that Kevin and Ren would pull. Maybe not for Ren, but knowing Kevin well, Jin

never go as far as

finally dawned on him that this perhaps have not

stopped speaking and focused

or not, the first thing I need

***

'I can feel something.'

small electric current flow through my

felt my arm reconnect with me. It wasn't long before I could finally

my mind as I waved my hand in

I cant finally move my

my face as I took notice of

"Thank god..."

quietly murmured d

again, but instead of being annoyed by the thought, I was happy as I closed my eyes once again and repeated the same process for my other arm

inside of my mind as I focused all of my attention

as there was

"Ugh."

tingling sensation circulated around my body, creating

about it, but I felt as though a thousand feathers were

'This sucks.'

to myself as I fell in and out

good note, my eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness around me, enabling me to get a rough

The size shouldn't be too

heard an unexpected rustic metallic sound coming

Clank—!

"Ukh!"

I felt a weird mucus-like substance fall all over my

"What's this!?"