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?"

tired voice echoed out. Opening his eyes,

able to quickly adjust himself to as he had long been

"Hm?"

found that he was unable to

mind immediately became alert. However, that did

"Ren! Kevin!"

his lungs as he

rage rise from within him as he remembered the events

drugged me, didn't

me!? Let me go this instant before I get

once again shouted as he lied

they didn't

of here! I'll fucking

he let out were greeted with silence, as

"Bastards!"

as the veins on his neck protruded and his face reddened. He could even feel some of his spit land on his face as

even then, he was met with no response...forcing Jin

of times, he took heavy

"Haaa...haa…"

you wait

as he finally calmed down

lying inside of what appeared to be a small, rocky room that was covered in some sort of strange

the corner, there was a small section where water

Drip— Drip—

rhythmical dropping sound of the water falling brought calmness to his

knit of his brows, Jin wondered

'What's going on?'

"Huh? My mana?"

was no mana inside of his body. Closing his eyes to see if there was

feel his dimensional ring on any

bells instantly rang inside of his

This…

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

would never go as far

soon finally dawned on him that this perhaps have

he stopped speaking and focused

I need to do is make my regain the senses of my

***

'I can feel something.'

current flow through my body,

reconnect with me. It wasn't long

my hand

cant finally

relieved smile spread across my face as I took notice

"Thank god..."

quietly murmured

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

focused all

as

"Ugh."

tingling sensation circulated around my body, creating a wave

though a thousand feathers

'This sucks.'

to myself as I fell in

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

be too big considering

I heard an unexpected rustic metallic

Clank—!

"Ukh!"

I felt a weird mucus-like substance fall all over

"What's this!?"