[The Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden completed a swordplay training and gained a large amount of experience in the School of Swordmastery.]
[The Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden completed a swordplay training and gained a large amount of experience in the School of Swordmastery.]
[The Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden completed a swordplay training and gained a large amount of experience in the School of Swordmastery. She received an additional 10,000% experience for triggering her talent. In battle, she triggered the resonance of the Illusory Realm and summoned the spell spirit "Wave Sword".]
[Wave Sword]
[One-Winged Spell Spirit]
[Limitation: Must use sword]
[Basic Effect: Send out a wave of sword energy.]
[Passive Effect: Normal sword attacks make the target lose balance.]
['The sword is not trembling. It is merely thirsty.']
Perhaps this was the first time since going to college that Ash had ever had a healthy daily routine. He got up early at six o'clock to check on the cultivation progress of the Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden in the Sorcerer Manual, waiting, and hopeful.
The game did not disappoint him. In just one day, the Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden had grown in stages!
[Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden]
[Human · Female · 18]
[Bond Level: 0 (30% Experience Sharing)]
[Occupation: One-Winged Swordmaster]
[Occupational Special Feature: Reduces energy consumption by 10% when using sword spell spirit.]
[Items Equipped: None]
[Controlled Spell Spirits: Wave Sword]
[School of Swordsmanship: Silver Level]
[Illusory Realm Exploration: 0.000%]
[School of Water Sorcery: Uninitiated]
Although he did not know what a One-Winged Swordmaster was, he recalled that the Blood Frenzy Hunter who had killed him with one strike seemed to have three wings. In other words, having wings meant becoming an Extraordinary.
Since the Sword Maiden had become an Extraordinary, then as an outstanding player who had painstakingly cultivated her talent, he should receive the reward of 30% experience sharing, right?
However, even after waiting for a long time and continuously refreshing the game information panel, he still did not receive the enlightenment, experience implants, or knowledge infusion that he had imagined. The [Terminus Observer]'s interface did not change either.
At that moment, Ash's mood was like that of an immature primary school student who had paid online profiteers for permanent QQ membership, only to get blacklisted. The hope that arose from greed was swallowed by thick disappointment.
However, after some serious consideration, he suddenly realized that he had missed a step. "Could it be because I didn't pay up…"
Their company's games were infamous for the lack of enjoyable gaming experiences unless one paid up, though paying up didn't necessarily mean enjoying gaming experiences either. It would be very normal for them to cut off part of the gaming experience if one didn't pay up.
It would have been fine if it's just because he had not paid. At least there was a chance to make up for it.
If it was because of the loss of various modules during transmigration that caused the function to fail, then it'd mean that the gaming system Ash was relying on could only be functionally played as a dream factory for pretty girls…
[Dear Mr. Ash Heath, Shattered Lake Prison has completed your life certification. You are free to move around in a specific area. Please read the attached copy of the "Life Manual of Shattered Lake Prison". Note: delivery service will no longer be provided. Please proceed to the dining hall on your own for meals.]
At the same time, a green light lit up above the fist-thick door, revealing a tiny "pass" icon. Melodious singing came from outside.
"If I suffer injury enough, I'll take my opponent, and sever without hesitation the curse of yesterday. I'll await daylight when night falls, leaving behind scars…"
Brilliant. What kind of song is this? Is it for taunting prisoners?
Ash was stunned for a moment. He did not understand what was going on. He opened the "Life Manual of the Shattered Lake Prison". Every time he read a message, he suspected it's an April Fool's message intended for taunting new inmates.
[1 Free time from 7 AM to 10 PM. Areas that permit entry and exit are as follows: central main hall, reading room, gymnasium, audio room, sea view platform, couple room (supplies provided), workroom, dining hall…]
[2 The opening time of the dining hall is: 7 AM to 9 AM, 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 8 PM. If you want to eat during the non-opening hours, please use the ordering service.]
[3 Reading room: Please register missing titles with the administrator and they will be replaced within three working days.]
[4 Film studio: Currently, only film and sound shows that can be purchased through official channels are provided. Films that are airing in theaters can only be provided after the curtain fall."
[5 Couple room: Please put the used items in the recycling bin. Do not wash them and put them back.]
[6…]
There were many diverse rules, and almost all of them introduced the various facilities in this prison. It almost made Ash think that he was a tourist visiting the prison for a day tour.
What surprised Ash the most was that the handbook had written what rights their prisoners had, but didn't include any of the prohibitions they had to observe.
It was as if they could do anything.
There had to be something wrong with the abnormal situation, but now that they were not delivering food, he couldn't just stay in the cell and starve to death. Besides, he was also very curious about what was going on in this prison.
When he reached the door, the automatic door slid open on its own. Outside, there was a very quiet and clean aisle. There wasn't even a single guard. There was a very conspicuous sign on the wall:
[Central Main Hall←·→Equipment Gymnasium, Sauna Room]
Just by looking at the signboard, Ash could imagine that the cell next to him would definitely be filled with muscular men who worked out, bathed and went to sauna every day… When he thought about the couple room, his sphincter couldn't help but tighten. He thought that he should quickly finish his meal and return to the cell.
He walked down the long, narrow aisle to the central hall, and an expansive and cheerful sight instantly appeared before him: the central hall was a very large place with a glass ceiling. The first rays of the morning sun shone freely over the benches, and potted plants were placed on either side. A few people sat on the benches, some chatting, some reading, some even sleeping on the benches… If they weren't all wearing prison uniforms, Ash would have thought he'd arrived at a park.
The most surprising thing was that there was a uniformed guard standing by the side.
Although he seemed to be slacking during work hours and playing with the hologram, his existence alone was enough to let Ash breathe a sigh of relief—at least he had someone to call for help.
Although Ash was thinking about how to escape, he was completely useless now. He had no combat ability at all, and he also had the psychological weakness of all corporate slaves. Without the protection of the law-enforcement officers, he did not know if he could protect his chastity—Heath's body was quite sexually attractive.
There was a hologram on the wall in front of the hall that was playing the news. It seemed to be a discussion scene of a certain parliament. Just hearing a few words made one feel bored.
Ash didn't understand what was being discussed in the hologram, because the conversation between the two men sitting on the bench at the front was more appealing to him.
"I didn't expect Lorenzo to become a member of the council. It seems like he joined the Wine of Immortality Club too. The power of Andrea's faction has completely surpassed the mayor. The mayor will probably be fired after this year's term…"
"I don't think so. Mayor Fernandes has the support of Bishop Enrico. Just you wait. Not only is Lorenzo not a signal for Andreyer to rise to power, it is a declaration of Andreyer's demise. In three days at the latest, and one month at the most, someone important in Andreyer's faction will die."
"Andreyer has been laying foundations in Kaimon for decades. It's impossible for the Church to do anything in order to maintain stability."
"Have you forgotten about the suicide case of the Director of Railway Department fifteen years ago?"
It was a strange enough experience to listen to two prisoners discussing the changes in the political hierarchy in prison. What was even stranger was that one of them was a 2.2-meter tall green-skinned orc, and the other was a 1.3-meter tall short-legged goblin.
"If you're interested in politics, I suggest you go to the reading room and have a chat with old man Rene. Gedor and Rudodo were merely Secretary of the Administrative Department and Head of the Development Department before they came here. Their positions were neither high nor low, and they only have some half-baked knowledge about the politburo. Their conversations are full of meaningless drivel.
"That said, you're Ash Heath, famous leader of the Four Pillars Deity Cult. Why would you pay attention to the Kaimon City politics?"
Ash turned to the blond man beside him. "You know me?"
"Of course. After all, you're on the seven o'clock news. You were on the front page of the news yesterday and the day before yesterday—the news is the fastest way for us to get to know our new companions." The blond man smiled. "This is our first meeting. Perhaps you've seen me on the news—I'm Igora Borgin."
"Ash." Ash took two steps back. "Is everyone here so friendly?"
"Yes," Igora said frankly. "We are all quite enthusiastic about newcomers. After all, we are all companions with similar ambitions."
"Similar ambitions?"
"Yes." Igora glanced at the guard on duty and extended his hand toward Ash. He said in a low voice, "Are you interested in joining our escape research team and becoming friends that support each other?"
A surge of joy rose in Ash. The offer came right in his hour of need. He was trying to find a way to escape from prison, and didn't expect there would already be an existing organization in prison he could join. Naturally, he happily extended his hand, "Of course…"
"If I were you, I'd punch him."
Suddenly, a cold female voice came from his side.
Ash caught her in his periphery sight and realized that she was wearing a mink coat, a miniskirt, a pair of silk stockings, and long boots. There was a decorative sword hanging from her waist, which seemed to be there to add to her sexual allure. She was dressed very maturely… A young maiden?
But he recognized her the next second. Although she had changed her appearance, her face looked exactly like the Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden!
The Deadly Berserker Sword Maiden has descended by my side?
With almost no hesitation, Ash turned around and punched Igora!