"Water..." A voice so weak muttered out. He had no idea how long he has been here, but it was long enough for him to feel exhausted.
In this dark, empty room, Gael could only utter out words of help. He couldn't muster up any strength, neither could he really identify where he exactly was due to the dark environment.
What a joke, he thought.
Gael turned Twenty-six this year, and on one faithful afternoon, when Gael had decided to go for a walk to ease off the pressures of work, he stumbled upon a group of people.
They were odd people, dark clothes covering everything about them, even their mouths and noses. He had no idea how they could breathe, but it didn't matter to him. They were the least of his concerns.
At least, that's what he thought. Instead, one of them slowly approached him without him noticing, and with a simple to his neck, he lost consciousness.
He had no idea why it happened, but then again, perhaps it was his fault.
There were rumors that people were going missing near his village, yet he thought none of it. He thought rumors were, after all, rumors.
"Hah..."
Gael's pupils were shaking ever so slightly, his eyes barely open. He wanted to sleep, he really wanted to, but he knew what came after sleep, and he wasn't going to give himself to this eternal darkness.
Truthfully, he wanted to do it. And normally, he should've. After all, why waste your strength and not just die? What awaits him if he survives this whole ordeal? He'll simply go back to his ever-so-tiring work, acting similar to a slave and mindlessly mining.
He was damn good at it, but it was still just mining. In fact, death was one of the few occasional things he always thought about during work or even during rest, it seemed like a fast, and steady shortcut to end all of his pain.
But what was happening now? It's like he had no problem dying right this moment, but didn't want to die. As if he were to die now, everything that he has lived for would have been for nothing. All the labor and hard work, which he has never cared about, suddenly had meaning to him. All the constant praying and crying, the happiness of seeing his sister enter a great martial arts sect with his money, and the small, but undying hope of entering a martial art sect despite the small amount of Vital Energy he has.
He was contradicting his past self, but he didn't care, for he knows that this is what he always felt. Or at least, that's what he thought.
"I..." His voice, weak, "will survive..." he barely have been able to mutter these words out, but he needed to say it out loud. Not for anyone in particular, but for himself. Not for the pity of whoever is hearing him, if there is any, but to not lose himself to this eternal darkness.
He wasn't going to die, and be forgotten. No, not ever. He needed to be alive, he needed to, at least, leave a mark that he was here, that Gael Augustus existed.
After an unbearable amount of silence and him practically having an existential crisis, something finally rang out.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Gael, whose body has barely been able to move an inch, flinched. As if his senses had been enhanced, he immediately pinpointed the location of the dripping water. He felt a sudden surge of strength, and he began to slowly crawl towards the sound.
Drip.
When he finally felt the cold water touch his head, Gael flipped his body around, and the drips of water fell into his mouth, one by one. And he stayed like that for a long time.
"*Gulp*"
Gael closed his mouth, and eyes. He felt rejuvenated, alive. He has never felt this good after drinking water, so he let a few more drops into his mouth.
After that, he pushed through the pains of his body, and got up.
"Curses." Gael uttered while trying to scan his surrounding. Pitch, black darkness. It wasn't much better than the first time he opened his eyes here, but at least his eyes adjusting to the darkness.
When he woke up the first time, he calculated the area of the room by walking half a foot, and concluded that this room is around 5x5x5m, and has practically memorized it. So even if his eyes didn't adjust to the darkness, he still would be able to tell where he is simply due to how much he studied his place. There was one large metal door as well, which is the reason why Gael couldn't leave this place. It was even sturdier and harder than normal metals, as some Vital Energy was being emanated from it. Gael thought that even if he was an outer disciple martial artist, he still wouldn't be able to even scratch the door.
Thankfully, due to unlocking the first seal of the Three Seals of Sustenance Technique, Gael didn't have the need to eat. It was practically a cheat ability, if one had the ability to train in it.
It is said that there are three seals in the human body, the Seal of Eternal Hunger, the Seal of Eternal Thirst, and the Seal of Eternal Breath. It is said that Each Seal is what causes a human to feel hunger, thirst, and the need for oxygen. If one could unlock any of the seals, then their life would be much easier, as one of their basic survival needs will cease.
It was an incredibly difficult technique that required extremely harsh dieting and absorption of a certain Vital Energy, as well as focusing to the highest degree.
Most Martial Artists and Fighters wouldn't learn this technique until they are much more powerful and experienced. The reason is simple, for one, it takes away a small portion of your vital energy, and of the world around you, and transforms it. Second, it takes quite a lot of time to learn, and it has no direct benefit in combat.
The first seal, which is the Seal of Eternal Hunger, takes at least 10 years of constant dieting and focus to achieve for a normal, talentless person to do. However, for really talented people, that usually meant 3 to 5 years at most. Although the higher and more powerful someone was, the easier it was for them to achieve it.
Gael, on the other hand, learned it in a single year. In fact, he memorized all the three seals, but he only truly learned the Seal of Eternal Hunger. It was a gift from his sister two years ago, and although he thought that it was worthless at first due to him thinking he didn't have any talent, but that soon shattered when he unlocked the first seal after only a single year. Not to mention, he didn't do it like everyone else, he practiced it while working, which was practically impossible for everyone else.
Thankfully, due to him not training in any martial arts, the vital energy that this technique takes didn't effect him by much. This technique truly could be learnt by anyone.
It was a God-given talent, but even then, most Martial Art masters didn't take him as a disciple, neither did any sect, although they did acknowledge his amazing talent, so they gave him a few martial arts scrolls, but of course, he couldn't execute them. The reason was simple, a Martial Artist needs a sufficient amount of Vital Energy in order to train in martial arts. Otherwise, their bodies will be torn apart.
The difference between someone with low Vital Energy and someone who had an average amount is massive. Even outer-disciples of most Martial Art sects could very likely beat Gael. What's the point of a talent if any attack from your opponent could kill you?
Regardless, thanks to this technique, he didn't have the need for food. Although, water was still a problem. He doesn't know how long it has been, but it has to be at least a few days now. He needs to unlock the Second Seal. It's quite a lot more troublesome, and requires inhumane focus and willpower, and most importantly, time.
He doesn't know how long he will be here, and if he will ever escape.
He doesn't know what to do, but hope for the best. The culprits are likely much stronger than him, so there isn't much he can do.
Gael let out a depressed sigh, and closed his eyes. He began to focus on his body, brought up his fists, and threw a powerful jab. He might not be able to beat them, but at least he needs to get some steam out. Not to mention, this feels better for him rather than just sit in one place and mediate.
And so, time flew by slowly.