Where the fuck am I…?
It's cold. I could feel a solid yet clean surface underneath me. The smell… It was a little odd.
There was a lack of odours in the air. Almost like the traces in this room were erased for a purpose.
But why would that be?
There was only one answer. 'They', whoever they may be, wanted to block off my senses more.
My ears weren't able to hear anything thanks to something muffling the sounds getting to them.
The room was clear of any odours to clue me in to the environment. My eyes were blindfolded.
The only thing I had left was touch.
And the taste in my mouth from earlier.
There was still a taste of iron in my mouth from coughing blood. It felt a bit dustier at this point.
I touched the floor beneath me and recognised the texture of old bricks being held tight with cement.
The place was cold, meaning I was away from any source of warmth. A breeze clued about a window.
All these things together made me sure I had been held in a dungeon of the more imprisonment type.
Not the magical domain separated from outside.
I was sure of it after feeling that breeze.
This wasn't an artificial environment like inside Talia's personal Dungeon. This was a prison.
And I was sold off somewhere far away.
Considering the talk of summoning demons and what I'd heard before, I became sure of it.
They had 'sacrificed' me.
…What was I supposed to do now?
No, that much was obvious. I had to escape.
Free myself from these unwanted chains and cuffs.
Suddenly, I felt the earmuffs being taken off my head and giving them space to finally breathe.
There was the sound of ringing in them.
I didn't know whether this was from the transport here, or whether I'd been wearing them too long.
Either way, the change had surprised me.
"From this day forth, you are an object." A rude voice of a woman rang in my already ringing ears.
The blindfold was taken off, and I was met with the face of a woman that had horns growing out of her head. The shape of her pupils seemed different than a humans, and she had a tail growing out.
She had an unusual pink hair and perfect figure.
Or more like a body that didn't seem to keep one fixed shape. I was curious at first, but it looked like I was right in believing my other senses. The subtle sound of flesh altering was easily picked up on.
At least with senses as sharp as my own.
"You're saying I was sacrificed?" I couldn't simply panic. There was no use in showing my emotions.
That woman wouldn't sympathise.
"You understood the situation fast. To that: 'Yes'. It was a little while ago you were sacrificed to me by some 'unique' people. The more I look at you, the more I think it was worth it." She spoke up freely.
Not admonishing or mistreating me.
"…Can you unlock these?" I gestured at my cuffs.
Moving my arm and letting the chains clink to let her hear my discontent. Even in this small way.
It was me testing the waters of her patience.
The woman smiled at me.
"As long as you behave, you'll never be chained up ever again… but if you cross me, there will be worse things than this to come." She spoke while grabbing the chains. It was followed by snaps.
The cuffs still bound me, but she made a point by easily breaking the chain I had a hard time with.
It was at this point I noticed my powers sealed.
The cuffs were a problem.
I wouldn't be able to properly express my powers until they were taken off. My Mana was locked.
Helpless to this woman's ways.
"Get up and follow me. My children are waiting to meet you. Oh, and my name is Asmodeus, but you can call me Asmo. My real name is too long, after all." She lightly held my hand and guided me.
Though I wouldn't have any other choice but to follow her anyway. It showed me what she had felt.
Twisted, but a familiar sight.
Out of the eyes of the common civilian, there were things I saw in my own world similar to this.
Mostly from human trafficking.
Some thought they were oppressed with simply the threat of violence, but it was more cruel than that.
When everyone refused to acknowledge your human right, you tended to feel that too.
That your rights were meaningless.
A complete waste of time under a new system and common sense put down. I was aware of this.
However, that didn't help me in escaping at all.
Only giving me the sensible thought of hiding my thoughts and complying until I could find a chance.
I planned a revolt before. One more couldn't hurt.
But the only time I could prepare would have to be away from prying eyes. When they weren't looking.
That's why I followed obediently.
Not showing any signs of refusing her claims.
I had to bide my time until I could escape.
Only that will be the perfect way to get out of this.
Asmodeus- No, I should call her Asmo if she liked that name more. It'd likely get me on her good side.
She took me out of her palace's prison and into a brighter room. Standing within were few people.
Two girls who seemed like Succubi, and a man who seemed to give out an atmosphere of elegance.
They were not where my attention was drawn.
'Why? Why? How does this make sense…?' I was unable to accept what the person kneeling there.
The three beautiful people standing there meant nothing to me. Revealing clothes meant nothing.
Skin was simply skin.
Instead, I stared at a pointy-eared familiar face.
I'd saw her when I was breaking out her family from that underground brothel. I didn't know her name.
However, if she was here, then didn't that mean Talia also sacrificed her people along with me?
It looked like I misjudged my client.
The only good thing I could take from this was that at least I had an ally. Someone I could work with.
Leaving alone would be impossible, I had to rely on everything I could possibly get my hands on.
An ally of sorts would help me break out easier.
I sat next to her and faces Asmo. She sat on a throne before us with her 'children' behind us.
One could easily tell from the atmosphere who had the higher position. The woman looked like royalty.
Her transparent white nightgown and pale skin was otherworldly, but also held a weight of authority.
She lazily laid there, but no one said anything.
This was enough to show that no matter what she did, no one could ever hope to complain about it.
Her position was that high.
The three standing behind me didn't rush her to get to the point. Letting her leisurely bring it up.
"My children from afar. From this day forth, the three of you shall live in my home. I've brought good partners for the two of you in the Sex Alignment." She didn't talk to us as people, but was openly giving us away as toys to these demons.
I wasn't sure what she meant by 'Sex Alignment'. It likely wouldn't be something beneficial to me.
If only Hell was written as an important place.
Although I knew of this world beforehand, it was such a small detail that I hadn't even fleshed it out.
Not even their magic system.
The only thing I could do was guess that alignments were likely similar to job roles or species. It likely dictated the kind of thing demons did. If she was giving the two of us away, then…
Damn, this was already bad.
Now it got even worse.
"But first things first. It's best if my toys handed me their Origin Skills themselves." Asmo looked at us.
Then held out her hand.
The two of us were so confused by the sudden gesture that we ended up looking for some time.
She wanted our Origin Skills? Wouldn't that mean ripping out our Magic Pathways to let her have it?
Asmo woke us up out of our confusion.
"I'll consider this one refusal." She stated, but kept her hand outstretched without really hurting us.
Even so, both of us felt terror.
The punishment for disobeying was likely higher than I thought. I couldn't consider the future.
The consequences for disobedience might kill me.
The calmer her tone was, the more vicious and heartless the retaliation for 'refusals' will be.
At least, that's what experience told me.
The elf next to me didn't have my knowledge, but she seemed intelligent and experienced enough.
Likely because of where she lived until now.
I copied her gestures and moved my hand towards the one outstretched. The moment I touched it, a blue screen appeared. It looked like she had an ability to create a bridge to obtain our Skills.
[Unique Skill: 'Ability Drain' has been used.]
[Awaiting target's acceptance of Skill.]
I could feel a tugging force trying to take the powers within me. My mind was made up.
['Magic Pathways' is selected.]
The power flowing within me started to be affected by her suction. Painlessly stripping us of power.
I felt weak feeling my Pure Mana escaping from my body. Feeling like it'd separate from me forever.
In just a short while, my body felt empty.
No longer containing any strength.
I glanced beside me to see the elven girl closing her eyes while shivering. It took a mean toll.
Especially for a Mystic like her.
As someone born with power, losing it was akin to losing her limb. For me, it was like losing muscles.
Although it wasn't easy creating Magic Pathways a second time, such a scenario wasn't impossible.
I just had to keep my hope alive.
When these newly acquired powers left me, some part of me starting to feel like I was incomplete.
I knew this to be a lie my body thought up.
Gaslighting…
Maybe that's why she was making up hand it over like this. She wanted us to feel like we were empty.
And from what I saw from the elf, it worked.
No humans could replicate what she had done.
Taking someone's Magic Pathways wasn't really possible. They were too linked to a person's life.
It was like taking out a part of the brain.
Normally, not everyone could survive such a thing.
If this was all it was going to be, then I could probably get over this feeling after some time.
But my situation became worse.
She was still holding out her hand despite how uncomfortable it should be. I really didn't get it.
Why was she doing this?
Besides my Magic Pathways, there wasn't really anything else I could all a real 'Origin Skill'.
Enchantment was a technique. The unique Magic Style I created to bring in Mana, but it was still a technique at heart. It wasn't something I could give to someone even if they had this kind of ability.
"That's a second refusal." My hairs stood on end at such an unfair statement. I pulled up my stats.
[Name: Pal Weldone
Job: UnLife Rioter (Jobless)
Personal Skills: Mixed Martial Arts (Physical), Amalgamation Style (Uni), Willpower Enchantment (Uni), Status Scan (System), Magic Arrow (Uni), Poison Hand (Evil)
Intrinsic Skills: Riot Hysteria (Passive Evil), Skill Acquisition (Special), Evil Resistance (Mastered)
Innate Gift: Time Regression (Time)
Power: D (Average)
Agility: B (Rare)
Speed: D (Average)
Defence: E (Common)
Magic: None (Dark/Evil/Death/Fire/Time/Pure)]
My once E Rank Magic Stat was empty, and Abyss Core and Magic Pathways were no longer listed.
There was only one difference.
Time Regression…
'Since when did I have that Gift?' My mind was in chaos, but I acted fast for my self-preservation.
I grabbed her hand and focused my mind. The stunning Innate Gift was shifted to her body.
"Such power…" I myself didn't have any choice in the matter. I'd made this woman even more ridiculous. In the long run, this decision I made would likely be the most regretful one I ever did.
I had no idea if dying with it could have sent me back to a period before gaining the Gift itself.
Maybe I could have escaped if I killed myself.
But all that became delusional fantasies once I gave it to the one person I shouldn't have.
My impulsive decision out of fear made me fall back with a dark face. Knowing I fucked up.
But bygones were bygones.
There was no point thinking about the things I couldn't do anything about. I had to accept reality.
With a habitual breath, I calmed myself down.
Only to fall into panic a second time.
Her hand still hadn't retracted. It meant there was still something I could give her that I hadn't.
"Are you refusing me for a third time?" Asmo's words made my heart to beat a bit too loudly.
One could hear it from the outside.
I didn't want to deny her, but I had to speak:
"I really don't have any more Origin Skills? You have to believe me!" I bowed my head willingly.
Throwing away my pride.
"That's the third refusal." Her words struck my heart like a hammer. It caused my face to twist.
There was one thing that could barely be considered an Origin Skill in my status.
'Poison Hand'…
It was an external source of power since the magical poison was only on the surface of my skin.
This kind of Skill wasn't generated internally.
I wasn't sure how she would take the poison off my arms off, but maybe my assumption was wrong.
Maybe her Ability Drain could also take it.
And that my original thought was simply a bias.
Again, my hands held Asmo's. I focused my hand to try and give her the 'Poison Hand' on my own.
['Ability Drain' has failed.]
"You should have listen to Queen Mother." A voice resounded no sooner than this short message.
Shhing.
The sound of a blade being drawn resounded a moment before I felt something though my arms.
I felt a strong pain, and then nothing at all.
No, it was still painful… but my arms were…
'WHERE ARE MY ARMS?!' When the situation finally registered, I screamed from the pain.
They chopped off my hands!!
'It hurts!' Blood gushed out as I laid on the floor in pain. The cuffs were gone, but so was everything.
My power. My arms. Pride. Everything had been taken from me once the woman made a decision.
"Maple, stop him from bleeding." Asmo didn't show any change in expression while holding my arms.
She played with them. Looking at them with great appreciation as her daughter tied the wounds.
Stopping the bleeding forcefully.
"Don't worry. I'll give your arms back in my own way. I'm not THAT violent… but you two will have to be punished for your refusals." Asmo spoke while looking into her pocket for something in particular.
"Edith, do you like animals?" She continued to ask the blue-haired daughter still standing in position.
"I don't hate them."
"Good~" As soon as Asmo replied, she took out a strange syringe that was stolen from somewhere.
If I was in my right mind at the time, I would've been able to guess it was also a 'sacrifice'.
A material or item sacrifice instead of a human one.
Wasn't able to resist as she stuck it onto my unguarded neck. My arm stubs couldn't stop her.
[You are injected with an 'Evolution Syringe'.]
[Your personal status window shall adapt shortly.]
"Bring him away for now. I will administer the punishments when he's healed. After that, you two can use them improve yourselves." While I was losing consciousness, I heard Asmo words vaguely.
I wasn't sure what was happening to me, but it felt like my heart was injured by this horrible incident.
My life after a few hours wouldn't be better.
The unfamiliarity would threaten to destroy me before I even had the chance to prepare to run.
This place really was Hell…