=+=
I was awake, but I couldn't move, paralyzed.
The only difference was that I felt everything around me, from the icy cold on my bare body to the intense pain from my injuries.
I bet my body was painted blue and red after all that beating.
I could breathe, swallow my saliva, smell, and feel everything, but I couldn't open my eyes or move, I hadn't even tried to make a sound yet.
I could hear strange voices around me; they spoke the human language but it was somewhat broken, as if they had been isolated from society for a very long time.
The voice belonged to an old man and a young girl; Loana might be happy with the situation I got myself into. Really happy!
The most she wishes for after Darian's inheritance was probably to see me suffer, and ironically, I did it to myself.
The fog that had clouded my mind since I arrived on the island had disappeared, and I reviewed everything that happened in those days.
From losing my memories to my unusual desire to reach the tree.
I became sure that something had manipulated my mind, something very powerful to affect Jen as well - someone on the verge of reaching rank S-.
We were forced to come to the center of the island, and from there the pale man took over. I'm unaware of everything that happened afterward.
I also just remembered some things I had forgotten since I arrived, among them Jen's character, one of the characters I designed myself, not that it matters now...
I sighed internally while focusing on the sounds around me; from the smell, I felt like I was in some sort of lab.
"Has the body been thoroughly washed before analysis?"
The old man's voice asked calmly, and the female voice answered softly.
"Yes, the results have been confirmed several times."
I heard the old man hum for a moment before speaking again.
"Strength E- Speed G+ Endurance F Senses F-, his raw physical abilities should average 4. Remind me of the actual result again?"
The female voice responded, and this time the doubt was clearer in her voice.
"Five and a half..."
The old man sighed audibly, but unfortunately, I couldn't see his features.
"There is something special about this body, place it in the upper rank."
"But he doesn't meet the requirements!" the girl shouted, then the old man replied in a louder voice.
"It's an order! And strength is not the issue here!"
"And also, don't question my decisions again!"
The voices in the room quieted for a few seconds after that, and I felt the air around me becoming colder and colder.
"Sorry, Ada- Grandpa ..."
"It's fine, move him to the next stage..."
I felt a bit of pain at the back of my neck, then I lost consciousness again.
***
=+=
'What happened this time...'
I woke up again in the same state, the same temperature and atmosphere, the difference was that I felt something strange around my neck holding it down, something like a collar?
Fu*k everyone here! Do I look like a damn dog?
I screamed internally. I couldn't do anything except swallow loudly, truly pathetic.
I really hate what is happening. I started to reconsider my previous decisions, what did I even do wrong ?
Anyway... I also felt something strange entering my body, I felt it was something good.
I didn't dare to trust my feelings after what just happened recently, so I analyzed it with my mind, thinking was all I could do anyway.
I felt strength filling my body, an incredible high strength.
I felt all my previous pain disappear, and my mind filled with the strange fog again.
However, I felt a strange burning on my forehead, specifically where the Seal of Sloth was. The fog in my mind gradually disappeared but was still there, I could barely think.
I shivered internally, what would happen to me without the Seal of Sloth? Would I lose my mind?
I swallowed unconsciously and tried to focus on the sounds around me again.
I heard the same female voice as before.
"We have introduced the sacred fruit into his body, and the main thought has been forced into his mind, the resistance is incredibly high but a few more loads and it will be done as usual."
She reported to the old man Adam with patience and accuracy, continued for a few minutes before stopping, then he praised her.
I felt small fruits like grapes being pushed into my mouth one by one, I resisted with all my might but ended up being forced to swallow them all.
I became high more and more, and each time my body became stronger.
After swallowing about twenty fruits and feeling my body become many times stronger, it unfortunately stopped.
That high definitely made me addicted, I felt like I would sacrifice the entire world for just another one.
I knew the addiction was taking over my mind, but I couldn't do anything about it.
What was happening to me was similar to what happens to smokers, knowing that cigarettes are slowly killing them and that it's just an addiction, but most of them end up dying with a cigarette in their hands.
I felt incredible helplessness as the fog invaded my body, I was slowly losing my mind, and the addiction almost took over.
The Seal of Sloth was working slowly, clearing the fog, my mind was slowly returning to me, but the cleaning process suddenly stopped midway. The seal's fuel ran out.
Everything in the world needs some kind of energy to function, and the Seal of Sloth is no exception to this rule.
I guessed its fuel was drowsiness and laziness in general, practicing combat art in short or lazing around.
However, I couldn't move my body, let alone train...
"It's done, his addiction levels have reached the minimum standard!"
I heard the female's cheerful voice, and also a light patting sound.
"Congratulations, Diana, this is your first high-grade Puppet."
In the name if God...
"Really?!"
Diana's happy voice filled the room, her voice imbued with mana unconsciously and almost crushed my eardrum.
"Yes, yes! He will be sent to the facility to pass the standards, then sent to the Arovan family headquarters!"
The last thing I heard was the happy girl's mumbling before my consciousness faded again, will I become a slave?
—--
A strong blow to my face woke me up immediately, damn, that blow was more painful than Jor's hits even...
I remembered my bitter drowsy days and couldn't help but feel nostalgic...
The temple was like heaven compared to what I'm going through now... I wish the torture list includes sleep deprivation and leaving me in a room for a few days or something similar.
Anyway...
My body was no longer paralyzed, I opened my eyes and looked around for the first time in a long while.
I was dressed entirely in white, my bare feet on the icy metal floor, I saw the edge of the metal collar on my neck and recognized it almost immediately.
*
It's similar to the Mana Curse Chain, but much stronger.
This collar affects the soul and mind as well, not just mana.
This wasn't a secret; anyone wearing these collars could feel its effects immediately, not that it would help them.
A chain extended from the collar and connected to another person in front of me, forming a long line of prisoners like me in similar clothing.
I wanted to look back, but a strong slap hit me again, which was really annoying...
"Keep moving!"
Everyone around me complained about me, whether prisoners or guards, and it amazed me a little.
'Even the prisoners?! what is happening here?!...'
With no other solution, I decided to go along with it and move forward.
I made it seem like it was my decision, but honestly, it was forced on me.
I smelled a certain scent in front, a scent that made my body long to get closer to it of its own will.
Maybe it was intentional, and this was why the other prisoners were eager as well.
The sweet scent grew deeper and deeper as I approached, and I couldn't help but feel excited to discover what it was.
I noticed something strange happening in my mind and body, but I couldn't stop it even if I tried.
In fact, the only thing keeping me conscious and aware of my current situation was the Seal of Sloth; otherwise, I would've become a mindless beast craving the source of all this addiction.
Well.. maybe I would become like that for a few days or weeks, but that's until I find a way to fuel the seal, perhaps not anytime soon, but it will happen eventually.
When the scent reached its peak and my mind was practically floating in the air, the line stopped.
In front of us was a straight path, only twenty meters long, and at the end, a small golden fruit the size of a grape rested. Just seeing it made my mind boil, and my saliva flowed automatically.
I barely managed to gather myself and looked away forcefully, trying my best to focus on another scent.
But it seemed the guards had calculated everything; the place was closed, and only one scent dominated the area.
I noticed the prisoners' drool dripping onto the ground and their eyes gleaming like dogs; it seemed they were on the verge of losing their identities as intelligent and conscious beings.
I felt grateful for having the Seal of Sloth; perhaps I would be in the same state without it...
In fact, the line of prisoners consisted of several races; there were goblins and dwarves as well, even if only a few.
The chain that bound the first prisoner suddenly fell, and he immediately rushed towards the fruit savagely.
I hadn't noticed before, but countless metallic spikes covered the ground between us and the fruit, their tips stained red from their intense heat.
The pain seemed unimaginable...
The prisoner ran as if he didn't feel the pain, but he was actually screaming loudly.
It seemed he would sacrifice anything for that fruit, and this pain wasn't much in comparison.
'This is a disease...'
My body shuddered at the sight, and I felt terrified; I really didn't want to end up like them...
The man's suffering finally ended when he reached his destination, he swallowed the fruit without hesitation and headed to the door that opened nearby.
Another fruit appeared out of nowhere, and the second in line moved after the chain that bound him disappeared.
In a similar scene, he crossed the distance while screaming in pain. The ordeal ended in half a minute when he finally reached his destination.
One after another, whether goblins, dwarves, or humans, they all acted the same way just to get a single grape-sized fruit.
Finally, after watching the entire show from the back, I found myself in front of the scorching spikes. The path extended for twenty meters.
I felt my neck lighten as the chains fell, and my body moved against my will.
'What is happening?!'
I am in full control of my body now, I decide when to walk and when to stop but... everything except going back.
When I tried to move backward, I felt a strange reaction from my body, and my orders were completely rejected.
I was controlling it as usual, but it refused some of my commands.
'Will my body also rebel against me?' I thought sarcastically, I've been through so much in just two months... am I really that unlucky?
I thought as I felt the pain of the sharp spikes, my mind began to fortify itself against the pain after all the previous events, but I was still human after all.
The pain was really intense, I prevented myself from screaming, but tears of pain eventually came out.
I bit my tongue, I'm also angry.. really angry!
In the end, I put the golden fruit in my mouth, and the headache grew stronger and stronger.
A door opened then, and I entered without hesitation.
The seal of sloth worked at its maximum to counter the effects of the fruit, but it couldn't last long, I needed to find an isolated place as soon as possible.
A vast room appeared before me, on one side stood massive upright coffins, and dozens of guards lined up in the center of the room.
Under the dominance of one of the guards, I was led to a particular coffin numbered 543, I was quickly pushed inside, and the door was locked.
There was a small hole in the floor, the only source of ventilation, and I couldn't see any light in this place...
The seal stopped working when I removed the golden fruit from my mouth and immediately sent it to the inventory.
With the help of the Seal of Sloth, I was able to resist the strange influence on me and not swallow the fruit, and I sent it to the inventory as soon as I entered here.
I panted loudly, one more second and I would have succumbed to my instincts.. I don't know how I held out for even one second...
I had been stripped of my Storage ring a long time ago, but they couldn't strip me of the Seal of Sloth, of course.
Maybe they thought it was just a strange tattoo, especially since no mana emanated from it, which worked in my favor.
I found something strange, despite my non-intervention, the fruit was destroyed as soon as it entered the inventory.
That was, of course, the work of the seal, it seemed to have some consciousness.
The room was dark, and I didn't know how long I would stay here.
I remembered the first times I swallowed the fruit, where I was put in a similar illusion effect for about half an hour.
Do they want to isolate us for the rest of the day in an uncomfortable dark coffin? Just with our thoughts?
As the rest of the day passed without doing anything, not even changing positions, boredom would become a prevalent feeling among the prisoners.
Throughout the entire day, they only felt pleasure during that half-hour when they ate the fruit, in a high status..
This method alone increases the feeling of addiction, not to mention the addictive effects of the fruit itself.
Another thing, will they feed us anything other than the fruit?
I sighed, and spoke a word I hadn't uttered in a long time.
"Status"
{
Name: Cassian StarHold
Title: -
Class: Swordsman
Legacy skill: Beast Form
status: Cursed
Level: E-
Stats:
Strength: E+
Speed: F
Endurance: F+
Intelligence: -
Senses: F
Wisdom: E+
Luck: F-
Charisma: +E
(Note: Charisma and Luck stats are not included in the level evaluation)
Skills:
Mind Improving: F
Martial Arts:
Commandment of Sloth (1/5): 23%
Sword Basics: 24%
}
I noticed something strange, I had checked my status just before being kidnapped, and I was definitely weaker than this.
It was as old Adam had stated before, but what I see now was entirely different.
Is it the fruit? Are its body-strengthening effects not illusory after all?