Ryker moved through the narrow streets, his footsteps echoing as he carried Adam over his shoulder.
The streets were deserted, bathed in shadows from the few flickering lamps that still lit the way.
Adam struggled to get a clear view of his surroundings, but his position limited his sight, and his head throbbed from the rough handling.
As they approached a small shop, its windows shuttered and its sign faded, Adam tried to make out the details, but everything was a hazy blur.
Ryker pushed open the door, entering the dimly lit shop. The owner, a grizzled old man, looked up from behind the counter.
Recognizing Ryker immediately, he bowed his head slightly in respect, yet Ryker paid him no attention, proceeding through the shop and heading directly to a narrow staircase.
Adam could barely catch his breath as they descended into a basement shrouded in silence, where a heavy door waited, concealed from the view of the common world above.
Opening the door, Ryker continued without pause. Behind it, a steep staircase led further downward, and he began climbing down, his movements confident and unhurried.
After a few moments, they reached a massive gate, flanked by two guards with imposing stances and stern faces.
The guards nodded at Ryker, recognizing him instantly. Without a word, they opened the gate, and Ryker carried Adam through, disappearing into the darkness beyond.
Inside, shadows engulfed the space, and the limited light blurred everything around him.
Adam tried to adjust his vision but could barely make out anything other than the dim shapes of walls and the faint outline of a corridor stretching ahead.
He could only wait, helplessly silent on Ryker's shoulder.
Glancing over Ryker's shoulder, Adam noticed the corridor they were entering was lined with wooden doors.
Ryker walked with certainty towards one door, which he pushed open without a second thought. With a swift, indifferent motion, he tossed Adam off his shoulder, sending him sprawling onto the cold, stone floor inside.
Adam scrambled up, turning to face Ryker, who regarded him with an icy stare. "Rest here," he ordered in a voice that left no room for questions. "From today, this is your house. And you will follow every rule here. There are no exceptions."
Without another word, Ryker turned, pulling the door shut behind him.
Adam heard the heavy click of the lock, the finality of it echoing in the small space.
The reality of his predicament sank in with that sound, cold and unyielding.
'How did I end up here?' Adam's mind whirled. 'I barely survived my first day in this world… only to be brought here by a stranger, treated like a possession.'
His hand unconsciously moved to the collar around his neck, his fingers tracing its edges.
It was the mark of his new reality, the price he had paid for being saved.
He was no longer a free person, but a slave in a place he didn't recognize, bound by rules he hadn't chosen.
The walls around him felt like they were closing in, but Adam forced himself to take stock of his surroundings.
The room was small, barely enough for him to stretch his arms fully. Against one wall sat a narrow bed, topped with a mattress stuffed with straw, worn and lumpy.
A single, dim candle burned on a small table beside the bed, casting feeble light into the space.
A small storage area was carved out on the other side of the bed—a space where Adam could keep whatever few belongings he might be allowed.
He took it all in, a dull ache settling in his chest. 'Is this my life now? Sold off in a slave market, like any other object? Or perhaps something worse awaits?'
But then he remembered the system that had appeared when he first arrived in this world, the one that mentioned his legendary skill. 'I have a skill called Kinetic Enigma,' he thought, feeling a faint flicker of hope. 'Maybe… maybe now's the time to see what it actually does.'
Concentrating, Adam thought, Status.
A window popped up in his mind, and he read each detail with careful attention.
========= System Status ===========
- Host Name: Adam Bek
- Level: 1
- Health: 400/400
- Mana: 60/100
- Experience: 0/100
Attributes:
- Strength: 5
- Agility: 6
- Intelligence: 8
- Endurance: 4
- Luck: 3
Skills: Kinetic Enigma (Legendary)
________________________________________
Adam's gaze fell on Kinetic Enigma, and his heartbeat quickened. He touched the skill with his mind, causing another window to appear.
_______________________________________
Skill Description - Kinetic Enigma
This skill allows the user to absorb any type of energy—kinetic, potential, or mana energy. The user can activate this skill with any part of their body. Once absorbed, the energy can be converted to fill the user's mana reserves.
________________________________________
Adam stared at the description in awe. 'This isn't just a skill—it's a weapon.' He could hardly believe his luck.
If he truly could absorb any kind of attack, then he was capable of more than he'd ever dreamed of.
The potential of this power stirred excitement within him. 'If I can really absorb energy, that means I could counter the attacks of magicians or warriors… maybe even defeat them.'
He looked around, his gaze settling on the wall. 'What if I try it out on that?' Stepping closer to the wall, he raised his hand, keeping it just a few centimeters away from the surface.
The memory of a villain from an anime he once watched on Earth flashed in his mind. That character wielded terrifying power. He had orange hair
Inspired, Adam whispered in his mind, 'Kinetic Enigma… convert mana points into potential energy.'
Bracing himself, Adam moved his hand toward the wall with a steady force, letting his skill take hold. As his palm made contact,
he felt a surge of energy ripple through him, and a loud cracking sound echoed from the wall. Spidery cracks spread out from the point of impact, marring the surface.
Startled, Adam quickly deactivated his skill, pulling his hand back. He stared in astonishment at the destruction he'd caused. If someone else saw this wall, they'd think it had been hit by a speeding truck.
A smile crept onto Adam's face as he realized the true potential of his skill. 'This power… it's even more incredible than I imagined.'
He surveyed the damaged wall, wondering what to do about it. But a part of him simply didn't care. This place was his prison, after all.
His gaze drifted to a small clay pot near the table, which held water.
He took a drink, the coolness soothing his parched throat. 'I'll have to get used to this world,' he thought with resignation.
His muscles finally began to relax, and he lay on the bed, his body sinking into the straw mattress. Exhaustion overtook him, and his eyes soon drifted closed.
A loud creak startled him awake, and he saw Ryker standing at the door. Ryker's eyes flicked to the cracked wall, a faint look of amusement on his face.
"You're making quick progress," he commented, his tone indifferent.
Adam tensed, waiting for a reprimand. Instead, Ryker's lips curled in a smirk.
"Are you… planning to put me up for sale?" Adam asked, his voice barely hiding the fear and frustration.
Ryker only glanced at him, a strange gleam in his eyes. "Your trial begins now."
Adam frowned, confused. "What trial?"
Ryker offered a cryptic smile. "You'll find out soon enough," he said, a touch of menace in his voice. Adam couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his gut.
But if there was a trial, he would face it with everything he had. 'I have this power, and I'll use it.'
"Follow me," Ryker ordered, and Adam obeyed.
As they moved down the corridor, Adam noticed other rooms like his, all identical in design.
Men and women, mostly in black attire with masked faces, passed them, nodding respectfully to Ryker while casting curious glances at Adam.
They eventually reached a cafeteria where others—some young, some old—were eating in silence. Ryker gestured toward the space. "You'll eat here if you pass the trial."
Adam grumbled to himself. 'Will he ever give a straight answer?'
Beyond the cafeteria, they reached an outdoor training area where adults appeared to be sparring against younger recruits, rough and intense.
The sight made Adam's stomach twist. 'Is that the trial? Will he beat me down until he's satisfied?'
Ryker led him to an empty training ground, where a young man, maybe eighteen, was waiting.
Ryker gestured at the platform. "This is your training area. And he," Ryker nodded at the young man, "is your opponent."
Adam climbed up, steadying himself. He looked his opponent in the eye, determination settling in his bones. "I'm ready."
To be connected...