Chapter 3: Exploring the First Floor
Ryujin mumbled to himself while walking towards a prison cell, "For now, all I can do is explore the first floor of the demon prison." The creaking sound of the main gate being opened echoed through the corridor, followed by the voice of a guard from outside. The sound was familiar, a routine signal that marked the end of Ryujin's shift.
"Kaito Ryujin, your shift is up; time to change shifts," the guard announced through the halfway-opened door. Ryujin's response was automatic, a habitual reply that required no thought.
"Okay, I'm coming," Ryujin responded. He headed to the dressing room to change from his work clothes to his casual attire, exchanging his uniform for an animal-skinned jacket and trousers. The supple leather felt comfortable against his skin, a welcome change from the stiff fabric of his uniform.
While changing, Ryujin decided to ask the system a question, "System, besides being attacked by demons, is self-cultivation effective?" He waited for a response, but the system remained silent. The silence was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated Ryujin's expectations.
Undeterred, Ryujin came to his own conclusion: relying on oneself was better than relying on external factors. This realization sparked a sense of determination within him, a burning desire to forge his own path. With that thought, he decided to head to the library, a vast repository of ancient martial art texts.
The library was a labyrinthine structure, its shelves stretching like a maze into the depths of the prison. Ryujin navigated the narrow aisles, his fingers trailing over the spines of the books. The musty smell of old parchment and the faint scent of incense wafted through the air, transporting Ryujin to a different era.
After browsing through the shelves, Ryujin finally found a skill book named "Iron Cloth." The cover was worn, the leather cracked and faded. As he flipped through the pages, he discovered that the skill was similar to Copper Skin, strengthening the skin, muscles, and bones. The principles outlined in the book resonated with Ryujin, and he felt an inexplicable connection to the ancient art.
Ryujin decided to learn the Iron Cloth skill and took the book to his room. He shut the door, sat down on the floor, and began practicing the skill. The words on the page came alive, guiding him through the intricate steps of the technique. As he meditated, he saw himself in an empty space, his body feeling like it was being refined in a cauldron. Blue mist emanated from his body, and after a few minutes, he opened his eyes, still in his room.
The room was quiet, the silence a stark contrast to the turmoil of emotions that had ravaged Ryujin's mind. He felt changed, transformed by the experience. The Iron Cloth skill had awakened something within him, a spark that would ignite a fire of determination and ambition.
Ryujin happily exclaimed, "I have cultivated it, a skill that will take others years or even decades to cultivate. All I needed was one day. I'm such a genius in cultivating external skills!" He stood up from the floor, where he had been sitting cross-legged, and clenched his fist, feeling a surge of pride and accomplishment.
"Now that I've learned the Iron Cloth skill, it can completely hide my Bronze Skin skill. People will think I only have the Iron Cloth skill," Ryujin said to himself, a sly smile spreading across his face. He felt a sense of security, knowing that his true abilities were hidden from prying eyes.
The next day, Ryujin opened the demon prison's main gate, his purple hair a vibrant splash of color in the drab surroundings. The morning sun cast a golden glow over the prison, and the air was crisp with the scent of dawn. "Zhang Han, I'm here to take my shift," he announced, stretching his body like an athlete, feeling the muscles in his back and shoulders flex.
Zhang Han raised an eyebrow, "Ryujin, you're early, and why are you looking so happy today? It's not like your usual style, where you show up an hour late every day." He scratched his head, confusion etched on his face.
Ryujin chuckled, "Oh, you're making me sound like a bad guy. I've decided to be hardworking from now on, and I'll be coming one hour earlier from now on to make up for all the shifts you've covered for me so far." He grinned, feeling a sense of determination wash over him.
Zhang Han scratched the back of his head, confused, "Really? Oh, good brother, thanks. I'll treat you to a nice drink in the future. I'll be going for now, thanks." He nodded, still looking perplexed.
Ryujin waved goodbye, "See you later, Zhang." As he shut the main gate, he turned around to face the prison, thinking about which cell he should visit today. He was eager to try out the system functions again, to explore the depths of his newfound powers.
He started walking through the rows of cells, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The air was thick with the stench of decay and corruption, a noxious miasma that clung to everything like a bad omen. Ryujin's nose wrinkled in distaste, but he pressed on, undeterred.
Finally, he stopped at a cell with red aura chains and numerous talismans on its door. The aura emanating from the cell was dark and foreboding, a palpable sense of malevolence that seemed to sear the air. Just as Ryujin stretched his hands to touch one of the chains, he suddenly found himself in a serene green field.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of white and red flowers, and the soft rustle of green grass. The peaceful atmosphere was a stark contrast to the harsh environment of the demon prison. Ryujin rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was dreaming. He stared up at the sunny sky, taking in the vibrant colors.
"A red sun," he whispered, his voice barely audible. The sun seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if it were alive.
As he continued staring at the red sun, he noticed a slight trace of a line on its surface. The line grew thicker and more defined, until Ryujin realized that the red sun was slowly transforming into an eye. The eyelid opened, revealing a giant purple pupil.
The pupil seemed to bore into Ryujin's soul, as if it could see the very depths of his being. Ryujin felt a shiver run down his spine, a sense of awe and wonder washing over him.
As soon as Ryujin saw the eye, the entire green field transformed into a desolate wasteland filled with skulls and purple mist. The air was thick with an eerie, unnatural silence, like the stillness before a storm. He looked around, and all he could see were dried, withered trees that seemed to stretch towards the sky like skeletal fingers, their branches creaking ominously in the wind.
Looking forward, Ryujin saw that the red sun had transformed into a one-eyed giant, resembling a cyclops with no hair, mouth, nose, or ears. The entire face was occupied by the giant eyeball, which seemed to bore into Ryujin's soul, piercing his very essence. The giant's presence was overwhelming, and Ryujin felt the weight of being in the presence of a superior being, like an insect before a giant.
Purple mist emanated from the giant's body as it slowly began to walk towards Ryujin, its massive strides eating up the distance. The ground trembled beneath its feet, and the air seemed to vibrate with its power, like the reverberations of a massive bell. The giant stomped a foot in front of Ryujin, unleashing a force so great that it sent Ryujin flying across the wasteland, his body tumbling through the air like a rag doll.
Attacked by Eye Illusion Demon!
Soul Power +10 +10 +10 +10 +10
Ryujin's vision blurred, but he quickly realized that it was just an illusion technique. The system's notification jolted him back to reality, and he felt a surge of relief wash over him. He decided to pretend that he was still under the eye demon's control, playing along with the illusion to see where it would lead.
Ryujin removed the chains and talismans from the floor while walking into the cell of the eye demon, his movements stiff and mechanical, like a puppet on strings. "My faithful servant, open this prison for your master," the eye demon commanded, its voice dripping with malevolence, like honey laced with poison.
The eye demon thought to itself, "This weak human is now under my control. Once I leave this place through him, I'll make the lives of everyone in the Demon Dispel Bureau horrible. They'll tremble before me, and I'll be the one who holds the power."
However, Ryujin had other plans. With a swift motion, he shut the cell door, locking both himself and the eye demon inside. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the corridor, like the crack of a whip.
Ryujin turned to face the real eye demon, which was vastly different from the illusionary version. The demon was just a head with legs and bat wings attached to its sides, giving it a grotesque, bird-like appearance. The head was round, like a ball, and the entire demon had dark purple skin with no hair. The eyeball covered the entire head, with no nose, mouth, or ears, only two small horns protruding from the demon's head, like twisted, nightmarish growths