We trained nonstop for five, maybe six hours. The intensity never dropped.
Steve wasn't bleeding, but I'd turned most of his body red from all the hits. The wind blades left marks—even if they didn't cut, they stung like hell. He didn't complain though. Just kept trying.
He was improving. Slowly, yeah, but definitely improving. He could dodge two or three blades in a row now if I kept the timing steady. After that, his body lagged just a bit behind the motion. Still, that was real progress.
Eventually, we took a break. Just sat down against the cold wall, breathing in silence.
Then I felt it.
Someone was coming. Four people, this time. Their steps were quiet, but my perception picked them up easily. I leaned toward Steve and whispered, "They're back."
We got up and stood ready.
The steps came and stopped outside our cell, and our host strolled in again—King. This time, he wasn't alone. Two of the goons from before flanked him, and with them came a tall woman.
All of them wore those stupid goggles.
King started clapping as soon as he entered. "Well, well, well. Look at that. You boys are doing just fine."
I chuckled. "Of course. Your little slaves aren't strong enough to break us."
He hummed and smirked. "I'll make a note of that. Feedback appreciated."
Then he gestured to the woman. "Now, I brought a gift for you. Meet Miss Red."
I didn't look up, but my perception locked onto her instantly.
She was nearly seven feet tall, built like a tower. Pale skin, black eyes, and short hair that reached just to her neck. She wore a bright, flowery dress like she was on vacation, and had a wild grin stretched across her face, like some kid about to play with her toys.
King grinned wider.
"Miss Red here has a very special class. She's well-known in Holt territory. Even the Empire has her on their most-wanted list."
Then he laughed.
"Can you believe it? Your Empire banned her instead of using her. What a joke."
He turned to her.
"Miss Red, these are the ones I mentioned. Give them… let's say, a full day's treatment?"
The woman chuckled, voice soft but twisted.
"A full day? That'll cost extra, kid."
King nodded like he was proud.
"Of course. I'll pay you more than extra."
The woman nodded with a smile. "Then please, go ahead."
King chuckled, clearly enjoying himself, and turned to his two men. "You can begin."
Both of them stepped forward, eyes locked on us, and just like that, the beating started again.
I kept the [Essence Engine] active, focusing on absorbing as much force as possible. Every punch, every kick—my body took them in, but my core pulled at the energy behind them.
When they used wind against me, I absorbed the force.
When they threw me into the wall, I absorbed the impact.
I didn't block. I didn't resist.
I let it happen, surrendering to the pain so I could study it.
My mind slipped into a zone—calm, focused. My Psynapse surged, and I entered a trance-like state.
Time slowed. I watched the force being created in their bodies, felt it flow through me, and then vanish into the channels carved into my core.
I didn't fight back. I just stood there, absorbing everything.
They noticed, of course. My lack of reaction only made them hit harder. Their strikes grew more vicious. I heard bones crack. My muscles tore. Blood dripped freely.
But I didn't stop.
Because something was happening.
The more I endured, the more I understood. I felt a shift—something deep. It was like a door was opening inside me. A door to something far greater than pain.
A world of energy and force.
A world of pure creation and destruction.
I watched one of them bend his leg slightly.
In that moment, I saw it, force building in his muscles, condensing, spiraling through his frame like liquid fire. Then he moved. Fast. He spun, and the gathered energy exploded through his body, all of it channeled into a single kick that slammed into my chest.
Boom.
The world around me vanished.
In my perception, everything turned white, blinding, endless white. I floated in it, weightless, surrounded by silence and light.
I felt like if I could just reach out, just touch that whiteness, I would gain something... something powerful. Something important.
But I didn't get the chance.
The trance shattered.
My body crashed into the wall with a sickening thud, then slid down to the floor, limp and broken.
But even as I hit the ground, I was smiling.
Blood trickled down my lips, but I couldn't help the grin forming on my face. I enjoyed every second of what I'd just gone through.
Honestly, I barely even registered the pain. My mind had been somewhere else entirely—somewhere far beyond this cell.
King clapped his hands, slow and theatrical.
"Brilliant work. I hope you were satisfied, Billion."
I didn't answer.
He turned to the tall woman beside him.
"Now it's your turn, Miss Red. Remember, one full day."
She gave a small nod, then asked casually, "Who goes first?"
King pointed straight at me. "This one."
Miss Red stepped forward with a slow, almost lazy grace. Then she knelt in front of me, her eyes meeting mine as I sat against the wall, still catching my breath.
She leaned in and smiled.
"Nothing personal, kid. We all have things we like. This just happens to be something I enjoy."
I didn't know what she meant. Her tone was calm, almost friendly, but something about her presence made the air feel heavier.
She continued.
"What I'm going to do is very simple. I'll have you relive some really good memories... things that make you happy. You'll enjoy it, I'll get my payment, and then we both move on. Nice and clean."
My heart skipped a beat.
Was she going to read my memories?
That couldn't be real. No class like that had ever been confirmed—not in any record, not even as a rumor. But even so… it was possible.
My thoughts raced.
If she saw what I could do, if she found out about my talent, it would be over. There'd be no hiding it anymore. No going out of here alive.
I tried to think of a way out. Some countermeasure. Some defense. But before I could come up with anything, her voice interrupted my panic.
"Alright," she whispered gently, "I'm about to begin."
She raised her right hand and calmly placed it on my head.
I waited for a few seconds. Nothing happened.
But the woman kept that same eerie smile on her face, calm and unnerving.
Then, suddenly, a sharp jolt shot through my brain.
My perception, which had been calmly covering everything around me, went completely dark in an instant. Like someone had pulled a curtain over my senses.
But just as fast as the darkness came, it began to pull back—peeled away by something far stronger than me.
Two enormous green circles flared open in the void before me, glowing with an unnatural light.
I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
Then it hit me.
They weren't just circles.
They were eyes.
Two planet-sized, emerald eyes staring straight at me from beyond the darkness.