Chapter 13 – The Prison's Master
Hope shatters more quietly than any bone.
As the Balance Ring slips from Romen's finger, silence settles over the battlefield.
Punk's vision slowly blurs.
Darkness consumes him.
Brittne picks up the Balance Ring and studies it for a moment before smiling.
"We got it."
Lee smiles back.
"As expected."
"Now they can't escape this prison."
He glances at the ring in her hand.
"As long as this stays with us, they're trapped."
"And that's not going to change."
Brittne nods.
"So... what now?"
Lee's expression hardens.
"Lord Garrow ordered us to place control devices on all three of them."
"We're taking them to the Main Base."
Without a word, Goul lifts Paul's frozen body onto one shoulder and the unconscious bodies of Romen and Punk onto the other as if they weigh nothing.
Lee launches into the sky.
Brittne follows.
Goul rises behind them.
---
Far away, a colossal structure appears through the darkness.
The Main Base.
Its enormous metallic walls reflect the faint prison light,
making the fortress glow against the endless black landscape.
Lee lands first.
The massive gates open on their own.
Several prisoners immediately bow their heads in respect.
Others refuse.
Lee doesn't even acknowledge them.
He walks deeper into the fortress before opening another enormous gate wrapped in thick divine chains.
Beyond it lies an underground chamber.
Brittne pinches her nose.
"These filthy prisoners..."
"They smell terrible."
"This place is unbearable."
"How much longer do we have to live here?"
Lee answers without looking back.
"Once these three fall under our control..."
"...we'll finally leave this prison."
"Along with Goul."
They continue walking through corridors lined with glowing monitors.
Every screen displays a different area of the prison.
One even shows the battlefield where the fight has just ended.
At the center of the control room sits a single chair.
It slowly rotates.
A figure sits within the darkness.
His face remains completely hidden.
Only his silhouette is visible.
His voice echoes through the chamber.
"You took too long."
Lee immediately bows.
"I apologize, my Lord."
"The mission required more time than expected."
"But it's finally complete."
"These three are Ascension Gods."
"They're far stronger than ordinary warriors."
Lord Garrow remains hidden.
"I already know what makes them special."
"I only care about results."
His voice becomes colder.
"Go."
"Install the control devices."
Lee bows once more.
"As you command."
Then Lee takes the balance ring from brittne and gives it to Lord Garrow without explaining much .
Brittne opens her mouth to ask something.
Lord Garrow ignores her completely.
She clicks her tongue in annoyance.
Lee gestures toward the exit.
"Let's go."
Brittne turns away.
Only Goul remains still.
He stares directly into the darkness where Lord Garrow sits.
He doesn't blink.
He doesn't breathe.
He simply watches.
Brittne grabs his arm and turns him around.
Goul silently follows.
---
They arrive at another underground facility.
The reinforced gate slides open.
Inside waits a short creature covered in sharp spikes from head to toe.
Its yellow eyes glow with excitement.
"Lee."
"Lay them down."
Lee smiles.
"Dr. Mqara."
"One of them is frozen."
"I'll unfreeze him first."
Goul gently lowers Paul's frozen body onto the floor.
Paul remains perfectly still.
Lee places his foot on Paul's chest.
His foot suddenly stops.
An invisible barrier blocks him.
Lee touches the barrier with one finger.
A thin laser shoots from his fingertip.
The invisible surface disappears instantly.
Now his foot reaches Paul.
The frozen effect vanishes.
Paul suddenly gasps for air.
His body trembles as he forces himself upright.
His eyes quickly scan the room.
The strange laboratory.
The spiked creature.
Lee.
Brittne.
Goul.
Then...
He sees Romen and Punk lying unconscious.
"ROMEN!"
He lunges forward.
Brittne narrows her eyes.
"He's still trying to fight."
Lee raises a finger to his lips.
"Shhh..."
Paul turns toward him in fury.
He throws a punch.
Lee catches it effortlessly.
Brittne grabs Paul's arms from behind.
Dr. Mqara rushes forward with a metallic collar.
He snaps it around Paul's neck.
"Done!"
"Lee!"
"Let him go."
Lee releases him.
Paul staggers backward.
Dr. Mqara presses a button on his remote.
The collar glows bright red.
Electricity surges through Paul's body.
His muscles convulse violently.
His scream echoes through the laboratory.
His eyes slowly turn completely white.
The collar continues glowing.
Then...
Silence.
Paul stands perfectly still.
His expression disappears.
He waits obediently for orders.
Dr. Mqara bursts into laughter.
"Success!"
"Another successful subject!"
Brittne points toward the unconscious warriors.
"Goul."
"The other two."
Goul gently places Romen and Punk on the floor.
Lee kneels beside Romen.
Dr. Mqara prepares another control collar.
But—
Romen's fingers twitch.
His eyelids move.
---
Inside his mind...
Warm sunlight shines across a peaceful dining table.
Marina smiles while placing food onto the table.
Sin laughs happily beside her.
"Dad!"
"You promised we'd train after lunch!"
Romen smiles.
"I remember."
For the first time in what feels like forever...
There is no war.
No blood.
No battles.
Only peace.
He reaches toward them.
Then...
The sunlight begins fading.
Marina slowly disappears.
Sin reaches for him.
"Dad..."
His voice echoes into emptiness.
"No..."
Romen steps forward desperately.
"Wait!"
The world crumbles into darkness.
Everything vanishes.
---
Romen's eyes snap open.
He immediately shoves Lee backward.
Pain explodes through his wounded body.
He nearly loses his balance.
Dr. Mqara jumps in shock.
"Lee!"
"How is he still standing?!"
Lee's face darkens.
Brittne stares in disbelief.
Romen searches the room.
He finds Punk lying unconscious nearby.
Then...
He sees Paul.
Standing motionless.
White eyes.
No expression.
Exactly like Goul.
Romen immediately understands something is terribly wrong.
Lee smiles.
"Relax, Doctor."
"This is the perfect opportunity."
He looks toward Brittne.
"Let's make it interesting."
"Paul versus Romen."
Brittne smiles.
"My money is on Romen."
Lee laughs.
"I'll take Paul."
Romen slowly approaches Paul.
He reaches for the collar.
The moment he touches it—
Sparks erupt.
Dr. Mqara presses another button.
Paul activates instantly.
A cruel smile spreads across his face.
The exact same smile Romen once saw on Goul.
Paul lunges forward.
His hand wraps around Romen's throat.
Romen quickly escapes with a kick that knocks Paul backward.
He retreats toward Punk.
"Punk..."
"Wake up..."
No response.
Paul begins walking toward him again.
Slowly.
Mechanically.
Behind them, Lee, Brittne, and Dr. Mqara watch with amusement.
Romen's eyes suddenly lock onto the remote in Dr. Mqara's hand.
Then he notices the collars.
One around Paul.
Another around Goul.
Realization strikes instantly.
"They're controlling them..."
Without hesitation, Romen dashes forward.
He shoves Dr. Mqara aside.
The remote slips free.
Romen catches it.
He presses button after button.
Nothing.
Then—
Click.
Paul freezes.
His expression disappears.
His body becomes completely still again.
Lee smiles.
"Smarter than expected."
Brittne grins.
"You lost the bet."
Lee glares at her.
"Now isn't the time!"
He points toward Romen.
"Get the remote!"
Romen quickly scans the laboratory.
His eyes find the exit.
But Goul blocks the doorway.
Romen presses another button.
Nothing happens.
Lee lands directly in front of him.
"You can't beat me."
"Not in your condition."
Romen smiles.
"I don't need to."
He presses another button.
Then points the remote toward Goul.
Suddenly—
Goul moves.
His massive hand shoots forward.
He grabs Brittne by the throat.
Romen's eyes widen.
"It's working."
"Goul..."
"Attack anyone who stands against me."
Without hesitation, Goul obeys.
Lee immediately separates them and pulls Brittne away.
Now he stands before Goul.
"You'll never defeat me."
"Not with your little puppet."
Goul attacks.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every strike stops against Lee's invisible shield.
Lee smiles safely inside the barrier.
Romen grits his teeth.
Now Brittne charges toward him.
Dr. Mqara screams furiously.
"My remote!"
"Give it back!"
Brittne glares at him.
"Your remote?"
"It's my toy now."
Romen quickly presses more buttons.
Paul begins moving again.
"Paul."
"Protect me."
Without hesitation, Paul obeys.
He rushes toward Brittne.
Amid the chaos, Dr. Mqara quietly slips away.
He lifts Punk's unconscious body and disappears through another corridor.
Several seconds pass before Romen notices.
"Punk...?"
He looks around.
Both Dr. Mqara and Punk are gone.
He immediately sprints after them.
Lee notices.
But he doesn't interfere.
Behind him, Brittne struggles against both Goul and Paul.
She leaps onto Paul's shoulders, trying to rip the control collar from his neck.
Goul's enormous fist smashes into the wall instead.
The entire chamber explodes into rubble.
He roars.
The sound echoes throughout the entire prison.
Lee sighs.
"I have to go."
He finally leaves the battle and chases after Romen.
---
Outside the laboratory...
Romen races through the corridors.
Ahead of him—
Dr. Mqara reaches a heavily reinforced room.
The massive steel doors begin sealing shut.
"No!"
Romen slams his fists against them.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Nothing happens.
He steps back.
Suddenly—
Lee appears behind him.
His elbow slams into Romen's back.
Romen stumbles forward.
Lee calmly activates his invisible shield once again.
Ignoring him, Romen focuses entirely on the closing doors.
Inside...
Dr. Mqara laughs as he places Punk onto an operating table.
Outside—
Romen inhales deeply.
"LIMIT BREAKER!"
His aura erupts violently.
Golden energy floods the corridor.
The sealed doors begin trembling under the pressure.
Instead of attacking...
Lee walks closer.
A smile spreads across his face.
Then he shouts a single command.
Instantly—
Romen's legs stop moving.
His entire body begins stiffening.
He looks down in horror.
His muscles no longer respond.
It feels exactly like Paul's frozen state.
Inside the laboratory...
Dr. Mqara laughs louder than ever.
On the operating table...
Punk slowly opens his eyes.
Chapter Ends