When I opened my eyes, I instantly recognized that I was currently at a brightly lit place. With both of my arms and legs restrained to my back, I could only lie sideways. Hearing the clinking of metal when I tried moving my limbs, the feeling of the suppression of Energy spread around my body.
I see. I am being restrained by Chains.
I tried opening my mouth but no word was coming out even if I wanted to raise my voice. I also tried looking around but the bright light which could be comparable to the sun's brightness blinded me.
Taking my mind off the state of my body, I turned to the currently suppressed Energy. The trusted System which could explain my current situation was only showing a single line at the moment.
[The System is temporarily unavailable due to the restriction imposed on your Source Energy.]
Well, it still explained my current situation. However, despite being restricted, the bonus stats I acquired from it hadn't left my body. After checking everything, the System and the other Pathways' active skills were all disabled.
I could remember what happened. It's not like I hit my head or something.
I surrendered to Remilia. All my options at that moment were exhausted or like she said, futile if I tried. The Domain she showed was different from what she conjured at the World of Spirits. It's a lot stronger, especially the effect that restricted even the stats. Was what she showed before really her Domain? Or both were the manifestation of it. It's possible that the Domains can be upgraded as well just like most skills. She was very careful not to show a lot of skills back then. The Domain she showed there was probably the initial stage of it.
In any case, as soon as she acknowledged my surrender, right there and then, I lost consciousness.
Even if I activate the Portal and other skills to get me out of this world, it would be fruitless. The way she cut the Concealment Aura as if cutting on a physical object, the same thing will happen even before the Portal formed. She didn't know I have that skill and I'm also not sure if it will work while I'm in a higher world. I need the necessary space and time to try it. Unfortunately, with my current situation, that's impossible.
I don't know how much time has already passed. I don't even know where I am.
With my Pathways currently restricted, the only thing that barely works is my Adaptability. Especially the Invisible Storage which is filled with both Level 1 and Level 2 Flux Energy. It's really special and something that exceeds the authority of this world. But still, it was still affected by the Chain. And this Chain is different from what I previously encountered otherwise it will not restrict my Pathways like this.
After checking both the external and internal state of my body, I turned my attention to my current emotion. Even until this moment, there's no such thing as fear, only the same uncertainty which I felt back then. What will happen to me from now on?
"You're awake. It appears that despite the hopelessness, you're still clever enough to do something unexpected."
Amidst the contemplation of my current plight, Remilia's cold, unfeeling voice rang out.
Did I do something unexpected?
"That expression… Are you still out of sorts? I see…"
Remilia snapped her fingers and the blinding light hindering my vision to see clearly disappeared.
In front of me, Remilia, still in her silver-armor, was looking down at me while seated on a chair. Other than that, I'm in some kind of a prison dungeon. The wall is black. The metal bars are also black.
There's only the two of us in here. However, I could hear faint footsteps from a distance.
With the returning of my consciousness, my Adaptability gradually started working again. Its currently limited senses spread out and took in the entirety of this place.
"Your clone. Or is that really a clone? It jumped back to the Portal and is now back in that world you came from."
Remilia's pair of purple eyes fixed its gaze on me, probably trying to see my reaction to what she said.
The Avatar managed to jump back? The last command I gave it was to follow me and given that I got caught by this girl, I thought she would also take care of it.
Most likely, she treated that as another clone that would run out even if she let it be. That misconception led for the Avatar to have its chance to jump towards that Portal. Thankfully, once summoned, apart from its connection to me, it's already considered as a separate entity.
But that Avatar... It went against my command or I sent a different command before I lost my consciousness.
Since my Pathways are disabled, I could neither check on the Avatar nor my Companions' current status. Did it successfully meet up with them? If that's the case, my worry about their situation somehow eased up.
I don't know how the Avatar passed through that Portal but I guess it's not considered as a clone by that Dimensional Passageway.
When Remilia couldn't get a proper response from me and realized why, her expressionless face flashed a brief embarrassment as her exposed ears turned scarlet, the same color as her hair. Although she doesn't totally resemble that certain anime character with her face, her figure, the armor she's wearing, her hair color and the abilities she'd shown fits.
"…You can speak now."
Fixing her hair to hide her ears, Remilia snapped her fingers once again and even without checking it, I knew that my ability to speak came back.
"Why am I here, really? Why not kill me if I'm a nuisance for your world's goals?"
Since I'm already here and I am banking on her interest in me, I will try to get answers to some of my questions from her.
"You? A nuisance? You're thinking highly of yourself, Daisuke. Did the words I uttered in that world get to your head? You're still an ant and there's only one reason why you were ordered to be caught and not killed."
From her answer, this girl is really just following an order. And most likely from the World's Will. If I have to guess then it will be…
"Is this because the World's Will couldn't summon me forcefully?"
Upon hearing my question, I noticed the little changes in her. And that confirmed it. It's truly the World's Will.
This Chain is probably to lower my resistance. It didn't know that there's a possibility that it could summon me when I'm unconscious. That World's Will isn't that bright, huh?
"Since you're aware. We're done here."
After saying that, Remilia stood up and turned towards the opened door of this prison cell. Before stepping outside, she threw me one last glance.
"Whatever your fate will be after this, I guess this is the last time I will see you… It's truly interesting to meet you. However…"
Leaving those words along with a deep sigh, Remilia continued on her way.
It appears that, in her mind, I'm already sentenced to death.
Haa… This meeting with the World's Will is my last bet. If not, I will really have to turn desperate to escape from this world.
Time passed since Remilia left but nothing's happening. Aside from leaving me restrained here, there are no other visitors.
The footsteps that I heard earlier belonged to a Rank 5 Mortal guarding this prison. Not really guarding, more like he's watching over the prisoners.
Right. I'm not their only prisoner. With my suppressed Adaptability, I sensed at least three more entities restricted in their prison cells. Two men and one woman. I couldn't really be sure of how they look like, my Adaptability couldn't produce an accurate image after all.
I tried calling out to them but none of the three answered. One of the imprisoned men was already experiencing difficulty in breathing. He's dying.
Since they're denizens of this world and given that they're attacking numerous worlds, I thought they were all united here but it seems that's not the case.
When I didn't stop calling out to them, the Rank 5 Mortal guard stopped at my cell and extended a stick to beat me from outside while yelling for me to stop shouting.
Such cautiousness, huh? Although the sound of being hit was too crisp, it didn't really hurt at all. It's like an ant biting a human. It's itchy rather than painful.
To satisfy him, I faked my groans and ultimately stopped reaching out to the other prisoners. There's no point. It's not as if we could escape together when we're all in the same state.
Well, they're in a worse state. I still retained some of my Adaptability after all. I could slowly grind the Chains off me through the use of my stored Flux Energy but it's not yet the time.
Even if I escape now, will I be able to go out? I have to make sure first before initiating an escape. Escaping a prison will never be easy with a hastily put up plan.
Err… my references were TV shows and movies but it's better than nothing, right? As long as I'm breathing and with my Adaptability keeping my calm, I will not give up on life. They're waiting for me.
While I'm in the process of overthinking things again, the restricted System rang out in my mind.
Below the single line notification, two new notifications showed up…
[The World's Will is trying to forcefully summon your consciousness]
[Adaptability has failed to stop the forceful summoning]
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