Flesh tore. Flesh reborn. Every fiber of his muscles convulsed in pain as the chaos within, came to ablaze. His heart was running rampant, pounding from his chest. Every heartbeat painfully pumped boiling hot blood that travelled through every part of his body—each pulse melting the edges of his sanity.
A storm cracked into life within his body—a spark that swelled into a tempest, each lightning coiled each vein within his body. Each surge of thunder within—felt like a roar, coursing through him, filling every inch of his body with uncontainable power.
The electric power did not only flow through him—it seized him, as if choking Jinn.
It was like a serpent of pure energy, raw power. It coiled around his soul, his very being, tightening upon each heartbeat.
The energy started to crush Jinn's breath and his soul, as it started to whisper.
Are you worthy to wield me?
The power clawed and dug deeper into Jinn, like a storm surge that had never known the meaning of stillness. It crashed through his veins with a fury akin to a dying star—exploding.
TELL ME—ARE YOU WORTHY!?
It screamed as it threatened to consume him, to tear him apart.
But deep within his consciousness and his very soul, something answered.
Not a roar. Not a storm. Not a scream.
But Warmth.
Small. Steady. Relentless.
His willpower—quiet like the flicker of the flames of a candle amidst a storm—yet it did not waver for even a moment.
It Burned, not to consume.
But to remind him of the weight of everything he refused to lose—his friends, his life, and his destiny.
And in that very fire, the storm began to kneel.
Not silenced. But Tamed.
Not erased. But Bound.
The warmth then wrapped around his whole body—like a warm embrace. It healed the damage the storm had caused and fueled his heart with motivation, with purpose.
Rise now child—destiny awaits
Jinn's eyes slowly cracked open, the smell of blood and stone—a familiar smell.
"O-Ophelia!" Jinn exclaimed as his eyes widened, his breath unsteady.
"G-Guys, Jinn's awake!" Kain's voice cracked in emotion, pointing his fingers towards Jinn as he nudged his other friends.
Hector immediately went to Jinn's side. "Relax Jinn, your wounds are still not treated."
"Urgh…" Jinn grunted.
"Where are we?" putting his hand on his head as it ached.
Verhedyn, leaned his body towards the wall near Jinn—arms cross, replied.
"We're back in our cells."
"Yours and Kain's cell to be exact." Ophelia added while sitting beside Jinn.
Pain coursed through his body as Jinn slowly forced himself upright—a hand from Ophelia supporting his back.
"Did you even remember what you did back there?" Orin spoke.
Jinn's head pulsated with a painful ache, making him hold it with his hand.
"I just remembered seeing Ophelia was in danger… and from there, I blacked out."
Ophelia placed her hand on Jinn's head, "You should relax for now Jinn, let's talk about it later." her hand released a soothing warming effect as it made contact with Jinn's head, easing the pain from his headache.
After a while, Jinn took a moment to look around the surroundings.
He could see the familiar despair filled faces of the slaves, some were tending to their wounds—while some stared blankly into the void, tears in their eyes.
"W-Where my Sasha!?" screamed a woman hysterically as she looked around—yet her child had probably already died.
"It's truly a cruel reality we live in." Jinn muttered to himself before shifting his gaze as Biyo was approaching him.
Biyo's body was bombarded with cuts and injuries as he approached Jinn, every step he took made the blood from his injuries flow down.
Yet it did not affect him at all—since he is already used to it, and warriors from Skjöldheim have excellent resilience and vitality.
"That was an amazing attack you did there, Jinn boy!"
Biyo cracked a smile from his bloody mouth before continuing. "Even from afar, I could still see the attack you did—truly magnificent!"
Orin scoffed as she raised one brow. "Who's this overly humongous guy?"
Kain butted in.
"T-That's Biyo, He is a friendly guy—you can trust me!"
Jinn took a moment to look around once more, seeing the faces of all his friends near him.
"Good that we're together now." before his face hardened in expression. "So are the slave rituals done?"
Jinn's other friends turned their heads to Vox who was minding his own business—making him flinch.
"Err... actually—" Vox hesitated.
"No, what we had done earlier is merely the first part of the slave rituals it seems."
Biyo crossed his arm to think. "If my elder's knowledge is correct, there should be exactly 3 more rituals."
"Shit…" Verhedyn muttered under his breath.
Hector turned his head towards Biyo, before he asked a question. "And when would the next ritual be?"
Vox then replied this time, lifting a single finger.
"Should be exactly 5 days from now." his expression then turned serious. "And if I'm correct…:
A loud bang then rattled the slaves inside the cell, heads turning to the source of the sound.
"All slaves, line up!" said a soldier who opened the door. "There will be a public viewing today!"
"Speak of the devil." Vox scoffed.
"Tch!"
Jinn clicked his tongue before using his hands to push himself to stand.
"No rest for the weary it seems."
Ophelia and Hector helped Jinn stand, putting both of his arms around their shoulders.
"Allright, let's go and see what this public viewing is all about." Jinn's face hardened in expression.
Jinn, being helped by both Hector and Ophelia—and the rest of his friends, began to walk towards the line that had formed.
Yet a gleamer from the corner of Jinn's eye caught his attention, making him shift his gaze.
It was Nevi's necklace once again, being held by the adult man.
"Seems like he didn't die on the first slave ritual" Jinn muttered to himself.
Yet at that time, Jinn was not the only one who managed to catch a glimpse of Nevi's necklace.
But Orin herself as well.
"HEY!"
Orin exclaimed as her eyes widened to see her sister's necklace at the hands of another individual.
She stomped her way towards the adult man.
"That's mine you asshole!" she lunged forward, trying to snatch the necklace from the adult man's hands.
Yet before she could take the necklace, the man pushed Orin before running.
"Urgh!" Orin grunted as she was pushed off balance, before falling down the ground.
"Hey, what's going on there!?" exclaimed the soldier as he snapped the whip from his hand across the air, creating a cracking sound that made the slaves flinch.
"Shit!" Jinn exclaimed, before turning to Verhedyn. "Go get her for now, Verhedyn!"