The Emperor looked at Neo with unreadable eyes.
A moment later, the palace shook.
The battle that followed was nothing like Neo had imagined.
He was overwhelmed.
Every move he made was anticipated.
Every attack deflected or redirected.
His power was suppressed, twisted, crushed by an authority that felt absolute within this domain.
Neo was slammed into the ground, then through walls, then into the depths beneath the palace.
By the time it ended, he was bound in chains.
He was thrown into a prison beneath the palace, deep underground.
The door sealed shut behind him, and layers of formations activated one after another.
He was scheduled to be present in the court tomorrow, and likely be executed after that.
Neo tested the chains.
They didn't budge.
The suppression was terrifyingly thorough.
