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Kamigan woke up with a searing headache that pulsed through his skull. Blinking rapidly, he observed his surroundings. He was in a small room, the walls made of clay and looking hastily built, almost as if by an inexperienced hand. In front of him stood a worn wooden door, riddled with tiny holes that allowed thin rays of sunlight to pierce the gloom. Beside him lay a small pile of dried excrement, and the entire room was humid, filled with a putrid stench so foul it was as if something had died inside.
"Whew... what is that smell? Ughhh," he muttered, gagging.
He tried to stand, but a sharp clang of metal stopped him. Chains rattled against the floor, and realization struck—he was bound, his movements restricted. He cursed under his breath.
"Who the hell tied me up?"
As if answering his question, a loud yawn echoed from beyond the door. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a man of average stature, adjusting leather greaves and fastening a furry vambrace over his forearm. He wore a metal chest plate, his short black hair barely reaching his neck, and his brown eyes glanced at Kamigan with an amused, almost mocking glint. His physique was neither impressive nor weak—simply ordinary.
Almost instinctively, Kamigan activated the Eyes of Alethia. Above the man's head appeared a faint glow, displaying his name—Casper—along with a number: 0.4. Slightly reassured that the stranger was weaker than him, Kamigan nonetheless kept his guard up. Instantly, he shed his usual goofy demeanor, switching into the cold, calculating persona he had honed through countless trials.
The room seemed even more primitive now under scrutiny—more like a livestock pen than a prison. The chains hinted at two possibilities: he had either been captured as a slave, or they were simply exercising caution, wary of what he might be. After all, he had dealt with beasts capable of mimicking human form before.
"Hey, you're awake. You should step outside—get some fresh air," the man said with a casual tone.
He strode over and unshackled the chains binding Kamigan to the wall, only to immediately handcuff his wrists instead. Kamigan shot him a cold glance, but the man smiled warmly.
"Don't worry. It's just for safety, to make sure you're not some kind of beast. Pass a simple test, and you'll be free."
"Oh, I see. Well then, I'd like to take the test right away," Kamigan replied, his voice gleeful and innocent, hiding the cold thoughts that lurked behind his calm exterior.
Casper led him out of the room. Outside the shabby mud house, several other structures sprawled around, built in the same crude style but in slightly better condition. Despite not being the wisest, Kamigan's mind quickly pieced things together.
The placement of the houses was strategic—designed to minimize losses in case of a sudden attack or disaster. This wasn't some rural village; it was a makeshift military barracks. Casper's combat attire only further confirmed it. But first, Kamigan needed to answer a more pressing question—was he still on the same island, or had he been teleported elsewhere?
"By the way, the name's Casper," the man said over his shoulder.
"Kamigan," he replied simply.
"Kamigan, huh? Peculiar name. What are you doing all the way out here?"
"That's... kind of hard to answer," Kamigan said with a slight grin. "I don't exactly know where I am."
Casper's eyes widened slightly in shock, but he quickly masked his reaction, offering only a faint smile. "Well, don't worry about it too much."
Their conversation died out, leaving Kamigan alone with his swirling thoughts.
If this really is a military outpost, what kind of test are they planning to run on me? he wondered.
They walked for a long time before reaching a larger structure made of stone—still crude by normal standards, but by far the best-built building in the area. It sat in the center of the settlement, like a heart at the core of a body.
"This is our base of operations," Casper said, a hint of pride in his voice. "You could say it keeps this place running."
"Ooh, is this where I'll be taking the test?" Kamigan asked, feigning excitement.
"Yeah... but don't worry, you'll just have to answer a few questions."
Two guards stood at the entrance, wielding long spears. Kamigan activated the Eyes of Alethia again, noting the number 0.7 above each of their heads. As they approached, the guards crossed their spears, blocking the door. Casper stepped forward, flashing a piece of paper. The guards grunted and stepped aside.
Inside, the air grew heavier with each step down the stone corridor. They passed through a series of long, dim hallways until they reached a wide room. At its far end stood a large, dark wood desk covered in obsidian-black fur. A woman sat behind it, speaking briefly with Casper before pointing them further down the hall.
Casper thanked her with a nod, gesturing for Kamigan to follow. As they continued, the air grew almost oppressive, thick enough to make breathing difficult. Kamigan felt an invisible pressure weighing down on him. He instinctively began circulating the essence within his body, easing the burden. Casper, however, with only an average human's resilience, was already gasping for air.
Not wanting to reveal his true strength, Kamigan pretended to struggle even more than Casper. Better to be underestimated.
At last, they stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. Casper silently unlocked Kamigan's cuffs, gave a slight nod, and left without a word.
Kamigan pushed the door open and entered.
Inside, there were two chairs placed on either side of a round wooden table. Sitting across from the door was a woman, likely in her late thirties, her black hair tied back in a short ponytail. She wore an iron breastplate over her torso, leather bracers on her arms, and black leather trousers. Standing in the far corner, half-shrouded in darkness, was a bald, hulking man dressed in a black tank top that stretched tight over his mountainous frame. He was almost seven feet tall, with a scar running from the base of his neck up to his right cheek.
They both looked menacing, but what truly unsettled Kamigan was not their appearances, nor even the crushing pressure they radiated—it was the overwhelming power he could sense from them. They were far stronger than any humans he had encountered before, and even stronger than himself.
Breaking the heavy silence, the woman spoke, her voice laced with amusement.
"Please, sit."
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