The Founder's POV

Chapter 17: Addiction

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I was awake, but I couldn't move, paralyzed.

The only difference was that I felt everything around me, from the icy cold on my bare body to the intense pain from my injuries.

I bet my body was painted blue and red after all that beating.

I could breathe, swallow my saliva, smell, and feel everything, but I couldn't open my eyes or move, I hadn't even tried to make a sound yet.

I could hear strange voices around me; they spoke the human language but it was somewhat broken, as if they had been isolated from society for a very long time.

The voice belonged to an old man and a young girl; Loana might be happy with the situation I got myself into. Really happy!

The most she wishes for after Darian's inheritance was probably to see me suffer, and ironically, I did it to myself.

The fog that had clouded my mind since I arrived on the island had disappeared, and I reviewed everything that happened in those days.

From losing my memories to my unusual desire to reach the tree.

I became sure that something had manipulated my mind, something very powerful to affect Jen as well - someone on the verge of reaching rank S-.

We were forced to come to the center of the island, and from there the pale man took over. I'm unaware of everything that happened afterward.

I also just remembered some things I had forgotten since I arrived, among them Jen's character, one of the characters I designed myself, not that it matters now...

I sighed internally while focusing on the sounds around me; from the smell, I felt like I was in some sort of lab.

"Has the body been thoroughly washed before analysis?"

The old man's voice asked calmly, and the female voice answered softly.

"Yes, the results have been confirmed several times."

I heard the old man hum for a moment before speaking again.

"Strength E- Speed G+ Endurance F Senses F-, his raw physical abilities should average 4. Remind me of the actual result again?"

The female voice responded, and this time the doubt was clearer in her voice.

"Five and a half..."

The old man sighed audibly, but unfortunately, I couldn't see his features.

"There is something special about this body, place it in the upper rank."

"But he doesn't meet the requirements!" the girl shouted, then the old man replied in a louder voice.

"It's an order! And strength is not the issue here!"

"And also, don't question my decisions again!"

The voices in the room quieted for a few seconds after that, and I felt the air around me becoming colder and colder.

"Sorry, Ada- Grandpa ..."

"It's fine, move him to the next stage..."

I felt a bit of pain at the back of my neck, then I lost consciousness again.

***
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'What happened this time...'

I woke up again in the same state, the same temperature and atmosphere, the difference was that I felt something strange around my neck holding it down, something like a collar?