In this… strange and uncanny silence, the first thought that flashed through
However, the two guards sandwiching him in the middle didn't react at all, as if everything he had just heard was merely an auditory hallucination.
"
The tall knight walking on his left, clad in a full suit of silver armor, replied calmly: "Don't be fooled."
"It's just the normal manifestation of a Beyonder on the verge of losing control."
Is that so? Maybe he just didn't want to give up, didn't want to lose control and turn into a monster, which was why he was screaming for help… Derrick thought with a hint of sadness.
As his emotions fluctuated, the illusory rumbling in his ears became noticeably louder.
After taking a few more steps in silence, the Dawn Knight from earlier pointed to a door on the left and said: "You will be staying here for the time being. We will deliver food and potions on schedule."
As he spoke, he took out a small, iron-black bottle.
This kind of bottle was woven from the straw-like remnants of the
Derrick took the bottle of potion, gulped it down, and felt a wave of coolness slide down his esophagus into his stomach.
He quickly became calm, the swaying scene before him stabilized, and the auditory hallucinations in his ears gradually weakened.
Bang!
With the sound of the iron door closing and locking, Derrick entered his own room.
The first thing he saw was a flickering candle casting a dim yellow light, followed by a low bed, a chair, and a square table.
There was nothing else, but the surrounding walls, including the door, were inscribed with complex and mysterious symbols and markings that seemed to form a complete seal.
Derrick's emotions were also suppressed by the potion. Without a shred of curiosity, he sat down and lay on the bed.
Unbeknownst to him how much time had passed, he suddenly heard a violent pounding sound, *dong dong dong*, which wasn't coming from outside his room, but from next door.
Derrick turned over and sat up, listening carefully. Amidst the crashing sounds, he heard a thin, sharp, woeful sob.
His skin suddenly crawled. He shot to his feet, assuming a highly defensive posture.
Just then, the pounding sound spread to the metal wall separating the two rooms, creating one indented bulge after another that slowly caved inwards.
Derrick was about to pray for Holy Light when his vision suddenly lit up. It seemed the entire space he was in had been transported outside, coinciding with a flash of lightning.
The sound of banging on the wall next door instantly ceased, and the bottom of the round tower returned to silence.
It wasn't an absolute silence, but the kind of quiet where the faintest footstep can travel far and echo for a long time.
Derrick was just wondering what had happened to the Beyonder next door when the metal wall on the other side was knocked on.
*Dong dong dong!* It was as if someone had bent their fingers and was rapping gently.
"Who?" Derrick asked, his voice raised in slight fright.
The knocking immediately stopped. After a few seconds, a deep but rather aged voice came through indistinctly: "Oh, just a young lad."
"Who are you?" Derrick asked, pressing his ear against the cold metal wall when he realized the other party could communicate rationally.
The aged voice chuckled: "That fellow next to you almost lost control several times. Today, he finally couldn't be saved."
"He completely lost control?" Derrick asked through the metal wall. "Did he turn into a monster?"
"No, not a monster. A corpse. He was taken care of by the items that seal this place," the aged voice sighed. "I've been here for forty-two years. Mm, that's what the guards told me. I've seen too many similar cases."
Derrick asked in astonishment: "You've been here for forty-two years?"
Normally, losing control can be divided into three stages. The first is the appearance of omens, such as auditory and visual hallucinations. The second is the body and mind beginning to become somewhat uncontrollable, occasionally exhibiting terrifying or bizarre states. The third is complete collapse, transforming into a terrifying monster.
Among these, the transition from the second stage to the third is quite rapid. The moment a clue is found, one might witness a seemingly normal Beyonder transmute into a monster from the depths of darkness.
In other words, a Beyonder in the second stage who is sent to the bottom of the round tower will either slowly stabilize through treatments like potions and rituals and leave within a year or two, or they will quickly fall into a state of losing control and be eliminated. It's impossible for someone to be imprisoned here for forty-two years.
As for Beyonders in the first stage, perhaps just a few days or ten-odd days are needed to eliminate the omens, be healed, and leave.
The aged voice immediately chuckled: "Yeah, I never thought I would be here for forty-two years either."
"I don't have any signs of losing control, but they think I am extremely dangerous and could turn into a monster at any time."
Derrick frowned slightly and asked curiously: