Chapter 3: Death Lock

“Gerard, don’t think that I don’t know what you have been up to,” Shen Jie’s piercing gaze bore into him as he snapped his fingers. With a soft cracking sound, Gerard’s entire body went up in flames. “Seems like you will forget your place, unless I let you taste the effect of death lock once in a while.”

“Master, no, please show mercy,” Gerard struggled as he tried to put off the flames that were burning me. “I know I was wrong, but I didn’t mean to go against you. I just wanted to give Dylan a chance to enjoy a few moments of happiness before everything started.”

“Since you like that brat so much, I will let you accompany him to the end.” Shen Jie’s expression turned exceptionally cold as he waved his hand to one of the servants. “Send someone to the Black Lotus Tower to fetch one more starry silk worm.”

“No master, please,” Gerard shouted in horror and dropped to his knees. “Please let me go this time. I swear I will never go against you again.”

Shen Jie’s eyes flickered as he looked at Gerard with a deep gaze. This caused the flames on his body to intensify, but Gerard didn’t struggle. He knew that this was his last chance. If he didn’t show complete submission, he won’t be able to keep his life.

His entire body got charred due to the raging flames and his vitality started seeping out of his body. When there was just a shred of vitality left in his body, Shen Jie finally withdrew the effect of the seal.

“This is your last chance, Gerard. If there is a second time, you won’t be able to keep your life.”

“Thank you, master. I swear I won’t try to do anything on my own. Even if I feel sympathy for Dylan, I won’t act on it.”

“Do you still think that I will give you a chance to act on your feelings?” Shen Jie used his medallion to summon the guards. “Take him to the fire prison and lock him up. If he tries to escape, kill him without mercy.”

“Master….” Gerard’s eyes teared up, and he looked at Shen Jie with a pitiful expression, silently begged him to show mercy.

“Don’t worry. Once the experiment is over, I will set you free. Since I have already decided to forgive you, I won’t bring up this matter in the future.”

“You want to use me as a test subject for your experiments? Impossible!” Dylan’s voice rang with unshakeable determination and he stepped out of the hiding place. “I am really grateful that you saved my life, but that doesn’t mean you can control it. At most, I will return it to you.”

“You want to die?” The old man snorted and waved his hand, forming a strange arc. “I am afraid that is not up to you.”

A wave of intense energy pressed down on Dylan, freezing him to the spot. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t even move an inch.

‘It’s useless,’ RO’s voice sounded in Dylan’s head. ‘He is too strong. Without an equivalent power, it’s impossible to fight against him.’

‘Damn it! I can feel that myself. If you want to say something, give me some useful suggestion. Tell me how to deal with the crazy old man.’

‘We are in the enemy’s territory. Moreover, we have already exposed our intentions. The only thing we can do now is bid for time.’

“Now do you understand the difference between the two of us?” Shen Jie snorted as he grabbed the back of Dylan’s neck. “This is my mansion, my territory. Even if you want to die, you will need my permission!”

His eyes glinted with a cold light, and he pressed his thumb against Dylan’s forehead. A deadly cold aura rushed into his mind, making his soul shudder.

‘RO 15, what is going on? What is this thug trying to do?’

‘He is probably using the legendary death lock on you.’

‘Death lock? What is that?’

‘It’s a sealing technique that creates imprints a mini array into a person’s brain, enabling him to control the other person’s life and death.’

‘Damn it! This man is too vicious.’ Dylan felt a sense of panic. He wasn’t afraid of death. What he feared the most was being controlled by others. ‘RO 15, you said that you are a powerful assistant. Can’t you do anything about this so-called death lock?’

‘I can use the neurons in your brain to limit the area of effect, but if I do that you will probably use one of your senses.’

Dylan’s heart sank, but he didn’t have time to think about it. He could feel the cold aura filing his head. Gritting his teeth, he instructed, ‘Do what you have to. Losing one sense is better than losing freedom.’

The sound of static buzzed in his head and the aura that was dispersed all over his brain gathered together in a small region. It kept shrinking until it was the size of a small grain.

‘This is the most I can do, Dylan. I have restricted the area of impact to the neurons, affecting your sense of taste. However, it is not absolute. If you can become more powerful than the initiator of this death lock, you can break it. Alternatively, if I can recover completely, I might be able to suggest another way to break the death lock.’

Dylan’s gaze became fiery as he looked at the old man, who was gloating over his victory. ‘You like bullying everyone just because you are powerful, don’t you? Just you wait. One day, I will become the most powerful person in this world and give you a taste of your own medicine.’

“What are you looking at me like that for?” The old man snorted coldly and slapped him hard across his face. “Do you still think there is still hope for you?”

Dylan didn’t respond. He merely continued to look at him with a disdainful expression.

“Bastard! How dare you! How dare you look at your master like that!” He was so angry that his words were shaking with remnants of energy. “Lower your eyes right now!”

“I won’t,” Dylan’s reply was firm. It even held a tinge of nonchalance. “If you don’t like it, go ahead and kill me.”

“You….” His nonchalance infuriated him beyond words. Gnashing his teeth, he commanded, “Guards! Take him away and make preparations. We will carry out the experiment right away. I want him to know what it feels like to be tormented by the eighteen levels of hell!”

Dylan didn’t care. He knew that no matter what he said or did, Shen Jie wouldn’t let him go. So why should he hide his hatred and anger?

He wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of controlling him. Even if he has to suffer more, he would struggle at each step!