The Imprisoned Fallen Ones (Part 2)

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Ta-da! Ta-da!

Footsteps sounded from not far down the corridor.

Riko looked up and saw the tall Saundin walking slowly towards her from not far down the corridor.

"Symmetrical, humanoid Fallen One and asymmetrical Fallen One that are completely unrecognizable as human are actually the same. They are all creatures transformed from humans who have been blessed by the Abyss. It's just that they don't look as perfect as the Fallen One with intelligence."

At this point, Saundin's tone rose, "However, those that are not so perfect are also unaffected by the Ascension Curse, so they also have the potential to evolve into perfection!"

Riko took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the vomit from the corner of her mouth, once again realizing the other person's madness.

The Fallen One was once Explorer. Even though he was mutated during his ascent, lost his human form, and even lost all his memories, he should be respected instead of being imprisoned here and becoming Saundin's experimental subject.

However, Riko understood even more clearly that even if she tried to persuade her, Saundin wouldn't listen, and the most important thing now was to find a way to get Mithras out of Saundin's control.

Before Riko and Mithras could speak, Saundin clapped his hands, and one by one, people with square patterns on their helmets and visors came out.

Riko immediately became alert.

However, these people did not attack Riko or Mithras. Instead, they were evenly distributed along the oval-shaped walkway and pulled the corresponding levers installed on the walls.

Buzz!

Large, flexible Black-Gold Mechanical Claw extended from the walls beneath the circular walkway, reaching downwards.

"Aww!"

"Gah!"

Asymmetrical, humanoid Fallen One were grabbed and lifted into the air by mechanical claws.

Strangely, during this process, the staff members were completely turned away and could not see below at all, yet they were able to accurately follow Saundin's instructions and use the joystick to grab the Fallen One he selected, as if his line of sight was connected with those of the staff members.

Riko had removed the masks of these people before, and their original eyeballs had been replaced with something like Searchlight Lens. Perhaps Saundin used that special Soul Tool to share vision with the others, or even control their actions.

Sizzle!

After the Fallen One were lifted into the air, wisps of electricity, Sisi the thickness of a thumb, emerged from the black and gold iron claws, assaulting the Fallen One.

Immediately, those Fallen One, whose bodies were already asymmetrical, began to struggle and writhe, emitting pitiful howls.

They wanted to escape, but their bodies were bound by mechanical claws, and the lightning had charred their skin, even causing it to stick to the claws. How could they possibly escape?

As the Electricity increased, the distorted, Fallen One turned charred black, detached from the mechanical claws, and fell below.

Snap!

The coke has crumbled...

Those Fallen One that weren't caught in the mechanical claws trembled, their asymmetrical heads wriggling up and down towards the charred remains, tears streaming from their eyes, as if grieving for the loss of their companions.

"Stop!"

Riko ran towards Saundin, grabbed his sleeve, and shook it hard, but couldn't budge him an inch. "They were also Explorer of Abyss Town! Although they have lost their human appearance and their memories of being human, they still grieve for the loss of their companions and retain human emotions. You can't treat them as real monsters!"

However, Saundin completely ignored Riko and continued his experiment no matter how much Rico tugged at his sleeve.

This person is the real psychopath!

Hidden atop the building, Dugu Bo witnessed Saundin's actions, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

Dugu Bo thought his methods of torturing people were cruel enough, but compared to Saundin, they were nothing.

In any case, he would only use his methods on his enemies and those who might pose a threat to him.

But what about Saundin?

They should have no grudge against those Fallen One below, right?

So many Fallen One were captured for research simply to achieve their goal—

[When I was trying to find a solution to my ailments, I never went so far as to kidnap innocent people to test my drugs... This guy is far more wicked than I am!]

The experiments below are still ongoing.

Among the Fallen One that could withstand electric current, the flesh of three heads began to grow rapidly, even approaching a humanoid form.

"Dad, don't do this, they're in pain!"

Mithras finally snapped out of his daze, grabbed Saundin's other arm, and pulled hard, trying to persuade him to give up the experiment.

But Saundin remained deaf to it.

At this moment, his attention was focused on the three Fallen One with humanoid forms, and he was controlling the corresponding staff to increase the output of the current.

Buzz!

Finally, sparks appeared on the three mechanical claws, as if they could not withstand the pressure and began to shake violently. The three Fallen One that had taken on human form trembled wildly under the stimulation of the electric current, and eventually put their limbs down and became silent.

"We were lucky this time, we got three."

But Saundin didn't care, clearly having experienced many such experiments. He told Riko and Mithras, "Using electric current to stimulate imperfect Fallen One can, to some extent, make them evolve into more perfect beings, or even restore them to human form."

"The current experimental progress is limited to restoring human form and cannot be further advanced, but it is enough to serve as the consumables for me to expand the curse when I ascend to the Fourth Layer."

The black gold mechanical claws placed the three humanoid Fallen One on the walkway, and nearby staff immediately moved them away to another laboratory for further modifications.

The Fallen One possess extremely tenacious Life. As long as their physical bodies are not completely destroyed, they can regenerate even if only a tiny fragment of flesh remains—limited to the area of Abyss Ruins. Once they leave the Abyss Ruins, they gradually lose this powerful regenerative ability.

After all, the existence of Fallen One is a way for humans to adapt to the environment of the Abyss. Once they adapt to this environment, they are less suited to the natural environment outside.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Mithras shouted as if he were seeing Saundin for the first time. "Why are you doing this? Is this what you called preparation for future adventures?"

"You could say that." Saundin finally replied to Mithras, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of coldness. "Now, I'll teach you another lesson: if you want to become a qualified Explorer, then stop treating the Fallen One as human beings."

"This isn't right... Rabbit Girl, and you, Dad, aren't you also Fallen One?" Mithras even forgot to tell Saundin about going on an adventure to the lower levels with Riko, and just felt that his father was a little unfamiliar.

"So, don't treat me like a human being."