Chapter 43: Bound
A week later…
The northern side of Gregor Naught was almost unrecognizable.
The streets were alive again.
Buildings that were once shattered stood tall, newer, cleaner, and stronger.
The air felt… normal.
Too normal.
At a quiet elevated street corner overlooking the town, Director Cassian Vanderbi sat casually on the hood of a sleek convertible, a drink in his hand.
Beside him stood Shinsei Voss, arms folded, eyes scanning everything below.
Prisoners in uniforms worked across the streets.
Repairing, building, lifting, and strangely laughing.
Their morale wasn't broken.
It was… uplifted.
Shinsei narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…That's not normal."
She pulled up a floating news report.
ZWING!
The footage shifted, now showing Whaley Saw.
Everything there…was restored.
The destroyed buildings?
Back.
The collapsed roads?
Fixed.
Even the soldiers, ones who were confirmed dead, were alive again.
Walking and talking as if nothing had ever happened.
Shinsei's expression hardened.
"…This doesn't make sense."
She scrolled further.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"The ones captured by the National Biohazard Authority…"
"…They're gone."
Gone.
No records, traces, or bodies.
Nothing.
Before she could process further—
PFFFT—
Cassian suddenly spat out his drink.
The liquid sprayed into the air, catching the sunlight—
SHING!
Forming a brief, shimmering rainbow.
For a split second…it looked unreal.
Like the light itself bent around it.
The droplets passed right through him as he stared ahead.
Eyes sharp.
Then suddenly—
"DAITO!"
His voice echoed across the street.
Shinsei blinked.
"…What?"
Cassian stood up slowly, wiping his mouth.
"It's obvious."
He pointed toward the town.
"…It's the kid."
Shinsei stared at him.
Blank.
"…You're serious?"
Cassian smirked slightly.
"Think about it."
"Reality resetting."
"Events reversing."
"People coming back."
He tilted his head.
"…That's not coincidence."
"That's power."
Shinsei gave him a look.
The kind of look that said "here he goes again…"
"…You're letting your imagination run wild."
Cassian chuckled.
"What do you expect?"
He stretched slightly.
"A kid with my kind of past?"
"…Of course, I would cling to something insane like that."
Shinsei sighed.
"Or maybe…"
"…it's time you grow up."
She looked at him sharply.
"Besides...."
"You've got a prison to run."
Cassian paused.
Then...
"…To hell with the prison."
"…And the responsibilities."
Shinsei's expression tightened.
"…Cassian."
Her tone alone was enough to snap tension.
He looked at her—
Fwoo....
Then suddenly laughed.
"Relax."
"I'm just messing with you."
He grabbed a piece of fruit from a small container and took a bite.
Juice dripping slightly as he spoke.
"But…"
His tone shifted, more serious.
"…If Daito really has abilities like that…"
He chewed slowly.
"…then he's going to be a problem."
"A big one."
Shinsei stepped closer.
"Then we stop watching."
"…And start acting."
Cassian looked at her.
A small grin forming.
"…Looks like we don't have a choice."
He tossed the fruit aside and walked toward the convertible.
Shinsei followed.
They both got in.
VRRMM!
The engine roared to life.
As the vehicle pulled away—
FWOOSH!
Cassian's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Because this…was no longer just a prison situation.
It was a game.
And somewhere inside Iron Bastion…The most interesting player was waiting.
* * *
Cafeteria – One Week Later
Back inside Iron Bastion, routine had become… normal.
Too normal.
Morning drills.
Work rotations.
Meals.
Repeat.
The prison that once felt like a death trap now moved like a well-oiled machine.
The group gathered again for the first time in days.
And immediately, something felt off.
They all stared at each other, but avenor was the first to notice as her eyes scanned them carefully.
"…Wait."
She stepped closer.
"You guys…"
"…You've changed."
They looked at her, confused.
Then she pointed.
Daito
Fah-jin
Wei-Wan
Champagne
Wasabi
Zachia
"…You've all gained weight."
A pause.
Zachia blinked.
"…What?"
Champagne looked at his arms.
"…Wait… she's right."
Brandon wasn't there, but even without him, the difference was noticeable.
Not fat but fuller, stronger, and more filled out.
Wei-Wan adjusted his sleeve slightly.
"…Body mass increase."
Wasabi poked her own cheek.
"…I hate this place."
Fah-jin crossed her arms.
"…It's not bad."
Everyone looked at her.
She looked away slightly.
"…Just saying."
Avenor shook her head lightly.
"I didn't change much…"
"…But you guys?"
She looked around the cafeteria.
"…This place…"
"…isn't what people say it is."
As if summoned by the conversation—
FWOOSH...
A nearby inmate leaned over slightly.
"You're new, huh?"
They looked at him.
He chuckled.
"Yeah… everyone says this place is hell."
He shrugged.
"…But honestly?"
"It's better than most towns."
The group stayed quiet, listening.
He continued.
"Here in Gregor Naught…"
"…everyone has rights."
"Even prisoners."
That caught their attention.
"Soap."
"Fresh water."
"Three meals a day."
"Warm blankets…"
"…and pillows."
He raised a finger.
"…One each, though."
Wasabi blinked.
"…Luxury prison."
He laughed.
"You think that's all?"
"There are even monitors in our rooms."
"Entertainment."
"News."
"Music."
"Movies."
Zachia raised an eyebrow.
"…You're joking."
"Nope."
The inmate leaned back casually.
"Only three channels, though."
"Don't get too excited."
A small silence followed.
Then Daito Greyhell spoke.
"…Why?"
The inmate looked at him.
"For one simple reason."
He pointed to the workers outside through the cafeteria window.
"In this city…"
"…everyone of legal working age must have a job."
The group followed his gaze.
Prisoners.
Working.
Cleaning.
Repairing.
Maintaining.
"…That includes us."
He tapped the table.
"Our rooms are cleaned while we're out."
"Food is prepared."
"Systems are maintained."
"Everything runs…"
"…because of us."
Wei-Wan nodded slowly.
"…Structured labour system."
The inmate smirked.
"Exactly."
"Only difference?"
He leaned in slightly.
"…We do the hard labour."
Zachia scoffed.
"…So we're basically workers."
"Cheap ones."
The inmate grinned.
"Now you're getting it."
Silence fell over the group.
Everything clicked.
The comfort and order.
The lack of desperation and escape attempts.
Then Daito spoke low and calmly.
"…No wonder…"
He looked around the cafeteria.
At the prisoners, the guards, and the system.
"…No one ever escaped."
They all turned to him.
His eyes were sharp now.
"…Because this place…"
"…isn't built to break you."
A pause.
"…It's built to keep you."
And that realization was far more dangerous than any prison wall.
The inmate leaned back in his chair, his expression now more serious than before.
"You see… this place?"
He tapped the table lightly.
"It's filled with people who shouldn't exist out there."
The group listened closely.
"Bandits… robbers… freelancers… even hired killers."
He glanced around the cafeteria.
"…People who burned every bridge they ever had."
A pause.
"…Out there, they have nothing."
He looked back at them.
"But in here?"
He gave a small, almost unsettling smile.
"They found something."
"…Peace."
That word didn't sit right.
"Call it what you want—"
"Safety."
"Structure."
"Routine."
"But most of them?"
"They'd rather stay here…"
"…than go back out there and die."
Silence fell over the table.
Then Daito Greyhell nodded slightly.
"…Thanks."
Champagne leaned forward immediately.
"Yeah, cool and all…"
"…but do you know anything about—"
He lowered his voice.
"Director Cassian?"
The reaction was instant as the inmate's smile vanished and his eyes sharpened.
"…Don't."
A pause.
"…That name isn't said casually around here."
Even the surrounding noise of the cafeteria felt like it dipped slightly.
"…He doesn't like it."
The group exchanged quick glances.
The inmate exhaled slowly.
"…But since you're new…"
"I'll give you a warning."
His tone dropped.
"If you're planning to escape—"
"…do it now."
That hit harder than expected.
Wasabi frowned.
"…What?"
"…Why now?"
The inmate leaned in slightly.
"Because today…"
"…is the last day."
Zachia narrowed his eyes.
"Last day of what?"
The inmate looked straight at them.
"'Get to know you better week.'"
Wasabi blinked.
"…Get to know you better…" What?"
She tilted her head.
"What does that even mean?"
The inmate chuckled dryly.
"It means…"
"You've had a week to get comfortable."
"To learn the system."
"To settle in."
His eyes darkened.
"…After today?"
"You don't just stay here…"
"…you're bound here."
That word lingered heavy and truly uncomfortable.
Daito leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp.
"…Bound?"
A pause.
"…By who?"
The inmate didn't hesitate.
"Director Cassian Vanderbi."
Silence.
"…He does something to you."
The inmate's voice dropped further.
"…Something that ties you to him."
"…And when the time comes?"
"He uses it."
No one spoke, not even Fah-jin.
The weight of those words pressed down on the entire table.
The inmate stood up slowly.
"…You'll see."
He walked away.
"…Sooner than you think."
The group sat there, still processing what they had just heard.
Then Daito spoke calmly.
"…Prepare."
They all looked at him.
His eyes were serious now.
"…Whatever this is…"
"…we're not walking into it blind."
Fah-jin nodded.
Zachia cracked his knuckles slightly, Wei-Wan adjusted his posture, and Wasabi tightened her grip under the table as Champagne smirked.
"…Finally getting interesting."
Daito looked at all of them.
"…If anything goes wrong…"
A pause.
"…we use it."
For a split second, no one spoke.
Then, one by one…
SHWIING!
Their eyes lit up.
A faint, unnatural, and red glow.
The Ace.
Whatever Cassian had planned…they weren't just prisoners anymore.
They were ready.
The warning lingered in the air long after the inmate left.
But routine didn't stop.
In Iron Bastion, routine never stopped.
* * *
Midday – Work Rotations
A loud metallic bell echoed through the halls.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
"Move it!"
Guards shouted as prisoners stood and began filing out.
Chains clinked, boots scraped, and the machine resumed.
Yard Sector – Heavy Labour
Brandon Fu was stationed in the outer yard.
Massive stone slabs.
Broken structures.
Collapsed debris from older battles.
BROOM!
He lifted.
Carried.
BOM!
And dropped over and over again.
A guard nearby smirked.
"Big guy like you…" This must be easy."
Brandon said nothing, but the veins in his arms flexed slightly.
He wasn't struggling instead, he was measuring the weight, balance, and limits.
Even here…He was training.
East Wing – Structural Repairs
Wei-Wan worked alongside other inmates repairing cracked walls and support beams.
He moved precisely.
Every brick aligned and every structure reinforced.
A guard glanced over.
"…You've done this before."
Wei-Wan didn't look up.
"…Observation is enough."
But internally, he was mapping entrances, load-bearing points, weak zones, and escape routes.
The prison was revealing itself piece by piece.
Lower Tech Corridor – Maintenance
Wasabi knelt beside an exposed panel.
The wires, circuits, even the outdated systems.
She rolled her eyes.
"…This place runs on scraps."
A guard barked—
"Fix it. Don't complain."
She smirked slightly.
"…I am fixing it."
But her fingers moved differently.
Not just repairing but rewiring.
Leaving tiny… unnoticed changes.
From signals, backdoors to seeds.
If something went down.....She wanted control.
Even just a little.
Training Yard – Combat Supervision
Zachia stood across from another inmate.
They were sparring...Or at least that's what it was supposed to be.
The moment it started—
FWOOSH!
Zachia moved.
A blur.
KA-POW!
Impact.
The other inmate hit the ground instantly.
Silence.
A guard narrowed his eyes.
"…Too rough."
Zachia rolled his shoulders.
"…Too slow."
He walked off without another word.
But his mind wasn't in the fight.
It was on something else like the timing, reaction, and readiness.
When that moment came, he wouldn't hesitate.
Outer Supply Line
Champagne moved crates from one end to another.
Fast like too fast.
A guard snapped—
"Slow it down!"
Champagne laughed lightly.
"…Habit."
But even while joking, his eyes were scanning.
The distances, guard rotations, weapon placements.
He wasn't just working, He was preparing for a chase or a breakout.
Medical Wing Support
Fah-jin was assigned to assist in carrying supplies.
Bandages, medicine, and equipment.
She moved quietly, observing everything.
The injuries, guard patterns, and medical access points.
If things went bad, this place would matter.
Cleaning Sector
Avenor moved silently through the halls.
Mop in hand.
Head slightly lowered.
Not just her power, even her presence.
No one paid attention.
And that's exactly how she liked it.
She passed by guards unnoticed.
Listened to conversations, picked up fragments, and listened for information.
All of it fed back later.
Isolation Corridor
And then—
Fwoosh.....
There was Daito Greyhell.
Assigned alone to heavy lifting, metal transport, and even restricted areas.
The guards kept a closer eye on him.
But he didn't mind.
He only moved, lifted, and worked.
Silently.
But his mind was elsewhere.
Inside Daito's Mind
"Bound."
The word echoed.
Cassian's presence.
That overwhelming force.
That unnatural ability.
Something wasn't right.
Not just strength but control, authority, even the influence.
And now—
A "binding."
GRIP!
Daito tightened his grip on the metal crate.
If he tries something…They move.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
* * *
Late Afternoon
ZWIING!
Another bell rang.
Work was over for now.
The prisoners began returning, lines formed as the guards watched.
Nothing unusual.
Everything was just normal.
As the team crossed paths briefly, no words were spoken.
But glances were exchanged.
Quick and sharp.
Understanding.
They were ready.
FWOOSH!
High above the prison, on a steel walkway, a figure stood, watching everything.
Director Cassian Vanderbi.
Hands in his pockets.
Slight smile on his face.
"…Good."
He exhaled slowly.
"…They've settled in nicely."
His eyes glowed faintly.
"…Perfect timing."
He turned.
"…Tonight…"
"…we begin."
* * *
The days had blurred into routine.
Work, silence, and watchfulness.
But that day.....Something shifted.
Iron Bastion – Inner Cells
Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor.
STEP–STEP...
STEP–STEP...
Slow, unbothered, basically casual.
A faint whistle followed.
Then—
THUD!
A loud THUD.
A cell door shook as it was kicked.
"…Wake up, criminals!"
A voice rang out, amused.
That alone was enough to make the entire aisle tense.
Because only one man walked like that in Iron Bastion.
And that was.....Director Cassian Vanderbi.
He strolled down the aisle like he owned the prison as a whole.
In one hand, he had a massive, sloppy, sauce-dripping cheeseburger.
Cheese melting.
Sauce dripping down his fingers.
"…Damn…"
He took a big bite.
MUNCH!
"…whoever made this…"
Chew....
"…put WAY too much sauce…"
MUNCH!
Another bite.
"…but I can't stop."
He laughed to himself.
"…this is illegal levels of good."
Another KICK—
THUD!
A door rattled violently.
"Oi!"
He pointed lazily at a prisoner inside.
"…You look like regret."
He kept walking.
Another door.
BAM!
Another kick.
"…And you look like a bad decision."
Some prisoners didn't even dare look at him.
Others trembled.
Some glared... But they never spoke.
Daito's Cell
He stopped right in front of one door.
Silence.
Then—
BANG!
The door swung open.
Inside sat Daito Greyhell.
He was calm still and watching.
Cassian took a bite.
"…You."
A pause.
"…Come."
He turned away immediately.
"…Follow me."
Then, casually—
"…Or don't."
He smirked slightly.
"…I'd love to see you try that."
Daito stepped out.
Followed.
The guards didn't stop him.
They didn't need to.
Cassian walked ahead, still eating and whistling.
"…You know what the problem with burgers is?"
He spoke mid-bite.
"…Structure."
He gestured with the half-eaten burger.
"…Too much sauce, everything falls apart…"
Drip...
"…But somehow…"
He licked his fingers.
"…it still works."
Daito said nothing.
But his eyes were both sharp and focused watching everything.
The routes, doors, guards, distance, and finally timing.
To be continued....