System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Ethan felt the physical relief provided by his new allies. He had bought himself safety for the night.

"I'm going to take a rest," Ethan told José and Antonio. "Tomorrow will be a better day."

The two men nodded, offering deferential, relieved smiles. Ethan walked over to the thin mattress, but instead of lying down, he sat cross-legged like an ascetic monk from the movies.

"Here I go, System," Ethan said internally. "Let's improve this breathing. The results are truly amazing; my body feels fantastic, like it's full of energy. I want more of that."

The System chuckled, its tone playfully superior. [I only sell premium quality items, Champion. You get what you pay for.]

Ethan smiled. "You're the best, I know. You don't need to remind me. By the way, how strong can I get with the breathing, or how far should I practice it?"

[Check your mind, Rookie,] the System replied. [That information is also in the data you received. Don't be lazy.]

Ethan didn't argue. He accepted the advice and searched through his mind while beginning to breathe deeply, matching the rhythm of the Basic Qi Breathing technique.

He began to see the comprehensive data. The technique was more than just a power boost; it was a foundational technique meant to establish his spiritual roots. He needed to practice it daily for consistency. It didn't require a specific schedule, just diligence.

The true body-strengthening technique he needed to seek next was called Refinement of Body, Soul, and Spirit. He didn't know how expensive it was, but according to the mental memories he received, it should be incredibly costly.

Curiosity got the better of him.

"Hey, System, how much does the Refinement of Body, Soul, and Spirit technique cost?"

[That technique costs 100,000 Lux points,] the System said. [It is a Maximum Gold level technique. Although, if you want to buy it, I recommend you purchase the Body of the 5 Elements technique first, before you try to obtain Refinement, or you will lose the opportunity to combine them.]

Ethan smiled. "Alright, I'll try to get them both. If you have any other advice, I'm all ears."

[Get 500,000 Lux points, and I will tell you what you must do, my little friend,] the System said.

Ethan froze. It was the first time the System had called him "friend," and the sudden, personal acknowledgement—even with the "little" tacked on—made him feel an unexpected rush of excitement.

The System quickly ruined the moment. [Hahaha. To know that you got excited over so little, I would have called you 'friend' sooner.]

Just then, the silence was shattered. Guards entered the cell block, violently slamming metal batons against the bars and yelling for the inmates to wake up.

Ethan was taken aback again. Only moments had passed for him; he thought the prison must have an incredibly short routine.

[Child, eight hours passed,] the System said. [You should be careful with that technique. If you don't control it, you might sleep for 100 years and miss everything.]

Ethan forced a weary smile, climbing to his feet. José and Antonio were already adjusting their jumpsuits, their expressions serious.

"We start the routine, Chief," José said quietly. "Right now, just follow orders and don't say anything, and everything will go smoothly, I promise you."

"GET UP! GET UP, YOU DOGS! IT'S TIME!"

The shouts of the guards echoed through the concrete corridors. The sound of batons slamming against the metal cell bars was deafening, a roar of metal and authority demanding immediate obedience. Ethan straightened up, feeling his body, despite the beatings from the night before, completely functional. His mind was incredibly refreshed, as if he had slept a full day like a baby, a testament to the power of the Qi technique.

José and Antonio were already on their feet the moment the first clang sounded, their faces like stone.

"Move, Chief," José whispered. "Routine. Don't look, don't talk, don't move without orders. Follow my steps."

The mechanical latch on the door slid open with a resonant clank, and a large guard, with a stone expression and latex gloves, stopped in front of the cell.

"SHAKEDOWN! Face the wall! Hands on the back of your necks! Separate!" the guard yelled, his voice amplified by military discipline.

Ethan, José, and Antonio pressed against the wall, obeying the order instantly. The search was swift and brutal. The guard ran his hands over Ethan's orange jumpsuit, searching for contraband. The light punches the guard delivered to Ethan's chest and abdomen provoked no pain reaction, although Ethan pretended to tense up slightly. The Qi Breathing had turned him into a sponge for punishment.

The guard turned and began slamming the interior of the cell with his baton, checking every corner, every bed, looking for hidden objects.

"READY FOR TRANSFER!" the guard shouted.

The door opened, and the three were forced out and placed in a line of equally miserable-looking prisoners. The air in the hallway smelled strongly of bleach, sweat, and collective fear.

"FACE TO THE NECK OF THE MAN IN FRONT! NO EYE CONTACT! ONE STEP AT A TIME! MARCH!"

The movement was a strict military march, guarded by officers every few feet. Ethan desperately tried to scan the faces of the other inmates and adjacent cells for Jason, but it was impossible. The orders were clear, and one false move would mean an immediate beating.

Ethan thought: I can't see him. He's in another section. I have to wait until we get to the mess hall.

The procession reached the mess hall, a vast, cavernous space filled with steel tables and a low roar of hundreds of suppressed voices. The noise was overwhelming after the silence of the cell.

"ASSIGNED TABLE! NO LOOKING AROUND! HANDS ON THE TABLE!" an officer yelled from a raised platform.

José guided Ethan and Antonio to a corner table. The food—a greasy gruel and bitter black coffee—was slopped onto metal trays.

Once seated, Ethan could finally look up discreetly, peering through the crowd of shaved, tattooed heads. And then he saw him.

At a table about ten meters away, alone and avoided by the other inmates, was Jason.

Ethan's heart sank. The beating from the night before seemed to have been only the prelude. Jason's face was swollen, his eyes nearly closed, his lip was split and bleeding slightly, and his neck showed red and purple finger marks. He was sitting rigidly, attempting to eat the gruel with difficulty.

"José," Ethan whispered, without moving his lips and keeping his eyes fixed on his own tray. "Jason. At that table. He's much worse than last night. What the hell did they do to him?"

José didn't move his head, but his eyes briefly glanced toward Jason. "The Iron Lady did the same to him, Chief. Last night's report says he's a dangerous mercenary. They 'warmed him up' all night in the hole before releasing him here. It's a warning to all of us."

Antonio growled softly. "They're marking him, Chief. They want him isolated. No one will want to go near him. He's bait for you to break the rules."

Ethan felt a cold fire ignite in his chest. The Prosecutor, the guards, Captain Hayes—they were all using Jason as leverage.

Ethan thought: I won't risk my cover right now, Jason. But hold on, brother. Your suffering won't be in vain.

Ethan gripped his metal spoon firmly, forcing himself to eat the tasteless gruel. His first day in hell had just begun, and breakfast was only the first course.