79 Control and Acceptance?

Three weeks later :

Another day dawns, signalling his 'caretakers' arrival. Sheffield had clearly taken great amounts of joy in abusing him. He'd continually wondered if she'd forgotten whatever goal they originally had in mind in favour of just torturing him.

His mind hadn't yet broken, but Michael didn't think he was far off. He was completely emotionally, physically, and mentally drained. On his last legs as far as his mental stability was concerned. He'd long passed regular rage, regret, and depression. Slowly he'd adopted a state of 'reluctant acceptance', knowing that his situation probably wouldn't change anytime soon. Despite this, he hated Sheffield with all his soul, that fucking bitch who tormented him daily!

HE HATEDHATEDHATEDHATEDHATEDHATEDHATED HER! That fucking scummy bitch who thinks she'll get away with treating him like this!? WHEN HE ESCAPED HE'D FLAY HER FUCKING SKIN FROM HER FLESH, AND POUR BOILING OIL ON WHAT REMAINS!

The only thing that'd kept him sane these days was his overwhelming desire to brutalize and destroy that woman. Along with Cromwell and Wardes, and the rest of those fucking nobles that watch and sometimes participate!

That bitch Tatiana was one of the worst of them! She'd not been allowed to participate after her first attempt to castrate him, but she did her best to get involved by throwing cutlery, food, and other things at him. HE'D FUCKING TOSS THAT FAT BITCH IN A VOLCANO WHEN HE FINALLY ESCAPED!

In fact, all of the nobles that'd visited the throne room were complete contemptable... The things they forced him to do, the people they made him hurt? All so they could break his will and watch him suffer!?

He'd sworn to himself numerous times to destroy all of these people. Each of them, their servants, their families, he didn't care who got hurt as long as he got revenge against them! The only actual saving grace was the fact that his 'dragon' was still functional... How did he know? Well, Sheffield often commanded him to masturbate in front of all the nobles to humiliate him, AND THOSE SICK BASTARDS LOVED IT!? CHEERING AND LAUGHING AT HIS EXPENSE!

...

Thankfully, it looked as if his treatment was nearing its end... He'd overheard Wardes and Sheffield talking, apparently, she believed him to be ready for a mission, but first, they wanted to test his abilities.

Michael had recently been making an effort to keep his eyes firm and fixed, not as emotive as they usually were. It was difficult as his eyes were the only thing's he could willingly move, and restricting himself from glaring at his captors sometimes felt harder than actually enduring his torture. His attempts had apparently worked though, since it wasn't long after this that he'd finally been allowed out from his cage.

He was escorted by Sheffield to a large training ground where Wardes, Cromwell, and a few other people were waiting. None of the nobles that tormented him was present, but many guards who were ordered to participate were, he mentally noted.

Cromwell and Sheffield stood off to the side, the latter commanding, "Slave, display your abilities on the presented targets."

A few servants quickly run over and take a wooden dummy into the ground, quickly leaving and readying another in case that one gets destroyed.

Michael's body does as its master commands, raising his hand and chanting "Shock." in an emotionless voice, causing lightning to completely destroy the wooden dummy in a single move.

"Ohoho? What strange magic... Were the reports true? Is this 'Elf' magic?" Cromwell asks from the side.

"I don't know, I am sure even elves have to use wands... Perhaps it's his status as Gandalfr that allows this?" Wardes wonders aloud as Michael prepares to cast his next spell on the dummy.

The next spell is Shackles, which he holds there for a while until the dummy collapses after being burned through by the threads. He probably would have used Hex as well, but that spell doesn't work on inanimate objects, meaning there were some ways to get around orders, even if Michael couldn't willingly make an effort to take advantage of this.

His body goes through the motions of casting spells, Carival Tricks which does nothing to the dummy, Serpent Wards which start to try to attack the people around Michael, but his body orders them to still.

The Serpent Wards get tested on their durability and power, but are eventually destroyed to allow the tests to continue. Once Shadow Shaman's abilities had all been used, his body moves onto Slark's. First using Pounce to get close to the dummy, then using Dark Pact.

The explosion of acidic smoke completely melts the dummy, but there was another effect that completely takes Michael off guard... The influence of the Ring had disappeared, freeing him from their control.

He was so shocked that he barely took notice of his flesh slowly melting from his body due to the effects of Dark Pact. To the others it looked as if he was standing there was a neutral expression, ignoring the damage he'd done to himself... Michael quickly composes himself however as he realises why this had occurred...

Dark Pact (Rank 1) : After a short delay, user purges most negative debuffs and deals damage to enemies around him, while also dealing damage to user.

The mind control had been purged from him... Michael could barely keep the bloodthirsty grin from appearing on his face and alerting his captors. They'd unintentionally freed him, and he would be eternally thankful for that. It wouldn't stop the brutal tortures he'd inflict on them, but maybe he'd keep Sheffield as a slave for a bit before executing her? The sheer irony of it would be worth the effort, let alone the glee he'd take from being the one to finish her.

As soon as Dark Pact ends, Michael activates Shadow Dance which causes a cloud to enshroud him, blocking him off from his captor's view and allowing his body to heal. He doesn't move of course, as Wardes would easily capture him again, that's without even mentioning the fact he was deep inside enemy territory...

Once the cloud fades, Michael just continues to stand there with an emotionless expression. He'd had weeks of being unable to control his body, so mimicking an emotionless slave wasn't at all difficult for him. Sure, he might have to force himself to leftovers they feed him, and endure any more torture they subject to him. But he was so excited at being free that those thing's seemed like nothing now.