“Dread Island”

"Pardon?"

Nico was suddenly dragged down, before met with a knee to the neck, pinning him to the wall as he coughed. A purple smoke emitted from Rika as she glared down at him.

"Choose your words wisely, tough guy. So what if you have multiple rings? A man with every skill is talentless."

Nico's rings began to glow as he began to retaliate, but he slowly felt his body being restricted, the smoke becoming a solid material that kept him in place. Rika then raised her hand.

"The Ring of State rests on my finger. Not the most powerful ring, but surely enough it's viable against a brute."

The solid turned back into smoke as it returned into Rika's body. She walked away as Nico stood back up, rubbing his neck.

"C-Crap.. I gotta get the fuck out of here.. Where's that dollfuck Morell, surely she can just nuke the entire area and let us free."

He watched Rika on the other side of the glass, as she gave him a cocky smile and a glance, before looking back forwards, talking to someone as up stepped Morell, entirely free from her cell.

"Why's Morell chatting with her..? Oh, I get it, that smoke girl saw she couldn't contain Morell and decided to negotiate. Morell can get us free now."

Morell faced the glass, looking at Nico with her typical calm demeanor as she reached out to press the speaker button, taking a deep breath before beginning to speak.

"I'm sorry, Ring Bearer, but I've decided I need to pay for my sins, so I am staying here until released.."

NIco's eyes widened as he banged his fists on the glass, Morell flinching back slightly.

"What, why..!? You've already been forgiven, haven't you? Who cares what society would say if at least those by your side forgive you..? And either way, can't you at least free everyone else..?"

Morell shook her head, sighing as her smile became a blank face, sorrow felt in it.

"I'm afraid you all aren't sinless either. You are an entire fugitive. Whether it was a mistake or not, you let your rage cause the destruction of a world, the death of a person, all because you were angry."

Nico's mouth slightly opened as he took a step back, Rika stood there slightly surprised by the statements, listening in deeply.

"Aku was insecure and felt revenge was the best way to cope, Reece lets anger overcome her at every moment, Kafka killed for lust, it all goes on.."

Nico sighed, knowing he couldn't argue his way out of this, as Morell frowned, phasing right through the glass as she gave him a gentle hug.

"We won't be here long.. All we have to do is have our abilities tested, and perhaps do certain missions, you should be fine doing that..! I even made an agreement that we can all roam the area freely."

Nico looked up, nodding. The way she described it, it didn't seem that bad. Morell looked back at Rika, who crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes before signaling the other workers to open all the cells.

The glass walls all lowered into the floor, everyone free as they walked out of their cells, looking over at each other before grouping up, Reece running into Morell with a hug as she whined.

"I'm sorry I tried to shoot you in the head, I can see that you're different now!!!"

Morell sighed before giggling, the others chatting about the situation as Morell faced them all, clearing her throat to gain their attention.

"We're not entirely free, not yet at least, but we also aren't prisoners. The agreement is that we can roam this area freely, and will have to go through tests and certain missions."

They all seemed a bit confused, but Morell had a certain look on her face that showed that she knew this was the right decision, as their smiles returned. Rika walked to Morell's side, whispering in her ear.

"There's one subject I can't exactly free yet.. Too angry.. That big monster you guys have."

Morell giggled once more, nodding.

"That's fine, I'll deal with him eventually."

Rika nodded before clearing her voice as well, getting everyone's attention again.

"I apologize for your inconvenient capturing, but yes, this is the agreement I've formed with Morell.. If you'd please follow me, I'd like to offer a tour of the place."

The group nodded, beginning to follow Rika. The halls were all white, cells seen with similar glass walls, as well as signs noting their level of danger. Some creatures could be seen in them, though some were hiding in the room, one or two just entirely stating that they were missing.

"So.. This is like a place for anomalies?"

Aku asked, feeling nervous about the things in this place, this wasn't the type of place to be revealed to the public, but if it were to be released.. Rika nodded, smiling pridefully.

"Throughout the years we've been capturing such, that's why your portal ended up here.. Your portal seems to be made by machine, and it malfunctioned, allowing us to redirect it's endpoint."

She began bringing them throughout the place. There were pools, weight rooms, practically everything one could need.

"..And here's the field where the other subjects typically stay when out of their cell. They'll be coling out soon if you'd like to meet some.."

Rika then walked off, Morell took in a breath of fresh air, a salt filled scent in the air, as they were likely on an island.

She then faced everyone else, who were looking around. She placed her hands on her hips with a bright smile.

"Well then.. Welcome to our new world, newcomers."