Three Rules

The sound of water dripping on the floor resounded loudly.

'Let's see…'

While Elias was washing himself, he found the opportunity to examine his own body after the advancement.

He discovered that his body had underwent a qualitative change, as though his very being had transformed into a higher order of life.

If previously he was only slightly stronger than an average human adult, now his strength was similar to that of a strong beast.

The feeling of strength was instinctual, as though carved deep to his soul and body alike.

As for such phenomenon, Elias recognized it clearly.

When one advanced a whole rank, their whole body would undergo a qualitative change, akin to an evolution of life order.

Depending on the attribute they used to advance to the next rank, the benefits brought by a major advancement varied.

Since he advanced through strength, agility, constitution and stamina, all four of them were upgraded while the rest were untouched.

However, those were only considered minor benefits indirectly caused by the mana upgrade, the most important benefit of advancing a rank. 

The biggest qualitative change that a major advancement brought was that one's mana would also be upgraded.

It meant that one's mana became stronger and more miraculous. For example, it would allow one to use techniques, skills and spells, they usually couldn't have done in a lower rank...

In a sense, Mana Upgrade unlocked the real potential of mana—the miraculous, magical reality bending force of the universe.

Normally, the Mana Upgrade would be a more noticeable change, but unfortunately due to the anti-mana collar, he couldn't sense it very well.

However, despite that, he could still faintly feel the mana inside him reinforce his body and engrave deeply into his bones and organs.

But as soon as it reinforced his body, it couldn't stay for any longer and returned to his throat, where the collar was located.

Elias tried to control it to no avail.

It was as though his mana was stuck on his throat, unable to move and circulate, endlessly rotating, only a few leaks would circulate.

It could only be moved through a major advancement. Afterwards, it became stuck in his throat.

To any other Ranker, this was the worst thing that could happen.

Without mana, not only was a Ranker vulnerable to most attacks, their strength was also significantly reduced. 

The existence of mana could allow them to be almost immune from normal attacks and easily destroy normal objects.

It was without a doubt the most fundamental force of a Ranker.

That was also why Rankers were leagues above normal humans, because mana made them invincible among normal people.

"It looks like it would be a while before I can experience the wonders of this world...."

Elias murmured to himself while the shower continuously dropped water to him, drenching his hair.

His naked toned body was deluged in the crystal, colourless water. Beside his temple, the long scar that ran deep was hidden in silence.

The whole bathroom was silent, with only the sound of him showering echoing amidst the misty room.

***

After taking a bath and drying himself up with a towel, Elias wore his matching prison uniform and made his way to the cafeteria.

Now that he finished his morning training, it was time to accomplish his routine plans for the day.

While he was contemplating, he remembered something and asked calmly to Donato who was behind him,

"Donato, didn't you mention a seller? Tell me where that 'Goblin' person is."

Donato hesitantly replied,

"...Young master, I'm not so sure. From the information I gathered, he usually appears in the cafeteria." 

Hearing that, Elias immediately frowned.

"Why are you not so sure? Then where was he yesterday?"

To his words, Donatio paused before answering.

"That's the strangest part of the information, young master. I tried inquiring about it and the others said he only appears randomly once a week, afterwards he vanishes. People asked the guard once in the past, but they said there was never an inmate with such a description. That particular instance also made the security wary and erupted a series of events to capture the Goblin."

"Goblin's mysterious nature to vanish led others to think he has some means to escape this place, unfortunately once someone requested that to him he said that it's impossible. An inmate once tried to force it out of him, unfortunately that inmate couldn't even harm him and subsequently was plagued with bad luck and even got sent a more restrictive cell."

As he listened to the information quietly, Elias nodded slowly with a strange expression. He asked one last question.

"...Did that 'Goblin' person have a huge backpack with him?"

Donato was slightly stunned by his words before nodding, confirming his suspicions about the 'Goblin'.

"..Young master, that's what I heard as well. How did you know?"

"...It's nothing."

Elias lightly dismissed. From the looks of it, this 'Goblin' is really that unique existence. He couldn't help but feel ecstatic inside.

With him on board, then this prison escape may be easier than he thought it would be. No, it would be far, far easier if that was the case.

He was very familiar with that existence; down to that existence's capabilities, personality, goal and origin itself.

That was not strange, after all, he was the one that created that character. 

Soon, he and his five subordinates arrived at the cafeteria's doors. Elias stepped inside, following him were his five subordinates.

As soon as they entered, everyone except for eleven people stood up.

When Elias and the gang stepped foot inside, they immediately realized that something was wrong.

There was someone in their seat.

It was Bones King Garland.

On the corner, the ten prison bosses each strong people in their own right, observed silently.

Most of the inmates were quietly standing, some were already taking a step back to prepare to escape. 

"Let's get out of here. It's going to get ugly."

An inmate whispered to his companion before taking a step back.

In the middle of the cafeteria, Garland sat on top of their table casually with an haughty and arrogant expression.

That's… Elias narrowed his eyes. The new prisoner, Bones King Garland was occupying their spot.

Without him needing to say anything, his subordinates immediately took action and approached Garland with cold expressions.

Their imposing figures took everyone's gaze. Their footsteps echoed on the silent cafeteria, causing a wave of tenseness to erupt.

Without even a few seconds later, they arrived in front of the red eyed man.

"Move."

Taurus coldly ordered while staring at the man with a piercing gaze. It was the type of gaze that made one tense and nervous.

Beside him, Galilei, Donato, Alexis and Junior also surrounded the table with stoic and cold expressions. Their gazes locked at the red eyed man.

At that moment, the other inmates, despite not being the target of the gaze, felt a chill crawl up on their spine.

Fortunately, such an intense atmosphere didn't last very long. 

Bones King Garland, evidently tense and nervous as well, narrowed his eyes before opening his mouth to speak.

"Why sh—!"

Bam!

However, before he could even muster a word, a large hand grasped his head and suddenly slammed it on the table.

"When I tell you to move, you move."

Taurus whispered to Garland's ears in a cold and authoritative tone. Despite his low voice, everyone in the cafeteria heard him clearly.

And they couldn't help but shudder.

Garland, recovering from his surprise, tried to struggle.

However, it proved to be futile as the hand grasping him—as though a lion holding a rat, threw him away from the table.

At that moment, the people in the direction he was thrown away moved at an instant.

Bam!

"Hurk..!"

Garland crashed against a random table, causing his expression to change in pain and fury.

"I would bash your head until it can no longer be recognized, but thank yourself that the Don's successor is going to eat at this table. I can't dirty it with your blood."

Taurus spoke while staring at the man coldly.

No one in the room doubted that threat, not even Elias himself. The others that retreated couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Beside the large Taurus, Alexus looked at everyone silently before turning his gaze to Garland and spoke.

"An overconfident newbie, huh?"

"Since we have new people around and old folks that thinks they own this place, I'll take it upon myself to tell you the new rules in this place."

The new prisoners straightened their backs unconsciously.

"The first rule. The Don is absolute."

"The second rule. The first rule cannot be broken."

"The third and final rule. No matter who you are… if you challenge the Don's authority, you challenge us."

Alexus cold eyes swept to everyone, including even the ten prison bossess currently in the cafeteria.

They had no intention to join any factions, but that didn't mean they were wary of them, it was the opposite.

Thump! Thump!

At that moment, countless footsteps resounded loudly.

Evidently, the commotion attracted the guards outside.

Elias, who was silently watching everything, suddenly swept his gaze to everyone in the room and smiled.

"You know what to do."

Hearing that, most of the prisoners lowered their heads and nodded in response.

At that moment, a few security guards wearing a badge came rushing in and looked at the room.

Immediately they noticed the silence and a prisoner laying on the table in pain. No doubt, a fight took place.

"What happened here?"

A security guard cleared his throat.

Everyone quietly stared at the security guard who asked before turning their eyes to Elias. 

Elias returned their stare with a gaze of his own. A daring stare. It was as though he was challenging them to report him.

Without hesitation, the inmates gulped and lowered their heads before collectively opening their mouths to speak.

""Nothing happened.""

The security team felt surprised. They nodded slowly. They turned their gaze to Elias, who was standing conspicuously.

"...Is that true?"

At that moment, before Elias could answer, Garland suddenly raised his arm and spoke up.

"...Nothing happened. I fell by myself."

The security guard fell silent.

With the victim speaking up, the security team couldn't do anything, even if they retrieve the camera records from the records room.