Another Stupid Isekai

Another who-knows-how-long has passed. I started counting the meals they delivered to me, and I got up to fifty-four. This could mean Fifty-four days at wors, or maybe just eighteen, considering they would feed me once or more a day, but to be frank, I was unsure if it was even regular.

I got used to the boredom, and spent most of my time inside my own head or trying to meditate. Both of those things at first were a nightmare since my own thoughts were pretty much hunting me, but with time it got better. I accepted that all of the people I cared for could be dead, and tried to focus on achieving revenge. It was quite freeing actually.

And then the blue barrier became translucent again, showing me the familiar view of the Calludin standing on the other side. As always he seemed quite happy about himself.

- How are you today my slave? - he asked.

I was about to say \'fuck you\' to him, but I kept it to myself instead. Still, he seemed quite triumphant even with me not saying anything.

- How about a little walk? - he asked. - Of course, you would have to put on a collar first. Although I don\'t really care if you are on a leash or not, the others around might get scared if I at least don\'t pretend to take some measures in that aspect.

- What the hell do you want? Mock me?

- I will take every opportunity I can to do that, but no. My main goal is to take you out to the arena. So? How is it going to be?

I needed a moment to digest his words. It was not easy to swallow my pride and go out, but outside my cage, I would be able to have a shot at learning what really happened out there. I could find out my friend\'s whereabouts, and also learn something about my prison to later escape. By any means did I resign from my revenge though. The fire was still there, burning brightly, just the opportunity wasn\'t there yet.

- Fine. I\'ll go out - I said.

- Beg me.

- Forget it.

He smiled and vanished behind the barrier which again went blue, but I still could see the faint outline of his silhouette on the other side. He was waiting for me to cave in, but there was no way of that ever happening.

He remained there even after quite a chunk of time passing, but eventually, the machinery hidden in the wall used to provide me with food was utilized to deliver a collar of some sort.

It was metallic and clearly filled with electronics. I picked it up and examined it carefully, then I put it on. As soon as the lock clicked, the barrier went completely off, and the Calludin was still standing in his spot.

- I won - I told him.

He smiled.

- We will see about that. Follow me - he replied, and immediately turned around, to drift off.

I went after him looking carefully around, at the guards, and at the cells. My previous estimations were wrong. The place couldn\'t hold hundreds of cells. It easily could hold tens of thousands. Maybe even hundreds. There were so many floors they were vanishing in the distance above, and the space both on the left and right side also seemed endless.

- It\'s all yours? - I asked.

- It\'s a joined venture. Keeping so many would be useless for me, especially when not everybody is worth the money here, but I do not dwindle into other people\'s businesses. They might waste as much as they want - he answered while leading me towards the door.

As I found quickly it was an elevator. He didn\'t press anything but as soon as we got in, the door closed, and the thing started rising up. On the wall, there was a small display with 450 written on it. The number started to get lower with every second.

- I have to say - he said after a moment - I\'m kinda disappointed. you didn\'t try to attack me yet. Why not? Come on. Give it a try.

- No thank you.

- Are you afraid?

- I\'m just not dumb.

He laughed. I had no idea if the thing on my neck would react, or if it even was powerful enough to stop me, but I for sure knew the Calludin could do that with ease, so there was no point in trying. At least not yet.

He didn\'t speak to e after that so we reached floor 0 in silence. When the elevator stopped, and the door got open I saw another corridor in front of us. He went outside, heading to the left and I followed.

Each door was labeled, and they were quite a bit apart from each other. My section was 4B. It was quite close to the exit actually, as he suddenly turned right, into another short corridor, with a lobby at the end. It was heavily guarded, but the troops ignored us both, and the alien behind a small counter, almost completely blocked by monitors, said something to him. He didn\'t answer though.

For me, it seemed like it was some kind of goodby, but the Calludin was just being a dick.

Outside on a street busy with different species, was a vehicle parked, and waiting for us. It was the same thing we used on Dispur who-knows-how-long ago.

- Get inside - he told me and did so himself.

I followed, and we departed immediately.

- Where are we going? - I asked.

- To the arena - he informed me.

- You want me to fight? Who am I fighting with?

- Yes - he answered with a smile.

I sighed.

- Can you at least tell me the name of this planet? Or yours?

- If you behave - he said after a long, and incredibly annoying moment of silence.

Those were just small things, but they were triggering me so damn hard, that I had to constantly remind myself to hold it in, to endure.. I needed to ask the questions first and then attack.