Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Kaizen watched in awe as Andrew skillfully opened the cell with the key he had obtained from the guards. The soft click of the lock being undone was almost imperceptible in the tense atmosphere of the prison.

With the door now open, Kaizen entered the cell with determination, closely followed by Andrew.

"Finally, Alina, you can use your magic again," said Kaizen, with a reassuring smile as he approached her to remove the dimerithium handcuffs.

Alina held out her hands, and Kaizen quickly cut the handcuffs off with his bare hands.

The ferrous metal that had neutralized Alina's mana proved to be only a temporary hindrance. As the handcuffs fell to the ground, Alina closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the flow of magical energy return to her. It was as if a vital part of herself had been returned.

"Ah, what a wonderful feeling," Alina murmured, opening her eyes and looking at Kaizen with gratitude. "Thank you for that, Kaizen."

Kaizen just nodded, pleased to have helped his friend regain her power.

Xisrith was helped by Andrew with his sword, but his distant gaze revealed a latent concern.

Andrew noticed the look on Xisrith's face and cautiously broached the subject that was silently weighing on everyone.

"Xisrith, what about Og'tharoz? Where is he?" asked Andrew, his voice laden with apprehension. "Is he all right?"

The descendragon sighed deeply, knowing that she could no longer hide the truth from her companions.

"Og'tharoz... he was taken to a different ward, a place reserved for those considered too dangerous by the guards." explained Xisrith, his voice laden with sadness.

"He didn't use all his power to resist, because you were close and unconscious, which limited our ability to react, but he was recognized as a demon by the man leading the guards who ambushed us, and that was enough to condemn him in the eyes of our captors."

The news weighed on the group like a shadow, bringing to light the relentless reality of the prison and the injustices that took place in that world.

Kaizen frowned, feeling indignation rise within him. "This isn't fair," he declared, his voice echoing with determination. "We can't just leave Og'tharoz behind. We need to find a way to free him too."

Andrew nodded, sharing the same feeling of solidarity with his lost friend.

"I agree. We can't abandon a companion, no matter what the circumstances," said Andrew, his firm gaze demonstrating his resolve.

"But how are we going to find him? From what I've heard, this prison is literally made up of the entire mountain range that lies beneath the Palace of the Emperor of Mist, with wings named A to Z." Jayaa asked as he was released by Kaizen. "In other words, this must be the biggest prison in the game. It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Unless Kaizen uses his powers..." Andrew said and looked at Kaizen.

Everyone did exactly that and looked curiously at Kaizen, who realized that there was no longer any way to hide it. So he took a deep breath and explained:

"Since I'm a Psyker, I can hear the voices of spirits. Before, I could only see rare spirits. In fact, I've only had one mission where I was able to collaborate with one of them, back when I was a newcomer to this game, and all the rest were enemies to me. At least until recently.

After I became an Evolved, I started hearing whispers, I ignored them at first, but I discovered that they were giving me information."

"Ouch, I got goosebumps here." Xisrith said.

"That's scary, man..." said Jayaa, making a cross sign with her fingers.

"But that's wonderful for you, Kaizen!" Alina said, approached and took Kaizen's hands, who was surprised by this.

Andrew was surprised by Alina's reaction too, but he was starting to get used to her strangeness. So he crossed his arms and asked:

"And what exactly do you mean by that, Alina?"

The magician looked at the others and seemed confused as she couldn't understand why the others were afraid. "Don't you understand? Kaizen is a Psyker, so the fact that he can hear and talk to spirits naturally, without having to be in a place conducive to it and make an effort, is a sign that he's on the right track!"

Kaizen smiled, finally understanding what she meant. "All right, I agree, but it's true that it's scary." He smiled.

"If you can hear the spirits and they're willing to help us, then we have a real chance of finding Og'tharoz and freeing him." Andrew said.

Kaizen nodded, his serious expression reflecting the responsibility he felt with his new-found ability. "Yes, perhaps they can guide us in the right direction, but it's not that easy. Some are willing to help, others are not. Many will die in this place, it's full of spirits."

The whispering voices from the prison were audible to Kaizen, but it was also a cacophony of murmurs and groans echoing in his mind.

"I hear you..." Kaizen murmured, his voice sounding distant as he immersed himself in the spiritual connection. "The spirits are many, but you are afraid to help. In the palace there is a powerful presence that most of them fear."

Alina put her hand on Kaizen's shoulder, conveying silent support. "You can do it, Kaizen. Focus on those voices and guide us to Og'tharoz."

Suddenly, Kaizen opened his eyes and pointed upwards, indicating that Og'tharoz was on an upper floor.

"He's up there, two floors up. In a large, solitary cell." Kaizen announced, his voice firm. "We need to find a way to get there and free him."

"We can use the secret tunnels that run inside the prison." Andrew suggested. "They're used for transporting supplies and the guards and could lead us directly to the wing where Og'tharoz is being held if we know the right way."

Jayaa nodded, seeing the logic in Andrew's proposal. "It's a risky plan, but it seems to be our best chance. Let's get ready and leave as soon as possible."