Chapter 5 – First Chains

The day dragged on like a nightmare. Merchants poked and prodded him. Other slaves whispered stories of punishment and hierarchy: nobles, commoners, low-tier, and Ash-tier.

A girl with scarred arms leaned close. “They don’t care. You gotta survive for yourself, n***a. Nobody’s coming for you.”

Kairo nodded, accepting the truth. Pain could be weaponized. He didn’t know how yet, but he would learn.

By nightfall, he tested himself: holding back tears, observing patterns, flexing muscles. When a merchant hit him, a spike of energy flared—his first taste of pain-to-power.

This ain’t just magic. This… this is survival.