When Jason awoke, he was covered in chains. His vision was blurry but he was vaguely able to make out a dark hallway with torches, blood red torches.

Where am I? What.... what happened? Limitless Ring Annessia, give me an answer please.

YOU WERE UNDER THEIR-

RUNNNNNN!!!! BEFORE THEY N-

IT’S TOO LAT-

Jason could barely wonder why the windows had cut off half-way through answering before a sharp stinging pain invaded his head. All that he could do for what felt like eternity was strain against the chains, not to escape, but to be able to curl up into a fetal position from the sea of agony assaulting his brain. It felt like a herd of elephants were frantically trampling his entire being.

As the pain slowly lessened he regained a bit of self-awareness and could think clearly again. Then, he just waited until his vision cleared up a bit more before even moving a bit.

This has to be the worst hangover I have ever had, and it wasn’t even from sneaking my parents’ stash of fine liquor with my friends…. He lamented, however his grumbling slowly changed to a deep melancholy as he reminisced about the past. The lovely, peaceful, normal past. Before he was thrust into this world.

As he was thinking he noticed he could see again. When he focused his blurry eyes to look around again he was shocked.

The hall he was in wasn’t even there, it was just darkness, empty space. The blood red torches were floating around seven feet off the ground, suspended by empty air. Or at least he guessed there was air, though he didn’t realize he didn’t seem to even need to be breathe.

Then, almost like a robot gaining freewill, he started to remember inconsistencies in how he acted, one of the biggest ones being how he hadn’t even tried to contact Rein, not even once, since he started killing, and how he didn’t even put on clothes before looting the sand ship.

Rein.... Rein.... Rein!!!! He yelled mentally. There was only silence until a voice answered, however it wasn’t Rein.

“Heheh, hey kid, aren’t you in for a big surprise heheh.” A strangely cheerful female voice rang out. “Oh and don't worry, Rein ceased to exist while you were murdering those bandits you silly thing.”

“Shut up Kellaria, he’s going to be dead soon so what’s the point in talking to him?” With an unmasked irritation for the first voice’s comment, a second voice said disdainfully. “You like toying with your food too much.”

“Kellaria! Sever! stop bickering you two, just get along already…” A third voice, sounding dark and brooding, cruel and masculine, evil and powerful spoke.

“Well where is the fun in him dying so soon? He has a ring of literal limitlessness but he failed to even notice my illusion. It is going to be priceless to see his expression when he finds out.” The voice named Kellaria pouted.

The one called Sever chuckled before responding. “Well, obviously. You do happen to be a Highlord’s apprentice and he was put under your spell before he even reincarnated...”

“Refer to me by my name and chosen title, not by highlord. I might be at the same power level as those old goats but I am not one of them.” The third voice said with commanding authority.

“My apologizes Terminal Lord Alphonsus.” Sever said contritely

Wha-what?..... I was under a spell?... Jason foggily thought.

“Hm since it seems like your toy has woken up Kellaria, if it pleases you I guess you can toy with his mind before we refine him.” With a robe swishing noise Alphonsus’ presence disappeared.

Before Sever turned and followed Alphonsus, Kellaria asked a question. “So what did you do with his camel?”

Sever answered with a hint of sadness. “Well our Terminal Lord hates anything with mirth sadly so we killed him, but as I sliced him in half he said two things that were hilarious.”

Filled with curiosity Kellaria questioned what they were. “Tell me Sevy, TELL MEEEEE!”

Sever, ignoring Kellaria’s nickname for him, replied which caused Kellaria to break down in hysterical laughter. “Well when I stepped in front of him he said ‘I’ve come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I’m all out of bubblegum.’ and when I stabbed him, he quoted Arnold Schwarzenegger with his dying breath ‘Hasta la vista... baby.’”

“Well I better catch up with his lordship now.” Sever said as Kellaria rolled in laughter on the ground.

Seeing she didn’t even pay attention to what he said, Sever snorted in irritation and disappeared.

After calming down enough to speak Kellaria turned her attention to Jason. “Well well well, my little toy, how are you? Here, this should heal you.” With a strange incantation Jason felt his body restoring itself at an insane pace until he felt even better than he ever had, like he could run a mile a minute, like he could lift a skyscraper, like he could wrestle an elephant.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw the one named Kellaria. She looked like a goth doll a creepy seven year old socially awkward girl would have.

She had silver hair, that reached down to her waist. Black eyes, completely pitch black eyes that were staring with an intensity that would make you shiver. Pale white skin and a tear drop shaped face. Her clothes were a frilly monochrome skirt and blouse, a large floppy hat with frills on it and a Parasol that was pitch black.

She would’ve been strangely cute had she not been smiling with a sickly sadistic smile, her eyes almost crescent shaped from the enormous schadenfreude grin she had.

“Well my dear little toy,” Kellaria whispered softly. “How does it feel to learn that everything you have been doing and thinking was all according to my wishes? How does it feel to know you lost your friend Rein before you even knew it? That you were a tool to make him suffer for trying to get revenge against my Lord Alphonsus? Do tell me. Now.” She said the last word with an authority and fear inspiring evil that would make even the strongest get a chilly shiver up their spine from.

Jason gritted his teeth as an overwhelming urge to obey took over his mind.

She is messing with you… don't give in, don't listen to the urge, don’t give her anymore control… He thought to himself, determined to steadfastly resist all attacks against his mind.

Even if it was a lie, I AM AN ASCENDANT SOVEREIGN I WILL DIE WITH MY PRIDE INTACT!!!

Unlike what most believe about illusions, illusions are actually a lot larger parts of our lives than we think. We trick ourselves into doing things or believing things until they become reality. Until realizing with a jolt that what we perceive is never the world directly, but rather our brain’s best guess at what that world is like, a kind of internal simulation of an external reality. Still, we bank on the fact that our simulation is a reasonably decent one. The true reality is what is controlled by highlords to create a place where they feel at home in.

Since he was truly affected by that illusion to the point of it changing his world view, it became his reality, his domain, his sovereign land.

“Hmmm, so intriguing….” Kellaria started to get more and more interested in exploring this strange change in her toy.

However she didn’t get time to explore this phenomena.

Because as soon as she had started casting another illusion spell, she received a message that the ritual was prepared.

“WHY ARE THEY DONE ALREADY!?! Why does that stupid idiot and my precious Lord work so quickly???...” Kellaria pouted and threw a temper tantrum for a second before regaining composure. “Oh well, I guess we can’t have our fun my little toy, too bad…. My torture I had planned for you would have been so much more enjoyable compared to what you will be going through now.” She left with a wicked smile.

One hour later:

Just one hour ago he was chained up. Then he, when Kellaria was summoned, was taken to a strange and creepy ritual chamber.

Inside this chamber there was strange markings and glyphs written in what appeared to be blood. Hovering at the same height as before were also the strange floating blood red torches that were in the hall of desolation. When any sane person would enter a room with such lovely black and red evil decor, they will struggle to escape with all their might.

This was exactly what Jason tried to do.

However the one called Sever made a strange cutting motion towards Jason who then suddenly lost all ability to move, he just slumped onto the floor and was dragged into the center of the room. Then laid on a strange table before Sever and Kellaria backed away, leaving Jason. Approaching slowly in a pitch black robe, Alphonsus stood in front of the ritual table.

“Do you want to know why you are here? Why it was all an illusion?” Alphonsus smirked, a bit of the sadism his apprentice had showing through his smile.

His mind full of defiance, Jason still couldn’t bear to not ask a simply question.

A single word.

“Why…?”

“Well because you could be a future threat to me.” Alphonsus said matter-of-factly. ¨You had the chance to be an entirely new being. Someone of limitless potential. However you joined forces with Rein who hates me for betraying him, which I don't regret heheheh, and you started to get a wish to rule, when I have already chosen that destiny.¨

Alphonsus’ smirk became more and more sinister as he kept talking. ¨So the logical choice to do when faced with threats is….. Eliminate them.¨

As he finished speaking he activated the ritual to refine Jason into a Limitless Ring that only Alphonsus could use. Because the chance of limitlessness being his to command even tempted someone of his power level.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH-” Jason screamed until his voice broke, he screamed until he bled from his throat, he screamed till his mind shattered. Louder than he had ever before, and probably louder than anyone who hasn’t gone through what is happening to him.

The soul-rending, flesh melting, agonizing pain of being destroyed in mind, body and soul was just too much to bear. Jason´s body kept trying to lose consciousness but something like a magical tether kept him away from the blessed release of unconsciousness. It seemed like for the ritual to work he had to be fully aware.

As his body was slowly changing, shrinking, compressing, snapping and breaking, he was desperately searching for a way to survive.

Annessia get me out of here!!!

Travel functions locked.

Annessia I wish for anything to save me or help me escape!

Wish functions locked

ANNESSIA HELP ME!!!

Personality and advice system locked

All known abilities locked

Annessia can I use my lifeforce, all of the time I have alive, to unlock a system function?

WARNING: It is possible but user will loss all lifeforce and will cease to exist!

It’s my only chance… Jason grimaced through the pain.

Shouting with all the energy he had left, and startling Alphonsus and his minions, he wished for what might be his only chance.

¨ANNESSIA I GIVE YOU MY LIFE!!! UNLOCK THE LIMITLESS REVIVAL FUNCTION!!!!!¨

¨NOOOO!!!¨ The Terminal Lord and his followers shouted simultaneously.

Feeling his very existence disappear, Jason resigned himself to the fact he’s last ditch effort might not succeed.