For the first time since starting this journey, Ian felt like he was the strongest person in the world.

And then a week passed, and Ian received a notification.

'Successful. Sword Dance skill: Success.'

The other slaves in his room began to notice something was wrong with Ian. A few of them asked him if he was possessed by some demon.

Frederick was watching the slaves from his hidden observation room and realized something odd.

Ian was developing quickly, but he did not seem to be suffering the slightest discomfort.

Frederick looked at the other slaves and realized they were also improving. The other slaves were so exhausted that they could hardly stand up straight, and yet they could move their arms and legs almost effortlessly now.

For the next few days, Ian secretly trained more and more, and he was much stronger than everybody actually thought. But he hid it deep. When Nila trained him again, he even showed weakness and incompetence a bit to put doubt within her mind.

And it worked. Nila frowned at him. "What's wrong with you today?"

"I think my body is a little tired today."

"Get some rest. We will train again tomorrow morning. Don't disappoint me after all the time I put in you."

Nila left the training room.

Ian felt satisfied that he tricked her. Now he just had to wait a chance to save Asuna, and escape from this place.

That chance came when he was training with Nila.

A guard approached Nila. "Commander, you are being summoned to the Shadow Ritual."

Nila frowned. "It's that time of year? Fine." He looked at Ian. "Train yourself properly while I am gone."

Ian simply nodded.

When Nila left, Ian couldn't hold his excitement. All these time, he had spent some time to map the whole underground base, and he was confidence he knew every nook and cranny of this place.

But first, I have to kill those three; Thomas and Frederick.

As Ian exited the training room, he saw the man he hated the most.

"Oh, you're enslaved already?" Barry said. "Now that I saw you, I recall the beauty girl that I captured. Haha." He looked back at his men. "You guys go first, I want to visit her and have some fun."

"Boss, you promise to share her with us."

"I don't feel like sharing, so scram!"

His subordinates could only sigh and left while Barry excitedly walked to the basement. He turned around and saw Ian following him. "Oh, you want to see me having fun? Hahaha. Come. Let me show you. You're a slave now, so you can't hurt me. Hahaha. What am I thinking, I bet you don't even remember the girl."

The entered the basement filled with crates covered in dust and spider webs. Beyond that was a iron cell with Asuna sleeping on the cold floor. It made Ian's heart ache just by looking at her.

Barry's turned to lust. "You're still as beautiful as ever. I just returned from a battle, and now I want to have fun with you."

Asuna woke up and was terrified when she saw Barry's lusty gaze. She scurried back, and hit the wall. Her hands trembled.

"Hehehe. Now don't be scared young girl. I won't hurt you." He opened the cell, and the iron door creaked.

"Don't come closer."

"Don't be so petty. You will have a good time. Look, even your friend has come to watch."

Asuna's eyes became teary.

As Barry's hand came closer, something happened.

SLASH!

Barry's face froze with his disgusting smile and lusty gaze, but then his head fell to the floor along with his body. Standing in front of her was Ian who had cut off Barry's head.

"Take my hand. Let's get out of here."

Asuna trembled but forced herself to take Ian's hand. "What about my weapon?"

"I know where it is. Follow me."

"No. Forget about it. Let's just leave this place."

Ian shook his head. "I know it's important to you. I know where it is, and it won't take long."

Asuna eventually agreed and Ian masterfully guide her passing through the guards. They went so far already and didn't see anyone at all.

"Where are the guards?" Asuna asked.

"I know this place like it was my backyard. The guards rarely go to this place. Let's go."

Soon they arrived outside the weapon storage room. Ian took a peek through the keyhole, and said: "Stay here. I will take your weapon for you."

Ian opened the door and wore his usual expression.

Frederick was rubbing one of the sword with a cloth until he noticed Ian. "What are you doing here. This is restricted area."

"I am sorry. I will leave now."

"Wait, you know what. Come here. Let me try to stab you a bunch of times with this sword."

Ian approached him calmly and slowly.

"Hmm which weapon should I pick."

As Jeffery was looking which weapon to use for torturing Ian, Ian pulled the sword that he hid on his back and attacked.

Jeffery was shocked but he quickly reacted. He grabbed a random sword and blocked.

Clang!

"You're weaker than me!" Ian performed a sword dance that rained Jeffery with attacks.

Jeffery gritted his teeth and charged forward. Ian anticipated that. He ducked down, and stabbed his throat. The blade went through the back of his head, and he died.

Ian's chest went up and down as he looked at the dead body. He looked at Asuna's rapier, and grabbed it. Outside, he handed it to Asuna.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Let's move on. We still have to escape from this place."

With his sword ready, Ian led the way towards the exit and the waiting outside world.

"Where do you think you're going?" Thomas blocked their path.

"Get out of the way or I will kill you!"

"You think you're strong enough to do that? Let me show you the power of a dark magician. CURSE OF PAIN!"