Dumbfounded, his efforts did not went in vain.

The voice was calm and possess an alien accent, a bit rigid and muffled, but strangely fluent.

What surprised him the most is how can the man speak despite the cages treat?

He lingered for a few seconds, before posing another question. "Where are we?"

The mysterious neighbor remained silent for a few second before responding. " ... Swords? What kind of Argon are you?... Well, anyway, where do you think? The hanging cage of Highlands, where even the master of conceal can't scape. Sigh, a fitting end for madman's, wouldn't you agree?"

Perplexed, Zyro hesitated, feeling the vines pressure increase. he envy his neighbor freedom to speak as he ponder on the man's words, or what he thought was a man due to his deep muffled voice, As if wearing a gas mask. He then replied.

"What?" Zyro Emphasize, as if not understanding anything the man spoke just now. Shortening his word to avoid triggering the binds further. While containing it's understandability, that is, if the man possess a decent intelligence. He would notice Zyro's desire for a specific answer.

His neighbor stayed silent in annoyance. Then said, "What? What? Are you an idiot. Anyway, what's the news outside. I've been stuck here for many many years." He sigh and continue

"Ah, how I miss freedom... But I can only blame myself for messing with the Gricks. But I have too, I have too. She's waiting for me after all. She might be really lonely..." His voice was that of a madman in the brink of insanity.

'What is he talking about?' zyro ask inwardly, not understanding anything the man spoke of. But a bit dreadful at the man state of mind. If his given enough time in the prison, and be a lunatic. maybe they could communicate in equal terms, which he'll rather not try.

He recollected his mind and ask, "Argon's?" The word that interested him the most. He put aside obtaining his whereabouts, to not trigger the man's insanity further. Instead, he prioritize forming a friendly relationship.

The neighbor laughed "pfft!, Haha! that's a good one! It had been so long since I laugh, but still. To think someone like you would ask such question, It's your own race you fool, the race you doomed!."

The man fell silent, as if realizing something,

"...or could it be. No, I have confidence in my eyes, no blacksmith or artisan can produce such armor. Unless Zyphyr himself revive and made one!, or perhaps I'm overthinking this. That's right! Your stunt that night probably cost you your memory. Hahahaha!"

The man burst to laughter for some reason, while Zyro stare blankly at the lunatic's cage.

'I really need to get out of here' he thought

'Might as well take advantage of his unstable mind' he added, a little guilty at taking advantage of mentally ill person. But it's his best choice if he plan to scape, maybe he could even help the poor man.

He shifted his gaze towards the vines restraining him, by now, it had long grown to mid aged snakes. It's grip pressure becoming uncomfortable to a little painful. He could feel his armor pressing hard again his skin, but not enough to delay his blood flow.

Zyro then brace himself, inhaling a mouthful of air. Then voiced.

"Tell me everything you know about this place and how to escape!?"

His neighbor stopped laughing and said, " Huh? Well, that's easy. We're in the Highlands of Gricks. Imprisoned in their hanging chambers. Don't worry, I've been here for many years. So I long thought of a plan to scape. The problem is, I can't break this roots."

'roots? Your kidding me. This thing is made of roots!?'

His neighbor continue "However, let me tell you something. Where do you think are we?... In a cage?, No!, not just any cage. A cage made by a god, the deity of the scarlet sky. The crimson storm who rain blood in land, the ruler of the sky, and the devine blood. Grick!. And you think you can escape? Even if your a elite. Heck, even a master can't dream of scaping... Your fate is sealed. Hahaha..." The madman laugh.

Cold run through Zyro's spine, if he understand anything the man spoke, that'll be. 'scaping is utterly impossible'

He opened his mouth to ask a follow up question. however, before he could.

"Clank"

Metallic groan filled the cage, as if something gave in. Zyro's eyes widened, feeling the crushing intensified. He look down at the vines, their movements becoming livelier, increasing their grip tenfold. The Cybernetic suit shock resistance can only handle much, and now, it finally gave in. Leaving his bare skin to withstand it all.

His skin shrank, as if wearing the world's smallest rash guard. He felt the blood flow slow down as the vines coil tightened.

Stolen novel; please report.

Breathing became heavier by seconds, even making the slightest movement became impossible.

'the toll of a question sure is heavy' he thought amidst his struggle.

Then, an amused chuckle resounded.

"ohh, if your interested on my plan of scaping. I'll tell you, all you have to do is ask sincerely, and loudly!" His neighbor mocking tone hits zyro's nerve.

He knew his mad neighbor is enjoying his struggle, for some reason. Maybe due to boredom, or his just an utter lunatic. But the possibility of the man knowing a way was there. However, his no fool to dance at his neighbors hand.

Zyro gritted his teeth as the vines increase its pressure. Although the grift was greater than the last, his expression inside the helmet became more calm. Growing accustomed to being squeeze numb his body.

'one last question' he promise inwardly.

He open his mouth with fear, he only resist the pressure due to his exoskeleton armor high shock resistance. But hearing the groaning iron sounds, he can tell that the metal frames are barely at hold. But still not at the point of breaking, hence. He continue.

"H-how?" Asked Zyro with hoarse voice.

One of the most important thing at solving a problem is knowing the cause.

Zyro tried his best to shorten each words as the vines grip slowly turning unbearable. Pain flooded his mind, he felt like coughing a mouthful of blood. His armor are not in the verge of breaking, but the same doesn't go to his body. Blood flow distortion cannot damage him critically. However, if given enough time it can.

The man chuckled, then said with amusement. "How! How? can I speak while you suffer? Because I'm kind, unlike you."

Under the helmet of Zyro's armor, his head turning red. Blood was being squeeze from his body, with only his head open for it to flow.

Being crush all over, while not being able to struggle nor scream was not a pleasant experience. However, he may have suppress his scream. But he cannot suppress subconscious groaning, feeding the vines power little by little. While his thoughts are flooded with pain, thinking straight became impossible.

'Should it be straight?' He grinned.

"Kind? Hahahaha, then what are you doing there? You delusional bastard!." Zyro let it out, followed by hell.

Drips of blood flowed down zyro's mask, as he gritted his blood dyed teeth.

As the saying goes, (the faster the better) Considering the the recent trap, back then when his head got hit. The cage automatically change tactics switching to a griping snake-like-vines which is more painful but less deadly. Meaning, the vines aren't meant to kill. Why would it? A prison is designed to encage prisoners until their freedom, interrogation or execution. Hence, Zyro took the gamble. Hastening the pain, for the next trap to take place. Wishing it to be less painful.

Although, his not sure if his in a prison chamber or a execution chamber.

The man spoke amidst his suffering, his amusement gone. "Must be painful, but rest assured, The roots won't kill you, death by roots is something you don't deserve. Cause your death is already decided, and I assure you. That death will put that roots torture to shame. Hahahaha, well. Considering your crime, the Gricks judgement is justified!"

"Clank!"

Another metal frame broke, as he felt a section of his body shrank. Hoarse muffled scream flooded the cage, it's volume becoming lower and lower.

"Ohh, how I missed that melody! That's right, cream!" said his neighbor with satisfaction.

After sometime, Zyro's scream died down. His voice gone, as he face down at his body wrapped in thick roots. From foot to neck, his raven black armor can no more be seen.

The man smirk, as if his staring at Zyro through his cage. Then said.

"You done? What a pity, you almost assassinated the prince of Gricks yet you can't even last long! Hahaha."

'Cough, Cough' Zyro cough blood inside the helmet letting the crimson liquid flow, traveling down his neck and into the vines.

Time slowed down, the torture Zyro felt turn eternity as the pressure grown non stop. he felt as if his eyes were about to come out, his blood was about to burst, his insides being crush and his bone breaking. He felt pain everywhere, breathing becoming impossible.

"You must be wondering why should I suffer such fate?"

Zyro's mind was filled with pain to the point of breaking. His vision blurred as his eye lids became extremely heavy. His mind slowed down, erasing all thoughts. Everything, everything is slowly falling into oblivion.

"I still remember that vivid night, the entire towns celebrating with joy. As the long dispute ending by a bond of heart of two race. Ohh, how I envy their joy as I gaze in the night stars above. However... A star betrayed it all..."