I'm brought to my shared cell.

There are about 10 other people in the cell.

Bunk beds.

We all have enough space to ourselves.

"This man is formation grandmaster Zero."

The guard says and then closes the door as I step in.

"Well well well boys. We got a living legend as a bunk mate!"

Some guy runs up to me and bows.

"I've always been a fan of your work. It was due to your theories that we were able to develop the internet and advance technology to this point."

"There's shit on your nose."

"Hey!"

I remain quiet and begin to meditate.

They look at me as if they are expecting something.

I then realize.

I'm unable to inscribe runes.

"It's the slave collars. They make it impossible to progress. Otherwise people would use the time they are locked up to become more powerful."

I say:

"That's pretty fucked up. They expect me to do NOTHING for 800 years?"

"Wow! 800 years!? Dude. I'm sentenced for 5!"

"Me too!"

"I'm in for 20 years and it already has felt like an eternity."

"You're Zero right? Can't you do some OP shit like carve a formation into soap and then activate it using your knowledge of formations?"

"Nah. I still need to be able to manipulate mana to power my formations. Or I'd need magic crystals."

"Still... you are a legend. Surely there is a way for you to break out? We've heard tales of you performing magic in the antimagic realm!"

A guy punches me in the gut and then shakes his hand

"Ouch. Yep, you've still got it. Felt like I hit a steel wall."

"Let's say I did break out. What then? I'd be a fugitive. Hunted down by their law enforcement."

"Fair point."

"I guess you'll just be staying with us then, cheers!"

A year goes by.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I got to experience life a bit differently during this year.

It was probably the longest year of my life.

I was 'forced' by the other guys in my shared cell to take showers.

Even though I clearly told them I would stay clean no matter what.

They called that bullshit and said I would stink.

So I took a shower every week.

I also was given as a gift some hollow shoes to wear while showering.

I didn't eat food for the first month.

But the guys were worried that I would starve.

So I was 'forced' to eat food.

I didn't sleep.

They tried to get me to sleep.

But that is one battle they lost.

I simply am unable to sleep.

799 more years to go...

After a decade.

Everyone I had been sharing a cell with had cycled out by now.

After another decade.

People started to refer to me as 'Elder Zero'

Since I had been there the longest.

Well the longest in my cell at least.

Due to my DNA. I did not require exercise to remain in peak condition.

Also just due to my timeless existence.

My body doesn't change.

But I was still encouraged to exercise with everyone.

779 years to go.

A century passes until something interesting happens.

Apparently one of the prisoners was in a secret relationship with one of the guards.

They stole the key to the cell and opened it up at night.

They also had a guy outside prison who was an artificer and could take off the collars.

As everyone tried to escape.

I stayed put.

About half the prison population disappeared over night.

Some were caught and punished though.

Fools.

If I wanted to escape. I could do so at any time.

I just don't feel like dealing with annoying people chasing me.

It was also during this century that I began to focus purely on laws.

I also developed a new spell:

[ECHO]: {Name: "Maximize Strength", Level: 4, Type: Target, Element: Mana, Cost: 2000, Desc: "Multiply strength by 50 for 60 seconds."}

I would picture my visualization technique.

Path of Somnus: God's Death.

I would also try to find that feeling of enlightenment.

I made some progress.

[ECHO]: 'Infinity' Comprehension has reached 5%

[ECHO]: 'Space' Comprehension has reached 5%

[ECHO]: 'Gravity' Comprehension has reached 6%

It was through exploring my infinite boredom that led me to unlocking a new law

[ECHO]: 'Time' Comprehension has reached 1%

After gaining insight into the law of time.

I was able to completely control my perception of time.

I could make years go by for myself in seconds.

I saw my life in prison play out.

I was taunted.

Insulted.

They tried to get a reaction out of me.

But It was as if I was just an observer outside the river of time.

I served the next 500 years in an instant.

It turned out that my time spent in jail was indeed worth it.

I was released early for good behavior.

I was not able to progress my runes.

But now.

I would be able to speed up my perception of time.

Becoming a rank 6 would be as easy as breathing.

After the guards came to get me.

I put my perception of time back to normal.

The intelligence returned to my eyes.

I was given my old clothes and ring.

As well as my I.D.

It felt insanely good to be back in my original clothes.

They took off the slave collar.

I then left the prison.

A free man.

The first thing I did was go to a store to buy a phone.

I reinscribed the formation on my wrist.

When I went to the cashier to pay for the phone.

I took out gold coins.

They told me they didn't accept those.

So I took out platinum coins.

I was told they didn't accept that either.

I then took out a high grade magic crystal.

The cashier finally pulled out a piece of paper and told me they only accept 'bills'.

Or that I could use a debit card.

"Just how far has their technology come in the mere 600 years I spent in prison?"

I ask them where I can acquire that currency.

They told me to get a job.

I tried applying to work as a cashier there.

Everything was going well.

The interview went swimmingly.

But when they ran the background check.

They saw that I had two felonies.

And told me I was a bit overqualified.

I asked random people passing on the streets where I could turn valuables into currency.

One man told me I could trade things at a pawnshop.