The people from the Connected Worlds did not simply move into the Great Lands, as that would have caused utter chaos.
Instead, they took the places of those who had recently died or just been born, depending on the situation. Also, their appearance was as close to their original as possible, often matching completely because of how many people lived in the Great Lands.
But everything else was left to chance. Some were born into wealthy families, while others found themselves in the bodies of exhausted, recently deceased slaves whose only fate was to rot in prison.
However, some believed that the second option had its advantages and was even better. One reason was that by taking the body of another person, one could start life right away instead of waiting 15 years to grow up.
The transmigrated people had one problem. They could not use their Catalyst and Eposes until they created their first Epos in the Great Lands. This worked both for individuals and for the entire group that was transmigrated together to the Great Lands.
It was a kind of protective mechanism of the Great Lands, so that the transported Origins would not immediately start wreaking havoc in their new locations. Quite often, this led to the transferred people dying before they had a chance to earn their first Epos.
Obviously, the role of a prisoner in such a case was a real wild card. It was an all-or-nothing situation, either quick death or rapid triumph.
Click.
The crack in the door opened when a tray of food appeared, stale bread and a gray mush vaguely resembling a meal.
"Time to eat, lowlife!" The guard's low voice rang out.
However, no one was in a hurry to pick up the tray. Normally, this would have angered the guard, but now it only made him smirk.
"Oh, so that kid, what was his name... Kyle? He's dead! Hahaha, finally I'll have less work to do!"
This wing of the prison housed only death row inmates. Usually, disobedient prisoners or those who caused too many problems. They were rarely given food, and asked if they would be obedient now. Those who refused, well... they died of starvation right in their cells.
Crack.
The key opened the door as the guard entered. He had to make sure the prisoner was dead, a mere formality.
"Hmm?" The guard looked around, seeing the empty cell. "Where the hell is he—"
Thrust!
A sharp bone pierced the guard's neck, as blood gushed out. The guard collapsed to the ground, and the last thing he saw was the cold gaze of his killer.
Without wasting any time, Kreyn found the keys and removed the shackles from his wrists and ankles. In his situation, any extra weight was a problem.
"Agh... That's much better." Kreyn took a deep breath before removing all of the guard's clothes, from his boots to his cap.
Sure, it wasn't a perfect fit, but it was much better than wandering around the prison in rags and bare feet.
He adjusted the collar of his long, dark coat with red stripes as his eyes flashed.
[Create an Epos to gain access to abilities. Restrictions will be removed if at least one member of your group meets this condition.]
'I see. Hah, for my first Epos, I had to blow up a flying ship with nuclear missiles. I'll have to do something appropriate. Well, or at least regain my powers.' Kreyn thought and turned back.
The rat stared at him.
"Hah, you can take that for yourself." Kreyn pointed to the tray of food. "My first meal in this world should be a feast!"
Thus, the cell door closed shut.
…
Several hours had passed since Kreyn's awakening, so now all the prisoners were in the prison courtyard, eating breakfast under the scorching sun.
The reason why they were there and not in their cells was immediately clear to Kreyn.
"I see..." His gaze turned to the entrance of the cave, near it were several carts full of rocks with sparse blue crystals. "So, straight to work after breakfast?"
'Hmm. They brought me food because I was in a special area for death row inmates. These are ordinary prisoners, and among them there must always be someone tougher than the others, someone even the guards fear, right?'
As if answering Kreyn's call, the last to arrive for breakfast was a two-meter-tall, bald, muscular brute. From his satisfied smirk directed at the guards and other prisoners, it was clear that he kept everyone else under control, and in return, the guards did not control him very much. A classic case in any prison in any world.
"Wait, is that it?"
Next to the big guy, a young man with shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes was limping along. Unlike Kreyn, he wasn't skinny, but his wrists were bandaged.
The big guy stroked his shoulder with a satisfied grin — that was enough for Kreyn to understand the whole picture, because this young man was Liam.
'Most likely, the real owner of this body cut his veins at night and died. That's how Liam was able to take his place. It seems that after the transfer, we get a small boost from the energy, otherwise, where would I get the strength if Kyle died of exhaustion?'
Kreyn continued to watch, seeing other guards in the windows on the opposite wing of the prison. Making a mistake or forgetting something was not as scary as acting suspiciously.
'It will be a long time before they realize that one of the guards is dead and not just lost or slacking off. I have to come up with a plan, and for that I need at least Liam.'
The wait paid off. In time.
"Hahaha! Good luck with that, guys!" The big guy laughed as he lifted a tray full of food with a whole fried chicken. "Maybe I'll join you after my morning workout!"
The prisoners shrugged and grinned at Liam.
"You too, boss."
"Yeah, everyone envies you, but you deserve it."
"At least tell us everything later!"
The big guy waved his hand. "Of course."
As much as Liam didn't want to, he went to the cell with the big guy. A guard stood at the door, the big guy's personal enforcer who carried out his whims.
"Don't bother us," the big guy said harshly. "I'm going to have a good morning. Just stand there and do your job."
"S-Sure!" The young guard flinched.
Crash.
The door closed as the big guy threw Liam onto the bed.
"Looks like I was too rough yesterday." He looked at Liam's bandaged wrists. "I promise I'll try to be a little gentler today. Hahaha!"
...
Step. Step. Step.
Whistling, the patrol guard walked past the young guard protecting the big guy's cell before stopping in front of him.
"Something wrong...?" The young guard asked the unfamiliar one. "I don't know you. Are you new?"
"Here." The guard pointed upward.
"Agh?" The young guard looked up, puzzled.
GHA!
Blood spurted from the young guard's mouth as he lowered his eyes, filled with horror and despair.
"Quiet, we don't want to disturb them, right?" Kreyn smiled slyly as he pulled the blade from the young guard's throat.
The last thing the young guard saw was Kreyn stepping over him before his mind plunged into darkness forever.
At the same time, Liam was climbing into the corner of the bed, desperately searching for anything that could protect him.
'Shit, shit, shit! Why me? How did I end up in this situation? Is this the Great Lands? This is bullshit!'
The big guy was getting closer, and without his abilities, Liam didn't stand a chance.
Click.
The door clicked, which greatly angered the big guy.
"What? I told you not to bother me! You little bastard!" The big guy turned around, clenching his fists in anger.
The shadow lunged forward, attacking the big guy as a dark blade slashed his neck.
"GRHHHR!"
A fountain of blood gushed out as the big guy tried to stop the bleeding with his hands, but he died in a matter of seconds.
Shocked, Liam lifted his gaze to meet the exhausted young man in guard form.
"Hi, Liam," Kreyn said, wiping the knife with a rag. "It seems that the savages in these parts don't know how to appreciate unusual beauty, do they?"
Liam's lips trembled in disbelief.
"K-Kreyn, is that really you?"
"Of course I am. You should have realized by now that we look the same as before."
Liam nodded.
"Thank you..." He glanced at the dead big guy. "But what are we going to do now?"
In response, Kreyn tore off a chicken leg and took a big bite, tasting food for the first time.
"Damn, that's fucking good!" Kreyn clenched his fist and shook his head.
Then, he pointed at Liam.
"First, we need to find Groza and Azura, then one of us needs to create Epos. I have a plan, but you'll have to help me. Without you, it will be difficult for me to reach them."
"S-Sure, what should I do? Kill the guards with you?"
Kreyn smirked as he looked at Liam.
"Nah, with your kind of looks in prison… Hah, we don't need brute force anymore. We'll deceive, we'll act cunningly!"
"W-What…? I don't like this at all…"
Liam shuddered.
He wanted to help, but even though Kreyn was his ally, his sly grin and devilish eyes made him uneasy.
'Better to have the devil on your side than against you,' Liam thought. 'Right?'