No sooner had the words left my mouth than I felt a strange, alien presence engulfing me. It was Rexen, merging with my own essence, a sensation I could only describe as . . . ultimate ulllllk.

The shift was abrupt and intense. Suddenly, Rexen commandeered the helm, and I was pushed to the back seat of my own consciousness. It was a bizarre sensation, feeling both present and distant simultaneously. Like being a ghost trapped in a house, seeing and feeling everything but powerless to influence any of it. With a determined focus that was unmistakably Rexen’s, my arms reached out as if on their own accord. From the tips of my outstretched fingers, a dazzling burst of arcane energy spiraled forth, weaving and solidifying into a shimmering barrier. It stood tall and firm, a guardian wall separating Kitty and me.

In an instant of raw, visceral energy, Kitty underwent a chilling metamorphosis. Her bones audibly cracked and reshaped, her muscles contorting and expanding in unnatural bulges. Skin and tissue seemed to ripple and flow like liquid as her human features dissolved into something far more terrifying. Growing in both stature and monstrosity, her frame stretched and contorted until it took on the massive, predatory fucking form of a nightmarish tiger. Sinewy muscles pulsed beneath a coat of shimmering fur as her face, no longer remotely human, elongated into a ferocious snout. Eyes, once familiar, now glowed with a feral, malevolent light. When she let out a roar, it wasn’t just loud—it was cataclysmic. The sound was so powerful, so guttural, that it seemed to reverberate through the very stones beneath our feet, threatening to bring down the chamber around us.

What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck! I kept screaming inside my mind.

Driven by her fury and desperation, Kitty—now a massive fuckin’ horror beast—leaped toward us, claws outstretched, her face twisted into an expression of absolute rage.

Using my body, Rexen created a torrent of magic. Spells of all colors and forms blasted out from my fingertips, colliding with Kitty’s monstrous form. The chamber lit up with an array of dazzling colors as the battle between Rexen and Kitty escalated, our powers clashing with cataclysmic force.

The ground trembled beneath us, and soon, the entire building began to shake, threatening to collapse under the sheer magnitude of our duel. But Rexen was relentless. He pressed on, the energy surrounding us pulsating with a might I had never felt before.

We were locked in a deadly dance, Kitty’s monstrous form lunging at us, only to be met by a barrier of force or a barrage of spells from Rexen. The battle raged on, neither of us yielding an inch.

Rexen was more powerful than I had ever imagined, his magic weaving a beautiful, deadly tapestry of force and light. And even though it was terrifying, there was a thrill coursing through me as we faced down Kitty’s assault.

The . . . well, three of us, blasted out of the lighthouse, through the walls and outside, shooting up into the air. Suddenly, we were fighting in the sky like a motherfucking Dragon Ball Z episode, except only one of us was throwin’ ’bows.

I heard Rexen inside my head as he continued to fight against the torrential output of Kitty, the curly haired woman.

Pupil, he said, and his voice sounded like what I was used to.

Arjee? I wondered.

I don’t think you’re fully ready to be my vessel, and I don’t think I’m fully ready to be reborn.

Well, shit, dawg, that’s a fucking relief. I’m fine with this shit right here—I mean, we’re kicking her fucking ass—but I dunno about making this a permanent fixture in my life. I like you, but I don’t like you enough to wanna spend the rest of my days fused with you.

Ah! I like you too, pupil.

So, what’s the plan? I wondered.

We will put a stop to this. Can I borrow something from you?

Sure, Arjee, whatever you need, as long as you give it back.

Okay!

Kitty flew down to the city below, destroying a huge section of buildings with her meteoric landing.

The devastation she caused sent shockwaves throughout the city, with plumes of dust and debris rising into the air. Her monstrous form now towered above the buildings, her menacing eyes scanning for me—us, I should say.

Rexen propelled us upward, shooting higher and higher into the sky. The vast city below soon appeared as nothing more than a distant speck. A queasy feeling took over, my stomach lurching as if it were in free fall. Were we about to touch the stratosphere?

Rexen suddenly halted our ascent, breaking my train of thought.

Huh. Pupil. Did you die?

I chuckled internally.

You caught that, did you? I pulled a Rua and set my anchor to Bahlgus’s lab.

You met Bahlgus?!

Oh, shoot, yeah, sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, Arjee. You’d actually . . . probably not love him.

I love everyone.

I rolled my eyes mentally.

Okay, so, maybe you would . . . but now is not the time.

He let out a resigned sigh.

You’re right, pupil; it is not. How many times did you die?

Too many to die again, I admitted. I got the Rez Curse, doc.

A pause.

Oh, dear, that’s not good.

Hey, Rexen, check this out, I said with a hint of bravado. I’ve hit Fatigue V. First time ever! And take a look at these upgraded stats.

Fatigue V

Strength: 212

Constitution: 344

Dexterity: 172

Intelligence: 5

Wisdom: 5

Charisma: 5

Luck: 17

There was a moment of silence before Rexen responded, clearly impressed.

Ah, my pupil! You’ve come a long way. I’m proud of you.

Aw, shucks, I said. Well . . . what comes next?

You have been a very good disciple, Rexen murmured warmly. I hope to see you again one day.

Caught off guard, I brain-blurted out, Wait, what?

Far below, Kitty was wreaking fucking havoc, going goddamn apeshit with rage. Man, this shit was insane.

Arjee, she’s gonna wreck the whole goddamn city at this rate. What do you need from me? I mentally asked.

Your anger and your determination, Rexen replied. Oh, and this.

Pact Boon [Imprint]

Imprint Connection: Jailbreak

A symbol appeared in front of me. But I didn’t recognize it for what it was. It . . . sorta looked like a mask. Zeol? But just like before, it was as though this was part of my vision or mind, or something else equally as fucking weird. The crest, symbol, whatever you want to call it, overlay my vision, and the lock icon appeared over it, just like when I’d Jailbroken Eye of the Saboteur.

Jailbreak Fixation: Calden’s Hang Time

Duration: Temporary

Flickering, the message suddenly digitized and the lock shattered to pieces.

Rexen absorbed it all, synthesizing my memories with his own formidable power. Then, with a deep breath, he took action.

“Hold on, apprentice,” he warned. With a surge of speed, we raced directly toward Kitty, our intent clear and unwavering. The outcome uncertain.

Just as we were about to reach her, Kitty roared, unleashing a wave of pure, destructive energy.

Rexen spoke again, his voice a mix of urgency and determination.

“This is it!”

I felt a rush of power surging through me as we activated the Jailbreak Ability, combining its powers with the other items and Abilities at our disposal. Everything became a blur, the sheer force of our combined might accelerating our descent like a bolt of lightning toward the city below.

As we shot down, the ground approaching faster than seemed possible, Kitty spotted us. The ferocious tiger beast roared, charging up an arcane attack to counter our own. A massive ball of energy formed in front of her gaping maw.

At the last possible second, I felt Rexen tap into the very essence of my being. The Pact Boon gave us an edge, and the Jailbreak on Calden’s Hang Time let us shift our trajectory in the blink of an eye, narrowly avoiding Kitty’s devastating attack. Instead of meeting it head-on, we shot past her, transferring the immense kinetic energy directly into the ground beneath her feet.

There was a brilliant flash of light, and for a moment, the entire city was bathed in a blinding radiance.

The shockwave was immense. Buildings crumbled, streets cracked, and a monstrous crater formed, swallowing Kitty and many of the nearby structures. The dust and debris clouded everything, obscuring the aftermath of our assault. Then, because I’m a dick, I threw the haladie with all my strength, right at where I thought she was.

I’ve never in my life seen something travel so fast. It was like some sort of hyper cannon fired it. I couldn’t even track it visually.

We landed a short distance away, the impact cushioned by the lingering effects of the Jailbreak. I was disoriented and exhausted. Rexen’s spectral form detached from me, appearing by my side, though looking a lot more transparent than before.

“We did it,” he whispered, his form beginning to dissipate.

“No, wait!” I exclaimed, trying to hold on to his fading essence. “You said you’d return whatever you borrowed.”

He smiled, the emotion genuine and heartfelt.

“I borrowed time, Loon. And I think I’ve used it well.”

It was the first time, to my recollection, he’d actually used my name.

“Arjee . . .” I started, but before I could finish, he vanished, leaving me kneeling amidst the destruction, the weight of the world heavy on my shoulders.

The dust began to settle, and the scope of our battle became clear. The city was in ruins, and Kitty, whether she was defeated or merely buried, was nowhere to be seen.