'This was never her iion, Leo,' Nyx whispered suddenly. 'All Nikra ever wanted was to live ahe Multiverse heal. Yes, she messed up, but she didn't do this to k-'

  Don't... Leo growled, shutting his eyes. Just don't. I couldn't care less about what she wanted. Not now. She was an a goddess, for fuck's sake. If she couldn't eve something like this, then how the hell did she pn to help the Multiverse? Just admit it, Nyx, she was way over her head, still living in memories of the days of her glory.

  'I...' Nyx began only to trail off. He could feel her trying to collect her thoughts, maybe evee a terargument, yet she never succeeded. All their link reyed were words without meaning.

  That's what I thought. Leo scoffed only to release a deep sigh. Listen Nyx... Remember what I told you before. Don't throw your life away for what is gone. Nikra is in the past, but you? You are the present and the future. Never fet that and build your own path, just as you said you would.

  'I know what I said, Leo,' Nyx almost growled. 'But it's not easy to just fet about a major part that created me. There is a reason why I sound like her and why I'm more like her than Hunter. And that's because, unsciously, Nikra created me in her image. I 't ge that.'

  Then don't fet... Never fet. Just don't let the past trol your as. Leo smiled as a chuckle slipped past his lips. And I know I probably sound like a hypocrite now, but this advice is something I always wao follow. Don't make the same mistakes as I did.

  The shadows under Leo's cloak suddenly hugged his body tighter, filling him with a much-wele warmth. 'I will try,' Nyx mumbled. 'Thank you again, Leo... And wasn't I supposed to be the oo support you?'

  Leo snorted, opening his eyes to the floating notifications. Small steps, Nyx. Even if you have the memories of three different beings, this is pretty much the first hour of your life. Just keep my words and your promise in mind; we figure out the rest ter.

  'Uood.'

  No more words came through the link, but it didn't mean it went silent. Buzzing thoughts aions filled their e as Nyx was most likely still trying to process what they had discussed. This was fine for Leo; after all, he had plenty of System messages waiting for him.

  The new skill and trait first. Let's see how screwed I am.

  Ruthless Efficy (Radiant)Rage and Bloodlust unleashed. The world is yours for the taking, young Prime. Enemies, allies? They don't matter as long as you achieve yoal.Effects (3 Stages):Ignite: Your perception of the world and battle prowess is enhanced.Bze: Strehe boost gained from the previous stage. Will activate automatically after overuse of Ignite or upon suffering heavy injuries. Reduces your mind to a slightly more primal state.Inferne and bloodlust fuel your abilities, enhang them even further. Will activate automatically after overuse of Bze or upon suffering critical injuries. Inferno ot be stopped until its hunger for death is satisfied. Whether it es from enemies or allies, it doesn't matter to you anymore.

  Leo swallowed hard. He expected a lot from the bination of a Unique and Rare skill, but this was not it. Hell, he didn't even know su ability could exist, but sidering what the System showed before, maybe he should have.

  Brand new quality and three stages... Another curse within a blessing.

  The Igage was easy to uand as it pretty much carried all the advantages of Focused Bloodlust without any of its s. Then there was the Bze stage, and while things grew a bit ing there, Leo could still deal with all the disadvantages ing his way. He did it before, after all.

  Now, the Inferno was where the real trouble began.

  It be useful if I'm all aloh only Voidlings around me. But what if I'm not? What if I kill someone I shouldn't? Shit! Leo growled, g his fist. A two-edged sword only waiting to cut me in the most unfortunate moment... Fug hell, so this is what it means to have my bloodlust and rage pletely unleashed...

  'Indeed,' Nyx spoke through the link, her voice soft. 'If I was like Hunter, I would be able to stop you from entering the final stage... As it is, all I do is help you hahe rage when it es. Maybe iure that will ge, but...'

  It's fine. Leo reassured when Nyx trailed off. However, even if he said it, deep inside, he knew all of this was far from okay. Like I said, we figure it out ter. For now, I will just o be careful around other survivors...

  Hearing no answer, Leo sighed and dismissed the skill descriptioill had to check out the rait.

  True Bond (Unique)Your Akirian Apex aspect might be dead, but out of this tragedy, somethiiful was born. A bond unlike any other. Unbreakable and always growing strowo souls that are one.Effects:You are now soul-boo aernally loyal entity, Nyx. Essend affinity share possible. Mind synization perfected. Bond strength: Low.

  Eternally loyal. Leo blinked, making sure he read it right. I guess that's where Hunter's pieces e in, along with Minor Takeover's aftereffects. And we share our powers just like that... Could be useful, I guess.

  'This is just the tip of an iceberg, Leo. Like the System says, out bond in unlike any other. The potential it hides is much more than just Essend affinity share.'

  Any specifics?

  '... No. I only feel the brimming power within it, nothing more,' Nyx answered a bit sheepishly.

  Leed. What the link hid didn't really matter to him, at least not now. He had more notifications to read through for the time being.

  What else do we got?

  Teique Minor Takeover has advao Adept mastery. gratutions!

  At least now I know how to push this teique to a higher rank. Leo snorted, only to frown as he read through the new description. Huh... it didn't ge at all. Well, except for the number... I have five minions, but one spot is permaly taken by Nyx...

  'I hear you w... No, I don't feel any hold from your teique, just our link.'

  Iing. Leo hummed, poking at their e with his own mind. Same on my side... So like always, shit just doesn't make sense. Wonderful...

  The of Shadow Tails has lost e to its core. The is colpsing. You have approximately five mio escape this dimension.

  Core? I pletely fot about this. Nyx, any idea what happeo it?

  Nyx huffed internally. 'The Apex Shadoas ag as the core. Thanks to your as, that's no lohe case. And no, I don't carry anything like that inside me.'

  Make sense I guess...

  gratutions, of Shadow Tails quered. Do you wish to destroy this instanpletely or prepare aher tower? Bonus rewards will be lost upon choosing the sed option. However, a Safe Zone may be created ter using the tower.

  So that's how it works. Leo noted. Bonus rewards would be nice, but not this time. We got what we wanted, now to finish it... System, prepare the Ether tower.

  Aowledged. Distributing standard rewards. Ether tower formation in progress. Stand by.

  Even when a few more notifications appeared, Leo paid them no mind as his eyes fell on the remnants of the Void Gate. The destroyed structure trembled, the rubble around it erupting in bright light. A moment ter, all the fissures withie ignited, golden fire slowly ing the ground below.

  Within the fmes, the remnants of the gate danced, swirling and ging shapes. It went on for more than a minute as the fire climbed higher and higher, soon reag the ceiling.

  Leo took a few steps back, shielding his eyes. Even from so far, his skin burned, feeling as if hundreds of bees stung him all at once. Hell, not even Nyx ared from the pain, as he could hear her whimpers through the link.

  Hold on. It shouldn't st much longer... I hope.

  For once, his prayers were heard as the pilr of fire faded away, leaving behind a golden tower. It easily reached the roof, ae its thin build, the power it ozzed almost made Leo's skin crawl.

  "The fuck was that? Why the hell is there a glowing obelisk in the middle of the building?!"

  Sighing, Leo turo the source of the shouting. "Cra," he muttered dryly. "How nice of you to join me. Now you stop screaming? We don't need another horde here."

  'I will protect you. Those weak is won't touch you as long as I am here,' Nyx perked up like an eager puppy.

  So not the point, Nyx...

  "Someone's grumpy. A grumpy monster," Cra grinned before nodding to the obelisk. "So what is it? Identify's not tellihing."

  Wait, really? Leo frowned and activated his owify. "Huh. You're right... Let's see."

  Sloroag the tower, Leo pced a hand on its surface, ready to jerk it away. However, no such a was needed as a new notification appeared, momentarily pushing away the ones he had ignored until now.

  Tower of Prote activated. Safe Zone creation avaible. Please proceed with the offered options. Time until the tower disappears: 23:59:43.

  1. Create a temporary Safe Zone (Free)

  2. Create a perma Safe Zone (Unavaible. Job locked.)

  Shit. Instantly, Leo turo Cra. "e here quickly." Only quirking an eyebrow, the woman obeyed. "Pce your hand on it and tell me what you see."

  "Okay?" Cra furrowed her brow, but did as was told. "Holy shit! Leo. This is it! I s my jht now and create a bloody Safe Zone! And a perma o that."

  So it works. Thank the Void. Leo sighed, the tension leaving his body. For a moment there, he thought that maybe only he could use the tower. And with his job locked...

  Yeah, all of this would have been for nothing.

  "Are you doing this, or do we wait for Holden?" Leo spoke up.

  Cra flinched, breaking her gaze away from the tower. "Tony. Defiony," she stated with a firm nod. "Safe Zones are his specialty... Besides, I don't want to lose my current job."

  "Fair enough... However, that leaves us with one problem. Who goes back? We 't leave this pguarded."

  For a moment, silened the warehouse as Cra looked between Leo and the tower. "I will go," she muttered, grimag. "I'm good against a Voidling or two, but if more e, I'm done for. Better if I run bad leave the prote detail to you."

  Leo crossed his arms, leveling the woman with a stare. "You sure? The way here wasn't too hard, but you know how things ge."

  odded. "I will be fine if I travel like you showed me. Just hold the fort, and I will return with Tony."

  "Good luck then," Leo extended his hand. "And be quick, I don't think staying here during the night is a good idea. Not without a Safe Zoive."

  "Roger, Roger!" Cra grinned, g their hands together. "See ya."

  As the woman broke the handshake and walked away, Leo reached into his mind. Nyx... Think you go after her? I 't risk her dying now. Time might not be on our side.

  'I... I don't like leaving you, but I uand,' Nyx grumbled as shadows slithered out of Leo's cloak. They quickly reformed into the body of an Apex Shadow Cw. 'I will protect the human if that's what you wish.'

  Patting the rge beast's snout, Leo chuckled.

  Thanks... Have fun, Nyx.

  Chaos65