ASTHIA DARCK'S POV:

My mind went completely blank from the pain. It felt like my blood had turned into a venom that was slowly rotting my body away from the inside, eating away at my flesh and muscles. An excruciating gasp escaped my mouth, bringing me to my knees.

I clutched my fists suddenly, not because of the pain, but out of sheer anger. My emotions spiraled out of control as fury attempted to take over, wishing to seal away my thoughts and replace them with madness.

This... was how Jay felt for all this time?

He had been fighting a battle far worse than anything I had ever experienced. Within mere seconds of opening the link, I wanted to end this suffering by any means possible, even if it meant killing myself.

I brought my head up, scanning my surroundings in an attempt to locate Jay. I had no idea what the effect of the Integrate ability would be on his mental state. There was still so much we didn't know about the link, but it was the only possible way of saving him.

My blurry vision slowly began to refocus itself, narrowing in on the silhouette of a boy laying on the ground in front of me. My eyes widened as my body forced itself up, dragging itself forward in an attempt to reach my target.

"Jay," I whispered, stumbling onto him. I tried to shake him awake, but I could feel my strength leaving me. Was I seriously going to die from my own strategy?

A small twitch from the body before me brought me back to my senses. I let out a sigh of relief, realizing Jay was still alive. There had never been a known risk of Jay dying from using the Integrate ability in his current state, but all my mind could think about was whether or not I'd lose him.

"Asthia?" he croaked, his eyes beginning to open and revealing the swirling purple energy in his irises that had replaced the warm turquoise color. "Where... are we?"

I looked around desperately before saying anything, not knowing the answer myself. We appeared to be in the realm that Jay and I had visited on multiple occasions after using the Integrate spell, but something felt different. It was no longer an infinite plain of clear water that drifted eternally, but a dark storm that never ceased to bellow in anger.

This place had once been a serene place where Jay and I were able to see each other in some spiritual way, but now it was a prison."I'm not sure," I answered softly. Jay's eyes were shivering in anguish, and I could tell he was still feeling the wrath of the Elder Wyvern. He turned his body, laying on his back as his white hair covered his face.

He brought his hands to his eyes, hiding in shame as tears began to flow down his cheeks.

"I'm so tired, Asthia. I want this to end," he confessed in a broken voice. I struggled to keep my composure. I wanted to help him, but I knew exactly what had to be done.

"I know, Jay, I know..."

I winced, feeling my skin beginning to burn from the energy that I had absorbed. How much time did I have until this power consumed me? Jay didn't notice my pain, but I could tell he knew something was off.

"Jay," I muttered, looking down at my own knees. "Can I request something selfish?"

"..."

"I-I want you to fight one last time. Please... I know how much pain you're in right now, but please, just one last time."

I brought myself to my feet, extending my hand to the boy. He looked at me sadly, knowing who he was meant to fight. If Jay's spirit resided in this area, then it meant that another spirit was close by, watching the scene from the shadows. We'd be up against an opponent that outmatched us, but this was the only way to potentially save Jay from his inevitable fate.

I want to live with you, Jay. I don't want you to die.

"Please, Jay, fight with me one last time," I pleaded again, feeling my eyes tear up.

His expression was yelling at me to stop, to not ask anything more of him, and let him die. I was being selfish, but I accepted that. I didn't want to kill the man I loved, and even if I had to force him through a situation he hated, I'd do it.magic

It was disgusting, but I knew that it was what I truly wanted. I felt ashamed of my own desire, but this wasn't the place to hide it. If I wanted to live my life alongside Jay, then I'd fight and make it a reality.He met my gaze with an afflicted determination present in his eyes.

"One final time," he said, forcing a smile as he grabbed onto my hand and pulled himself up, "I'll fight one last time if it's your wish."

"Thank you," I responded, the smile that spread across my face the most genuine expression of happiness I've ever expressed.

"What a heartwarming reunion," growled a voice as a looming shadow appeared before us, two purple eyes glaring at us with annoyance, "I didn't think the Princess would risk her own life and use the spiritual link. It seems I was mistaken."

The shadow swirled momentarily, condensing into a physical body as a familiar face stepped forth.

He had materialized as Jay.

Jay remained calm as he eyed his doppelganger, not letting it affect him in any way. I knew the Elder Wyvern was trying to provoke Jay, but for what purpose I couldn't tell. Did it have something to do with Jay's lack of control?

If he were to lose concentration, would Jay be permanently replaced by the Elder Wyvern's spirit? It had happened to various other individuals who had accepted the Elder Wyvern's power, and it was possibly about to happen to Jay.

Two Jays stood in front of each other, but only one would return to the physical realm. Then again, something felt different about this place. My body was definitely my physical one, meaning that it was no longer present in the bloody grasslands of Nethnore.

"It seems your plan was perfect, Jay," said the Elder Wyvern in his new body, "but you must've forgotten who your opponent was. I'm a god!"

"In a mortal body," added Jay, his voice unnaturally calm, "one that limits your power. In that body of yours... you're not all-powerful, are you?"

The Elder Wyvern howled in laughter, a giant grin spreading across his face as purple lightning crackled in his palm.

"Well then, show me what you're capable of, !"Someone who comes from another world.