The crimson glow flared brighter around Hina's porcelain frame, her flawless body shifting as Velith Scorn's essence poured into her. The chains of scarlet energy coiled around her limbs like serpents, etching new lines of power across her pale surface. Nash gritted his teeth as the system's energy coursed through him. It was not like before. This time, it was not just control of a puppet. This was a union.
Cracks of light spread across Hina's porcelain skin. Her once pristine figure began to distort, but not in a way that made her monstrous. Instead, it was as if her body evolved. Her skin seemed to fuse with flowing chains that rattled and shimmered crimson, her legs elongating with predatory grace, her hair lengthening until it streamed like liquid midnight streaked with blood-red light.
The hunters froze in their tracks.
Jack's molten eyes widened. "What… the fuck is that? That's not just a puppet."
The frost-haired man's voice faltered for the first time, his icy composure cracking. "Supernaturals don't… evolve. That's impossible."
Nash's lips curled into a grin that was both exhilarated and afraid. "Impossible? Then you're looking at the first exception."
Chains of scarlet rage lashed from Hina's arms, slamming into the frozen ground. The ice cracked like glass beneath the impact, shards flying upward.
The hunters exchanged a glance. Their hesitation lasted only a breath. Then their desperation sharpened into hunger.
Jack bared his teeth, molten cracks flaring brighter. "If we take that thing alive, we'll be celebrity among transcenders."
The frost-haired man nodded, his pale gaze burning with greed. "Capture it, no matter the cost."
They lunged together.
Jack roared, swinging his warhammer like a comet, flames bursting from its head. The frost-haired man spread his wings, summoning a blizzard of ice lances that rained down from above.
Nash met them head-on. He raised Hina's arms, chains flaring to life. With a whip of his hand, the chains spiraled outward, intercepting the warhammer. The sound of impact shook the forest like thunder. Sparks, frost, and molten shards sprayed across the night as porcelain feet dug trenches into the dirt from the force.
Jack's laugh was guttural. "Finally! You're now a worthy opponent!"
Nash hissed. With a pull, the chains wrapped around the hammer, yanking it downward. Jack stumbled, molten cracks flaring hotter in rage.
The frost-haired man descended, wings slicing through the air, and his voice boomed. "Freeze!" His palms released a tidal wave of ice mist that surged to entrap Nash.
But Nash was already moving. Phantom Stride activated unconsciously, Velith Scorn's essence carrying him like a shadow between moments. The mist passed through empty air. By the time the frost-haired man blinked, Nash had already appeared behind him.
"Too slow," Nash muttered. His porcelain leg ignited with crimson light and slammed into the man's back.
The impact echoed like a thunderclap. The frost-haired man crashed into a tree, ice shattering from his body. He groaned, coughing blood, but still dragged himself up, wings shivering violently.
Nash landed, crimson glow swirling across his new form. He clenched his fists, his breaths ragged. The power was intoxicating, but it was not his alone. He could feel Velith's fury, her sorrow, surging within every strike.
Jack came barreling in again, swinging his warhammer with relentless rage. Nash intercepted with both chains, sparks exploding. He was being pushed back, but this time he wasn't being crushed. This time he could match Jack blow for blow.
Their clash split the night, earth trembling under their duel. Nash's porcelain fists collided with molten stone arms, each hit sending shockwaves across the clearing.
The frost-haired man recovered, icicles rising like a storm, and shouted. "Jack! Keep him distracted!"
But before he could unleash his spell, a chain lashed from Nash's arm, wrapping around his ankle. Nash yanked, pulling the man face-first into the dirt. He dragged him like a ragdoll, swinging him into trees with bone-cracking force.
Jack snarled and pressed harder, hammer blazing with molten heat. "You think chains will save you?!"
Nash pushed back, porcelain arms glowing scarlet. He twisted, and the chains surged with power, wrapping tighter until Jack's hammer arm was bound.
Jack roared, his body flaring so hot the ground beneath him turned molten. But Nash held on, porcelain body straining against the impossible heat. He kicked Jack square in the chest, sending him staggering back several steps.
For the first time, Nash had the upper hand.
His breaths came fast, sweat dripping down his real body back in the apartment, his soul tied into Hina. He had never felt so close to death and yet so alive. He had never felt such power, but it was not entirely his own.
Then it happened.
A voice. A voice that froze him to his core.
Soft, sorrowful, and layered with echoes.
"You should end it, Master."
Nash's eyes widened. Hina's porcelain body froze mid-motion, chains rattling faintly. His mind reeled. "What… what was that?"
The voice came again, clearer this time. Inside his head. Inside Hina's head.
"I am not just your puppet anymore."
Nash stumbled back a step, nearly losing his grip on the chains. His heart pounded. "Hina? You… you can talk? You're alive?"
Jack ripped free of the bindings, molten arms blazing, and snarled. "Stop mumbling to yourself!" He charged again.
But Nash barely noticed him. His thoughts were consumed by the voice.
"Yes," the voice whispered, sorrow laced with quiet strength. "You gave me shape. You gave me will. Now I live. Master… do not hold back... kill them."
The words chilled Nash to his core. She was not a system prompt. Not a fragment of Velith. Not just a puppet. She was Hina. Sentient. Real.
He parried Jack's blow on instinct, his mind spiraling. "What… what are you? Are you Hina... Or are you Velith?"
The voice echoed. "I am both. I am neither. I am what you created and what she became. I am Hina."
Jack pressed forward, roaring, hammer raised. The frost-haired man rose again, wings blazing frost. Both hunters lunged together in desperation.
Nash's crimson eyes burned. His hands tightened on the chains. The fight raged again, but this time his thoughts were consumed by the impossible truth.
Hina was alive.