Paving stones erupted beneath Sorin's feet, revealing rows of razor-sharp spikes that kissed the side of his left leg and ripped open his armor. Life force poured into the wound and stitched together muscles, restoring the limb just in time for Sorin to avoid Python's massive, coiled body.

The aftershocks of the sudden movement swept Sorin off his feet and hurtled him through a ruined building's wall. The ceiling collapsed atop Sorin as he cradled Lorimer's unstable body and continued injecting mixed Violence and Madness into it.

Violence and Madness have both reached critical levels, thought Sorin. Conflicts have arisen at the cellular level, starting with the bones and demon core, and rippling out to organs and musculature. Stressors increasing. Life force depleting. Analyzing need for further replenishment.

Sorin burst out of the building and found himself in large pit of acid. Though Toxic Metabolism was strong, it wouldn't see him through the pit unharmed, so Sorin vaulted upward with Nemesis, making him an easy target for the serpent's lashing tail.

Unable to avoid the attack, Sorin retracted Nemesis and cradled Lorimer against his chest as he absorbed the blow. His vitality reserves dropped sharply, and cracks appeared all over his silver bones. Silver runes chipped away to reveal inactive white bones, decreasing their mana conductivity.

Sorin ignored the damage and focused on catalyzing growth in his companion. Theoretically, it's possible to rear insects and Venomous Creatures using Grove-Keeper's Touch. I simply need to twist the logic of the technique and make it apply to all demonic creatures.

Lorimer squealed in pain as Sorin distorted the foundation of the technique and injected a large amount of mixed Madness and Violence into the rat.

These energies had long since reached a limit inside Lorimer, and the sudden injection shattered his bones and his core. Corruption oozed out of his bones and into his flesh, causing unwanted mutations and unregulated growth. Sorin viciously chopped away at anything life-threatening but ignored the rest in favor of infusing increasingly large amounts of corruption into Lorimer. These energies spurred change and regeneration, which were both indispensable to the process.

As Sorin stabilized Lorimer, Python took the time to coil around Sorin and a small group of ruined structures. With its entire body in one place, Python's aura reached unprecedented levels, making it difficult for even Sorin and his Tarnished God Light to resist.

Sorin soon found himself sinking into the earth, a process that accelerated when the gravity in the surrounding area increased three-fold. Resisting would only hasten his demise, so Sorin calmed down and analyzed the situation.

The transformation of the soil is localized. Thirty feet down, the earth is still solid. He immediately had Nemesis lengthen, then used Python Coil to drag himself out of the quicksand pit and onto ruined city streets.

Since the cooldown on his Wraith Hair Boots was up again, he teleported out of the enclosure and onto Python's enormous body and continued manipulating the energies in Lorimer's body.

Venomous Insect Catalysis is like plant catalysis. One can nourish insects by feeding them compatible materials and energies. Unfortunately, this process relies on attrition. I don't have multiple Lorimers to raise, only one. That means that instead of relying on the transformation of a large population to produce strong individuals, I should rely on multiple transformations inside his body to produce strong traits.

Sorin ran a few simulations and determined that the required iterations were rapidly diminishing the rat's life force. The situation was unsustainable. I need to find a way to supplement his life force. But how?

Sorin drew upon his extensive memories and discovered what he was looking for: a portion of the insect rearing techniques in his possession contained a method of bonding a queen with one's blood and mana. This would produce a one-way life link, which the controller could use to accelerate the insect queen's growth using life force. Though only problem was that the technique was vicious and would result in retardation of the insect queen's mental capabilities.

As is, the technique is unsuitable. But if I twist the ability and take away its control elements, I'll acquire the desired effect.

Sorin decisively sliced open his hand drew complex runes on Lorimer's fur. He then guided twenty percent of his total life force to Lorimer, greatly ameliorating his condition.

But life force isn't enough. He still needs direction. For that, I'll use my divinity. Corruption represents change and deterioration, while divinity represents perfection. In theory, the introduction of my divinity, which is already compatible with Madness and Violence, will optimize the cycle of destruction and regeneration. The results won't exactly be predictable, but Lorimer's condition should take a turn for the better.

As Sorin pondered his next approach, Python changed up its tactics. Since its magical abilities weren't having the desired effect, it switched to physical assault once more. Sorin used his Wraith Hare Boots to teleport off Python as the serpent spun to knock him off and rushed towards the rendezvous point. Patches of earth shattered behind Sorin as he used a combination of Python Coil and Adder Rush to evade his pursuer.

Lorimer's situation is now stable. The runes on his bones are transforming and mutations are now mostly favorable. Harmful mutations are now self-regulating. Discoloration to skin as taking place—harmful or beneficial? Monitoring and preparing for intervention.

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What Lorimer needed now was time—time Sorin couldn't buy him. He'd reached his limits, both in life force and in mana, and the rendezvous point was still too far off. Unless.. are those fireballs I see?

Sorin quickly changed his trajectory and headed towards a chess-like arrangement of spells, which lit up as Python followed him inside to produce a cage of fire.

The cage immediately showed signs of failure as Python smashed up against its rune-covered walls. Lawrence appeared beside Sorin and guided he and Lorimer into the shadows. "Hang tough, we're almost there. The team is doing its best to run interference while we get you to safety. Ouch, is that Lorimer? What happened to him?"

Sorin followed Lawrence into a fissure in the ground and was surprised to see that there were more than just sewers beneath the catacombs. Even older ruins lay buried beneath concrete and stone rubble. Mixed in with the rubble were the ribbed pillars Astley had mentioned could only be found in buildings that predated the Apocalyptic Emergence.

"How much time do you think we have?" Sorin asked Lawrence.

"Maybe three minutes?" said Lawrence. "Enough to get us to safety."

Sorin stopped and placed Lorimer on the ground, then transforming nemesis into set of needles and a scalpel. "Lorimer's situation is critical, and I'll need to perform surgery in order to buy him the time he needs."

He sorted through the various afflictions Lorimer was suffering and prioritized them. Though most mutations were beneficial now, cancerous growths had cropped up and were sapping vitality. He decisively cut these out and stemmed the bleeding using acid. Next came fractures, followed by reduction of excess buildups of energy.

Even with emergency surgery, his situation is still declining. There's something I'm missing here. Something on a deeper level. Then it hit Sorin like a ton of bricks. Lorimer's mana is chaotic, and his body is half-dead. It only stands to reason that his spirit is taking heavy damage as well!

While the insect breeding and control method only applied to life force and mana, Sorin used Madness to force the technique to include a spiritual link as well. Needles of concentrated soul force pierced through Lorimer's substantial mental defenses to form the initial connection.

His connection to Lorimer instantly deepened, but he soon discovered an issue: the bindings on Lorimer's soul. Specifically, six golden chains were currently binding Lorimer to Sorin's will, and this binding was interfering with this new spiritual connection.

Sorin decisively stabbed Nemesis into one of the chains shattered it. Their link weakened, but he didn't hesitate to shatter a second and a third chain. He continued until only the sixth and final connection remained.

Theoretically, this could derail all my efforts. But if I'm quick enough at initiating a spiritual bond, I should be able to replace the effects of the chains. Hold on, Lorimer. I'm coming to help!

Gritting his teeth, Sorin stabbed at the last chain and winced as their bond ruptured. He quickly bridged their broken connection using what remained of his spirituality.

A tarnished gold light suddenly erupted from Lorimer, confirming Sorin's guess. A bond is best done on three levels: body, mana, and spirit. By using such a bond, not only can I supplement Lorimer wherever he's lacking, I can even use him as a conduit for my own abilities!

The limit was currently a single ability, but that was more than enough—Sorin immediately granted Lorimer Toxic Metabolism, and the rat immediately used the ability to consume the lesser elements of corruption in his body to replenish himself.

Sorin let out a sigh of relief. Like this, the circle is complete. He has as direction. The cycle will continuously destroy and improve him. He can then use whatever waste products there are to fuel his recover. He ran a few more simulations before dumping his remaining demon cores in front of Lorimer and watched as the rat voraciously devoured them.

"Um, it's good that Lorimer's fine and all, but we're officially out of time," said Lawrence. "Python is underground again, and he's making his way straight towards us."

Dust blew through the tunnels Python approached the ancient ruins. Unlike the city above, the serpent was careful to avoid the ruined structures, significantly slowing its pace.

"I don't suppose you can shadow jump us to our rendezvous point?" said Sorin.

"Unfortunately, I'm all out of mana," said Lawrence. "At best I can serve as an extra target."

"Reee!" growled Lorimer. The rat was in rough shape but forced himself to stand up.

"I realize you want to help, Lorimer, but there's not much you can do at this point," said Sorin. He summoned Nemesis and pointed it at Python. "Lawrence, grab Lorimer and make your way back. I should be able to survive."

"Ouch!" said Lawrence as he tried to pick up Lorimer. "Sorry, but it doesn't seem like he wants to go."

"Ree!" confirmed Lorimer. His fur was growing back and alternating between red hot and bright silver. The rate at which they alternated was speeding up, and it wasn't long before his abilities fully snapped together, producing a burning rat with a metal body.

"As encouraging as that is, it's not going to do us much good," said Sorin. "Get out while you still can, Lorimer. I'll cover you." Python was drawing dangerously close. "Look, I don't want to do this either, but we need to face reality. I'm just not quick enough on my own, and Lawrence can't help us."

"Reeeee!!!" Lorimer's body suddenly shot beneath Sorin and expanded to the size of a horse, whizzing Sorin away just as Python rounded the nearest corner.

"Holy crap," said Lawrence, running up beside them. "Lorimer can shadow hop too?"

Sorin looked around and realized Lawrence was correct. Lorimer hadn't just combined one ability—he'd combined all four. Flames, which had formerly covered the rat's whole body, were now limited to his short legs. His metal-based abilities were now concentrated around his claws to better dig up soil, as well as a small area on his back to serve as a saddle.

Shadows hugged the rat like a cloak, and that cloak extended around Sorin. Lorimer used said shadows to hop between nearby structures just like Lawrence did. "Awesome! Who needs wolves or horses as mounts when you have an awesome rat."

"Reeee!"

Lorimer didn't immediately flee as Sorin expected, but dashed beside Python, bringing Sorin eye to eye with the creature. Seeing no reason not to, Sorin stabbed at the serpent with nemesis. The spear clanked off its muzzle but tore a deep gouge into its eyelid.

A loud roar nearly knocked Sorin off his feet, but Lorimer adopted full metal form, anchoring them to their current position. He then leapt through the creature's shadow, giving Sorin a chance to attack its second eye.

This time, a large slab of flesh was cut clean off, flesh that Lorimer greedily devoured and directed to his core. He immediately used the energy to break past the fourth forging into the fifth forging!

"Let's not get too greedy," Sorin said to Lorimer as the serpent, now blind out of one eye and wounded in another, warily retreated. "It's a snake. Vibrations might be all it needs to see. Also." Sorin cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. "I'm not in good shape. A single direct hit might just kill me."

The rat reluctantly backed off from Python and darted towards Lawrence, who was flitting between shadows on route to their destination. Lorimer let out one last gleeful screech as he sped off towards safety.