The transition into the Psychic Plane was unlike anything Jack had ever experienced. He been there before but Sun Wukongs crystal had provided him with a relatively gentle journey. Nothing like this.
It was as though every cell in his body had been disassembled, each piece flung into a chaotic vortex of pure energy before being yanked back together with brutal force. Pain was his first sensation—raw, searing pain that consumed him, ripping away any sense of self. For an eternity that lasted only seconds, he existed as a formless spark in a storm of madness.
When he finally emerged, he collapsed to his hands and knees, gasping for air that felt heavy and thick, more like a liquid than a gas. Beneath him, the ground was unnervingly smooth, warm, and faintly alive, like skin stretched over bone. It shimmered with a glassy, obsidian sheen, fractured by glowing veins of violet light that pulsed rhythmically. Each pulse sent vibrations through his palms, a subtle but insistent reminder that this place—this realm—was alive and aware of him.
Around him, the horizon dissolved into a swirling mist of iridescent colors that defied natural order, shifting and blending in ways that made his head spin if he stared too long. Overhead, there was no sky, only an infinite void speckled with faint, flickering points of light—stars, perhaps, or distant echoes of consciousness trapped in this strange dimension. The oppressive silence was broken only by faint whispers at the edge of his hearing, a chorus of voices speaking a language he couldn’t understand yet instinctively feared.
Jack forced himself to his feet, his boots scraping against the glassy surface as he steadied himself. He felt exposed and vulnerable in this alien place, his senses screaming that he didn’t belong. His spear, his pack—everything he’d relied on in the physical world was gone. He was unarmed and alone.
Or so he thought.
A chill ran down Jack’s spine, primal and immediate. He spun around, his eyes scanning the swirling mists for the source of the feeling. Something vast and malevolent stirred within the fog, a presence so overwhelming that it pressed against his mind like a physical weight. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, as though the air itself were conspiring against him.
From the mist emerged the Herald. It was a creature born of nightmares, a towering mass of shifting shadow and jagged edges that seemed to bleed darkness. Its form was a dark cloud and its crimson eyes burned with malevolent intelligence. Jack froze, his heart pounding as the creature’s gaze locked onto him. Somehow, he knew this was the Herald despite it looking more like the shadowy Nocturne he had defeated after finishing his training with Sun Wukong. He wondered if the Herald had plucked that image from his memories.
“You will fall here,” the Herald’s voice boomed, a guttural resonance that seemed to emanate from the very fabric of the realm. “This is my dominion. You are nothing.”
Before Jack could react, a tendril of shadow lashed out with blinding speed. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The tendril slammed into the ground where he’d stood, shattering the surface and sending shards of violet light flying in all directions.
Jack scrambled to his feet, adrenaline surging. His instincts screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. The mists surrounded him, impenetrable and endless. He clenched his fists, glaring at the Herald. He had no weapon, no plan, but he refused to give in to despair.
“If I’m nothing, then why are you wasting your time?” Jack shot back, his voice steadier than he felt. The words were defiant, but inside, he was grasping at straws.
The Herald’s crimson eyes narrowed, and it lunged, its form shifting into a blur of shadow and claws. Jack raised his arms in a futile attempt to block the attack, bracing for impact. But something extraordinary happened.
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As the Herald’s claws descended, a warmth flared in Jack’s chest. It wasn’t physical heat but an emotional intensity that spread through his entire being. The air around him shimmered, and a translucent barrier of golden light materialized between him and the Herald. The creature’s claws struck the barrier, sending ripples of energy cascading outward, but the shield held firm.
The Herald recoiled, its form writhing as though the light burned it. Jack staggered back, staring at his hands in shock. The warmth in his chest pulsed again, and he realized the light was emanating from him—from somewhere deep within.
“What is this?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
The Herald snarled, its crimson eyes narrowing. “Empathic energy? How quaint. It will not save you.”
Jack barely had time to process the words before the creature attacked again. Tendrils of shadow shot toward him from all sides, but the golden light flared once more, enveloping him in a radiant armor. The energy flowed like liquid, solidifying into a sleek, ethereal shell that fit his body perfectly. Intricate patterns of glowing sigils danced across the armor’s surface, their meanings unknown but deeply resonant.
For a moment, Jack stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sudden transformation. The armor felt weightless yet unyielding, moving with him as though it were an extension of his own body. He could feel its power coursing through him, a connection so profound it brought tears to his eyes.
The Herald hesitated, its form flickering. “You dare defy me with this?” it spat, venom dripping from its words.
Jack clenched his fists, the armor glowing brighter in response. “I’m not defying you,” he said, his voice firm. “I’m surviving.”
The battle began in earnest, and Jack quickly learned that the armor was more than just a shield. As the Herald’s attacks came faster and more relentless, the golden energy around him responded instinctively, shifting to meet each strike. A tendril of shadow lashed out, and the armor formed a spiked protrusion to deflect it. Another tendril struck from behind, and the energy flowed to reinforce his backplate.
But Jack wasn’t content to simply defend. He focused on the warmth in his chest, willing the energy to act. To his astonishment, the armor obeyed. When he punched at the Herald, the golden light extended from his fist, forming a glowing blade that slashed through the creature’s shadowy form. The Herald howled in pain, its body writhing as the light burned through it.
“This isn’t just armor,” Jack realized, his mind racing.
The realization was staggering. The warmth in his chest wasn’t just energy; it was his emotions, his determination, his very essence given form. It was more too. It was the essence of his bond with Goldeyes. It was…. Empathic Shielding
Somehow he instinctively felt that this was the manifestation of the Companion Bond Upgrade he had chosen what felt like months ago(but was really about a week of real time).
He remembered the description now. Establishes an empathic shield between the host and Companion, offering protection against harmful psychic and emotional influences. This upgrade helps to maintain focus and mental resilience in challenging situations.
He had not expected the protection to manifest as armor but it made sense. If his body here was a representation of his mind then the protection being armor fit perfectly. And it was not just armor. He felt his connection to the armor and it felt… malleable. Like he could manipulate it at will
He tested his theory, focusing on his left hand and picturing one of his favorite comic book heroes. The golden energy shifted, pooling around his knuckles before extending into three long, curved claws. They shimmered with deadly precision, humming with latent power. Jack flexed his fingers, marveling at how natural the claws felt, as though they had always been a part of him.
“So, this is what it means to adapt,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
When the Herald lunged at him, Jack countered with glowing claws that sliced through its form. When tendrils of shadow converged on him, he mentally ordered the armor to expand into a radiant dome, repelling the attack.
The Herald was relentless, but Jack’s determination only grew. He could feel the creature’s frustration, its attacks becoming more erratic as his defenses held firm. The golden light seemed to sap the Herald’s strength, burning away its essence with every strike.
“You cannot defeat me,” the Herald snarled, its voice crackling with anger. “I am eternal.”
Jack shook his head, the light around him glowing brighter. “You keep saying that,” he said, his voice calm but resolute. “But I’m still here.”
He charged, his claws gleaming like molten gold.
The warmth in his chest had become a roaring flame, fueling his every move. The armor responded to his thoughts before he could even fully form them, an intuitive bond that felt as natural as breathing.
The Herald roared, its form twisting into a whirlwind of shadow, but Jack didn’t falter. He plunged into the storm, the golden light cutting through the darkness like a beacon.