Ezra woke up still hanging from the ceiling, his hands tied above his head. The pain hit him all at once. The empty cavity where his heart should be dripped blood to the floor.


    He exhaled as his blood, some of which had dried over his open wounds and pooled on the floor, began to stir. It came alive, flowing back into him, defying gravity and logic. The crimson liquid seeped into his skin, driven by an unseen force.


    The blood traveled through his veins, reaching the depths of his being, entering Vren''s cage within him. The chains binding the dragon began to loosen, slowly dissolving into pure vitality. This energy flowed into Vren, awakening her fully. She began to emit an overwhelming amount of vitality, and Ezra felt it coursing through him, their essences merging in a harmonious flood.


    His heart, a hollow void in his chest, began to regenerate. Muscle and tissue knitted together, the sensation both excruciating and exhrating. Vitality surged through every cell of his body, healing his aches, pains, and injuries. The power was intoxicating, and he felt himself changing. Bing better, stronger, much more than he had been.


    Ezra flexed his muscles, testing his newfound strength. The ropes that had constrained him snapped like threads, and he dropped to the floor,nding on his feet with a feline grace. He could feel the transformation deep within him, the merging of their souls pushing him to new heights. I''m ascending to the second ring! He realized.


    He sensed a piece of the surging vitality trying to congeal and solidify into an object. With a focused mind, he took control of the transformation, guiding it with intent and purpose. The energy swirled and condensed in his hand until he was holding a weapon. A sword.


    Shadrach''s sword. The de was elegant, forged from a dark metal that seemed to both absorb and reflect the light around it, with a golden line running along its length. The hilt was wrapped in leather, worn and familiar, fitting perfectly in his grip. It felt natural, as if it had always been a part of him.


    Ezra stared at the sword, feeling the bond between them. It was not just a weapon but an extension of his will and power. His vitality finally calmed, the process of his ascensionplete. He inhaled deeply, the scent of the world around him sharper and more vivid than ever before.


    In the distance, he could hear the sound of battle. Shouts and shes echoed faintly around him. He exhaled, steadying his mind. Vreny calm, coiled within him without any restraints. The dragon felt like an extension of himself, another limb he couldmand at will.


    He reached within and manifested Vren. The dragon burst out of his back andnded before him, her scales shimmering with vitality. She muzzled him gently, a gesture of trust and affection. He petted her, his fingers tracing the contours of her form.


    As he stared into the dragon''s eyes, a realization settled over him. Vren the human was gone, her soul given to him willingly, leaving behind only her physical manifestation. A wave of sadness washed over him, mourning the loss of her humanity.


    "Thank you, Vren," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude and sorrow. He dismissed her back into his soul, feeling her presence settlefortably within him.


    What the? It was then that he realized something extraordinary. He was creating his own vitality, an endless wellspring fueled by his new, fully human soul. Does this mean...? He almost staggered at the implications.


    His contemtion was interrupted as the door burst open. Gen and Olivia stormed into the room, their eyes wide with shock and relief. They took in the scene. The shattered ropes, the transformation, and the sword in his hand.


    "Ezra!" Gen eximed, her voice a mix of astonishment and concern. "What happened?"


    Olivia''s eyes were sharp, taking in every detail. "Are you alright?" she asked, her usual calm strained by worry.


    Ezra nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I''m more than alright," he said, his voice steady and strong. "I''ve never felt better."


    ********************


    5 Minutes Earlier


    Olivia stood with Gen and their gang members, all armed and ready behind them. The night was still, the only sound the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. Before them stood the building they knew Macmin was in, its dark windows like unblinking eyes watching their every move.


    Gen was pacing, her impatience radiating to the assembled group. "We should move now," she muttered, her hand gripping the handle of her axe tightly. "We''re wasting time just standing here."


    Olivia remained calm, her expression serene, but inside, a storm of rage churned. Every second of waiting grated on her nerves, fueling the anger she kept bottled up. She knew they had to time their attack perfectly; rushing in could mean disaster. Her eyes stayed fixed on the building, every muscle in her body tense, ready to spring into action. "We wait. Remember the n."


    Gen huffed and threw up her hands in the air. She kept pacing.


    Olivia''s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She answered it swiftly, listening intently. "We''ve hit their figurehead. The other attacks have begun," the voice on the other end reported.


    Olivia''s grip tightened around the weapon in her hand, her blue eyes narrowing. "Understood," she replied coolly. She ended the call and turned to their assembled forces. "Move forward," shemanded, her voice steady and authoritative.


    The gang members surged forward, and Olivia and Gen led the charge. They breached the building''s entrance, immediately met with resistance from the Three Axe gang. The air filled with the sound of gunfire and shing weapons. Olivia moved through the chaos with lethal intent, every strike calcted, every movement precise.


    Gen fought beside her, her raw power and aggression a stark contrast to Olivia''s controlled fury. Together, they cut through the enemy forces, theirbined strength an unstoppable force. But beneath Olivia''s calm exterior, her rage burned hotter with each passing moment. The memory of Macmin''s treachery, of the attacks on their gang, of Ezra''s disappearance fueled her every action.


    In the middle of the battle, Olivia felt a sudden spike of vitality, a familiar energy that sent a jolt through her. "Gen!" She exchanged a quick nce with Gen, who nodded, understanding immediately. They fought their way through the throng of enemies, their focus now on the source of the energy.


    The closer they got, the stronger the vitality became. It was unmistakable. Ezra was here. They pushed forward with renewed determination, cutting down anyone who dared stand in their way. The walls and floor were stained with the evidence of their wrath, but Olivia''s mind was solely on reaching Ezra.


    They burst into arge, dimly lit room, and there he was. Ezra stood in the center, looking transformed, emanating an aura of strength and power. He was holding a dark sword, its de gleaming ominously in the low light.


    "Ezra!" Gen eximed as she saw him. "What happened?"


    "Are you alright?" Olivia breathed, relief and anger warring within her. Relief that he was alive, and anger at the circumstances that had brought them here.


    Ezra turned to them, a faint smile on his lips. "I''m more than alright. I''ve never felt better."