The sudden absence of agony was so dramatic it almost caused him a different kind of shock. For the first time in what felt like hours, he could think clearly.
But the silence in his mind, where the fungus's voice had always been a constant presence, was deafening. For the first time in years, he was truly alone in his own consciousness.
Julius immediately noticed the change.
"Are you okay?" he shouted while launching another devastating attack toward the giant chimera.
"Yes," Ren replied, though his voice sounded hollow.
The giant creature became enraged when it realized its sonic pulse no longer had effect. Its multiple heads roared with frustration, and it began preparing for a more direct attack.
But just as it launched toward them, reinforcements arrived. The bird had managed to reach the surface through the tunnel Julius had left without being eliminated by any beast.
