The first thing Elian saw upon waking was a stream of messages.
[Talent: Adamant – Heartless mode penalty has ended. Elian Reed's emotions will no longer be disabled.]
[Talent: Forged recalibration completed. Base body upgraded: Living Metal reserves expanded. Dominator neural network reinforced. Recovery completed.]
Not bad. Should make future battles easier.
All at once, Elian's senses came back online—360 vision, the onyx forest, the sea of Living Metal. And with it, awareness of those around him: Fluffy by his side, Burny perched above, the Swallows circling overhead—each alive, each containing a piece of him.
Elian felt relief, gratitude, pride all crash at once. If before he woke up with only Bianca by his side, now they had an entire family.
"There, he is back now. Get up you pale-skinned midget!"
Before he could open his eyes, he felt a pair of jaws gingerly wrap around his neck. Then they bit down hard.
"Ow…" Elian complained weakly.
