Before the boy completely transformed, a collection of hands strangled him while a sword of pure energy stabbed the face on the back.
A screech escaped it's lips but that quickly stopped as the hands snapped it's neck. A deformed and sickening body lied on the ground, a boy with a big head and glasses seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
It was Alvin, he had disappeared at the beginning of the fight with the beast. His presence now begging the question of what happened to him?
'Damn, fools. Thought they really had me under control, I made the formation myself. Why couldn't I create a small safe haven for myself.'
Approaching the dead body, Alvin took the control of the talisman, using a bit of his blood, he drew on it, creating more complex patterns. Pointing it to the ape he said, " Seal!!"
The ape was wrapped in chains and then covered in a box of light. Weak and heavily injured the ape could only growl softly.
The boy with a massive cranium searched the battlefield and retrieved all of the spatial rings the boys carried and even their bags of spirits.
Alvin released a creature from the bag of spirits they took from him. It was a yellow brain with two grey eyes shining with wisdom.
A translucent spine running down from the brain swaying to and fro. It floated off the ground and gave off the feeling it was studying everything.
"Athena, it took longer than expected to find an opportunity, but one arose."
Sending back a telepathic message, the creature named Athena responded.
"Our unison once more brings joy to me, master Alvin. It was an unbearable time, though it appears our oppressor have expired." Her words sweet but for anyone else, the pure lack of emotion in those eyes would've been unnerving.
After regaining his freedom, Alvin's expression returned to that of stoic calculation. The most joy the boy expressed was the slight smile when seeing his bond.
Turning to the ape, he walked over before he quickly turned to the direction of Ash's mangled body. Ash's body had been a broken mess but a white light covered his body as well as Grim.
Ash's broken bones, torn muscles, and depleted blood seemed to be renewed. Alvin didn't have much hope for the boy after seeing what the stone armored woodland ape had done to him. His body looked like mush, but a miracle seemed to be taking place.
Grim released a loud caw as the aura of death radiated from him. A Bone coating wrapped around its talons as a white rhombus shape now lied in the middle of his chest.
Ash's previously brown irises were now white, while the ends of his dreads had also turned white. His body standing upright but eyes still glazed over; white light burned like coal in the depths of his eyes.
"Ahhhhhhh, Aghhhhhhhh" he screamed as the white light dissipated. Ash had come to while Alvin was observing with keen interest.
"Wonderful, wonderful I have never seen such a process. Athena direct any possible knowledge of relation to me should it look relevant." Alvin had pulled out a thick book in which he jotted down his observation.
Ash, visibly confused started to look around to see the messy battle site. Grim tugged at their link demanding Ash's attention.
He cawed at Ash and flew atop his head. Ash winced as the silly bird pecked at his head in anger. Ash had almost died and Grim would've been left alone.
Realization dawned on Ash as he understood that his partner was depending on him. They weren't partners for long, but Ash was the closest thing to family for Grim.
Ash was a kid and Grim but a new born. The journey just started and once more it almost ended.
"Sorry Grim… I promise I'm not leaving you yet, ok."
Grim heard his partner but continued to angrily peck at Ash while Ash resigned to just letting him have his way.
Looking around he finally noticed Alvin who was staring at Grim as if to cut him open to see what lied inside.
"Sensational, he has not only healed but there remain changes to his body."
"Excuse me, uhhh can you—
"It remains unverified why the subject's pupils remain white instead of going back to a normal brown."
"Excuse me——
"The subject also has changes to his hair as well. Is this some kind of blessing which has been bestowed, a mutation in the human akin to what monsters are capable of, or possibly——"
"Hey!!!!!!" Ash shouted as Alvin came out of his stupor and addressed Ash.