There was an explosion of energy, and it had come from deep within Cole. His energy had rushed forth in a deluge, much faster, smoother and stronger than it ever was. A massive part of the tree was gouged out, but both Cole's hands were blasted into a ruined mess.
Bionic and organic both, he screamed out in pain, his voice reverberating across the endless dungeon. Tears slid down his eyes without fail as he attempted to drag his arms closer to his body, as if that was going to be what would help reduce the pain that he was feeling. But there was no relief to be had, just the pain.
But pain was only for a moment, this time Cole healed up quickly, very much like he was familiar with. He realized almost immediately had happened, after the 991st strike, access to his energy had returned, and it had come flooding back in a deluge that he released all at once into the strike that hit the tree.
