A surge of energy shot through him, and suddenly, the system's cold, detached voice echoed in his mind:
"Synchronization at 96%. Determination Override."
Jiang's body trembled as the surge of energy coursed through him. His pain dulled, replaced by a newfound strength. He didn't understand it, but he didn't need to. All that mattered was that he wasn't out of the fight yet.
With a burst of speed, Jiang rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the figure's strike. His movements were more fluid now, more controlled, as if his body had adapted to the pain and the injuries. The synchronization boost was giving him an edge—just enough to stay alive.
He struck again, this time with more precision. His beak slashed at the figure's leg, and to his surprise, the shadowy form recoiled, hissing in pain. The injury wasn't severe, but it was enough to show that Jiang could hurt it.
But before he could capitalize on the moment, the figure's hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat. Its grip was cold and suffocating, lifting him off the ground with ease.
Jiang squawked in panic, his body flailing as he tried to break free. The figure's glowing eyes burned with fury as it pulled him closer.
"You've been a pain in my backside for too long," the figure growled, its voice like a low rumble of thunder. "Let's end this."
The figure's grip tightened, and Jiang's vision blurred as the air was forced from his lungs. This is it, he thought. This is the end.
But before the figure could strike the final blow, a sudden blast of heat and light filled the room.
The woman had woken up.
A fireball erupted from her outstretched hand, slamming into the figure's back with enough force to send it staggering forward, releasing Jiang in the process. He collapsed to the floor, gasping for air as the woman moved to his side.
"Not yet, you don't," she muttered under her breath, her eyes blazing with determination.
The figure roared in pain, turning its attention to the woman. But she was already preparing her next move.
With a quick flick of her wrist, she cast another spell, this time sending a bomb-like explosion of magic into the ground beneath the figure. The blast sent debris flying, and the figure was forced to retreat, hissing in frustration as it disappeared into the shadows once more.
The woman didn't waste a moment. She scooped up the unconscious Jiang in her arms and bolted for the door, her legs moving with a speed that only desperation could fuel. She darted through the hallways of the zoo, dodging obstacles as she made her way toward the park.
As they neared the exit, they ran straight into two police officers. The officers, startled by the sight of the woman carrying a penguin, immediately raised their hands to stop her.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's going on here?" one of the officers demanded, his hand resting on his holster.
The woman blinked, clearly confused by their presence. "What are you doing with that penguin?" the second officer asked, his brow furrowing in suspicion.
The woman, not understanding their role, sighed in frustration. "I don't have time for this," she muttered, and with a swift motion, she cast a Hypnos spell. The officers' eyes glazed over as they swayed on their feet.
Before passing out, one of them mumbled, "Why do you have purple foxy ears?"
The woman rolled her eyes as she tugged her hood back over her head and continued her escape, the unconscious Jiang cradled in her arms.
Jiang woke to the sensation of warmth against his body. He blinked groggily, his vision swimming as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. His flippers were wrapped in tape, and he lay on a mattress on the floor of a run-down room. The faint smell of stale fast food filled the air.
The first thing he saw was the system notification floating before his eyes.
Mission Accomplished. Reward: Your sense of smell returned.
Jiang let out a groggy honk, the events of the past few hours slowly coming back to him. He was alive. Barely.
As he tried to sit up, the door creaked open, and the woman entered, her face softening when she saw he was awake.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
Jiang tried to respond, but all that came out were the usual penguin noises. To his surprise, the woman seemed to understand him.
"We have a Spirit Link now," she explained. "It's temporary, but it helps us communicate."
Jiang's mind was still foggy, but he managed to form a question. Who was that… thing?
The woman's expression darkened. "That's one of the many shadows that have been hunting me. And now, it's hunting you."
Jiang shivered at her words, remembering the terrifying encounter.
"You passed," she said quietly, her gaze softening. "Most people don't."
"Passed? Passed what?" Jiang honked.
She explained, recounting how she had been trying to find someone who could survive the synchronization process with the system. She had tried four times before, each person failing to synchronize with their animal form and ultimately dying within the first 24 hours.
"I thought I was going to lose hope," she said, "until I found you."
Jiang blinked, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "Why me?" he honked.
"Because I need a partner," she replied, "someone strong enough to help me survive—and maybe, to take back to my world."
Jiang's head spun with the weight of her words, but before he could respond, the system interrupted with a cold, mechanical tone.
New mission: Reach 100% synchronization. Time limit: 90 minutes.
Jiang's eyes widened in shock as he read the words. The woman noticed his expression and leaned closer. "What is it?"
"It's telling me… I need to reach 100% synchronization. And if I fail…"
The woman's eyes locked onto his, her expression grim. "What happens if you fail?"
Jiang swallowed hard.
"The punishment for failure… is death."