Portal Away

Ty's voice carried a mix of caution and curiosity. "I see. Let's not wait for battle to test this. How about now?"

As he closed the distance to John, his words took on a sharper edge. "I don't fully trust what you're hiding, but that can wait." He extended his hand, an invitation veiled in suspicion. John met it with a firm handshake, his eyes unreadable. "Not my problem," he replied coolly.

A moment later, a surreal sensation invaded Ty's mind, like a bubble of noise expanding in the silence. It was an odd, tingling itch, impossible to ignore. A digital prompt flickered into existence within his mental landscape: "Please give access to memories. 5-second window."

Ty raised an eyebrow. "This 5-second window—it only includes the immediate past, right?"

John nodded, his face betraying nothing. "As I mentioned, it only lasts as long as my energy holds."

Curious, Ty pressed on, "And how can you tell when you're running out of energy?"