"Yes." Memory-Nala's response was immediate. "Whenever you choose to claim it. Just... please. Make it stop hurting."
Dionz studied her for a long moment. "Very well. A favor for a favor. But remember, you agreed to this."
The memory began to fade as Dionz raised his hand. The last image was of Memory-Nala's face, tears finally falling as she prepared to lose the only hundred years that had ever truly mattered to her.
♢♢♢♢
The chromium challenge unfolded differently from previous encounters.
Half a million deep-sea lobsters filled the chamber, their magically enhanced shells gleaming with an otherworldly resilience that matched their real-world counterparts' ability to withstand extreme conditions.
But Elio's enhanced capabilities made even these numbers manageable. What would have once been an insurmountable wall of armor and crushing claws was now more a matter of efficient execution than desperate survival.