"M-Mochi can talk?! Wait, no—you can talk?!" Rian clutched his head as his dizziness worsened. Far too many impossible things had happened to his brain today.
Zephyrus leaped down from the sofa and hissed low at Malakor. Malakor! How dare you show your Mortal Human form before me! Were you sucked into this world too?!
Malakor snorted softly, then sat down with remarkable elegance—a stark contrast to Mochi's form, which bulged in every direction.
"I wasn't sucked here, Zephyrus. I came here on purpose in this form to retrieve you," Malakor replied through telepathic magic that both Rian and Zephyrus could hear.
"The chaos in the Astral Dimension has grown worse since you disappeared. The Bounty Hunters you fought earlier were nothing but the front line."
Zephyrus froze. The front line? Who had sent them?! Eleanor walked over to Rian's messy dining table, pulled out one of the chairs, and sat down calmly.
"The Dark King has risen again. He knows Zephyrus's soul is trapped on Earth in the form of a cat. If he succeeds in absorbing your imprisoned soul, the Astral Dimension and the Mortal World will collapse together."
Rian swallowed hard. "W-wait... so Mochi isn't just a ridiculous cat who sneezes fish crackers? He's... some kind of god?"
"I am Grand Mage Zephyrus, Scratching Human!" Zephyrus declared through Malakor's telepathic magic. "I've told you that over and over!"
Rian blinked, looking Mochi up and down. "But... you're still really round, Mochi." Pfft! Malakor almost laughed, but immediately held it back to preserve his dignity. "His physique really is pitiful. An orange cat's metabolism on Earth is simply too efficient at absorbing magic and converting it into fat."
"Hey! This isn't fat—it's a defensive fortress!" Zephyrus protested furiously. Eleanor polished her gold-rimmed glasses. "Enough talking. The other Bounty Hunters will arrive at dawn. We have to open the Seven-Star Seal in Zephyrus's body so that some of his original power can return."
Zephyrus narrowed his eyes. It can be restored? How?!
Eleanor pointed at Rian. "With this human's help. He is the destined 'Balancing Vessel.' Your magic can only fully activate when it's connected to his emotions and soul bond." Rian pointed at himself in confusion. "Me? A balancing vessel? But I'm just a finance clerk who recently got an SP1..."
"There's no time left," Eleanor said firmly. She pulled a faintly glowing blue crystal from her coat pocket.
"Rian, place your hand on top of this crystal. Zephyrus, place your front paw on top of Rian's hand."
Zephyrus stared at Rian for a moment. Rian stared back at Mochi. He looked hesitant, but eventually nodded slowly. "Well... for everyone's safety."
Rian placed his hand on the crystal. Zephyrus moved forward two steps, then pressed his soft orange paw against the back of Rian's hand.
BZZZZZZ-ROAARRR!!!
Blue light surged upward, piercing through the roof of Rian's rental apartment!
Golden spell lines suddenly radiated around Mochi and Rian's bodies. A warm heat flowed between their chests. Zephyrus's blocked magic core began dissolving piece by piece!
But in the middle of the magical fusion process...
BAAMM!!!
The roof of Rian's rental apartment suddenly shattered into pieces as it was struck by a magical fighter craft shaped like a giant skull, hovering in the night sky!
From atop the fighter craft, a man in black iron armor leaped down, carrying a massive sword wreathed in flames.