The journey back from the Quantum Nexus feels surreal, like returning from some strange technological dreamscape to the merely advanced environment of Central Arena. The four of us walk in a loose formation, each lost in our own thoughts. Desta leads the way, her movements flowing with a new grace, her power armor humming softly as she occasionally reaches out to interface with passing systems with casual ease.

  I can't stop watching her, trying to reconcile the Desta I've known all these months with this transformed version. Her posture, her gestures, even the way she turns her head to observe our surroundings has changed. There's a fluid presence to her now, a groundedness that wasn't there before.

  "You're staring," Sera murmurs as she falls into step beside me.

  "Can you blame me?" I whisper back. "It's like someone replaced her with a completely different person."

  "Not completely different," Sera corrects, keeping her voice low. "More like... Desta without filters. All the observations and processing are still there, but now there's emotion behind it."

  Lyra bounces ahead, peppering Desta with questions about the merger, the sensations, the new abilities. Where Sera and I approach with caution, Lyra dives in with enthusiastic curiosity, treating Desta's transformation as the fascinating marvel it is.

  As we finally exit the Nexus, passing through the security checkpoints with the Command Authentication Protocol, I feel something loosen in my chest. We've done it. We've acquired the Quantum Integration Circuit, and even gained an unexpected advantage in Desta's transformation.

  By any measure, our expedition is a complete success. So why do I still feel this lingering unease?

  ---

  Zix'ilit is practically vibrating with excitement when we return to our quarters, bouncing so vigorously he nearly hits the ceiling when we enter. His frill expands to maximum size, flashing bright yellows and oranges.

  "AMAZING TRANSFORMATION!" he squeals, bouncing circles around Desta. "AI merger incredibly rare! Huge advantage for tournament! Makes Team Exodus much stronger!"

  Desta smiles, the expression warm and natural. "Hello, Zix. Glad to see you too."

  "Gary gets neural accelerator now, yes?" Zix asks, bouncing eagerly. "Xaelon's knowledge makes this possible?"

  "I'm already working on it," Desta confirms. "Should be ready in a few hours."

  His frill flashes with delight. "Excellent progress! Very efficient!"

  "I'm going to start work on the accelerator," Desta says, already moving toward her makeshift lab. "The sooner we get it done, the sooner Gary can test his enhanced abilities."

  ---

  While Desta works, the rest of us attempt to process everything that's happened.

  "What do you think of the new Desta?" Sera asks quietly, small flames dancing between her fingers in what I've come to recognize as a nervous habit.

  "I'm still figuring that out," I admit. "She seems... happier."

  "Yeah," Sera agrees. "Almost unsettlingly so. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop."

  "You think the merger affected her loyalty?" I ask, voicing the concern that's been nagging at me.

  Sera considers this, the flames between her fingers intensifying slightly. "No, not exactly. She still seems committed to the team. It's more like... what happens when someone who's been limited their whole life suddenly has no limits? What will she want next?"

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  It's a good question, and one I don't have an answer for.

  "I'm going to trust her," I say after a moment. "She's never given us reason not to."

  Sera nods, extinguishing the flames with a flick of her wrist. "Fair enough. But I'm still keeping an eye on her."

  "I wouldn't expect anything less," I reply with a small smile.

  Hours pass as we wait, each managing our anticipation in different ways. Finally, Desta emerges from her lab, carrying a small case made of what appears to be the same living metal as Xaelon's transfer cube.

  "It's ready," she announces, her face showing a mixture of pride and excitement.

  She opens the case, revealing a small crystal about the size of a marble. Unlike the raw Resonant Mind Crystal we acquired in the Verdant Crucible, this has been carefully shaped and refined, its facets catching the light with hypnotic intensity.

  "The neural accelerator," Desta explains. "It contains elements of both components, reconfigured to work specifically with your telekinetic abilities."

  "How does it work?" I ask, eyeing the small crystal with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

  "It needs to be placed at the center of your forehead," Desta explains. "The crystal will do the rest, creating a neural interface that enhances the parts of your brain responsible for telekinesis."

  "Will it hurt?" I find myself asking.

  Desta smiles reassuringly. "No. You might feel a rush of energy, maybe a slight pressure, but no pain."

  I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Alright. Let's do it."

  "Lie back," Desta instructs, waiting as I recline on the couch. "Try to relax. The process works better if your mind is calm."

  I close my eyes, taking slow, measured breaths as Desta places the crystal against my forehead, its surface cool against my skin.

  For a moment, nothing happens. Then the crystal seems to warm, a gentle heat spreading from the point of contact. The sensation deepens, not painful but intense, like a pressure building behind my eyes.

  Suddenly, the crystal seems to melt, flowing like liquid as it adheres to my skin. I gasp as energy surges through me, a wave of power that rushes from my head down my spine, branching out to my limbs before concentrating back in my mind with crystalline clarity.

  My eyes snap open, and the world looks different, sharper somehow. My telekinetic awareness, always present but contained, now expands outward with effortless precision.

  "Holy shit," I whisper, sitting up slowly. I reach up to touch my forehead, feeling the crystal now seamlessly embedded in my skin.

  "How do you feel?" Desta asks, watching me closely.

  "Incredible," I breathe, marvelling at the rush of power flowing through my mind.

  Lyra claps her hands together in excitement. "What can you do now? Can you fly? Create force fields? Move bigger things?"

  I laugh at her enthusiasm. "I don't know yet. I need to test the limits."

  "You should try it somewhere with space to really let loose," Sera suggests. "Somewhere away from anything breakable."

  An idea forms in my mind. "The Verdant Crucible. It's perfect for testing these abilities. Challenging enough to push my limits, but we already know the layout and threats."

  "Great idea!" Zix confirms, bouncing excitedly. "Perfect testing ground!"

  "I'm in," Sera says, small flames dancing between her fingers in anticipation.

  "Me too!" Lyra adds enthusiastically. "My bio-reactive metal should work really well against organic threats."

  We all turn to Desta, who smiles apologetically. "You three go ahead. I need time to work through everything Xaelon and I have been discussing. He has so many project ideas we could implement with the materials we gathered."

  "You sure?" I ask.

  "I'm sure," she assures me. "This is perfect timing, actually. You can test your new abilities while I start working on these projects. By the time you get back, I'll have made some real progress."

  After confirming the plan with everyone, we begin preparing for our Crucible expedition. As I gather my equipment, I catch my reflection in a viewport. The neural accelerator gleams at the center of my forehead, a small crystal that pulses with inner light in time with my heartbeat.

  I flex my telekinetic senses, feeling the world around me with newfound clarity. Objects respond to my thoughts with effortless precision, no longer requiring the intense concentration they once did. With a casual gesture, I lift my resonance blade from across the room, the weapon flying to my hand with perfect accuracy.

  Forty percent increase, Desta had said. It feels like more. Much more.

  For the first time since arriving at Central Arena, I feel truly prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead. The Verdant Crucible awaits, a perfect testing ground for my new powers.