Chapter 242: Parallel World VIII
As the shimmering dimensional pocket sealed completely, Dave floated for a few long seconds—shoulders rising and falling with each slow breath. The pulsing runes around his hands faded. The glow in his eyes dimmed. Something in him... shifted.
He looked at Perry and gave a faint, worn smile. "That's it then."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"My time's up." He lifted his hand and showed her the dial on his wrist—a glowing red ring now steadily flashing.
"I told you," Dave said, voice quieter now, "this version of me... wasn't permanent. Forty-eight hours. Borrowed time. Just a projection given form through my original self's anchor."
Perry's eyes narrowed. "So you're—?"
He nodded. "Red means overwrite complete. The real Dave is about to come back." He blinked a few times as his features began to shimmer, his skin pulsing slightly like heat over metal.
Then, suddenly—he jolted.
The magic aura around him vanished.
His body swayed, and he blinked rapidly, glancing around like someone waking up from a long, vivid dream.
"Wh—what the hell...?" he murmured. "Where am I? What—?"