The array behind him whirls madly, so flooded that it emits its own almost blinding light.

And his release slams into Azwel, causing his head to snap back, his spine arching, his nails digging into Vash's skin. A hoarse scream escapes him as the massive influx of energy bounces between the array and the device on his head.

And.

Everything stops.

Reality holds its breath, caught between one second and the next. Droplets of sweat hover for an instant amid the wild tangle of Azwel's hair. The light quivers on a watching researcher's eye, frozen open for a beat.

Somewhere deep within the facility machinery that had stirred sleepily, monitors winking, suddenly thunders to life. A heartbeat later the collected energy pulls in on itself. Explodes in a soundless detonation.

The energy and data reverberate back and forth through Azwel in a manner Palindrome could never have achieved, flooding his senses into a second wild, convulsing climax, tearing another raw sound from him. His eyes roll back.

He falls forward heavily, gasping for breath. The array slows in its spinning.