The man in the robe, his pitch-black eyes fixed on Jack, tilted his head slightly, an unnerving gesture that conveyed a strange mix of curiosity and pity. He extended his black rod staff, pointing it directly at Jack before taking a step to his left, beginning to circle him slowly.
"A martyr puppet," the man stated, his voice calm and even as he walked. "Dancing to the strings of a desperate narrative."
Jack mirrored his movement, stepping to his right, keeping the ethereal space between them. The swirling green energy of the broken spiral continued to crackle in the air around them. "What are you talking about?" Jack asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
The man in the robe stopped his circling, a hint of something akin to sadness in his black eyes. "You walk a Deadman's path. A path paved with good... and hidden chaos."
With a sudden whoosh of displaced air, the man vanished from his spot, reappearing instantly directly in front of Jack. He swung his black rod staff in a swift, single-handed arc aimed squarely at Jack's head.
Instinct took over. Jack's speed, even in this strange plane, was formidable. He reacted instantly, ducking low beneath the sweeping staff. The wind from the close call rustled his hair. The man continued his assault, the staff whistling through the air as he unleashed three more rapid swings. Jack dodged each one in quick succession, his movements fluid and economical, narrowly avoiding the dark wood that seemed to hum with an unseen energy.
Gathering momentum from his own swift dodges, Jack shifted his weight, planting his feet firmly on the ethereal plane. As the man momentarily paused after his flurry of attacks, Jack launched himself forward, his fist shooting out in a straight, powerful punch aimed directly at the man's abdomen. A bright blue electric flash of energy erupted on impact, a jolt of force connecting with the robed figure.
Jack smiled for a split second, raising his fists in a boxing stance, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. But his grin vanished as quickly as it appeared. The man in the robe stood completely unfazed, showing no reaction whatsoever to Jack's strikes that he had thought to have carried the same force as a high-speed bullet train.
The robed man exhaled, his expression remaining impassive. Suddenly, Jack blurred into motion, running around the man at lightning speed, a streak of vibrant blue energy encircling the still figure. He moved faster and faster, appearing as nothing more than a constant electric blue aura around the stationary man. Without moving his feet, the man in the robe single-handedly spun his black rod staff, the wood a blur against the chaotic backdrop. He then held the staff aloft with both hands, raising it high above his head before slamming it down with immense force. The impact generated a visible field of swirling green energy that expanded outwards in a rapid shockwave, catching Jack in what felt like slow motion.
Jack, still running at impossible speeds, now appeared frozen mid-stride, his legs suspended in the air as if time itself had slowed to a crawl around him. He could only manage a drawn-out, distorted "Whaaaat the fuuuuck…" in the agonizingly slow motion as the green energy enveloped him.
The man in the robe left his staff standing upright in the ethereal plane, its energy gently humming. He walked slowly towards the suspended form of Jack, a slender, ornate dagger materializing from thin air in his pale hand. Jack's eyes widened slowly in fear, the realization of his helplessness dawning upon him as he saw the dagger. The man raised the weapon high above Jack, his black eyes devoid of emotion. "Die," he stated simply, preparing to plunge the dagger into Jack's chest.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from behind the robed man, catching hold of his raised wrist and stopping the downward thrust of the dagger. The man turned his head sharply to see Henry Heimman standing there, a smug smile plastered across his face.
"Hi," Henry said calmly to the bewildered man in the robe before placing his palm firmly onto the man's chest. A blinding white light erupted from the man's eyes and mouth, accompanied by an agonizing, earth-shattering scream that seemed to tear through the very fabric of the ethereal plane. Just as suddenly as it began, Henry released his hold. The light vanished, and the man's body dropped limply to the ground, the impact echoing in the bizarre landscape. His eye sockets were now dark and burnt out.
The green energy field vanished the instant Asura Kaal's staff clattered to the ethereal plane. Jack, freed from his suspended animation, plummeted to his knees with a surprised grunt. He looked up, his eyes widening in astonishment at the sight of Henry standing over the smoking corpse. He pushed himself up, a mix of relief and confusion swirling within him.
Henry, his gaze fixed on Asura Kaal's lifeless form, shook his head in disappointment. "That was Asura Kaal, the guardian of the samsara…" He sighed heavily. "A guardian I just killed for you." He turned his piercing white eyes onto Jack. "What in the hell are you even doing here, Jack? How did you even get here?"
Jack, still disoriented, recounts his encounter with revan "I found Revan or atleast... he found me in his way of getting to his next target and he ripped my heart out. And that's how i got here."
When Jack finished, Henry shook his head slowly, a building anger evident in his white eyes. "No… no, no! You aren't supposed to be here!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the strange plane. "This place… it isn't for mortals like you, Jack."
Jack's shoulders shrugged up, his brows furrowed in utter confusion as his eyes darted around the swirling vortex. "Then why am I here?" he asked, his voice laced with bewilderment.
Just then, a thought came to Jack's mind. He looked behind him, in the direction he had last seen Junn and there was no trace of the whimsical magician. Jack wondered in silence where he was before Henry spoke, his voice strained not noticing Jack's confused gaze. "I don't know what the hell is going on, or how it's even possible for a mortal like you to just be here… but you have just successfully broken a barrier keeping entities… inside."
Jack's eyes widened as understanding, and a chilling sense of being manipulated, washed over him. He started backing away slowly, speechless. Henry, oblivious to Jack's realization, spread his arms wide to each side, his white eyes glowing intensely, a strained expression etched onto his face.
Henry grunted, a visible strain contorting his face as he held his arms outstretched. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he panted heavily. Slowly, he lowered his arms, his chest heaving.
Jack looked at him in confusion, his earlier fear replaced by a growing curiosity. "What are you doing?"
Henry wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "Trying to seal it back up," he gasped, gesturing towards the swirling vortex with a trembling hand. "This… this wasn't supposed to happen. You broke through a barrier… and now… things… things are getting out."
He took a shaky breath. "I'm going to be drained after this, Jack. No time for explanations. I'm sending you back. Now."
Jack nodded, accepting the urgency in Henry's voice. "Alright. But Revan… I still can't beat him. He stops my powers."
Henry reached into his suit again, this time pulling out a necklace with a striking symbol on it – a stylized eye, radiating a faint purple glow. He tossed it to Jack, who caught it easily.
Jack looked down at the necklace, raising an eyebrow. He looked back at Henry, a question forming on his lips. "The hell am I supposed to do with this?"
"Put it on," Henry said quickly, his white eyes glowing with intensity. "It is the eye of horus. It'll protect you from Revan's negations."
"Huh..." Jack stared at the necklace for another moment, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "You couldn't have given me this, like, earlier on?"
Henry's white eyes flashed with irritation. "Alright, bye-byes!" He snapped his fingers, and everything went black.