The exposed sponsor core pulled against Jax's chest like a living hook. Diana held the rescue strap until blood showed along her palms, while Nox kept the core blade at the narrow seam Appraise had identified.
"Choose now," Nox said. "I can leave the potential in place, and it may take you again. Or I can cut it out and leave you with only what belongs to you."
Jax's eyes found his through the gold glare. "Cut it," he said. "I am done owing her pieces of me."
Nox held the blade in place for the breath it took Jax to repeat the choice into the public relay. Rook's officials had left the match active to use Jax's body as a result, and the recorded answer made that purpose visible before the cut began.
Nox waited until the foreign core surged for control. Then he drove Core Integration II along the seam, separating the command pattern from Jax's natural core without taking either one into himself.
