As Mike's eyes fluttered open, he was met with a disorienting sight: a vast, unfamiliar space stretched out before him. With considerable effort, he swung his head around, straining to take in every detail of his surroundings.
The faint, eerie glow that permeated the room seemed to dance across the walls, casting an otherworldly ambiance.
It took Mike several moments to comprehend his precarious situation. He was suspended upside down, his legs trapped in the muddy ceiling by long, sinuous black vines that wrapped around his feet like shackles. The realization sent a jolt of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
As his gaze traversed his own body, he was struck by its transformed state. His Anthropter form, once a symbol of strength and agility, now felt cumbersome and vulnerable.
Yet, amidst this chaos, one thing brought him solace: the gunshot wound that had threatened his life was now nothing more than a faint, healed scar.
Mike's upside-down perspective afforded him an unobstructed view of the room below. The darkness was absolute, a heavy veil that would have obscured all visibility to ordinary human eyes.
However, his inherent Jyuran abilities allowed him to pierce the veil, illuminating every nook and cranny.
The room's dimensions were imposing: at least twenty feet tall and ten meters wide. Despite its grandeur, the space felt abandoned, forsaken for countless years.
Cobwebs clung to the walls, and a thick layer of dust coated every surface. Yet, amidst this decay, a gentle, cooling breeze wafted through the air, its origin mystifying.
"Where the hell is this?" Mike whispered. He strained against the vines once more, but they refused to budge, holding him captive in their unrelenting grasp.
With a growing sense of unease, Mike hung upside-down. The vines binding his feet seemed impassive, unyielding to his struggles.
Without warning, a scorching pain suddenly ravaged his mind, sending him reeling. He clutched his throbbing head, a primal scream tearing from his lips. The vines securing his feet relaxed, releasing their grip, and Mike plummeted to the ground, still grasping his head in agony.
As he writhed, he felt an eerie detachment from his body, an unseen force pulling his very essence into the darkness. A fierce anger began to stir within him. His eyes blazed with an otherworldly intensity, illuminating the shadows further.
Mike sensed a malevolent presence taking hold, its power coursing through his veins like liquid fire. The energy was overwhelming, capable of shattering even the strongest will.
It went on for a long while. And suddenly, the pain subsided, replaced by an unnatural calmness. Mike rose to his feet, his gaze locking onto the balcony above. The iron door came into view, a beacon drawing him toward freedom.
With a burst of speed, Mike unleashed his Anthropter form's full potential. His massive wings unfurled, propelling him upward with incredible force. He landed on the balcony with a resounding thud.
Mike wrenched the door open, its metal screeching in protest. As he stepped through the threshold, his anger grew stronger. The darkness seemed to coalesce around him, taking on a life of its own.
With each step, he felt the presence within him growing stronger, urging him forward. His senses heightened, and his vision expanded. The air vibrated about him, and he could hear everything - even the whispers of the wind.
Finally, the transformation was complete. The darkness had claimed him, and he had become its instrument, forged into a being of unyielding fury and unrelenting purpose.
The unknown dangers ahead would soon face the full fury of the malevolent spirit's unleashed power.
*****
Domra burst into the chamber through the door at the back of the thrones, his entire body convulsing with tremors.
"Dahra, your father has arrived!" he announced, barely able to maintain his steadiness. He must've seen something that scared him, because he didn't portray this kind of fear when he met Mike on Earth.
Just as he finished speaking, Mike stormed into the room through the same door he'd used. His eyes blazed with exasperation as he stared at Dahra. He hovered above the thrones for a moment before descending in front of them.
"Father!" Dahra exclaimed, swiftly rising from the throne he occupied. He bowed deeply and his eyes darkened, hinting at the profound emotional turmoil brewing within, a peculiar, mysterious precursor to shedding tears. "You've finally returned, my father!"
"Is this what I instructed you to do?" Mike thundered. "I distinctly recall ordering you to destroy the kingdom, leaving no stone unturned, no brick upon another. What is the meaning of this?"
Dahra's composure crumbled, and he fell to his knees, supplicating before Mike. "I'm sorry, Father," he pleaded. "I strayed from the path you set for me. However, Father, I ensured they suffered as they made you suffer."
"I slaughtered all the witches and Royals; they've lost all hope."
As Dahra lifted his head to meet Mike's gaze, he was met with a fierce, reddening glare. Instinctively, he averted his eyes, his breathing heavy with tremendous fright.
Did he truly fear his father to such an extent, or was there more to his reaction?
"I relinquish the throne to you, Father," Dahra declared. "For forty years, I've tyrannized the people of this kingdom; do with them as you please."
As he spoke, his body began to absorb the dark energies emanating from Mike's presence.
"I have no intention of ruling these insignificant beings," Mike sneered. "And if I did, I wouldn't need your counsel."
His gaze swept the room, his eyes scanning the surroundings before refocusing on Dahra. "Let us adhere to our agreement from five hundred years ago."
"I'll do whatever you ask of me, Father. Forgive me."
"Assemble your army, Dahra. We will eradicate every living being in this kingdom tonight, every individual who has caused me suffering."
Dahra nodded obediently. "As you wish, father. I will carry out your orders."
He turned to Domra, who looked traumatized by Mike's presence. "Mobilize your men. I'm sorry, I wouldn't be able to uphold my promise to you forty years ago."
"I understand, my lord," Domra replied slowly as he bowed.
He departed at once, and Mike unfurled his majestic wings, preparing to take flight. However, a sudden, excruciating pain ravaged his mind, forcing him to recoil and clutch his head in agony.
"Who are you?!" he thundered, his eyes scanning the surroundings for the unseen presence that dared to challenge him.
*****
As the evening sun cast its warm glow at 4 p.m., Christina jolted awake from her nap, disrupting Rachael's peaceful slumber. Rachael rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her gaze split between Christina and her own blinking.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Stefan, who was engrossed in a game on Mike's phone, suddenly dropped it, now focusing on Christina.
"Did he speak to you?" he inquired.
"No, but I think I can feel him," Christina replied.
With trembling hands, she double-tapped her Lav and closed her eyes in concentration. "Are you there, Mike?"
The reply she received made her heart skip a beat. Fear gripped her heart as she swiftly disconnected the lav.
"What's wrong?" Rachael asked, anxious. "What happened?"
Christina's breathing turned labored, tears streaming down her face. "He didn't sound like Mike. His tone has changed... something's wrong with him."
Stefan stood up and rushed toward the girls. "Don't tell me... he's possessed by that evil soul again?!" he stammered.
"That can't be possible," Rachael reasoned. "He's the only one the lav can connect you to, right?"
"I can't make sense of this," Christina sobbed, her tears streaming down to her mouth. "What could have caused his hostile reply? Mike would never ask me who I am."
"Are you certain it's Mike?"
"I…I don't know. It may be him, or maybe not. His tone was aggressive. Only one explanation comes to my mind."
"He's possessed. We must help him; he needs you now more than ever."
"How? Tell me what to do, please!"
Stefan established a direct eye contact with Christina, making sure she stayed focused.
"Remember Djuma's words: True love holds the key," he reminded her. "When Mike was first possessed, the evil spirit let go of him when you called out his name. Try it again now; only you can do this."
"You must bring him back to us, Christina," Rachael added. "You're his only hope. Please."
Christina nodded and wiped away her tears. "Let's do this." With trembling hands, she double-tapped her lav again, steeling herself for the imminent challenge.
"Mike," she called out. "It's me, your friend Christina. Are you listening to me?"
Everyone in the room held their breaths as she awaited a response.