Chapter 97 Writer's POV
At night, under the shadow of the moon, Onyi left for the garden. The darkness there was familiar, like a cloak he'd worn for a while now. Amanda was sleeping near where he'd been, unaware he'd slipped out. She'd been trying to stay close to him through his transformation, worried about what was happening to him.
In the garden, the shadows danced like living things around Onyi. His transformation was unbearable now – the pain of becoming something more than human, the pull of the darkness like a constant scream in his mind. Something kept calling him to give in, to let the power consume him fully. It was a voice like a whisper in his soul, telling him to surrender to the transformation, to let go of what was left of Onyi the human.
The voice was seductive. It promised power beyond anything he'd known, a connection to forces older and greater than the kingdom or its people. Onyi fought it for a while, trying to hold on to remnants of himself, of his life with Amanda and others. But the pull was too strong. The darkness wanted him, and he felt himself weakening against its call.
Finally, Onyi gives in. He lets the darkness take over fully, embracing the transformation with a mix of fear and relief. As he does, his body begins to glow brighter in the night, like he's becoming a conduit for a power that's breaking free. The air around him shimmers with energy, and Onyi feels himself losing the last threads of humanity.
In this moment of surrender, Onyi becomes... something else. Something more. The power surges through him, and he knows he's beyond return. He's a being of darkness and power now, connected to forces that mortals don't understand. The garden shadows seem to wrap around him like they're claiming him as one of their own. And as he's transformation completes his mark on his neck turn into full moon while Amanda's mating mark fade away, " I'm back" Xerxes smirked.