Sean jolted—His legs froze, refusing to move. He looked down, gasping, as his skin crystallized into clear shards. Cold cracks spread up his calves, thighs, and across his entire body.
The crystal trapped him alive.
It locked his soul in the dream world, giving Opia room to move freely—taking over his body completely.
"Damn… you—"
His words cut off.
The crystal sealed his chest, arms, and neck, cold seeped deep into his bones.
His breath turned to mist, bouncing back against his face. From inside the transparent prison, Sean saw a shadow resembling himself approach.
The figure is bent forward, its mouth unnaturally wide, stretching almost to its ears.
"Thank you, Sean…" it whispered, pressing a black hand against the crystal.
"You've made this… so easy."
Darkness began swallowing him. Sean sank deeper—his breath grew faint, his mind muffled, as if his consciousness was forced under.
Just as everything seemed about to vanish
crack.
A voice cut through like a knife.
"SEAN! BRING YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS BACK!"
Not from outside. The voice came from inside the crystal itself.
Arthur.
Tiny cracks appeared. Sean gasped. A fragile link still connected him to his body in the real world.
Opia hadn't fully won yet.
Seeing the gap, Sean gathered all his strength and slammed the crystal from within.
It didn't budge.
Too solid.
Then his Leontine necklace pulsed.
A pale blue light emerged, absorbing the surrounding dark magic. Black smoke spiraled from Sean, intertwining with the light. The two forces collided, then merged.
Cracks spread.
The crystal shattered. Memories from his past struck his mind, a sharp dizziness overwhelmed him. Using the last of his strength, Sean forced himself upright.
"Opia…"
✦✦✦
In the real world, Opia's control faltered. Sean's eyes flickered—jet black, then back to their original aquamarine, then black again.
In the subconscious, the world began to collapse. Crystals vibrated violently, raining shards like glass. Sean scanned the chaos, panicked—but he felt something… a signal.
His necklace pulsed faintly.
A pale blue glow tried to cut through the darkness. No words came—only a vibration, a subtle whisper from the necklace's core. Sean realized this wasn't just light—it was a guide, a way to fight back.
He closed his eyes, feeling the pulse and rhythm. His heart seemed to hear it clearly "Combine the power. Focus on the core… strike the source."
In the void of his subconscious, a black heart appeared, pulsing weakly. This was it—the core of Opia's bond within him.
Sean drew a deep breath, concentrating all his energy. His sword glowed blue, synchronized with the necklace. Each pulse strengthened his resolve.
With one decisive motion, Sean threw his sword straight at the black heart. Blue light and black smoke erupted, merging into the necklace. Pressure hit his chest, but he stayed focused, following the necklace's rhythm.
In the real world, Opia screamed from inside him. Sean's eyes flickered—jet black, then back to normal, then black again. Shadows and blue light alternated across his body. The subconscious shook violently. Crystals shattered into shards, raining like glass.
Opia's shadow screamed, clutching its chest as light and darkness fused.
"Impossible!" Its voice fractured into thousands of whispers.
On the ship, bloodied Arthur watched Sean's sword crack, blue light bursting from the fissure. The wind stopped—as if the world held its breath while Sean's choice echoed across dimensions.
Opia's shadow flinched… then laughed.
Its voice is split between mockery and awe.
"You… really bound me? How could i underestimate you?"
The pale blue sword melted into a shimmering liquid metal. The crew fell to their knees in fear as Sean radiated alternating light and shadow.
Opia screamed from within him.
"I never allowed this!"
But it was too late. The bond had been formed.
Half of Sean's soul now belongs to Opia.
Half of Opia's power now rests in Sean's hands. Yet Sean remains fully human—unchanged.
He was no longer entirely alone.
The captain, crew, the sea, and the storm all bear witness—their world is now balanced between darkness and light, soul and power, human and Opia.
Sean collapsed.
Arthur caught him just in time, lowering him gently onto the deck. He stared at Sean's face too long.
"You're foolish," he murmured.
"And stubborn."
No response.
Arthur exhaled—short, broken.
He removed his glove, placing a cold finger on Sean's forehead. Not a prayer. Not a plea.
Just an unspoken promise.
Seconds later, Sean opened his eyes. His Leontine necklace glowed black, then returned to its original aquamarine, now split—blue and black—two forces fused as one.
Arthur exhaled, observing.
"The necklace…"
He stood, facing the crew.
"Prepare yourselves."
"We're leaving these waters."
Then, quieter—just to himself,
"As long as you breathe… I'll be here."
He looked at Sean. Sean's body slumped; Arthur's own blood continued to flow from his wound. Slowly, the ship began to crumble.
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