Seeing the danger, Djuma swiftly swept aside the curtain, allowing a ray of light from outside to illuminate the room. The sudden brightness caught Mike off guard, and he froze, startled.
"Mike!" Christina's urgent cry pierced the air.
Instantly, the monstrous energy dissipated, and Mike's form shifted back to human. The glowing electricity orb dissipated, its energy releasing into the air.
Mike's limbs went limp, and he collapsed onto the floor, his breathing shallow. The group rushed to his side, visibly perturbed.
"Mike, are you okay?" Rachael asked.
Mike struggled to sit up, his gaze locking onto Djuma's face. A faint cut marred Djuma's cheek.
"What have I done?" he said sadly.
"Don't worry about that now. Tell me, how did you feel earlier?" Djuma said.
Mike's eyes clouded, lost in thought. After a moment, he sighed deeply.
"I felt overwhelming anger," he admitted. "When it surged through me, all I could think of was causing destruction. Nothing else mattered."
His face lifted up. "You said I was meant to protect the kingdom, but why did I feel such intense anger?"
Djuma hesitated, his eyes evading Mike's probing gaze. "Perhaps you need time to clear your mind. We can try again later," he suggested.
"You're avoiding my question," Mike said, rising from the floor. His gaze bore into Djuma, who looked away once more.
"I sense you're hiding something from me," Mike said. "What are you withholding?"
"I didn't intend to keep it from you," Djuma said relentingly. "I expected you to discover the truth when you unlocked your memories."
Mike arched his brows.
"Now that it's failed, I was waiting for the right moment to reveal it," Djuma continued. "It seems I have no choice but to tell you now."
"What are you talking about, Djuma?"
"You were briefly possessed earlier. The anger you felt was Jran's resentment."
"Possessed?! You can't be serious! What's Jran?"
"It's not 'what', it's 'who'. Jran was the previous Jyuran. Dahra was born from his resentment toward Perebia."
"But why? Why would Jran resent the people he was sworn to protect?" Rachael's voice cut through the stunned silence.
"That's for the Jyuran to discover," Djuma responded. "The truth remains unknown, but rumors whisper that Jran's desire for revenge consumed him, driving him to seek to destroy the kingdom. No one believed it though."
Djuma paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing.
"Jran was stripped of his power, but I never expected his soul to linger within the krara. You must overcome him, my Jyuran, no matter the cost. The fate of my world and yours rests on your shoulders. You cannot afford to fail."
"How? I lost control earlier. How am I supposed to stop him?"
Djuma's gaze shifted to Christina. "True love holds the key," he replied. "Only by vanquishing Jran can you uncover the secrets of Dahra's birth and how to destroy him."
"Are you kidding me?" Mike snapped. "True love, my foot. I almost killed you all just a moment ago."
Djuma smiled. "It's what's passed down from one generation to another. 'The Jyuran would return with his true love to destroy his son and bring peace to the kingdom,'" Djuma recited. "How did you acquire the krara anyway?"
"It was hidden within a book, the power contained in the center, sealed in a box," Mike replied.
"Can you recall the book's contents and share them with me?"
Mike nodded resolutely. "Yes, I remember. It's strange; I'd forgotten about it until you asked. Now, everything's flooding back, as if the memories were dormant, waiting to resurface."
Djuma leaned forward. "Please, share what it said."
Mike's eyes drifted, recalling the words.
"In the realm of Perebia, a kingdom on the rogue planet Noan. The sealed demon, reborn with a thirst for destruction, threatens to unleash chaos upon the land. The chosen human must decide: fulfill the dark destiny or defy the odds as Perebia's legendary protector.
Mike's gaze shifted to Djuma. "You didn't tell me it was a choice."
"Do you really have a choice, Mike? Would you have chosen destruction?" Rachael intervened.
Mike sighed heavily and slumped into the sofa chair. "What am I supposed to do now?" he whispered.
"I'm not sure. The events began 500 years ago, beyond my knowledge. My understanding has limits," Djuma said. "You can't return to Perebia unprepared. You need time to gather yourself, understand your role, and confront Jran's influence."
"I have an unshakable feeling that something is amiss," Mike said, struggling to comprehend the inexplicable sensations.
Djuma's eyes suddenly radiated an ethereal glow. His face tilted upward, fixed on the ceiling, as his body began to tremble. He rose, suspended midair.
The group recognized this phenomenon, having witnessed it before. They watched in silence until his eyes returned to normal and he gently descended.
"I believe you sensed it too," Mike pressed. "What did you envision?"
"They've already found our location. They're likely en route to this planet as we speak," Djuma said. "We have no choice; we must prepare immediately. We depart tonight!"
"What about us?" Stefan said. "We don't possess wings like you. How will we traverse the distance?"
"Your role concludes here. You wouldn't survive in Perebia."
"That makes sense. We wouldn't be able to breathe in an alien environment."
"What do you mean 'wouldn't survive'? What kind of dangers await Mike?" Rachael, sensing something amiss, inquired.
"Perebia's atmosphere may be hostile to us humans," Christina chimed in.
"It's not about oxygen," Djuma clarified. "Perebia's kingdom has become a war zone. Survival depends on strength and cunning. The risks are too great."
He turned to face Mike.
"Relying on the Jyuran's untested power is risky, especially since his memories remain incomplete. However, there's only one way to communicate with him, and he can share it with only one person who…"
His voice trailed off as he saw Mike approaching Christina. In a swift motion, he transformed and enveloped Christina in a gentle hug. With delicate precision, he nicked her neck with one of his claws just below her right ear.
Christina winced, a sharp pain stinging her. She pushed Mike away, clutching her neck.
"What the hell, Mike? What did you just do?"
"He has granted you the ability to communicate with him across any distance," Djuma said.
"How?" Stefan asked, incredulous. "No cell phone required?"
Djuma nodded as he approached Christina.
"The Jyuran used his claw to inject a gastral object called a Lav into your neck. It functions as a communication device."
"That's unbelievable," Stefan said.
"To activate it, simply double-tap the Lav," Djuma said. "However, it only works when the Jyuran enables the connection."
"How do I know it's working?" Christina asked.
"You'll feel a subtle vibration when he connects," Djuma replied. "Trust the Lav; it's an ancient, reliable technology."
Christina's hand instinctively touched the spot where Mike had nicked her earlier and her face lit up in disbelief.
"I thought I was injured there, but...how is it gone?"
Mike shifted back into his human form and smiled reassuringly at her. "There's nothing to worry about. I would never harm you."
Djuma's expression turned quizzical.
"Wait a minute...How did you know about the Lav?" he asked. "Have you unlocked your memories?"