Under their oppressive gazes, the magic circle shattered like glass, leaving Aska staggering. His courage faltered, and he stumbled back before turning. Letting out a desperate roar, he dove headfirst into the ocean, his serpentine form cutting through the dark waters.
As he fled, his thoughts spiraled into panic. "Leave me alone. Just leave me alone. I just want to sleep... I just want to sleep..."
Aska's body coiled instinctively as he plunged deeper into the dark waters, the ocean swallowing him whole. The oppressive weight of the sea pressed against him, but it was nothing compared to the gnawing exhaustion in his very core. His mind was a storm, split between his fractured visions and the unrelenting pull of his body's primal needs.
