He sat on the edge of the deck of the ship, his back to the railing as he stared out to the endless ocean. His mind wandered back to what Psyros had said to him regarding not being careless with his Symbiote powers. The weight of that warning still lingered within him. He knew Psyros was right, but another idea formed nonetheless. Answers were needed, and Aiko would be able to provide them.
Getting up from his spot, Luca went into the ship's kitchen. Aiko was cooking her heart out in there, staring intently at all the ingredients lined up in front of her. She was making a dinner with wild mushrooms and bits of wild pig, expertly chopping away with a very sharp knife.
"Aiko," Luca said from the doorway.
Aiko looked up, setting the knife down. "Yes, I have a minute. What's up?
"I need your help with something," Luca replied.
Aiko wiped her hands on a nearby rag and nodded. "Sure, lead the way."
Luca motioned for her to follow and together they walked to the edge of the deck. The air danced softly around them, the waves of the ocean slapping against the hull of the ship. Aiko turned to him, curiosity in her eyes.
"What is this about?" she asked.
Luca took a deep breath. "I want you to bring out your Symbiote."
Aiko looked just a little confused but nodded nonetheless. "Alright… Come forth, Allias."
From Aiko's body emerged this beautiful creature-a great, eagle-like being with pink hair, pink eyelashes, and this gorgeous coat of white fur. It was so divine, floating graciously beside Aiko.
Luca stared in awe. "Wow… so this is your Symbiote."
Aiko smiled softly. "Yes, that's her. This is Allias."
Luca spoke directly to the creature himself. "Hello, Allias. Sorry to disturb you. My name is Luca."
In a voice from divinity and serenity, Allias replied, "Nice to meet you too, Luca. What troubles you?"
Luca was at a loss for words but finally asked, "I wanted to know… could a Symbiote take birth in our world?"
Allias cocked her head slightly. "Yes, it is. Why do you ask?"
Luca looked away for a moment. "Just curious."
Allias continued to stare steadily. "Why didn't you ask your own Symbiote?"
Luca let out a slight laugh. "That's a good question.
Allias continued, her tone even and grave. "It is very much possible for a Symbiote to be born here. In all frankness, however, the Symbiote would not last too long in this world. The source of our powers comes from another realm. If it took birth and then took up a human host here, it would drain its life-force without it or its host being aware.
Suddenly, Luca heard the familiar voice of Psyros calling out to him inside his head. "Boy…"
Luca hastened to thank Allias. "That's all I wanted to know. Thank you."
Allias nodded. "Of course." With that, she disappeared back into Aiko, who turned to him with the curiosity still there.
"What was that all about?" Aiko asked.
Luca tried to let it go. "Nothing. This thought just came into my mind, and I was curious.
Aiko watched him a moment, then nodded heavily. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," he said with a small smile. "I'm sorry to take up your time."
Aiko waved it off. "Anything for you, Luca." She turned and went back into the kitchen, returning to her cooking.
Luca stood where he was, stuck in thought. His mind was milling with everything he had just learned. Snapping out of it, he took a deep breath and snapped his fingers, which created a big visible barrier that enveloped him. He had trapped himself in some protective box.
"Psyros, komio," called Luca. His voice betrayed anguish.
Psyros emerged from Luca's body, towering over him. Immediately, Luca confronted him. "I cannot believe you never told me this," he said. His voice shook with emotion. "Did you know? Did you know you were killing me?"
Psyros's response was cool but firm. "Yes."
Luca's eyes went wide with astonishment. "Why? Why didn't you tell me?"
Psyros' eyes shone as he spoke. "I was going to, but then I changed my mind."
"You changed your mind?" Luca echoed, his voice rising higher. "You changed your mind about telling me that you were killing me?"
"Boy, listen to me," Psyros interrupted, his voice more intense now. "It's deeper than you think."
"Deeper?" Luca exclaimed, baffled, furious. "Explain."
Psyros's tone was softer a little as he began explaining. "Once, I was bonded with a human. I was just a newborn Symbiote, stuck in the ruins for several years. One day, someone called on me to bond with a human. Her name was Angelica. She was strong and utilized 20% of my powers. Strong, fast, determined… then weaker by the day. I thought maybe it was because of me. I tried to warn her, but she wouldn't believe me. Then, one day, she died.and I was back in the ruins, trapped for another number of years. Then, one day, I bonded with you."
Psyros stopped, regret heavy in his voice. "Every day I'd thought to tell you. but when I found out you were half Symbiote, I thought I wouldn't hurt you like before. Mistakes I've made, boy; trying to live with them, anyway."
Luca's anger dissipated somewhat as he listened to him. "I didn't know. I didn't understand."
"Nobody does," Psyros said softly.
Luca's mind was racing as he took a deep breath. "How were you born into this world?"
Psyros' eyes flickered for a moment. "I do not know," he said honestly, and then merged once more into Luca.
Luca stood still in silence for several moments while his mind tried to sort through everything. But just right before he could process it all, a scream pierced the air. It was Aiko.
Luca ran across the deck without the slightest hesitation as his heart started pounding rapidly. He finally reached the source of the scream and saw Aiko lying unconscious, with a tall Naxon standing over her, an aura of energy surrounding it, mean.
"Aiko!" Luca shouted, launching himself at the Naxon. Throwing a full-strength punch, he was met with a different Naxon altogether-stronger than any he had previously encountered. The creature caught Luca's fist with ease and flung him across the deck.
Luca growled then turned serious. He held out his hand, focusing his telekinesis to try and seize the Naxon, but it didn't even budge. It was as if the Naxon were utterly impervious to his powers.
Determined, Luca appeared behind the Naxon, snapping his fingers to create an invisible barrier around its head, trying to crush it. But the Naxon didn't budge-strong beyond his wildest imagination. Then, in another swift motion, Luca jumped over it, trying to land on the top of the creature's skull with a strong strike, but it dodged it easily.
Luca drew his sword and in a wild hope that he could slice its head clean off lunged at the Naxon. His blade bit into the neck of the creature, but it did little more than produce a shallow cut. The Naxon merely reached out, grasped him by the throat, and hoisted him off the ground. He squeezed hard, and Luca's senses began to fade.
In a flash, Luca burst into a light explosion, which was overcome by the Symbiote form. From his body, waves of energy rolled off his skin and changed the features to become that of a being oozing with Psyros's power.
"Stop… calm down… this is not you," Psyros' voice echoed in Luca's head, but he was deaf.
In the blink of an eye, Luca was right in front of the Naxon; he moved as fast as light. He grabbed Aiko and jumped back to keep out of harm's way, then forward again in a flash towards the Naxon. He gave it a strong punch in its face that sent the creature flying across the deck. Even before the Naxon could touch the deck, Luca just appeared behind it, striking again with another strong hit.
Then he stretched his hand with telekinesis and clutched the Naxon in mid-air, squeezing with all his might. To which the Naxon merely laughed. "Is this all you've got, human?"
Giving a surge of strength, the Naxon freed itself from Luca's telekinetic grasp. Screaming with frustration, he made a huge barrier above the Naxon in an attempt to crush it. With merely a tap of the finger, the Naxon was able to shatter the barrier into pieces.
But before Luca could even react, the Naxon appeared in front of him and clasped his arm. With one sickening crack, it broke Luca's arm clean off. Even that did not stop Luca, who merely gasped in pain, charging at the Naxon once more. Behind him this time, though, the monster sliced off his other arm.
But, in spite of the agony, Luca refused to give up. He charged once more, and the Naxon caught him by the throat once more, lifting him in the air. "You're worthless," the Naxon hissed. "You won't even make a good meal for the king."
The Naxon had thrown Luca across the deck like a ragdoll before snatching up Aiko's lifeless body. It flung its hand upwards, a portal opening before it passed through. Luca scrambled desperately to his feet to pursue, but it was too late. The portal closed before him.
NOOOOOOOO!" Luca screamed, his voice's roar strong across the ocean to have formed large waves forward that surged and crashed into the ship below. Strong enough, the intensity of the sound had the ship below him started to splinter and break apart. But it was too much for Luca in this intense moment. His eyes blurred and then the world began to fade out. Then he fell to the deck, knocking himself out.
Out of Luca's body emerged Psyros. The black dragon of menace appeared, and his huge form towered above the broken fragments of the ship. His purplish, piercing eyes viewed Luca, lying helpless on the deck as Psyros's gaze fell upon him. Luca's body was back to his human form; his arms were gone, leaving him defenseless.
Psyros's deep voice rumbled softly as he stared at Luca. "This is goodbye," he said, the coldness of his tone with finality still laced with a hint of sadness. Slowly, Psyros' body started to dissolve back into Luca. The essence of the dragon flowed into him, and with that, Psyros was no more; after him, there was silence.
The night passed in utter silence now, as the ocean had become quiet, too. The next morning, Luca woke up in the middle of the deck. The ship was stationary, and the world was abnormally quiet. Slowly, he sat up, and his head was just foggy, disoriented. His shirt was ripped open, and his bare chest showed, but his amazement found that his hands were back. He stared at them in utter disbelief while recollections trickled back to his mind.
It struck him like a wave. He leapt up; in his chest, a tidal wave of panic welling. "Aiko! Leon!" he frantically screamed. "Where are you?!"
There was no answer but the echo of waves gently lapping at the remains of the broken ship.
Luca stared at his hands, and he felt his heart tear up. Well up, his eyes did, and in a whisper, he spoke to himself, "I failed. I failed… I didn't protect them… So weak…
Of course, the weight of his words came down heavily upon him, but then something clicked in his head. Wide, his eyes went, remembering Psyros- whom he needed now more than ever.
He yelled out, clear and steady. "Come forth, Psyros!"
But there was no answer. The moment after seemed to grow silently deafening.
Luca tried once more, his voice shaking. "Psyros, come forth!"
Again, silence.
Where Psyros was supposed to be was a painfully gaping hole now.