Pain like nothing Aaron had ever felt before coursed through his body as he writhed on the cold, hard stone of the opulent mausoleum.
S-Stop.
He had no idea what Adam hoped to achieve with the core, or what his true goal even was; however, from the brief glimpse into his mind, he knew that this man shouldn't achieve his mission at any cost.
M-Mr. Crab abandoned me, Eleanor isn't breathing, and I can't move this useless body.
Images of the dead citizens rushed through his mind as he grimaced in agony, yet persevered against his impending demise with only one hope in mind.
"I… I need to stop him…"
His words were barely audible, with the winged man who was attempting manipulation of the core not even bearing a glance.
Pulses of magenta light surged and danced along his fingertips, crackling with a strange hue that concerned Aaron severely.
I-Is he controlling it?
Blood dripped from his eyes as he attempted to crawl towards the Dark Angel; however, the ringing in his ears faded, replaced by a blinding, searing headache that threatened his very sanity.
Visions of the last time he saw Eleanor inside the mindscape flashed past with new images of a blurred man floating in the sky.
Any attempt to remember the scene more clearly resulted in black bubbles forming on his skin, bursting with oozing goo that burned his flesh.
Craaeeeaaak
The unnatural sound of the Ghostship echoed through the chamber, with Adam throwing a cautious glance at it before speaking to Aaron loudly.
"You made a gamble when you brought this boat down here, and even I have to admit that it was unexpected; however, unless you planned to commit suicide, then you are truly a fool beyond a reasonable doubt."
His harsh words bounced meaninglessly off the downed boy's ears, instead leaving the room in an eerie silence.
"Tsk, can't you…?"
He paused as a hiss rang out through the chamber, deafening him immediately and shaking the very foundation itself.
In a second, a bright burst of magenta exploded from the core, entering Adam's body at a speed faster than the human eye could see.
"Finally! It's happening!"
Aaron watched as the man's form flickered and twitched, giving way to a gruesome transformation.
Each of his pitch black wings grew white before falling out in droves, coating the floor in a small pile stained with dirtied blood.
The man was consumed by bliss, while Aaron watched in horror as the core's entire power surged into his body, changing his very being to something more akin to a dream.
"More, more, MORE!"
His ravings echoed through the chamber as searing pain filled the blond-haired boy's heart, reminding him of the grim situation.
I-It's too late…
Boulders fell from the ceiling, crashing into the turquoise barrier that shielded the Ghostship; however, tiny shards of rock still embedded themselves into his soft skin, revealing fresh blood.
Aaron's gaze blurred for a moment as he felt a wave of familiarity warp around him, directly circling the rapidly changing man in the center of the room.
"What is this?"
Adam's voice was ripe with confusion, but didn't betray any hints of fear at the strange feeling coursing around him and the core.
Then, in an instant, sparks of bright blue light appeared, slowly wedging themselves into the shrinking crystal, replenishing its strength to its previous state.
"Hmm? More energy to absorb? This is perfect! Most of the original power was lost when that strange being appeared earlier, but now with even more of this, I can truly ascend to divinity!"
With a devilish smile, the red-haired man began to dig his hands deeper into the magenta orb, draining it of all that made it special.
However, unlike before, something unusual happened.
"Wait, this isn't what I—"
Instead of the same purple lightning that danced along his arms, merging into his body like sunlight, a new substance was being excreted that, for the first time, frightened Adam to his bones.
Slrp…
Black goop shot out, covering his entire figure in seconds with a single half shout barely escaping his sealed mouth as he collapsed to the floor, clawing at his face.
Aaron's thoughts had cleared temporarily, allowing him a moment of clarity to witness the terrifying scene.
W-What the hell is happening!? I-Is this my chance to escape?
His entire body was in shock and bleeding profusely, preventing him from moving; however, a single idea prevailed when no other solution could work.
"I need to unsummon the Ghostsh…"
The words died in his mouth as every dim torch in the mausoleum flickered, plunging the space into darkness.
Only the glow of the grounded vessel and the core remained illuminating the ghastly figure of Adam, who withered on the floor before coming to an abrupt stop.
A flash of magenta burst from the center of the chamber, bringing drowsiness to Aaron's mind, yet it was dispelled as his jaw fell in pure awe at the rising creature who had been consumed by the goo.
Pitch black tentacles formed on his back, stretching down to the floor, grabbing any weapon-like object they could find.
His face was a mutilated mess of flesh and blood, with it pulsating every so often with a guttural pop that induced a gag from the fifteen-year-old boy.
The previously orange eyes had turned gray, each dripping with the goo, creating tears of the substance that clumped together on his beard.
H-He became a real monster…
Aaron's limbs were slowly regaining motion; however, it wasn't nearly enough to move or even dodge this creature.
Please don't notice me, please don't notice me, please don't notice me.
His inward pleas reached their end when the inhuman being's neck twisted around so far that it could only be compared to an owl.
Its gaze was directly pinned on the Ghostship, and at the same time, the boy trapped below it.
"Y o u w i l l d i e."
The thing that used to be Adam's voice was a terrible screech that dug into Aaron's ears, disorienting him even more than he was already.
Dammit Dammit Dammit!
In utter fear as the creature began to inch closer and closer with its slimy tentacles propelling it forward, the blue-eyed boy used every last bit of remaining strength to move his finger even an inch to tap the ring.
Grraaaannkk
The Ghostship groaned as its barrier was pierced instantly by the horrifying monster brimming with the power of the Mausoleum of Dreams.
Aaron's hand twitched slightly as he pushed with all his force to complete this one final task that would help him escape.
C'mon C'mon C'mon!
And then, with his remaining energy, he felt his right thumb reach the ring that lay on his index finger.
THRUUM
Magic light zapped from the sapphire, soaking Aaron in ethereal mist while consuming the Ghostship into a blur of light when it vanished without a sound.
His entire body burned with agony; however, as his legs seized violently, he could feel motion returning.
"I m p r e s s i v e, b u t n o w y o u d i e."
The goop-covered monster held two of its slimy tentacles above its head, each carrying rocks the size of a cannonball.
Winding them back slowly, he twisted his body and spoke quietly.
"C a t c h."
Aaron's eyes widened as he watched the rocks leave their claws faster than his vision allowed, flying directly at his chest.
He had no time to react as the first of the two slammed into his lower abdomen, piercing straight through his skin, wedging itself inside him.
"AGHH—kuh—"
Blood poured out of the wound as the other boulder slammed through his left arm, just barely scraping against it while ripping off the protective layer of flesh.
Screams of anguish died within his throat as the former pains from the backlash paled in comparison to what he was feeling now.
His hands shook as he slowly reached down and touched the gaping hole that rested near his stomach, revealing sickly crimson blood drenching his hand.
A cold feeling wrapped around his body, something strange, something ancient; however, in the agony, all that fell were tears of red.
"W a s t h a t n o t e n o u g h?"
Adam's corrupted form let out a bone-chilling screech that could only be compared to laughter as he raised his other dark tentacles, all aimed at the collapsed boy who was choking on his blood.
Fwoooosh!
Without warning, a bright burst of turquoise lightning shot forth from the crystalline core that lay drained in the center of the room, striking in front of Aaron.
"Dear me, this pathetic situation has gotten a little out of control, hasn't it?"
The voice speaking barely registered inside Aaron's mind, yet a feeling that struck awe and respect into his dying body wedged its way to the forefront of his thoughts.
"...Old... Man…"
As he spoke the words quietly, as if any louder would shatter him to pieces, his sight whirled as he collapsed to the ground, asleep, but alive.