199 CXCIX. The Inner Struggle

"My time has not come yet!"

...

"Aaagh! Fuck! Grr... aagh!" shouted Dag, opening his eyes and barely breathing, as his own black liquid clutched his neck, trying to suffocate him.

Slowly, looking up, he managed to focus on the clouds and the blue sky, illuminated by the false Sun created by the Xis. 

"Dag! What the fuck are you doing?! Wake up!"

"Captain, what are you waiting for?! Free yourself!" 

Gridd and Reidar's voices echoed in his ears, while his senses were unstable, due to the tightness that the black liquid exerted on his neck.

Slowly, Dag looked down at his hand, opening it: the crystallized tear was there.

It wasn't just a dream or a vision, it was real.