The warehouse trembled with tension. Ribbons whipped violently through the air, clashing against concrete walls, but for the first time, Kane's control faltered noticeably.
Arata Kurogane moved cautiously, every sense alert. He had felt it—the shift in the Reaper's movements, the flicker of golden eyes beneath the black dominance.
Now… this is the opening, he thought.
Lucian's golden consciousness surged, flooding Kane's void-black control with pure human emotion.
No… I won't let him take over!
His hands shook violently, but he forced them to move with intent. One of the crimson ribbons, poised to strike, wavered, then snapped harmlessly to the floor.
Kane's voice roared internally:
"You dare defy me?! You are mine!"
But Lucian's golden eyes blazed, trembling with determination:
I am me… I am not just this… this darkness…
The internal battle caused Lucian's entire body to twist unnaturally. Ribbons clashed with each other mid-air, creating a storm of crimson threads that sparkled under the flickering lights.
Arata's eyes narrowed. He had seen the faintest crack in Kane's dominance, and he knew this was his chance to push further.
"Lucian! Focus! Use it! Show me who you are!" Arata called, voice steady but intense.
The words struck something deep within Lucian. For the first time, Kane's control was completely challenged by human will. A moment of clarity washed over him, and he realized he could influence his body despite Kane's presence.
Sera crouched on a nearby catwalk, her heart racing. She had seen countless shifts in Lucian, but this was different—raw, uncontrolled, yet powerful.
He's fighting back… he might actually… win this internal battle, she thought, her hands trembling with anticipation.
She whispered softly, almost to herself:
"Lucian… you can do it… hold on…"
Ribbons flew chaotically around the warehouse, a storm of crimson threads reflecting the conflict within. Kane's voice grew frantic, desperate to regain dominance:
"This… is… mine! I am justice!"
Lucian's golden eyes pierced through the storm:
No… I am me. I decide!
For the first time, Kane's control faltered visibly, and a dangerous calm replaced the storm. The Ribbons twitched, then hung suspended in mid-air as if waiting, giving everyone in the warehouse a fleeting glimpse of the man beneath the Reaper mask.