29 The Awakening of Sonar and the Sun of the Sea of Soul
Castle Catacombs
In the still, silent halls of the castle's catacombs, where the cold stone whispered ancient tales of power, Ferdinand, Catherine, Felicia, Victoria, and John watched in reverent silence as Prince Leonel Albert traced the magic circle of evolution.
In his hands, Leonel held a mulatta stone—a rare and valuable fragment of pure, condensed spiritual energy. With it, he scratched the stone floor, leaving a shimmering trail in the air, as if the ether itself were being etched into the physical world. The mulatta stone was a relic of power, used exclusively to draw arcane matrices and ritual circles whose precision was a matter of life or death.
The first line was a perfect circle—a symbol of the world, the macrocosm. Within it, another smaller circle emerged: man, the microcosm. Between them, Leonel began the connection: subtle and harmonious lines that represented the five fundamental elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—symbolic bridges between the individual and the nature that surrounds him.
Each line was more than a line: it was a channel of mystical flow. With firmness, Leonel drew the diagram of the cycle of creation, superimposing curves and intersections with mathematical and almost ritualistic precision. For each element, a corresponding offering was placed at specific points:
White, pure, dry wood, for the wood element;
A glowing volcanic stone, crackling with energy, for the fire;
One acquired from sacred earth, harvested from the Sanctuary of the Deep, to represent the earth element;
Black nitrile, dense and shiny, like the heart of a meteor, for metal;
Fresh spring water, clear and living, for the water element.
One by one, the connections between man and nature were completed.
Then Leonel bent over the magic circle, now nearly completed, and with the same mulatto stone began to inscribe the mnemonic chants—forgotten words from the ancient language of the heavens, meant to invoke the favor of the spirits and guide the soul along the path of evolution. The inscriptions formed spirals and complex patterns, rotating in harmony with the forces of the cosmos.
Finally, I began applying supplementary materials. One by one, Leonel carefully arranged some 250 rare ingredients, each carrying specific properties—alchemical speculations, mineral essences, and relics of mystical beasts —spread out as if embroidering reality itself. The process was meticulous and time-consuming, requiring absolute concentration.
"We can come now," Leonel called, his voice ringing like a sacred bell in the heavy air of the catacombs.
John exchanged a glance with Fernando, who responded with a slight nod—a silent but meaningful approval. Without hesitation, John stepped into the magic circle and sat in the center, adopting the lotus posture as instructed.
Leonel took the box Fernando had given him earlier—a gift from Francisca, Isa's mother. Opening it carefully, he sprinkled a fine gray powder over John's body: the ground bones of a werewolf. The substance seemed to glow from within, reacting to the circle as if it recognized the energy present there.
Then Fernando handed him a second box. Leonel hesitated for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. He knew what was in there.
As he opened the lid, a golden light shot out as if the sun itself had been compressed and sealed. Within lay a primary-class Paragon core—a living jewel , pulsing with spiritual energy with an almost unbearable intensity. The air around it vibrated. Even the stone walls seemed to shudder in response.
The ceremony was about to begin.
Evolution Ritual — Catacombs
Leonel took a deep breath and adjusted his own spiritual flow, ensuring that he would not interfere with the circle. Everyone present did the same, sinking into an almost reverent silence.
With surgical care, he lifted John's tunic to the navel and, in a slow gesture, inserted the Paragon Core into the dantian region . In an instant, the five elements drawn in the arcane lines shot toward the newly ‑implanted core, like rivers flowing to the sea.
Spiritual energy converged into a living wave—and John's body began to devour ‑it.
The pain came like a storm.
A dark, viscous liquid seeped through his pores, covering ‑him completely as he writhed. Every muscle throbbed; visions danced before his eyes. To endure the torment, John bit his lips until blood ran down his cheeks.
The black fluid formed a cocoon around him, dense as pitch—a vortex that sucked energy from the surroundings and returned it, refined, to his changing body.
Then the snap came.
The sound of bones breaking, one by one, echoed through the catacombs. Leonel frowned: this was completely out of protocol—but the extraordinary did not stop there. A crimson aura erupted from John's flesh, spreading ‑through the cocoon like liquid fire.
Leonel tried to release his own higher energy to dispel the phenomenon, but he retreated when he realized the origin: the source was John himself.
—What's going on? — Catarina murmured , pale.
"The energy comes from him," Leonel replied, still in disbelief. "I can't extinguish ‑it without risking the boy's life."
—And what can we do? — Fernando's voice was trembling, but firm.
Victoria and Felicia exchanged uncertain glances. They had both witnessed many rites of evolution — including their own — and had never seen anything like it.
— Aren't you the greatest researcher in the kingdom? Then find out! — Catarina said , panic tearing ‑her voice.
"Calm down," Fernando asked, placing his hand on his wife's shoulder before turning to the prince. "Leonel, is there anything we can do?"
The prince took a deep breath, assessing the pulsing cocoon.
"For now, stay ‑calm," he replied, adjusting his tone to convey reassurance. "If this energy is part of him, we need to watch and wait. Any premature intervention could be fatal."
The crimson glow intensified ‑, casting flickering shadows across the ancient walls. And in the heart of the cocoon, John fought his silent battle—between pain, power…and something neither of them yet understood.
Catacombs – the core in crisis
Leonel stabilized his own energy flow, closed his eyes for a moment, and sent his "spiritual sonar" beyond the cocoon. When he spoke again, his voice carried astonishment.
—The crimson aura… it comes from his soul.
As head of the circle, Leonel saw every fiber, every bone, every glimmer of power within John. Princess Victoria could not contain her disbelief.
— From the soul? That doesn't make any sense!
Fernando leaned ‑forward.
— What else did you discover?
— This energy is destroying the boy's body from the inside… crushing bones, tissues, everything — Leonel hesitated, his eyes widening. — It's ‑impossible… this is impossible!
The words died away. He went pale, then began to laugh—at first softly, then in a mad crescendo that echoed off the walls.
Victoria took a step back, doubting that the man was really her father. Catarina clenched her fists, ready to kick ‑him out of there. Fernando just frowned, tense. Hysterical laughter permeated the air, adding to the cracking of the cocoon.
Finally, Leonel gasped and let out a single sentence:
— A miracle.
— Explain ‑yourself — Fernando demanded.
"The boy will survive," Leonel took a deep breath. "But only if we fill his body with vitality. The crimson aura is destroying his cells even as it rebuilds them, removing impurities and expanding their potential. ‑He lacks the vital energy to sustain the process."
— Then we will give him that vitality — Catarina was already stepping forward, willing to sacrifice her own life force.
Leonel raised his hand, signaling calm.
— We can all contribute. It will just take a steady flow until the cocoon dissipates.
What Leonel did not say out loud, not even to himself, was the most astonishing aspect : the crimson energy acted as an absolute catalyst, transmuting raw spiritual energy into whatever element John needed—ignoring limits of affinity. It was as if the very laws of nature bowed ‑to that inner will.
There, under the red light that pulsed like a second heart, began not only John's evolution... but the harbinger of something that no one, not even the greatest researcher in the kingdom, dared to name.
Catacombs – the forbidden catalyst
It meant more than anyone there could comprehend at the time. The crimson energy didn't just rebuild John's body—it rewrote the fundamental rules of magic.
Could someone born with the element of fire transmute it into water? Yes. Could metal turn into earth, or light into darkness? Absolutely. The crimson energy respected no boundaries of affinity; it molded spiritual energy to its user's will—or perhaps, to their vital need.
It was the perfect catalyst.
That's why Leonel Albert , the greatest researcher in the kingdom, lost his mind for a moment. Because he had finally glimpsed the answer to the dilemma that had been consuming his sanity for years: his daughter Vitória.
A body of ice… and a bloodline of fire. A paradox that threatened to kill her since birth.
But now… now, he could change that. He could change everything .
—What should we do? — asked Fernando, anxiously.
Leonel woke from his reverie with a slight start. He hid the obsessed gleam in his eyes and smiled again—a smile too wide to be just compassion.
— You don't have to do anything. I'll take care of the rest.
—Then please save my son—said Catarina, clasping her hands with tears in her eyes.
Leonel nodded, but deep down he had already decided: even if no one asked him, he would save the boy. John was the key to much more.
— Lord Fernando , I will do everything in my power to save you. But… there is something I want in return.
Fernando narrowed his eyes.
— What do you want?
"A little of that energy," Leonel said seriously. "Just the residual portion that leaks from the cocoon. I won't touch what's inside his body."
Fernando hesitated for a second, but his father's instincts spoke louder.
— Okay. Do it.
Without wasting any time, Leonel turned the storage ring and took out dozens of magically sealed bottles. Not two or three—but more than a hundred.
Everyone in the room was stunned. These life-giving potions were too rare, too valuable. Just one of them was enough to feed a small clan for months. That amount could sustain the Venhorst region for an entire decade.
—He stole the royal safe? — Victoria murmured , astonished.
Leonel said nothing. One by one, he poured the vials into the cocoon, directing the vitality with extreme precision. Gradually, the spasms in John's body ceased. His face, previously contorted with pain, softened. He was still unconscious, but alive.
— Done. Now, we just have to wait. — Leonel exhaled deeply, sweating, but smiling with satisfaction. — He should have enough vitality to complete the ritual.
An hour passed.
Two hours.
Three hours.
The cocoon was still pulsing, like a cosmic egg about to hatch. The energy in the air was dense, as if space were folding in on itself. Everyone was alert, exhausted, and at the same time filled with anticipation.
What would come out of there… would no longer be the same John.
And Leonel… knew this better than anyone.
Ten o'clock. One day.Two days.
Time slipped by like golden sand through helpless fingers. Everyone's anxiety grew, like the tense crackle before thunder. During this time, Leonel, ever meticulous, carefully collected an impressive amount of the crimson energy that was escaping from John's body—without ever touching him directly.
Inside John's soul — the Sea of Soul.
The once calm sky was now boiling with flaming clouds. The crystal clear waters, which had once reflected serenity , were in a state of boiling. The entire Soul Sea expanded with controlled violence. It was as if a primordial force was pushing it beyond its own limits.
In the center, suspended above the waters, the egg—pulsing with a rhythmic glow—absorbed every drop of life energy poured into it. Around it, crimson currents swirled like miniature galaxies. The crimson energy spread majestically, purifying and strengthening every drop of the soul.
In the sky, a new sun had risen—a star of transcendent heat—symbolizing the new cycle of the soul. Beneath the surface, enveloped by the waters, the core of John's Dantian Region could be seen. The crimson energy touched him… and something indescribable began.
Crack.Crack.Crack .
The core split.
And then it was rebuilt.
It broke again.
It was destroyed and reborn dozens of times, as if the universe was trying to nail down the exact form of its perfection. When it finally ceased, the core had completely merged with the Soul Sea, radiating harmony. The connection was absolute. There was no longer any separation between body, spirit, and essence.
And then, something else awakened.
The baby Oni.
Before, he had seemed fragile—a translucent creature, wavering between existence and disappearance. But now...
Now, his presence was overwhelming.
Her body was pure solidified energy, vibrant and cohesive. A crimson-orange hue defined her gleaming skin, and black patterns—strange, almost arcane—snaked across her small body like living tattoos. Her features... they were already beginning to resemble John's.
The Oni opened his eyes.
He surveyed the Soul Sea with a calm but inquisitive gaze. The clear waters stretched endlessly, the sky was dominated by the new sun. When he raised his hand, space reacted. The waves followed his will. The sky trembled slightly. Even the light adjusted, as if it recognized the Lord of the Soul there .
He then looked at himself. His eyes shone with a glimmer of silent understanding.
And he smiled.
Without saying a word, without thinking any more, he returned to the egg. He closed his baby eyes and fell asleep again—as if waiting for the right moment to be born.
Crack.Crack .
In the real world, the cocoon where John had been sealed all this time began to crack. The dry, unsettling sound of glass breaking echoed through the catacombs, making everyone hold their breath.
Then the cocoon exploded into sparkling fragments.
John's figure was finally revealed.
His body had undergone a metamorphosis. Although he was only eight years old, he now looked like a young man of twelve—or even older. His muscles were softly outlined against his childlike form, firm as those of a warrior just starting out. His skin was... smooth , gleaming, with the freshness of a newborn.
But then — pain .
John held his head in both hands and screamed, a guttural, desperate sound that reverberated through the stone corridors.
— Aaaaaahhh ! Haáá ... ha... haáá ! —
His veins seemed to bulge beneath his skin. His eyes, wide, sought relief in the void.
Leonel approached calmly and firmly, and his voice cut through the chaos with calm authority:
— Calm down. Just focus on my voice. Ignore everything else...
The words floated like gentle waves on the turbulent sea of John's mind. Slowly the tremor in his shoulders stopped, and his breathing steadied. The pain was still there—but it had been tamed.
—What you are seeing now is the result of Sonar — Leonel explained, observing the boy's eyes closely. — Now you are able to see energy... feel energy. You can also see waves, patterns, and detect complexities that your old senses would never perceive.
John was stunned.
— Extraordinary... — he murmured .
He looked around—but not with ordinary eyes. With his sonar activated, he saw as if the world itself were made of living patterns. The walls pulsed with traces of spiritual energy. Elements danced in the air, vibrating in shapes so small they would make a needle look like a mountain. Every particle carried purpose. Order. Meaning.
— Close your eyes — instructed Leonel. — Now open them again.
John obeyed. When he opened them, the energy vision was gone. Only ordinary reality remained.
— Again. Close. Open.
John repeated the gesture. And then— boom —the sonar returned, flooding his perception with that cosmic symphony.
" Amazing! " he exclaimed , excited as if he had discovered a new meaning. Leonel smiled.
— That will be useful. But remember: knowing how to turn it off is just as important as knowing how to turn it on.
John nodded and, at Leonel's request, disabled the sonar with a single blink of his eye.
Clap.Clap .
The sound of applause filled the catacombs. Felícia, Vitória, Leonel... even the austere Fernando applauded. With tears in her eyes, Catarina ran to her son and hugged him tightly—as if she was afraid of losing him again.
— Congratulations, son... — she whispered through tears. — You're back.
Fernando approached, placed a firm hand on John's shoulder and said proudly:
— You are now a Primary Being, Level 1. I am proud of you.
John smiled, a little embarrassed by so much attention, but grateful.
— Junior , you left your mother worried... missing for two days... — Fernando said , in a tone mixed with reprimand and relief, while shaking his head slightly.
After pulling away from Catarina's tight embrace, John felt a strange chill run through his body. Looking down, his eyes widened, and his face immediately turned red with embarrassment.
He was naked.
With an instinctive gesture, he covered himself with his arms, bending his body.— Aaah !
Everyone around burst out laughing. John's tail curled up in an automatic reflex, mirroring his embarrassment. Even Felicia laughed out loud, while Fernando tried to contain his laughter with a discreet cough.
Leonel, however, remained calm. He removed his cloak without saying a word and covered the boy with a gentle gesture, protecting his dignity. John stammered a barely audible "thank you."
Still, he couldn't look at Victoria. She remained silent, watching — and that was precisely why she was the greatest source of embarrassment.
Hours later, everyone left the ancient catacombs of Venhorst Castle . The tense atmosphere had finally given way to relief.
They recommended that everyone rest, including John. After all, it had been days without sleep, filled with tension, rituals, silence and anxiety.
John was alone in his room, lying on his bed, trying to organize his thoughts... when he heard a voice out of nowhere.
— So, John... how 's it going?
John sat up suddenly, eyes wide.
— Who's there?! — he asked , scanning the room with his eyes.
— I'm here. — said the voice.
— Here where?! I can't see you!
— Close your eyes and focus on my voice.
John hesitated, but something in the voice was familiar. Reluctantly, he obeyed. He closed his eyes... took a deep breath ... and let the unseen presence guide him.
When he opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
— Where... am I ?
— Look around and tell me yourself — replied the voice.
John looked. And recognized him immediately.
— The sea of the soul...
The liquid expanse stretched without limits. The sky was serene, with the same new sun shining high above. The waters were clear, calm—and in the center of it all, the egg.
But now it was cracked.
Before him, the Oni .
The baby had changed. His form was no longer translucent or fragile. Now his body was made of pure condensed energy, hues of crimson and orange, adorned with black patterns that pulsed with power. Even with his childlike features, there was something about him... ancient .
— You've changed a lot... — said John, looking at the Oni with a mixture of astonishment and respect.
— And you're still weak. Not like before... but still weak. — the Oni replied , bluntly.
John frowned, but didn't respond. It wasn't a taunt. It was a fact—and he knew it.
He looked around and, for the first time, felt something new: intimidation. As if he had returned to a forgotten home.
— Pay attention. — said the Oni, crossing his arms. — I 'll teach you to come here whenever you want.
- Serious?
– Of course. After all... this place is ours.
John smiled.
— Look at the sun in the sky. — ordered the Oni.
John gently looked at him. The sun was intense, radiant. " I'm looking."
— You just need to focus on it. Fix it in your mind. And automatically... you will come here.
- Just that?
- Just that.
— Is it time to go out?
— Focus on where you were before. The place, the smell, the sound. Try it now. Go back and forth on your own.
João agreed. He closed his eyes, focused on the room... and like magic, he woke up right there, lying down.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes again — and visualized the sun.
In a blink of an eye, he was back in the sea of souls.
He smiled.
He had learned.
Continued...
Author's Note:
Wow , my people... Boy John had barely woken up and was already completely exposed ! But between you and me... who has never left the cocoon of life naked and without knowing what was going on, right ?
The important thing is that he has now unlocked the Ultimate Sonar mode and gained a VIP pass to the Soul Sea — a kind of spiritual login that only the tough ones have. And the Oni? Oh, he's just starting to show himself. Don't be fooled by his size, that baby over there is more refined than an ex 's thoughts at three in the morning.
And now it's your turn: ✦ What do you think Oni really wants? ✦ Is John ready or will he bang his head until he learns the hard way? ✦ And Vitória... did she notice more than she should have?
Leave your comments, vote, share with your fellow travelers and remember: you shape this world with your words and presence. Thank you for your votes, comments and donations. You are the sun in my soul's sea!
Continued...