She woke—anxiety tight in her belly.
The hour was early, but birds already sang in the oak outside her window.

"Strange dream..." she whispered to herself. "What did it mean?"

Sleep-heavy fingers found her dream journal.

"I can be free.
My body is mine...
My life is MINE...
I decide."

The words made her heart tremble.
She repeated them slowly to herself, once more.
Then it came—that familiar weight crushing her chest. The same suffocating shield that always appeared when she dared think of freedom. Real freedom.

...pivot.

Deflect.

Deny...

"Just a dream. Nothing important."

Pen down. Phone up. Scroll.

In the underworld, a black sword was lowered to the ground with a sigh of relief.

He remained undefeated.