SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 48: Crossing the Point of No Return

Chapter 48: Crossing the Point of No Return

The forest erupted with chaos as the battle between Drace and Morvane raged on. Morvane, despite his determination, found himself at a clear disadvantage. His shadow beast lunged repeatedly at Drace, only for its attacks to be effortlessly evaded or dissolved by invisible forces.

Drace moved with a calm precision, his steps measured and deliberate, as though he had already decided the outcome. Morvane gritted his teeth, frustration mounting with every failed strike.

Blood dripped from his wounded arm, and pain shot through his body, but he refused to yield. Suddenly, his gaze flickered to his frame, strapped securely at his side. It held the power gems—the last remnants of hope he had to turn the tide.

Without hesitation, Morvane reached for it, his fingers trembling as he pulled out the red gem. It gleamed ominously in his hand, pulsing with energy.

He crushed it against his chest, and a wave of heat surged through him. His veins lit with fiery magic as flames danced across his skin. The shadow beast seemed to howl in resonance with its master, feeding off the new energy.

Morvane thrust his hand forward, a torrent of fire spiraling toward Drace. The inferno tore through the forest, trees igniting in its wake.

Drace’s eyes narrowed, his expression calm yet intrigued. As the flames licked toward him, he sidestepped gracefully, the fire splitting around him as though repelled by an unseen force.

"Is this your power now?" Drace asked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and disdain. "Interesting... but not enough."

Morvane pushed on, flames erupting with every movement of his hands. The forest became an inferno, but his injured arm slowed him, his attacks lacking the precision and strength he needed.

Drace finally raised his hand, and with a simple gesture, a force slammed into Morvane. It pinned him to the ground, the grass beneath him flattening from the impact.

The air was knocked out of him, and the flames around his body flickered weakly. Drace stood over him, his shadow looming large.

Morvane clenched his teeth, refusing to let despair take hold. His gaze shifted back to the frame. He pulled out the sky-blue gem, crushing it against his chest like the first.

A cool breeze swept through the burning forest as the power of air magic coursed through him. The balance of fire and wind made his movements faster, his attacks more fluid.

Morvane rose to his feet, flames swirling around him as gusts of wind amplified their power. He launched a series of combined attacks—blasts of fire driven by whirlwinds—but Drace still didn’t fight back.

Instead, Drace evaded each strike with ease, his movements almost mocking. His expression remained neutral, as though this battle were little more than an inconvenience.

"You’ve improved," Drace remarked, his tone laced with sarcasm. "But you’re only delaying the inevitable."

For nearly an hour, Morvane pushed himself, unleashing everything he had. But with his injured arm and the toll of magic draining his strength, his movements became sluggish. The fire dimmed, the winds weakened.

Drace’s voice broke the silence. "Are you done yet?"

Morvane fell to one knee, panting heavily, his energy nearly depleted. His shadow beast flickered, its form unstable and fading. Desperation clawed at him as he reached for the frame one last time.

He didn’t hesitate. He crushed all the remaining gems against his chest in one motion. A surge of power like nothing he had ever felt flooded his body. Fire, wind, earth, water, and lightning swirled around him, their energies colliding and merging.

The forest seemed to tremble in response as Morvane stood, his body glowing with the combined power of the elements. His shadow beast roared, its form stabilizing and growing in size.

Drace stopped moving, his gaze sharpening. For the first time, a flicker of something new crossed his face—interest, perhaps even concern.

Morvane’s voice was steady despite the exhaustion weighing on him. "This ends here, Drace."

The battle was far from over.

Drace finally launched his counterattack, his forces slamming toward Morvane with relentless ferocity. But this time, Morvane, empowered by the elements, moved swiftly, evading each strike with newfound agility.

"So," Drace said, his voice laced with mockery, "you’ve finally learned how to keep up. Impressive."

Morvane clenched his fist, channeling the swirling energy within him. With a focused gesture, he unleashed a beam of searing light, a concentrated fusion of elemental power that cut through the air like a blazing spear.

Drace attempted to sidestep, but the beam grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep, burning wound. He staggered slightly, his composure slipping as fury overtook him.

His eyes narrowed, his voice dark and venomous. "You’ll regret that."

Drace raised his hand, and the air thickened with malice as he muttered his next manifestation. "You will lose the ability to walk. You will not stand again."

Morvane gasped as his knees buckled beneath him. He fell to the ground, his legs completely paralyzed. Desperation filled his eyes as he tried to rise, but his body refused to obey.

Drace’s laughter echoed through the forest. "Let’s make this worse, shall we? You’ll lose the ability to wield your arms, too."

Morvane’s arms fell limp at his sides, useless and unresponsive. He couldn’t move, couldn’t fight back. Drace’s voice grew louder, triumphant, as he strode closer, savoring the moment.

But just as Drace reached him, the sky above darkened. Thunder rumbled ominously, and a sudden bolt of lightning struck the ground near Drace. He jumped back, barely avoiding the strike.

Drace looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to annoyance. "Oh? You’re controlling the weather now?"

Morvane’s eyes burned with defiance, though his body remained immobilized. The storm above intensified, lightning crackling across the sky. He summoned everything he had left, forcing the storm to bend to his will.

Drace smirked, seemingly unfazed. "It’s a good effort, I’ll admit. But you’re wasting your strength."

He extended his hand again, his voice brimming with cruelty. "You will lose the powers you have."

Morvane felt the elemental energy drain from his body. The fire, the wind, the lightning—all of it began to fade, slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Drace crouched down beside him, leaning close to his ear. His breath was cold, his words chilling.

"Stories are meant to be heroes versus villains, not villains versus villains," he whispered, his tone almost playful. Then, with a low chuckle, he added, "Don’t worry—I enjoyed our little fight."

Morvane’s breath hitched as Drace leaned back, his hand raised for the final blow. "I’m going to kill you now."

The storm raged above, but Morvane’s strength was all but gone. This felt like the end.

Morvane closed his eyes, his body utterly still as he accepted his fate. His mind raced with fleeting thoughts—regret, guilt, and memories of the moments he had tried to do good in the world.

Drace stood over him, his hand raised and trembling as he prepared to end Morvane’s life. But as he looked at Morvane’s defeated form, something inside him shifted.

The memories of their past interactions—the times Morvane showed him kindness, the times he refused to treat him as a monster—rushed back into his mind. Drace lowered his gaze to his hands, stained with destruction, and felt something foreign stir in his chest.

His vision blurred, and he blinked, only to realize tears were streaming down his face. He wiped at them furiously, as though trying to erase the evidence.

"Why am I... crying?" he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Villains aren’t supposed to pity. Villains aren’t supposed to feel this."

He raised his arm again, trying to steel himself, but his body rebelled. His voice faltered, the words refusing to leave his lips. His power, the one thing he could always rely on, now seemed unwilling to obey.

"What... is this?" Drace whispered, his voice cracking.

Morvane opened his eyes slowly, the sight of Drace’s tear-streaked face shocking him. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Morvane broke the silence, his voice soft yet firm. "You’re not a bad person, Drace. You’re not evil. You’re just confused."

Drace froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Your power isn’t a curse," Morvane continued, his tone steady despite his immobilized state. "It’s a gift. You just have to learn how to use it for something greater. For good."

Drace shook his head violently, stepping back as if trying to distance himself from the words. "No... no, I am evil. Look at what I’ve done!" His voice rose, filled with self-loathing. "Look at the people I’ve hurt! The destruction I’ve caused!"

Tears fell freely now, but his frustration burned hotter. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and muttered through clenched teeth, "You are going to break your neck!"

The air thickened as the manifestation took hold. Morvane felt the familiar pull of Drace’s power, a suffocating force tightening around him.

But then... nothing happened.

Drace’s body shook violently, his hand trembling as he fought against himself. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head as though trying to silence a voice screaming in his mind.

"What’s... happening?" Drace gasped. His voice cracked with desperation as he looked at Morvane, his tears blurring the world around him. "Why can’t I do it?!"

Morvane’s voice was calm, almost serene. "Because deep down, you don’t want to."

Drace stared at him, his expression torn between fury and despair. His lips quivered as he tried to deny it, but the words refused to come.

"You’re stronger than this, Drace," Morvane said. "You’re stronger than the fear and the pain that’s holding you back. You just need to believe it."

Drace’s breathing hitched, his power flickering like a dying flame. His hand fell to his side as he collapsed to the ground, his head bowed in defeat.

The storm above began to quiet, the winds slowing and the lightning fading. The forest, though scarred, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would come next.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Drace whispered, "I don’t know how to stop."

Morvane’s voice softened. "Then let me help you."

Drace stared at Morvane, his tears slowly drying as a cold resolve took over. His trembling hands stilled, and he stood up, turning his back on his fallen opponent.

"You can’t help me," Drace said, his voice hollow, distant. "Look at you. Look what I’ve done. I’ve paralyzed you. I’ve taken away everything."

Morvane’s eyes widened, his voice strained. "Drace... you don’t have to do this. You can stop now."

Drace shook his head, his expression dark. "No. I need to continue what I’ve started. I was born to destroy. That’s my purpose."

He reached down, picking up a broken twig with a sharp, splintered end. He held it tightly, his knuckles white as he turned back to Morvane.

"This is who I am," Drace whispered. "This is all I can be."

Before Morvane could respond, Drace lunged forward with terrifying speed, driving the sharp twig into Morvane’s chest. The sound of splintering wood mixed with the dull thud of impact.

Morvane gasped, his eyes wide in shock and pain as blood blossomed from the wound, staining his clothes and pooling beneath him. His breath hitched, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

Drace looked down at his shaking hands, now covered in Morvane’s blood. His face twisted into a mix of rage, despair, and regret, but he didn’t let go of the twig.

"This is the only way," Drace muttered, as much to himself as to Morvane. "This is what I was meant to do."

Morvane’s vision blurred, his strength fading. He looked up at Drace, his lips moving as if trying to say something, but no sound came.

Drace turned away, his back once again to his fallen rival. He clenched his fists, his voice a bitter whisper. "Goodbye, Morvane."

And with that, Drace disappeared into the forest, leaving Morvane lying motionless beneath the darkened sky.