SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 64: Clash of Power

Chapter 64: Clash of Power

The battle raged on beneath the darkened sky, every move, every attack reverberating through the air like a symphony of chaos. The ground beneath their feet cracked with each clash of power, the winds howling as if caught in the storm of Medas’s fury and Morvane’s defiance.

Luna, still in the vicinity but hesitant to intervene, watched helplessly from the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest. She had hoped that the battle could be avoided, that some semblance of peace could be found in this madness. But now, seeing Medas’s unrelenting fury and Morvane’s struggle, she realized just how futile that hope had been.

Luna stepped forward, her hands trembling. "Please, stop this," she called out, her voice full of desperation. "This isn’t the way—"

Medas’s cold eyes turned to her, and his voice rang out with icy venom. "Stay back, Luna. If you interfere, you will be punished as well. Don’t think for a moment that I will spare you."

Luna froze in place, the harshness in his words cutting through her. She wanted to help, wanted to stop this fight from spiraling further, but the threat in Medas’s voice was unmistakable. She could feel the weight of his power, a force so overwhelming it made her hesitate.

Morvane, in the midst of the battle, caught the momentary distraction in Luna’s eyes, and for the briefest of seconds, he faltered. But there was no time to dwell on that. His power, and the Shadow Beast’s power, were formidable—there was no doubt about that—but Medas was something else entirely.

Medas’s abilities were vast, honed over years of rule and dominance, and even though Morvane and his shadow beast fought with everything they had, it wasn’t enough to counter the full force of Medas’s power. Each time the Shadow Beast lunged at Medas, the ruler simply swatted it aside with a wave of his hand, his telekinetic abilities throwing the creature back with ease.

Morvane was doing his best to keep up, his own abilities growing stronger with each passing moment, but even his most focused strikes weren’t enough to break through Medas’s defenses. Every attack he launched seemed to dissipate into the air, lost to Medas’s sheer will.

Despite it all, Morvane refused to give in. He moved with precision, his blade striking at Medas’s shielded defenses, his shadow beast circling, clawing at the air. He could feel the weight of his powers, the adrenaline coursing through him, but still, it wasn’t enough. He was being pushed back, step by step, by Medas’s overwhelming force.

Through the haze of the battle, Morvane caught a glimpse of Luna, still standing at the edge, unable to help. Her eyes were filled with pain, watching him struggle in silence.

"Luna..." Morvane muttered under his breath, his heart sinking. He couldn’t afford to lose this fight, not just for himself, but for everyone who depended on him.

Medas’s voice rang out, mocking, as his power surged again. "You think you can stand against me, boy? You’ve already lost."

The battle raged on, neither side giving ground, each strike echoing through the night like the sound of war drums. Morvane’s strength was waning, the weight of his power beginning to bear down on him. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body aching from the constant strain of trying to keep up with Medas’s devastating blows. But despite the overwhelming exhaustion, Morvane didn’t falter. He fought with everything he had, his body bruised, his mind focused on one thing: survival.

But even the strongest will breaks. In a moment of miscalculation, Morvane was caught in one of Medas’s relentless telekinetic attacks. A burst of invisible force slammed into him, throwing him to the ground with such intensity that he could hardly catch his breath. His limbs felt like they were made of lead as he struggled to rise, but the damage had been done. His body refused to obey him.

He lay there, strained and barely conscious, his vision swimming in and out of focus. The pain was almost unbearable, but what hurt more was the helplessness—the realization that he might not be able to win this battle.

Luna, witnessing the moment of weakness, couldn’t contain her fear and concern any longer. Her heart pounded as she dashed toward him, her voice breaking as she cried out, "Stop, Medas! Please, stop! This isn’t the way!"

But Medas, ever the ruthless ruler, was prepared. He extended his hand, and with a mere flick of his wrist, a barrier of energy materialized between Luna and Morvane, trapping her in place. Her hands pressed against the invisible wall, her eyes wide with helplessness as she struggled to break through.

"Don’t come any closer, Luna," Medas warned, his voice cold and devoid of mercy. "You will regret it if you do."

Luna’s eyes filled with tears, but she couldn’t do anything to stop him. Her body trembled in rage, unable to do anything but watch as Morvane’s life hung in the balance.

Morvane, though barely able to move, managed to lift his head slightly, his voice weak but clear. "I didn’t mean to... I didn’t... Hiraya..." His words were barely a whisper, but the mention of her name sent a shockwave through the air.

Medas’s eyes darkened with fury, his fists clenching. "Don’t you ever utter her name again!" he spat, his voice low and threatening. The air around him crackled with dark energy as his rage intensified.

Morvane, struggling to stay conscious, didn’t respond, but his face was filled with guilt, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.

Medas raised his hand, his power surging, ready to deliver the final blow that would end the conflict once and for all. The energy around him swirled with vicious intensity, the light from his attack illuminating the shadows of the night.

But just as Medas was about to strike, something caught his attention. He paused, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Morvane’s face. There was something in the boy’s eyes—something raw, something familiar—that caused Medas to hesitate, just for a moment.

It was almost imperceptible, but for an instant, Medas’s grip on his power loosened. He stared at Morvane as if seeing him for the first time, as if something about the boy’s defiance, his spirit, had triggered something deep within him.

Morvane, still struggling to stay conscious, didn’t know what had just happened. But as he looked up at Medas, he knew that this moment was his last chance. The next move would decide everything.

As the tension in the air reached its peak, a strange sensation rippled through Morvane’s body. It started deep within him, a faint whisper in the back of his mind, growing louder with each passing second. He could feel the presence of Drace.

Suddenly, a soft glow began to emanate from Morvane’s chest, illuminating the darkened battlefield. It was faint at first, like the first hint of light before the dawn, but it quickly grew brighter, more intense. The light became blinding, and with it came the powerful surge of energy, pulsing like a heartbeat, flooding his veins with an overwhelming force.

Luna, watching in awe, felt a shiver run down her spine as the ethereal figure emerged from Morvane’s body. It was Drace’s spirit, his glowing form shining with a brilliance that nearly blinded her. The ethereal figure hovered above Morvane, his presence commanding the attention of all around him.

Medas, too, was caught off guard. His gaze flickered to the glowing form, and for the briefest of moments, a flicker of hesitation passed over his face. But he quickly regained his composure, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface.

Morvane felt the power surge within him, Drace’s spirit merging with his own. The power was enormous—almost too much to handle. He hesitated, unsure of whether he was ready to wield such destructive force. He knew the danger it posed, the risk that it could consume him entirely. But deep down, he understood that there was no other choice.

With a deep breath, he gathered every ounce of his strength, focusing on the power that now coursed through him. His eyes locked onto Medas, who was preparing to strike the final blow.

"Medas," Morvane’s voice rang out, firm and unwavering, despite the fear that twisted in his gut. "You will have a headache."

The words were simple, almost casual, but the force behind them was anything but. The moment Morvane spoke, a sudden wave of energy crashed through the air, directed at Medas. It was a pulse of power, a shockwave of energy that hit Medas like a physical blow.

Medas froze, his expression shifting as the pain slammed into him. A sudden, excruciating headache tore through his mind, like a thousand jagged blades digging into his skull. He staggered backward, his hands clutching his head as the power overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, his breath quickening with the sheer intensity of the pain.

The world around him spun, the overwhelming force of Morvane’s attack making him stagger, his knees buckling beneath him. For a moment, it seemed as though the ruler of Nirvath might actually fall.

Luna watched in shock, her heart pounding. She had seen Medas’s power firsthand, but even he wasn’t invincible. The spirit of Drace, intertwined with Morvane’s will, had shifted the balance of this battle in an instant.

Morvane, despite his own exhaustion, felt a sense of triumph, though he could still feel Drace’s spirit within him, its power immense and unnerving. He knew this moment wouldn’t last forever. He had used Drace’s power—but it was dangerous, unstable, and had the potential to overwhelm him if he wasn’t careful.

"Medas," Morvane said again, his voice filled with resolve but tinged with concern for the power he had just tapped into. "This is what you’ve made me. This is the result of your choices. You can keep fighting, or you can listen."

Medas, his breath ragged, glared at him through the pain. He hadn’t expected this. He had underestimated Morvane’s potential, and now the tables had turned. But even as the headache wracked his mind, his fury only grew stronger.