SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 66: The Blade Comes

Chapter 66: The Blade Comes

The clash between Medas and Drevon raged on, their movements a blur of speed and power. Every strike they exchanged sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the earth beneath them. Their energy burned like wildfire, feeding off one another as if their battle was destined to escalate endlessly. Neither would yield.

Drevon’s black flame glinted with a sharp, ethereal glow as he spun toward Medas, his strikes relentless and precise. Medas met each one with raw force, his fists glowing with a radiant, destructive energy. The ground cracked beneath his feet, each impact amplifying the destruction around them.

Far in the distance, Morvane, Luna, and Vianna stood on a rocky ridge, overlooking the chaos. Even from where they were, they could feel the raw power emanating from the fight. A heavy pressure weighed down on them as the energy intensified, making it clear that this wasn’t a simple skirmish—it was a war between two titans.

"We can’t let this continue," Morvane said, his voice strained as he clutched his chest. The power radiating from Medas and Drevon was unlike anything he’d felt before. "If they keep going like this, they’ll destroy everything."

Luna and Vianna exchanged glances, their expressions grim. "But how do we stop them?" Luna asked. "They’re beyond reason right now."

Before Morvane could respond, a sudden shift in the air caught their attention. A fiery red streak cut through the battlefield like a comet, landing directly between the two combatants. The impact sent a wave of force outward, momentarily halting Medas and Drevon in their tracks.

Standing tall amidst the dust and debris was a man clad in deep crimson blades. His presence was commanding, his aura undeniable. His voice boomed, cutting through the tension like a blade:

"What are you all doing?"

It was Crimson.

Both Medas and Drevon froze, their eyes locked on the newcomer. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent, the sheer weight of Crimson’s presence enough to halt even the most heated of battles.

"Have you lost yourselves completely?" Crimson continued, his tone sharp. "This isn’t power wielding—this is chaos. And if you continue, you’ll destroy more than just each other. You’ll destroy everything in here."

Medas and Drevon remained silent, their breaths heavy as they glared at one another, then back at Crimson.

"Step aside, Crimson," Medas growled. "This is between us."

Crimson’s gaze hardened. "Not anymore."

Medas narrowed his eyes, his fists still glowing with energy. "You don’t understand. This is between us."

"No," Crimson said firmly, his voice unyielding. "There’s always another way. And if you two can’t see that, then I’ll make you see it."

The tension in the air grew thick once more, but this time, it wasn’t just between Medas and Drevon. Crimson’s presence had shifted the balance, and the next move would determine everything.

Drevon and Medas exchanged a fleeting glance, their resolve unshaken. Ignoring Crimson’s presence, they charged at each other once again, their battle cries reverberating through the broken landscape. Their attacks clashed in a blinding explosion of energy that painted the battlefield in streaks of light and shadow.

Crimson stood his ground, unflinching as the chaotic storm of power enveloped him. His eyes narrowed, reading their movements with precision. As the dust cleared, he sprang into action, cutting through the combined force of their strikes with effortless grace.

"You’ve been fighting for a long time, haven’t you?" Crimson’s voice carried an edge of calm authority. He deflected another of Drevon’s strikes, sidestepped Medas’s crushing blow, and stood untouched amidst the chaos. "I can feel it. Your magic—your power—it’s not as strong as it was. You’re running on fumes."

Drevon growled, his stance faltering for just a moment. Medas’s breathing grew heavier, his glowing fists dimming slightly with each swing. The cracks in their strength were showing, but neither of them was willing to admit it.

In the distance, Morvane stood on the ridge, his keen senses picking up on Crimson’s words. He crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not powerful?" he whispered, half to himself. "If this isn’t powerful, then what is? Their magic’s still far beyond anything I’ve reached."

Luna glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "What did you say?"

Morvane shook his head. "Nothing." But inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel a sting of doubt. If Crimson considered this weakened, what level of power had he reached?

Back on the battlefield, Crimson drove a wedge between Medas and Drevon, forcing them apart with a single, overwhelming pulse of energy. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and the air around him seemed to hum with a power that dwarfed theirs.

"Enough," Crimson commanded, his voice steady yet sharp. "If you two keep pushing yourselves, there won’t be anything left—not of you, and not of this world. You’ve already proven your strength. Now stand down."

But the fire in Medas’s and Drevon’s eyes hadn’t dimmed completely. As they caught their breath, they looked at Crimson, then at each other, their pride and fury battling against the truth of his words.

The standoff held for a moment longer, the three titans locked in a silent struggle of wills.

Crimson’s sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, ensuring Medas and Drevon were no longer an immediate threat to each other. But then his gaze shifted, locking onto the ridge where Morvane, Luna, and Vianna stood.

His expression hardened for a moment before softening in surprise as he recognized her. "Vianna..." he muttered under his breath, the sight of her catching him off guard. The thoughts of Crimson came through as what Vianna was doing there in Ketamran.

Vianna noticed Crimson’s reaction, but her expression remained calm, betraying no emotion. She had expected this moment, knowing full well what her presence might stir in him. Her gaze didn’t waver, a silent message that there would be time for that later—after the immediate threat was dealt with.

Crimson turned his attention to Morvane, his brows furrowing. "Morvane," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. "Is this fight because of what happened between you and Medas?"

Morvane’s stomach twisted at the question. He stiffened, casting a quick glance at Luna, who was standing close enough to hear every word. Luna’s sharp, curious eyes were already fixed on him, silently urging him to answer.

Vianna, however, said nothing. She didn’t need to ask; she already knew. Her presence there wasn’t just a coincidence—it was intentional, a decision made because she understood exactly how this fight had come to be.

Morvane hesitated, his mind racing. After a moment, he gave a stiff, reluctant nod. His jaw clenched as he looked away, avoiding Luna’s questioning gaze. He didn’t need to say anything further.

Luna crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "Wait, so care to explain what really happened between you and Medas? You’re telling me they’ve been tearing the world apart over something that could’ve been stopped if you’d just—"

"Enough!" Morvane snapped, his voice unsteady. "It doesn’t matter now."

"It does matter!" Luna shot back, stepping closer. "If this is because of some unresolved issue between you and Medas, then you’re as much to blame as they are!"

Crimson raised a hand, silencing them both with a stern look. "Luna, stand down," he said. His gaze returned to Morvane, his voice lowering but losing none of its weight. "You’ve let this go on long enough. You know this won’t stop until someone steps in."

Morvane’s fists clenched at his sides. He could feel the weight of their stares—Luna’s frustration, Vianna’s quiet understanding, and Crimson’s unwavering demand. He wanted to deny it, to push the blame away, but deep down, he knew Crimson was right.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don’t think they’ll listen. Not now."

"They’ll listen," Crimson replied firmly. "Or I’ll make them listen."

Crimson’s sharp gaze turned back to Vianna. "You need to put them to sleep," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "Use your emotion manipulation to stop them before it’s too late."

Vianna shook her head, a tinge of frustration in her voice. "It’s not that simple, Crimson. For my power to work, I need to either look directly into their eyes or make physical contact. And with the way they’re fighting, that’s impossible."

Crimson frowned, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Before he could respond, Morvane stepped forward, his expression suddenly resolute.

"I’ll do it," Morvane said, his voice steady and confident.

Morvane with a faint smirk. "Why didn’t I think of this sooner?" he murmured to himself.

Morvane didn’t answer. Instead, he took a deep breath, focusing his energy. His lips moved in a barely audible whisper as he muttered, "The two clashing will lose their energy and consciousness."

The effect was instantaneous. A sudden, invisible force swept over the battlefield like a heavy veil. Medas and Drevon staggered, their movements faltering as if their strength had been drained all at once.

Drevon fought against the dizziness, his knees buckling as he struggled to stay upright. His blade slipped from his grip and clattered to the ground. "What... is this?" he muttered before collapsing, unconscious.

Medas fared no better. The glow around his fists flickered and died as he stumbled backward, his eyes fluttering shut as he crumpled to the ground. The battlefield fell silent.

Crimson’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to Morvane. "How did you do that?" he demanded, his tone a mixture of amazement and suspicion. "That power... it feels familiar..."

Morvane didn’t meet Crimson’s gaze. He simply stared at the two fallen warriors, his expression unreadable.

Morvane finally looked at him, a faint flicker of guilt in his eyes. "I did what had to be done," he said softly. "They were going to destroy everything if someone didn’t stop them."

Crimson’s gaze bore into him, his mind racing. The power Morvane had just used wasn’t ordinary—it was something far deeper, something he hadn’t seen in years. And the more he thought about it, the more certain he became that he’d encountered it before.

"Morvane," Crimson said, his voice low and heavy with meaning, "that power... it’s not yours, is it?"

Before Morvane could answer Crimson’s question, a sudden gasp cut through the silence. Everyone turned toward Luna, who stood frozen, her wide eyes scanning the battlefield.

"Esmael," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Where is Esmael? He’s... he’s gone. Look!"

All eyes followed her pointed finger to a spot near the ridge where Esmael had last been laying. The area was now eerily empty, with only faint scorch marks and a trace of disturbed earth where he had been.

"What?" Crimson’s tone sharpened as he turned his attention to the spot, his eyes narrowing. "Gone? How could he have just disappeared?"

Vianna stepped forward, her expression grim as she scanned the surroundings. "This doesn’t make sense," she murmured. "He was here just moments ago. There’s no way he could’ve left without us noticing."

Morvane’s expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "It’s not just possible—it’s deliberate," he said. "Someone took him, or he left for a reason. Either way, this isn’t a coincidence."

Vianna nodded, her jaw tight. "If Esmael is gone, then this battle might’ve been a distraction. Whoever’s behind this knew we’d all be focused on Medas and Drevon. Also, the fight have go on so long, we don’t know how long he was gone"

The realization hit like a cold wave, and silence fell over the group as they processed the implications.

Morvane’s mind raced. "Esmael..." he whispered to himself. "Why now? What’s happening?"

Crimson stepped forward, his commanding tone breaking the silence. "I don’t know what’s happening but I think we can’t waste time standing around."

But even as Crimson spoke, an uneasy feeling settled over the group. The disappearance of Esmael wasn’t just a random event. It was a harbinger of something far greater—and far more dangerous—than any of them could’ve anticipated.