Chapter 649 There Was a Place for You After All
There was no more time for discussion. No more room for philosophical debates or songs of sorrow.
The sky above Stones was torn apart by magic, filled with the shimmering energy that crossed the horizon, as if the heavens themselves were weeping for the chaos unfolding below. Waves of magical power distorted the air, creating vibrations that shook the hearts of those who witnessed it.
Althur had merged with the Codex of the Forgotten Thrones. From his hands, a storm of destructive magic was born, a force once forbidden even by the Voidwrights:
Meteor Storm: Giant flaming rocks rained down from higher dimensions, falling with a fire that twisted space, creating a booming sound that shook the ground. Each meteor that fell emitted a light like a shooting star, leaving fiery trails in the air.
Comet Fang: Red ice pierced the air, striking with a gravitational force that made the ground tremble and shattered rocks into fragments. When the ice hit, a chilling explosion echoed, freezing everything around it in a terrifying darkness.
Fire Hurricane: An uncontrollable whirl of fire swept through the roots of Stones like a heavenly torch, producing black smoke that billowed high into the sky, leaving charred marks on the ground. Witnesses from afar gaped, their eyes glued to the slaughter taking place, fear and awe merging in their gazes.
And amidst all this… stood Fitran Fate, bowing slightly, his disheveled hair fluttering in the hot wind. His sharp eyes glimmered in the darkness as he opened them, fully focused on the inevitable clash ahead.
Fitran did not defend himself. He did not form a shield. He attacked. Around him, light spread, and daylight was absorbed into a vibrant ensemble of power. The energy he unleashed vibrated in the air, creating invisible ripples, as if the earth itself was drowsy from listening.
From his hands, light burst forth—not a gentle glow, but a pure physical magic strike. In one swift motion, he drew Excalibur—the ancient sword of light that had never truly been wielded to its full potential. The sword sparkled like a shooting star as Fitran released his pent-up energy. When the blade touched the air, a piercing sound was created, as if challenging the dominance of the sky.
"I do not reject you, Althur."
"But I will not allow you to create a world without wounds."
Meteor Storm descended like a falling sky, each fiery red meteor creating dark shadows as they soared through the air. Fitran leaped upward, jumping as high as the peak of Stones with unwavering determination. The ground trembled around him, as if nature itself felt the tension of the battle.
Excalibur ignited—not just with light, but with speed and force that pierced through a full meteor, splitting it in two straight lines, leaving a glowing trail in the sky, as if drawing a sign of resistance in the air.
The impact shattered the eastern side of Stones. The ground split, roots were thrown, and the Crystal Golem sleeping beneath exploded for no reason, its crystal shards sparkling like fallen stars to the earth. A thunderous boom struck the ears of the onlookers, leaving them stunned, while some were forced to retreat, their bodies trembling in fear.
Althur formed the Comet Fang formation—a series of blood-red ice projectiles, hurtling toward Fitran from various directions, leaving a cold trail that seeped into the air, as if creating an abrupt winter weather in the midst of battle.
Fitran crossed his arms, gathering all his courage in a tense defensive move.
Voidlight Slash – 2nd Form: Lumen Fangar
A wave of physical light magic spiraled like a disc, striking all the ice meteors and melting them into vaporous crystals. Rainbow-colored steam hissed as the magic pierced and shattered reality, creating sonic bells that echoed across the battlefield.
But one comet broke through.
Fitran was pierced in the shoulder. He bled, the red liquid spreading sharply contrasting with the gathering light, radiating an aura of pain. Yet he did not stop. The strength of his resolve flowed within him, stronger than the gnawing pain.
Althur raised both hands, his gaze burning with anger and triumph.
"This fire is not meant to burn. But to erase the path back."
The Fire Hurricane exploded from the sky, twisting and dancing toward the altar of the Tree of Scars. Sheena tried to control the roots, but it was too late. Rinoa called for harmony—but it was too late. Around the altar, flames blazed brightly, reflecting a dancing red light on the faces of the spectators. The sound of magic whizzing and explosive gazes filled the air, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.
Fitran appeared before the storm. He ignited the Voidlight Mantle from Excalibur and cut through the storm from within. Drops of water from the threat of the storm created small lightning strikes in the air, forming a terrifying shadow above. As he moved, white light radiated in all directions, illuminating the anxious faces watching from afar. An explosion of energy shattered the semicircle of Stones. Ancient pillars collapsed, dust and debris flying like rain in the midst of the storm. The Tree of Scars was wounded, its leaves burning, releasing black smoke that stung the air. The ground lifted, breaking into small floating islands, transforming the beauty of nature into a shattered battlefield.
There was no conceptual magic here. This was a war of absolute power. Attack after attack clashed, the noise of impacts shaking everything around. And both—Althur and Fitran—held nothing back. Some creatures around the altar began to retreat, threatened by the terrifying power radiating from this duel.
They surged at each other.
Althur unleashed the Blazing King's Fist, a fiery punch with comet trails, blazing with anger and determination. He shouted, "Do you think this will end easily?!"
Fitran parried with Excalibur's Reverse Guard, staggering slightly from the force of the attack but remaining upright. "I will not retreat an inch!" Then, Fitran spun and countered with Lumen Breaker, a pure light punch that pierced through five layers of defensive magic, creating a thunderous sound that shattered the silence.
Both were thrown back. Both rose again. And they shared a small laugh—not out of joy, but because finally…
"There is no concept. There is no will. Just you and me."
The sky above Stones cracked, light and darkness clashing in a symphony of destruction. In the midst of it, two lights collided: the red fire of a king's crown—and the brilliant white of human light. Flashes sparkled like falling stars, transforming the atmosphere into a magical moment filled with danger.
In the air, Proto-Speech was nearly shattered, but still wrote one line:
ꦥꦼꦤꦤ ꦥꦼꦢꦺꦴꦒꦤ꧀ ꦲꦺꦴꦱꦺꦴꦁ ꦏꦼꦩ꧀ꦧꦸ — Penan Pedogan Hosong Kembu
(Those who fight at the end... no longer represent the world. They only represent who they truly are.)
And the world was not finished.
The roar filled the air, as if the sky and earth were challenging each other. The light split, radiating a destructive spectrum of colors, revealing magical effects that enveloped Stones in an extraordinary acceleration. Each magical strike caused the ground beneath to tremble, releasing dust and ruins from ancient rocks that had stood for centuries.
"I will not retreat!" shouted another warrior, his face filled with tension and determination, as he watched the battle that shook the sky. A sense of anxiety enveloped the crowd watching from the edges, some closing their eyes, while others were mesmerized by the destructive beauty of the power unleashed.
Fire and white light clashed, creating shockwaves that forced an observer to fall to the ground. The grass around trembled helplessly, while the rocks seemed to have a life of their own, moving away from the center of the battle. The smell of sulfur and charred moss dominated the air, a silent witness to the chaos.
As the magic intertwined, the sky above Stones transformed into a sea of colors, an unexpected depth weighing down the atmosphere, making the breeze feel like a cold valley lined with lightning. And in everyone's view, the battle had yet to reach its climax.