"Just tell me..." Nobu's voice reverberates through the room, his words carrying a mixture of urgency and determination. The ambient air crackles with an unspoken power as he gracefully settles on the floor, moving closer to Magnus with purposeful grace, "Give me a good reason for you to hold back against that thing..." He adds, pointing at the Grim Thorns behind him.
"What are you..." Magnus, taken aback by Nobu's sudden stammer and the piercing gaze that bore into his soul, finds himself at a loss for words. He stands there, momentarily stunned, his mind racing to comprehend how Nobu has discerned his hidden truth—how he has realized that Magnus is purposefully holding back, refusing to unleash his full potential.
Before Magnus can even attempt to explain himself, Nobu interjects, seizing the moment with a conviction that demands attention. His voice resonates with an unyielding determination, cutting through the air like a blade.
"It's your presence," Nobu declares, his voice tinged with an almost supernatural understanding. He turns his gaze away from Magnus and directs it toward the menacing monstrosity lurking in the shadows behind him. Nobu's very being seems to radiate an energy that commands the attention of the creature, drawing its focus to him like iron to a magnet.
"I can feel it," Nobu continues, his words carrying an unwavering certainty. "Your presence is suppressed, restrained somehow. But why? Let it freaking run wild already!"
Magnus's voice rings out with resolute defiance, his words echoing through the tumultuous air. "No, you're wrong!" he declares, his tone filled with unwavering conviction. His gaze remains fixed upon the ground as if seeking strength and resolve from the very earth beneath him. "That's not my power, and it'll never be!"
Clutching his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip, Magnus declares with unwavering resolve, "I won't accept it!" The echoes of his past struggles reverberate within him, fueling his defiance and shaping his unwavering stance. The scars of his history etch themselves upon his soul, a constant reminder of the path he refuses to tread.
But Nobu's response is unwavering, his determination matching his friend's, if not surpassing it. "I don't care if you don't want to accept it!" Nobu's voice rings out, his words cutting through the chaotic fray. The clash of his sword against the overpowering thorns illustrates his unwavering commitment. "All I know is that if you don't use it right now, our chance to survive against the Grim Thorns will be even lower!"
"Just stay out of it!" Magnus seethes with anger, his emotions boiling over as he propels himself toward Nobu with unprecedented force. The impact between them was cataclysmic, shattering the very ground beneath their feet and plunging them into a dark abyss below. As they fall through the void and land on the floor, Magnus remains atop Nobu, his breath ragged and his demeanor deeply disturbed.
"You don't know a thing," Magnus's voice resonates with a potent mix of bitterness and vulnerability. It trembles with the weight of his experiences and the raw emotions that consume him. "I want to move on without that power," he declares, his words laden with a sense of defiance. "They forced it upon me because I was deemed a failure in their eyes."
The weight of his family's judgment hangs heavily upon him, a constant reminder of his perceived inadequacy. Magnus's voice grows even lower, choked with the tumultuous emotions that rage within him. "For me, it's a curse," he confesses, his gaze locking with Nobu's, seeking understanding in his friend's eyes. "A bitter testament, a reminder that I am nothing more than a pawn of a wretched lineage. If I were to use it, I would become exactly what they want."
"I don't want to accept it," Magnus declares, his voice resonating with resolute determination. "And don't act like you understand how I feel." His words pierce the air with a painful truth, conveying the isolation and complexity of his emotions.
A bitter silence envelopes them, the weight of their conflicting emotions hanging heavily in the air. Slowly rising to his feet after pushing his friend, Nobu makes a decisive choice. With a kick, he sends Magnus sprawling away, the surprise etches upon his friend's face. Dusting off his clothes, Nobu looks down at Magnus with a resolute gaze.
"I remember telling you that I don't care whether you accept it or not," Nobu's words are laced with a firm resolve. He acknowledges the limitations of his understanding and the boundaries he respects. "I don't know a thing about your past struggles, and I'm not willing to butt in and pry into your pain. I understand it would only aggravate you further."
"As for considering your power as a curse, I know that feeling better than anyone," Nobu's voice resonates with a mix of empathy and understanding. A veil of memories clouded his eyes, as he adds, "For I'm aware that my own powers had brought misery upon those I held dear."
"Keep on barking about not wanting to accept your curse," Nobu's voice holds a firm conviction as he turns his back to Magnus, continuing to scold his friend, "I consider my power a curse as well, and I didn't want to have it either. However, unlike you, I'm choosing to confront my curse head-on and transform it into a blessing by harnessing it for the greater good."
As Nobu prepares to leap once more toward the looming presence of the Grim-Thorns, a final truth spills from his lips like a divine revelation. "I'm not going to ask you to use it anymore," He declares, his voice laced with a resolute determination as his demonic powers envelop his being. "But let me tell you something, Magnus. People won't consider your capabilities a curse if you learn to wield them as a blessing."
With a graceful leap, Nobu propels himself back into the midst of the battlefield, his eyes locked on the colossal beast that stands before him. It looms, a towering behemoth as if anticipating his return. Its monstrous hand hurtles toward him with unforgiving force, seeking to crush the young boy beneath its weight.
But Nobu was prepared. With impeccable timing, and in a swift transition, he switches positions, appearing instantly beside the monster's face, his back heel primed for a devastating strike. A surge of raw All For One course through him, amplifying his every movement.
His heel connects with a resounding thud, a gust of wind trailing in its wake. However, the force of the blow was not enough to sway the giant's colossal head. Yet, the impact did manage to rouse the ire of the Grim Thorns, provoking it to unleash an unsettling cacophony of unstable sound waves reverberating through the chaotic battlefield.
This particular roar possesses an extraordinary quality, an otherworldly resonance surpassing anything Nobu has encountered before. Its power is overwhelming, causing his body to freeze in mid-air, suspended by unseen forces. The tremor of violet hue ripples through his eyes, mirroring the intensity of the situation. It was then that the realization strikes him with an electric jolt.
"It really is a Divine Being!" he exclaims, his voice laced with awe and a hint of trepidation.
Meanwhile, Magnus remains hidden in the depths of the underground, his voice echoing softly as he engages in a solitary conversation with himself. His mind is fixated on the words etched deeply into his soul: "Weild it as a blessing..." Every syllable resonates within him, stirring a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Biting his quivering lower lip, he rereads those words once more, as if seeking solace or unraveling the enigma behind them.
With a deep breath, Magnus conjures his gauntlets back into existence, their presence filling the dimly lit cavern with an otherworldly aura. Shadows dance and play upon the walls, mimicking the turmoil brewing inside him. It's here, beneath the surface, that he finds solace to confront the storm of questions raging in his mind.
"Ever since I was little," he whispers, his voice carrying a blend of determination and vulnerability, "the only thing that consumed my thoughts was the pursuit of strength, untainted by the gifts they bestowed upon me. I refused to accept their so-called blessings then, and even now, I find myself resisting their allure."
"I'm certain he's just like me..." Magnus murmurs, his gaze fixed upon the fragmented ceiling looming above him. His mind meanders through the corridors of introspection, drawing parallels between himself and the boy he has crossed paths with. The weight of understanding settles upon him, and he speaks softly as if confiding in the abandoned echoes that lingered in the air.
"In both of us," Magnus continues, his voice a gentle caress in the silence, "there exists a profound darkness. It courses through our veins, an indelible mark etched upon our souls. I, too, made a choice—one to distance myself entirely from the clutches of that cursed power. But, unlike me, Nobu has embraced that darkness, seeking to harness its essence for a purpose greater than himself."
In the pivotal moment when the Grim-Thorns unleashes a furious punch, adorned with menacing thorns, hurtling toward Nobu, Magnus bursts onto the scene. His arrival carries with it a mixture of exasperation and determination, evident in his voice as he bellows forth.
"Nobu, you're a total jerk you know!" Magnus's voice reverberates with a blend of frustration and defiance, his face adorned with a mischievous smirk that betrays his own audacity. Without missing a beat, he plunges both hands deep into the earth beneath him, establishing an unyielding connection with the very ground that supports him.
With unwavering confidence, he calls upon the dormant power within him, a force long kept hidden but now brought to bear. "Mythical Magic: Titanforge Barrier!" he bellows, his proclamation resonating through the air with an irresistible authority. In response, the earth quivers beneath his touch, acknowledging the boy's summoning.
From the very depths of the earth, a resplendent wall of ethereal iron emerges, crafted by celestial artisans and imbued with the strength of primordial stars. Its surface shimmers with an otherworldly luminescence, reminiscent of the forge fires that birthed the cosmos itself. Towering impossibly high, it stands as an unyielding guardian, a barrier that defies the onslaught of any who dare challenge its divine authority.
To the astonishment of all present, the barrier manifested by Magnus proves to be an impeccable defense against the onslaught of the Grim Thorns. Time seems to freeze momentarily as the colossal fist of the monstrous creature descends upon the barrier, guided by its insidious intent. But the laws of fate have conspired in favor of our heroes.
With a thunderous impact, the titanic fist collides with the wall of protection, only to meet its untimely demise. The very essence of the Grim Thorns' attack is betrayed as it crumbles upon contact, revealing itself to be naught but a visage of illusion and deception. The hand, once menacing and formidable, disintegrates as if comprised of nothing more than delicate strands of slime.
Perplexity grips the Grim Thorns as it recoils, taking an involuntary step backward, a primal roar of anguish escaping its gaping maw. The sight of its crushed hand, reduced to a mere semblance of its former power, ignites a flicker of uncertainty within the behemoth. But true to its nature, the creature's regeneration is swift, almost supernatural, as its shatters appendage mends itself in the blink of an eye. Flesh knits together, sinew and bone reforming with an eerie efficiency until the hand is restored to its formidable state.
Meanwhile, atop the towering barrier, Nobu finds his footing, the tumultuous events leaving him in awe of Magnus's astounding defensive display. His admiration mingles with a tinge of curiosity, and he can't help but voice his musings. "He just...shouted Mythical Magic, did he?" Nobu murmurs, his voice barely audible amidst the turmoil. His gaze fixated on Magnus, a flicker of wonder dancing in his eyes, as he witnesses his friend leaping fearlessly toward the chest of the monstrous adversary.
As Magnus propels himself closer to the formidable Grim Thorns, a tide of thoughts surges through his mind. The enigma of the creature's scar, a mark that defies its supposed immortality, gnaws at his curiosity. He ponders the incongruity, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "How can this being bear a scar upon its chest if it is truly impervious to harm?" he wonders, the query echoing within the recesses of his thoughts.
Undeterred by the mystery, Magnus forges ahead, his right hand suffused with a haunting grey glow, emanating an aura of ethereal power. With each passing moment, he draws nearer to the monstrous adversary, propelled by an unwavering determination. His instincts, honed through countless trials, guide him toward a revelation—a realization that within the seemingly invincible creature lays a weakness, a chink in its impenetrable armor.
And, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a conviction takes hold in Magnus's heart. He holds steadfast to the belief as he mutter, "To vanquish the Grim Thorns. To become a legendary soldier and to defeat such monsters, one must, to some degree, become a monster themselves!" This profound understanding resonates within him, a resolute affirmation of the path he's about to tread.
As he hurtles forward, a wondrous transformation overtakes his right hand. It grows in size and magnitude, radiating with an awe-inspiring fusion of metal and magical energy. The once-human appendage now assumes the likeness of a colossal gorilla, brimming with raw power and indomitable strength.
With an authoritative command, Magnus unleashes the full might of his power, "Mythical Magic: Titansteel Gauntlet!" he roars, his voice resounding with undeniable power. In response to his call, his gigantic fist, forged from a fusion of myth and steel, collides with the crisscrossed scar that marred the chest of the Grim Thorns.
The impact was cataclysmic, a convergence of forces that reverberates through the air, shaking the very foundation of the room. A colossal shockwave erupts, its power spreading like ethereal tendrils, pulsating with otherworldly energy. The sheer magnitude of the blow is awe-inspiring, an indomitable testament to the indescribable power that surges through Magnus's transformed form.
As the shockwave ripples through the chamber, the formidable scar on the Grim Thorns' chest is laid bare before the onslaught. The resolute defense of the creature shatters like fragile glass, unable to withstand the fury of Magnus' empowered strike. A profound rupture tears through the monstrous adversary, creating a gaping hole in his chest that exposed the wall behind it.
Nobu stands there, eyes wide with astonishment, as he beholds Magnus gracefully descending to the floor. Awe mingles with understanding in his gaze, for the truth begins to dawn upon him. The relentless regeneration of the monstrous adversary has been noticeably hindered by the force of Magnus's resolute strike.
"I see..." Nobu whispers, his voice a reverent murmur amidst the lingering echoes of battle. He turns his gaze towards Magnus, a newfound admiration shimmering in his eyes. With a mix of curiosity and reverence, he addresses his friend, his words laced with a deepening understanding.
"Mythical Magic... Magnus," Nobu begins, his voice carrying a blend of respect and inquiry. "You are the host of a magic spirit, aren't you?"