Chereads / Man vs Spirits / Chapter 12 - Its him

Chapter 12 - Its him

Matteo's sword clangs against Kuroshin's, but the Spirit King vanishes, reappearing behind him in a blur of shadow. The dark energy radiating from Kuroshin feels suffocating, but Matteo doesn't falter. His grip on the Blackwood sword tightens, ready for what comes next.

Before he can counterattack, Ignis and Goliath, the Spirit King's most trusted generals, lunge forward with deadly intent. Ignis, wreathed in flames, hurls a wave of fire toward Matteo. The flames twist in the unnatural atmosphere of the Nexus Rift, taking on a darker, more sinister hue.

Matteo dodges to the side with a burst of speed, the searing heat grazing past him. Before Ignis can attack again, Matteo delivers a powerful kick to Goliath's massive, stone-like body. The sheer force of the blow sends the giant general hurtling across one of the floating platforms, his enormous form smashing into the rock and cracking its surface.

Ignoring the brief surge of satisfaction, Matteo turns his attention to Ignis, who is already charging with another fiery strike. But Matteo is faster. With a single, decisive motion, he brings his sword down in a blinding arc, sending Ignis spiraling backward, his flames sputtering in the strange energy of the Rift.

Matteo stands tall, his breath steady. The dark, swirling energies of the Nexus Rift distort around him, but his focus remains unwavering. His enemies are strong, but he has not even begun to tap into his full power.

"I don't want to drag this out any longer," Matteo announces, his voice echoing through the strange dimension.

The air shifts. Matteo's spirit energy flares, filling the Rift with an overwhelming force. His sword begins to glow—its once dark and gleaming edge now turning an ethereal white. The light from the sword illuminates the surrounding void, making even the distorted, floating platforms tremble as they react to the immense energy.

The spirits surrounding them hesitate, their ethereal forms flickering in fear. The very energy of the Rift seems to bow under the weight of Matteo's unleashed power. He radiates a force so powerful that even the seasoned generals feel the chill of dread creeping into their cores.

Kuroshin, standing firm on one of the platforms, narrows his eyes, his expression hardening. "Don't be afraid," he says to his generals, his voice dark and commanding. "We will win this." The Spirit King's own aura swells, shadowy and ominous, as he prepares for the inevitable clash.

But Matteo is done with pleasantries. His sword, now pulsating with pure white light, thrums in his hands with a dangerous intensity. He lifts it high, his gaze locked onto Kuroshin.

"I'm ending this now."

With a single powerful motion, Matteo swings the glowing sword downward, releasing a massive wave of spirit energy. The energy erupts from the blade, tearing through the Nexus Rift with destructive force. The white light cuts through the dark void, obliterating the ethereal platforms as it speeds toward Kuroshin and his generals.

Ignis and Goliath brace themselves, but the overwhelming force of Matteo's attack is too much. Ignis, despite his flames, is knocked back, his fiery form dispersing into the swirling energies of the Rift. Goliath, massive as he is, staggers under the impact and crashes into the floating ground, his stone-like body cracking beneath the sheer pressure.

As the white energy continues its destructive path, Kuroshin's eyes flare with dark energy. He raises his hands, summoning a thick barrier of shadow to counter the wave of power. The collision of the two energies causes the Rift itself to tremble violently, but Kuroshin's barrier begins to falter under the weight of Matteo's attack.

The Spirit King grimaces, feeling the force of Matteo's unleashed power. For the first time, uncertainty flickers in Kuroshin's dark, cold eyes.

This battle is far from over.

Meanwhile in the Forest...

The eerie silence that follows Torrath's fall feels almost unreal. Ren stands over the massive, crumpled form of the granite-skinned spirit, his body aching from the intense battle. His breaths come in shallow gasps, his muscles trembling with exhaustion. He has won. He has defeated Torrath.

Zara rushes toward him, her face bright with relief. "Ren!" she cries, her voice trembling as she reaches him. "You did it! You're alright!" Tears well in her eyes, but they are tears of joy.

Ren manages a weary smile, his legs barely holding him up. "Yeah... it's over," he replies, though his voice is strained. His gaze shifts to Zara's brother, Zaheer, who has been watching in awe. Zaheer approaches them, his expression a mix of relief and disbelief.

"You did it, man!" Zaheer says, patting Ren on the back with a smile. "I thought we were done for, but you pulled through."

For a moment, it feels like the nightmare is over. The dense forest around them is still, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and the fading tension of battle. Ren's heart begins to slow, the adrenaline ebbing away as the reality of their survival sinks in.

But the peace is short-lived.

Behind them, a low, guttural growl rumbles through the air. Ren's eyes widen as he turns, and Zara gasps, her face paling. Torrath, the massive spirit Ren has just defeated, is stirring. His once stone-like body trembles as he struggles to rise, his fiery orange eyes burning with rage.

"No..." Ren mutters, his body heavy with exhaustion. He isn't in any shape to fight again, but Torrath is relentless. The spirit stands, though barely, fury etched into every crack of his damaged skin. His granite form is fractured, but his strength is not gone.

"I'm not finished!" Torrath roars, his voice shaking the very ground beneath their feet. He stumbles forward, his massive fists clenched, his murderous gaze fixed on Ren. "You'll pay for this!"

Ren steps forward instinctively, placing himself between Torrath and Zara. His body screams in protest—he has nothing left to give. His legs wobble, his vision blurs, but he refuses to let Torrath harm them. Not now. Not after everything.

But just as Torrath prepares to strike, a sudden, terrifying sound slices through the air.

Vrrrrrooooom!

The unmistakable roar of a chainsaw cuts through the tension. In an instant, a blur of grotesque flesh and metal rushes toward Torrath, faster than anyone can react. The gleaming, blood-stained chainsaw slashes through the air, and before Torrath can even turn, it tears into him from behind.

Torrath's eyes widen in shock, his body freezing as the chainsaw rips through his already cracked form. A low, gurgling sound escapes his throat as he collapses to the ground with a final, thunderous crash. The life force drains from his glowing eyes, and then... he is still. For good this time.

Ren, Zara, and Zaheer stand in stunned silence as the figure behind Torrath steps into the dim light.

It is Rendrax.

The chainsaw-wielding spirit towers over Torrath's fallen form, his grotesque figure casting a long shadow over the forest. His crimson eye gleams with malevolent satisfaction, his right arm ending in the massive, blood-stained chainsaw that still hums with deadly energy.

Rendrax looks up, his gaze locking onto Ren and the others. A twisted smile spreads across his scarred face. "He was in my way," Rendrax growls, his voice a guttural, menacing rasp. "Now he's not."

Ren's heart races again, his body on high alert despite his exhaustion. 

Zaheer's eyes lock onto the towering figure of Rendrax, and the world around him seems to slow. The grotesque fusion of flesh and metal, the chainsaw arm dripping with blood, and the glowing crimson eye—all of it comes crashing back into Zaheer's mind. His heart pounds violently in his chest as memories he's tried to bury resurface with brutal force.

This is him.