MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Rage.
The battlefield was drowned in carnage. Once a vast, open field, now nothing but a graveyard of mutilated corpses and shattered weapons. The air was thick with the stench of burnt flesh and iron, the land soaked in crimson.Amidst the sea of death, Veythor stood—a lone figure wrapped in blood, both his own and that of his enemies. His body was battered, his wounds deep, yet he remained standing. His breathing was slow, steady. Pain clung to him like a second skin, but he did not falter. He licked his cracked lips, a smirk creeping onto his face.He spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a jagged blade.
"What happened, warriors? Where did all that fire in your eyes go? You were so determined to kill me just moments ago. And now? Nothing but silence?
"His gaze flicked to Erika, whose hands trembled at her sides. He took a step forward, his smirk widening.
"Erika… wasn't it your fault that this sibling duo died? You could have saved them, couldn't you? You had the power, yet you stood by and watched as they fell, helpless and screaming. How does it feel? To know their last moments were spent waiting for you to do something—anything—but you did nothing?
"Ralf forced himself to his feet, his back still aching from when he had been sent crashing into that tree. He gritted his teeth, already recognizing Veythor's tactics. He was provoking Erika, pushing her towards blind rage. Karban, too, had noticed and opened his mouth to stop it, but before he could say a word—Erika spoke.Her lips quivered, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"T…T-This isn't my fault! How is that my fault?
"Veythor let out a soft chuckle, tilting his head as though studying a fragile, broken thing.
Oh? So you really believe that? Interesting. Then tell me, Erika, why didn't you stop me? Your element—Aqua—it's capable of long-range attacks. You could have thrown your magic at me at any moment, but you didn't. Why?
"She took a step back, her breath unsteady.
"N-No…
""You ran away, didn't you?" His voice was smooth, quiet, and yet each word struck like a hammer against fragile glass.
"Two years ago, when I slaughtered your father and your siblings, you had the same powers you do now. You could have saved them. You could have fought back. But instead… you did nothing Just like you did today.
"Erika's body jolted as if struck by lightning.Veythor's gaze darkened, his voice lowering to a near whisper, yet it carried across the battlefield with eerie clarity.
"Tell me, Erika. Do you think your father's final thoughts were filled with hope? Did he believe—even in his last, dying moments—that his daughter would come to save them?
" He leaned in slightly, his smile devoid of warmth. "And how cruel must it have been when that hope shattered?
"The words buried themselves deep within her, tearing at the foundations of her mind.But she was not the only one they wounded.Ralf flinched, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned white.Miral.That name surfaced in his mind like a curse.Ralf and Erika both had loved her. And now, standing before them, Veythor had just ripped open old wounds and poured poison into them.Erika's breath came in quick, shallow gasps. She was shaking—violently, uncontrollably. Her lips parted, but no words came out.And then, she screamed.
"You… YOU BASTARD!
"She slammed her hands into the ground, her magic bursting forth in a violent explosion.
Elemental Fusion – Aqua + Terra
Tidal Earthquake
The earth trembled beneath her wrath. Cracks formed, jagged and deep, as the ground split apart. From these fissures, water burst forth in violent torrents, mixing with the fractured earth to form a tidal wave of sharpened stone and crushing waves. The attack surged forward, fast and unstoppable.
Yet Veythor remained still.As the destructive force neared him, he exhaled—calmly, steadily. His fingers moved in a slow, deliberate motion.
Ignis Element – Defensive Spell
Ember Shard
He brought his hands together in a meditative stance, his voice soft and unshaken."Ember, shield me."A quiet hum filled the air as a sphere of fire formed around him—calm, unwavering, absolute. The tidal quake collided.Water hissed into steam. Earth crumbled into ash. Erika's spell was annihilated before it could reach him.But she did not stop.Sword in hand, she charged.
"Princess, stop! He's provoking you!
" Ralf shouted.She didn't listen.Veythor's eyes remained cold. "Predictable.
"The moment she reached him, Ralf acted on instinct. He lunged forward, grabbing Erika's wrist and pulling her away.But in that moment, he made a fatal mistake.In trying to protect Erika, he had left himself open.Veythor's fingers curled. Fire bloomed at his fingertips, crackling with restrained destruction.
Ignis Element – Offensive Spell
Firebound Arrows
He mimed the motion of drawing back a bowstring. The fire condensed into arrows, burning bright and fierce. He loosed them without hesitation.The air cracked as the arrows tore through the sky, moving with lethal precision. Unlike wild fireballs, these arrows were controlled, sharp, unavoidable. They could pierce through armor, magic, and flesh alike.Ralf barely had time to register the incoming attack before his body screamed at him—move!But he couldn't. There was no time.The moment he thought, "It's over."A sudden force exploded around him.
Aero Element – Defensive Spell
Tempest Veil
Karban's arms twisted through the air, his movements sharp and precise. Wind spiraled into a controlled vortex, forming an invisible barrier of compressed air. The arrows struck—And were deflected.They veered off-course, slamming into distant trees, their flames flickering out upon impact.Silence.Ralf stood frozen, his breath uneven. Erika was shaking. Karban remained tense, ready to move again.
And Veythor…He hadn't moved an inch.His eyes, unreadable, flickered with something dark, something knowing.Then, a sound broke the silence.A quiet, almost imperceptible chuckle.Veythor's lips curled into a smirk."Good." His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried a weight that pressed against them like an unseen force. "Keep resisting. It makes this all the more interesting.
"Ralf's body tensed.Erika clenched her fists.And there, amidst the ruins of the battlefield, the storm continued to rage.
—To Be Continued.