Chapter 48
In the distant horizon, Spailo soared through the sky like lightning, heading toward the heavens where Moryo and Jan stood firmly, as if floating in midair. A grin never left Spailo's face as he swiftly raised his arm, unleashing a bright red spark that shot forward at a deadly speed toward them. However, as if they were mere phantoms, both Moryo and Jan vanished in an instant. The red spark continued upward, leaving behind a blazing trail in the sky.
Suddenly, Moryo emerged from nowhere, darting toward Spailo like an arrow. His sharp eyes gleamed with determination, and his fist clenched with a clear threat. He lunged forward with a powerful punch, but Spailo nimbly tilted his body, effortlessly dodging the attack. With remarkable skill, he grabbed Moryo's fist and twisted it in a swift motion before hurling him toward the ground with immense force, as if he were a meteor crashing from the sky.
Moryo plummeted rapidly, but he quickly regained control, flipping gracefully in midair before landing lightly on his feet. A cold expression settled on his face as he stood ready, staring up at Spailo, who remained floating above with a mocking smile.
At that moment, Jan's voice rang out from behind Spailo:
"Hellfire Tongues!"
A volcanic flame spark erupted from Jan's hand, surging toward Spailo at terrifying speed. Though Spailo sensed Jan's presence and voice behind him, he did not move, as if the attack was of no concern to him.
The fiery spark struck his body, engulfing him in blazing flames. Fire rained from the sky like a scorching storm, melting the surrounding snow. Jan watched the scene unfold, but as the flames settled, Spailo emerged unscathed from the inferno, as if nothing had happened. His expression remained cold as he gazed at the astonished Jan.
"What?!"
Before Jan could process what had happened, Spailo vanished from sight. In an instant too quick to perceive, he reappeared behind Jan, grabbing his clothes tightly before forcefully flinging him to the ground. Jan crashed into the snow with a thunderous impact, sending chunks of ice flying in all directions. His body lay motionless, his breath escaping him from the sheer force of the collision.
Moryo's eyes burned with fury as a green spark crackled around him, its glow reflecting off the snow, revealing his unwavering resolve. Just as he was about to move, another voice rang out from nowhere:
"Shifting Hellblade!"
A phantom-like presence of Onoko Borna suddenly appeared, slashing through the fiery cage with a hand that had transformed into a blade. In an instant, she materialized behind Moryo, who was just about to charge at Spailo. With a powerful punch, she sent Moryo tumbling across the snow, rolling multiple times before landing flat on his back.
Spailo stood observing the scene as golden electricity danced around Onoko's massive Borna, producing a sound akin to thunder. The snow beneath her feet began to melt under the sheer intensity of her energy. A faint smile formed on Spailo's lips as thoughts swirled in his mind:
"She's truly powerful… She might be useful!"
Borna lunged toward Moryo at lightning speed, her heavy steps shaking the ground beneath her. Snow scattered behind her with each step, her eyes locked onto the fallen Moryo. Clenching her fist tightly, she swung a devastating punch toward him. At the last moment, Moryo managed to roll backward with remarkable agility.
Borna's fist buried itself in the snow, but she swiftly redirected it toward him. Moryo continued retreating with nimble movements, his expression reflecting a mix of concern and anger. Suddenly, Spailo vanished from the sky, reappearing directly in front of Moryo, delivering a powerful punch mid-flip.
But in a crucial instant, a green spark erupted, enveloping Spailo's fist and freezing it in mid-air. Shock flashed across Spailo's face as Moryo seized the opportunity, leaping skyward with astonishing speed and agility. Gathering air and green energy in his palm, he propelled himself toward Spailo. A green spark burst from his hand like a destructive meteor, hurtling straight toward Spailo with overwhelming force.
The moment the green spark collided with Spailo's body, a tremendous explosion erupted, flooding the horizon with a radiant red light that illuminated the entire area. Flames surged into the sky, and the once-white snow covering the ground began to melt under the scorching heat.
A short distance away, Raizo, Golobet, and Onoko's specter stood in silent astonishment, their eyes filled with anticipation as they gazed at the explosion. Meanwhile, Moryo landed gracefully on his feet, his sharp gaze fixed on the dense black smoke left in the aftermath. The air around them was thick with the scent of burnt ash, and an eerie silence blanketed the battlefield.
As the smoke slowly dissipated, Spailo emerged, walking forward with steady steps. His blood-soaked face remained eerily composed, while crimson droplets dripped from his hair, staining the once-pristine snow with a deep, ominous red.
Spailo and Moryo exchanged looks, the silence between them speaking volumes. Moryo finally broke it, his firm voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere as he attempted to pierce through the cold shell surrounding Spailo:
"Spailo… Why did you join the Rizsius organization?!"
Spailo halted in his tracks, staring at Moryo with an unreadable expression. Moryo continued, his voice carrying an unmistakable sorrow:
"I don't know why you left us, but… Was it worth it? You were my closest friend!"
A heavy silence fell between them, as if time itself had stopped. Their gazes met, filled with memories that resurfaced—remnants of a past long gone.
---
(Flashback: 14 Years Ago)
On a distant day, two small children, Spailo and Baysal, sat together at a wooden table, devouring their noodles with childlike eagerness. On the other side, Moryo stood watching them, his sharp, cold gaze unfitting for a child his age.
Spailo lifted his head, his mouth still full of noodles, looking at Moryo with childish curiosity:
"What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?!"
Baysal joined in, speaking with the same playful innocence, noodles still hanging from her mouth:
"Don't mind him! He's always like that."
Moryo's face darkened, and he jumped up in annoyance:
"Stop talking while you're eating!"
Turning towards the door, Moryo was about to leave when the door suddenly swung open with force, sending him crashing into the wall. Bursting into the room with his usual enthusiasm, Sbyam's voice boomed across the space:
"My three students! The time has come to begin our serious training!"
Spailo laughed, tossing his noodles aside as he turned to face his teacher. On the other side, Moryo stood frozen, pushing himself off the wall with a clear look of irritation. In an annoyed voice, he snapped:
"Can't you speak in a normal way?!"
With a challenging grin, Sbyam pointed a finger at Moryo's chest:
"No! Speaking normally isn't my style, my dear student!"
Moryo's face flushed with embarrassment as Spailo and Baysal erupted into laughter. With a teasing smirk, Baysal added:
"Dear student!"
Laughter filled the room, but Moryo remained standing, his expression a mix of anger and embarrassment.
---
(Training Grounds)
In the snow-covered training grounds, the trio began their practice. Baysal's body shimmered with pink sparks dancing around her, while Moryo was surrounded by bright green energy, and Spailo by fiery red sparks.
A short distance away, Sbyam stood with his hands in his pockets, watching them in silence. A smug smile crept onto his face, his expression brimming with both confidence and amusement. The three were working hard, sweating from exertion, yet their determination was unmistakable.
With his signature grin, Sbyam spoke loudly:
"This is how it begins! Make this effort the foundation of your goals!"
The trio continued their training, marking the early days of a bond that would face the trials of time and betrayal.
---
(Another Day)
On another day, after an intense battle, a massive beast lay lifeless on the ground. Thick clouds of dust covered Spailo and Moryo's faces. Moryo, standing firm, had one hand in his pocket, his expression calm as if nothing had happened.
Beside him, Spailo placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, a bright smile on his face. Moryo glanced at him with a small smile of his own, while Spailo's laughter carried through the air, unaffected by the remnants of the battle.
---
(Another Day)
The young Moryo and Spailo were playing soccer in a lush green field. Moryo ran with the ball, aiming for the goal, determination in his every move. But suddenly, Spailo slid across the ground, tearing up the grass as he intercepted Moryo.
Moryo crashed onto the ground with force, the ball rolling out of bounds. As he groaned in pain, a small trickle of blood visible on his knee, Spailo approached him with a warm smile.
Stretching out his hand, Spailo asked in a kind voice:
"Are you okay?"
Moryo looked up at Spailo, meeting his gaze with a quiet smile. He took his hand and got to his feet. Spailo's cheerful laughter mixed with Moryo's steady gaze, as if they complemented each other perfectly.
---
(Three Years Later)
Moryo, Baysal, and Kamyo stood in the training hall before their teacher, Sbyam. His usually composed face bore traces of hesitation as he raised his head to look at his students. After a moment, he spoke in a solemn tone:
"Spailo... has abandoned the Sorcerers' Organization and joined the Rizsius Organization."
The room fell into stunned silence. Baysal's eyes widened as she muttered in disbelief:
"WHAT?!"
A heavy sense of regret colored Sbyam's voice as he added:
"I don't understand... Brylo did it before, and now Spailo. Why? Why does everyone keep leaving us? I truly don't know what is happening in this world!"
With clenched fists, Moryo stepped forward, his voice filled with denial:
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!You're lying! Spailo would never do that!"
Sbyam stared at his student in silence, while Moryo's tone grew more desperate:
"Tell me he didn't betray us! Say it, Master Sbyam!"
Still, Sbyam remained quiet. Moryo's expression wavered between anger and despair before he struck the wall with his fist, shouting:
"Damn it!"
He turned to leave, but Sbyam's calm yet firm voice stopped him:
"Oi, Moryo!"
Moryo froze but didn't turn around. Sbyam continued, his tone unwavering.
"No matter who betrays us, we will not stop. Our mission is to free our people from the beasts. Don't forget that."
A brief silence followed before Moryo walked out without another word. Behind him, Sbyam looked toward Baysal, concern evident in his expression as she struggled to process the shock. Meanwhile, Kamyo remained motionless, as if the news hadn't stirred anything within him.
---
Present Day…
Silence returned to the area, broken only by the howling wind and the slow descent of snowflakes. Moryo and Spailo stood face-to-face amidst the harsh weather. Finally, Moryo spoke, his voice carrying both questions and determination:
"Spailo? I truly wonder... what are your motives? Why are you doing all of this? Were you always cruel by nature, or did cruelty shape you?"
Spailo did not answer immediately. He remained silent as red sparks crackled around his clenched fist, burning with barely contained fury. At last, he spoke in a calm yet heavy voice:
"The world is cruel. Those without cruelty cannot survive. Only demons or the ruthless can handle this reality... or perhaps both together."
In response, green sparks flickered to life around Moryo's fist, reflecting his growing rage. The two exchanged sharp, unyielding gazes,as if the inevitable clash had already been decided.
Both prepared themselves—sparks surging, determination hardening their expressions.
End of Chapter.