A Magical Word Revealed: The World Unravelled

Day Four, Chapter Nine, The Battle Of Nathan Pendragon And Draven Aegis

Floriana Household, Woodrow, Northern Territory, Australia

Sunday, 4/2/2024

09:43

Nathan Pendragon watched as Draven approached, activating his various powers. Nathan recalled a description of Soulbound.

"This incredible power gives the user numerous abilities. They can sense the emotions of others, become intangible for a few seconds, fly, and create four ghostly, transparent copies of themselves which are completely invulnerable, although they cannot stray too far from the original or will else de-manifest. They can also summon and control pale blue-green fire which both burns and paralyses anything it touches. But, the most powerful ability is that of temporarily stealing the power of any Magicae the user has defeated. Defeated in this sense refers to being beaten in a fight, losing a board or video game, losing in a bet or otherwise being outdone by the user in some sort of competition. The four ghost clones also gain the stolen power. Meanwhile, the person whose power is stolen will enter a trance-like state and will fall unconscious. Only one power can be stolen at a time, although they can be switched instantaneously. This is one of the most powerful and dangerous abilities."

Nathan grimaced. Draven was an opponent who should not be underestimated. The Demon looked towards the unconscious Jabez. A thick black smoke billowed from him and was absorbed into Draven. Great. Now Nathan would have to deal with Degradation as well. Moving with terrifying speed, four transparent clones separated from Draven and they flickered towards him.

Fracture: Fourth Degree

Nathan dispelled all four copies. Draven's smile twitched. Nothing, not even Deimos' fire had damaged those clones before. Four more clones exploded from him. Wonderful. Even if Nathan destroyed them, Draven could just summon them again. He sent the clones again and again, creating waves of paralysing flames and destroying the earth around them. Nathan had to rely very heavily on Fracture to block or dispel the repeated attacks. In the end, the fight was going nowhere. Any time Nathan attacked from a distance, the invulnerable clones blocked it and any time he tried to get close, the clones would hold him off while Draven retreated. That's enough! Time to try something new.

Thousand Percent > Hyperspeed > Air Blast

Thousand Percent > Hyperspeed > Tendrils > Extendo-Arms > Musclebound > Fracture > Degradation > Blackout

Bounding through the air with blinding speed, Nathan quickly launched himself over and then behind Draven. He raised his fists and attacked. The clones got in the way once again. Nathan punched through two of them at once. Draven kept summoning them as they were destroyed, but Nathan's flying fists were still getting closer and closer. He tried attacking with his flames, but they were dispelled. Draven was beginning to panic. One small flaw of Soulbound; it granted no improved speed. Even the ability to fly only allowed him to travel at running speed. There was little possibility of escape.

'What the?'

A voice rang out, distracting them both. Multiple black Sedans had parked on the driveway and Magicae were spilling out. It seemed that they had only just now noticed the battle and the presence of the MAS. Among the arrivals was, oh no. Miranda Deimos. Her eyes widened in fear as she saw who Nathan was fighting. On the contrary, Draven looked overjoyed. Purple smoke shot from Deimos and into Draven. Purple flames mixed with his pale blue-green ones.

Oh no.

Oh no, no, no!

Draven went intangible and slipped through Nathan. Before Nathan could turn, he was hit from behind with a combination fire attack. He fell forward, feeling an unnatural cold spreading through his body. He struggled to move and his powers wouldn't activate. Draven laughed.