Chapter 1276: Mind

’He’s not affected by the elements,’ Nex’s realization came with a frown. He couldn’t understand it.

On Vortharion, everything was done with mana. There were no exceptions. Whether it was controlling or manifesting the elements, it was always tied to mana.

That was what made this situation so confusing. He hadn’t felt anything. The little pup hadn’t tried to take over the mana in his attack. The attack had reached him, and yet, Nex had still seen the elements obey his call.

But he was sure of it, no mana was used. Which all boiled down to one conclusion:

He could control the elements without using mana.

Nex’s conclusion came with action. He suddenly pointed his arm at Noctis, and the air turned heavy. An orb of mana began to gather in front of his palm.

The expressions of the Eldorians shifted, many narrowing their eyes. They, more than anyone else, understood Atticus’ power, so they understood Noctis’.

They had the power to control the elements without using mana. The Eldorians themselves hadn’t reached that level despite their different powers.

They had become Eldorians, yes, but they still needed to train their powers to even dream of reaching Atticus’ level.

Still, for now, all eyes were on the mana gathering in front of Nex’s palm. Pure mana.

Unfortunately, control over the elements stopped there, the elements. Pure mana was different, and Noctis shouldn’t be able to manipulate it the way he did with the elements.

Even so, none of the Eldorians moved. Since the moment they first stood against Nex, there’d been a strange feeling in their gut. That they couldn’t win.

The Eldorians could negate mana just like any Nullite. But unlike Atticus, their control wasn’t refined enough.

Doing so would mean they also wouldn’t be able to use mana at all, which was suicide, especially for one reason: Nex’s Will was obviously greater than theirs.

Even if he couldn’t use it offensively, they wouldn’t be able to negate the mana within him. Which meant, during the fight, he’d still have access to his boundless mana.

Although Noctis was Atticus’ soulkin, he was the god, none of them could imagine his Will being greater than Nex’s. So, if he couldn’t negate the mana, what exactly was his plan?

Nex didn’t seem to notice the distress of the Eldorians. The blue orb continued to gather in front of his palm until it was as large as a bolder, casting its glow across the land.

The disdain in Nex’s eyes didn’t fade as he looked down on the calm Noctis. With a thought, the mana exploded forward in a beam of raw power.

But barely a second had passed when the beam suddenly began to flicker.

Nex’s eyes narrowed. He turned his gaze toward Noctis, whose golden eyes now pulsed with a fierce light.

’It’s trying to copy the mana signature?’

The words felt wrong.

He was the god of Vortharion. He could do anything with mana, shape reality itself with mere thought. He could run billions of calculations before others could blink.

And yet, this beast was trying to copy the mana signature of his attack?

Nex scoffed. "You think too much of yourself."

With a thought, he altered the beam’s mana signature. Instantly, the beam flared to life once more, brighter than ever.

But again, it flickered.

Nex’s face twitched. He changed the signature again, Noctis followed.

Then again, Noctis followed.

He ground his teeth. This was starting to grate on him.

It was beneath him, but fine, he’d crush the pup anyway.

Nex’s eyes flickered with unnatural speed. His thoughts accelerated. The mana signature of the beam began to shift rapidly, like a lock constantly rewriting its own code.

"See if you can keep up," he said.

But Noctis did just that.

Their minds moved faster than comprehension, eyes flashing with each shift. Nex changed the signature, Noctis resonated with it. Again and again.

The beam twisted into a chaotic flickering laser, constantly shifting as the two forces battled for control.

And then... it failed.

Before the beam could even cross halfway, its flickering worsened, until, like a candlelight in a blizzard, it flickered once more... and vanished.

Silence.

A hush spread across the field.

The Eldorians stared wide eyed. They had actually been changing mana signatures that fast?

A chuckle came from the side. They turned to see Whisker, eyes locked on Noctis with a smile.

"Isn’t it ironic?" Whisker laughed. "He has such cognitive capacity, but he can’t even speak!"

The Eldorians ignored him. There was far too much going on to entertain jokes. All eyes returned to Nex.

His face had contorted oddly, like a man trying to take a shit.

Words couldn’t begin to describe the humiliation he was currently feeling. If Noctis had blocked the attack, he would’ve understood. If he had dodged, fine. But he’d done neither.

Instead, Noctis had challenged his mind, and drew with him.

Nex rejected the thought entirely. It would mean he was on the same level as this... beast.

He was a god. He was the greatest. None surpassed him.

But while he wrestled with himself, Noctis grew tired of being docile.

The sound of the air tearing was the only warning before Noctis was upon him, claws ripping out.

Nex’s eyes snapped back into focus. His thoughts roared. Mana surged toward him like he’d become a wormhole. His body became drenched in it. He shot out his hand to meet the attack, and impact erupted.

A thunderous explosion rang out, the skies above blanketed in a massive haze. Roars boomed through the land as the shockwave shredded the air.

The Eldorians watched wide eyed as the haze swallowed the heavens. They were forced to raise their auras, shielding themselves from the blast.

"We have to join in! We can’t just stand he—!"

Avalon had just begun when three figures burst out from the haze, streaking toward them like missiles with a trail of blue energy in their wake.

The Warbringers.

Their killing intent drenched the skies.

The Eldorians’ expressions darkened. There was no need for words, the fight was coming straight for them.

Their auras ignited in unison, slamming down like weights across the battlefield. They shot one last glance toward the haze, where booming collisions still rang loud.

Noctis was holding his own. Against a god.

They turned back to the Warbringers. With Noctis holding Nex back, they could fight freely.