Rafa's wings continued to pulse—
White light surging like a sun about to burst,
Black aura rippling like a storm swallowing the horizon.
The pressure grew so intense that the floor cracked.
Angeline could barely remain standing.
Then—
TING!
A glowing blue screen materialized in front of Rafa.
Everyone froze.
---
[⚠ SYSTEM WARNING ⚠]
ERROR: Vessel Capacity Exceeded
Host cannot sustain Seraphim-Class form.
Initiating Forced Downgrade…
---
Rafa (voice breaking)
"What…? Downgrade…?"
His wings shudder violently.
White feathers fall like burning snow.
Black feathers dissolve into smoke.
The class watches in stunned silence as the divine echo in his voice fades.
---
[Recalibrating…]
[Seraphim → Dominion-Class Angel]
[Dominion → Virtue-Class Angel]
[Virtue → Guardian-Class Angel]
---
Rafa (gasping, knees buckling)
"My… strength…"
So this… is the limit… of this world?"
Then his knees give out.
He collapses forward—
---
Angeline
"RAFA!"
She catches him just before he hits the ground, his body heavy and warm in her arms.
His breathing is shallow.
His skin—cold.
His wings—only translucent shadows now.
Her heart twists.
---
Professor Gideon (astonished, whispering)
"He… he fell from a Seraphim to a lower angelic order…
Simply because this world couldn't contain him…"
---
Juliet (spiteful, but scared)
"Good! Servants of common trash should collapse—"
But the moment she says it, even in his unconscious state,
Rafa's shadow ripples like a living creature.
Juliet pales instantly.
---
ANGELINE (hugging Rafa tightly)
"No… no… don't disappear…
You answered me…
You came for me…
Please stay…"
A single tear falls onto his cheek.
The black and white outlines of his wings flicker—
As if reacting to her grief
---
[Stabilization Complete]
Warning: Further decline possible if strain continues.
Recommend immediate unconscious state.
---
Rafa's eyes flicker—gold and violet losing their brilliance.
The wings snap shut, shrinking… shrinking…
Until only faint outlines remain, barely visible.
His expression softens with shock and pain.
Rafa
The Red Door Trial
The moment the group stepped through the red door, the world snapped shut behind them with a heavy thud.
No light leaked through. No way back.
They staggered forward and suddenly found themselves standing in the center of a vast forest—dense, humid, alive with insects and distant growls. Panic spread through the group, voices rising in confusion.
"Quiet!"
The shout cut through the air like a blade.
A tall man—6'2, broad-shouldered, wearing a crisp American military uniform—stood before them. The emblem on his chest gleamed through the shadows. Behind him formed a line of soldiers from various nations, each uniform distinct, each face unreadable, all watching the newcomers with cold discipline.
Instinctively, Kahwina tightened his grip on his little brother's hand. With a silent gesture—two fingers to his lips—he signaled him to stay quiet. Then, using the forest's cover, the two siblings melted into the underbrush, disappearing among the vines and moss.
From the safety of the trees, they watched.
And then it happened.
A faint ding echoed inside every student's mind.
A glowing translucent window—a system screen—appeared in front of each person.
---
Kahwina's System
Skill Acquired: Awareness
The user gains enhanced perception of surroundings and can instantly understand environmental changes, movement, and hidden dangers.
Kahwina inhaled sharply as his senses expanded—every rustle, every heartbeat, every shifting branch mapped itself in his mind.
---ni
Marcus' System
Skill Acquired: Duplication
The user can create up to four clones. Each clone acts independently, performing different tasks simultaneously. Clones share experiences but have physical limits.
Marcus stared at his hands, then at the faint after-images flickering around him like shadows waiting to split.
---
Lorenzo's System
Skill Acquired: Strengthening
Strengthen the body or any object through touch. Enhanced durability, power, and resilience.
Downside: Ability has cooldown—overuse causes exhaustion or temporary inability to strengthen.
Lorenzo clenched his fists, feeling waves of force ripple beneath his skin.
The Void Gathering
In the heart of a dark, endless void, a lone figure floated—silent, unmoving.
Around him circled gods, divine beasts, ancient spirits, and creatures whose names had long been erased from mortal memory.
They argued, their voices crashing against the void like thunder, each complaining, each demanding, each blaming the others for what was to come.
Then the being's eyes opened—cold, ancient, all-seeing.
The moment those eyes shifted, silence fell.
A path of pale light formed, and stepping through it came a man dressed in celestial robes of shifting starlight.
Mr. Orbis.
The moment he entered, all beings bowed their heads—some from respect, others from fear.
The dark being's voice echoed:
"Mr. Orbis… how nice of you to enlighten us with your presence."
Orbis did not bow. He merely observed them, calm and unreadable.
"I have delivered my part," he said, voice echoing with authority.
"I expect you to deliver yours."
The dark being smiled—thin, sharp, amused.
"And I appreciate the help," it replied.
"I will do as I promised. Not reinforcements from my worlds—you asked for that. What a funny thing… you want them as meat shields."
It laughed softly.
"Very well. I accept the deal."
Orbis turned around without another word.
Not a single god or beast dared speak as he passed.
His final words drifted through the void like a warning:
"They have to learn fast… I don't have time."
The World's Will & The Song of the Ancestors
A second message appeared before every person who had stepped through the red door:
"The Will of the World has recognized you.
The Veil is lifted.
Survive."
The words burned like fire across their vision.
The world shifted.
---
Vilomah
High in the mountains, beneath the graves of her people, Vilomah finished stitching together the shredded remains of Alex.
Her hands shook.
Her eyes burned red from crying.
But her voice—her voice was steady.
She began to sing the ancient mourning song of her tribe.
A song meant only for warriors.
Her voice echoed across the stones.
Then she cut her palm.
Blood dripped onto Alex's cold chest.
"You are not one of us…
but you fought for us as our ancestors once did.
May my blood recognize you."
She let her blood spill over his body as she gently pushed the earth around him, still singing.
She didn't notice the air change.
She didn't see the first ghost rise behind her.
Or the second.
Then hundreds.
Ancient warriors, women, children, chiefs—her entire lineage appeared around her, standing silently as she sang… her voice now slipping into a trance.
---
Inside Alex's Soul
Alex found himself watching his entire life like a film flickering before his eyes.
Then—everything stopped.
He turned.
A thousand figures surrounded him.
And at their center stood Vilomah, her spirit form glowing with ancestral fire.
A deep voice echoed through the void:
"Hear us, traveler."
Alex blinked.
"W-Who are you?"
"We are the Fallen Heroes," the voice answered.
"Warriors who fought for ages."
Alex gave a weak, almost resigned smile.
"It's too late… I'm dead. Maybe one of your descendants can—"
The spirits sneered.
"They are cowards.
They have only our blood.
You have our courage."
A warm force pulled at Alex's soul—back toward his body.
"The woman's blood has named you kin," the spirits continued.
"Through her, we can finally act."
The void trembled.
"To fight a monster…
one must not hunt—
but become a monster of their own."
Darkness swallowed him.
---
Back to Vilomah
She snapped out of her trance—and gasped.
Her entire ancestral line stood around her, glowing like moonlit fire.
Behind her, a hand rested on her shoulder.
She turned.
"...Father?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
Behind him stood her husband—smiling softly.
Her father spoke:
"My daughter… drink his blood.
As he drank yours.
Become one with him.
This is the final will of the ancestors."
Her hands trembled, but she obeyed.
The moment her lips touched Alex's blood, the spirits burst into light—hundreds of rays merging into Alex and Vilomah.
The pain hit instantly—inhuman, scorching, divine.
Alex's body began to heal, the shredded flesh repairing itself as if time reversed.
Bones reformed.
Skin closed.
His chest rose.
Then—
Light erupted from the ancestral graves.
---
The Village
Villagers ran toward the mountains, terrified and awed.
They arrived to see two figures floating in the sky:
Alex.
Vilomah.
Surrounded by the blazing spirits of the ancestors, chanting forbidden words not spoken for a thousand years.
The village chief fell to his knees.
The entire village followed.
A blinding flash tore through the mountain—
—then silence.
The light faded.
Alex and Vilomah lay on the ground, collapsed together.
Unconscious.
But breathing.