✨ Chapter Sixteen — First Clash With a True Celestial Warrior ✨
The celestial warrior didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't blink.
They simply stood beneath the fractured sky, weapon lowered, aura humming like a silent storm waiting to drop.
Dara whispered out of the corner of his mouth:
"…bro… I think this one actually pays rent in Heaven."
Aiden raised his fists. Golden energy flickered around him—hotter, sharper, more focused than before.
Maya stayed close behind him, her silver glow rising like mist. "This one is different. Stronger. The First Star says they're trained for capture missions."
The warrior finally spoke, voice steady:
"Identification: Celestial Hunter Class—Seraph Operative."
Dara flinched. "Seraph? SERAPH? Like… angel bosses? Mini-heavens? Bro this is DLC on top of DLC."
Aiden ignored him.
"Why are you after Maya?"
The Seraph tilted their head.
"Orders from Dominion Command. The Star-Vessel contains forbidden celestial matter. Its presence endangers the structure of Heaven."
Aiden's jaw tightened. "That's your problem. Not ours."
The Seraph's eyes glowed.
"Incorrect."
They raised their weapon.
"The problem becomes whoever shelters her."
Aiden didn't hesitate.
"Then come take her."
The Seraph moved first.
A blur of silver and blue.
The ground cracked where they had been standing—no wind-up, no sound, just instant motion.
Aiden barely crossed his arms before—
BOOM—!!
The strike sent him skidding across the street, asphalt breaking beneath his heels.
Dara shouted, "AIDEN—!"
Aiden caught himself, wiping a thin streak of blood from his lip.
"Fast… but not untouchable."
Maya analyzed instantly. "They shift weight before every jump—watch their left leg!"
"Got it."
The Seraph appeared in front of Maya.
Aiden's eyes widened. "NO—"
He dashed forward, but—
Dara was closer.
"HEY HEY HEY—BACK UP, GLOWSTICK!"
He swung his metal pipe.
The Seraph grabbed it mid-air, crushed it with one hand, and tossed Dara aside like a toy.
But that tiny delay was all Aiden needed.
Heavenly Dash — Burst Mode
He appeared between Maya and the Seraph, fist glowing with layered golden rings.
CRACK—!
Aiden's punch actually forced the Seraph back a step.
Dara groaned from the ground. "I softened him up… you're welcome…"
The Seraph assessed Aiden with new interest.
"Strange. You carry no Star, yet your energy mimics celestial resonance."
Aiden wiped dust from his shirt.
"I don't need wings to break yours."
He lunged.
The Seraph countered.
Their blades clashed—gold versus silver—sparks lighting the night.
Every strike from the Seraph was precise.
Every strike from Aiden carried raw power.
Maya moved too—throwing small arcs of starlight, forcing the Seraph to adjust their stance with every swing.
Dara charged from behind with a broken concrete block.
The Seraph spun—
Aiden blocked the incoming blade with his forearm and shouted:
"DARA—NOW!"
Dara yelled something incoherent and smashed the concrete down.
The Seraph lifted an arm—
SMASH!
The block shattered.
The Seraph was unharmed.
Dara shook his stinging hands. "Ow—ow—OW—never doing that again—"
But the Seraph's attention had split.
Which was a mistake.
Maya's eyes glowed faintly.
"Aiden—three steps left!"
He dodged—
The Seraph's blade barely missed his head.
Aiden countered with a punch to the rib joint.
A small crack appeared in the Seraph's armor.
Very small.
But it was enough.
The Seraph leapt back, scanning the damage.
"Unexpected. This will require escalation."
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean—"
The Seraph drove their weapon into the ground.
Silver rings shot outward in a perfect circle, expanding rapidly.
Maya shouted:
"WATCH OUT—AREA LOCK!"
Aiden grabbed Dara and dove behind a flipped taxi as the rings exploded—
BOOOOOOM—!!
Chunks of concrete and debris rained down.
The air filled with dust and celestial static.
When Aiden stood, the Seraph was floating above the street, armor glowing brighter.
"Phase Two: Activated."
Aiden exhaled slowly.
"Maya… how many phases do they have?"
"Four."
"Fantastic."
Dara crawled behind him. "We're dead."
Aiden shook his head.
"No. We're just warming up."
He looked at the glowing Seraph—now hovering, gathering power.
Maya stepped beside him, blades ready.
Dara took a deep breath and grabbed a rebar spike.
Aiden raised his glowing fists.
"Let's show Heaven what Earth can do."
The Seraph pointed their weapon downward.
"Begin Phase Two Engagement."
The real fight starts now.