✨ Chapter Seventeen — Phase Two: Heaven's Precision ✨
The Seraph hovered above the street, silver aura spiraling around their armor like controlled lightning.
No shouting.
No taunting.
No wasted motion.
Just pure, efficient killing intent.
Dara gulped loud enough to echo.
"Bro… this one fights like a police officer who actually enjoys paperwork."
Aiden didn't take his eyes off the Seraph.
"Maya. What's Phase Two?"
Maya didn't hesitate.
"Long-range suppression. Prediction combat. They'll attack where they expect you to move."
Dara blinked. "So they don't miss?"
"They don't," Maya confirmed.
Aiden raised his fists. "Then I'll move faster."
The Seraph extended one hand.
Silver symbols flashed around their fingers—thin lines drawing geometric shapes in the air.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"New trick?"
"No," Maya whispered. "Calculation seals."
A bright sphere formed above the Seraph's palm.
It burst—splitting into dozens of tiny silver tracking darts.
"Engaging predictive volley."
The darts moved.
Silently.
Accurately.
Fast.
"AIDEN MOVE—!" Maya shouted.
Aiden kicked off the ground, barely dodging the first wave—
WHIP-WHIP-WHIP—!!
The darts curved midair.
Dara dove behind a broken truck.
"NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! These things have degrees!"
Aiden ducked under one, flipped over another, but the darts were relentless—adjusting to every movement.
Maya lifted her hands.
A thin, shimmering barrier of white starlight rose around her.
Several darts struck it—
TINK—TINK—TINK—
Cracks.
Her barrier held, but only just.
Aiden shouted, "Maya, don't block too much!"
"I know! But they're learning your patterns!"
Aiden didn't bother answering.
He stopped running.
Dara peeked out. "Bro?? Why are you NOT dodging??"
Aiden clenched his fists.
"Time to test something."
He focused—
Golden energy spiraled around his arms.
Heavenly Ascent — Counter Pulse
He slammed his foot down.
A shockwave blasted outward from him in a perfect circle—
BOOOOM—!!
Every dart within five meters exploded.
Silver fragments rained down like metallic snow.
Dara pumped a fist. "YESSIR!! That's my boy!"
But the Seraph was unfazed.
"Analysis: new ability detected. Countering."
Their weapon shifted—folding into a long, narrow lance.
They vanished.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"Where—"
SHHH—!!!
The Seraph reappeared beside him mid-strike—lance aimed at his ribs.
Aiden blocked with both arms, sparks flying.
The impact launched him backward across the pavement—
He rolled, jumped up, and exhaled sharply.
"Fast. Too fast."
Maya swung her hand—
A star-lance of white energy shot toward the Seraph.
They deflected it with a casual wrist flick.
"Celestial energy detected. Secondary target prioritization increasing."
Maya stiffened.
"They're adapting again."
Aiden got in front of her instantly.
"No touching her."
The Seraph lunged.
This time, Aiden was ready.
He matched their movement—golden energy burning hotter than before.
Their weapons clashed midair—
CLANG—!!
Sparks.
Shockwaves.
Every hit from the Seraph was precise enough to kill.
Every hit from Aiden was strong enough to break walls.
But neither landed a decisive blow.
Dara watched from the side, eyes following the fight like a frantic spectator at an illegal match.
"LEFT—NO RIGHT—OKAY HE'S BEHIND YOU—AIDEN HE'S BEHIND—"
Aiden twisted, blocking a strike behind his back.
The Seraph froze.
Aiden smirked. "Dara's yelling helps, apparently."
Dara threw a thumbs up. "I am a natural coach, what can I say—"
A dart skimmed past his head.
Dara screamed and ducked.
"OKAY I'M DONE TALKING."
The Seraph backed off, hovering a few meters away, eyes glowing brighter.
"Conclusion: The Heavenly Ascent user possesses escalating combat adaptation. Engaging sub-phase."
Maya's eyes widened.
"Aiden—get ready. This is the real Phase Two."
"What's different?"
Maya inhaled deeply.
"They stop predicting where you will move…"
The Seraph's armor glowed white-hot.
"…and start predicting where you must move."
The Seraph raised their lance again.
"Sub-Phase: Absolute Trajectory."
Aiden's stance tightened.
"This one's gonna hurt, isn't it?"
Maya nodded.
"A lot."
The Seraph vanished—
Appearing behind Aiden.
Then above.
Then beside.
Then everywhere—
Four afterimages flickered around them.
Dara threw his hands up.
"BRO YOU CAN'T FIGHT MULTIPLE CHOICES—"
Aiden planted his feet.
"Watch me."
All four Seraph projections attacked at once—
Aiden rushed the center one, fist glowing—
CRASH—!!
His punch landed.
The projection shattered.
The REAL Seraph slid backward, armor cracked again.
Dara yelled, "YEAAAH! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"
But before they could celebrate—
New silver cracks spread across the sky.
Maya froze.
"That's Phase Two ending."
Aiden glanced up. "Already?"
She nodded.
"They're switching to Phase Three."
Dara slumped. "Of COURSE they are…"
The Seraph lifted their lance overhead.
Heaven's light poured through the cracks.
Aiden stepped forward, fists tightening.
"Maya. Dara. Stay behind me."
The Seraph declared calmly:
"Phase Three: Dominion Authority."
A pillar of light descended from the sky onto the Seraph.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"Alright then."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Round three"