✨ Chapter Eighteen — Phase Three: Dominion Authority ✨
The pillar of light around the Seraph didn't explode outward.
It condensed — collapsing tight around their armor like a second skin.
When the glow faded, the Seraph stood still, but everything about them had changed.
Their aura sharpened.
Their movements stilled.
Their presence felt heavier — not wild, not furious…
Controlled. Absolute.
Dara whispered, "Oh great. They upgraded from boss fight… to FINAL boss fight."
Aiden flexed his fingers.
"Then we finish it."
Maya stepped closer behind him. Her voice remained completely steady.
"Aiden, Phase Three means one thing:
Their body is in perfect harmony with celestial energy."
Dara squinted. "Which means…?"
"They don't waste anything anymore," Maya said.
"Every strike is guaranteed lethal."
The Seraph raised their lance — slowly, precisely.
"Dominion Authority engaged."
A circle of thin silver rings formed under their feet and began to rotate.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"Here they come."
The Seraph moved.
Not fast like Phase One.
Not unpredictable like Phase Two.
This was something scarier:
Inevitable.
The Seraph appeared in front of Aiden — no blur, no flash — and brought the lance down.
Aiden blocked—
CLAAANG—!!
The impact felt like stopping a falling skyscraper.
Aiden slid backward three entire meters before regaining his stance.
Dara's jaw dropped. "OH WE ARE SO SCREWED."
Maya lifted her hand, drawing another thin starlit line in the air.
"Don't panic. They can't be everywhere."
The Seraph instantly turned their head toward her.
"Secondary target exhibits celestial resonance. Eliminating."
They vanished—
Reappearing behind Maya.
Aiden didn't think.
He moved.
Golden light burst from his feet, and he intercepted the strike with both forearms.
The lance skidded across his armguard of light, sparks flying in an arc.
Aiden gritted his teeth.
"Don't—touch—her!"
The Seraph tried pushing through, but this time Aiden didn't budge.
Dara blinked. "Bro… BRO, you're holding it back!"
The Seraph tilted their head, recalculating.
"Unexpected increase in kinetic resistance."
Maya stepped up beside Aiden, hands glowing faintly.
"I'll break its balance."
"No," Aiden said immediately. "You stay back."
Maya looked at him. Not emotional — analytical.
"I'm not fragile."
"I know," Aiden replied. "But it's targeting you now."
The Seraph thrust again — quicker this time.
Aiden barely blocked, each hit numbing his bones.
Dara grabbed a broken metal beam from the rubble and charged yelling:
"DISTRACTION ATTACK OF DESTINY—!!"
He swung.
The Seraph swatted him away with the back of their hand like they were brushing off dust.
Dara flew into a wall.
A beat of silence.
Then his muffled voice:
"I'm okay! I landed on my pride!"
Aiden didn't look away from the Seraph.
"Maya."
"Yes?"
"Give me a window."
She nodded once.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just precision.
She raised both hands and traced a complex star-pattern in the air.
A pulse burst outward — not strong, not damaging…
but sharp.
The Seraph froze for half a second.
Just half.
But enough.
Aiden roared:
"HEAVENLY ASCENT — BREAK LIMIT!"
Golden light flared from his shoulders down to his fists, spiraling upward like a miniature sun rising.
The Seraph tried to dodge—
Aiden was already there.
His fist slammed into their torso.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The street cracked. Buildings shook. Dust exploded outward in a sphere.
The Seraph flew backward, skidding across the ground, armor dented, energy flickering unevenly.
Dara limped over, wide-eyed.
"Did… did you just punch the Authority out of them?"
The Seraph slowly stood, armor sparking.
Their voice glitched.
"Damage… unacceptable… recalibrating… authority… unstable…"
Maya stepped beside Aiden.
"Aiden. Now. Finish it before they stabilize."
Aiden nodded.
The Seraph lifted their lance for one final strike — unstable, shaking.
"Dominion… Com—"
Aiden vanished.
He reappeared directly above the Seraph, descending with a fist wrapped in blazing gold.
"HEAVENLY ASCENT — FINAL DRIVE!"
CRASH—!!!
His punch hit the Seraph's core.
Light burst outward in a massive shockwave.
Silver lines on the Seraph's armor shattered like glass.
The Seraph fell to one knee, energy leaking from their chest.
They spoke in a weak, glitching whisper:
"Analysis… incomplete… user… exceeds parameters… report… required…"
Then their body dissolved into silver fragments that evaporated into the sky.
Silence.
Aiden stood still, fists lowering slowly, chest rising and falling.
Dara finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
"WE WON! WE ACTUALLY WON!
—Wait. Did we win? Because it looked like we won."
Aiden looked at the sky.
The cracks were closing.
Maya stepped beside him, her glow fading but steady.
"You ended Phase Three," she said softly. "That means the Seraph can't reform."
Aiden exhaled.
"Good."
But Maya didn't look relieved.
She was staring at the last fading silver fragment.
"Aiden…"
"Yes?"
"That Seraph wasn't the strongest."
Aiden felt his heartbeat shift.
"How strong?"
Maya looked at him calmly.
"Next time… they'll send someone built to kill you specifically."
Dara groaned.
"Oh fantastic. Customized doom."
Aiden rolled his shoulders, golden sparks flickering around him.
"Then let them come."
He looked at his hands.
He felt stronger. Clearer. Faster.
And the System whispered in the back of his mind:
⟨ NEW PATH UNLOCKED: CELESTIAL BREAKER ⟩
Aiden smirked.
"We'll be ready."