✨CHAPTER TWENTY — THE SKY HUNTER✨
The rooftop shook again.
This time, it wasn't from landing troops or the thunderclouds overhead.
It was from something moving across the sky—fast.
Aiden felt the air pressure dip, like the world exhaled in fear.
Maya narrowed her eyes.
"That's not a drone."
Dara swallowed. "Yeah, drones don't make the clouds bend like that."
Because the clouds really were bending—spiraling in a tunnel formation, as if making way for something descending with authority.
Aiden stepped forward, tightening his grip on his glowing gauntlet.
His Heavenly Ascent interface flickered.
WARNING.
NEW ENTITY DETECTED.
CLASS: SKY HUNTER
RANK: CELESTIAL COMMAND UNIT
THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME
Aiden muttered, "Great. Another one."
Maya didn't smile, but her voice was steady.
"This one's different. That pressure… it's focused. Purposeful. It's not here to scout. It's here to remove us."
Dara whispered, "Big boss entrance."
The spiral clouds tore open.
A figure dropped from them—
Not falling, but descending like a spear.
A humanoid shape clad in silver-black armor, wings made of faint light etched behind its shoulders. Not feathers—lines. Diagonal, geometric, mechanical.
A mix of machine and celestial essence.
The moment its boots touched the roof, the entire building trembled.
Its helmet snapped open.
A metallic voice echoed through the city block.
"Aiden of Neo-Lagos. Bearer of the Heavenly Ascent.
Surrender the Vessel of the First Star."
Maya stiffened but didn't step back.
Aiden didn't hesitate.
"No."
The Sky Hunter tilted its head slightly, analyzing him.
"You have grown stronger since your awakening.
But strength without obedience has no meaning."
Dara whispered behind Aiden, "Can we… not fight this one? Maybe just pretend we're not home?"
"No," the Sky Hunter said without turning.
"I can hear your heartbeat."
Dara flinched. "Okay, creepy."
The Sky Hunter raised a hand, its fingers unfolding like steel petals.
A circular arc of energy formed in its palm, spinning clockwise.
Maya's eyes widened.
"That's a celestial nullifier. It scrambles star-energy."
Aiden's fist glowed gold. "So I can't let it hit you."
The nullifier fired.
Aiden moved instantly—his body instinctively responding to the danger. He slammed his glowing gauntlet into the beam, deflecting it sideways.
The rooftop edge exploded into dust.
The Sky Hunter analyzed again.
"Unexpected. Your defense output exceeds projections."
Aiden didn't give it time to finish.
He dashed forward, golden energy streaking behind him. The Sky Hunter lifted an arm to block—
Aiden punched.
The impact cracked the air like a whip, sending a ripple across the entire roof.
The Sky Hunter slid back three meters.
Not staggered.
Not damaged.
Just… recalculating.
Maya stood beside Aiden, shadows of star-light gathering around her fingers.
"I'll handle its sensors. You hit the joints."
Dara hopped behind a broken AC unit.
"And I'll… uh… provide moral support!"
The Sky Hunter lowered into a stance—fluid, precise, lethal.
"Combat engagement confirmed."
Aiden exhaled once, steadying himself.
"Round two, then."
The rooftop lit up gold, silver, and star-blue—
And the real fight began.