✨CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR — THE THREE DESCENDANTS✨
The rooftop trembled as the sky split wider—
silver cracks crawling across the night like roots of lightning.
Maya whispered, "This… this isn't normal. Three Descendants at once? That's a military response."
Dara raised both hands.
"HEY—UNIVERSE—WE ARE CHILDREN. PLEASE CALM DOWN."
Aiden ignored the shaking rooftop, the dust, the wind, all of it.
He watched the cracks.
Measured them.
Three beams of silver light dropped from the heavens, landing in perfect formation around the rooftop.
Not crashing—just appearing with precision.
When the light dimmed,
three figures stood where the beams touched.
They looked similar:
Tall.
Armored.
Same celestial markings.
But different in presence.
One radiated cold calculation.
One burned with violent speed.
One pulsed with crushing force.
Maya's voice trembled, but she stood firm.
"The Dominion sent a Triad Squad. These are high-tier Seraphs."
Dara whispered, "High-tier!? Bro we almost died to ONE low-tier."
Aiden stepped forward, fists tightening.
"Three or thirty… doesn't matter."
The Seraph in the center tilted its head.
"Primary target identified. Heavenly Ascent anomaly."
The one on the left spoke smoothly.
"Correction: Two anomalies."
Their gaze shifted to Maya.
Maya's glow dimmed. "They detected me…"
The third Seraph stepped forward, pressure rolling like a physical weight.
"Clarification: You will both be retrieved."
Dara coughed.
"Okay but like… have you considered NOT?"
The Seraphs ignored him completely.
The center Seraph raised a hand.
"Phase-One engagement will begin in thirty—"
Aiden moved.
Fast.
Golden energy exploded under his feet as he sprinted toward them.
The Seraphs spoke in unison:
"—zero."
BOOOOM—!!
All three vanished.
Aiden punched clean through the air where they stood.
Empty.
Then—
WHIP—!!
A kick slammed into his ribs from behind—
Aiden flew across the rooftop—
tumbled, flipped, and skidded on broken concrete.
Dara screamed, "BRO—THEY TAG TEAMMING—!"
Aiden got up immediately, jaw bleeding but aura blazing.
The speed Seraph appeared just long enough to smirk.
"Reaction speed below acceptable threshold."
Aiden vanished—
appearing behind the speed Seraph with a glowing punch—
The power Seraph teleported between them—
CLAAAAAANG—!!
Their armored fist blocked Aiden's punch like metal hitting bedrock.
A shockwave cracked windows three buildings away.
Aiden slid back, boots grinding sparks.
Maya traced symbols in the air, forming a glowing circle.
She thrust her palms forward—
A wave of starlight exploded toward the Seraph trio.
The calculation Seraph countered instantly—
creating a perfect silver barrier.
Maya's light splashed against it like water on steel.
They analyzed her spell mid-impact.
"Mana-spread pattern detected. Weakness identified."
The speed Seraph dashed behind Maya—
A silver blade emerging from their arm.
Dara saw it first.
"Oh NO YOU DON'T—!"
He grabbed a metal pipe and swung with his entire soul.
The pipe hit the Seraph's helmet.
TINK.
It bounced off harmlessly.
Dara dropped the pipe.
"I BELIEVE I HAVE MADE A MISTAKE—"
The Seraph raised their blade to strike—
Aiden appeared, catching the blade with both hands.
The metal sizzled against his palms.
Aiden growled, "Don't touch them."
The calculation Seraph spoke calmly:
"Adaptation pathways updated.
All three units will now engage the Heavenly Ascent anomaly simultaneously."
The power Seraph stepped forward.
Aura shaking the air like a living earthquake.
Dara swallowed.
"We're gonna die."
Maya stepped beside Aiden.
"No. We're not."
Aiden exhaled—
golden aura burning brighter than at any time before.
He stepped between Maya and the Seraphs.
"This time," Aiden said quietly,
"I fight them on purpose."
The sky cracked wider.
Three Seraphs took their stances.
Aiden lowered his center of gravity.
Energy rippled around him.
Dara whispered, "Bro… that's your scary stance."
Aiden didn't look back.
"This is going to take everything."
The Seraphs spoke in perfect unison:
"Triad Formation: Dominion Trinity."
Aiden lifted his fists.
"Good."
His aura exploded upward—
blinding gold lighting the whole rooftop.
"Let's end Phase One."