✨ CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN — TRIAD BATTLE: PHASE THREE (3 of 3) ✨
The rooftop trembled beneath their feet. Dust swirled around jagged concrete as the Seraph Triad hovered, each radiating energy far beyond what Aiden had faced before.
The left Seraph's Velocity Seal glowed like lightning, the center Seraph's Calculation Seal pulsed with precise lethal intent, and the right Seraph's Force Seal throbbed with immense destructive power.
The air felt impossibly thick. Each heartbeat of energy seemed to echo across the city.
Dara gulped. "Bro… this isn't even the boss fight—this is the tutorial boss fight!"
Aiden didn't answer. His fists glowed gold, aura sparking with pure determination.
Maya stepped closer, her starlight barrier stretching subtly around the trio.
"Phase Three," she whispered, "is Dominion Authority. They'll combine their abilities… prediction, force, and speed… into one. You won't have a moment to breathe."
Aiden smirked faintly.
"Then I'll make my own moment."
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TRINITY STRIKE
The three Seraphs struck at once.
Velocity Seraph dashed, leaving multiple afterimages slashing from all sides.
Power Seraph slammed their fists down, crushing the rooftop with bone-breaking force.
Calculation Seraph's spear spun, forming a predictive lattice of energy, anticipating every possible escape.
Maya shouted, "Aiden! Defensive formation now!"
She extended her hands, activating Starveil Array — Overclocked. The barrier expanded, shimmering gold and white, linking with Aiden's aura to enhance speed and reaction for both him and Dara.
The Trinity Strike slammed into the barrier, shaking it violently.
Concrete exploded around them. Metal pipes twisted. Sparks flew like shooting stars.
Dara gritted his teeth. "BRO! My life just flashed in front of me! Again!"
Aiden's golden eyes glinted.
"Phase Three? Let's see how fast you adapt to me."
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AIDEN TAKES THE OFFENSIVE
Aiden vanished.
He didn't dodge. He attacked.
Golden afterimages flickered around him, confusing the Triad for just a moment.
He delivered a spinning punch to the Velocity Seraph, a knee strike into the Power Seraph's chest, and a shockwave kick against the Calculation Seraph's spear.
The Seraphs staggered—just slightly—but enough.
Maya's glow intensified.
"Keep pushing! Their synchronization isn't perfect yet!"
Dara, nodding frantically, swung his pipe like a battering ram, smashing into debris to create openings for Aiden.
---
THE TRINITY IS SHAKEN
The Velocity Seraph blinked out, reappearing mid-air to strike again, but Aiden anticipated the trajectory.
The Power Seraph's fists swung with earth-shattering force, yet Aiden countered with Golden Pulse Shockwave, shattering both fists' momentum.
The Calculation Seraph formed a silver energy cage, trying to trap him, but Aiden's aura flared, dissolving the cage into fragments.
The rooftop now resembled a cratered battlefield.
Concrete pillars lay broken. Energy marks scorched the surface. Sparks rained down.
Aiden landed squarely, golden aura roaring like a furnace.
"Not bad… but I've had enough of your homework."
Maya's hands glowed.
"Now! Combine with me!"
Aiden's aura intertwined with Maya's starlight, forming a radiating lattice of golden and silver energy.
The Seraph Triad faltered—completely thrown off by the combined force.
---
THE DECISIVE MOVE
Aiden's golden fists ignited into blazing projectiles of pure energy.
Maya extended her hands, shaping them into Star-Marked Conduits, linking with Aiden's strikes to amplify impact tenfold.
Dara shouted from behind, "LET'S GO, BIG BRO—SHOW THEM!"
Aiden charged. Velocity Seraph tried to flank. Power Seraph lunged forward. Calculation Seraph aimed a piercing strike.
They hit the combined aura at once.
BOOOOM!!
The rooftop exploded in white-gold light.
Silver and gold spiraled around each other like colliding stars.
The shockwave blasted outward, sending all three Seraphs tumbling through the air.
They crashed into separate buildings, staggered, energy shields flickering.
Aiden landed in front of Maya and Dara. Dust and sparks clouded the rooftop.
He flexed his hands, golden aura still flaring.
"They adapt… fast." he said, voice steady.
"But they can't adapt everything at once."
Maya exhaled sharply, barrier fading slightly.
"They're still functional, but Phase Three—your combination broke their synchronization."
Dara brushed dust off his jacket.
"BRO! I think we just gave them a participation trophy… AND a concussion!"
Aiden's gaze sharpened.
"Phase Three isn't over yet. They'll try again—but now, they'll know we're the real threat."
Maya nodded beside him.
"We've survived the first storm. The next clash… we finish it."
The rooftop lay in ruins, but the trio stood together, aura burning brightly, ready for the final confrontation.