✨ CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX — TRIAD BATTLE: PHASE TWO (2 of 3) ✨
The air above the ruined rooftop shimmered, as if the world itself held its breath.
All three Seraphs stood, perfectly spaced, their energy seals now pulsing brighter, faster—almost alive.
The speed Seraph flickered, now leaving four afterimages with every movement.
The power Seraph's fists glowed white-hot, veins of energy spreading across the armor like molten metal.
The calculation Seraph's spear spun around, silver symbols forming a cage of lethal prediction.
Dara groaned. "Bro… that's not fair. FOUR AFTERIMAGES?? They're doing… math… and punching us!"
Maya's glow flared faintly, hovering behind Aiden.
"They're evolving based on Phase One. You have to fight smarter, Aiden."
Aiden clenched his fists.
Golden light swirled around his body, intensifying.
"They want Phase Two? Fine. Phase Two it is."
---
THE SERAPHS ATTACK TOGETHER
The Seraphs moved with unnatural precision—every strike choreographed, every pulse measured.
Speed Seraph dashed forward, multiple afterimages slashing with blinding speed.
Aiden blocked and twisted through them, leaving golden shockwaves in his wake.
Power Seraph jumped high, hammering down strikes with enough force to crush the rooftop.
Aiden countered midair, fists glowing, shattering concrete beams as he absorbed the blows.
Calculation Seraph fired a spiral of silver energy beams—predicting each move with near-perfect accuracy.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. He wasn't dodging blindly anymore.
He stepped forward and whispered,
"Time to change the rules."
---
MAYA UNLEASHES A FORBIDDEN SUPPORT
Maya extended both hands, starlight swirling into a lattice around the trio.
"Golden Guard — Starveil!" she called.
A barrier erupted, stretching from the rooftop edge to the far walls, a shimmering grid of silver and white.
It wasn't just protection—it enhanced reaction speeds.
Aiden's golden aura surged. Every movement felt lighter, faster, sharper.
Dara's reflexes, normally sluggish, became instinctively precise, dodging debris and minor energy blasts without thinking.
The Seraphs attacked again.
This time, their strikes clashed against the Starveil.
A golden glow collided with silver, sparks flying as energy pulses rippled outward.
Aiden grinned.
"They're adapting… but so are we."
---
THE TURNING POINT
Speed Seraph struck again, this time aiming a diagonal slash from above.
Aiden didn't move—he read it.
Golden fists collided with the blade, sparks scattering.
The afterimages shattered against the impact, leaving only the real Seraph exposed for a split second.
Power Seraph charged simultaneously, but Aiden's golden aura flared outward in a shockwave punch.
The Seraph staggered, fists dented, momentum broken.
Calculation Seraph's silver spear glimmered, forming a predictive barrier to counteract his attacks.
Aiden grinned, whispering,
"Then I'll break your prediction."
He leapt high, twisting midair, and landed a spinning golden kick directly into the calculation Seraph's chest.
The silver symbols fractured.
Dara jumped forward with a metal pipe in hand, smacking the speed Seraph's helmet.
Maya's barrier flared around them like a second heartbeat.
All three Seraphs paused—data assimilation clearly disrupted.
---
AIDEN PUSHES PAST LIMITS
Golden aura burned brighter than ever, illuminating the ruined city.
Every strike, dodge, and counter was faster, sharper, more fluid than before.
He wasn't just reacting—he was predicting their predictions, anticipating their adaptations.
The Seraphs regrouped, hovering in perfect formation.
Calculation Seraph's voice broke through the static air:
"Anomaly escalation beyond projected parameters. Initiate Phase Three preparation."
Maya's hands fell to her sides.
"Phase Two… survived. Barely."
Dara wiped sweat from his brow.
"Phase Three? Are we fighting gods next?"
Aiden crouched, golden energy crackling around him.
"No. We're rewriting the rules."
The Seraph Triad readied themselves—three sets of glowing weapons, three arrays of energy seals, synchronized for the final phase.
Aiden's golden fists flared in answer.
Maya's starlight shimmered beside him.
Dara gripped his pipe, smirked faintly.
"Let's see Phase Three," Aiden said.
And with that—the final, decisive clash began.