The wind howled through the empty street as Kai stood motionless, hands clenched in his pockets. The duel with Ayla had left more than cuts and bruises—it had cracked something deeper inside him. The lines were being drawn, and he was now a name on everyone's list. The Queen had tested him. He passed.
But now came the next move.
Because the System wasn't done.
> [Main Quest Chain Update: The Thrones Have Taken Notice]
New Threat Detected: Throne Envoy – "Seraphiel the Seeker"
Class: Celestial Executioner | Rank: C+
Objective: Survive Contact | Optional: Impress or Escape]
Kai stared at the text as it glowed in his HUD. C+ rank. That was a whole tier above Ayla. If Ayla was a storm… this Seraphiel would be a typhoon.
He barely had time to process it before a pulse of divine energy surged across the sky, warping clouds and turning daylight into golden twilight.
Lena rushed toward him, panic in her voice. "You felt that too?"
"Yeah," Kai replied, eyes locked on the sky. "Something's coming."
She pulled out a charm and pressed it into his hand. "Take this. Defensive spell—one use. It might buy you a second or two. Maybe."
Kai looked at her. "Thanks."
Lena looked away. "Just don't die, okay?"
Then the world stopped.
---
Scene: Arrival of the Seraph
Time froze.
Literally.
Birds in the sky halted mid-flight. Wind ceased. Students paused mid-step. Even Lena froze in place, her eyes wide, lips parted as if she were about to speak.
Then the air shimmered—and a figure descended from the heavens like a falling blade.
Seraphiel.
He wasn't just an angel.
He was divine judgment wrapped in white gold armor, eyes burning with truth. Six mechanical wings whirred softly behind him, each feather etched with shifting runes. His gaze fell on Kai.
> [Observe Activated Automatically]
Name: Seraphiel the Seeker
Race: Unknown – Celestial Executioner
Rank: C+
Threat: Severe
Mission: Evaluate, Judge, and Purge False System-Bearers]
"Kai Evernight," Seraphiel said, his voice reverberating like a cathedral bell. "You wield a System unauthorized by the Thrones. You stand at the precipice of law and chaos."
Kai didn't answer. Every instinct screamed at him to run.
"I come not to destroy," Seraphiel continued, "but to weigh. Show me what you are—prove you are not an abomination."
> [New System Prompt: Survive Evaluation Trial – 60 Seconds]
Bonus Objective: Land a hit on Seraphiel (Reward: Skill Rank Up)]
---
Scene: Trial of Light
The second the countdown started, the world burst into golden flames.
Seraphiel raised his hand. A sword of pure data and divine light formed instantly, crackling with code. He moved—and Kai barely ducked in time as a wave of raw judgment split the pavement behind him.
> [Quickstep Activated!]
[Void Blink – On Cooldown (45s Remaining)]
"Too slow," Seraphiel murmured.
Another strike. A wall of fire. Kai rolled, slid, and countered with Piercing Strike—but it barely nicked the Celestial's armor.
> [Status Effect: Burned (Lv.2)]
-20 HP/sec for 10s]
Kai gritted his teeth and jumped behind cover—a shattered mailbox—his HUD flashing red. Thirty seconds left.
He had to think.
"System," he whispered. "What's my best shot?"
> [Skill Fragment Analyzing… Synching with Insight… New Skill Formed: Phantom Reflection (Lv.1)]
Description: Copies a visual decoy of yourself that mimics movements for 3 seconds. 1 Use per Trial.]
Perfect.
Seraphiel approached, sword raised, radiating celestial fury.
"You are clever," the angel said. "But cleverness is not purity."
"Neither is blind obedience," Kai replied—and activated Phantom Reflection.
The clone darted left. Kai darted right. For a second, Seraphiel hesitated.
Kai lunged.
> [Piercing Strike – Critical!]
The tip of his blade struck the angel's shoulder.
Golden sparks exploded.
Seraphiel's eyes widened slightly. Then—
> [Trial Complete]
[Evaluation: Satisfactory]
[Bonus Objective Achieved: Piercing Strike Upgraded to Lv.2]
Time resumed. Lena gasped beside him. The world snapped back.
Seraphiel stepped back, lowering his sword.
"You are… anomalous," he said. "Yet not corrupted."
Kai exhaled. "Thanks. I guess?"
Seraphiel gave a half-bow. "You are now marked, Kai Evernight. The Thrones will watch. And judge again."
With that, he vanished—exploding into light that rained across the sky like divine dust.
---
Scene: Aftermath
Kai sat on the rooftop, bandaged and aching, his mind reeling. Lena stood beside him in silence.
"You faced a Throne Envoy," she whispered. "And you lived."
Kai chuckled, voice hoarse. "Barely."
"You're different," she said. "Not just stronger. You're changing."
He looked at his hands.
"I have to. If I don't—next time, I won't walk away."
> [Main Questline Branch Unlocked: Path of Rebellion or Path of Ascendancy]
Choice pending…