The wind continued to howl through the trees, its eerie cry filling the night air. Mike and Seraphina stood side by side, staring at the clearing ahead of them. The tremors had led them here, to this spot in the forest, but what they found was unlike anything Mike had ever seen before. The massive, shadowy figure looming in the center of the clearing emanated a dark energy that twisted the air around it.
Mike's grip on his Wakizashi tightened as his mind raced to comprehend what he was seeing. "What is that thing?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the creature.
Seraphina's face was tense with recognition. "That... is a creature born from the depths of the Abyss. It's not just darkness. It's cursed—a force twisted by centuries of malice and rage."
Mike swallowed hard, his heart pounding. "We can take it, right? I mean, we've faced worse... haven't we?"
Seraphina's silence was answer enough. She took a step forward, her hand already glowing with faint light, preparing a spell. "We have to be careful. This isn't a beast you can take down by brute force alone."
Before they could make a move, however, a new energy surged into the clearing—one that made Mike's entire body freeze.
It was a divine energy, sharp and overwhelming, like the sun cutting through storm clouds. From the opposite side of the clearing, two figures emerged. They were bathed in radiant light, halos of shimmering gold hovering above their heads, and their eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly power.
Mike's heart sank as he recognized them. These were no ordinary foes.
"Owners of Heaven's Blessing..." Seraphina whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and dread.
Mike clenched his jaw. He had heard of them before—beings chosen by the divine, granted immense power through the blessings of heaven itself. They were the anointed warriors of the gods, and they were notoriously ruthless when it came to purging anything they deemed to be "impure."
One of the figures, a woman with long, flowing white hair and gleaming silver armor, stepped forward. Her golden eyes locked onto Mike and Seraphina with cold disdain.
"You are the one who take a gift from demon!," she said, her voice carrying the weight of judgment. "You should die..."
The second figure, a woman clad in shining blue robes with glowing wings unfurled behind her, sneered at Seraphina. "I can sense the darkness lingering around you, dirty woman. No wonder you stand with a men who take a gift from demon,"
Mike took a step forward, anger rising in his chest. "Hey, back off! We didn't come here looking for trouble. We're just trying to survive."
The male owner of Heaven's Blessing barely glanced at him. "Survival is not your concern. You've take that demon gift, and for that, you will be punish."
The woman raised her hand, and a brilliant light shot forth, forming a glowing spear that hovered above her palm. The air around her crackled with divine energy, and the ground itself seemed to quake beneath her power.
Seraphina shifted into a defensive stance, her own energy flaring as she prepared for the inevitable confrontation. "Mike, we're outmatched here. These two—if they unleash their full power, we won't stand a chance."
Mike's mind raced as he gripped his Wakizashi tighter. His Hellfire flickered along the edge of the blade, but he knew Seraphina was right. This wasn't a fight they could win head-on—not against beings with the blessings of Heaven at their disposal.
But running wasn't an option either. The beast of the Abyss behind them was still a threat, and now these Owner of heaven blessing warriors stood in their way, ready to strike them down without hesitation.
"Damn it," Mike muttered. "So what do we do? We can't just let them wipe us out."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she assessed their surroundings. "We need to outsmart them. Use their arrogance against them."
The owner of Heaven's Blessing stepped forward again, raising her hand toward the Abyssal beast. "This creature will be purged by divine fire. Stand aside, or you will be consumed with it."
But just as he was about to unleash his power, a deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows behind them. The cursed beast stirred, its red eyes glowing brighter as it sensed the presence of the Owner of heaven blessing warriors.
For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. The tension in the air was palpable as the Abyssal creature bared its fangs, its enormous form pulsing with dark energy. And then, without warning, it lunged at the owners of Heaven's Blessing with terrifying speed.
The owner of heaven blessing reacted instantly, summoning a barrier of light that deflected the beast's attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the clearing, knocking Mike and Seraphina off their feet.
Mike scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. This was their chance. While the Owner of heaven blessing warriors were distracted by the Abyssal creature, they could slip away, or better yet, take the fight to the cursed beast and seize control of the situation.
"Seraphina!" Mike shouted, moving toward her. "We need to take that thing down before they do!"
Seraphina nodded, understanding his plan. "If we defeat the beast, we might be able to disrupt their power over this place. But we have to act fast."
The two of them darted around the edge of the clearing, keeping low as the Owner of heaven blessing warriors clashed with the Abyssal beast. The male warrior's sword gleamed with divine light as he slashed at the creature, but it was too fast, dodging and weaving through the air with unnatural grace.
Seraphina began to chant, her voice low and melodic as she summoned her magic. Mike could feel the air around them shift as she gathered energy, preparing to strike.
But just as they were about to make their move, the blue eyes Owner of heaven blessing warrior turned her gaze on them. Her eyes blazed with fury as she realized what they were planning.
"Fools," she hissed, raising her spear. "You dare to challenge Heaven's will?"
Mike braced himself as she hurled the spear toward them, the divine energy crackling with deadly force. But just before it struck, Seraphina unleashed her spell, a barrier of dark energy materializing in front of them. The spear collided with the barrier and exploded in a burst of light, but the barrier held, protecting them from the worst of the blast.
"Now!" Seraphina shouted.
Mike surged forward, his Wakizashi igniting with Hellfire as he charged at the Abyssal beast. The creature's red eyes locked onto him, but it was too slow to react. With a powerful swing, Mike drove his sword into the beast's side, the flames searing its dark flesh.
The creature let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly as the Hellfire consumed it. Mike gritted his teeth, holding onto his sword with all his strength as the beast's dark energy began to unravel.
And then, with one final, agonized scream, the beast collapsed to the ground, its body disintegrating into shadows.
For a moment, everything was still. Mike stood there, panting heavily, his sword still glowing with the remnants of Hellfire. He had done it. He had taken down the cursed beast.
But as the shadows dissipated, something unexpected happened. From the ashes of the Abyssal creature, a figure began to emerge—a slender form, draped in tattered robes, with long, flowing hair and pale skin that glowed faintly in the moonlight.
Mike's eyes widened in shock as the figure stepped forward. It wasn't a monster. It was a woman—a beautiful, ethereal woman with eyes as dark as the void, yet filled with an inexplicable sadness.
Seraphina gasped beside him. "The curse... it was hiding her true form."
The Owner of heaven blessing warriors, who had been preparing for another attack, froze as they too realized what had happened. The silver armored warrior lowered her sword, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"What... is this?" she demanded.
The woman looked at Mike, her gaze softening. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice like the softest breeze. "You have freed me."
Mike could hardly believe it. This woman—this being—had been trapped in the form of a cursed beast for who knows how long, and now, thanks to him, she was free.
But the owners of Heaven's Blessing were not so easily convinced. The silver armored stepped forward, her sword still gleaming with divine light.
"Do not be fooled," she said coldly. "She may appear innocent now, but the taint of the Abyss remains. She is still a danger."
Mike's hand tightened on his sword. "She's not a danger anymore. She's free."
The blue robes warrior sneered. "You do not understand the forces at play here, boy. We are Heaven's chosen, and it is our duty to purge the darkness from this world. She cannot be allowed to remain. And also you are too!"
Seraphina stepped forward, her eyes blazing with defiance. "She's not your enemy. She's just as much a victim of the Abyss as anyone else."
The Owner of heaven blessing warriors hesitated, their gazes flickering between Mike, Seraphina, and the newly freed woman. The tension was thick in the air, and for a moment, it seemed like another battle was inevitable.
But then, the woman spoke again, her voice calm and serene. "Please, do not fight."