Samuel stood on the floating platform of the training dimension, his muscles tensed as his wings adjusted behind him. Days of relentless training had honed his abilities, but now, the real test was about to begin.
Ramiel, her silver eyes cold and analytical, stood before him, her four wings radiating authority.
"You've learned the basics," she said. "Now, let's see how well you apply them. You'll be facing a proper opponent today."
Samuel's pulse quickened. He had expected this, but now that the moment had come, anticipation mixed with unease.
"A fight?" he asked.
"A duel," Ramiel clarified. "Your opponent will not hold back. The purpose is to measure your combat instincts and see how you adapt under pressure."
Samuel exhaled, nodding. He wasn't the same clueless human he had been before. He was ready—at least, he hoped he was.
Ramiel raised her hand, and the air shimmered as a figure stepped out from the mist.
A male angel, two-winged, sharp-eyed, and confident.
"This is Elyon," Ramiel introduced. "He has trained for decades as a warrior. Let's see how you hold up against him."
Elyon smirked, cracking his knuckles. "A newborn with four wings? This should be interesting."
Samuel rolled his shoulders. "Guess we'll find out."
Ramiel raised her hand. "Begin."
---
A Duel of Strength and Speed
Elyon moved first.
He vanished from Samuel's view, reappearing in a blur just inches away. Samuel barely had time to react before a punch shot toward his ribs.
Fast.
Instinct took over. Samuel's arm snapped up, blocking the strike. The impact sent a dull ache through his bones, but he held firm.
Elyon grinned. "Not bad."
He spun, aiming a kick at Samuel's shoulder. Samuel blocked again, but the force sent him skidding back.
Elyon pressed forward, his speed relentless. Blow after blow, strike after strike—Samuel barely had time to process, only reacting on pure instinct.
He wasn't losing. But he wasn't winning, either.
Samuel had power—raw, overwhelming power. But Elyon had experience. And right now, that experience was keeping them deadlocked.
Elyon leaped into the air, wings flaring. "You're strong," he admitted. "But strength alone won't win fights."
Samuel exhaled, focusing. Speed wasn't his advantage. Power was.
When Elyon dashed in again, Samuel changed tactics. Instead of dodging, he braced himself—letting the attack come.
Elyon's punch connected with Samuel's arm, but this time, Samuel didn't budge.
Elyon's smirk faltered.
Samuel struck back.
A single, precise punch—not wild, but calculated. It forced Elyon back, eyes widening.
The fight continued, a clash of speed versus power.
Elyon's blows were quick and controlled. Samuel's were slower but devastating. Neither could gain the upper hand.
After minutes of relentless exchanges, Ramiel finally raised her hand.
"Enough."
Both angels stopped, their breathing heavy.
Samuel clenched his fists, adrenaline still surging through him.
Elyon chuckled. "That was better than I expected."
Ramiel's gaze settled on Samuel. "A draw," she announced.
Samuel blinked. A draw?
"You're twice as strong as Elyon, but your inexperience balances it out," she explained. "Once you refine your technique, you'll be able to take on four-winged angels."
Samuel's breath caught. Four-winged angels? That was a massive leap.
Elyon scoffed, but there was no malice in it. "Guess that means I should watch my back."
Ramiel nodded. "Your raw power is terrifying, Samuel. But raw power alone won't be enough in real battles. Keep training."
Samuel exhaled, nodding.
He was getting stronger.
But the real test was still ahead.
---
An Unexpected Intrusion
The air shifted.
A sudden, crushing pressure fell over the training dimension, thick with dark energy.
Samuel's instincts screamed.
Ramiel's expression darkened. "This is not part of the test."
A swirling portal of shadows tore open in the sky.
Then, from its depths, a demon stepped through.
It was unlike anything Samuel had seen before—taller than a man, covered in jagged black armor, four glowing eyes burning with malice.
It smirked, voice like a rumbling earthquake. "A four-winged newborn? How… intriguing."
Ramiel's hand shot out, summoning her sword of divine light. "You shouldn't be here, third-rank."
Samuel's heart pounded. Third-rank? Even without knowing the full ranking system, that alone told him it was a serious threat.
Elyon was already in a defensive stance. "We should handle this together."
The demon grinned. "No need. I only want to test the little one."
Samuel tensed. This was different from his spar with Elyon. This was life or death.
Then—it attacked.
It moved with terrifying speed, shadows twisting around its form.
Ramiel and Elyon braced, ready to intercept—
But Samuel had already moved.
Something awakened inside him.
His wings flared, his body moved on instinct, and before the demon's claws could even reach him—
He struck.
A single, precise blow, piercing through the demon's core.
Light exploded from Samuel's fist.
The demon let out a strangled snarl—then, in an instant, disintegrated.
Silence fell.
Ramiel's eyes widened, genuine shock crossing her face. "One strike."
Elyon looked equally stunned. "That was a third-rank demon."
Samuel stared at his hand, still glowing with residual energy. He didn't fully understand what just happened.
But one thing was clear.
Ramiel's voice broke the silence. "You're not normal, Samuel."
---
Whispers in the Demon Realm
Deep in the abyss of Hell, where shadows crawled and fire roared, a lowly demon knelt before a dark throne. The figure seated above him was shrouded in writhing black mist, only his glowing crimson eyes visible.
"You are certain of this?" the voice boomed.
The lesser demon trembled. "Yes, my lord. The human with the Origin has awakened… as an angel. A four-winged newborn, but his potential is immense."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Then, the voice rumbled again. "An anomaly… but a dangerous one."
Another figure, standing beside the throne, sneered. "If left unchecked, he could become a real problem in the future."
The being on the throne drummed his fingers against the armrest. "Then we must prepare accordingly. Keep watching. If he becomes a threat… we will eliminate him. For now try tempting him to see if he'll fall, if that happens that'll be best for what I'm planning."
The demon nodded frantically before vanishing into the darkness.
The abyss remained silent. But deep within, a storm was brewing.
Samuel had no idea—but Hell was already watching.
---