The forest air was thick with tension, each step Ryou took crunching leaves underfoot as he made his way through the endless maze of trees. His body still ached from the transformation, his scars faintly glowing in the dim light filtering through the canopy. Despite the newfound power coursing through him, a nagging unease lingered in the pit of his stomach. He knew he was no longer the same, but he had no idea what that meant—or what he had truly become.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground, a sudden chill washed over him. The forest, already eerily silent, seemed to hold its breath. Ryou stopped, his senses on high alert. He gripped the knife in his hand tightly, its dull blade his only comfort in the oppressive darkness.
Then, a voice pierced the quiet, cold and unyielding.
"Ryou of Erevos," it called, resonating with an otherworldly authority.
Ryou spun around, his heart racing. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice trembling despite his effort to sound brave.
A bright, blinding light erupted from above, forcing Ryou to shield his eyes. As the light faded, a figure descended, wings spread wide and radiant like the sun itself. The figure was clad in gleaming white armor adorned with intricate golden patterns. Its face was stern and emotionless, framed by flowing silver hair. But it was the wings—pure, ethereal, and seemingly woven from threads of light—that struck awe and fear into Ryou.
An angel.
The angel's piercing gaze locked onto him, and a sense of dread settled in his chest. "You are an anomaly," the angel declared, its voice both calm and commanding. "A mortal tainted by the essence of a demon. You are a threat to the balance of this world, and I cannot allow you to continue unchecked."
Ryou's grip on his knife tightened. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't want any of it!"
The angel's expression remained impassive. "Intent is irrelevant. You carry a power that must be purged."
Before Ryou could respond, the angel raised its hand, and a glowing spear of light materialized in its grasp. It pointed the weapon at him, its radiance illuminating the entire clearing.
"Prepare yourself, mortal," the angel intoned. "Your judgment begins now."
The angel lunged, faster than Ryou's eyes could follow. Instinct took over as he threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the spear's devastating thrust. The ground where it struck exploded in a burst of energy, leaving a smoldering crater.
Ryou scrambled to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins. He raised his free hand, summoning the strange energy that had erupted from him earlier. The green glow flared to life, and he unleashed a blast toward the angel.
The attack hit its mark, but the angel barely flinched. Its wings flared, and the green energy dissipated like smoke against its glowing armor.
"You are inexperienced," the angel said, almost pityingly. "Your power is raw, unfocused. You stand no chance against me."
Ryou clenched his teeth, his frustration mounting. He couldn't let himself be defeated—not here, not now.
The angel struck again, its movements a blur of light and fury. Ryou dodged and parried as best he could, his knife a pitiful defense against the celestial weapon. Each clash sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
"You cannot win, Ryou," the angel said, its voice unyielding. "Surrender, and your suffering will end."
"I'm not giving up!" Ryou shouted, channeling more of the green energy into his strikes. The scars on his chest glowed brighter, and a surge of power coursed through him. He launched a barrage of attacks, each blast more forceful than the last.
For a moment, it seemed as though he might have the upper hand. The angel faltered under the relentless assault, its radiant armor dimming slightly. But then it spread its wings wide, and an overwhelming wave of light erupted from its body, pushing Ryou back and extinguishing his energy.
The force threw him into a tree, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He slumped to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.
The angel approached slowly, its spear pointed at his chest. "You fought bravely, but it is over. Accept your fate."
Ryou's vision blurred, his body refusing to move. He wanted to fight, to resist, but the strength was leaving him. As the angel raised its spear for the final strike, a surge of desperation ignited something deep within him.
The green energy flared again, brighter and more intense than before. Tendrils of dark light erupted from his back, coiling and lashing out like living shadows. The angel hesitated, its expression finally betraying a flicker of surprise.
"What is this?" it murmured, momentarily taken aback.
Ryou forced himself to his feet, the tendrils swirling around him like a storm. His vision was tinged with green, and his voice sounded strange, distorted. "You're not taking me down that easily!"
He charged, the tendrils striking out at the angel with incredible speed and force. The angel deflected them with its spear, but the sheer ferocity of the attack forced it to retreat. The clearing became a battlefield of light and shadow, each clash shaking the forest around them.
For what felt like hours, they fought, neither willing to yield. The angel's strikes were precise and devastating, while Ryou's attacks grew more chaotic and unpredictable with each passing moment. The tendrils seemed to move of their own accord, driven by the raw power within him.
But the power came at a cost. Ryou could feel it draining him, sapping his strength and clouding his mind. His movements grew sluggish, his vision darker.
The angel noticed his faltering and seized the opportunity. With a burst of speed, it closed the distance and struck with the flat of its spear, sending Ryou crashing to the ground. The tendrils vanished, and the green glow faded as he lay motionless, utterly spent.
The angel stood over him, breathing heavily. Its armor was dented and scorched, but its resolve remained unbroken. "You are strong," it admitted, "but you are still mortal."
It raised its hand, and golden chains materialized, wrapping around Ryou's limp body. The chains glowed with a divine light, binding him tightly and rendering him completely powerless.
"Your judgment is postponed," the angel said. "For now, you will answer to the higher powers."
Ryou's vision blurred as the chains tightened around him. He felt himself being lifted into the air, his consciousness slipping away.
The last thing he saw was the angel's glowing form, its stern gaze fixed on him. Then, darkness consumed him.
Ryou awoke to the sound of dripping water and the faint smell of damp stone. His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy. As he opened his eyes, he realized he was lying on a cold, hard surface.
He tried to move, but the golden chains still bound him, their light dim but unyielding. The room was small and dark, lit only by a single torch flickering on the wall. The stone walls were rough and unadorned, giving the space an oppressive, claustrophobic feel.
"Where... where am I?" Ryou murmured, his voice hoarse.
From the shadows, a voice answered, low and filled with disdain. "You're in the depths of Celestial Hold, mortal. A prison for those foolish enough to defy the heavens."
Ryou turned his head, squinting into the darkness. A figure stepped into the light—a man clad in simple robes, his expression cold and unreadable.
"Rest while you can," the man said. "Your true judgment has yet to begin."
Ryou's heart sank as the weight of his situation settled over him. For now, all he could do was wait—and hope.