The angel danced forwards with the blade in her hand, leaving behind a trail of black flowery energy behind her.
She was fast, incredibly fast, and as she rose into the air and came crashing down with her sword, me and Faye dived out of the way just in time, both to opposite sides of the impact.
The angel landed in a crouched position on the grass and sat, leaving a mark in the dirt, where her strike had burned the area around her.
If that hit me, I don't think my wings would be enough to block it.
Her eyes darted towards me, and she danced forward once again.
At that same time, Faye threw two roses.
One was blue and flew across the garden with speed and hit my chest. Instantly, I felt the surge of power that it granted, allowing me to move with efficiency.
The second rose was red and hit with a thump in the back of the angel.
She recoiled from the impact, and her movements grew lethargic.
So that's how the red rose works. It's some sort of debuff.
The angel pressed towards me again, and this time, I had to take a risk.
I charged forward to meet her, confident from the boost in power that the blue rose had granted me. I did not want to waste it's effects.
She rose herself into the air and came crashing down with ferociousness; I attempted to curl my wings to block.
The blade crashed against me, and it was the hardest force I had felt in hell so far.
I was sent tumbling backwards over and over again until I came to a stop on the dirt.
The strike sent a numb vibration through my body, making it hard for me to rise back to my feet, but I was ultimately fine.
No injuries. Just pain.
"Your wings are strong... b-but they won't be enough." The angel spoke as she walked towards me, but the words seemed forced.
Like an unseen power was fighting against her.
Gavalis' possession.
"You n-need to experience true danger. You need to f-f-force yourself to be pushed."
What does she mean? Force myself to be pushed?
The words left me confused.
Was the angel trying to leave me some kind of hint? A way to gain power?
Thump thump
Two more roses flew from Faye's hands and into the back of the angel as she shouted at me from across the garden.
"Don't listen to her, Rade; she is corrupt!"
I wanted to believe her, but something inside of me was telling me otherwise.
The angel's face twisted with anger, and she widened her stance, sword held back behind her, preparing to strike.
And the strike was aimed towards me.
As she held her sword, it began to slowly spark with a black energy, and it looked dangerous.
My wings wouldn't be blocking this one.
"Meet my strike, d-diver. It's the only way. You have the capabilities; I c-can sense it in you."
I had no idea what she was talking about, but I began to run to the other side of the garden, hoping that I could make the strike miss me.
Thump.
Another red rose flew from Faye's hand, but they were having no effect.
The angel seemed uncaring. Focused on the strike that was growing from her sword.
Finally, she swung the blade with force, sending the arced strike of energy flying towards me.
It was made from a dark black essence that seemed to swallow the light from around it.
And worst of all, it was large. Far too large to dodge.
Somehow, as it flew towards me, I knew it would be a killing blow. Most likely severing me in half.
Ending my journey to revenge...
No. No!
Time seemed to slow for me as I glanced at Faye's face, looking at the expression of fear on her face. She knew as well that the strike was too powerful for me to withstand.
So I would not withstand it.
I would have to meet it.
As she said I would.
Something deep inside of me began to awaken. A dark energy that had always resided in the depth of my being. But only now did I begin to grasp it.
It felt as simple as forcing the darkness out of a focus point. Channelling it through my body and sending it to where I wanted to go.
And so I did.
It felt as though my blood was boiling as I felt the power run down the length of my arm and to my hand.
Then finally, it erupted from my palms.
CRASH
The strike was a spark of terrifying black and red lightning that seemed to crack the very air around it.
Its size was incredible; it should have been far too large for my arm to let out. But it did.
The bolt met the angel's arced sword strike, and the two abilities crashed together, creating a thunderous crash that would have been heard even back at the palace.
But ultimately, my strike bore through hers, dissipating it into nothingness before continuing and smashing into the angel with force.
As it struck her, she let out a screech and was sent flying backwards, crashing into and through the metal fence and tumbling into the streets of the sleepless city.
Leaving me and Faye standing in the garden, the sound of powers fading around us.
I looked at my pale right hand's palm.
It had been burned to an ashen black.
I felt drained of energy. The effects of the blue rose no longer present.
Faye just stared at me, mouth agape and in shock. It was a power, unlike anything she had seen before.
I was stronger now. Closer to the strength I would need to achieve my goals.
Then, I felt something on my wrist.
The dark curse mark began to shift. It was no longer a simple black colour but now was mottled with stripes of red as well.
What does this mean?
As I thought to myself about the meaning behind the curse mark, I looked up and saw Faye staring at me with wide eyes.
"Rade..." She said, after a few moments. "Your wings. They've changed."