It was 9 AM, and Yaxoc sat in a tense meeting with the other Z+ Saviors. The air in the room was heavy, the recent events weighing on everyone's minds.
"Now that these hunters have been dealt with, we need to make future plans to ensure incidents like this don't happen again," Hannah began, her tone firm but laced with exhaustion. "We've lost three Z+ Saviors because of Urioh."
"Three? That's unfortunate," Watyrio said with a sigh. "I also heard Virusela is gone. Our second strongest... just like that."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their losses sinking in.
"So," Hannah said, breaking the silence, "who was able to defeat Urioh?"
"Marcus," Yaxoc answered, his voice steady but carrying a note of pride.
The room collectively turned to him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and surprise.
"Marcus?" Watyrio echoed.
"How is that possible?" Luchis asked, her brows furrowed.
"Where is he now?" Hannah inquired, leaning forward.
Yaxoc crossed his arms and replied, "He's in the hospital. His awakening ended, and he fainted shortly after the fight. But I'm just glad he managed to finish the job."
Before anyone could respond, the doors opened, and Heraphiel stepped inside. His presence commanded instant attention, and the room fell silent as he addressed Yaxoc directly.
"Apologies for the interruption," Heraphiel said, his voice calm but purposeful. "I need to speak with Yaxoc for a moment."
Hannah and the other Saviors exchanged glances, clearly surprised by Heraphiel's sudden appearance.
"Uh, sure," Hannah said after a moment.
Yaxoc stood up, following Heraphiel out of the room. They found a quiet spot outside, where the atmosphere felt less charged.
Heraphiel wasted no time. "Yaxoc, I'm sure you're aware that your potential has been steadily growing."
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the wall. "I haven't felt anything like that. Why?"
Heraphiel's gaze was steady. "Because your angelic essence is nearing a new level of mastery. It's rare, especially for someone who isn't an angel. But I need to ensure that this growth happens in a stable and controlled way."
Yaxoc tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And what happens if it doesn't?"
Heraphiel's expression darkened slightly. "If your mastery is reached without stability, your growth will stop permanently. Your essence will plateau, locking you out of ever reaching your full potential. No matter how hard you try after that, you'll be stuck."
Yaxoc crossed his arms, frowning. "Yeah, that's definitely not something I want happening."
Heraphiel nodded, then stood and gestured for Yaxoc to follow. "Good. Come with me. We're going to my dimension for a sparring match. It's the best way to push your angelic essence to its highest and most stable potential."
Without hesitation, Yaxoc pushed off the wall and followed Heraphiel, a flicker of determination in his otherwise calm demeanor. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them.
In the angelic dimension, Heraphiel strode into the grand, glowing temple. His movements were calm but deliberate as he turned to face Yaxoc, shifting into a fighting stance.
"Alright, Yaxoc," Heraphiel said, his voice resonating with authority. "Let's begin."
Yaxoc sighed, rolling his shoulders before settling into his own fighting stance. Both their angelic essences flared to life, casting brilliant golden and white auras around them.
Heraphiel smirked. "Once you reach the third mastery, your angelic essence will stay activated permanently—no time limits, no interruptions."
Yaxoc gave a single nod, his gaze steady. "Got it."
Without warning, Heraphiel launched forward, aiming a flurry of punches at Yaxoc. Yaxoc blocked the strikes, but Heraphiel vanished in a flash, reappearing behind him to deliver a powerful kick to his back, sending him stumbling forward.
Yaxoc quickly turned, spotting Heraphiel preparing another attack. Anticipating it, Yaxoc countered with a sharp manji kick that caught Heraphiel off-guard, making him stumble. Wasting no time, Yaxoc unleashed a barrage of punches.
Heraphiel, however, dodged each strike with practiced ease before retaliating with a devastating kick that sent Yaxoc sprawling across the temple floor.
Heraphiel stood tall, his tone almost scolding. "Come on, Yaxoc! You're holding back. If you want to reach your mastery, you can't afford to pull your punches!"
Yaxoc gritted his teeth and got back on his feet, his aura intensifying. "Fine. No more holding back."
Charging at Heraphiel with newfound determination, Yaxoc landed a solid punch to Heraphiel's face, followed by a swift kick that sent him airborne. In an instant, Yaxoc teleported above him, slamming Heraphiel into the temple floor with a resounding crash.
Yaxoc moved to deliver a finishing blow, but Heraphiel teleported away at the last second, leaving Yaxoc's punch to crack the ground beneath him.
Heraphiel reappeared, attempting a flying kick, but Yaxoc dodged with precision, countering with a spinning hook kick that flowed into a sharp hook punch. Heraphiel staggered back, his smirk widening.
"That's more like it!" Heraphiel roared. "Now, show me your full power!"
The two clashed again, charging at each other with incredible speed. Their collision sent shockwaves rippling through the dimension, causing the very fabric of the space to tremble and expand. The once-contained realm stretched outward, nearly nine times its original size, as their battle reached its apex.
When the dust settled, Heraphiel straightened, looking around with curiosity. "Well, that's interesting... The dimension has expanded."
Yaxoc stood, catching his breath. "What does that mean?"
Heraphiel crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "A clash that powerful doesn't just happen. When a dimension expands like this, it's a sign that you've reached a new level of mastery. In your case, it's your third mastery of Angelic Essence."
Yaxoc glanced around, noticing ethereal wings made of light hovering and spiraling around him. "And what's with these wings floating around me?"
Heraphiel chuckled softly. "Those wings are drawn to your immense power. They recognize you as something akin to a Seraphiel. Congratulations, Yaxoc. You've unlocked the third mastery of Angelic Essence, known as Seraphiel's Power Shard."
"Interesting..." Yaxoc murmured, flexing his hands as he felt the energy coursing through him. "And this form—it's permanent now?"
Heraphiel nodded. "That's right. You can now maintain your heightened power indefinitely. Enjoy it, Yaxoc."
Before Yaxoc could respond, Heraphiel snapped his fingers, and a sudden force ejected Yaxoc from the angelic dimension. He landed back in the mortal realm with a thud.
"Ouch..." Yaxoc groaned, rubbing his head as he pushed himself off the ground. "He seemed a little too excited to kick me out."
Shaking off the impact, Yaxoc stood tall, his newfound power radiating subtly as he prepared to face whatever came next.