As Yaxoc strolled through the streets, enjoying the peace, a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Oh, hey, Yaxoc!" Heraphiel greeted, appearing in a flash of light.
Yaxoc turned, a little surprised. "Heraphiel? What's up? Didn't we just finish sparring? Why are you back?"
Heraphiel grinned. "I've got something to show you. You need to come with me for a moment." With a snap of his fingers, he opened a swirling portal of radiant light. "Step through, and you'll see!"
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow but followed Heraphiel into the portal without much hesitation.
The Heavenly Skylands
As Yaxoc emerged, his eyes widened. He found himself in a breathtaking realm filled with floating islands, connected by glowing pathways. The sky was a soft blend of gold and azure, and angels gracefully soared between the lands, their radiant wings shimmering in the sunlight.
"What is this place?" Yaxoc asked, awe-struck.
"Welcome to The Heavenly Skylands," Heraphiel announced proudly.
Yaxoc scanned the endless floating islands and the serene angels wandering about. "So, this is where the angels live? I thought most of them were wiped out by Lucius?"
Heraphiel shook his head. "Not anymore. Our Father brought them back to this realm. He knew Lucius was hunting angels who remained on your planet, so He created this separate world—a sanctuary where angels can live safely."
Yaxoc tilted his head. "But why bring me here? I thought only angels could enter."
Heraphiel chuckled. "That's true for most mortals. But those who've reached the third mastery of Angelic Essence—like you—are an exception. Only a mortal with that level of mastery can even step on these clouds without falling through."
Yaxoc glanced down at his feet, realizing he was standing on a fluffy, glowing cloud. "So as long as my angelic essence stays active, I won't fall?"
Heraphiel nodded. "Exactly."
Yaxoc looked around at the bustling realm. "How many people live here?"
"There are about 700,000 angels here," Heraphiel said. "And, currently, 1,459 mortals like you who have reached the third mastery of Angelic Essence."
Yaxoc whistled, impressed. "That's more people than I expected. But just how big is this place?"
Heraphiel's gaze turned upward, as if measuring the vastness of the realm. "This realm is far bigger than the Sun itself. And, technically, it could get even larger."
Yaxoc frowned. "What do you mean by 'get larger'?"
Heraphiel smirked. "When a clash of incredible power occurs here, the energy expands the realm itself. But no one has ever managed to shake this realm. It's simply too vast and stable."
Yaxoc blinked, surprised. "No one's ever shaken this place before? Not even you?"
Heraphiel laughed. "Nope. But you… well, you're a different story. With your full power, you might actually be able to pull it off."
Yaxoc shrugged and took a step forward, only to realize his feet weren't touching the ground anymore. "Wait… am I floating?"
Heraphiel laughed again. "Not exactly. You're flying! This realm amplifies your angelic abilities."
Yaxoc tried to move, his movements unsteady as he wobbled mid-air. He managed to glide a few feet before crashing into another angel, sending them both spinning.
"Ow!" Yaxoc groaned, rubbing his head.
The angel he'd collided with straightened their robes, giving him a calm but stern look. "Please watch your step next time." With a polite nod, they flew away gracefully.
Yaxoc picked up a small tin pot that had fallen from the collision, plopping it on his head like a makeshift helmet. "Jeez, these angels are way nicer than most people back home. If this were my world, I'd probably get a snarky 'watch your step, moron,' or some wannabe gangster flashing fake gang signs."
Heraphiel chuckled. "That's because angels are pure-hearted beings. They avoid negativity, whether it's toward other angels or mortals."
Yaxoc smirked. "Well, I could get used to that."
The two floated above the vibrant islands, Yaxoc gradually getting the hang of his newfound ability. He couldn't shake the feeling that this place—and what it represented—was just the beginning of something much larger.
Heraphiel gestured for Yaxoc to follow. "Come on, there's more to explore. I want to show you something."
The two floated effortlessly through the glowing skies. Below them, a majestic temple came into view, surrounded by angels and angelic essence users engaged in rigorous training.
Heraphiel pointed toward it. "That's the Temple of Light. It's used for important meetings, but it's also a prime training ground. Those you see down there are working tirelessly to ascend to the final mastery of the Angelic Essence."
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow. "Final mastery? What's that supposed to mean?"
Heraphiel glanced at him, his tone turning more serious. "They're aiming for the fourth mastery, also known as Light's Strongest Ally. It's the peak of angelic essence… or at least what most people believe to be the peak."
Yaxoc's curiosity piqued. "How does that even work? What's so special about the fourth mastery?"
Heraphiel shrugged slightly, his demeanor casual. "To be honest, I don't know much about it myself. That's part of why I brought you here. You're going to meet someone who has extensive knowledge of the masteries beyond the third."
As they continued flying, Heraphiel slowed down, coming to a stop near a small, unassuming cloud. Resting on it was a humble tent, simple yet out of place in the otherwise grandiose realm.
Yaxoc tilted his head, skeptical. "Wait, a tent? In the middle of all this grandeur?"
Heraphiel chuckled. "Oh, did I forget to mention? This realm defies the laws of physics. Here, things aren't always what they seem."
To emphasize his point, Heraphiel walked over to a nearby tree growing out of the cloud. With little effort, he lifted the massive trunk with just a single finger.
Yaxoc stared, baffled. "Uh, what? How are you even doing that?"
Heraphiel smirked, spinning the tree lightly before tossing it aside, where it floated gently back to the ground. "This tree has no weight here, Yaxoc. Just like much of this realm. The rules you know don't apply in the Heavenly Skylands."
Yaxoc squinted at the tree and back at Heraphiel, rubbing his temples. "Right, sure. I'll just add that to the growing list of things in this realm that make no sense."
Heraphiel laughed, patting Yaxoc on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Now, let's head inside the tent—our guide is waiting."
As they stepped inside the tent, Yaxoc was immediately greeted by an unexpected sight—a large, cozy living room, complete with modern furniture, warm lighting, and a faint smell of lavender in the air.
"What the hell? This looks like a regular house," Yaxoc muttered, looking around in disbelief.
Heraphiel smirked. "Of course it doesn't make sense, but hey, I'm not complaining." He then raised his voice. "HAVEN!"
A young girl suddenly materialized in the room, stepping out of what seemed to be a rift in space.
"Yeah? What do you want, Heraphiel?" she asked nonchalantly, brushing off some imaginary dust from her jacket.
Yaxoc blinked, pointing at her. "How did you—"
"Who's this mortal?" Haven interrupted, crossing her arms as she sized Yaxoc up.
"This is Yaxoc," Heraphiel said, gesturing toward him. "He just reached Angelic Essence Mastery 3 and needs guidance to hit the next level. You're the only one who knows how to get there."
Haven groaned and facepalmed. "Do I look like a teacher to you? I'm stuck at Mastery 3, too!"
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow. "Wait, she's a mortal?"
Heraphiel nodded. "Yep. Haven here is a mortal with angelic essence, and she's been living in this realm. She's got the knowledge you need to aim for Mastery 4, though."
Haven scowled. "Barely. It's not like I've actually reached it yet."
Yaxoc turned back to Heraphiel. "How do I even—"
Before he could finish, Heraphiel gave a casual wave and teleported away. "Good luck! Have fun, kids!"
Yaxoc stared at the now-empty spot, his confusion turning into mild annoyance. "Typical."
Haven shrugged and turned her attention to him. "Wait a second… aren't you the guy who shook outerverses when you fought that demon?"
Yaxoc blinked. "Uh… yeah, that was me."
Haven tapped her chin, seemingly in deep thought, then snapped her fingers. "Alright, changing the subject. If you want to hit Mastery 4, you'll need to fight while keeping your essence active. The key is endurance—it has to stay on, no breaks. But even then, there's only a very low chance your essence will evolve. I'm still trying to figure out how to increase those odds."
"So what's next?" Yaxoc asked.
"What do you think?" Haven said with a smirk. "You're going to be my sidekick until one of us figures this out. Lucky for us, there's a tournament coming up. Perfect training ground for us both."
"A tournament?" Yaxoc raised an eyebrow. "Is it solo or duos?"
"Duos, you moron," Haven said, rolling her eyes. "We'll sign up tomorrow. But for now, let's get introductions out of the way."
Yaxoc shrugged. "Fine. I'm Yaxoc. Savior, aspiring to be the strongest, and trying to save my parents from Lucius and Ogamak."
Haven nodded, filing away the information. "Alright, decent backstory. I'm Haven Hight. High schooler, flower enthusiast, and, yes, that's my actual last name."
Yaxoc squinted. "Hight, huh? Something tells me you're related to Hannah or someone in the Hight family…"
Haven sighed. "Bingo. I'm adopted, okay? No need to make a big deal out of it just because my name's fancy."
"Fair enough. But how did you disappear earlier? That was freaky," Yaxoc asked.
"Heraphiel brought me here. I was his first student before you," Haven said, crossing her arms. "Satisfied?"
Yaxoc shrugged again. "I guess so. Just don't get in my way during this tournament."
"Don't worry, I'll carry us," Haven quipped with a smirk.
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Meanwhile, in the Judgment Hall of GDM, the relentless battle had dragged on for days.
Yurgion stood battered and bloodied, his armor cracked and his movements sluggish. Across from him, GDM remained almost untouched, his imposing presence radiating dominance.
"Are you ready to give up?" GDM asked, his tone cold and mocking.
"Not... a chance, you brat," Yurgion rasped, struggling to keep his balance. "I've still got fight left in me..."
But as he spoke, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to one knee, his strength waning.
"You've taken enough punishment," GDM said, his voice carrying an almost patronizing edge. "Return to your seal while you still can—"
Suddenly, a massive slash tore through the hall, its sheer force cutting deep into GDM and ripping half his jacket apart. The unexpected attack hurled him against the far wall, blood trickling from the wound as he clutched his side in shock.
"What... the hell was that?" GDM muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward with a calm but menacing aura. Ogamak.
"So," Ogamak said, his tone laced with disdain. "It seems you've gotten yourself stuck in here."
Yurgion, wide-eyed at the sight of his master, stammered, "Master Ogamak?! Why are you here...?"
Ogamak spared him a glance and replied curtly, "I've come to deal with this abomination. Now leave."
Without hesitation, Yurgion nodded and limped toward the portal, vanishing from the battlefield.
Ogamak turned his gaze back to GDM, who was still recovering from the devastating slash. "So you're the freak the memory fragments whispered about. They say you're not the only one, though. Curious."
GDM pushed himself to his feet, his hand still pressed against the wound.
Ogamak tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "You remind me of some bargain-bin video game character. What was it called again? 'Hit Points'? Or was it just 'Health'?"
GDM instinctively glanced at his stats, his expression souring as he read: 25,000/50,000 HP.
Before he could respond, Ogamak lunged forward, delivering a flurry of slashes that tore through GDM's defenses like paper. The attacks were precise, brutal, and merciless.
"Silence," Ogamak growled as GDM crashed to the floor, his health reduced to a meager 4/50,000.
Ogamak stepped closer, his voice dripping with contempt. "A pitiful fragment like you doesn't deserve to exist. And don't think for a second I'm foolish enough to mistake you for Xavy."
He turned to leave, his steps unhurried. But before he could exit the dimension, a bright blast struck his shoulder, making him stagger.
Ogamak whirled around, his annoyance clear as his eyes scanned for the source. To his surprise, GDM had vanished.
"Where is that son of a—" Ogamak's words were cut off as sharp, bone-like projectiles pierced his shoulder and leg. Before he could react, the projectiles detonated in a burst of energy, sending him reeling.
Emerging from the smoke, GDM stood tall, his face darkened by an unrelenting fury. "So, you thought you killed me, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
Ogamak glared at him, his composure faltering for the first time. Without a word, he stepped through a portal and vanished from the dimension.
GDM exhaled sharply, a wry smile forming on his lips. "Coward," he muttered before collapsing to the ground, the battle taking its toll.