I had barely finished my conversation with Rias and her team when it happened.
A sudden chill swept through the room, and I instinctively reached for the handle of the door, stepping outside. The sun was still setting, casting long shadows that danced like specters across the quiet school grounds. But I wasn't alone.
A black feather drifted slowly through the air, landing near my feet.
I knelt to pick it up, turning it between my fingers. The feather wasn't like any ordinary bird's—it had an unnatural sheen to it, as if forged in a furnace of darkness.
The silence was oppressive.
I felt it before I saw her. The air shimmered as a presence materialized—graceful yet deadly, like a serpent in the grass. I didn't turn around immediately. Instead, I simply waited, gauging the energy around me.
And then, she spoke.
"You're the anomaly," the voice was soft, almost mocking.
I turned slowly to face her.
The Fallen Angel was stunning, but her beauty was as dangerous as it was captivating. Her long black wings stretched behind her, feathers flickering in the growing twilight. Eyes of burning crimson met mine, and I could see the quiet rage simmering beneath her composed exterior.
"Raynare, isn't it?" I said, my voice casual, but my senses were alert, ready.
She smirked, not a hint of surprise in her eyes. "You've heard of me. I'm flattered." She tilted her head. "I've heard about you as well. The Campione... the godslayer."
"And what exactly are you doing here, Fallen Angel?" I asked, keeping my tone level.
She laughed, a dark, melodic sound. "I've been sent to *test* you. To see if you truly live up to the rumors. If you have the power of a god, then maybe you'll be worth something. Worth *destroying*."
Before I could react, the space between us crackled with energy, and a spear of light materialized in her hand. It shone with an ethereal brilliance, vibrating with immense power.
"Do you think you can just step into our world and go unchallenged?" Raynare sneered, her wings flaring.
I stepped back, eyes narrowing. "You really don't get it, do you?"
In an instant, my power surged, the air around me snapping with divine energy. I reached deep within myself, feeling the weight of Heracles' myth wrap around my bones.
**Strength in Struggle**.
Raynare launched herself at me, her spear aimed directly at my heart.
I moved just as quickly, dodging the strike with ease. My body surged with power as her spear cracked the ground where I had just been standing.
Without hesitation, I struck back, my right fist glowing with golden energy. The force of the blow was like a freight train, and though she was fast, Raynare barely managed to twist her body out of the way. She managed to avoid the full brunt of my punch, but the shockwave from the impact sent her tumbling backward.
Raynare's eyes flashed, fury rising to the surface. She gritted her teeth and rose to her feet, unfurling her wings to hover a few feet above the ground. "You're strong... but it's not enough. You'll regret not finishing me off the first time."
I stood my ground, waiting for her to make her next move.
"*Stronger still,*" I muttered under my breath.
The more resistance I faced, the greater my strength became. I wasn't going to hold back. Her spear was formidable, but **Strength in Struggle** thrived on adversity. Each exchange, each close call, only fueled the power within me. I felt it building, gathering momentum.
Raynare's eyes widened slightly as she realized my intent. "No... You... You're not just a godslayer! You're—!"
Before she could finish her sentence, I moved again. This time, I wasn't dodging.
I was attacking.
I blurred forward, closing the distance between us with the speed of a lightning strike. My fist, now glowing with divine light, slammed into her chest with the force of a collapsing star.
Raynare gasped, her wings flaring wildly as she tried to regain control, but it was too late. The sheer force of the blow sent her hurtling backward, crashing into the ground with a deafening crash.
I stood over her, panting slightly, but the golden aura around me was still strong—alive with the power of struggle.
Her wings twitched, and she slowly pushed herself up, her face filled with shock and pain. "I… underestimated you, godslayer."
I didn't answer. Instead, I just watched as she struggled to rise.
And that's when I saw it—the flicker of **recognition** in her eyes. She wasn't looking at me anymore; she was looking past me, toward the shadows of the trees.
A rustle in the air. The faintest flutter of wings.
I turned just in time to see a second Fallen Angel appear—a man this time, his eyes cold and calculating. He raised an eyebrow at the scene, his gaze shifting from Raynare to me.
"You must be Alec," he said, his voice smooth, almost bored. "I heard rumors, but seeing it firsthand…" He smirked. "Impressive. But this is where it ends."
Raynare groaned in defeat, still struggling to rise, but her companion had already summoned his own spear of light.
I could feel the tension rise again. It wasn't just Raynare anymore. Now, I had two Fallen Angels to deal with—and no clear way to know how far they were willing to push things.
But I didn't care. In fact, I welcomed it.
"Bring it," I muttered, feeling the warmth of Heracles' Authority surge within me.
And this time, I was ready to end it.
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