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Mael: 12
Sabrina: 12
Mael woke up looking forward to training. Today was the day he would discover his mother's true power and try to face her as an opponent with all his strength—of course, without using the Commandments. He and Sabrina used to train together, but since he was much stronger than her, he was always heavily restricted and could never give it his all. If what Cain told him was true, then his mother was extremely powerful compared to almost everything he had faced.
If you've trained all your life but have no experience in real fights, there will always be that desire to prove yourself and see how far you've come. Without wasting any time, Mael got ready, had a small breakfast, and headed to the training field.
After walking a few minutes, he arrived at the entrance and heard the sound of someone training. Peeking inside, he saw Sabrina swinging her wooden sword as she lightly sweated. Ever since she caught a glimpse of his true strength and realized how much he held back in training, she had intensified her efforts. She probably knew she would never match him in strength, but that didn't mean she'd lose motivation or stop trying her best.
After a while, she noticed Mael watching her and stopped. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and walked over to him.
"Good morning, honey. You're here earlier than usual. Want to join me for some sword training?" she asked, still a little out of breath.
"Good morning, Sabrina. I'm not training with you today. Dad told me to come here this morning for a real fight—with Mom," Mael responded, his voice laced with obvious anticipation.
"Oh? Do you think you're going to win?" she asked curiously.
"I don't know, but I'll give Mom a run for her money."
Cain walked in alongside Ariel, who seemed extremely serious and ready to fight.
After a moment, they arrived in front of Mael and Sabrina.
"Hey, little miracle, ready to take on Mommy?" she asked in a carefree tone, abandoning the serious demeanor from just moments before.
"Of course I am, little star."
A few years ago, Mael had accidentally overheard his parents being affectionate, and his mother seemed to like that Cain called him "little star." He still didn't understand how that even worked...
"Alright, enough teasing. Let's not waste any more time. Ariel, try not to hurt him too badly. Understood, little star?" Cain said, half fearful and half amused, as Mael had adopted the nickname without even knowing its meaning. Cain still had vivid memories of his fights with Ariel. When she started fighting, she didn't stop until the enemy was completely torn apart. Remembering those days even got him excited—good times!
Ariel was a free spirit, but even she knew when to get serious. She nodded to Cain, who continued, "Let's make this quick—if you can, Mael."
Mael understood the message. He released his six magnificent wings, spreading them in all their glory. They had grown significantly and reached a size that made them usable in combat—half completely black, the other completely white. Ariel's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected his wings to have matured to this extent. Wings were the physical manifestation of celestial and infernal power, so their full growth said a lot about Mael's strength and potential.
"Go to opposite sides of the training field and wait for my signal," Cain instructed, pulling Ariel from her thoughts.
"You may use whatever is at your disposal, but follow some basic rules. Rule number one: No mutilation or permanent injuries. Rule number two: Keep all destruction within the training grounds. And finally, rule number three: have fun!" Cain declared. His last comment made them smile before shifting into serious mode.
Taking the match seriously, Mael summoned his swords from their storage space. Not wanting to carry them openly or leave them at home, he had placed them in the system's Hub.
Mael took his position, eyes locked on Ariel.
Seeing his swords, Ariel grew even more serious, drawing her own weapon and preparing to give her all.
After a few tense seconds, Cain gave the signal—and they vanished. Ariel dashed backward, summoning a thick wall of light before launching herself into the air with light manipulation, her speed dazzling. She was the daughter of Gabriel, and he hadn't been the third strongest archangel for no reason. Ariel had already surpassed him by a small margin.
Mael was momentarily surprised but didn't lose focus. His parents had always told him to stay calm in battle. He quickly enveloped his swords in a blend of light and dark energy and struck the wall. A wave of combined energy split it clean in two, opening a path forward.
Flapping his wings for momentum, Mael took flight, pursuing Ariel, who was keeping her distance. He immediately unleashed one of his strongest techniques:
★ 4th Form – White Light: Luminous Shot ★
Performing rapid, precise strikes, the user shoots beams of light—equal in sharpness and power to their weapon—from up to 15 meters away.
Yes, he had created his own breathing forms. It took two years, and it was still a work in progress, but this was his sword style—his path as a swordsman.
A barrage of light blades flew toward Ariel. In response, she summoned a tornado of light that fired beams like razor-sharp spears. Restricted to the training grounds, the tornado quickly engulfed Mael. The force of light overwhelmed him—strong winds, blinding flashes. Grunting in pain, he channeled his power and let out a mighty scream, expelling celestial energy in a powerful burst that shattered the tornado.
Breaking free, he activated another form:
★ 3rd Form – Starlight: The Shining of the Star ★
The user focuses their breathing into their fingers, spinning their weapon in wide 180° arcs fifteen times while maintaining full movement and precision.
Spotting incoming light attacks, Mael could dodge, but his technique consumed stamina rapidly—it wasn't fully mastered yet. Not wasting time, he summoned numerous sword and spear constructs.
Ariel, noticing the escalation, powered up to about 55% of her strength and unleashed a flurry of elemental attacks. Mael countered with his own energy constructs, defending against everything with precise breathing and even using his wings and infernal energy to guard against stray blasts.
Ariel was impressed—none of her attacks landed. It was too late to respond when Mael appeared in front of her, the cold edge of a blade against her throat. She could've reacted, but that would've meant using over 75% of her power—something she had agreed not to do. She let herself be struck and smiled proudly as a thin line of blood appeared.
Who would've thought a 12-year-old boy could make her bleed? Sure, she could've countered… but really, what did she feed this kid? Must've been the breast milk. Definitely takes after his mommy. Suck it, Cain.
"Victory is yours, Mael," Ariel said with a wry smile.
Cain was also stunned. He may have let Mael fall into disadvantage, but he recovered with calm and precision, reversing the fight in moments.
Mael knew his mother hadn't gone all out, but he was still proud of the win.
As they landed, Sabrina cheered, clapping loudly, "Yes! Mael, you did it!"
"Truly magnificent, Mael. You've exceeded my expectations. Your combat ability is incredibly advanced. But always remember: there are beings far stronger and more experienced out there. Never become complacent, and never underestimate your opponents," Cain praised, though his voice shifted into that of a teacher and mentor.
Mael nodded, understanding. Arrogance and underestimation were a fast path to death.
Meanwhile, Ariel studied him, then smiled. Determination sparked in her eyes. It was her job to protect her son—and perhaps future daughter-in-law (yes, she was convinced Mael and Sabrina would become a couple someday; mother's intuition). It was time to take his training seriously.
She turned to him. "That was a good fight, honey. We'll spar again in a few days—and next time, I won't lose so easily!"
Mael smiled and shook her hand. "Of course, little star. I'm looking forward to it."
"Perfect. How about we all go eat something delicious?" Ariel offered.
Mael, Sabrina, and Cain all quickly agreed.
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