Celestial Hybrid

Chapter 11

Mira raised her blade high, her grip steady and unwavering as Remiel and Seran cried out in terror. Just as she prepared to bring it down, the room was suddenly engulfed in a brilliant, blinding light that forced everyone to shield their eyes.

"What the—?" Mira hissed, stumbling back as the intensity of the light overwhelmed her senses.

Before any of them could react, a powerful force struck her from nowhere, sending her hurtling backward. The blow was so sudden and fierce that it knocked Lyria — who was already outside the door with Scylla and David — off her feet as well, flinging both women through the doorway and out of the building.

They landed hard on the ground outside, disoriented and stunned. Mira groaned as she tried to lift herself up, her blade slipping from her hand and clattering onto the dirt. Lyria cursed under her breath, struggling to regain her footing.

Seran acted swiftly, grabbing Scylla and David as the trio ran towards the back of the house.

Slow approaching footsteps could be heard as Remiel came out of the building. A sudden shift rippled through the air around him as his form began to change, radiating a power that made the air tremble.

Two radiant wings, brilliant and otherworldly, unfurled from his back, their light so blinding it forced Mira and her group to shield their eyes. His once red-gold eyes now shone with a piercing silver glow, and his golden hair cascaded down to his shoulders like a shimmering halo.

The sheer brilliance of his presence filled the surroundings, an aura of overwhelming purity and power that seemed to sever the very air. Those who beheld him felt an instinctive pull to fall to their knees.

Mira and Lyria staggered to their feet just in time to witness the transformation. Mira’s blade fell from her hand as her eyes widened in shock. “W-What’s a creature we've only heard in myths doing here?” she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Lyria, still clutching her side from the earlier blow, stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Remiel’s radiant form. “This… this wasn’t part of the plan…” she muttered, her voice betraying an edge of fear she rarely showed.

Remiel’s silver gaze swept over them, his voice resonating with a divine authority that shook them to their cores. “You will not harm them. Leave now, or face the consequences of your arrogance.”

“Remiel! You can’t fight them all on your own. You need to leave, now!” Seran’s voice echoed urgently in Remiel’s mind, sharp and filled with concern.

But the radiant figure stood firm, his wings stretching wide as his silver eyes bore down on Mira and her comrades. His expression remained calm, but there was an edge of something deeper—something ancient and unyielding.

“I’m only stalling for time, Seran,” he replied, his voice echoing in Seran’s mind but the entities before him weren't ordinary. They could also hear what was being said — although faintly. “You know what to do.”

There was a brief pause before he added, his tone shifting slightly, almost as if offering a revelation. “And by the way… I’m not Remiel.”

Seran froze mid-step, his breath catching as the words sank in, but he didn’t stop moving, dragging Scylla and David out of the building with renewed urgency.

Mira staggered back, her eyes narrowing as she processed the words. “Not Remiel?” she muttered, gripping her weapon tightly. “Then who—”

But the air around the figure grew heavier, cutting her off as the brilliance of his form intensified, his presence pressing down on everyone like a tidal wave. Whatever answer lay behind his words, it was clear that this being was far beyond what they had anticipated.

“Look, kid! I don’t know who or what you are, but you’re interfering with our mission,” a voice growled from within the group as one of the figures stepped forward, her tone sharp and unwavering.

Lyria chuckled darkly, her lips curling into a smirk as she steadied herself, brushing the dirt off her uniform. Her eyes glinted with defiance, burning with a fire that refused to be extinguished. “How could I let fear overwhelm me?” she muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her blade. “That’s not how we were trained. It’s kill or be killed.”

She raised her head, her voice cutting through the tense air. “We aren’t afraid of you in the slightest,” she declared, her tone laced with venom. “It’s either you step aside… or we kill you.”

With a sharp motion, she unsheathed her twin blades, their edges glinting under the strange light emanating from the radiant figure before her. The rest of the group followed her lead, drawing their weapons in unison, their stances brimming with deadly intent.

Lyria gave Mira a short nod and within a second, she and a few of her comrades sped off towards the back of the house.

The tension in the air grew unbearable, like the calm before a violent storm. The radiant figure — no longer Remiel — stood still, his silver eyes calmly surveying the group. His brilliance didn’t waver, his wings spread wide, and he made no move to chase after them.

“You’re making a mistake,” his voice resonated, calm yet filled with unshakable authority. “But if you insist on testing me… so be it.”

~~~~~~

“Now, here’s the plan,” Seran said, his voice calm but firm as he gestured for Scylla and David to step forward.

“I’ll create clones of them both — perfect replicas,” Seran continued, his gaze shifting to Remiel, who gave a subtle nod of approval. “The real Scylla and David will be hidden, along with Cynthia, Rosa, and Danny, in a secure basement beneath this building. It’s shielded—no one will be able to detect their presence.”

Scylla opened her mouth to protest, but Seran silenced her with a sharp look. “This is the only way to keep you safe,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

“How did you know we had a basement?” Rosa asked, surprised.

“This isn't my first time here.”

“When they arrive,” Seran went on, “Remiel and I will hand over the clones. They’ll think they’ve got what they came for, and we’ll expect them to leave. That should buy us enough time to regroup and figure out our next move.”

David frowned, his voice trembling. “And what happens if they figure out the clones aren’t us?”

Seran’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t hesitate. “Then we’ll deal with it. But for now, this is the best chance we’ve got.”

Remiel, standing at Seran’s side, finally spoke, his silver eyes glowing faintly. “Trust us. This plan isn’t without risks, but it’s better than letting them take you. We’ll protect you — no matter what.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the plan settling over everyone. Scylla and David exchanged another nervous glance but nodded, their trust in Seran and Remiel the only thing keeping their fear in check.

“Good,” Seran said, rolling up his sleeves as he prepared to begin the cloning process. “Now, let’s move quickly. They won’t wait forever.”

~~~~~~

A figure appeared at the back of the house — golden skinned with green eyes. He was none other than Seran, now in his true form. Surprisingly, he was alone this time.

“Tch, they didn't even last long. Who knew the Red Dragon corps would be this shrewd.” He muttered.

As it turned out — he hadn't anticipated Lily's early arrival and as a result of that, he wasn't able to finish the cloning process, causing them to disappear in no time. He suddenly stopped on his tracks as he was suddenly surrounded by Lyria and her team.

“Damned godling! What business do you have with these mortals!?” One of them spoke out, brandishing her weapon.

“What I do is none of your concern. Leave this place now.” He demanded.

Lyria stepped forward, blades in hands. “You thought you could fool me with those clones of yours huh?! Where are you hiding them! Bring them out now!” She ordered.

“Bring it on!

As Seran stood his ground, one of the attackers lunged at him with blinding speed, her blade gleaming as she aimed to slice him clean in half. Her movements were precise, deadly — clearly trained to kill without hesitation.

But Seran’s reflexes were faster. With a fluid sidestep, he dodged the strike effortlessly, the blade slicing through empty air. Before she could recover, Seran’s leg shot out like a whip, his boot connecting sharply with her stomach.

The force of the kick sent her hurtling backward, her body crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. The impact was brutal — her skull cracked audibly against the unforgiving surface, and she collapsed lifelessly to the ground, her weapon slipping from her grasp.

Seran didn’t flinch. His green eyes remained cold and unyielding as he turned to face the others, his posture steady and unshaken. “One down,” he muttered, his voice devoid of remorse. “Who’s next?”

The remaining five attackers didn’t hesitate. They spread out, circling Seran like wolves stalking their prey. Their movements were coordinated, each one waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Lyria watched the scene unfold, her back pressed against the wall. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her eyes were sharp, taking in every move Seran made.

The first of the five attacked, swinging her blade in a rapid arc. Seran ducked low, sweeping the woman's legs out from under her, then delivered a crushing blow to her throat before spinning to block the next attacker. Sparks flew as Seran’s arm deflected the strike with unnatural speed, and with a single, brutal elbow strike, he sent the lady crumpling to the ground.

Two attackers came at him simultaneously, one from each side. Seran’s golden skin glowed faintly as he twisted his body, evading their strikes with precision. He grabbed one by the wrist, flipping her over his shoulder and slamming her into the ground with bone-shattering force. The other managed to graze his arm with a dagger, but Seran retaliated instantly, driving his knee into the attacker’s ribs and throwing her into the last standing foe.

The final attacker stumbled but steadied herself, glaring at Seran with a mix of fear and rage. She charged recklessly, screaming as she raised her blade. Seran didn’t even blink. He sidestepped the attack and, with a single, powerful punch, sent the woman sprawling unconscious to the ground.

Lyria’s breath hitched as she watched the last of them fall. Seran stood amidst the c*****e, his golden skin glistening with faint traces of blood — not his own. He turned slightly, his glowing green eyes locking onto hers.

“Well?” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Are you just going to watch, or do you have something to say?”

“You’re strong for a teenager. What are you hiding, kid?” Lyria said, her voice steady but laced with suspicion as she began taking slow, deliberate steps toward him.

Seran didn’t answer immediately, his green eyes flicking toward her with a calm intensity that betrayed no emotion. He stood amidst the fallen attackers, his golden skin still faintly glowing, but his posture remained relaxed, almost unnervingly so.

Lyria’s crimson eyes began to shimmer, the faint glow intensifying with each step. Her outfit shifted before his eyes, morphing seamlessly into a sleek, battle-hardened armor designed for swift movement and precision strikes. The plates of the armor reflected the flickering red aura now emanating from her body, filling the air with an eerie tension that seemed to tremble with her presence.

The ground beneath her feet quivered slightly, as though the very air was recoiling from the oppressive energy she exuded. Her aura crackled faintly, like embers threatening to ignite into a roaring flame.

Seran tilted his head, his expression remaining unreadable. “Hiding?” he finally said, his voice calm but edged with a faint amusement. “And what about you? That aura of yours doesn’t exactly scream honesty.”

Lyria smirked, her crimson eyes narrowing as she stopped a few paces away from him. “Fair point,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “But I don’t need honesty to deal with you. Let’s see if your strength matches your arrogance.”

The tension in the air thickened, the eerie red aura colliding with the faint golden glow surrounding Seran. Neither of them moved immediately, but the quiet crackle of power between them promised that the confrontation was far from over.