The golden light poured out of Israel like a raging flame.
It wrapped around his body, lifting him slightly off the shattered ground as the air vibrated violently. Cracks spread beneath his feet, the floor screaming under the pressure.
Ben and Abdul shielded their eyes, barely able to breathe.
"What… what is that?" Abdul whispered, his voice shaking.
Israel's head slowly lifted.
His eyes snapped open.
They glowed—brighter than the light surrounding him.
Not human.
Not normal.
The beast staggered back a step.
Its smile vanished completely.
"…Oh no. I'm too late," it muttered. "I can't afford to let the boss down."
The air grew cold.
"The Seal is awakening."
Israel clenched his fists.
The golden light flared violently, sending a massive shockwave through the ruins of the school. What remained of the walls collapsed entirely, dust and debris raining down like ash.
Tari coughed weakly, struggling to push herself up, her vision blurred.
"Israel…" she whispered. "No… not yet… he's not ready. He's not ready yet."
The beast snarled, forcing itself to stand tall.
"I need to destroy him now—before he taps into the full power of the seal," it growled.
"I'll destroy you at your best. ROAR!"
Suddenly
Israel vanished.
Everyone froze.
"…Where did he—" the beast began.
Before it could finish, a heavy force smashed into its stomach.
BOOM!
The impact sent the beast flying—thousands of miles away in an instant.
"Woah…" Abdul muttered, stunned. "Is that really Israel?"
"Wow… he's really strong—and fast," Ben said in disbelief.
Israel now stood in front of Tari, his back to her.
"Are you in—" Tari started to ask.
Before she could finish, Israel scratched his head awkwardly.
"Wow… how did I do that?"
He looked at his hands.
"Hmm… I guess so."
Tari's eyes widened.
"You haven't even used one percent of the seal's power," she said softly.
"You're already this strong…"
Suddenly—
The beast came dashing back at light speed.
Its fist slammed into Israel's face.
But Israel barely flinched.
"I thought you were faster," Israel said calmly.
"What… how did… you…" the beast stammered, jumping backward.
"You're not even in your complete form!"
With a furious roar, the beast charged again, unleashing multiple massive blows—each strike shaking the world itself.
But Israel caught them all.
Effortlessly.
The beast leaped back once more, then surged forward, channeling all its strength into one final strike.
Israel caught the attack mid-air.
"…That didn't even wor—" the beast tried to say.
"My turn," Israel said.
Still holding the beast, he delivered a devastating punch—then hurled it high above the clouds.
Israel leaped after it.
But suddenly
A blur.
A strike faster than light.
BOOM!
Israel was smashed back down into the ground, crashing with such force that the entire earth shook violently.
Before anyone could react, the attacker caught the beast mid-air.
"Oh dear," the figure said calmly, floating in the sky.
"You really got messed up."
The dust cleared.
Israel, Ben, and Abdul looked up.
A human-shaped figure hovered above them.
"Is… is that a human?" Ben asked.
"No way," Abdul replied. "Humans can't fly."
"Haha… yes, yes," the figure chuckled.
"You could say I'm human."
He looked down at them from the sky.
"You may call me—Apanirun."
Tari's body trembled.
Her face drained of color as fear gripped her.
"What… he's one of the Five ESU ATIJU," Tari said, her voice shaking.
"The Dominator…"
Apanirun smiled faintly.
"Wow. You know your history, child," he said, his voice calm and gentle—yet it sent a deep, chilling fear through Ben and Abdul.
"So… you're one of the MALAIKA, huh?" Apanirun continued, his eyes resting on Tari.
"Why haven't I seen you before…?"
He paused, then chuckled softly.
"Oh… you must be one of the new generations."
Tari trembled uncontrollably.
"Hey—stop!" Tari shouted suddenly.
Israel had already moved.
"I don't care who you are!" Israel yelled as he dashed toward Apanirun.
"You're going down!"
In an instant
SLAM!
Israel was smashed into the ground by an invisible force.
"Stay down, child," Apanirun said calmly.
But Israel refused to listen.
He sprang back up and dashed again, his speed breaking the sound barrier.
BOOM!
He was slammed into the ground again.
Israel rose.
Dashed.
SLAM!
Again and again he charged, refusing to stay down, the earth cracking beneath each impact.
Apanirun sighed.
"Oh… this is boring."
As Israel dashed toward him one more time
Apanirun moved.
A single heavy blow struck Israel.
CRASH!
Israel was driven more than ten feet into the earth, the ground collapsing inward as dust and debris erupted into the air.
The light around him faded.
Israel lay motionless.
Unconscious.
Silence fell over the ruins.
Ben and Abdul stood frozen, their bodies shaking violently in terror.
They couldn't move.
They couldn't breathe.
Tari remained speechless, her eyes wide, her mind struggling to process what stood before them.
Apanirun glanced at them calmly.
"Don't look at me like that, children," he said gently.
"I warned him."
He looked down at Israel's unconscious body.
"And I'm not here to fight… or to cause any trouble."
His gaze shifted, cold and dismissive.
"I'm just here to retrieve this mutt."
Fear gripped them tighter.
Ben, Abdul, and Tari remained rooted to the ground, their legs refusing to obey them.
Apanirun sighed lightly.
"Oh well… I must be on my merry way now."
He smiled faintly.
"Nice to meet you."
He turned, beginning to rise into the air.
"We'll meet again," Apanirun continued.
"And when he wakes up—"
He paused, glancing back at Israel.
"Tell him to be ready for next time."
The air trembled slightly…
And then
He was gone.
TO BE CONTINUED...