The next day, when the weather grew colder, the wind cut across the empty field, making the tall grass bend like green waves. The sky above was painted in deep blue and gray tones, with no defined clouds; it looked like a space between the real and the ethereal. Raphaella stood in the center, arms crossed, her expression serious, almost challenging.
Daytona, Martin, Saravia, Ghost, and Nylon approached cautiously, each step lifting small clouds of dust. The field was wide enough that any movement felt enormous, and the silence seemed to amplify even the faintest sound of a falling leaf.
— Thanks for coming — said Raphaella, her voice echoing slightly. — I need to talk to you before any decision is made.
She paused, analyzing each of them.
Nylon, as always, kept a rigid posture; Ghost assessed everything with calculating eyes; Saravia looked curious but also uneasy; Daytona tilted her head slightly, interested; and Martin took a deep breath, feeling a flutter in his stomach he couldn't explain.
— Today, I have an offer — Raphaella continued, stepping back a few paces, making the nonexistent sunlight shine on her hair, casting shadows over the grass. — Martin.
All eyes turned to him. Martin swallowed hard.
— I can give you the power of an Ultrahuman — said Raphaella, each word heavy with intensity. — But there is a condition.
She walked slowly, each step lifting tiny dust particles that floated in the light like stars.
— The objective is simple: you have to touch me. One touch. One contact. If you manage to do that, the power is yours. If you fail… — Raphaella smiled lightly, but there was a coldness in her eyes that froze the air. — Well, failing won't have consequences, but you won't be worthy of receiving this power.
Daytona frowned, intrigued.
— And what kind of "Ultrahuman" power is that? — she asked, not hiding her interest.
— Ultrahuman gives you strength, endurance, durability, speed, and other physical aspects enhanced by thousands — and maybe, depending on the user, millions — of times in a human. — Raphaella lifted her hand. — Just know it will turn any limit you have into something… unimaginable. But for that, Martin, you'll need to prove yourself. — She said while looking directly at him.
Ghost made a gesture of impatience but remained silent.
— It's not just strength — Raphaella added, locking eyes with Martin. — It's not speed. It's something that transcends body and mind. You'll need strategy, reflexes, and courage. And also… perhaps luck, who knows.
Saravia tilted her head, curious.
— That sounds… dangerous for someone who's never fought at that level in his life. — Saravia spoke with a nervous smile, glancing at Martin.
— It is. — Raphaella confirmed. — And that's exactly why I'm offering it.
The wind grew stronger for a moment, shaking the dry leaves around, and Martin felt as if every grain of dust was loaded with expectation. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
— So… if I touch you, I get this power? — Martin asked, his voice firm but still unsure.
Raphaella nodded.
— Yes. But if you fail, you'll have to live with the outcome. I can't prevent the result.
She stepped back a few more paces, creating a considerable distance.
— Consider the field — she continued. — There are no obstacles. No hiding spots. Everything that exists here is us five and the space between us. The tension, the strategy—every movement will be amplified. And the winner will be the one who adapts the fastest.
Daytona approached Martin, gently resting her shoulder against his, as if encouraging him.
— You got this, Martin. Remember everything you've learned… by watching. — Daytona smiled.
Ghost gave a short nod, expression impassive, but his eyes said: "Don't underestimate."
— It's not just about strength or speed — Raphaella spoke again, circling the field, each step calculated. — It's about reading movements, anticipation, perceiving every detail. Every breath, every hesitation, every shadow.
The light began to dim, and the field became tinged with golden tones. The long shadows Raphaella cast seemed to dance, making her harder to predict. The tension grew with every passing minute; even the wind seemed to wait for the initial signal.
— So, Martin — said Raphaella, stopping in the center of the field again. — Are you ready to begin?
Martin took a deep breath, felt the breeze touch his face, and the flutter in his stomach turned into determination.
— Yes. — He said firmly. — I'm ready.
Daytona, Saravia, Ghost, and Nylon teleported to a place far away but still able to see the "battle," observing from a distance. Each of them could feel the tension in the air, the nearly tangible challenge. The silence became absolute, broken only by the soft sound of the grass swaying in the wind.
Raphaella closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly. The field seemed suspended in time, every detail—from the golden light to the floating dust—increasing the intensity of the moment.
Then Raphaella snapped her fingers, and a white aura formed around Martin for a moment, making him significantly different already. (Not aesthetically/physically.)
— So — murmured Raphaella —. Let the test begin. Let's see what you're capable of.
And in the silence that followed, everyone present knew nothing would be simple, and every move could define something far greater than a simple touch.
— Remember, I won't use any of my abilities, just dodge and occasionally counterattack. — Said Raphaella with her arms crossed.
— Okay… let's see what I can do now. — Martin lunged toward Raphaella to throw a punch at a Hypersonic speed that didn't compare to Raphaella's speed-of-light movements. She dodged by ducking and taking a long leap backward.
— Uhh! That's so cool! Now I'm way faster and stronger! — Martin said excitedly, staring at his own hands.
Martin punched the ground, sending dust and large chunks of broken rocks into the air, drastically limiting Raphaella's vision and perception.
— What is he doing? A trick? Or just excitement? — Raphaella muttered to herself, looking around for Martin.
Martin suddenly emerged from the dust and tried to strike Raphaella again. She dodged, but with a bit more difficulty—it seemed he had gotten faster and adapted to a much higher speed to reach her.
But Raphaella managed to evade and took a forced step backward.
— He adapted almost instantly to my speed… maybe he can grow stronger every second he spends fighting.
— What else can I do? — Martin threw a strong punch into the air.
Raphaella felt an immense pressure coming from Martin. The clouds began to retreat; suddenly a colossal wind and pressure wave surged toward Raphaella, the area of Martin's attack spanning nearly 1 km. She barely managed to dodge this "invisible punch."
— His strength is unimaginable… — Daytona thought to herself.
— Raphaella may be faster than thunder, this won't be an easy mission for your friend. — After days that felt like four weeks of silence, Belzebub finally spoke.
Daytona placed her hand on her head, seemingly concerned about Belzebub, but with several other mixed feelings. — Belzebub? Where were you?
— I was sleeping. It's been years since I last slept, and… did you perhaps awaken the Mark of the Beast? I'm seeing some new things here… — Belzebub said in Daytona's mind, with a sincere and curious tone.
— Actually, yes… it was the day before yesterday, or yesterday, I don't know. Why? — Daytona spoke to herself, but also to Belzebub.
— I'm noticing a few new little things here, but enough talk, let's go back to watching Martin's "battle." — Daytona listened to Belzebub and went silent to focus on the fight.
— Don't run! — Martin appeared in front of Raphaella to throw an uppercut at her chin.
She dodged easily and leaped high into the sky. — Now you'll see… Kaminari no Megami, Eighth Element, Zeus. — Raphaella literally created a lightning bolt in her hand and hurled it with absurd force and speed, aiming at Martin—not to kill, only to injure.
— I want to do that too! — Martin prepared himself. — Kyūkyoku no Ningen, First Element, Colossal! — Martin crouched for a few seconds and jumped toward Raphaella in the sky. Then he struck the air, creating a shockwave that shattered Raphaella's ability, dispersing it instantly.
Raphaella landed on the ground. — He broke my ability… what differ—
Raphaella suddenly felt enormous pressure on her body, and several small cuts appeared all over her.
She lost strength, dropped to her knees, and spat a bit of blood—the shockwaves from Martin's attack had damaged her internal organs.
— Oops, did you drop a coin? A Cherubim losing to a human? Weird, isn't it? — Martin spoke mockingly, practically threatening her.
Raphaella grew furious. — Know that I'm not fighting seriously. If I were, I would've killed you by now…
— Or… is that just an excuse? — Martin responded humorously.
Raphaella vanished in an instant, and a deep horizontal cut appeared across Martin's forehead. He grew extremely dizzy, holding his head, almost fainting.
— What was that? — Martin thought, staggering. — Besides the pain, it burns so much…
Martin looked behind him and saw Raphaella standing there. — If I wanted, I could tear your head off, but I won't. — Raphaella said calmly, as if satisfied.
Enraged, Martin lunged at Raphaella again and tried to strike once more. Raphaella dodged out of pure luck and instinct. — He's way faster… I almost couldn't predict him!
— Kyūkyoku no Ningen, Second Element, True! — Martin charged and attempted another attack on Raphaella, similar to Daytona's "Vacuum Point," but she quickly ducked.
But just as quickly, Martin stomped on Raphaella's foot with tremendous force, almost crushing it. This pinned her to the ground, and Martin took the chance to touch her.
— Got it. That was good. — Martin said in a gentle tone.
Raphaella froze for a few seconds. — Yeah… but either way, you would've kept your Ultrahuman. It will be useful. Very useful… — Martin nodded.
Raphaella and Martin teleported back to the group.
Amid the group's silence, Saravia was the first to speak. — Why did he need to do all that? And why this "Ultrahuman"?
Raphaella looked down, as if feeling contempt or guilt. Then she raised her head toward Daytona and said: — Because of her. — pointing her finger.
Everyone grew extremely curious.
— Daytona, I have a huge proposal for you.
— Yes…? Say it. — Daytona answered, curious.
— Help me defeat Raydillon, and I will take you to your parents. — Raphaella said in a sincere and calm tone, impossible for her to be lying.
Everyone grew frightened and shocked by the idea of Raphaella trying to kill her own creator.
— What do you mean? Defeat Raydillon? Why? — Daytona looked deeply worried about her new objective, which seemed impossible.
— I'll explain everything soon. Let's go somewhere more favorable. — Raphaella snapped her fingers, and they returned to the campsite where they had been, ready to answer every question.