After carefully observing the entire area, Kyle extended his hand toward the towering stones, determination gleaming in his eyes. Being an Earth user, he believed he could command the rock formation with ease. His mana flowed through his veins, connecting with the earth beneath his feet, but despite his efforts, the towering stones remained unmoved, their size and shape unchanged.
"Ugh! This is frustrating! I thought I could do something," Kyle muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
"It's alright," Mika replied, her voice calm. "It only means that these stones weren’t made with Earth magic."
Carl crossed his arms, eyes narrowing at the stubborn rock formation. "What if we just attack it and destroy the whole thing?"
Azrael nodded thoughtfully. "Not a bad idea."
With the plan set, the group spread out across the rock formation, gathering their mana for a powerful coordinated strike. Magic swirled in the air as they each prepared their spells.
"Is everyone ready?" Mika asked, glancing at each of them.
"Ready!" they chorused, their determination unshaken.
In a burst of energy, they unleashed their most powerful spells.
"Flux Burned!"
"Gale Storm!"
"Zephyr!"
"Boulder Edge!"
"Sonic Bullet!"
Their attacks collided with the rock formation with a resounding explosion, causing the surrounding earth to tremble. The sheer power of their spells disturbed the land and water beasts nearby, and the wind from their magic howled through the valley. Yet, even as the dust settled, the rock formation remained untouched, not a single crack in sight.
"What?!" Carl shouted in disbelief. "Not even a scratch?"
"Tch!" Mika scoffed, crossing her arms. "What kind of formation is this? It’s like the rocks are mocking us—like our attacks aren’t strong enough."
Azrael placed a hand on Mika’s shoulder, calming her. "Hold on. Maybe magic just doesn’t work on this thing."
Kyle’s eyes lit up, a realization dawning on him. "Wait... You’re right! That’s it! If this was created using ARA, magic won’t affect it. Eternal energy against eternal energy—mana versus mana."
The group turned to Kyle, curiosity filling their expressions. Being the only one with an Angel Ring, Kyle had a deeper understanding of this ancient power.
With the rock formation still standing strong, the group retreated across the lake, ready to discuss their next move.
"What did you mean earlier, Kyle?" Mika asked, her brow furrowed.
Kyle let out a breath. "If that formation was made using ARA, we’ll need an attack powered by an Angel Ring to break it."
"But none of us have an Angel Ri—" Jarred stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening. "Wait, you do, don’t you?"
Kyle nodded. "Yeah, but it’s still at the white level. All I’ve got so far is the ability to detect enemies from a long distance, which is helpful when I don’t want to use the scope on my rifle."
Jarred stroked his chin, thinking. "Maybe you could teach us how to awaken the Angel Ring? At least that way, we have a chance."
Kyle shook his head. "Even if you learn, it’s not easy to gain abilities from the ring. You’ll only get basic blessings at first."
Azrael, who had been quiet for a while, hesitated before speaking. "Um... Can I ask? What exactly is an Angel Ring?"
Kyle smiled and summoned his Angel Ring, a faint white halo appearing above his head. "It’s what you saw on the leader of those cannibals we fought. Just like this."
Azrael’s eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! That’s right! I remember now!"
Kyle continued, explaining as the others listened closely. "Angel Rings come in different colors, and each one grants unique powers depending on its level. White gives blessings, like my long-distance vision. Remember the cannibal leader? His blessing allowed him to release smoke from his body, weakening his enemies.
Then there’s the green level, which gives passives—similar to blessings, but with permanent abilities. For example, that leader could summon two swords into his hands at will.
At the blue level, you start gaining what's called ARA or Angel Ring Abilities. The powers you gain from blue to purple levels are original to the ring unless your enemy has the ability to mimic ARA."
Azrael nodded, absorbing the information. "I see... But how does one get an Angel Ring?"
Kyle smirked slightly. "There are three ways: Purity, Impurity, and Inner Peace." He paused before elaborating. "To awaken an Angel Ring through Purity, a person must live a life free from corruption or evil from the moment they were born."
"Impurity is the opposite. It’s awakened by those who have lived in darkness and embraced it, pure in their malevolence."
Finally, Kyle’s expression softened. "Then there’s Inner Peace. Those who achieve it find a state of calmness, balance, and serenity, no matter what chaos surrounds them. It’s a deep peace that comes from within."
"So that's how it is," Azrael muttered, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Then... how did you awaken your angel ring?"
A heavy silence fell over the group as Kyle remained quiet, his expression unreadable. The weight of his hesitation made everyone uneasy. After a few tense moments, he finally answered, but no one could have expected what he was about to say.
"Impurity," Kyle said quietly.
The word hung in the air like a shockwave. Everyone turned to him, unsure of what he meant. How could impurity possibly be the key to unlocking something as divine as the Angel Ring?
Jarred was the first to break the silence. "Impurity? You’re joking, right?" he chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, Kyle. You're just messing with us. Ha-ha... Right?"
"I'm not joking." Kyle's voice was firm, his expression dead serious. "It's a long story, but that's the truth."
Stunned, the group fell silent again. The revelation left them shaken, but none dared press Kyle further.
"Let’s... just move on," Mika suggested, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "We should focus on awakening the Angel Ring through inner peace."
"That’s the hardest part," Kyle responded, shaking his head slightly. "The Angel Ring isn’t something you can just force. It could take years to reach the kind of inner peace needed to awaken it."
A collective sigh followed his words. Carl slumped, disheartened. "So, there’s no other way to open that rock formation. What a bummer."
As they talked, none of them noticed Azrael standing quietly behind them. He felt something shift within him—an unfamiliar energy stirring. Without fully understanding how, he had awakened his angel ring.
"Uh, guys?" he called out, his voice hesitant. "I think... I just awakened mine."
The group spun around, eyes widening in shock. Of all people, they hadn’t expected him to be the one to unlock the power so suddenly.
"W-Woah! That’s awesome, Azrael!" Carl blurted out, excitement flooding his voice.
"How... How did you do it?" Mika asked, confusion etched on her face.
"Purity," Kyle murmured, eyes wide with disbelief. "It has to be..."
Mika blinked, still trying to make sense of the situation. "Purity? But how..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at Azrael, searching for answers in his expression. He looked just as surprised as they were, if not more.
 
"I don’t know," Azrael admitted, glancing upward. The faint glow of the Angel Ring hovered above his head, shimmering like a delicate halo. "I didn’t do anything special. It just... happened."
 
Kyle’s brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on the glowing ring above Azrael. "That’s not how it’s supposed to work," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "For you to awaken it so easily... there must be something else going on."
 
Carl grinned, stepping forward. "Well, whatever it is, you did it! That’s all that matters. You’ve got the Angel Ring now, and that’s no small feat!"
 
"But this doesn’t make sense," Mika added, still frowning. "If it takes years to reach inner peace, how did Azrael manage it in an instant?"
 
Kyle shook his head, the seriousness never leaving his face. "It wasn’t inner peace." His voice was low, as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle. "There’s something different about him. Maybe it’s purity... or maybe it’s something we haven’t figured out yet."
 
Azrael, feeling the weight of everyone’s attention, rubbed the back of his neck. "I don’t feel any different," he said quietly. "Shouldn’t I feel something?"
 
"You might not realize it, but something inside you has changed," Kyle said, eyes narrowing in thought. "It’s not just about purity or peace. There’s another force at play here."
 
"Wait," Carl interrupted, "if Azrael’s already awakened his Angel Ring, does that mean he can open the rock formation?"
 
All eyes turned toward the towering rock formation in the distance, its mysterious energy radiating outward. Azrael shifted uncomfortably under their stares.
 
"Maybe?" he shrugged. "I guess it doesn’t hurt to try."
 
Mika nodded. "Let’s see what happens. This could be the break we need."
 
They made their way toward the formation, Azrael feeling the weight of anticipation from the others. He had no idea how to use the Angel Ring, but something told him it would guide him. When they reached the rock, he raised his hand instinctively, and the ring above his head pulsed with energy.
 
A soft, resonating hum echoed through the area as the rock formation began to tremble. Dust fell from the edges as cracks spiderwebbed across the surface.
 
The group watched in amazement, breathless, as the stone began to part like a door, revealing an entrance beyond.
 
"Woah," Carl whispered. "You did it, Azrael."
 
Azrael lowered his hand, feeling a strange sense of calm.
wash over him. "I guess... I did."
As the rock formation began to tremble, a powerful gust of energy filled the air, making everyone take a step back. A low hum echoed through the cavern as cracks spread across the stone surface, and with a final rumble, the formation split apart, revealing a hidden chamber beyond.
The chamber was barely lit, illuminated only by the faint glow of ancient runes carved into the stone walls. At its center stood a single object, floating in the air—a spear. The weapon was unlike anything they had ever seen. Its shaft was dark, forged from an unknown material, and it glowed faintly with a deep, mysterious light. The spearhead was sharp and sleek, with beautiful carvings that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. Around the spear, the air shimmered as if the very fabric of reality bent around it.
Carl stepped forward, his eyes wide with amazement. “That... That’s a legendary-grade weapon! But how…? How is it here? ”Kyle remained silent, his gaze fixed on the spear.
The energy radiating from it was intense, almost overwhelming. “I’ve read about this,” he finally said, his voice low. “A spear of this grade is said to hold eternal energy, a force that never diminishes. It's not just a weapon... It's alive, in a way.”
Mika’s voice was barely above a whisper. “But... If it’s so powerful, why hasn’t anyone claimed it? Why has it been hidden here?
”Before anyone could answer, Azrael felt something. A pull, subtle at first but growing stronger with every heartbeat. His eyes were drawn to the spear, and in that moment, everything else faded. The energy it radiated resonated with him, calling to him in a way he couldn't explain.
Without thinking, Azrael stepped forward, his angel ring faintly glowing above his head. His friends watched in stunned silence as he approached the legendary weapon, the air growing thick with anticipation. The closer he got, the more the energy seemed to surge, as if the spear was responding to his presence.
“Azrael, wait! ”Kyle called out, sensing the danger. “That kind of power... It could be too much for you! ”
But Azrael didn’t stop. His hand reached out, hovering just inches away from the shaft of the spear. He could feel its power flowing around him, its eternal energy coursing through the air like a river of force.
The moment his fingers brushed against the cold surface of the weapon, a flash of light filled the chamber. The energy surged through him, but it wasn’t overwhelming. It felt... right. As though the spear had been waiting for him all this time.
Suddenly, the spear pulsed, the glow around it intensifying. Then it stilled, the energy calming. The weapon floated gently into Azrael’s grip, as though it had chosen him—recognized him as its rightful owner.
Kyle’s eyes widened. “It chose you... It actually chose you, Azrael.”
Mika’s mouth hung open in shock. “How... How is that possible? ”
Azrael stood there, holding the spear firmly in his hands. He felt its power flowing through him, strengthening him. It was as if the spear’s eternal energy was now part of him, bonding with his very being.
“I don’t know,” Azrael finally said, his voice steady. “But I think this was meant to happen.”
The others watched in silent disbelief. There was no doubt now—Azrael was no ordinary child. He was chosen by forces far greater than they had imagined. Suddenly, the cavern began to shake again, this time more violently than before.
The energy surrounding the spear seemed to trigger something deep within the chamber. “We need to get out of here! ”Jarred shouted, backing toward the entrance.
Azrael nodded, still holding the legendary spear. “Let’s go.”
With the spear now in his possession, the group rushed out of the chamber, barely making it out as the rock formation collapsed behind them, sealing the hidden room forever.
As they stood outside, breathing heavily, Carl glanced at the spear in Azrael’s hand. “What are you going to do with that?
”Azrael looked down at the weapon, the eternal energy still humming softly around it. “I don’t know yet. But I have a feeling this is only the beginning.”