The Stranger

Ferdie offered his condolences, saying, "It must be difficult for you. But I know you'll overcome this."

In those moments, it became clear to Rod that his battle was not just for himself but even more so for the peace and safety of others.

On the following day, Hicarius joyfully greeted all of Rod's companions in their training, celebrating because they are now warriors of heaven.

"Comrades," Hicarius said, "today, we celebrate your full-fledged status as warriors of heaven. Your dedication and courage will bring honor to our Kingdom of Heaven."

Hicarius continued, "With every sacrifice and hardship in your training and trials, you have shown your readiness to defend heaven and its creations against darkness and danger."

Taking a deep breath, Hicarius continued, "You have the support and guidance of the entire community of warriors of heaven on your journey. Your status as warriors will serve as inspiration in every corner of the sky."

After his statement, all the new warriors of heaven applauded joyfully, expressing their support and love for one another.

In the face of warm reception from their fellow warriors, Rod and his companions expressed their gratitude and pledged to serve with courage and loyalty.

"We will fulfill our duty as warriors of heaven with wholeheartedness and dedication," Anna, a woman among the new warriors, said, "We are ready to fight for the light."

—-----

Days passed, and Rod's training remained relentless. Until he was approached by five of his companions: Anna, Ferdie, Ezra, Ian, and Rigor.

"Maybe you'll even defeat Satan with that." Rigor joked.

"Just a soul defeated Satan!" Ezra also joked. "Many will be surprised by that news." Ezra added with a smile.

"You should take a break too, Rod," Ferdie said.

After seeing his companions, Rod stopped and sat down in the garden. His companions joined him there.

"In this way, I temporarily forget what happened between my father and me in the past," Rod said, still mourning the incident.

"No one wants that, Rod," Anna said. "At first, it's still fresh in your mind. That's just how it is. But as time passes, you'll be able to move on," Anna added.

"Just remember, we're here for you," Ian said.

"Thanks guys." Rod replied with appreciation

After their bonding moment, they went on to their respective activities. While Rod continued with his training.

Not far away, a soul was observing him, appearing like a stranger. What he didn't know was that he had been noticed by this soul for several days.

In the middle of Rod's training, the stranger approached him with a smile. "Good day, warrior," he greeted. "I saw your bravery during training. Um, if you don't mind, would you like to spar?"

Despite feeling tired, Rod couldn't help but feel excited about the sparring. "Yes," he replied with determination. "Anytime."

In their sparring, each of their movements held significance and strategy. Initially, Rod decided to unleash the first attack, a swift elbow towards the stranger's chest. However, instead of faltering, the stranger successfully evaded and countered the attack with a powerful kick to Rod's side that bended his body.

In response, Rod opted to bring the fight into close range. He swiftly advanced and initiated his assault with a rapid series of punches and kicks, but the stranger displayed adept defense and skillfully dodging his attacks.

As their encounter reignited, the stranger showcased his exceptional skill in manipulating their distance. In an instant, his body seemed to vanish from Rod's sight, and before he could see it, the stranger swiftly launched an attack from behind, delivering a powerful blow to his back.

"Hmm.." Rod whispered. After the hit Rod faced forward again and initiated a quick front kick, followed by a spinning back fist. However, in an unexpected manner, the stranger managed to immediately evade the attacks, employing excellent footwork and head movement.

In this exchange, it was the stranger who unleashed powerful attacks, prompting Rod to quickly learn and execute a vigorous counterattack. However, despite his efforts, he seemed to be outpaced by the skill and speed of his opponent. Every move of the stranger was filled with strategy and unique combat prowess.

As their battle raged on, their movements became faster and more brutal.

In the end, as their sparring session dragged on, the stranger unleashed a final move that pushed Rod to his limits. With a sudden attack, the stranger executed a rapid series of strikes, evading Rod's punches, elbows, and kicks. Successfully grabbing Rod's arm while dodging, he swiftly transitioned from the front to Rod's back, immediately executing a quick and thrilling takedown.

Finally, he executed a successful takedown, signaling his victory in the bout.

At the end of their sparring, the stranger smiled at Rod. "You're a skilled warrior," he said, reaching out his hand to help Rod up.

"Rod!" Anna also approached, intending to help Rod stand after seeing him fall.

After helping Rod stand up, the stranger spoke. "Perhaps if you had enough rest, our sparring session could have been longer."

As the stranger turned around before leaving, there suddenly sprouted and unfolded a large, glowing pair of light red wings on his back, appearing larger and more radiant compared to those of the angels.

He turned to Rod and with a smile said, ''You are a great soul, I admire your determination," before flying away.

Rod looked stunned by what he saw.

"Was that an Archangel?" Rod whispered, his face filled with wonder.

Anna heard Rod's whisper. "Yes. That's Rafael..." Anna replied, also amazed as she watched Archangel Rafael fly away.

Because of this, it left Rod inspired and gave him additional motivation to become even more determined to fulfill his dream of becoming an archangel…