Chapter 12 : Foundations of Divinity

The endless sky of the training dimension stretched before Samuel, an expanse of swirling celestial light and boundless energy. Though time in this realm flowed differently than on Earth, his body and mind still felt the weight of each passing moment. He had been here for what felt like weeks, though only a few days had passed in the mortal world.

Ramiel stood before him, her piercing golden eyes scanning his form with a mixture of expectation and quiet scrutiny. Her wings, luminous and vast, barely moved as she floated in the air.

"You've made remarkable progress," she acknowledged. "But power without control is useless. Strength without knowledge is dangerous. Before you can wield the full extent of your abilities, you must master the foundations—three essential powers all angels must learn."

Samuel took a deep breath, standing firm. His four wings twitched instinctively at the weight of responsibility. "I'm ready."

Ramiel's expression remained unreadable. "We will see."

She raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, the space around them shifted. The once empty realm twisted, forming what appeared to be an ethereal battlefield—floating islands, flowing rivers of light, and endless open skies above.

"There are many abilities unique to angels, but three form the basis of all higher techniques: Celestial Perception, Light Manipulation, and Spatial Traversal. You must master these before you can even dream of ascending further."

Samuel clenched his fists, determination flaring in his heart. "Then let's begin."

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Celestial Perception: Seeing Beyond the Mortal Veil

Ramiel extended her hand, and a brilliant golden thread materialized between her fingers, swirling like liquid fire. "Celestial Perception is the ability to perceive the divine fabric of reality—the flow of energy, the intentions of others, and even glimpses of the future."

Samuel frowned. "Like seeing the future?"

"Not exactly. Time is not as fixed as humans perceive it. This ability allows you to read the possibilities, to glimpse into what may come based on the flow of energy around you." She let the thread unravel, and suddenly, Samuel's vision blurred.

The world around him dissolved into shifting hues of gold and silver, and he gasped as figures of light flickered in and out of existence. He saw himself standing in different postures, reacting to Ramiel's attacks before she even moved.

"Focus," she instructed. "Don't try to control what you see—simply observe. Let the energy guide you."

Samuel inhaled deeply, steadying himself. As he watched, the images around him solidified. He saw Ramiel stepping forward—her right hand glowing with divine power, preparing to strike. Instinctively, he raised his arm to block, and just as he did, Ramiel truly moved, her attack meeting his forearm exactly where he had foreseen it.

His eyes widened. "I—"

Ramiel smirked. "Good. Again."

For what felt like hours, they repeated the process. Samuel saw the flickering images of the near future, adjusting his movements accordingly. By the end of the session, his entire body was drenched in sweat, but his awareness had expanded beyond anything he thought possible.

"You're learning faster than expected," Ramiel admitted. "But perception means nothing without action. Now, we move to your second lesson."

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Light Manipulation: The Core of Angelic Power

Ramiel held out her hand, and a small orb of light formed in her palm, swirling gently like a miniature sun. "Light is the essence of angels. It is our weapon, our shield, our very existence. You must learn to wield it properly."

Samuel raised his own hand, willing the light to form. At first, nothing happened. Then, after a deep breath, a dim glow flickered at his fingertips.

"Good. Now shape it."

Samuel focused, forcing the light to condense into an orb similar to Ramiel's. But the moment he succeeded, the energy became unstable, and with a sharp crack, the orb exploded in his hand, sending him tumbling backward.

"Dammit!" He groaned, shaking the stinging sensation from his fingers.

Ramiel hovered over him, unfazed. "Control. Light is not simply energy—it is an extension of your will. If your mind is unstable, your power will be as well."

Gritting his teeth, Samuel rose to his feet and tried again. He calmed his breathing, focusing on the sensation of light itself. He thought of the warmth of the sun, the gentle glow of the moon, and the distant stars shining in the heavens. Slowly, the energy responded, forming a small, stable sphere in his palm.

"Good. Now, shape it into something more useful."

Samuel concentrated, and the orb elongated into a thin, glowing blade. He grinned, but before he could celebrate, the energy flickered again, losing its form.

"Too eager," Ramiel scolded. "Mastery takes patience."

Hours passed as Samuel refined his control, forcing the light to bend to his will. By the end, he could create solid shapes with ease—a blade, a shield, even wings of pure light that extended beyond his own.

Ramiel finally nodded in approval. "You have the potential to wield this with terrifying efficiency. But your final lesson will determine how far you can truly go."

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Spatial Traversal: Moving Beyond Time and Space

"This will be the most difficult," Ramiel warned. "It is the ability to exist beyond physical boundaries—to move through space without the limitations of the mortal world."

Samuel raised a brow. "Teleportation?"

"In essence, but far more refined. Angels move as thoughts do—swiftly and without restriction. The difference between victory and death often comes down to how well one can control this ability."

Ramiel raised her hand, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished, reappearing several meters away. "Your turn."

Samuel closed his eyes, feeling the energy in his body. He envisioned himself standing where Ramiel had moved, willed himself there. His wings flared, his body vibrated with power—

And then he crashed face-first into the ground.

Ramiel sighed. "This will take a while."

Samuel groaned but refused to give up. Again and again, he attempted the technique, each time feeling himself move—but never quite landing where he intended. Sometimes he shifted a few inches, other times he overshot entirely, nearly falling off the floating islands of the training dimension.

"You are overthinking it," Ramiel chided. "Space is not a barrier. You must trust yourself. Let go of hesitation."

Taking a deep breath, Samuel closed his eyes one final time. This time, he didn't force the movement—he simply allowed it.

In an instant, he reappeared beside Ramiel, standing exactly where she had been moments ago. His eyes snapped open in surprise.

"I— I did it?"

Ramiel smirked. "Barely. But yes, you did."

Exhausted but exhilarated, Samuel exhaled. He had taken his first true steps into mastering the abilities of an angel. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.

Far beyond the training dimension, forces were already moving against him. He would need much more than these abilities to survive what was coming.

But for now, he trained.

For now, he prepared.

For war was on the horizon.