Location: Cardinal World
Feldway POV
So... he's really pulling the trigger on the backup plan.
Repopulation via that old story I shared.
Typical boss Veldanava...
Alright then—best to get to the meeting room early.
No formal timing given, of course. He's never been conventional.
Walking through the Cherub-Class barracks, I let my magicule drift across the wing lineup—no need to open doors or break protocols.
"Two thousand Cherub-Class... eight thousand Thrones... twenty thousand Dominions... forty thousand Greater Angels... and a sea of lesser angels," I muttered the numbers under my breath, more out of habit than necessity.
That makes my unit the one with the most Cherub-Class angels.
"Good to know..." I added with a shrug, more to myself than anyone else.
Yeah, I figured. Doesn't mean I'm gloating.
The corridor stretched ahead, pillars like skyscraper rising above. The palace is so big you'd swear it doesn't belong in any one structure.
...About the size of Texas, maybe.
Not that it matters. Funny how I—now considered basically a god-like being's greatest creation—still measure things like a human.
Doesn't feel right...
Some part of me flinches at it. Maybe not memory, but instinct. Like I'm not meant to fit in their metrics... or their world.
That's when I felt him behind me. Quite a familiar presence.
"Nice to see you in good health, Commander Feldway," Zalario's voice called.
No need to look. "Zalario."
He stepped in stride next to me, then edged ahead—he probably intended to outpace me.
I don't mind being second place...
I quickly picked up speed. Just enough to move ahead. A little quiet competition to pass the time.
Zalario matched me again, then nudged past. A polite smirk flickered on his face—there and gone before it could count. Back to his usual stoic self.
"Lord Veldanava is planning something monumental," he said, his tone steady. "The magicule pressure alone says as much."
I see what he's doing—starting conversation so he can keep the lead. Hmph. Typical.
I mirrored his move from earlier and smoothly outpaced him.
"I think you're right," I said calmly. "Boss always has something brewing. Even if he doesn't warn us first."
We both knew that was his style.
Then—
BOOM.
Before the silence could settle, a rush of wind passed by—Zalario, now in his released wing form, darting just ahead again.
I narrowed my eyes.
"I see..." I muttered, stretching my arm out.
Time to be the first one to arrived at the meeting room.
End of Feldway POV
3rd Person POV
With a burst of wind and a flash of white wings, Feldway landed squarely in front of the meeting room doors—just a fraction of a second before Zalario.
He glanced over his shoulder with a cool smirk. "I win."
Zalario gave a respectful nod. "A well-earned first place, Commander."
As Feldway opened the crystalline doors, both men froze.
Dino was already inside. Sprawled flat on the floor. Snoring like a bear in winter.
"Mmmmrfff... snrk... zzz..."
Feldway blinked. "...You've gotta be kidding."
He cleared his throat—loudly.
Dino cracked one eye open. "Oh hey. Did the meeting already end? I was, uh, tracking snow patterns in the northern region. Climate shift. Big stuff."
Zalario's eye twitched. "That was a thousand years ago, Dino!"
"What about your division?" Feldway asked, arms crossed.
"Oh... Probably fine," Dino yawned. "My right hand probably got it under control"
Right on cue, a white-haired angel burst in, orange eyes twitching. She bowed to the Zalario and Feldway, bowing even lower to Feldway, then look at Dino with a tired expression.
"This is Acer," Dino said from the floor. "My right hand."
"Lord Dino," Acer growled tiredly, "I've been looking for you for so long."
"And the division?" Dino asked.
"I've kept everything under control. It's been my responsibility ever since I became your right hand, Lord Dino," Acer replied.
Feldway rubbed his temple. "So you've been dumping your main responsibilities on your right hand, huh?"
Zalario's expression remained unreadable—until his eye twitched and a single vein popped on his forehead.
"I swear, I don't even know how I lost to you back then," Zalario muttered, clenching his fist, slowly walking over at him. "But I will feel better after punching you."
Acer quickly bowed. "Please, I apologize on Lord Dino's behalf! I beg of your mercy, Lord Zalario!"
Zalario relaxed slightly, slowing down.
Dino lazily waved from the floor. "Nah, it's fine. Let 'em try."
Zalario's aura flared like a solar flare.
Feldway sighed, found a seat, and gestured vaguely. "I want no part of this."
Just then, the door opened again. Obera, Garasha, and Pico entered casually.
Zalario turned. "You three want in on the beatdown?"
Pico replied immediately, "Nope."
Garasha blinked. "What'd he do this time?"
Obera shrugged. "Eh."
Zalario glanced pleadingly at Feldway. Feldway just sighed, while looking down.
Feldway didn't even look up. "Anyone wanna help Zalario?"
"Yes, Commander," Pico and Garasha replied in perfect unison.
But before they could move, Obera flashed forward, decking Dino across the room with one punch.
"OWWIEEEE!" Dino wailed, slamming into the wall like a ragdoll.
Everyone froze.
Then Obera stomped on him. Repeatedly.
A burst of sparkles erupted as Cornu, one of the Primordial Angels, teleported in dramatically. "If Commander Feldway commands it!!" he shouted, dive-bombing Dino mid-yelp.
Feldway squinted. "...Have I talked to that guy in the last million years?"
Zalario, not to be outdone, joined in with righteous fury.
Acer scrambled to heal Dino mid-beating while begging, "Please forgive Lord Dino!"
At the far end of the table from Feldway, Garasha and Pico quietly took their seats.
"...Poor Dino," they muttered in sync.
Just then, the crystalline doors creaked open.
Instantly, Zalario, Obera, and Cornu abandoned their Dino-stomping spree, snapping to attention behind their chairs like guilty schoolkids. Acer frantically dragged Dino's bruised body upright, propping him beside his seat like a broken scarecrow.
Garasha and Pico also stood and saluted. Feldway rose last, voice calm and firm:
"Let's commence this emergency meeting. Boss Veldanava has arrived."
The crystalline doors burst open.
A rosy-gold light bathed the room as Veldanava, the Creator himself, strode in like he was here to drop plot twists and break timelines.
"What's up, my puny angel subordinates?" he beamed. "Feldway already rounded y'all up? That's my guy! KUAHAHAHA!!"
He flopped into the most extravagant chair in the room—throne-like. Then his eyes casually drifted to Dino, who was slumped at the far end of the table like a damp rice sack that got mugged by some goons.
Directly opposite him stood Feldway, calm and regal as ever.
"Who did that to you?" Veldanava asked, genuinely curious.
Dino tried to speak—but the Creator waved him off with a chuckle.
"Eh, whatever. Stuff happens."
Then he looked toward Acer, one brow raised seeing some sort of opportunity.
"You know what? Since Dino brought his right hand... why not let everyone bring theirs into the meeting too?"
Feldway raised a hand, his voice low but firm.
"No need to drag things further, Boss. Their presence won't offer anything... beneficial. We should focus on what matters next."
Veldanava paused.
His smile remained—but one eye twitched, betraying a flicker of hesitation. Truth was, he wasn't ready to start. Not yet. Not until he sorted out the storm in his head.
Still, he laughed it off.
"KUAHAHAHA!! You're right, as always!"
Then he leaned in toward Feldway, whispering just loud enough for the tension to shift.
"Hey... remember that story you told me...?"
Feldway nodded.
And with that, Veldanava stood tall and addressed the room, his aura quieting even the fidgety Cherub.
"There's been a change of plans regarding the Cardinal World."
A few Primordials exchanged looks. Zalario blinked.
"But first—" Veldanava grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let me introduce y'all to someone."
End of 3rd Person POV
To be continued…