In the capital city of the Eurina Empire—New Augustgrad, news
of the 3rd Fleet's battle took the world by storm.
The battle changed the way behemoths were viewed forever…
A man with long, wavy hair was seated at the front of the room—
Fleet Admiral Zack.
The Admiral sat impatiently in his chair—his finger tapping the
desk with each tick.
Around him were many personnel—Admirals, Vice Admirals, and
high-ranking officers.
The officers were seated around a large table—where a meeting was
currently being held.
Behind them, a projector displayed a video—
Archangel.
He was flying.
They saw him manifest six-wings—
They saw him defeat that category five.
"Are you all seeing this?" Zack spoke calmly, his finger still
tapping the desk.
He abruptly stood up, paused the video and pointed directly at
Archangel.
"This isn't something an ordinary ring can do."
His finger began trailing across the display, then pausing at the
figure of Tohil.
"And this isn't an ordinary behemoth."
A suffocating atmosphere filled the air. The data they're being
presented with was nothing they've seen before.
It was impossible, but the evidence was undeniable.
Zack continued playing the video.
It really was undeniable.
No one has ever heard of a behemoth talk.
No one has ever heard of a behemoth capable of communication.
No one has heard of a behemoth compacting its size.
All of that was completely absurd.
Vice Admiral 'Rayne' of the 4th Fleet's
fist crashed onto the table.
BAM!
"The real question is, WHO is this man with wings? HOW did Masuyama
acquire such a powerful soldier—WHAT is the meaning of the phrase they both
said?!" Rayne spoke harshly.
You could see the emotions on his face—even under his skin-tight
face mask and the pilot goggles.
A heavy-shouldered man added on. "What kind of ring does this
angel-winged man have?"
The room erupted in hushed whispers and anxious stares.
The door of the meeting room swung wide open.
"Excuse me."
The whole room fell into a deep silence.
A tall, slender figure stepped into the room.
Their long fur-collared cloak dragged behind their ankles, a
recognisable "Angel Wing" visor covering their eyes—but it could not hide the
harsh glare that came through them.
This was Admiral Sila of the 1st Fleet.
Rayne shot up from his chair. "Admiral Sila! Why are you here—I
mean, what brings you to this meeting?! Ma'am!"
Sila spoke with a soft yet serious voice, "Why wouldn't I be,
Rayne? I can't just ignore the fact that my little brother got in some trouble
again."
The room fell back into silence.
"BROTHER?!"
Rayne's voice echoed through the chamber.
A few officers exchanged bewildered glances.
"You mean Rear Admiral Masuyama is your—"
"My little brother, yes."
Sila walked towards the table.
"Although I'm beginning to wonder whether 'little' is still
appropriate."
A few officers chuckled nervously.
Rayne didn't.
His expression remained stiff.
"So, you know him personally."
Sila stopped beside an empty chair.
"I know him better than most."
Zack folded his arms.
"Then perhaps you can explain something."
Sila turned towards him.
"Archangel."
The atmosphere changed again.
"You've served alongside Masuyama for years—even before him. You
know his methods. You know the people under his command."
Zack gestured towards the frozen image of Archangel.
"Where did he find someone like this?"
Sila stared at the image.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
"I don't know."
The room became restless.
"You don't know?"
"No."
Sila's voice remained calm.
"But I know my brother."
She looked towards the footage again.
"He doesn't trust easily. And he certainly doesn't place his faith
in something he doesn't understand."
Rayne frowned.
"Then why would he keep Archangel hidden from headquarters?"
Sila's expression hardened.
"That is precisely what concerns me."
Zack resumed the footage.
Archangel descended through the golden light.
Six wings slowly folded behind him.
The room watched in silence.
Then the footage changed.
Masuyama.
Standing among the soldiers.
Looking towards Archangel.
Zack paused the recording.
"There."
Everyone looked.
"What?" Rayne asked.
"His reaction."
Masuyama stood almost completely still in the footage.
His visor concealed his eyes.
But his posture had changed.
Slightly.
Barely enough to notice.
Zack narrowed his eyes.
"He knew something."
Sila stared at the image.
"He always does."
Rayne crossed his arms.
"Then we need to bring Archangel here."
Sila's head turned towards him.
"Bring him here?"
"For questioning. Examination. Whatever is necessary."
"No."
The room fell silent.
Sila's answer had been immediate.
Rayne blinked.
"…No?"
"You don't drag someone into headquarters because you don't
understand them."
Rayne's fist tightened.
"This isn't about curiosity. If that being is capable of defeating
a Category Five, then Eurina needs to know what it is."
Sila remained still.
"What it is?"
Her tone became colder.
"You're already talking about him like he isn't a person."
Nobody answered.
Zack watched her carefully.
Then he reached towards the controls.
The footage stopped.
"Regardless of what we call him, Admiral Sila, headquarters has
decided that Archangel needs to be brought here."
Sila's visor tilted slightly.
"Understood."
A pause.
"Who is going to bring him?"
Zack looked directly at her.
"You."
The room went quiet.
Sila didn't react.
"Me?"
"You are the only Admiral currently authorised to act independently
within the 1st Fleet's jurisdiction. And given your relationship with
Masuyama…"
Zack paused.
"…we believe you have the best chance of convincing him."
Sila's expression remained unreadable behind the visor.
"I see."
She turned towards the door.
"I'll speak with him."
Rayne watched her leave.
Then he looked back at the screen.
At Archangel.
At the six wings.
At the impossible being that had changed everything.
The door closed behind Sila.
Silence returned.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Zack quietly said—
"Something about this doesn't feel right."
Far away from New Augustgrad—
Thousands of kilometres away—
Inside the command chamber of the 3rd Fleet, Masuyama sat alone.
The room was quiet.
No officers.
No reports.
No voices.
Only the faint hum of machinery.
He leaned back slowly in his chair.
His Angel Wing visor concealed his eyes.
His expression was unreadable.
A faint sound came from somewhere nearby.
A voice.
Distorted by distance.
Faint enough to be mistaken for static.
Masuyama listened.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Then the voice disappeared.
Silence.
Masuyama's fingers stopped tapping against the armrest.
For a moment, he simply sat there.
Thinking.
His head tilted ever so slightly.
Then—
A quiet breath.
"Ha?"
…
"So that's what they're planning."
He leaned forward—the light from the nearby console reflecting across
his visor.
His face remained calm.
But behind the visor—
His eyes had narrowed.