The grand chamber of Rimuru's castle in Tempest was silent, save for the faint hum of the magical barrier surrounding the city. Outside, the moon hung heavy in the sky, casting silvery rays through the tall crystalline windows. Inside, the most powerful beings of the Cardinal World sat around a large circular table made of spirit-forged obsidian, carved with magical sigils.
Rimuru leaned forward, both hands resting on the table, eyes glowing with a cold gleam of intelligence. His voice broke the silence.
Rimuru: "Alright, guys. Let's try to understand what exactly is going on. First, the angels attacked us out of nowhere… and from what we've seen, they only targeted demon lord territories."
Guy Crimson narrowed his eyes, his flaming red hair flickering like embers with each breath.
Guy: "Yes… and it wasn't just random destruction. They came with purpose. They wanted to control us."
Milim, her voice loud and frustrated, slammed her palm on the table.
Milim: "Where are the others?! What about Luminous, Leon, Draguel, Frey, Carrion…?!"
Rimuru shook his head, his tone heavy.
Rimuru: "I tried contacting them… but there's been no answer. No response from any of them."
Guy's voice was grim.
Guy: "Then we have to assume the worst… Either they've been captured, or… something even darker happened."
A chill entered the room. Velzard, elegant and icy in her presence, spoke next.
Velzard: "If we hadn't taken part in Yujiro's training in the Labyrinth… we would have all fallen. That spell that tried to control us—it wasn't just magical. It was ancient, primordial. Designed to crush willpower itself."
Milim's tone softened.
Milim: "Speaking of that… Where is Uncle Yujiro?! He should've shown up by now!"
Veldora, sitting on the edge of a marble pillar overhead, lazily glanced down.
Veldora: "He's meditating. Up on the hill just outside Tempest. He said something about feeling the world's pain through its breath. Whatever that means... But honestly, I doubt any angel had the guts to approach him."
A moment of silence passed before Rimuru spoke again, voice analytical.
Rimuru: "So let's ask the important question: Why try to control us? What's the purpose behind that?"
Guy's gaze sharpened.
Guy: "Seeing these angels… how they act, how they fight... one name keeps coming to mind."
Velzard's voice cut in like a blade.
Velzard: "Feldway."
The room froze.
Rimuru, frowning deeply, asked slowly,
Rimuru: "Who… is Feldway?"
Velzard turned toward him, her ice-blue eyes haunted.
Velzard: "He was the first angel. The very first celestial being my brother Veldanava ever created. A paragon of loyalty, of divine order. Feldway served Veldanava with absolute devotion."
She paused, then added with a dark tone:
Velzard: "Knowing him… if he decided to attack the world my brother created, it means one thing…"
Guy's voice was grim.
Guy: "He's trying to bring back Veldanava."
A collective gasp filled the room. Even Veldora dropped his bag of chips.
Rimuru: "What?! But… how? Veldanava is dead. Isn't he?"
Veldora scratched his chin, expression more serious than usual.
Veldora: "Well… the True Dragons are all connected through our Dragon Factors. Those essences… they carry not just our powers but also fragments of our existence. Our origin. If Feldway's trying to resurrect Veldanava, it might be through gathering all of our Dragon Factors."
Benimaru, who had been standing silently behind Rimuru, finally stepped forward, eyes narrowed.
Benimaru: "Is… is that even possible? I mean… Veldanava is the creator of this world. Wouldn't resurrecting him be like trying to remake the sun?"
Velzard replied, her voice cold but sincere.
Velzard: "True Dragons are immortal. Even if you kill us, our Dragon Factors allow us to return… eventually. But Veldanava, when he died, he had already given up most of his power. That's why he didn't resurrect."
Guy added, arms folded.
Guy: "Remember—he gave part of his power to Milim before his death. He was nearly spent. But if Feldway collects the Dragon Factors of Veldora, Velzard, and Velgrynd, along with Milim's essence…"
Rimuru finished the thought aloud, eyes darkening.
Rimuru: "He might be trying to reconstruct Veldanava. Piece by piece."
Everyone fell silent.
Rimuru stood.
Rimuru: "That means we cannot—must not—let Feldway get his hands on any more dragons. Veldora, Velzard… Milim… we protect you no matter what."
Milim, fists clenched, nodded fiercely.
Milim: "Let him try. I won't go down like some pawn."
Velzard: "Velgrynd's silence… it likely means she's already been captured."
Just then, Diablo, standing in the shadows, stepped forward.
Diablo: "So what do we do now? We don't know when he'll attack again. We don't even know his full strategy. And someone like Feldway… always has a backup plan."
Before Rimuru could reply, a portal of shadows burst open near the back of the hall. Souei stepped out, kneeling.
Souei: "Lord Rimuru. I bring urgent news."
Rimuru: "Go ahead."
Souei: "My network has detected movement from Yuuki Kagurazaka and the members of the Moderate Harlequin Alliance. Each of them is now stationed at distinct, strategic points across the Cardinal World."
Guy's eyes flared open.
Guy: "Wait… Yuuki… and the Clowns… all spread out?"
He leaned in, voice dark.
Guy: "If Feldway already tried to control us and failed… then what if—he's using Yuuki and the Clowns to activate a secondary spell? Something far more powerful. One that could control everyone in the Cardinal World."
Everyone looked stunned.
Velzard's voice was grave.
Velzard: "A spell of that magnitude… it would need synchronized casting across leyline intersections."
Diablo: "And the Clowns are all expert spell-casters… That might be their real purpose. To complete the ritual Feldway couldn't finish alone."
Rimuru, now rising from his seat, his aura flaring softly with divine pressure, declared:
Rimuru: "Then we stop them. No matter what it takes. We break the spell before it begins. We intercept the Clowns. And we protect the dragons."
He turned to his allies, his expression like carved steel.
Rimuru: "This is no longer just about defending our lands… It's about protecting the very soul of the Cardinal World."
Rimuru: "Souei… do you have the coordinates of the Clowns and Yuuki?"
The silent ninja nodded, producing a map crafted from threads of magic and shadow. Tiny crimson sigils pulsed over specific regions across the Cardinal World.
Souei: "Yes, my Lord. Each of them has taken a position in highly strategic locations—leyline intersections, high-magic-density zones. They're waiting for Feldway's signal."
Rimuru: "Then we need to strike. Fast. Wherever they are, they're likely moments away from triggering the spell. If we let them finish, it might be too late."
Feldway stood in the middle of a ritual chamber illuminated by spiraling rings of angelic glyphs and divine light. Hovering before him was a massive magical construct—the Dominion Spell Core—its pulsating rhythm echoing like a heartbeat ready to be unleashed.
Feldway: "Soon… very soon, the Cardinal World will bow. No more Demon Lords. No more chaos. No more rebellion."
His voice was emotionless, like a decree from an ancient machine. Behind him, the corrupted form of Velgrynd, glowing with twisted energy, stood silently like a puppet on strings.
He raised his hand.
Back in Tempest…
Guy slammed his fist into his palm.
Guy: "We need to move, now. And all at once. If they activate that spell… even we might fall."
Rimuru nodded, mind spinning with tactics and risks.
Rimuru: "We'll go in separate teams. But listen—Veldora, Velzard, and Milim—you three can't go."
Milim: "WHAT?! Why not?!"
Rimuru turned to her seriously.
Rimuru: "You three are too important. If Feldway's plan is what we think it is, your Dragon Factors are the key. If he captures even one of you, it could lead to Veldanava's resurrection."
Velzard frowned.
Velzard: "Then what do we do? Just sit here?"
Rimuru: "No. Go to Yujiro. Stay close to him. If anyone can keep you safe—it's him. Besides, he's waiting."
Veldora smirked.
Veldora: "Heh… I was wondering when we'd bring the big bro back into this."
Benimaru, standing at the side, spoke up.
Benimaru: "That is a good idea, Lord Rimuru. We can't risk them, and Yujiro is our greatest defense."
Rimuru looked around the room, then made his call.
Rimuru: "Alright. Then it's set.
I'll take on Yuuki myself.
Guy, you take kigali.
Diablo, take laplace.
Rain, and Misery—you each take, Footman, tear.
We'll strike in unison. There's no room for failure."
Each of them nodded, the gravity of the mission reflected in their expressions.
Guy, flicking his long crimson coat, smirked.
Guy: "Let's crash this divine party."
Diablo, eyes glowing purple, bowed with elegance.
Diablo: "Their spell will end before it even begins."
Rain pulled her spear, spinning it once with deadly grace.
Rain: "Finally, some proper action."
Misery, calm and elegant as ever, whispered,
Misery: "I will not allow them to touch our world."
With Souei's map burned into their minds and magical teleportation coordinated to the second, each team vanished in a cascade of light, shadow, and divine pressure.
At the same time, Velzard, Milim, and Veldora took to the skies, flying across Tempest to the hill where Yujiro still meditated, surrounded by a silence that not even the heavens dared disturb.
Meanwhile… Back in Feldway's Void Palace…
Feldway's hand lowered, eyes glowing white.
Feldway: "Now. Activate the Dominion Spell."