The room was heavy.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
But thick—with tension that clung to the air like invisible chains.
---
Caleb sat still.
For the first time since waking up in the Seventh Division…
He wasn't struggling.
He wasn't panicking.
---
He was thinking.
---
Across from him, Captain Jose stood quietly, arms folded, yellow eyes locked onto him like a predator watching its prey make a decision.
No pressure.
No rush.
---
Just expectation.
---
The golden chains around Caleb's body flickered faintly, as if they could sense the shift in his mind.
---
Three choices.
---
Die.
Be experimented on.
Or…
---
Become something else.
---
Caleb lowered his head slightly.
His hair shadowed his eyes.
---
A hero…
---
The word echoed in his mind.
---
Lucas's voice overlapped with it.
> "It's like a superhero job…"
---
Then—
Another voice.
---
"…you'll live on."
---
His mother.
---
Fire.
Screams.
The past clawing its way into the present.
---
Caleb clenched his fists.
---
I'm not dying here.
---
His lips parted.
---
"…I'll join…"
---
The words slipped out quietly.
Barely audible.
---
Jose blinked once.
---
"…sorry?"
---
Caleb lifted his head.
His eyes sharpened.
---
Then—
---
"I'LL DO IT!"
---
His voice echoed through the room.
Strong.
Clear.
Unshaken.
---
"I'll be your wild card!"
---
A breath.
---
"And I'll become a hero!"
---
Silence.
---
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
---
Then—
Jose smiled.
---
"Very well."
---
Simple.
Clean.
Decided.
---
He turned slightly, already moving on.
---
"I'll discuss this with my lieutenants… and my Vice Captain."
---
His voice remained calm.
---
"If they agree…"
A pause.
---
"…we proceed."
---
Then—
He raised his hand slightly.
---
"I release you."
---
The chains reacted instantly.
---
CRACK.
---
The golden restraints shattered.
---
Not like metal breaking—
---
But like light dissolving.
---
Fragments scattered into the air like glowing dust, drifting for a moment before vanishing completely.
---
Caleb's body dropped forward slightly.
---
"…!"
---
Air rushed into his lungs.
---
Deep.
Full.
Free.
---
He inhaled sharply—
Then exhaled.
---
"…finally…"
---
He slowly stood up.
His legs slightly unstable at first.
---
But he steadied himself.
---
Freedom.
---
Real freedom.
---
Jose glanced at him briefly.
---
"I'm going now… cadet."
---
Cadet.
---
The word landed differently.
---
Before Caleb could respond—
---
The door opened.
---
A young man rushed in.
---
"Sir!"
---
He stood straight instantly.
---
Jose didn't turn.
---
"Show him around the Seventh Division."
---
The cadet nodded sharply.
---
"Will be done, sir!"
---
Jose stepped past him.
---
As he exited—
He met two figures outside.
---
Lily.
Dave.
---
"Lieutenants," Jose said calmly.
---
"Let's discuss this in my office."
---
Dave grinned slightly.
---
"About time."
---
Lily glanced toward the room briefly—
Her eyes lingering for a moment.
---
Then they followed Jose.
---
The door closed.
---
Silence returned.
---
The cadet turned toward Caleb.
---
A friendly smile appeared on his face.
---
"…let's go, sir."
---
Caleb blinked.
---
"…sir?"
---
The cadet scratched the back of his head slightly.
---
"…uh—habit."
---
Caleb let out a small breath.
---
"…right."
---
They stepped out into the hallway.
---
And Caleb stopped.
---
The light—
---
Was different.
---
Bright.
Clean.
---
White light stretched across the long corridor, reflecting off smooth walls engraved with faint golden symbols. The entire place felt structured—precise—like everything had a purpose.
---
Footsteps echoed softly as they walked.
---
Other members passed by occasionally.
---
All wearing similar uniforms.
---
Beige coats.
Sharp looks.
Focused eyes.
---
Some glanced at Caleb.
---
Others didn't.
---
But all of them felt…
---
Different.
---
Disciplined.
---
Dangerous.
---
Caleb exhaled slowly.
---
"…so…"
---
He looked at the cadet.
---
"Tell me about the Angelic Order."
---
The cadet smiled slightly.
---
"…where do I start?"
---
They continued walking.
---
"The Angelic Order…"
He began.
---
"…is an organization created to deal with demons."
---
His tone shifted.
More serious now.
---
"You see…"
---
"They didn't exist before."
---
Caleb's brows furrowed.
---
"…what do you mean?"
---
The cadet glanced at him.
---
"I mean demons didn't just… evolve."
---
A pause.
---
"They appeared."
---
Suddenly.
---
No warning.
---
No pattern.
---
"They started attacking cities…"
---
His voice lowered slightly.
---
"…wiping out entire areas."
---
Caleb's expression hardened.
---
"…just like that?"
---
The cadet nodded.
---
"They don't negotiate."
---
"They don't hesitate."
---
"And they don't stop."
---
They passed a large glass window.
---
Inside—
A gym room.
---
Several members working out.
---
Weights being lift.
---
Energy flashing.
---
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
---
Caleb slowed slightly.
Watching.
---
"…and you fight them?"
---
The cadet followed his gaze.
---
"…we eliminate them."
---
Simple.
Direct.
---
"No hesitation."
---
A pause.
---
"Because if we don't…"
---
His eyes darkened slightly.
---
"…people die."
---
Silence fell between them.
---
Caleb looked forward again.
---
The weight of everything pressed against him.
---
Demons.
Power.
Death.
---
And now—
---
Him.
---
"…wild card…"
He muttered under his breath.
---
The cadet glanced at him.
---
"…you'll get used to it."
---
Caleb didn't respond.
---
Because deep down—
---
He knew.
---
Nothing about this…
---
Would ever feel normal.
---
The hallway stretched ahead.
---
Bright.
Endless.
---
And somewhere—
Behind closed doors—
---
His fate…
---
Was being decided.
---
The hallway stretched on like a polished river of light.
Every step echoed.
Measured.
Clean.
---
The cadet walked slightly ahead, hands loosely behind his back, posture straight but relaxed.
Caleb followed, his eyes constantly moving.
Taking everything in.
---
"If you look to your right…"
The cadet gestured casually.
"…you'll see where we stay."
---
Caleb turned his head.
---
A large room opened into view through a wide glass panel.
---
Inside—
Rows of simple beds lined the walls.
Some were neatly arranged.
Others… not so much.
---
A few cadets were asleep, sprawled carelessly across their beds, exhaustion clear even in their stillness.
One snored loudly.
Another had an arm hanging off the side, fingers twitching faintly like they were still fighting in their dreams.
---
In another corner—
A group sat around a small table.
Cards spread out.
Low voices.
Occasional laughter.
---
"…you serious? You cheated."
---
"I didn't—"
---
"You always say that!"
---
The tension of the place cracked just slightly there.
---
Caleb blinked.
---
"…so you guys just… live like this?"
---
The cadet shrugged.
---
"More or less."
---
They continued walking.
---
Caleb glanced forward again.
---
"…is there a difference?"
---
The cadet tilted his head.
---
"…between?"
---
"Between you guys…"
Caleb gestured slightly.
---
"…and the lieutenants… the Vice Captain… the Captain."
---
The cadet let out a short breath.
---
"…there's a huge difference."
---
His tone shifted.
More serious.
---
"You see…"
---
"Lieutenants and anyone above…"
He paused slightly.
---
"…are chosen."
---
Caleb's eyes narrowed.
---
"…chosen?"
---
"By Angelic Weapons."
---
The words carried weight.
---
"They're not just tools."
---
"They choose their wielders."
---
Caleb's interest sharpened instantly.
---
"…and what happens if you're chosen?"
---
The cadet smiled slightly.
---
"You gain a unique ability."
---
A pause.
---
"And a massive amount of Grace Energy."
---
The term lingered.
---
"…Grace Energy?"
---
"Yeah."
The cadet nodded.
---
"It's what we use to fight demons."
---
Another pause.
---
"It's what makes us… different."
---
Caleb's eyes drifted slightly.
---
"…so you don't have that?"
---
The cadet laughed softly.
---
"We do."
---
"…just not like them."
---
He rubbed the back of his neck.
---
"We have Grace Energy…"
---
"But we don't have Angelic Weapons."
---
A faint pause.
---
"…yet."
---
Caleb glanced at him.
---
"…so you're waiting?"
---
The cadet nodded.
---
"For one to choose us."
---
Silence.
---
"…that's why we train."
---
---
Caleb's steps slowed.
---
"…what's this room?"
---
He had stopped walking completely now.
---
The cadet blinked.
---
"…huh?"
---
---
Caleb didn't respond.
---
Because his eyes—
---
Were locked.
---
Ahead.
---
A massive door stood slightly open.
---
From within—
Sound poured out.
---
Metal clashing.
---
Shockwaves.
---
Footsteps tearing across the ground.
---
The cadet sighed.
---
"…this is the training ground."
---
Caleb stepped forward slowly.
---
Drawn in.
---
---
The room was enormous.
---
Far larger than anything they had passed so far.
---
The walls—
Reinforced with a strange metallic material.
Dark silver.
Layered with engraved symbols that pulsed faintly under the surface.
---
The floor—
Scarred.
Cracked.
Marked with countless impacts.
---
This wasn't a room.
---
It was a battlefield.
---
Inside—
Multiple Angelic members were sparring.
---
Fast.
Violent.
Precise.
---
Two clashed in the center—
Their first met.
The crackled with energy.
---
BOOM!
---
The impact sent a visible shockwave across the floor.
---
Another pair—
Moved like blurs.
---
One leaped high—
Spinning mid-air—
While the other dashed forward—
Countering instantly.
---
Energy flashed.
---
Grace.
---
Alive.
---
Caleb's eyes widened slightly.
---
"…this place…"
---
The cadet crossed his arms.
---
"…is reinforced with special metal."
---
A pause.
---
"It can endure massive power."
---
Another clash echoed.
---
The ground shook slightly beneath their feet.
---
"…without it…"
---
The cadet glanced at Caleb.
---
"…this entire building would be gone."
---
Caleb stared.
---
Watching.
Learning.
---
"…this place is…"
---
A pause.
---
"…alright."
---
The cadet blinked.
---
"…alright?"
---
---
Meanwhile — Captain's Office
---
The atmosphere was completely different.
---
No noise.
No chaos.
---
Just quiet pressure.
---
Terry stood near the window.
Arms at his sides.
Golden eyes calm.
---
Dave leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other.
---
Lily stood near the desk.
Silent.
Thinking.
---
The door opened.
---
Captain Jose stepped in.
---
"…we're all here."
---
He walked toward his desk.
---
Then stopped.
---
"…I've made a decision."
---
The room grew still.
---
"I've asked Caleb…"
A pause.
---
"…to join the Angelic Order."
---
Silence.
---
"…as our Wild Card."
---
Dave's grin faded slightly.
---
Terry didn't move.
---
Lily's eyes flickered.
---
"From your report, Terry…"
Jose continued.
---
"…he managed to inflict a wound…"
---
"…a demon couldn't regenerate from."
---
A pause.
---
"He'll be used…"
---
"…when things get too rough."
---
His gaze moved across them.
---
"…does anyone disagree?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"I disagree, sir."
---
Terry's voice was calm.
But firm.
---
Jose's eyes shifted.
---
"…why?"
---
Terry turned slightly.
---
"Because that anomaly—"
---
"His name is Caleb."
---
Jose corrected instantly.
---
Terry didn't react.
---
"…him."
---
A pause.
---
"Can't be trusted."
---
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"A Demon God…"
---
"…has a chance to awaken inside him."
---
Silence.
---
"In my opinion…"
---
"…we should hand him over to Headquarters."
---
The words landed heavily.
---
Jose didn't respond immediately.
---
"…anyone else?"
---
Dave raised his hand slightly.
---
"…I think Terry's right."
---
Lily looked at him.
---
"…seriously?"
---
Dave shrugged.
---
"…I mean… he's dangerous."
---
Jose exhaled slowly.
---
"…Lily?"
---
All eyes turned to her.
---
She paused.
Thinking.
---
Then—
---
"…I agree."
---
Silence.
---
Terry's eyes flickered slightly.
---
Dave blinked.
---
"…wait—what?"
---
Lily continued.
---
"I think he can be useful."
---
A pause.
---
"In combat."
---
She crossed her arms slightly.
---
"And the chances of Varkrul awakening…"
---
"…are slim."
---
The room listened.
---
"He's been dormant for a long time."
---
"…and even if he awakens…"
---
A pause.
---
"…it won't be at full strength."
---
Her gaze steadied.
---
"And Headquarters…"
---
"…can handle it."
---
A faint silence followed.
---
"…they're ridiculously strong."
---
Jose nodded slightly.
---
"…fair point."
---
He leaned back slightly.
---
"…so that makes it…"
---
"…a tie."
---
Two agree.
Two disagree.
---
Dave suddenly leaned forward.
---
"…wait."
---
All eyes turned to him.
---
"…my decision can change."
---
Lily sighed immediately.
---
"…not this again."
---
Jose raised a brow.
---
"…if what?"
---
Dave grinned.
---
"…you let me fight him."
---
A pause.
---
"1v1."
---
The air shifted.
---
"I want to see how strong he is."
---
Silence.
---
Jose didn't answer immediately.
---
He thought.
---
Just for a second.
---
Then—
---
"…alright."
---
Dave's grin widened instantly.
---
"…but on one condition."
---
The room tightened again.
---
Because whatever came next—
---
Would decide Caleb's fate.
---
To be continued…