A star of shadows
Gazofs strong eyes were practically the best of any warrior, honed through countless battles and trials. Today they screamed at him, no begged for him not to make any sudden moves. This was because as he was eyeing the small group of individuals his eyes meet another pair. These eyes belonged to what appeared to be a young girl, judging by her hight alone he'd say she was about ten to eleven-ish.
The young girl was in an oddly open red and black dress and had an ornate mask shaped like a lion's head. It's also has a red and black mane that reaches all the way as round her head. Her eyes shined through the angry eyes of her mask. They were large golden eyes but the gave off an almost malevolent sense. Enough for a man who knew life and death to seriously reconsider his life, had he ever slighted this girl.
The other two odd figures were equally as terrifying but lacked the disturbingness of being children. No these two were a tall women in full plated armor that Gazof figured was made specifically for her. The other a large caster of some sort. This caster had these impossible large bone pauldrons a single massive ruby in each one. The caster wore a mask with a wicked grin on it.
"You there!" Gazof point to simple looking man. "Are you the village chief?"
"Oh captain of the royal select. Yes I am the cheif of this village." The village chief voice was concerned yet respectable.
"Who are these individuals? They do not appear to be villagers." Gazof eyes never left the three individuals as he spoke to the cheif.
"Ahh. They are..." the chief started.
"No need I am Ainz Ooal Gown and those two are Morningstar and Albedo." He point to each one as he names them. "I am a hermit of sorts and don't get out very often and these two are my companions."
"I see." Gazof not for a moment buying it. " I have come to put a stop the raids that have been happening to the outskirts of the kingdom."
"Then you are too late, these individuals appear and drove away our attackers." The chief interjected.
Gazof processed to dismount from his horse. "You have my deepest gratitude. " He bows his head in thanks.
"CAPTAIN THERE ARE MAGES SUROUNDING THE VILLAGE!" A unknown man from Gazofs band of men approached form behind him.
"What! Damn Slane Theocracy!" Gazof for the first time takes his eyes of the three individuals.
"Dose this place hold anysort of value or importantance?" Ainz asks, his question directed to Gazof.
"If there not here for your group then I suppose that there here for me." The answer was really more to himself then a responce to Ainz.
"Well aren't you the popular one!" Morningstar soft voice, teased.
"Sir Gown... no Lord Gown I would like to purchase your service." Gazof voice left no room for negotiation. "Name your price. i will see you have it."
"Sorry but I will decline you offer." Ainz shot back mater o factly.
"Then I'll have to draft you then." Gazof narrowed his eyes.
"You could most certainly try." Ainz figure and voice loomed over Gazof. " Perhaps Morningstar would be more willing to aid you."
"I could never ask that of a child." Gazof is taken back by the suggestion.
"What's the matter afraid of a little girl." Morningstar tilted her head in a manner that would have been cute, if she did not have a lion mask on.
"No it's not that. My pride as a soldier and as a defender of my people simple won't allow it. My apologies lady Morningstar." He bows his head.
"Well there here for you. So off you go. Chop, chop!" Morningstar soft voice was noticeable annoyed by the comment.
"Before you go take this." Ainz's pulled a small wooden figure not to dis similar to a nesting doll from his sleeve. "Am sure it will bring you luck."
"A gift?" Gazof eyes it for a moment then places it in a pouch on his hip. "Ainz please protect this village from harm one more time. Am going to try and draw them off, so please evacuate the village." Gazof turns on his heel and mounts his horse.
"Where is he going?" The village cheif asks.
"To draw off the enemy." Morningstar answered.
"Let's not waist time. Gather the villagers and put them in the storehouse."
...(one epic battle that got deleted on mistake later)...
"What the! Who are you." Nigun Grid Luin voice was as off putting as is scared face. "Oh so this is the man from the village. Pathetic."
"My your quite rude. Aren't you?" Ainz voice boomed in a sarcastic way. "Anyways I happen to have some sort of working relation with that village in the distance. Kindly desist you actions."
"Oh so you came to beg for there life have you." Nigun sneered at the group. "Bring a women and child won't help your cause. Honestly what a let down."
"I'll ask you one time offer up your pitiable life without resistance and I'll make sure your death painless." Ainz lifted both hand in a mocking jester.
"Ahahahah angels kill him." Nigun voiced echoed through out the field as a two of Ark angel flames rush into combat with Ainz.
"Mmh a summon from yggdrasil. Ark Angel Flames at that." Morningstar watch as Ainz opened armed and all was impaled by two angels.
"AHH all that bluffing and for what." Nigun practically laughed.
"Indeed they are. I wonder how can they summon Angel's from yggdrasil." Ainz proceeded to grab the two angels by there necks and drive them into the ground. This caused a massive blowback of dust.
"What the! Impossible!"
"Monster!"
"Such power!"
"Stop playing around send more angels to kill them!" Nigun screamed at the top of his lungs. His crew of mages all of there angels to rush forward and attack. A swarm of forty all rushed in unison.
"My turn!" Morningstar step forward. "Angels submit."
As if the angels were summoned to walk in a parade each landed in front of the young girl. "As neatly as I had hoped for too." The angels formed four rows of ten each. "Now disappear." Each angel systematically began to break down into particles of yellow light.
"Grrr." The girl must have a talent that let's her control summons, but surely that has to be the extent of her ability. It's crazy to think she could do that again. "That didn't do enough for you then take this! Princapality of OBSERVATION!"
A divine angel of white and golden in squared off armor burst forward at full speed. With in seconds it's reached it's intended targets. A mighty over head swing of its giant mase flys at it opponent. With a mighty crashing sound the weapon makes contact against girl still in front of individuals.
Although the angel struck with its mase the girl was find. Morningstar had simply kicked high to catch the mase mid drop. This caused a shock wave of dust to spray out from around the two. The form of the two entangled stayed there for a moment. Both side surprised at the events that had transpired. "Ainz might be fine with taking blows but I'll pass. So how about you die now. Abyss grasp."
The shadows below the two began to twist and wave back and forth. Then it pulled up from the ground into a twisting mass of about a hundred show tendrils. Each tendril has a transparent body with glowing red light at the tip. The mass also gives off a thick black smoke making it harder to see in the evening sunlight.
Jetting forward the tendrils wrapped around the angel pulling it into the shadows they came from. The angel struggles to free itself but to no avail. Effortlessly the shadows drag the angel into the shadows and the angel tries one last futile time grasping with it open hand. Then it was gone without a trace.
Nigun stare at the sight mouth agape. His mages panicked and started firing off spells. Several dozen of spell all between tier one and tier three. Ultimately apon seeing how utterly useless there efforts were a single mage fired off a pebble from a sling.
Ttthhhkkk. Fallowed by a whizzing sound then a wet splatter sound. The pebble had been redirected at its former slinger. All the mages stood mouth agape behind there mask. Only Nigun spoke up.
"What just happened?" His mouth still open, shock and horror filled his very being.
"Albedo, there was no need for that! Nothing like that could have come close to harming me." Ainz turned his form to Albedo. Taking his attention with him as if to say they were not worth of his attention.
"BUT MY BELOVED LORD AINZ! How could I allow these insects who don't reach even my standards." Albedo screamed clawing at her armor and horns.
"Very cute." Morningstar spoke to herself. The sight of Albedo over reacting like a school girl amused her.
"Easy there Albedo, these people could never reach your standards even in a thousand years." Aiz tried his best to calm her down.
"My apologies, lord Ainz." Albedo returned to her stony demeanor.
"To think you fools forced my hand. I'll admit your group is very powerful but to too late for you!" Nigun gross voice drew the attention of the three, who had stopped paying attention to him. Then lifted a large blue sealing cystal.
"Albedo." Was Ainz's only response.
"Understood." Was her return.
"Behold Dominion Authority! The strongest angel there is, a being so powerful it killed the evil gods in a single attack!" A graceful and giant figure expanded outwards from the small blue crystal in Nigun hand. It was about twenty feet tall and ten feet wide. It was claded in pure white armor that ran into long pointed segments. Below it's armor ran a long skirt that covered its waist and feet. It held in both hands a long golden mace.
"hahhahahahahahah... dom..dommini... ion... auth...or...ity... hahahahah!" Morningstar bursted out in a fit of uncontrollable giggles. She dropped down to the ground holding her sides laughing so bad it actually felt like she was dying. "You're so stupid. Hahahahah hahahah."
"Dominion Authority kill that little brat right now." As Nigun orders the angel reaches to the sky mace in hands. Then the mace brakes apart into large golden chunks and floats into the sky above. Clouds part and although it is mostly night a ray of pure white light descends apon Morningstar still laughing form.
"I really needed that. Alright enough playing around." Morningstar stopped laughing but was still laying on the ground." Alright let me show you what a real angel looks like. Albedo."
In a flash the woman in full plate was at the young girl laying in the grass. Then with a gentle lift picked her up and held her. She sat snugly on the forearms of the woman in full plate.
"ASTRAL SUMMON DIVINE CRUSADER!"
A blinding streak of golden light forms in the sky several feet in front of Morningstar. The flash out of existence leavening a magnificent angelic being in it's place. The Divine Crusader is a massive twenty five foot tall suit of hallow armor. The suite is spuared off at every possible point with a massive grated chest plate. Overflowing from it are thousands of golden wings. While a simple amber skirt drapes down from the top of it to cover its legs.
On each shoulder sits a large silver egal. Then down the squared arms are divine iconography of an angel battling a demon. Each hand is covered in a golden gauntlet were each finger is shaped like a bladed eagle claw.
It's cloak is nothing more than a mass of wings twisting together in a giant endless mass. Thousand of wing each one golden with an amber tip.
Above that is a halo of golden wings that rotate without a head!
"DIVINE CRUSADER EXECUTE THAT PICE OF SHIT!" With a violent motion an eagle clawed hand grabbed around the throat of the enemy angel. Forces it to the ground. Then a heavy stomp pinning it to the ground. The Divine Crusader raises it's hands to the sky and a mighty scythe of pure golden energy forms. Then not even with a ounce of effort the bottom of the scythe is place atop the head of the angel.
Crack. Dirt and dust fly through the air in a massive explosion. Then as the dust cleared inky the Divine Crusader stood in a deep crater.
"No! No! ... please gods why is this happen..." Nigun voice cried out but was stopped by a disturbing image of the sky cracking apart? Like glass the the dwindling remnant of the daylight breaks away into night. "What was that?"
"Probably your gods wondering why they let you even exist." Morningstar voice was like a monster feeding off the fear of it's hapless prey. As she causally inspects her finger nail.
"Or maybe some sort of observation spell." Ainz chimed in.
"My country was watching me?"Nigun cried out. "Please spare my life, the others are useless. I beg of you sir no LORD!"
"What was it you said to Gazof? Submitted your miserable life and just die like a good dog."
... 9th floor of Nazarick ...
Ainz and Morningstar stood in the hallway to Ainz's office.
"Now about what happening between you and the maids.?" Ainz eyed Morningstar or atlest would had he eyes. It was more so his flames narrowing to a focused point.
"Yeah... So I actually need to eat and I eat excessive amounts of emotions. Each emotions has a specific taste and smell to it. Also some emotions are more filling than others. By teasing the maids I get certian strong emotion. Like fear tastes bad and smells bad but its really filling while nervousnes and embaressed emtions taste and smell great but it's like eating candy. good but it's not enough." Morningstar causally explaining her somewhat inappropriate behavior with the maids." I get tired too, unlike you, though. Being undead and all."
"Mmh I see, so that's why you have been so physical with the maids as of late. I've known you for years now and I knew you enjoyed being with the NPC's do to you'r social anxiety.' Ainz vocalised his understanding of the situation." just try not to go to far with the NPC's, there lik..." Ainz had to stop himself from saying like children of there friends. He knew how she had lost her family in the past and recognized it as a rough topic to speak about around her. She also had a tendency to get overly emotional and noticalbe less rational. "All so precious to me."
"Whoa whoa, all the maids are fine with me feeding off the emotions. All the ones I feed off I made absolutely sure there were no negative side effects of my feeding." Morningstar's voice was a bit stressed. How could Ainz have a problem with her feeding, she needed it to live. "Besides you."
"I what? Morningstar." Ainz speaks fast.
"Well a lot of things! You bone head!" Morningstar voice was now held a sad tone. "It's only been a few day and I see how much you've changed. You aren't as nice as you once were. This lack of emotions has had a negative effect on you. I watched you just shrug off a bunch of people dying. Yeah you changed your mind but the old you would have tried to help." A few tears form at the corner of her eyes and fall down her cheeks.
"That's right I did change and I cant say I felt anything about those humans but your still my precious friend." Ainz drops to one knee and brings a bone finger across her check to wipe a tear. he felt his emotions surge strongly before they rapidy surpressed them selfs. She crying and he needed to put a stop to that immediately. "Even now as a undead you and the others all still mean the world to me. So don't cry. I promise I'll never abandon you or the NPC's."
"You." ..sniff ..sniff "You promise!" Morningstar voice crackled lightly.
"Promise, now why don't you go relax, take a bath or what not." Momonga his bone hand on her shoulder from the check he had wipped clear of er tears. The way one dose to comfort another person. "You really earned it today."
"Yeah a bath sounds nice." Moringstars voice was weak but no loner crackled.
End
*STAT BLOCK FOR ALL YOUR LEVELING NEEDS*(AN. I absolutely love seeing these things.)
Name Morningstar (-200 karma)
Real name Hitomi Sakura (age 26)
Gender female Title The 6th dreadnought Race lvl Abyssal being 10 Abyssal lord 5 Abyssal empress 5 Class lvl Summoner 15 Master summoner 10 Astral summoner 5 Witch 15 Witch queen 5 (max of 10)
Dreadnought 5 Etc. 25 End
