Overlord: The Exiled


Notes and Disclaimer: Kugane Maruyama owns the rights and YenPress Licenses the Light Novel releases.

FIRST AND FOREMOST!

I am sorry that this has taken so long to get posted. When I posted the previous chapter, I had this more or less ready to pop on you guys the same day. I did not because sleep is a thing.

The following morning, my roommate's wife decided to change our Internet plan and modum. She did not make sure that the change of plan and modum did not interrupt or cut off our connection. IT DID.

On the day she scheduled the technician to come and fix the issue (Four Days Later I might add), Hurricane Florence came through and the vestiges of the massive rain and winds knocked our power out on the day they were supposed to come out and fix it. So no fix occurred.

Three days without power go by. Power is back on. Internet provider states, "Due to recovery efforts from Hurricane Florence, we will not be undertaking scheduled appointments until after relief efforts are met."

Another week goes by. We finally get it back.

Enter Hurricane Michael . . .

DAMN.


Sooooo yeaaaah. I can't control weather.

The Lizard Man Heroes Arc comes to a close this chapter and then we are off to Draconis and The Men of the Kingdom Arcs.

SIGHS LOUDLY.

Yes . . . as much as I want to slam my face into my desk, I do have to give Climb his time in the spot light. If anything to at least address things like Renner and Blue Roses, and some New World characters that will better balance out some of the OP that is the Players of YGGDRASIL. Also, without showcasing Climb, Sebas Tian gets no time, and I love his character. Especially his inner struggle to do good even when in servitude to an absolute "evil" Cough AINZ. COUGH.

Those of you who have voiced concerns about Ainz and the denizens of Nazarick being quelled into useless place holders need not worry. Draconis has his hands tied in the Dragon Kingdom for the most part. Artorias and Avalon are dealing with the Holy Roble Kingdom, that much is true, but I think you all will be surprised about what I do with that.

Now, on with the show! Here comes to my ending of the Lizard Man Heroes Arc.


Chapter 27: The Price of Honor


Zaryusu did not know what just happened, but he was not dead. Opening his eyes, he gawked. A beautiful, no . . . gorgeous? That would be the term they would use for her . . . human woman had stopped that ludicrous blade from decapitating him. With her hand! Her thumb and middle finger pinched the back edge of the odachi from the very direction it had come at him from.

She had not blocked the blade, but caught it mid-swing from the very arc it formed! She had caught up to the speed of the swing and grabbed it with enough force to stop it cold, mere millimeters from his neck. With just her thumb and middle fingertip.

"Wha . . . ?" Was the only eloquent phrase he could muster from this display.

The woman frowned up at the Death God's subordinate . . . Cocytus.

"Here now, he accomplished the set rules. He landed a blow on you. Never mind that it did nothing. A landed strike is still a landed strike. You got careless. If it was a weapon that could actually harm you, then what? The conditions agreed on have been fulfilled."

Cocytus huffed. They had indeed laid down the terms as such.

"YOU ARE CORRECT. I WAS ABSORBED IN THE MOMENT."

Before they could say anymore, Demiurge's voice was heard from the pyramid of Nazaricks Guarders. Ainz moved his eyes in the direction of the Guardian as he spoke with clear disdain in his voice. It did not escape him that Albedo was oddly silent as Demiurge made his displeasure known.

"Esdeath! How dare you interfere with this battle! This is an affront to Lord Ainz!"

Esdeath returned the glare as Cocytus lowered his weapon. Two could play this game.

"How dare I? I am merely ensuring that Cocytus does not waste potential talent. Should not a Guardian's word be his bond to such a powerful liege as Lord Ainz?"

Demiurge ground his teeth together while scowling. How dare this outsider attempt to play high and mighty with him!

"Know your place and bow!"

Zaryusu immediately did so. He knew this ability already, but when he glanced at Esdeath, he was stunned as she fanned her mouth that was wide as she yawned in disinterest.

What? How is she not under that demon's influence?

Looking at her nails, she grinned and Zaryusu felt it. SHE was the predatory gaze that they had felt more than a day ago when they had spotted that blue bird. It was her and not any of these beings with the Death God. What was going on here?

"Demiurge, that commanding power of yours only works on those weaker than you. Those of your equal or better can and will resist it. Not that there are many who can, mind you."

The pin stripe suited demon grinned maliciously and pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose. From their elevated position, it was an obvious act of condescension.

"You're getting arrogant, woman!"

Esdeath merely gave a look that seemed to dare him to continue on. Cocytus watched the exchange with a growing level of aggravation. They were in front of Lord Ainz and bickering like children. What kind of image did that give off to these lizard men?

"ENOUGH. DEMIURGE, THIS IS BETWEEN ESDEATH, ME AND LORD AINZ. IT IS NOT YOUR MISSION."

This reaction from Cocytus intrigued Ainz and his eyes glowed brightly for a moment. That being beside the point . . .

He slammed a fist on the throne that he was sitting upon. That made all arguing cease like a cold wind. Albedo could feel the emotion in Ainz's words. They were like a parent disappointed in their children's behavior.

"Deimurge. You would do well to heed Cocytus's words. This is not your mission. I gave Cocytus this mission with the order to act independently at his discretion as much as possible. He is doing so . . . and this pleases me to no end. Now back down or I will be cross."

Demiurge turned and bowed deeply in apology to the Overlord.

"My deepest apologies."

Nodding in acknowledgement of Demiurge's apology, he turned his attention to the Ice Huntress. His eye flames flared wildly.

"Esdeath. While I understand your reasons. This is also not your mission."

She bowed elegantly, and he could sense a certain level of true respect. At least for his position if not his own person. Either way, he did not take offense . . . he silently wondered why he did not to himself as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I will refute that claim Lord Ainz. It is very much my mission. Cocytus requested favor from my Liege Lord Draconis and as such, was made a part of this mission of his by his own request of aide. Aide which I render full well knowing that my Lord would have disagreed with this whole affair. Despite that, I am still my own person and as such, do not hold such a stringent moral code as my master." Her eyes hardened a bit as the words continued to flow from her lips. "Know that even I think things can go too far. These lizard men have proven their tenacity as Cocytus has brought before you both in words and now in deed. Surely a wise ruler can see that merely killing them is a complete and utter waste."

She even thinks like some of the others in the guild. What kind of NPCs did you and the others make Draconis? Even so! I'm in front of my friends's NPCs. I can't just roll over!

"Umu! I see that you are firm on this. Very well. Cocytus has proven his point and worked through his punishment of combat. I will not destroy the lizard men. Your actions however are another story Esdeath. Even in rendering assistance at Cocytus's behest, one cannot merely ignore your actions."

Ainz stood from his throne and pointed to her with a long, bony index finger as he announced his judgment in full.

"You shall fight Cocytus. Should you last until sunset, then I shall pardon your act of aggression."

The two masters of ice and combat glanced to each other in surprise. Ainz continued his proclamation.

"It shall commence in the next hour."

Esdeath frowned, but nodded in acceptance and walked over to Zaryusu, picking him up over her shoulder and hauling him back in the direction of the alliance camp. As she did so, she lifted the icy chunks of earth that held the bodies of his dead allies and slid them along the ground to her left and right. As she placed him down on his feet just mere yards from the mud walls, she sighed as she formed a small throne of ice and sat down.

Unsheathing her rapier, she looked it over meticulously. The dark metal glowing with crimson runes pulsed slightly.


Crusch splashed over to her lover and mate, hugging him fiercely.

"Zaryusu!"

The lizard man in question stared hard at the woman before them. All his instincts roared at him that this woman was no less a terror than that soldier or the Death God. Something inside him told him that she was little different than a predator and they were all her prey.

"Is this some kind of game to you? With our lives as the prize?"

She paused in her weapon maintenance. The frown she directed their way did not match the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Crossing her long legs, she reclined in her seat before turning a hard gaze at Ainz. The Overlord Lich had returned to his seat on his gaudy throne.

"It matters little to them. I see a fount of untapped potential in your people. They see you as wasted space in a land they seek to expand upon. I did indeed help Cocytus with his attacks on your kind earlier." She held a hand up and glared so pointedly at Zaryusu when he made to yell at her in outrage that he swallowed his words. "I do not agree with wiping you out. If my master were present he would agree with me. However, as I was a prisoner to Cocytus's master and he was my jailer who treated me well despite my sentence, my lord owed Cocytus himself a favor. My assistance was that favor."

Crusch could not comprehend such a thing. What kind of powers were playing around with their lives? Zaryusu had heard tales and legends like this, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine getting caught up in them. Esdeath pressed onward.

"I consider that debt and favor paid in full. Even with my actions seemingly being justifiable, I have raised my head in defiance of his Lord. Powers that be will not let some things slide. Though I think that Ainz Ooal Gown is making me fight Cocytus to save face with his subordinates, more than being personally insulted."

The lizard men who heard her words gawked in speechless consternation. Zaryusu's mind was racing miles a minute.

Powers that be? Their superiors? Have the gods made this land their plaything? Who or what kind of person would have dealings and laws with a God of Death?

"He called you Esdeath." When she nodded with a grin, he continued. "Why would you help us? You helped them attack us! Have you no sense of honor?"

The Ice Huntress of The Lair stopped her musings and preparations cold. The air around them chilled and he recognized it as the same kind of power that Cocytus had. However, where his had been combative, this was oppressive.

"Honor dictated that I repay my lord's debt for their not killing me previously. Honor dictated that I ensure that Cocytus learned as part of that payment. I have accomplished those tasks. As such, my honor dictated that the terms of your battle with him were kept. You landed a blow upon him that was brilliant, if futile purely because of the difference in power. Now, that very honor dictates that I act upon my master's teachings and beliefs to stand for you and yours, those who cannot defend themselves against a merciless tide that will consume without mercy. Even if it means I die in the process. Do not question my honor, twisted as it may be, Zaryusu Shasha of the Green Claw Tribe."

Her voice was hardened like diamonds and her gaze pierced his soul.

"Your victories have been from your own powers and adaptability. You have learned through suffering, regardless of its origin. You have come through this stronger. Unfortunately, your fight is against evil beyond compare."

Zaryusu had a feeling that this huntress's master was someone who knew what they were fighting intimately well, but was he good or evil?

"What of your master? Is he evil as well? Is this a territory dispute over our home?"

"He is dangerous, but he is good."

Her voice softened so much that it shocked them. Her eyes grew distant and warm. It was such a stark change that Crusch and Zaryusu glanced at each other in disbelief.

"Master is not a man to be trifled with, but he is not a cruel person at heart. He is extraordinarily patient most of the time. He tries to give the benefit of the doubt when he can, but not all situations allow for such benevolence. Is he evil? No, but he is not a saint. He will kill for his beliefs, he will kill for the sake of others. For his loved ones he would torch the world. Tormented is his soul, yet he is unbroken. How could I not follow such a man?"

What was she speaking of? They were so confused by her words that they did not notice her stand and approach them until she placed a hand on each other their shoulders. The couple jolted and tried, but failed to back away. Esdeath leaned in close.

"It is because he knows Ainz Ooal Gown that he does not destroy the Overlord outright. For they have known each other for ages. Known each other since long before they ascended to their power as you see now. Outright battle between the two of them would bring about catastrophe."

The thought of two such powerful entities fighting to the death only brought about flashed of death and destruction unlike anything seen. Zaryusu had not given much thought to the concept of a mutually assured destruction, but her words combined with the steeled look in her eyes assured him that this was no matter of "if", but that of guaranteed devastation.

"Now, excuse me. I must finish preparations."

Esdeath released them and walked away.


Albedo watched the Ice Huntress interact with the lizard men and frowned. She had no doubts that she was probably acting in a manner that her lord would do. Though her knowledge of what Draconis Brightblade was like through Nishikienrai's journal was enlightening, she was more concerned about the lack of knowledge that the fellow Supreme One of Lord Ainz had on The Exiled.

Certainly, there was a lot in regards to the man's personality and beliefs, but not that much in regards to the man's powers and abilities. However, knowing about his personality and beliefs was telling in and of itself. She understood this much at the very least . . . he was not to be taken lightly. The criticisms Nishikienrai had for him were many, but much of it seemed like nitpicking. The acknowledgements that he had for Draconis were surprising and more numerous than she had anticipated.

One thing that stood out to her more than anything else, was this: he was fiercely loyal to his friends and family. So much so that he would act against them if it prevented them from hurting themselves, but even he had a limit.

Was this one of those times? Was Esdeath emulating her master to that degree? It confused her. How would just tromping over these insignificant lizard men hurt them in the long run? Lord Ainz did not seem too worried about it . . . so why did she?

"Albedo."

Ainz'es voice drew her out of her thoughts. Shaking herself once, she presented herself before him.

"Yes Lord Ainz."

His skeletal fingers drummed the armrest of the throne he sat upon. His other hand cradled his skull. The eye sockets were devoid of their crimson lights. He gave off the feeling of apprehension. It was jarring.

"Have I made a mistake?"

"Eh?"

She was a bit stunned by the question.

"I know you have been reading the journal of Nishikienrai."

She could feel her toes curl in and her feet pointed inward at being caught. The wings on her back shivered and ruffled uncomfortably. His voice sounded oddly tired.

"I noticed it left open to page with Draconis and several others from our time as Nine's Own Goal. I guess Cocytus is not the only one doing their own thing. Let me make myself very clear."

His eyes glowed a bit. The crimson sparks in them made her shiver.

"I do not intend to force you to change who you all are. As you may have noticed in the journal, I am not perfect, nor are any of my peers. Does that change how you view me?"

She thought hard on that question. He was not wrong. The journal had revealed a lot about the nature of Momonga and many others of Ainz Ooal Gown, the guild, the legacy. Each page a different revelation as to the mindset of those that they considered perfect and unfailing had in reality failed time and again. Their esteemed leader was still their leader in her eyes though.

"No Lord Ainz. It does not in the slightest."

"Then understand this Albedo. When I ask your opinions, I want them regardless of how they might sound. As such, do you think that making Cocytus and Esdeath fight is a mistake?"

A frown marred her otherwise beautiful features. Part of her was appalled and furious that Esdeath stood against Lord Ainz. Yet another part of her made her wonder about how Draconis's followers also were like herself and the other Guardians of Nazarick. The real issue was how the rest of them would view each other.

"I think that a fight between them would be appropriate. Though I do worry about Cocytus as he feels a bit indebted to her for her assistance regardless of this affront to you Lord Ainz."

Ainz put an index finger to his chin in thought. He could see that being an issue. Regardless though he still needed to present a solid front for the rest of the Guardians. He would need to nip this growing problem in the bud.

"I see. Thank you Albedo. I shall take Cocytus into consideration after this whole thing comes to a conclusion."

Down below, Cocytus and Esdeath were approaching each other in the open area between the two sides.

"So . . . this is how this is going to resolve itself? A fight between the two of us?"

She unsheathed the ebony rapier at her waist and gave him a flourish and salute, her ice blue eyes stared at him through the elegant guard of the hilt.


Cocytus vs Esdeath

Music of Awesome

Nier Automata OST: Wretched Weaponry (Dynamic with Vocals) . . . . Play?


Wasting no time at all, Esdeath dashed in, the ice they stood upon shattered at her feet as she accelerated. The frosty particles glittered in the light. Zaryusu and the other lizard men leaned away in shock. She covered the distance between them in a blink. Her blade flashed in a dark streak of ebony and crimson only to be intercepted by Cocytus's own. The two blades shrieked at the contact and the Ice Maiden dashed past several feet before stopping.

Cocytus turned half way to her. He knew she was fast, but if he had not been prepared, she would have landed that blow. The Guardian of the Fifth Floor of Nazarick took in the sight of her with her fangs bared and ready to clash. She wore a sardonic smile and a slightly crazed look in her eye.

A BERSERKER . . .

She pounced at him, bringing her blade down in a slash that sought to strike down the opposition from crown to navel. A parry that answered the call forced the weapon to glide down the edge of his weapon as she descended. An uppercut from his free hands caught her as she landed. The force of the blow sent her into the air above him. Raising his inheritance from Takemikazuchi, he swirled the deadly blade in a figure eight pattern as javelins of ice rained down upon him from on high. Dozens upon dozens of the piercing projectiles shattered against his defense. The sparkling fragments of ice and moisture lied about the fatal maelstrom of magical frost that descended like a storm.

Those javelins that he missed began to form a fusillade of ice around him. As he noticed this, he turned in a full circle, lashing out at the offending obstacles, the attack cleaving them clean in two as smooth as silk. Completing his counter of her plan to surround him, he looked back up toward her only to see nothing.

"What in the . . . ?"

Zaryusu's mutter of disbelief was the only warning Cocytus received before he took in the sight of Esdeath on the ground, a massive spire of ice in hand like an Olympian thrower. The pike of ice was at least fifteen feet long and more than an inch and a half in diameter. He only had just enough time to register what it was before she launched it at him.

Even if they were both either immune or resistant to the ice element, the sheer mass was not something to be ignored any longer. Cocytus gripped the smoke white odachi with all four hands and swung down and into the oncoming projectile. The Guardian of Nazarick strained against the onslaught as the massive projectile split down the middle around him like a buzzsaw to a tree trunk. As the tail end split into two, it was instantly replaced with the point of Esdeath's rapier dipping under his guard and toward his torso.

"TCH!" Releasing two hands from the katana, he caught the blade of the rapier with them. Slashing sideways, he was surprised to see Esdeath release her hold on her blade and duck before sweeping out in a cross kick that caught him in the ankle. She was no monk or martial artist, but it still hurt and made him back up a step. He flipped her weapon around in his hand, wielding both simultaneously.

Her Brawler class levels in combination with her Berserker and Monster Slayer levels gave her hand-to-hand combat ability on par with a monk, but only against grotesques and other monstrous creatures not of humanoid nature. Otherwise, she just dealt more than average damage with unarmed strikes than someone without proper Monk or Martial Artist training.

In response, both far eastern and western blade sought her head as she tumbled backward, her acrobatic moves allowing her to narrowly avoid both by mere hairs. Her right foot lashed out, kicking him in the clawed hand that grasped her weapon. Letting the weapon go, he summoned another weapon to his hands, a halberd of superlative make and thrust, hoping to catch her as she plucked her weapon from the air.

The attack grazed her left side, drawing blood.

"Hmm . . . hn! Hah ha . . . ! HahahAHHAHA~~~!"

Esdeath brought her weapon down like a bolt from the heavens, crashing down on his guard with the Japanese styled blade and forcing it down. The tip of the blade of her rapier drew a line on his left mandible. A faint greenish liquid seeped out of the cut. Not done with her counter, she spun on a heel and speared him in the abdomen with a ferocious spinning sidekick that shoved him back several yards.

"Haha! Yes Cocytus! That's it . . . let us fight to our heart's content. We've got until sunset, let's fight!"

Rushing in again, Cocytus leveled his halberd and the ponderous weapon arced wide with the intent of catching her with the weapon mid haft. Ducking low, the attempt traversed through nothing but air. The [God Slaying Emperor]odachi whistled in the air as it fell in vertical descent. The blade met the rapier Esdeath held behind the small of her back with the tip pointed upward and to her left and she pressed onward. The two weapons sparked and screamed as she closed the remaining distance. Twisting her torso and swirling her ebony blade to the side, she subverted the elegant single edge blade and lashed out with another side kick. He blocked the powerful unarmed strike with a hand that released one hold on his pole arm.

This time, he thrust with the weapon and she unleashed a blast of freezing wind to knock the blow aside before counter thrusting. A flash of bright steel and the ringing of metals sounded as he parried with the God Tier eastern blade. Cocytus turned, adding centrifugal force to his next attack with the halberd, yet again held in both hands.

As Esdeath launched herself into the air, he swung counter to the halberd attack with the exotic odachi in both of his other hands. The two attacks level to the ground would double bisect her. Esdeath pushed herself into a corkscrew spin and leveled out, belly to the sky as the weapons passed under and above her. As they blew by, she could not help herself and winked up at Cocytus before blowing a kiss that transformed into a whirling fury of jagged icicles engulfed by a tornado of sleet.

Despite his massive frost resistance, he covered his facial area and clacked his mandibles loudly. Summoning ragged spires of ice to try and catch her from below, he noticed that it managed to drive her away. Most fighters would have been satisfied to simply retreat from the dual assault. The unorthodox style that Esdeath brought to the table was something that was forcing him out of his depth.

A great part of him was rather apprehensive in fighting Draconis's subordinate, but the other part of him, his warrior's spirit, was soaring. This was a real challenge. She could actually hurt him with her fighting ability. Right now they were merely feeling each other out, gauging the edges of their opponents capabilities.

Cocytus's mandibles clacked hard and loud as the cold steam of his breath rushed from his being. He drew a third weapon, a huge one handed battle axe. As he did so, he settled into an actual battle stance. This would be enjoyable to no end.

"Oh? Cocytus is actually setting himself into a serious fighting stance. This will be interesting."

Ainz's observation made the other Guardians lean forward a bit. They would all learn from this experience. Out of all of Draconis's own subordinates, the only one known to them other than Akame was Esdeath. Seeing how she fought would be unimaginably valuable. Demiurge especially took interest in this fight. He pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose. There was no way he was going to miss out on this. After all, when was the last time any of them had seen him draw more than two weapons?

The lizard men gaped at the martial and supernatural powers being fielded by the two combatants.

"Magic and martial combat?" Crusch shook her head and grunted negatively at Zaryusu's question.

"No, it looks like powers that they were already bestowed by their very nature. I think that woman isn't human."

He swallowed and nodded numbly. No runes indicating Tier Magic casting could be seen between the frost blue humanoid insectoid and the woman.

Esdeath rushed back in, her teal hair like a battalion banner flag in the wind as she fired off a barrage of crystalline spikes at her foe. Cocytus merely tanked them all while setting his halberd against her charge. Holding the halberd single handed, he braced the weapon's pommel with the arch of his clawed foot. The axe switched to his second off hand and the odachi was gripped with both his right hands. This allowed for him to counter either left or right while warding off a dead on assault. She narrowed her eyes as she took in this detail and took to the skies with a massive leap. The response he gave her was a geometrical pyramid of icicle spires to protect himself as she forged swords of ice and threw them down at him. The opposed ice abilities shattered on each other, scattering bone chilling dust all around them.

Now they were at a stand off yet again. For all of Cocytus's dexterity, the vast majority of it was purely from his multiple arms and the ability to wield up to four different weapons with each. All of them with equally devastating prowess. In terms of actual mobility, he was no where near the level of Esdeath. While her finesse of arms was not as flexible weapon wise and number of weapons, her mobility was far higher than Cocytus.

This was one of the biggest issues with the stats of PC and NPCs in YGGDRASIL. Dexterity scores were a culmination of mobility and finesse. So while Dexterity could be outstandingly high, the real mobility could be abysmal as Cocytus's was despite his ridiculous trait of quadruple wielding. Conversely, Esdeath only could wield at most two weapons in each hands, but was quick on her feet and extraordinarily lithe.

Esdeath eyed Cocytus as she slowly circled around him like a wild cat stalking her prey. Cocytus remained utterly stoic as she did so, merely tracking her movements with each weapon in hand as she changed location in his quadrants. It was like a mongoose tracking a king cobra.


The Guardians of Nazarick either frowned or grumbled and muttered darkly at the standoff between the two combatants.

"Is she toying with him? Of all the insulting . . ." Demiurge grumbled while glaring.

Shalltear and Aura oddly in a rare show of solidarity frowned in concern. They had not heard of Esdeath being able to fight like this. It was so unorthodox by all of their standards! Shalltear remembered the reprimanding she got from all of her peers for fighting Lord Ainz. Yet when she was told about how Lord Ainz had defeated her, she could not help to realize several things. First and foremost, that looks were deceiving and secondly - that fights like these are never a guarantee. Part of her wondered just what Esdeath truly was. They all did not have much knowledge of Esdeath in general.

What's more, the conversation between her and the Frost Hussy as she put it, kept creeping back into her mind. How would she act to please the wishes of Ainz? Was Esdeath doing the same to please her own Master? Perhaps they were not so different after all? She shook her head hard and focused on the duel. She would learn all she could from this. All to further Lord Ainz's goals!

Aura and Mare were more upset in worry over Cocytus than about the appearances of Esdeath fighting their peer on even footing. As fighters, they were sub par for Level 100's. Their true strengths lay in magic and the sheer onslaught of status afflictions Aura could wield just by simply breathing and the number of beasts and pets she could bring to bear. When supported by Mare's druidic divine magics, they were truly an outstandingly powerful duo. One versus one though, it depended on the situation and the opponent if they were up to par levels-wise.

Yet Albedo remained pensive, not out of worry for Cocytus, but more as to the reason why Esdeath was acting this way. First she helped them, yet now she opposed them. Yet for all intents and purposes, Ainz was actually rather pleased with this development. It well and truly was baffling to her. Yet the more she watched, the more she began to see the reflection of Draconis in her from what she read of Nishikienrai's journal.

Granted, Esdeath's way of going about it and methodology was a fair amount more twisted than what Draconis probably would have done . . .

However, as Esdeath was showing them quite clearly . . . she was not to be underestimated. She remained outside of his striking distance and despite their shared element, something about her ice was indeed dealing damage to Cocytus.

None of them knew, but it was a racial trait she possessed. Ice Myth: a higher tier racial class of the Yuki-Onna.

This class allowed for her be be classified as a Frost Elemental in addition to her Fiend race via the Yuki-Onna racial progression. The two in combination unlocked a special ability: [Fell Hoarfrost].

[Fell Hoarfrost] turned any ice elemental attack she possessed into a mixture of ice and negative energy, allowing a portion of the damage to circumvent Cocytus's own Ice Resistance. It was not by a large margin due to his outstanding stats, but she was slowly whittling him down at magical range. As a Huntress, she knew full well that Cocytus was superior to her in physical melee combat. Her Berserker class abilities made her very robust, but using them recklessly could prove devastating as many of them dropped her defenses while active.

Still, for the sake of the lizard men tribes witnessing their fight, she dared not unleash her most potent racial abilities, as many of them were massive AoE skills that would destroy the area and catch them in the aftermath. As such, she was holding her big "fight breaking" moves in reserve. She was fairly sure that Cocytus was doing something very similar. Both of them had a rather generous personal investments in seeing the lizard men not annihilated.

Yet at the same time, she knew that at heart, they were both battle junkies. This was not to be to the death anyway. Planting her rapier into the ground, she dashed in after firing a shotgun blast of cold energy at Cocytus. He whirled bodily about, turning himself into a weaponized tornado: [Greater Whirlwind Assault] was one of the high tiered 360 degree attacks that most melee fighters had to watch out for, but when combined with the multiple weapons Cocytus wielded, it was absolutely overwhelming. Esdeath charged in, timing her approach to catch him at his most vulnerable: when his back was fully turned to her.

The pommel of the halberd whipped around and nearly caught her dead on in the forehead. Scrapping by, she felt a warm liquid trail down her face: her blood. She ignored the superficial wound and slugged him in the back with a fist. The attack knocking him forward as she followed up with round house kick to his side. The Guardian of the Fifth Floor countered with a spinning slash of the odachi that rose into the air at an angle in the attempt to catch her in the left hip.


The force of the slash, sent shockwaves into the air. The blast of air pressure pushed some of the lizard men spectating a distance away, back half a foot. Zaryusu had known that they were severely outclassed with the revelation that only single fighter had been sent to fight them. He had known that they were going to all die. Yet the exchanges of these two beings shook everything he had learned outside the Tove Forests as a Traveler to his core.

MONSTERS.

That's what these were, true monsters. Not the dangerous wildlife and nightmare bed time stories that were told to keep younglings quiet and asleep in their beds at night. These were terrors given flesh. The woman . . . Esdeath, she was smiling during all of these exchanges that rattled his body even from this distance. He had a strong feeling that Cocytus was doing his race's equivalent of a smile as well as they clashed both with freezing powers and martial prowess.

If this is a fight between them . . . then what would a fight between there masters do?

The only thing that could come to his brain was a single word: Annihilation.


In spite of her block with her weapon, the sheer force of the twirling strike Cocytus managed to catch her with sent her flying, a rare yelp of both surprise and distress left her lips as she was repelled. Flung away as she was, Cocytus took the initiative and charged with weapons ready. She rebounded off a nearby tree, gasping as she was winded. The assault that closed in on her was swift and vicious. Sliding down the trunk of the tree she avoided getting caught by the two weapons by a sliver; the odachi and axe cleaved and chopped through the tree like a hot knife through butter. The halberd pierced the tree straight through as she twisted her torso just barely in time.

As the tree fell, she pushed through her winded state and grabbed the falling plant life by either side and swung down, using the massive piece of scenery down on him like an over sized mallet. The Knight of Niflheim abandoned his halberd to block the tree club with a crossed arm block. Said tree shattered against his guard, particles and shards of wood splintering all around them. Leaves and smaller branched flew about as they ripped off of their main body. The makeshift screen gave Esdeath enough time to put some space between the two of them.

Cocytus walked out of the screen of destroyed plant life like it was nothing to worry about. As he did so, she took a cloth from a pocket and wiped her forehead and face clean of the blood and tossed it aside. Yes, this was a fight that was turning out to be oddly enjoyable.

"I do believe that will do for the warm up."

Esdeath smirked as she spoke and tossed her stray hair over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist. Setting herself into a loose fencer's stance, she took a deep breath, readying herself for the next clash.

Cocytus could sense that she was taking the level of combat to the next stage. In response to her sudden stance, he materialized the halberd again, but added the final, fourth weapon to his hands. The chingle changle of chain rang through the air. A single hand flail with spikes of bloody crimson swayed ominously in his lower left appendage.

Four weapons at once. Axe, odachi, halberd, and now a flail. Quite the mix up.

Ice Huntress Esdeath wore an eager, expectant smile. Finally . . . finally . . . a fight she could actually go on in a fight for more than a single strike. This was what made this moment worth it. She lived for battle, that thrill between the seconds! She respected her Master dearly, but she was a fighter first and fore most. With everything going on since the transportation to this New World, they had other things to worry about. She knew this and did not hold it against her Lord for being cautious, but this was her passion.

Dashing in, she was quick, weaving back and forth to change the angle of her charge and make it less predictable. It was slower than her previous charges, but their was a keen sense of awareness to her movements. With four weapons at the ready to lash out against her, she could not afford to be so reckless this time.

As she approached, Cocytus rifled through the options he had to strike at her. With four different weapons with differing properties and traits, he could create a veritable web of death. As she closed ever closer, he started off with a thrust of the halberd in his upper right hand.

What happened next stunned him for a moment. Instead of stabbing her with the attack, she evaded . . . in both directions! There were two of her as a spray of wintry mist flowed over the spear tip of the polearm. He made to turn to face the Esdeath to his right and counter with the odachi, but resistance met his movements. His legs became unbelievably heavy as he glanced down and saw his legs frozen in perpetual ice materialized there by a third Esdeath at his feet. Her hands grasped the ice below him.

As he realized that fact, a shadow was cast upon him from above. He looked up to see a fourth Ice Huntress bearing down upon him from above. The previous two charged him from either side with rapiers aiming for differing points on his person. He raised his odachi to block the strike from above as he used the face of the axe to parry the left thrust. Whipping the flail around his back, the spiked ball at the end, hurtled in an arc at the Esdeath approaching from his right as he slashed downward at the one freezing his feet to the ground with the halberd.

The flail forced its targeted version of the Ice Huntress to block and go flying. She barely managed to flip herself upright before landing. Marshy water and mud sprayed everywhere as she came to a halt. Esdeath's other manifestations still grinned as the ones to his left and above were blocked. The halberd left a gouge in the ground as he missed that version of her. She lunged back and up to avoid the attack. Cocytus twirled the chain ball of the flail in a windy rotation above his head and to the left to drive off the other two he blocked. The four versions of her repositioned to fully surround him.

"Oh? You fended off my [Four Winds of Fimbulvetr]. At least the first move I made with it."

Cocytus readied each of his weapons at each one of them. This was not what he had expected at all. Yet there was something he did recall that his master Takemikazuchi had talked about.

"Multiple clone attacks always have a downside. Like reduced power in all but the original, or loss in vitality to produce the extras, sometimes it's both. The ones that can pull off multiple copies that are the most dangerous, are the ones that do not lose power in their clones. The only thing that tends to balance that kind of thing out is a massive drop in vitality."

He wondered if that was the case with Esdeath as he readied his next move. Smashing the pommel of his halberd into the ice encasing his legs, he broke it easily and shook off the shards that remained.

"IMPRESSIVE!" He had no doubt that she was superior to him in the magical areas of their powers. She was impressive in physical combat, but it was clear to him from their exchanges thus far that he was the better in melee.

All four of her copies rushed in. Each one exchanged blows with Cocytus as he fended them off, four against one. Flurries of strikes and sparks flashed and sparked all around the Guardian of Nazarick as he shifted his stance, turning about left and right to bring the differing weapons he wielded to bear. Esdeath's copies were quick and strong, but his racial trait [Compound Eyes] allowed him to keep track of every single one of them. He did make note that none of her copies went for strikes at his direct back in an odd display of honor. Perhaps it was her way of letting him know that she respected his martial prowess and power enough to not go for such attempts.

Regardless, they clashed again and again. Each copy of her reacting differently to each weapon the Guardian of the Fifth Floor deftly wielded against his opponents. Her movements were powerful but graceful and despite the slightly crazed eyes and manic smile, she remained in control of her awareness and other faculties.

The sun continued its trek across the skies and began to dip low. Sunset fast approach and still they fought on.

Rapier thrusts and slashes were countered by shunts and blocks from the sword and axe. The halberd swung wide and twirled in dangerous figure eights, fending off her copies when they got too aggressive. The four jumped back at equidistant points and flipped their rapiers upside down in their grip. The pommels glowed with runes of Tier Magic.

"Amplify my own inherent magic! [Crystal Energy Vortex]!" two of the Esdeath's cried as lateral tornadoes of ice and sleet with dagger like shards of frozen magic swirled and shrieked toward Cocytus from opposite directions. They were massive, twenty feet wide columns of cold death.

Cocytus weathered the spells with his natural resistance to the element. He notice that these spells did not have the same mixture of elemental types so he was tanking this better than her natural [Fell Hoarfrost] abilities.

STILL THOUGH. TIER VII MAGIC FOR HER . . .! LORD DRACONIS HAS FEARSOME FOLLOWERS. BUT I AM NO DIFFERENT!

As the other two clones unleashed another pair of spells, Cocytus slammed his weapons into the ground at each of the spells' paths. Lifting his claws into the air, he encased himself in a pyramid of permafrost that had each weapon as a corner stone. The spells from Esdeath died out and she nodded in appreciation of his defense.

"Fancy defense there."

[Sub-Zero Coffin] was a special ability that Cocytus possessed as a Knight of Nifleheim. When unleashed on the ground, it created an unassailable, pyramid of protection that not even Tier VIII fire spells could melt. Very few fire spells and abilities could pierce its defenses . . . like [Armageddon Flame] or [Hellfire Wall]. High level dragon breath could melt it too, but that was not here or there.

An keen note rang from inside the pyramid before it shattered into a trillion motes of icy light. A quadruple flash of rings of white lashed out and hit all four of her like lightning. All of them gasped and burst into teal, frozen lights.

He had a pair of two handed battle axes with double heads with wicked blades that were stylized to represent ghostly wailing faces in agony. Grisly and nightmarish weapons which he swiftly abandoned to take up with other four weapons.


Ainz was both impressed and a bit disturbed that Esdeath had managed to make Cocytus use six of his 21 weapons at his disposal. He understood why Cocytus avoided unleashing the World Item he had given the Guardian in case he encountered another WI user. Yet Esdeath by herself had managed to make him use nearly half his arsenal.

He had been watching with keen interest. He recognized some of their attacks as Weapon Skills, not this New World's Martial Arts by any means; he was learning a ton about proper techniques. They way both of them shifted their weight, balanced their stances, struck at vital points or bluffed and feinted. Even at the speeds they were moving at, he could tell quite a bit. He had never truly appreciated the skill and time it took the melee fighters to get good at their trade in YGGDRASIL. Never mind the ones like Touch Me, who could parry god damned magic dependent on the kind of spell. Or Lancelot of Avalon who could slaughter magic casters with an ease that made people accuse him of hacking. Bukubukuchagama and Draconis could both tank spells with their Tank Type Weapon and Armor Skills.

Ever since his fight with Clementine, he had begun to genuinely take interest in learning those tricks of the trade and in his time as Momon . . . had truly begun to appreciate their skill it took to fight without magic. Especially against magic. He had always thought that fighters and other front liners were more flail and wail on the enemy. Magic was simple, you learned it, cast it, it was done. Granted, magic had all of its own complications, especially the ones with massive Area of Effect ranges, and other limitations like friendly fire and other obstacles like immunities and resistances or even worse absorbing traits.

I guess when I think on it now. Magic really does run the hell over melee skill with ease. It's so much easier just to nuke a guy. Huh, I guess I owe some of the guys an apology. By comparison, what I'm doing posing as Momon is a joke. I guess that Clementine woman was a bit more justified in her annoyance with me than I thought . . . Not that she can bitch about it anymore.

He glanced around . . . where was Esdeath?


The answer came when the dust settled and they looked back at the forest. A spire of ice appeared about fifteen feet tall. It was hidden inside the trunk of the shattered tree she had used as a weapon against Cocytus.

Inside of it, encased like she had been on the Fifth Floor was Esdeath. Except she was smiling and looking right at Cocytus. The spire melted and she stepped out from it. She was breathing quite hard and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her brow. Yet she seemed quite happy. Her eyes were wide and bright with excitement and a manic smile spread across her lips.

"That was quite amazing Cocytus! If it wasn't for my [Celsius Cocoon] and [Hibernal Healing] abilities, that quadruple circle strike would have taken me down to the brink.


Ainz was honestly impressed. He had heard of these abilities.

[Celsius Cocoon] was very similar to Cocytus's [Sub-Zero Coffin]. An ice based defense, but [Hibernal Healing] absorbed ice, slush, and snow as HP. To think that she would combine the two to heal herself after paying the HP costs of summoning four clones of her own power level via [Four Winds of Fimbulvetr]! It was an insane gambit!

Losing all four at once had to have hurt her though. Her HP had to be practically hemorrhaging at this point.

Demiurge and the other Guardians were stunned. This fight had been wholly different, yet still as powerful as Ainz when he had gone to fight Shalltear. While there were not any Tier IX or X spells being thrown around like candy, this was still a battle of epic proportions. As a Tank, Albedo could appreciate the skills they both possessed. As the Guardian of Floors 1, 2, and 3 of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Shalltear definitely could see that Esdeath was every bit their equal despite her often infuriating blasé attitude.

Aura and Mare frowned and quivered in concern respectively. They had heard the rumors of how strong Esdeath could be, but hearing and seeing were different things.

Demiurge inwardly seethed and plotted. How could an outsider be so strong?! It was they who were the strong, everything else was weak and pathetic! A trinket in the jewel box that glorious Ainz-sama wished to conquer! How dare she turn up her nose at him and resist the glory of Ainz-sama!

He muttered a curse under his breath, directed at Esdeath. A dark spark gathered at the ends of his finger tips as his frustration grew.

"How is it that she is still going after all this time? It makes no sense. Lord Takemikazuchi made no mistakes in teaching Cocytus in the arts of martial warfare so why is this Ice Witch keeping up with him?"

Shalltear shook her head at his gripes.

"But didn't Takemikazuchi say himself that those that can adapt and learn were just as dangerous?"

Demiurge pushed his spectacles farther up his nose and nodded.

"That is true Shalltear. I just find it abhorrent that the servant of that exile is able to contend with one of us."

"You have an issue Demiurge?"

Ainz's voice made them tense. They had not realized that their Supreme Leader was listening in on their conversation. A dark flame from his eye sockets flickered at them. Albedo could be seen on the other side of Ainz with a slight frown marring her beauteous features.

"My Lord . . . I apologize, but I grow discontent seeing Cocytus struggle against Esdeath."

The Overlord's head tilted up a bit, though the eye flame remained fixed upon them. It seemed to Ainz that Ulbert's discontent with Draconis and Touch Me carried over to Demiurge.

"Perhaps that is due to your more intellectual methods Demiurge. However, I do not find it odd that she is able to fight as she does against Cocytus. She is not stronger than him in martial combat, but she is more flexible by far. I have learned a great deal from this duel between them. Power is merely a means . . . a very good means, yet still only just."

"It is an insult to the Supreme Beings that she would make Cocytus struggle as he is."

"Do not insult their pride as warriors Demiurge!"

Ainz's power flared to the point of halting Esdeath and Cocytus's fight. He growled his words at the Fiend as he gripped a fist tight.

"I have learned much since we arrived in this New World and one of them is a warrior's pride. Often I had heard of this, but never understood. Even with valued comrades and friends in Touch Me, Takemikazuchi, Nishikienrai, and Bukubukuchagama speaking of their talents and powers, I never truly understood the nuances and skill it took to fight one-on-one, or one against many. Yet learning as Momon has changed that mindset in me. Fighting as they do certainly challenged me. Fighting Shalltear in those final stages of the battle making use of my esteemed friend's power . . . it filled me with an exhilaration like no other! Yet it was humbling afterward. To know of that feeling and tasted the sweetness of victory afterward. It is something I have only recently come to understand. So do not mock them. It is in those moments that they feel truly at their greatest."

"Hrm . . . very well Lord Ainz. Even if she is an outsider."

The grumble was low, but Ainz and the others heard it anyway. Eye flames flared brilliantly as he held up a deathly hand and clenched a fist. He really was acting like Ulbert, and normally he did not care, but his attitude toward the situation was becoming grating. He raised his voice, the power and annoyance in it clear.

"Demiurge! Cocytus will finish this battle in a fashion worthy of their fight!"


Esdeath tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"What is going on? Are they actually arguing?"

Her sense tingled and she brought her rapier up to defend, but a definitive sound met her ears and she gasped. Teal ice blue eyes looked down to her blade and the weapon cracked. The runes dulled and the gift from Draconis shattered. The combination of the odachi, flail, axes, and halberd all colliding with a weapon that was of the same tier or lower had done its damage. The endurance of the weapon gave out against the superior caliber of Cocytus's weapons.

What she did not realize was that he had an innate passive. [Weapon Breaker]. It allowed his natural swings and strikes to deal more damage than normal in addition to chipping away at a weapon's endurance at a far faster rate than was normal.

If this was a slash, it would have broken her weapon and flown by, but missed.

This was a thrust.

The haze white blade of the odachi struck her through the chest as her ebon blade broke in two.

Cocytus had heard Ainz raise his voice in discontent. A thrust was the fastest strike he had, and so he used it.

The act drew the attention back to them and the air seemed to grow so tense that a single word would shatter this moment.


It was over in an instant. Anti-climactic and abrupt. The Ice Huntress gasped, the God Slaying Emperor Odachi pierced her chest and ran through her back. Blood poured from the wound as she gazed up at Cocytus with a mix of sadness and scorn. Despite her gaze, she spoke no words. Raising her hands, she dropped her broken rapier to the frozen ground. Feminine hands calloused by swordsmanship and battle cradled the clawed appendage of Cocytus.

"[Mahapadma]."

The immediate area around them seemed to halt. A broad, snow blue tint covered their surroundings, but fell short of Ainz's pyramid.

"WHAT?!" Cocytus could not believe it as she coughed, blood splattering him from her lips. He realized quickly what was happening and he dared not believe it.

ESDEATH CAN STOP TIME . . . WHY DID SHE NOT USE THIS AGAINST ME? IT WOULD HAVE DECIDED THE WHOLE DUEL . . . A DUEL . . . THIS WAS ONLY A DUEL. IT WAS NOT A FIGHT TO THE DEATH IN THE FIRST PLACE!

"It seems . . . ngh . . . it seems you realize it." She murmured, his sword from Takemikazuchi still in its place through her torso. She coughed and hacked, more blood soaking his exoskeleton. Grimacing with a sour expression, she struggled to form words as her capstone power worked against her little remaining health.

"As a Guardian, as a peer . . . a master of ice and its beauty and deadly nature. I do not hold you guilty of this act. I hope with this you . . . you finally . . . see for yourself . . . that even the strongest make mistakes. They fail . . . as I do now . . ."

"ESDEATH . . ." He could not form the words. What was this feeling? She was a warrior as he was. He felt nothing in battle, so why did he have feelings of regret in this moment? As if reading his thoughts, she moved a hand up to one of his mandibles and smirked despite her pain.

"You do have brain in there after all. You're thinking . . . cough. Good. I think you will come through this . . . this strong . . . stronger . . . . . . . than before. Cocytus . . . what is strength?"

The question stunned him for a moment. What did she mean by this? Was it not obvious?

"STRENGTH IS THE POWER TO FIGHT. TO WIN IN BATTLE. THE OPPOSITE OF WEAKNESS."

"There was a time I believed the same. Yet . . . over time I began to think on it long and hard." She gripped his appendage hand hard and even he felt her strength despite her condition. Her eyes hardened with resolve. Pushing down the urge to break down into a hacking fit, she pressed on, her voice becoming strained. "What do you think happens to a sword . . . left out of its sheath too long?"

That was not a hard one for Cocytus to answer.

"IT GROWS DULL AND RUSTS."

"Is not power . . . and . . . raw strength the same? Left exposed and flaunted it will run dry like a well. Why do you think my master dislikes flaunting it . . . as yours is now?" She pressed onwards, ignoring the sudden indignation he felt. "Wellsprings of power are not infinite . . . Cocytus. Even we have limits . . . they are just higher than anything these lizard men I fight for can even imagine."

She glanced back at Zaryusu and Crusch with an oddly fond smile. My but she had grown rather attached to these lizard men.

"Would, would . . . it not be more of an honor and glory to nurture them instead of simply destroying them? To revel in their gains and glorious victories with them, rather than force it on them? To be true warriors? Brothers in arms?"

The thought resonated with his background as a warrior and soldier. A violent cough shook him from his musings though as she continued to lose strength.

"I wish . . . that you would see yourself as more than a mere naked blade to be brought forth only in battle."

The Guardian of the Fifth Floor did something he never expected himself to do in a situation like this . . . he flinched.

Flinched in surprise.

Flinched in disbelief.

Flinched in denial.

Flinched in dread.

SHE KNEW . . . SHE KNEW WHAT I WORRIED OVER . . .

"I wonder . . . would Master be pleased with my progress?"

Cocytus clacked his mandibles once in trepidation. Was she speaking to herself now?

"Ah . . . Lord Draconis . . . I finally . . . I finally understand why you act as you do. For others like them. Like Cocytus . . . even if it is not the exact same, it is . . . fulfilling . . . Know that I do not hate you Cocytus. You struck at an opportunity and . . . though I defended in time . . . my blade . . . failed me."

With those words, the chilled, frozen time around them collapsed and she slumped on his sword.

The evanescent whisper that floated from her lips haunted him.

"I . . . will . . . miss . . . y-y . . you . . . I'm sorry . . . Akame . . . guess . . . I won't . . . g-get . . . that duel after . . . all." She shuddered slightly. "M-master . . ."

Delicate fingers traced the dull side of the odachi as she slid from the blade. Falling free of the tip as she fell backward, she smiled faintly, a tear fell from the corner of her eyes, freezing as a cold diamond gem.


Okay, you may cast the stones my way . . .

Reader Review Responses.


Awayuki: Though he does his best to walk his talk, Draconis knows that he is far from perfect. He is just very aware of his weaknesses and failings and tries to do better than himself. He still sees Ainz as a friend, but true friends can and will call you out and reprimand you if they do really care about you. Evils don't even tolerate other evils. And Draconis is not innocent, but he does have his breaking points.

Rmarcano321: I've already stated why I'm writing this fic LONG ago. More than once I believe as well.

Demigoose: If your name is any indicator of who your favorite character in Overlord is . . . This is not about being evil and turning them good, it is about taking someone unsure and indecisive into a decisive and competent leader. But growth like that is not instantaneous. You can be evil as shit, but incompetence ruins you. You can be good as a saint, but incompetence ruins you.

This isn't about turning Ainz into a P as you put it. I love some of the villains out there in the stories and comics and movies. Marvel's Loki, Galactus, Batman's The Joker, Final Fantasy Tactics's Delita Hyral, Suikoden's Luca Blight, just to name a few.

They are COMPETENT villains. Evil by every means of the word. I love their characters. Yet the Light Novel and even worse, the anime doesn't show this in a way that makes me like Ainz in his current state anymore. The Guardians of Nazarick are better characters in that regard. I actually can respect Demiurge's character if it wasn't for the fact that Ainz plays like a puppy and rolls over to reveal his belly whenever he or Albedo get aggressive or make assumptions when he has ABSOLUTE BLIND LOYALTY. One word, just one . . . and they would roll over for him. Yet every time he feels hesitant, he cops the hell out and just says . . . go do whatever.

In a nutshell, when all he has to do is say "Do it" or "No" and they will or will not purely because he's their equivalent of GOD.

The anime does horribly at portraying these flaws. They come off as comedy, when in reality, they are crippling deficits on his character that he needs to work out and grow from. However, he has not shown any of these growth signs at all.

He rolls over and just flies with whatever Demiurge comes up with because he believes Demiurge is smarter than him, which is actually probably true. But that very intelligence works against Demiurge when Demiurge himself thinks that Ainz is SO intelligent that he automatically assumes grand schemes when there isn't a single damn scheme to be had in Ainz's brain other than "go with the moment."

Do I plan on saving everyone? HECK NO.

Some of them? YES

Kill some of them that didn't die? HECK YES.

Characters that deserve to? If this chapter was any indication? HELLO?

Alright then. Moving on . . .

Wacko12: Eventually . . .

UndeadLord22: The talk between Jircniv and Draconis is soon. SO VERY SOON . . . .

MadDan90: Here's that chapter, after work, convention, two hurricanes, and dumb roommates who can't get our Internet going right . . . yeesh. I need alcohol.

Omegadramon2: Glad you enjoyed it.

Dimension Distorter: Thanks for enjoying the fic so far.

RyujiVantek: Glad you picked up on that, but Esdeath was speaking more on going off of "nothing but heart." Even in her own canon, she was not immune to emotion, just didn't recognize it and acknowledge it. She was logical and pragmatic to a level of extremes.

Generation Zero: I'm glad that you are enjoying the read and I'm at least doing something right . . . lol. Yeah, if my above rant was anything to go by . . . Ainz just has so many horrid issues that it just chafed. Yes, it will be difficult to strike a balance for Ainz, but from all the info from the Light Novels, Momonga has what it takes, he needs a "spine" though. . . . oddly enough.

Loki98065: I hope you continue to read and enjoy the fic. I look forward to you getting up to speed with my chapters.

Stefan Anthony Arbuzinski: Thank you for dropping by and leaving the review. I look forward to seeing more in the future from you.

DepressedNinja75: I could, but that much detail at times rankles some readers. I may in future chapters repost as some massive changes take place with certain characters.

BrackentheInvisible101: It pleases me to no end that you are finding them enjoyable, especially with the little call outs I do here and there to some of my favorite games and manga/anime.


Okay, so the next chapters takes us back . . . FINALLY . . . to Draconis and his adventures in Arwintar. The discussion between him and Jircniv is just around the corner . . . as is the Men of the Kingdom Arc. Which was MY personal favorite . . . though Climb does make me cringe . . . HARD.

Keep in mind that Draconis upcoming chapters happen during the beginning of the Lizardman Arc and run parallel to it. You guys will see him from his perspective of Cocytus's [Message] asking for help and such. So please keep that in mind as you read.

This chapter DID keep going, but when I really looked at it, I broke it off due to events from Draconis's side of things needing to be done before hand. Otherwise, this thing would have gone on for fifteen more pages. . . . my hands . . l argh my hands hurt.

See you all next time!