Well yeah… another story… beat me XD
I can't help but this idea stuck in my mind and I needed to give it out!
Maybe it will be a oneshoot… maybe, I continue. In my case, it is hard to decide (so, if you really want me to continue, leave a lot of reviews XD)
But I promise nothing! :P
Now then! As I told you all of this… let's start!
But before that… the usual starting text to avoid any legal trouble!
Written by Oblivon2991
Proofread: The usual drunken gang of misfits
Thank you for reading my fanfiction and for giving me a chance.
My mother tongue isn't English, so please be patient about the grammatical issues.
I don't own Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu anime/manga/Light Novel, it belongs to it's original author Rifujin na Magonote.
I don't own the Overlord(オーバーロードŌbārōdo?) novel or anime series created by Kugane Maruyama.
If you have anything to add or have questions, or remark, please review, or send a PM.
Thank you!
Now let's start the story!
Chapter 1: Can't touch that!
"The thing is… we don't have any idea where we are."
"Right…"
"Nor where we should go."
"Right…"
"So, what should we do?"
"Well, I don't know." The man answered short, looking around the desolate, ruin filled landscape, then up to the sky.
Between the two of them, this sort of thing always led to this kind of discussion. Whenever they were lost, or unsure how to proceed.
"Why are you asking me all the time, dammit!? It is only my second time in such a situation!"
But this time… it was different. Not at it was reassuring the first time.
"Something changed…" He had this bad feeling ever since they arrived.
As his blazing sockets scanned the surrounding, they found no familiar constellations nor vistas. Nothing that may be enough to jump-start their journey back where they came from.
Watching the moon which was different from his own, the man scowled under his helmet, already considering the worst possible scenario.
"Why in the nine worlds does life throw me in such positions?! All the time! Is it some sick joke?"
And when he thought it couldn't be worse, shit happened again!
"It all started when she dragged me along to delve in that long-forgotten dungeon…" The reason behind it? What else if not to find a mysterious artifact!
"I should have said no…"
Yet, she was too insistent!
"Considering all things that led to this point, I should really learn how to say "no"!"
Especially when she gets the info that led them here from a shady organization they plundered.
"Recalling the whole thing, maybe it was my fault not being attentive enough…"
And when he thinks about it, that day already started quite badly…
Scene Change: A little bit earlier: Somewhere in a Dungeon:
"Admit it, we are lost!"
"Muu! Don't be like that! I know exactly where I am going."
As this strange duo continued their way through this dark corridor, the smaller one looked around impatiently.
This place was completely dark, with no source of light anywhere near, yet, seemingly the two proceeded unbothered by the blinding lack of light anywhere near. It was almost like they walked in broad daylight, perfectly avoiding the rubble that sometimes got in the way of their feet.
"No! You don't! I saw those weird frescos three times now! We are going around and around. Admit it, we are lost!"
"Hmm…" The man suddenly stopped, glancing around for a moment.
Armoured in a full clad jet-black shell that had golden and violet edges, and having a stylish, slightly torn red cape that billowed with every step behind his back, he really looked like a dark hero who stepped out from a tale.
"Everything looks the same. Maybe you are right. That's what you wanted to hear?"
"See? I said so!" The smaller one who wore a red, hooded cloak nodded proudly. "And yes, that's what I wanted to hear."
Finally, she got the upper hand in their occasional prattle, pulling her thin lips to a proud smile.
"So? How to proceed then, your Majesty? Should we teleport out and abandon this mission? Or you want to navigate us through yourself?"
"Tch! You don't have to be so mean." The girl with blood-red eyes grimaced, watching her partner annoyed. "And no! There must be something around. A way forward! There must be! There always are… All the traces point towards this dungeon. I refuse to give up!"
Seeing her defiant standing, the towering adventurer can't help but sight, motioning her to continue. "Go ahead then…"
"Let me check my notes."
Reaching down to her side, she opened her small bag, inserting her whole thin arm inside the void that appeared on the mouth of the pouch. In intensity, it was so abyssal, it was even visible in the pitch black they walked through.
"Found it?"
"Almost…" Placing the item on the ground, she loitered around with both hands, almost looking like she could fall inside the bottomless looking bag at any moment, only long seconds later finally finding what she searched for.
"Got it!" What she pulled out couldn't possibly fit in the bag, yet, at the moment she started to pull out, the seemingly bottomless container's maw opened wider, allowing her to recover a sturdy, thick book easily.
"Let's see…" Like she knew what she searched for, the girl who looked like Little Red Riding Hood with her red cloak, started to page her lexicon rapidly. "Ah! Here it is! My notes and comparison! Hmm…"
"Well?"
"According to the info we gathered from the Corpus of the Abyss, and other organizations you so generously dismantled…"
"Guilty charged…" The towering "warrior" apologized, using a not so remorseful, almost humorous tone.
"… The artifact should be here in this dungeon. Somewhere…"
"Well, we are searching for it for a few hours or so." Encountering several monsters under the way. "But I see no way forward. As you said, we are going around and around…"
Being his inner compass was confused by the magical radiation of this place, he can't properly tell if this was the case or not.
He can only guess their lack of success finding a way forth was connected to this.
"Typical dungeon design. Made so to confuse the invaders with their unanimously designed, boring corridors." In YGGDRASIL, similar things were not rare, but in this world, this was the first time he couldn't tell if they were going in the right direction or not.
"Shouldn't we return to the inn, and try tomorrow?"
"No! We are close! I feel it!" The small one turned to her partner. Her red eyes filled with a plea as she clutched her delicate hands together — almost like she prayed. "Please, can we try a little bit more? Satoru?"
"Well, I guess, we can." The black-clad man starched the lower part of his impressive helmet. Feeling slightly uncomfortable when his companion used such dirty methods to convince him.
"Dammit! You don't need to do that! You only need to ask!" Even slight green radiation left his body as his emotion suppression activated for a moment.
It was since years the DMMO-RPG YGGDRASIL had been shut down, and he was transported to this strange New World in the body of his avatar.
The same day, when he encountered his companion in an abandoned, undead filled city. A country once she called her home. A country of dead beings and bad memories.
Ever since they adventured together, experiencing everything as a team. From fighting enemies, exploring unknown places, entirely their daily life.
"Just like back then…" The freshly named adventurer remembered his old comrades for a moment, how much he missed them. How much he cherished the times spent together.
"Unfortunately, they are no longer around…" He searched for them ever since he arrived here, and even now, the hope he met them again one day lives in his heart. But more and more, he starts to consider his hopes all in vain, thinking that he is alone, and he should move on.
"Satoru…! SATORU!"
"Hmm…?" The sudden shout of the girl brought him back from his pondering. He can't help it, he can easily get lost in his memories. "Yes?"
"Can't you just use one of your spells to guide us through? I know! I know! You said: Using such methods may even be considered cheating. And… It ruins the fun of our adventure. But here we are going around and around for hours, and still nothing. Pretty please! I really want to find this thing!"
"…"
"Please?"
"Fuhahahaha!" Suddenly, Satoru burst out in a fit of a laugh, making the girl grimace embarrassed.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing…" He messed up her hair with his sizable hand. "You just made me remember one of my friends. That's all…"
"Hmm…" She pouted, showing a glimpse of jealousy.
All the tales he told her about them and their adventures made her envy those people. More importantly, their connection with her only friend.
"So, you want to find that artifact that hard? Huh?"
"Yes! According to the notes and information we gathered, its power might be able to grant my wish! We need to find it! No matter how small the chance is… Satoru, please!"
"I understand…" Albeit, Satoru doubted any items aside from specific World Items able to grant that specific wish, since coming here, he witnessed many miraculous things and places. Who knows, there might be something that can help his partner's problem.
"Hope is the only thing she had…" And of course, him. But he was not reliable when it came to magical theory and research. Until now, he couldn't answer normally one magic-related question she had.
"Let's see what I can do… [Extended Magic: Blessing of Titania]!"
At the moment he called forth the 9th tier magic, a small mote, a spark came to existence. A tiny being that resembled a fairy from folktales, yet, carried tremendous magical power and potential, lighting up the whole damp corridor.
"Day after day, you surprise me, Satoru…" On his partner's comment, the player just shrugged. Only now he was glad he learned all those spells back then. Spells, those may even be considered useless in the game, but now, he found the use of them.
"What do you wish to find?" The strange fairy asked in many voices, staring at the duo blankly.
"We would like to find the artefact hidden in this dungeon. Please guide us to it."
"Hmm…" The fairy was thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "As you wish."
Floating forward, the small being led them forward.
Their way was long, leading them through corridors — which looked almost like a copy-paste of each other. Facing more and more monsters under their way. From undead creatures to golems, entirely being dwelled in the dark.
"Encountering monsters in a dungeon is usually the clear indicator you are heading in the right direction…"
Unfortunately, this might not be the case here, as the monsters seemingly respawned — even trying to attack them from behind, using small corridors as a hiding place.
Nonetheless, at a point, Satoru even considered giving up, thinking the spell failed, and the anomaly that confused his inner compass even messed up the inner GPS of this little Fairy queen.
Yet, when he wanted to call off the search, he overheard his companion's muttering: "A little more… a little more… we will find it."
Thus, wordless, he decided to continue their journey. After all, if anything, the only thing they didn't lack was time. Both of them were undead after all. Ageless cursed beings who will walk the globe until it crumbles to dust — and maybe beyond that.
…
After some time, they finally reached a dead-end. A place where the pixie stopped, floating before the wall which was different from the rest.
"Through this way…"
The wall before them was filled with intricate engravings.
Compared to the rest, it definitely looked out of place both in design and material. Not to mention the two columns stood on the two sides — with sneaking dragon figures on them, watching the newcomers with their jewel eyes. All of this was a sure sign that implied there was more behind this place than it was first implied.
All pointed out one obvious thing the girl did not recognize yet.
"This is a dead end."
"I can see that…"
Turning back to the intricate wall, she caressed it deep in thought. Pondering, which started to turn into a slight panic. "There must be a way… A secret entrance! Anything! It can't be that we came here for nothing…!"
"Keno… we…" Satoru reached towards his companion to calm her, but his hand was swept away.
"No! We didn't come all this way to leave! There must be a way forth! There is always a way forth…! A secret entrance! A switch! Anything!" The former princess muttered, starting to knock the wall, squeezing her ear near it, searching for any activation mechanism.
"Well…" Satoru cleared his throat with a muffled chuckle. "I wanted to offer to get you through that wall. But if you'd rather try it alone…"
"Wait! You can do it?!" With a sudden spin, she faced her friend again.
"Well, just look at it. It is a grand wall. With many strange engravings and murals. Also, it is damn out of place both in material and design. It is obvious there is something behind it."
"Also, Titania already said we need to go this way…"
Indeed, until now, they only found less intricate engravings and frescoes in this dungeon — all written in a language Keno can't read without translation items. All looking exactly the same.
If his YGGDRASIL experience with dungeons extended to this place's design too, this wall was either their way forward, or led them to another trap.
"Oh! Right! Sorry…" Lowering her head the girl was embarrassed how she missed such crucial detail in her hastiness. "I messed up again."
"Don't fret, it happens even with the best." Satoru patted her head consoling.
"Thanks." She muttered, still feeling bad.
"Moreover, my magic sight is still working, you know? And I see several lines running from the middle of the wall to several slabs… Hmm, there might be a trap behind them, or is it a combination lock?"
As Satoru fondled his chin, he inspected the grand mural adorned the wall. In the middle, there was a grand figure with messy hair, seemingly some kind of light surrounding him, standing inside of a globe — or planet.
Around him, the scene was separated into seven parts, with figures standing in the middle of each section.
One resembled a demon, the second a two-headed beast, the third some kind of sea creature with tentacles, the fourth some kind of bird with six pairs of wings, the fifth a dragon and the sixth some kind of blurry human. As for the last? That part of the mural was damaged, so he couldn't make out anything from it.
"How strange…" Except for the last, seventh part, it was some kind of scene, a mythos he even calls it, some kind of story he can't place.
"I wonder… Do we need a certain combination to pass?" Several such cases came into his mind.
In YGGDRASIL, it was not rare treasures were protected by traps or combination locks. Hell, in many dungeons, there were whole hidden sections! One just needed to find the right method to open them.
"Though I have items in my inventory that can instantly open combination locks, or reveal secret entrances. Should I waste them?" The armour-clad figure pondered hard. "Maybe, it is best to ask Keno first. Maybe she has something useful." The girl often surprised him with her ingenuity, sparing him from the loss of many irreplaceable items.
"Hmm…" Satoru thought hard, as he caressed the surface of the detailed mural with his armoured gloves. His [Greater Magic Vision] signed there is a significant magic source behind this wall, also, using his abilities revealed no obvious traps.
"Are any of these symbols familiar to you?"
"Somewhat…" Keno recovered her sturdy book again, digging through her notes.
Several minutes passed with intense search as she glanced between the wall and her tome. "Dammit! Nothing concrete, only blurry descriptions and old tales."
"So, no idea?"
"I never said that." Said confidently the girl, standing up again. "Though, I have no idea if it will work or not…"
"I understand. In that case. Let's try this… [Create Death Knight]!"
Pointing at the carcass of the nearby monster they slew on their way here, it started to melt into black goo, melding and transforming into a towering undead monstrosity.
The creature that came to existence was horrific, its eyes blazed with pure, violet malice. The scream which left its rotten, flesh-covered jaw shook even the walls.
"Guaahhh!"
Like the first cry of a newborn baby, it screamed with the world to accept its twisted existence.
Every mortal would shudder in fear seeing its bulky, spiky armour. Witnessing the burdenous tower shield materialize which no normal mortal could even budge.
Everyone would flee in terror seeing its rotten face, and the twisted flamberge infused with a deadly curse that appeared in its clawed armoured hand.
A creature so unnatural, its mere aura of evil and negative energy which fueled its unlife twisted the very world around it.
"Aiiiii! I told you don't summon these things near me again!" As the thing popped into existence near the small girl, it was like she teleported behind Satoru's towering form, screaming in fright.
"Don't fret, they don't bite — that much." Satoru chuckled low, finding the new joke he came up with quite humorous.
"It may be evil, but I find her reaction funny."
"Not funny!"
'Clang!' Of course, not everyone agreed. Keno even hit his magical armour while pouting.
Indeed, after witnessing what one of these legendary undead were capable of, she rather not joke with them. No one would joke about witnessing such a monster facing overwhelming odds and coming out not only unscathed but even a lesser army of undead followers behind its back.
"No matter. Let's take a few steps back."
"What for?"
"There might be traps…"
"You think so?"
"Just experience…" Satoru hummed, remembering such a thing that happened in the game. "Albeit, it is not YGGDRASIL anymore, under the years I recognized some concord with this world and the game."
For example the use of the tier magic system, or even his game knowledge and precaution being useful at once in real situations — outside of the game.
"You may be right. Dammit! Is there something you don't know, Satoru?"
"Well… many things, actually." Admitted the undead king shameful.
And it was true, there are many more things he was clueless about.
"Right…" Of course, little Keno didn't believe her partner.
"Let's take a few steps back." Agreeing, they both took a few steps back, Satoru even set up several defensive barriers just to make sure no harm could come to them. "… [Anti Projectile Dome]! [Prismatic Barrier]. We can start now. Please, instruct the Death Knight."
"Umu…"
And so, Keno did so.
'Bang!'
"Guahhh!"
After the first try, a huge explosion hit the undead creature head-on, tearing a piece of armour from its twisted form, and signalling that they messed up the combination.
"Well, that didn't work out…"
The flames and shockwave simply dispersed as it met the layered magic barriers Satoru set up. Naturally, he was aware, such an attack wouldn't even phase him. His companion however was a different matter. She was still too squishy to resist such a magical attack.
"Let me try again! It must be a bad combination." Keno concluded with a frown. "How much can this thing take?"
"Don't worry about it. Just continue, I can always summon another one if it dies."
"Yeah…" Keno muttered sourly, shuddering even at the thought of seeing another one of these monsters appear.
"..."
Looking at it, the wall seemed unscratched despite the huge explosion that shook the whole corridor — which implied its creator was prepared invaders coming here and failing to give the right combination.
"Haah! Let's do it again…"
…
After some time, and two death knights later, Keno finally found the right combination.
"I got it! Finally!"
'Pang!'
Accompanied by the sounds of some mechanism, it was almost like the wall came to life, rearranging itself, even changing the mural into a different one.
A scene appeared where a mighty, armoured Dragon faced a bearded divine being with messy hair. Behind them, their armies and generals faced each other. Though, that exact detail of the wall is still missed in the middle, making the scene more mysterious and sinister.
"Finally!" Keno breathed a sigh of relief as she closed her book. "It was harder than I imagined."
"Great work." Satoru patted her head. "I wonder if it needs a key…" Ordering the death knight to try to push the wall, it didn't budge.
"Of course, why would it be easy?" Scolded himself the undead being.
"Any idea?"
"Well… I found this weird key in one of the Corpus bases we plundered." From her bottomless looking pouch, she recovered an intricate key, with its head split into seven parts and having a crystal in its tip. In design and material, it was similar to the wall that was before them. "Wonder if it fits here. It was near the research that led us here."
"Only one way to find out." Taking the key, Satoru passed it to the Death Knight, ordering it to insert it into the keyhole that appeared in the middle of the wall.
'Click!' The creature easily turned the key, making the intricate mechanism behind the heavy stone and metal "door" come to life.
'Pang!'
A ritual circle sprang to life under the undead monstrosity's feet, teleporting it away right away.
"I-It disappeared!" Gasped Keno suddenly.
"Hmm, let's see… The Death Knight didn't get destroyed, else, I would feel that. In that case… [Undead Slave Sight]!" At the moment he activated his ability, his vision connected to the Death Knight, giving him a clear glimpse of where it is.
"Interesting…" The architecture was drastically different from the one of this dungeon, looking older, yet, still in pristine condition — Similar in design to the wall that was before them.
"Just to be sure, let's send scouts forward…" Summoning a few more undead specialized in scouting and stealth, he sent them through the portal.
Only after he made sure no surprises awaited them a little bit further did he and Keno step through to the other side.
"Go forth, clear the way for us…" He ordered the Death Knight again, who did so with a strange pleasure. Rushing forth without any care of its wellbeing and faced any opponents who might dare to stand in its way.
"Guahhhhh!"
Its first victim was an animated suit of armour that came to life once the terrible being stepped inside the long-abandoned place. An armour that resembled the mix of a dragon and a humanoid.
Once, it may be a formidable opponent. Even for mighty creatures such as Death Knights. Once, it may even surpass it. But now? The magic that held it together barely held, deteriorated to a point where the undead knight can easily overpower it.
'Smash! Clang!'
The deeper they went — following the Death Knight's trail of carnage — the more destroyed armour they found. Shells, those released a strangely familiar essence upon their demise. Magic that resembled something Satoru faced in this world already, yet felt older and more ancient.
'Bang!'
The traps the Death Knight rushed through were activated one by one, but were not as efficient as they were in their prime. At this point, even a mid-tier undead such as this monster can easily shrug them off.
"Your thing is quite efficient."
"Maybe…" Even Satoru was surprised by how easily they proceeded. He expected more resistance, or at least stronger traps after the not so warm welcome that "wall" offered them.
"Maybe, it had a different energy source…"
Yet, aside from those weak enchanted armours, and traps — the dreadful knight activated and shrugged down, time to time — their path led forward unimpeded.
'Bang!'
In the next moment, the walls from the two sides suddenly squished the Death Knight, then the ceiling sprouted spikes and fell to the being from above with great speed.
"Aii! That must hurt…" Keno shuddered, imagining them being squashed like a bug by that trap.
"Indeed…"
Yet, it was nearly not enough to stop the thing from getting up again and continuing its way — just as its creator ordered. Still unscratched, unbothered by the contraption that could have killed anyone else, it got up and continued the given task.
Satoru almost felt it too mainstream that this place still trying tricks that didn't work previously.
But, he guessed this dungeon doesn't have any intelligence, and the traps are tied to simple activation mechanisms.
"There are several chambers on the side… as well, crossroads."
As he glimpsed left and right, several paths led to other directions — Some were filled with treasures, some led to other parts of this dungeon.
All he and Keno ignored, following Titania who led them forth. Following the only being, who most likely knows the way to their goal.
"In Nazarick, we also created similar rooms…" They let them open on purpose, filling them with booby-trapped treasures. Making their dungeon as complicated as the system allowed them to confuse their enemies.
"At the moment the enemy entered the room and started to plunder the treasures, the traps would activate and the door would shut." Causing great havoc in the numbers of the invaders.
Though only the greenest and greediest of players would fall into this trap — and some mercenary NPCs the players set to plunder and pick up every treasure they left behind — It was still an efficient way to cut the numbers of their attackers.
Nonetheless, right now they did not need those pesky coins this place housed. What interested them is the artefact Keno spoke about — which, most likely resides in the heart of this place. They can always come back to explore more or gather the treasures later.
"Satoru, do you think we will find it?"
"I very much hope so." It would be a letdown if nothing awaited them at the heart of this place.
After all, a grand reward made exploration and dungeon delving sweeter and worthwhile. "I guess, very few would dare to adventure in a monster-infested place if not for the hope they find something valuable. A treasure, or something…"
Sighing, the player pushed back such thought in his mind, following their guide.
A few minutes passed and the dynamic duo reached the biggest chamber, found at the end of the road, housed behind a humongous and heavy double door.
"We are here…" Announced Titania, using her many voices.
"It seems so."
"My task is completed. Farewell…" With that, the small fairy disappeared, returned to where she came from.
"This is…"
"Grand," Satoru concluded curtly. The size of this chamber impressed even him.
It was a huge seven-sided chamber, in the middle of what looked like an altar, with six guardian dragon statues around it, facing outward, behind their back intricate columns.
Well, there were originally seven, but what Satoru guessed, the seventh was destroyed — if anything goes by the empty foundation and the rubble that was around and implied that much.
"There is a faint magical signature inside them… are they golems?" He guessed. But right now, he would rather not disturb them. "They look quite sturdy…"
The ground looked like it was made from different stones, and metal, separated in egg-shaped circles. Along with the lines, engravings, weird runes and gems socketed.
The ceiling also was similar, though less orderly. For Satoru, all looked like random dots and lines connecting, in the gaps mystical symbols and huge jewels socketed.
In the middle of the room, an altar stood, housing a huge prismatic crystal that floated. It was shaped almost like an egg, yet, rougher in design. Resting inside of mechanical contraption that spun slowly around it — like rings around a planet. All of it is housed in a glass globe.
"How interesting." Satoru started to walk around, ordering the Death Knight to be on his guard.
The crystal in the middle gave him a similar feeling as his own World Item — which in itself would be enough reason for any player to rush to it and snatch it.
Most would do so immediately, ignoring the possible danger, but not him. He was more cautious.
Suspecting there was some hidden trap still that protected such treasure, he rather avoided a direct approach.
"It is better to look around first…"
Thus, he started to inspect the walls around, filled with similarly styled murals and engravings like he saw on the way here — more importantly on the entrance of this place.
"Satoru! Satoru! The treasure is there! Why don't we take it?"
"Muu! Don't be so hasty, Keno. Let's look around first. Remember what happened last time when you hastily snatched a similar thing from an altar?" The player knelt on her side, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I activated a trap…" Muttered the girl deflated.
"Exactly." he nodded remembering. "It was a long journey. I think waiting a little bit to get what you want will be worth the patience, no? Remember, patience brings victory. Precipitance brings defeat." he quoted Bellriver, his former guildmate.
"Yes, you are right…" She nodded with a sigh. "You are always so wise, Satoru."
He wanted to laugh sourly at Keno calling him as such, but he rather held it back — not wanting to hurt her feelings.
"Well then, let's look around…"
Thus, both of them started to inspect the murals on the walls.
Satoru was not a history expert. Hell! Keno most likely was more educated than him.
"Yeah, compared to me who only had basic education, she was taught by the best private tutors her country could allow…"
But looking at them, if he had to guess, the frescos on the walls depicted some kind of creation mythos. Some kind of tale? A war? Or… was it a slice of life kind of mural? Or all things mixed?
The only thing he was sure of was that a few of those engravings in the walls were too familiar to his taste, depicting what he guessed mighty dragons, sending forth their armies against another force.
"I hope this is not the long-forgotten tomb of a Dragon Lord…" Hell, encountering two of those things under his barely few years in this world was enough to make him cautious. Those guys were troublesome opponents with their Wild Magic. Worse! They seem to hate players like him with all their being.
"Maybe I don't understand because the fresco on one of the walls is kinda botched, and it ruins the context?" The same was the case with the entrance. Which implied someone wanted to cover some part of this story. Some parts those could warn them about a potential danger?
"Like in some cliché Light novel…" Satoru snorted as remembered the times when that exact guildmate of his bragged about the new light novel he just read. Or even Ulbert speaking about in great detail how he would entrap heroes with the promise of a powerful artefact in a dungeon.
"Yeah, those were good times…"
"Anything to add, Keno?" Finally, listening enough to his own bragging, he asked his companion — who most likely knows more than him about the history of this world. Maybe, she can shed some light on this mystery.
"Well… as she told me, she was a princess. Princesses are usually educated."
"Well, it is interesting."
"Just interesting?" He already figured out that much! She is not helping!
"Hmm, the research notes we found pointed to this place. Also, translating some of the original texts with that item you lent me, they spoke about some ancient war between the True Dragon Lords and some other beings…"
"Dammit! I knew it! Why does it have to be Dragon Lords!? Wait!? Why didn't she say this before!? She totally left it out when I asked what this place was!"
"… speaking about some ancient treasure of the Dragon Emperor." She finished her explanation.
"Maybe the Corpus of the Abyss was after this?" Yeah, as one of them told him while he dominated his mind: they loathed each other, only banding together so they can pursue stronger magic and long-forgotten artefacts.
"Dragon Emperor, you say?" Muttering these words, Cure Elim's last word echoed through Satoru's mind: "…filth of the Dragon Emperor…!"
"Satoru, is something wrong?" Keno watched him expectantly, finding it strange her friend remained silent for long seconds.
"Nothing… just continue."
"Well, that's it, I guess. There is nothing else noteworthy."
"Is that so…?" He looked around once more. Still grumpy about her forgetting to tell him such crucial detail. "No warning? Or traps?"
"Nope…"
"I see. In that case, let's grab that artefact, and let's leave this place behind." This place started to give him creeps. And in a wrong way if he can say.
"The hell needs another Dragon Lord to pop up behind the corner and start to harass us because we accidentally plundered their dungeon!"
"Accidentally" was the keyword in the sentence…
Albeit, he had no skin or even flesh, he shuddered slightly imagining such a scene.
"Let's get it done…" Still slightly mad at Keno who "forgot" to tell him such detail, Satoru and his companion started to slowly approach the crystal.
"So beautiful…!" Keno gasped as they reached closer and closer. She had never seen a similar thing before.
"The statues are still not moving…" The flickering red lights in Satoru's sockets moved left and right, only hoping these ancient "golems" are not in working condition anymore.
"Or, they will jump at us, right before we reach the thing?" He can't help but expect the worst outcome.
"Who knows how long this place was abandoned?" Pondered the Overlord as they reached closer and closer to the crystal.
"Keno, you should let me…"
'Tap…' "Huh? What was that, Satoru?" At that moment she touched the smooth glass surface of the artefact, she turned her gaze back to her friend.
"Nothing…" The player sighed in a sigh of relief, glad she didn't activate some hidden mechanism by touching the thing.
Just one moment he lost in his memories! Just one moment he didn't watch out for her, and she started touching things! Like a kid!
"Well, she is a vampire… but still in a kid's body." Most likely in mind too if he considered her behaviour sometimes.
"Hmm, how interesting." Returning her attention to it, she started to caress the smooth glass surface.
On the surface of the translucent globe, many golden draconic runes ran continuously, and it was like she glimpsed the outline of a figure inside of the crystal it housed.
She can't really place the figure, as it was pixelated, and barely had any outline under the surface.
"Eh? Is it looking at me?" She tilted her head confused seeing the "thing" turned in her direction, starting to grin wild while pointing at her. Almost like… "Does that thing know I am here?"
As she wanted to tiptoe closer to inspect the figure inside the crystal, she pushed a button on the altar accidentally.
'Click!'
"Keno? Dammit! Get away from there!" Satoru's instinct of danger screamed at that moment, pulling her away right away!
"Ah!"
Just at the right moment, as the rings rested at the base of the crystal, and sometimes moved around it started to spin up rapidly! Like a gyroscope! Stabilizing whatever was inside and starting a chain reaction that all but blinded Satoru's magic sight in intensity!
'Click… Click! Click! Click!'
"Sa-Satoru! Wha-what's happening?" As the intensity grew, magical lighting started to discharge from the crystal. Scorching the ground and dispersing as it met and rattled the Overlord's negative energy barrier he set up in the meantime.
"It seems, you activated some kind of trap… or mechanism?"
All around them, the whole, until now dormant room lit up! From the lines on the ground, entirely to the murals and the ceiling, all looked like they were part of some magical circuit board! No! More like a complex always changing ancient mechanism! A machine that gained a new shape at the moment the rings on the ground started to spin rapidly. Raising themselves from the ground, and formed a sphere from razor-sharp metal rings around the middle of the altar.
"This is crazy…!"
"Lo-look! Above!"
The ceiling also changed! The engravings that were mostly broken until now, lit up and redrawn themselves in great intensity. Making them look like a living star chart! Continuously changing and moving!
"Wha-What we should do?" Keno shuttered in fright. "Sa-Satoru! W-We need to...!"
"Dammit! Why you have to touch everything!"
Yet, before the player could activate the teleportation anchor he placed outside of the dungeon, the gyroscope-like contraption suddenly stopped. Originating from the "egg", a powerful wave washed over the whole room, light in never seen intensity engulfed them!
Scene Change: The Six Faced World:
A wave of power washed through the six-faced worlds that day. A power which shook the foundations of the very creation itself! Challenging the domain of gods, but even demons and dragons!
A new power invaded this world of sword and magic through means that were forgotten by even the oldest. Bringing forth events no one expected to resurface again.
"!"
In his floating grand castle, the sanpaku eyes of an elderly man snapped wider, even dropping his brush, ruining the art he patiently worked on for years.
"This is…!? Laplace?! No! It is different!"
The effect felt by everyone, from the smallest insects to the mightiest beings! Seen by everyone equally, as it was everywhere and nowhere in the sky!
It made people instinctively look up to the heavens regardless of upbringing or race, even jump out from their beds in fear as their hearts throbbed suddenly!
'Throb!'
"Wha-What is this?"
On the sky, a falling star appeared that day, amongst many, watched by a certain boy from the Asura kingdom.
"This…!?"
Seeing its brilliantly dreadful colour made him shudder to his bones, but also wonder about its purpose, or what change it will bring to his new life.
"Come oooon! Why are you so mean!?"
At the same time, in the Demon Continent's desolate landscape, a scrawny, lone little girl with purple hair, and different colored eyes complained.
Seemingly, her eyes changed continuously, swapping into different colors and shapes, almost like she tried to find the right one for her through inspection — Yet, she was unable to do so…
"Whaaat a letdown!" She gave up finally with a grimace, starting her way forth at the moment her toothy grin returned. "Come, my mighty soldiers! If they are too shy to show themselves, we met them face to face! Bwuahahahahaha!"
Amidst her maniacal laugh, she led the way forth, calling to arms her nonexistent army. Because in fact, no one followed her in this world of rocks and dust.
All around the world, people had the same, and different reactions after witnessing this strange phenomenon.
Some saw a challenge in the appeared omen…
"Hah! Finally, something interesting is happening!"
Some an opportunity…
"Well, that's new! Welp! Does not matter! What the rule of Jinx gives, the rule of Jinx takes. Right, boss?"
Even more, saw this as the sure sign of a coming war. The resurrection of the demon god… or the coming of something worse.
"Damn man-god…! What are you up to?" Stopping in the middle of the road, a man with sanpaku eyes watched the strange anomaly from afar. His slit golden eyes filled with hatred, even fury.
Gazing at the dark star that sucks away all light around it, having a malicious violet inside, he can't help but expect the worst.
Meanwhile, in the void, in a textureless white place, a lone, pixelated humanoid figure sat, lowering his head with a sight.
"Shit! I didn't expect this."
What awaits this world with the arrival of the Undead King and the Vampire Princess?
Will the player triumph where others failed?
What decision will he make? Which side will he choose?
Even the Dragon God didn't walk that path yet. Even the man-god can't see for sure…
A/N:
Well, I hope you like this little "What if Story" I pulled out from my "hat" for Christmas! :P
Watching Mushoko Tensei, and reading a few Volumes from it, I asked the question: Why not mix the two phenomenal isekai series, and see what comes out? :P
And well, here is the result! XD
(I hope you liked the result.)
I choose to use the Momonga from the Overlord Bonus Volume (The Vampire Princess of the Lost Country) because I thought his interaction with Keno was good enough to use them for this story, as well, I personally like the dynamic that develops between Satoru and "What if Evileye" XD
(Moreover, they were used so rarely it hurts…)
Also, sending him alone would be too mainstream… Using OCs too…
Sending him with Nazarick would take away the chance to improve his character in the long term, and would take away the real chance of any honest interaction with other characters.
In other words, would make this story another mindless curb stomp story where the inhabitants of the Six-Faced world (probably) would be annihilated in short term…
But, who knows! I may even include Naz later if I decide to proceed with this story and not let it as a simple one-shot XD
(My mood decides…)
Once again, I apologize for not updating my stories for long.
New job. Life. Sickness and a very serious writer block stood in my way of things!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
RnR!
Send PM if you have questions or reviews that can't fit in the allowed limit! XD
Until then…
Safe winds! Safe day! Good sail! Good day! Good morning and night!
Until next time!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Oblivon2991 out!