Chapter 15: Divide and Conquer

Ruvik Alaf continued to berate himself for letting his team to be put into this situation. When he and the rest of Black Scripture had engaged the vampire he had been sure that he had made the right call to pursue the foul creature into the forest. Not only had they been unable to locate it but whenever they tried to leave they would come under fire from snipers using long range magic. They had tried every side of the forest. North? Snipers. South? Snipers. East? Snipers. West? Snipers. Now he and the rest of the Black Scripture had gathered in the middle of the forest in order to have the most cover. Thousand Leagues Astrologer, or Avenir, which was her real name even though she never told anyone what her last name was, had tried to use Intelligence Magic to figure out where the enemy was shooting from in an attempt to find the enemy's blindspots but something kept blocking her vision and caused her to bleed from the eyes. After using healing magic to restore her eyesight she had gone quiet. Ruvik hated seeing her like that. He would never admit it, but he found her to be very attractive and blue hair only added to that. "Divine Chant" Isabella Melek, who looked every bit a holy woman among holy women, was on her knees, praying, while singing a hymn to the Six. As usual, she was completely calm. However, being calm didn't change the fact that they were stuck here until the enemy made their next move.

"I'm so bored!" a young man in green, "Time Turbulence" Oras Fries, complained. "I wish they would just come at us already so we can kill them all!" he said with his usual arrogance. His ability allowed him to temporarily stop time so he, naturally, believed that he was invincible. The 3rd seat of the Black Scripture, "Arcane Master" Zur, hadn't said a word the whole time. Not that this was unusual for the hooded man. He had always been kinda creepy with the big black robes and sickly skin that made him look even older than he already did. He just stared into nothingness.

Creepy old man.

The other strong and silent type of the group, "Heaven and Earth" Wralk Rache, was leaning against a tree in his usual full bodysuit. He wasn't silent by choice however, it was because his tongue had been cut out before he joined the Black Scripture. Ruvik still didn't really know anything about him even though he had been with the group for years. That didn't change the fact that he was the fastest man alive.

"Always seek conflict little one, for it will often find you when you do not want it to and leave you when you seek it," the 10th seat on the Black Scripture, "Strongest Human" Memento Mori, said to Oras. Mori may look like a total barbarian, but his age had given him some….. interesting wisdom. It was either him or Zur who were the oldest on the team, but they could never get Zur to open up. The 7th seat wore what the Six Gods had called a "school uniform" and had light purple glasses. Her name was "Analysis" Garuna Stark. Her skill was to identify any weaknesses the enemy may have. The purse she always had with her was so heavy that, other than her, only Mori could pick it up. She rarely ever opened it, but she was capable of unleashing an army of angels from it if she so wished. She hadn't done so because, at the moment, remaining undetected was their best option. Kuaiesse Hazeia Quintia, "One Man Army", was a beast master who wore magic rings with basilisks and other creatures sealed within. He wore brown and white robes and looked very much like his traitor sister, Clementine. Gregor and Beaumarchais were keeping an eye on Kaire, who had survived the strike from the vampire but was critically injured, while Cedran had been killed outright. By this point, Ruvik usually would've used his holy magic to revive Cedran and heal Kaire by now, but the wounds had been corrupted somehow and he would need to enact a purifying ritual back at Humanika if he wanted to heal them. But, once again, they were trapped in the forest for now.

"Has the [Anti-Intelligence Magic Wall] been set up?" Lucifer asked as Albedo, Demiurge, Shalltear, and Pandora's Actor entered the small tent that had been set up as a command center. It was rather barren apart from the table in the middle with a large map of the area on it.

"Yes mein Gott. Eeeeveeeeerything has been prepared according to your specifications!" Pandora's Actor said proudly.

"Between our combined forces, we should be able to hunt them down throughout the forest with relative ease," Demiurge reported with an evil grin.

"Why go after them when we can drive them out towards us?" Lucifer said with a smirk. Albedo perked up and smiled.

"You're about to do something fun aren't you my lord?" she asked with a flap of her wings.

Ruvik had was sharpening his spear when the sky pale blue light started to shine down from the sky. Looking around for the source of this change of events, his eyes landed on a tall man in black wearing a red cloak stood upon a hill overlooking the forest with his arms outstretched. A magic circle had formed around him and Ruvik, although the only magic he knew was holy magic, could tell that whatever spell this man was using was far out of their league. He was confident, but he wasn't a fool.

"Everyone out of the forest! Now!" Ruvik bellowed to his comrades. Once Mori picked up Cedran and Kaire, they all started running as fast as they could. Ruvik looked back to see who was with him. To his dismay, in their panic, the group had become separated. With him was Zur, Oras, Kuaiesse, Garuna, and Mori who was carrying Kaire and Cedran over his shoulders. Ruvik grimaced. Most of the team had come in this direction, but the one he was the most worried about, Avenir, was nowhere to be seen. Ruvik pushed his worry out of his mind and continued to race to the edge of the forest.

Lucifer grinned as he sensed the group of beating hearts separate and start running towards the edges of the forest. When all of humanity was united, even to Lucifer they were a significant threat. But divide them, cloud their hearts and minds, make them turn on each other, and pick them off one at a time, then they were easy pickings. The same principle applied to the Black Scripture to a lesser degree. It was a relatively simple plan: Divide and conquer. If they were all together there was a chance that the Black Scripture could overcome one of the Floor Guardians. Divide them and their chances of victory were diminished. All the humans could hope for was to escape. With that thought in mind, Lucifer finished the spell with an evil grin.

"[Fallen Down]!" as he finished the Super-Tier spell, a pillar of light cascaded down upon the forest and obliterated it.

Avenir couldn't believe what just happened. She had barely escaped the blast, but Wralk hadn't been so lucky. He had almost made it to safety and now there was nothing left of him. No body, not even dust, just nothing. She looked back at her surviving comrades Gregor, Beaumarchais, and Isabella, with hope in her heart that Ruvik had managed to escaped, and spoke to them.

"I'm sure that the others made it out. We can't stay here or the snipers will start shooting at us again. We will see our friends again at Humanika!" she declared in a soft voice.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gregor asked filled with determination. "Let's go!"

Ruvik had never seen such tremendous power but he had no time to think about that. They were out in the open again and although the snipers hadn't opened fire yet, he wasn't expecting the situation to stay that way. Frantically looking around for any means of escape his eyes landed on a hole in the ground that the destructive spell had revealed. It seemed to be an entrance into an underground tunnel system.

"Everyone into the hole! Move!" he ordered. Everyone except Zur jumped into the hole as quick as they could. "C'mon Zur!"

"Incredible," Zur breathed. For the first time in all the years that Ruvik had known the old man, this was the first time he had seen any expression other than general unhappiness on the old man's face. He was bewildered and there was an odd twinkle in his eyes. Despite his old age, Zur could see things that others couldn't. And as he stared at the sorcerer that had caused this, he saw soulless red eyes and fangs like the jaws of the underworld.

He saw Death itself.

Deciding he had enough of the old man's strange behavior, Ruvik grabbed him and starting dragging him into the hole.

Lucifer frowned as he saw the last of Ruvik's team head into the hole. Apparently, someone had constructed a system of tunnels underneath the forest. Who, he couldn't say, but what he did know was that fighting in close quarters like in some narrow caverns with enemies that had Divine class gear and weapons in addition to their numerical advantage would be a nightmare. Lucifer himself wouldn't even be able to fit because of how narrow the hole was. Still, he couldn't let them go without a fight. So there was only one person he could send down there.

"Pandora's Actor," Lucifer commanded. "Get after those fools in the tunnels."

"Jawohl!" Pandora's Actor said with a salute before rushing towards the hole at incredible speed. While Pandora's Actor may not be a skilled combatant, he was smart and knew how to use items, surroundings, and his shape shifting abilities to his advantage. With that taken care of, Lucifer turned to Albedo and Shalltear as Demiurge continued to coordinate their forces to keep anyone from finding out what was really going on here.

"Let's move."

The pillar of light could be seen from E-Rantel. Theo had never seen anything like it.

Was that the 8th-Tier-Magic that Momon had!? INCREDIBLE!

"Do you think he won?" Ainzach asked.

"I think so, but we should wait until Momon comes back just to be safe," Theo replied. Elsewhere in the city, a man whose entire face and body were covered in a cloak had seen the spell as well.

That was [Fallen Down]! Is someone in this world really capable of using a spell like that? Could it be another Player? Oh, shit I just realized that was the forest I made my underground home in.

Avenir and her team raced across the plains. She was surprised that the snipers hadn't opened fire again. Maybe they had just assumed that they were dead? However, these hopes were immediately dashed as a calm yet commanding voice called out to them.

"I apologize for interrupting your peaceful walk through the forest," the tall sorcerer said. "But I believe we have unfinished business." Avenir and her comrades spun around to find themselves under the gaze of the soulless red eyes of the man who was responsible for all this. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said as he placed a hand over where his heart would've been if he actually had one. "My name is Lucifer Dracul. It is a pleasure to meet you esteemed members of the Black Scripture." At Lucifer's sides stood Albedo and Shalltear. "I believe you are already familiar with my daughter," he said as gestured to Shalltear who smiled brilliantly. She knew that her father was still angry with her, but she felt elated to hear him genuinely refer to her as one of his children of the night. The Black Scripture members immediately took up defensive positions. Lucifer's eyes swept over each of the humans. Each of them, except for Avenir, who held her sword in shaking hands, was a minor threat, but a threat nonetheless. She was skilled in intelligence gathering and spying through magic. Not combat. She was still capable of swordsmanship that would be considered impressive by this world's standards, but even as Momon he would be able to defeat her. Isabella looked as if being in the very presence of vampires and a succubus was offensive, Beaumarchais and Gregor were on their guard, and Avenir, who was the smartest of the group, was absolutely terrified. Avenir completely understood they had no chance against him.

"What do you want?" Gregor demanded.

"To save the world," Lucifer said with a shrug.

"Then why won't you work for the Theocracy?" Beaumarchais asked in confusion.

"I said the world, not just humanity," Lucifer said with a smirk. "Your Six Gods were human centric fools when I knew them and it seems that their insanity has been passed on to their followers. Humans, elves, and all other creatures that walk this earth dead or alive are equally inferior. They need a firm hand to guide them through the ages in order to avoid the stupidity of mortals. You humans telling yourself that you are above the rest of is nothing short of laughable. I, on the other hand, am beyond your comprehension." Avenir's eyes widened as she realized what this man was saying. Isabella, however, was infuriated by what he was saying.

"Blasphemer! How dare you look down on humanity, monster! You have raised your hand against the Slane Theocracy's Black Scripture, Lucifer Dracul, and by extension, humanity itself!" Isabella declared. Clearly she was a zealot so Lucifer ignored her ranting.

"I will not claim to be an all-loving saint but I am known to be a reasonable man. I will extend to you this one chance. Lay down your weapons and I will spare your lives."

"We will end your corruption of this world here and now! For the Slane Theocracy!" Isabella yelled.

"For the Theocracy!" Gregor and Beaumarchais shouted.

A sword clattered to the ground.

Everyone turned to see Avenir had dropped her weapon and had started bowing to Lucifer.

"You filthy traitor! You fucking whore!" Isabella screeched. Gregor was more composed than the religious extremist.

"Why?" he asked. He didn't get a comprehensible answer out of Avenir. All he heard was her muttering things like "It's hopeless" or "I can't".

"At least one of you isn't a complete waste of genetic material," Lucifer said with a chuckle. Isabelle turned her furious gaze back to Lucifer and let out a scream.

"[Divine Chant]!" as those words left her mouth, her scream became a sonic wave towards Lucifer who stumbled back a bit, but wasn't tossed through the air like everyone else Isabelle had ever faced. Gregor and Beaumarchais charged in attempt to strike at Lucifer while he was weakened only to be intercepted by Albedo and Shalltear. Albedo blocked Gregor's sword with her massive axe while Shalltear used her Spuit Lance to knock Beaumarchais's Divine Chain away from her master. Lucifer smirked as he, while still being hit by [Divine Chant], activated a spell that was a higher level version of Shalltear's [Blood Blast].

"[Zebel Blast]!" he laughed as he hurled a massive ball of black energy at Isabella, who narrowly dodged the resulting explosion. Beaumarchais whipped his chain at Shalltear who dodged it before grabbing it with her bare hand. She hissed in pain as its holy properties started to burn her but Shalltear endured and swung Beaumarchais around from his own chain before swinging downward causing him to slam into the ground and breaking his legs.

"Fool. You thought you could strike against the Supreme Being and get away with it?" Albedo asked mockingly as she once again blocked one of Gregor's strikes. Gregor, however, grinned at Albedo as she blocked his strike and thrust forward with handle which let him smack Albedo across the face the blade's handle. Needless to say, Albedo went full on berserk mode after that. Gregor howled in pain as his hands were removed, not by Albedo cutting them off, but by pulling his arms out of his sockets.

"[Arrow of Divinity]!" Isabella yelled as beam of light struck the side of Lucifer's face extracting a roar of pain from the seemingly invincible monster.

"FATHER!" Shalltear screamed as everyone stared at Lucifer. The right side of his face was missing. Isabella thought that they had won win she noticed something: there was no blood. Instead it looked as if hell was seeping out through the wound. Lucifer started laughing sinisterly as the hell that leaked regenerated into his previously destroyed features.

"Weakling. I told you that I was beyond your comprehension," came a terrifying voice as Lucifer smirked.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Isabella screamed, refusing to believe what she just witnessed. "[Arrow of Divinity]! [Arrow of Divinity]! [Arrow of Divinity]!" she attacked again and again but Lucifer wasn't playing games anymore.

"[Stop Time]," he said. Through Isabella's eyes, it looked like one moment he had been standing before her and the next moment he was in front of her with his hand around her throat. She tried to use [Divine Chant] again so she could blow his grinning face off, but the lack of oxygen she was experiencing made it so she couldn't speak. Quicker than he had with Clementine, Lucifer pulled her close, reached around her back, and severed her spinal cord before dropping her to the ground, screaming in pain. "I want to kill you in a way that will send a message to the other fools in the Slane Theocracy. [Impalers Dream]!" With the spell activated, three long spears shot out of the ground from under Isabella, Gregor, and Beaumarchais impaling them and putting their corpses on display. Lucifer grinned as he watched the blood rain down from their bodies before turning back to Avenir.

She was crying.

Lucifer sighed. When he gave them the opportunity to surrender, he hadn't expected any of them to actually take him up on that offer. So the question was: What to do with her?

Ruvik and the others were catching their breath down in the tunnels. Now that he had a chance to think about what happened, it was foolish not to surrender. Ruvik didn't really about the Theocracy, but it was all he had ever known and he had nowhere else to go. He has been taken away from his mother, who couldn't even remember, when he was a child because he was a God-Kin and was raised by the church. If an enemy this powerful had set their sights one the Theocracy, they would need to use the treasures left behind by the Six Great Gods to even stand a chance. When they heard footsteps approaching from the area they had just come from, everyone took a battle stance, prepared for the worst. Thankfully, the person who came running towards them had a familiar face… mask.

"Wralk!" Ruvik shouted. "Thank the Six you made it." Ruvik suddenly narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. Wralk was still running towards them but it wasn't until the last minute that Ruvik noticed the knife in his hand. Wralk jumped forward and stabbed Oras in the neck before he could use [Stop Time]. As Oras choked on his own blood, Wralk transformed into some sort of creature in a strange military uniform with a face that didn't even qualify as a face.

"Hallo Toten Menschen," Pandora's Actor said dramatically in a language Ruvik had never heard before. Kuaiesse pointed his fist towards the enemy and shouted.

"Go forth basilisk!" and a large snake-like creature emerged from the ring hissing at their faceless opponent. If Pandora's Actor had been a lower level NPC he would've turned to stone. Realizing its opponent was tougher than it looked, the basilisk lunged forward in an attempt to eat him. Pandora's Actor responded by spinning around like a fucking ballerina and, when it got too close, he used the momentum from spinning to deliver a devastating kick to the face.

"Nice try, Schlange," he said dramatically. Garuna furrowed her eyebrows opened her purse and unleashed two Dominion Authorities.

"Go forth angels!" she cried. The angels approached Pandora's Actor who threw a smoke bomb, obscuring their vision, and threw the knife he had used to kill Oras, which struck Kuaiesse in the shoulder. After twenty seconds of coughing the smoke cleared and they found three Dominion Authorities fighting each other. It seemed people wasn't the only thing the creature could turn into.

"We can't deal with a trickster like this! Fall back!" Ruvik yelled as he pulled Oras's body over his shoulders. With that, the remainder of the Black Scripture disappeared into the tunnels.

"What shall I do with you?" Lucifer muttered as he looked down on Avenir, who was still crying. "You know I can't just let you go, right?" She nodded.

"Can I ask you something?" she sniffed. Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"You may."

"Can you please spare Ruvik?"

"Oh? And why would do that?" Lucifer asked he leaned over her and tilted her head up to make her look him in the eyes. After looking into her eyes with own that seemed to suck out everything that was good in the world for a few moments, Lucifer grinned sinisterly. "Ah, love. You know, they say true love lasts eternity so I will have to ask for something of equal value."

"Anything!" she cried with her eyes full of determination. She had finally stopped crying.

"I want an eternity of servitude from you," Lucifer demanded with a full blown psychotic grin as he outstretched his hand and waited for her response. Avenir shivered under the monster's gaze before she firmly shook his hand.

"I will obey, my lord," she said.

The hooded figure gazed upon the barren wasteland that had once been a forest.

Who the hell used [Fallen Down]!? I had just finished those tunnels!

The hooded figure sighed and decided to start heading east.

"Momonga, I hope that it wasn't you."

Has anyone seen what the Black Scripture members look like on the Overlord Wiki? One of them actually does wear a school uniform! I fell asleep at my computer typing this one last night.

HAIL AND KILL!