"Normal speech"

'Thoughts'

[Magic/Martial Arts]

Hey everyone, welcome to my first fanfic! English is not my first language so bear with me. I've had this bizarre and unique idea in my mind for quite a while, and at first, I believed it was impossible to become a proper story. But as I searched and discovered new things, I decided to give it a shot! (thanks Wiki)

Unfortunately, I haven't read any of the Light Novels and I still don't know what happens in Volumes 15 & 16, so I hope I'm not making too many mistakes or missing important details.

Before we begin, allow me to ask you all one question: is it possible for simple lines of code to go beyond their programming and change?

Enjoy!


Chapter 1: a Rude Awakening

Death…

Desolation…

Defeat…

He tried…

He lost…

His home…

His own creator…

All gone…

Eternal darkness…

Consumes him…

A cold embrace…

For a cold slumber…

What now…?

...

The sun shone on the green Abelion Hills with a few clouds to be seen in the blue sky. The area seemed peaceful and beautiful, as the hilly and forested terrain, teaming with the native wildlife, gave off a nice and welcoming atmosphere. However, the humans who knew of this place could only fear.

The hills were located between the human nations of the Slane Theocracy and the Roble Holy Kingdom. Its inhabitants consisted of various tribes of demi-human species, who constantly invaded both nations to raid and plunder. Their numbers were so great that the Theocracy, the strongest human nation in the world, tried to cleanse these hills before, but it only served to temporarily thin out the beastman population.

Even the famous adventures of the Re-Estize Kingdom to the north didn't dare to step foot on these cursed lands, since every attempt to explore them has been met with failure and corpses. Truly, no normal human would dare to traverse the infamous Abelion Hills.

And for these reasons, the formation of riders traveling through these hills was keeping an eye out for any kind of surprises. Most of them had their faces covered to at least try to dissuade any attacks, but deep down, they knew such cheap tricks wouldn't work against these monsters.

They ride when the sun is up, eat while traveling and stay vigilant at night, praying to their gods that they wouldn't stumble upon a demi-human horde too big.

These riders belonged to the Windflower Scripture, one of the Six Scriptures of the Slane Theocracy specializing in information gathering, and were being led by Captain Ligun Devoras Yostyk, a tall man with a respectable military record. He was rumored to be lazy and paranoid by his peers, but since he had a knack for finding interesting things and accomplished his tasks without flaws, no one ever addressed it.

Following behind their formation was the 6th Seat of the Black Scripture, a powerful warrior that utilizes his enormous lance-like weapon to great effect and was equipped with white and ocean-blue armor.

Normally, the Slane Theocracy would have sent the Sunlight Scripture or the entire Black Scripture for a mission such as this. However, after entities of abnormal strength recently defeated both of them, especially the former for being presumably wiped out by a powerful magic caster, they decided to play safe and conserve their forces. Sending only one warrior from the strongest Scripture to accompany the expedition shouldn't bring too much attention to themselves and would be enough to complete their mission. A sound strategy, according to their books.

They all heard a loud sigh from their captain, but the group decided to ignore it.

'We've been riding for days already and the absence of enemies is beginning to be worrisome. Please, oh great gods, let me out of these tainted lands alive…' The Captain thought to himself, looking up at the sky as if personally pleading with someone.

The Captain couldn't help but think of the mission given to his team. Three days ago, Thousand Leagues Astrologer, a member of the Black Scripture and a magic caster that specializes in surveillance and divination, reported something unique. While making a reconnaissance in the Abelion Hills in search of another target for purification, she found something odd.

A dense yet small forest with enormous trees was visible in the distance. If a normal person were to observe this sight, they would only shrug and move on. But she wasn't a normal person. She was an experienced magic caster of an elite force and as such, not only could she recognize that this wasn't a natural forest, she could feel a pull to it, like something was calling to her.

Curious about why a seemingly normal forest would have this pull, she decided to investigate. She observed that the surrounding area near the forest was bizarrely empty of life, especially demi-humans. Upon entering it, she immediately could sense that the earth, the trees, and even the rocks themselves had high concentrations of mana.

She went deeper, in the direction of the gigantic trees she had seen before. But as she went in, the mana concentration grew exponentially to the point where it was strangely starting to distort her surveillance magic, making it harder to orient herself.

Sensing that her spell was about to be overwhelmed, she tried to observe the epicenter of this phenomenon. Just as it was on the verge of ending, she saw it.

Some form of ruined structure above a hill, made of polished stone and almost as high as the trees themselves, with an entrance that led downwards.

A dungeon.

With the little time she had, she could make out that this dungeon was old, very old. Possibly as old as the times when the Six Great Gods roamed the world, judging by the numerous vines that covered the entrance. Clearly, the source of the mana she felt came from this dungeon. But then, she could see no more.

The Six Cardinals, realizing that this could have been a lost dungeon made by their gods, possibly containing another one of their gifts and items, decided to dispatch the members of the Windflower Scripture with the 6th Seat in tow to explore the dungeon. They also sent a few scribes and scholars to study the strange phenomenon and to gain more insight into their gods, who protected humanity 600 years ago.

The Captain was very grateful for the presence of the 6th Seat. Although a simple Theocracy unit can handle most of the rabble from the continent, recent events have proven that powerful monsters still lurk in the shadows. The elite warrior would prove to be invaluable in their safety.

In contrast, however, Ligun couldn't afford to make a mistake on this mission, since one bad word from the 6th Seat to his superiors would cost him his entire military career, effectively ruining him. He would need to be extra careful with what he does or says around him.

Just as he was musing about this, the blonde warrior of the Black Scripture at the back of the formation rode to the front. The Captain looked at him with a neutral face but internally he was somewhat paranoid.

'Phew… Ok, there's no reason to fear. I just have to do my job well and I get to keep my head as a reward! No pressure Ligun…' He thought to himself worriedly. He really didn't want to get on his bad side, or else his relatively easy life would be in ruin…

"Captain Ligun, we're approaching our destination. If we continue, we'll arrive at dusk at our objective. I suggest we make camp nearby and rest. The men look tired and I don't want to risk our luck." His tone was even, but Ligun could pick up how his words were more of an order, rather than a suggestion.

"O-of course, sir. You're right. We'll do as you say." The Captain responded, unconsciously stuttering a little. The blonde man hummed in response and went to the back of the formation again, protecting their flank.

The Captain sighed for what looked like the hundredth time today. 'I'm going to die...'

"Hanging in there, Cap~?" A feminine voice asked him mischievously. Ligun looked over at his opposite side and responded tiredly.

"It's all fine, Maya. All just fine…"

Maya Ivras Coloco, vice-captain of this mission and a childhood friend who graduated alongside Ligun in the Windflower Scripture. She was shorter than Ligun but not by much, sporting a well-rounded and respectable bust. She had long black hair that went down to the midsection of her back and healthy skin.

Despite being part of the Windflower Scripture, where a lot of her peers specialized in espionage and other similar skills, she was capable of reaching the great milestone of the 4th-tier of magic in their country and could cast divine magic as well, making her a reliable companion.

"Aw. Don't be like that Cap!~ Once we're done here, you'll be able to sleep like a baby again in the capital." She said with a grin, coming to his ear and whispering the last part.

"Shhh. Quiet!" He whispered back with slight embarrassment evident on his face and tone. Thankfully for the Captain, no one noticed him and his odd quirks.

"Yes, yes... You never change Ligun.~" She smiled at him as she remembered all those times when her friend tried to nap whenever he could on duty. Thankfully, their superiors never caught him in the act.

Ligun grimaced a little, but then smiled. 'Ahhhh… let's just get this over with.'

A day passed, and the group arrived at the entrance of their target forest. Due to the training each of them received from the Theocracy, they were able to corroborate Thousand Leagues Astrologer's claim that everything inside the forest simply radiated with mana, and it seemed to take an effect on the humans. Some were feeling intoxicated by it while others were feeling a bit nauseous. The 6th Seat seemed indifferent to it while Ligun felt uneasy.

"Everyone!" Ligun raised his voice to gain their attention and to release a bit of his pent-up stress.

"We'll dismount here. Thousand Leagues Astrologer noted no presence of demi-humans in the vicinity on her report, but that doesn't mean we needn't keep our guard up. Stay close to each other and watch your back." He stopped talking as he and the rest started to dismount and began to head for the forest.

The area was dense, but the sun was still setting, so they could still see where they were going. But if necessary, they would use night vision spells to navigate themselves.

However, the Captain couldn't help but feel uneasy about his surroundings. The forest was quiet, too quiet. Not even a bug was seen while they were walking. Usually, these types of forests would have the occasional monster or two, but this one was remarkably empty. He looked over to the 6th Seat and noted he still had that neutral face he usually wears.

'If he thinks nothing is wrong, it's fine. Right?' He thought to himself, hoping he was right, but the feeling of something wrong still persisted.

One hour of carefully walking around later, they arrived at the base of the hill where the dungeon was located. It was unlike anything most of them had ever seen before, too alien for them to fully comprehend. The structure was almost as high as the abnormally tall trees around and it had an ominous aura to it, like it was going to attack them the moment they approached. One scribe noted that the architecture of the exterior is similar to what the Six Great Gods left behind, and yet it was different.

"What do you mean?~" Maya asked curiously. If it resembles the gods, then how come it could be anything but them that built this place?

"Can you see that at the base of the structure, the walls are smoother and slightly curved? And the materials composing it are more polished? These characteristics are what predominantly compose our own architecture, which is based on the design of our gods. However, as you go upwards, the structure becomes more angular, and the walls appear to have a draconic design to them, almost like scales! How interesting..." The scribe finished conveying his explanation, fascinated by how such a hybrid architecture like this came to be.

"So? Was this dungeon really made by the gods?" Ligun eventually asked after processing the information he just received.

"We cannot be sure for now. If we want to find out more, we would have to go inside. But it is clear our gods had a hand in here." The scribe deduced with conviction evident in his voice.

Ligun found this to be quite odd, actually. How come this dungeon can have two types of architecture? And why a draconic design of all things? Dragons were known to be very self-centered and they enforced their rule using their natural born strength. So for them to cooperate in building something with another race felt really counter-intuitive.

Just as the group was about to reach the structure, the 6th Seat spun his head to the trees encircling them. Ligun noticed this and was concerned.

"What happened?"

"Captain, listen carefully... We're surrounded." His tone was calm, as if he were describing the weather. Ligun nervousness and laziness vanished like they never existed and now he had a hard and dignifying gaze, worthy of a military commander. The other members in charge of protection stiffen their posture and are ready to take orders while the civilian element looks worried.

"How many? Demi-humans?" The Captain of the group asked without pause. It would've been a surprise for anyone who knew of him for being so laid back to act in such a professional manner now.

"At least a thousand. Goblins and ogres being led by something big." The 6th Seat finalized his report, drawing the lance on his back and staring at the treeline in attention.

"Alright. Windflower Scripture! Ring Formation! Protect the scribes and summon [Angel Guardians]! Those who can, summon [Archangel Flames]as well. We'll use overwhelming force." Ligun completed giving his orders, and his subordinates obeyed accordingly.

The Theocracy viewed angels as envoys from their gods and commonly invoked them to fight for humanity. The armored angels being summoned, in their brilliance and winged forms, brought a sense of hope and vitality to the humans present. They may be outnumbered, but there's no way a mere beastman horde like this could beat them!

The demi-humans revealed themselves and entered the clearing. Just as the 6th Seat said, a gathering of goblins and ogres with a menacing minotaur, towering around 2.5-meters, at the front. His horns were curved to his front, and he didn't wear any armor on his torso, only carrying a mighty war axe, fit for one as big as him.

"Heh. So much for 'no demi-humans in the vicinity' aye Captain~?" Maya said cheekily, and Ligun could only nod in agreement. But in the end, it didn't matter, they would all do their job.

"Humans! I am chieftain Draktor of the Seguar Tribe. Leave this forest immediately, else danger befalls you!" The minotaur bellowed, his voice low and almost guttural. This minotaur's threat did not convince Ligun.

"And what type of danger can your little tribe offer us, minotaur?" Ligun responded with hostility present in his tone, years of prejudice against the demi-humans ingrained in his brain. If it weren't for the Six Great Gods, the human race would have been extinct long ago by savages such as these. He's seen too many of his fellow countrymen slaughtered by these monsters. He still sees their faces in his dreams…

"Fools! It is not us you should fear, but the thing that lies below your feet! We, the Seguar Tribe, have guarded this dungeon for generations against intruders such as yourselves. Leave now and live! Stay and perish..."

The minotaur tried to reason with what he thinks is the most important human there, with an undercurrent of fear present on his facade. If they dare to step foot in that dungeon, it could release a catastrophe the world hasn't seen in centuries. Still, the human didn't budge at all at this declaration.

"We have our orders. We're not leaving." Ligun announced determinedly. Theocracy soldiers would never cave into beastman scum!

"Fine! If it's a war you want, a war you'll have!" The minotaur told the humans present with his almost broken speech. He raised his war axe and performed a war cry, prompting his army to advance.

"Crush the invaders! Leave none alive!"

"Angels, attack! Magic casters support them! Fighters stay in formation!"

And so the battle began...

Common military tactics dictate that those of higher ground have a clear advantage over those of lower. But the goblins and ogres charged up the hill, all the same, to meet the humans with an animalistic glee on their deformed faces, foregoing any tactical sense. They had been hungry for a long time… So they would kill them all and feast tonight!

Their savage charge was interrupted when various winged beings of pristine light fell upon them. The angels held the demi-human advance while cutting away at their ranks with their flaming swords. Tried as their might, angels simply had a natural resistance to physical attacks and the demi-humans could barely make a scratch on them before being turned to minced meat.

"[Magic Arrow]!"

"[Acid Arrow]!"

"[Fireball]!"

"[Electrosphere]!"

"[Iceball]!"

All of a sudden, the land around the dungeon felt like it was erupting from the sheer quantity of magic attacks being flung. The spells being thrown from up the hill were killing away at the demi-human ranks more effectively than the angels themselves could do it. Ligun smiled to himself with satisfaction at the screams of death from their detestable enemies. If things keep up like this, they would slaughter the beastman scum to the last, as it should be.

On the other side of the battlefield, however, Draktor was furious. He was losing the battle!

'Damn those cowardly human magic casters!'

The Seguar Tribe was established 600 years ago when their gods created them, according to the sages. They told them to protect this dungeon from those who would free the danger locked up here. They performed their job as the gods demanded for generations, yet they fell into decline when many of their fighters left long ago and joined other tribes, not seeing the point of standing guard in an old dungeon for all eternity.

But Draktor was different. He couldn't stand to dishonor his ancestors, who were given this task to protect this forest by the gods themselves. No. He would make them proud! And save the world from these foolish humans!

"Argh! Weaklings! I'll deal with this myself!" Draktor growled and charged to the front lines, ready to fulfill his sacred duty. The angels noticed him and tried to stop him, but when they got near, the minotaur chieftain activated his Martial Arts [Grand Power Strike] and [Greater Ability Boost] to make himself several times stronger and then slashed with his war axe. The resulting blow sent a gust of wind across the battlefield and the angels caught in his attack disintegrated.

Ligun was the embodiment of calmness to this rather impressive demonstration of force and responded in kind.

"6th Seat, go after him." He ordered their trump card next to him. If there was anyone who could efficiently deal with their leader, it was him.

"With pleasure." The blonde warrior then ran full speed in the direction of Draktor, becoming more than a blur to the goblins who were in front of him. They were all slaughtered and turned into little pieces before even realizing what had happened. An ogre saw this and tried to swing his club at the speedy human, but he cut the arm of the ogre and pierced his throat in an instant. He gargled on his own blood and fell dead. The 6th seat then retrieved his weapon and continued on his bloody path towards the minotaur chieftain, to the horror of the demi-humans in his way.

After dealing with the last angel pestering him, Draktor, honed with years of experience and combat, sensed an attack incoming from his blind spot. He instinctively brought his war axe to block the right side of his head. This proved to be the right move, as a human with ornate blue armor tried to decapitate him using a ridiculously large lance. He then deflected the small human and stared at him enraged.

"Grrrr… You think you can beat me with cheap tricks, human?" Draktor gritted his teeth at the thought of dying such a dishonorable death. The human stayed silent and took a stance, ready to not make the same mistake of letting his opponent live. The minotaur was amused by the brazenness of this warrior and confidently spoke.

"Ha! I, Draktor, am the descendant of the chieftains of legend! A mere human will not best me!" He roared and charged at the human, ready to turn him into a bloody pulp. He diagonally slashed his war axe and was pleased when the human didn't even react to his strike. This was too easy!

But just as his attack was about to connect, the human skillfully evaded to the side while making a small cut on his hand in sequence. The minotaur only huffed in annoyance and prepared his next move.

"Grr! [Body strengthening]! [Greater Ability Boost]!"

Draktor ignored the strain of using multiple Martial Arts consecutively and struck again. However, his efforts were unsuccessful once more, as the human dodged and now sliced his right knee. This pattern repeated several times, with Draktor swinging his war axe ferociously and the 6th Seat easily dodging while making small wounds throughout the minotaur's body. He knew this human was simply toying with him and it was pissing him off!

"Argh! Hold still, you overcompensating milk drinker!" Draktor brought his axe to the ground with all he had, creating a tremor and temporarily catching the 6th Seat off guard. The minotaur tried to capitalize on this and activated another skill.

"[Gale Acceleration]!"

He shot toward the human at great speeds and was ready to cut him in half. Draktor smirked, already savoring his victory against this puny man.

"Too slow." The human corrected his footing and leaped, evading the horizontal attack from Draktor, and raised his lance above his head to activate his own Martial Arts skill.

"[Slashing strike]."

Draktor, still accelerated, stepped back to avoid his opponent's attack, but he couldn't evade it on time and the weapon cleanly cut his skin from his left shoulder to his right hip. He yelled out in great pain, if he didn't step back just in time, he would have been cut in half! He momentarily distracted himself by placing a hand on his wounds and tried to assess the damage.

The 6th Seat saw this and tried to punish the minotaur for ignoring him. He aimed his lance to deliver a decapitation strike at him again, but out of his left side, the minotaur's war axe came in his direction, surprising him with the suddenness of the attack.

He clicked his tongue due to his carelessness and brought his lance to defend himself. The axe hit his lance, and he was sent flying 15-meters away from the minotaur, such was his natural-born strength as a demi-human, but the 6th Seat masterfully landed straight. He noted that neither he nor his equipment received any serious damage and then returned to look at his adversary.

Draktor, on the other hand, was extremely exhausted. He used too many Martial Arts skills in sequence and his wounds were starting to seriously hinder him. He breathed heavily and his vision was blurred. At any moment, he felt like he could fall into the dirt. He knew he had already lost this duel and would die shortly. His many injuries told him that much.

Still, he ignored the pain and raised his warrior determination to the extreme. He picked up his war axe with both hands, roaring in defiance at his adversary. His ancestors would witness him as the warrior he truly was! The afterlife awaited him!

"LOK TAR BALAK DRAKTOR!" (I am warrior Draktor!)

The human charged, as if accepting the minotaur's challenge, and readied his lance while the minotaur stood his ground and waited for his own glorious death.

"COME, HUMAN!"

When the blonde man was close, Draktor swung at him one final time, but his arm was heavy and the strike was too weak and slow, allowing the human to parry the war axe and thrust his lance at his chest in rapid succession.

The weapon pierced the skin of the minotaur effortlessly, making blood splatter on the grass. Not a sound was heard after, no screams of death, no victory chants. Nothing.

Draktor only looked down at the lance penetrating his flesh with ragged breaths and smiled, seemingly satisfied with this outcome. The human had an unreadable expression as he eyed the fatal injury he just caused to his opponent.

In his last dying breaths, the minotaur chieftain with a now serious face held the lance on his chest and spoke with a condemning tone to his killer.

"Ugh. Know this, human… Hack. You… have doomed… us all." Draktor mumbled his final words before collapsing, perishing at last.

The Seguar Tribe was no more…

The 6th Seat stared at his lifeless corpse for a minute in contemplation. He never would have admitted it, but this… warrior deserved better than this. If only he wasn't a demi-human… but fate had made them natural foes, so this was destined to happen eventually.

He turned his head to see that the angels and magic casters were finishing up their enemies' last resistance. He gave one last look at the dead warrior chieftain next to him and rejoined his allies atop the hill.

They had won the battle.

'Phew. A decisive victory. At least no one died…' Ligun thought to himself, grateful for another job well done. He then turned to the group and spoke proudly to all of them.

"Well done, soldiers! Let us do what we came here to do and go home safe and sound…" No one could contest with their captain on this one.

They entered the structure and descended the stairs. It was almost pitch black inside, and they decided to use light magic instead of a night vision spell since the mana was still disrupting their magic casting, and it was less demanding. While they could reveal themselves to any hostiles inside with the obvious light from their group, it couldn't be helped, so in conjunction, they took extra vigilance to observe their surroundings in case of any ambushes.

The corridors had an eerie presence to them, almost as if the humans were being observed every step of the way. The walls were scribed with what appeared to be runes, judging from what they knew, barely emitting a blue light of their own, and they recognized that some of the walls were written in the draconic language. However, no one could understand them once the dragons had never taught any race how to read their ancient tongue.

The mana concentration inside was extreme, confusing the senses of all the magic casters. They had repeatedly cast their light magic due to it being overwhelmed over and over again by this strange mana in the air. Thankfully, they didn't waste much of their reserves on the battle above, so the magic casters could still be useful in an eventual fight.

They still kept going downwards unimpeded, but as usual, they would keep their guard up at all times. Strangely, nothing new was seen, no rooms to explore or traps lying around, just walls riddled with foreign words and a dark corridor. Usually, a dungeon would have many rooms to explore and many traps and monsters to be wary of, yet this one was much simpler.

Vice-captain Maya was at the front of the group illuminating the way and turned a corner. Just as she did, she saw the oldest and most derelict door she has ever seen. It could barely be even called a door. She could see a yellow glow from underneath and above the door, like the color of the sun, rising to announce the beginning of a new day.

She knew that this was exactly what they were looking for.

"Captain! I found something.~" She called loudly, making her voice bounce and echo through the labyrinth-like dungeon they'd been walking on for some time now. Normally, this would have been a death sentence when dungeon exploring, but they have already determined this place was fully empty.

"Found what?" He lazily asked, turning the corner behind her and stopping to observe the door as well. The rest of the group followed him and halted their steps. They were filled with a feeling of dread and wonder by the rays of yellow light protruding from behind the ruined door. What could possibly be behind there?

"What happened to the door?" Ligun asked, rubbing his chin as though thinking about an answer himself.

"I don't know. I found it like this. You think we should open it?" Maya truthfully said to her superior and asked.

"Hmm, we came this far, so might as well see what's on the other side, no?" Ligun said, unsure of his own statement.

"I concur." The 6th Seat coldly commented behind him, making Ligun almost lose his wits. He forgot that he was still here!

"H-hahaha! I'm glad you agree!" He nervously rubs the back of his head. That was too close! The 6th Seat ignores his weird quirks and nods towards the door.

'Let's try not to lose your head on the finishing line, aye Ligun.' The Captain weakly ponders to himself before advancing to the door to open it.

*Tssssss*

When he touched the door, it turned to dust immediately. The humans from the Theocracy had to cover their faces when an intense golden light assaulted their eyes. But when they refocused their vision, they came across a mesmerizing view.

The room had the shape of a dome and was very large, with deep chasms adorning the entirety of it, except the location of where the door once was, forming a natural bridge. In the middle of the room, on the ground and surrounded by enormous chains, was a massive amber crystal that emanated the light.

'What in the Six's name is this?!' Ligun exclaimed in his mind.

The magic casters, without a shadow of a doubt, knew this was the source of the mana anomaly and were shocked by its almost divine appearance.

"W-wha…!"

"I-I've never seen something so…"

"Oh, Great Gods! We thank you for this…"

"What in the world…?"

"Captain, what should we do?"

Ligun heard the voice of his Vice-captain amidst the chatter, snapping him out of his trance and pulling him away from the chaotic voices that were still ensuing behind him. In all honesty, he had no idea what to do. Their mission was to investigate the dungeon and retrieve anything of value from it. Except, the only things of value here are gibberish on the walls and a giant crystal that clearly couldn't be carried. He quickly decided on a course of action and addressed his group.

"We'll search for anything useful to bring back to the Theocracy and report all of our findings later. Spread out." The group acknowledged his orders and started to examine their surroundings, but the majority came to see the crystal for themselves. The 6th Seat stood guard at the door, making sure there weren't any surprises coming from behind them.

The humans near the crystal collectively stared at its magnificence. Its surface was too smooth for it to be natural, highlighting the crafting capabilities of whoever made this. It was almost transparent as well, but its center was unobservable.

"These chains… I can feel the immense mana flowing through them. They likely have some unknown property that is sucking the energies from this crystal and dispersing them elsewhere." One scribe noted, rubbing his chin.

"And that would explain the extraordinary mana concentration from the environment above. I can also grasp something different about this mana. It's more vibrant and potent than natural and I can also feel… emotions from it?" Another scholar concluded, perplexed.

"Huh? What are you…? Wait… Now that you mention it, I can feel it as well. It's intense… like rage, but there's… sorrow in it too? How is this all possible anyway!?" The scribe said, clasping his head, trying to come up with a sensible solution himself but failing.

"This is very interesting and all, but does anyone have any idea what this thing is? Why is it here?" Ligun asked them impatiently, trying to avoid an endless debate, but none of them could answer him. They were as lost as him.

One magic caster, who looked to be in a trance, approached to touch the crystal, but his arm was pulled away before he could do anything.

"What do you think you're doing!? It could be dangerous!" One of his colleagues said to him while holding his arm.

"S-sorry! I was just curious." The magic caster stammered a little from embarrassment.

"Hmph. Keep your curiosity in check or you might lose an arm because of it." Maya interjected and said in a grave tone, clearly displeased by his carelessness.

"Y-yes, ma'am." The offending magic caster slumped back to the back of the group, just happy to observe from now on.

"He's got a point, y'know? We need to find out more about this… thing somehow." Ligun silently said to his friend.

"I know.~ But our options are limited. It seems I'm unable to use magic here and judging by the others, they can't as well. Direct physical contact with this could be dangerous, so we'd need some other way.~" She responded to him in a contemplative tone. Ligun crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought. What could they do with these limitations?

"Hmmm, what to do… Aha! 6th Seat! Think you could take a piece out of this thing?" The Captain asked the warrior guarding their exit. The blonde man huffed and walked towards the crystal, bracing his lance.

"Break the crystal? Are you sure this is wise, Ligun?~" Maya inquired with uncertainty evident in her voice. They still didn't know what they were dealing with. What if they accidentally release something they shouldn't?

"It's fine, Maya. It'll only be a piece of it to show the Cardinals what we found. They might even understand and know more than we do." He placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to dispel her worries. She didn't look convinced, but stayed silent.

"Step aside." The warrior said, and they all moved out of his way. The 6th Seat knew he couldn't just cut through the entire thing in one swing once the crystal appeared to be too thick. However, he was a man who reached the Realm of Heroes' level through intense training and battle, and his equipment was one of the highest quality the Theocracy could offer. Taking a small piece out of this thing should be a piece of cake.

Using all his strength, he swung his lance hard at a specific transparent part of the crystal so a piece of it would fall. In normal circumstances, he would be able to cut through even adamantite, the strongest metal known. But in contrast to his beliefs, the lance bounced on the crystal and created a loud hum, leaving it completely undamaged.

The blonde man was shocked. He put all he had into that single strike and yet this thing didn't even budge!? What was this made of!?

The hum persisted, to the annoyance of the group and the now wounded pride of the blonde warrior, but then subsided.

"Well, that didn't work… Let's try-"

*CRACK*

The noise of glass shattering interrupted Ligun. It was so sudden that it made a few of them jump. All present in the room looked at the glowing crystal and saw that a minuscule part of it was now cracked. This was due to the frequency of the sound waves created by the attack from the 6th Seat. From this tiny fissure, a ghostly form of yellow mana began to leak out.

'Wha…'

Not even a second later, an earth-shattering tremor shook the entire dungeon. This natural disaster momentarily staggered the humans and not even the mighty 6th Seat of the Black Scripture could stand up completely, having to kneel instead.

The crystal shined brighter than ever and cracked more. Rubble from the ceiling started to fall, threatening to bury all of them alive.

"EVERYONE! TO THE EXIT!" Ligun yelled with all he had, since the rumbling was drowning out his voice, and he ran for the door. His childhood friend was just behind him and the warrior in blue armor sprinted ahead of them, showcasing his superior speed.

There was mass panic among the scholars and scribes present. Some fell through the chasms, never to be seen again, while debris hit and squashed others, killing them instantly.

The once beautiful crystal was all fragmented now. It vibrated violently and snapped some of the chains that were holding it. It appeared more and more unstable as the chains were being broken.

*CRRRRIINK*

But out of nowhere, an armored arm bursts through from inside, sending shards all around. The arm then diagonally moved from one side to another, further freeing the one stuck in the crystal. Another arm grabbed the opening it made and broke the crystal in half, revealing the one inside.

"UUUAAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!"

A loud, guttural and ethereal scream is heard. Its roar is so massive that it pops in the ears of those still fleeing in the corridors and is heard from kilometers away from the dungeon. If one was close enough to hear it, it was akin to the awakening of a mad god.

The large humanoid was at least 2-meters tall with a buffy frame compared to human standards. Its golden armor adorned with silver lining covered the majority of its body and underneath it, there seemed to be another layer of leaner and black armor. On the breastplate, a carving of an ornate tree and its roots is seen while the armor's pauldrons are more angular and its tasset (skirt) more accentuated. Its helmet follows the concept of the armor, with spiky golden wings arching backward attached to the side. Its eye sockets were completely black, like there was no one underneath the armor itself.

The being holds his head and continues to scream, as if in agonizing pain. The screams resonated through the halls, making all the humans running shiver in pure terror.

What have they unleashed!?

The armored giant begins to convulse and starts floating above the ground, still bobbing its head around maniacally. The yellow mana bubbles on his armor, like it's out of control, and trashes the surrounding area. It then looks up and breaks through the ceiling at blistering speeds and heads upwards.

Back at the surface, the 6th Seat was heavily panting and leaned on one of those massive trees that were characteristic of this mystical forest. He ran like one of the Evil Deities themselves was hunting him down, another blow to his already wounded ego...

He looked behind him and saw that some of them thankfully managed to survive, including the Captain and Vice-captain.

*BOOOOM*

All of a sudden, something, or someone, busted from the ground in a flash of golden eminence. He could barely follow it with his eyes!

The thing stopped mid-air and he now could see what it was. A glowing, heavily armored giant of a man, howling non-stop. The blonde man was utterly shocked. So that crystal was just holding this thing down!? What the hell is that!?

The armored being then opened his arms and started to intensely glow.

"...!"

The 6th Seat instinctively recognized the danger and shouted for the others.

"GET DOWN!"

All of them hear him, and everyone drops to the grass.

*ROOOAAAAARRR*

The being simply explodes with overwhelming power. Its yellow mana flies to the sky above, forming a pillar of the purest light he has ever seen. It sends shockwaves that keep resounding across the surrounding hills, creating a haunting sound that permeates what should have been a peaceful night. All present had to hold on to anything they could find to not be carried away by the strong winds it generated.

The demi-human tribes on the Albelion hills who witnessed the bright and yellow spear of light shook in their place and grew mad, as the shockwaves kept hitting them. The creatures of the Great Forest of Tob sense the shift in the air and it riled them up, making them more aggressive and ganging up together for safety. The greatest and most talented of the magic casters on the continent could feel the unknown burst of endless mana, breeding a feeling of uncertainty and curiosity in their minds. Even the Dragon Lords, the ones who still lived, roared in defiance to this power, except one, who pondered in silent worry.

In the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Momonga, now known as Ainz Ooal Gown, one of the Supreme Beings of this inhuman underground fortress, was seated on his [Throne of Kings] with a world-class beauty on his side. The skeletal figure was in the process of discussing future plans with his demoness servant after finally ridding Shalltear Bloodfallen, one of the Floor Guardians of Nazarick, of the mind-control spell she was under. The Guardian Overseer Albedo proposed to her master to test their offensive capabilities very soon.

"Umu… I agree, Albedo. We should-"

*WHOOSH*

'Huh?'

"..."

They both stopped and tensed in their posture. They felt a jolt of immense power outside, even when they were in the Throne Room. Something happened in the world. Something big.

Ainz rested his arms on the throne and asked his servant, although it was more of a rhetorical question.

"Did you feel that, Albedo?"

"Yes, Ainz-sama.~" The succubus responded in her honey-like voice, but an astute observer would note that her tone had a severity in it. What both of them felt was very unexpected… and dangerous. Considerably so, judging that what they have found until now in this world was frankly pathetically weak. Ainz put a hand on his chin in thought and after a few minutes, ordered.

"Albedo, call Demiurge and tell him to investigate with some [Shadow Demons] this… matter. Whatever it was, it could pose a serious threat if not kept in check, or it could be something of interest. Also, increase the security level of the tomb to one level and inspect every floor. We will discuss our plans at a later date."

"Understood, Ainz-Sama!~" Albedo bowed and teleported away, ready to complete her master's orders. Ainz, however, kept thinking to himself.

'What was that? It felt… like I was drowning in an ocean… Can I even drown anymore? Aaaah.~ First Shalltear and now this? Will I ever have a break…' Ainz tiredly placed his hand on his temples and shook his skull.

As an undead, he didn't really need rest, but his mental health as a former human was still a major factor. Just as his frustration was about to hit him, his passive skill [Emotion Inhibitor]activated and a green light covered him to his relief. This skill honestly comes in handy when he needs it… and is inconvenient when he doesn't. He ignored this and focused on the matter at hand.

'For now, though, let's just be cautious. It could be another Player, the ones who brainwashed Shalltear, a [World Item]… or anything, really. Who knows what this world is hiding out there?~' Ainz then got up from his throne and looked at the banners of his companions hanging there. He remembered all the moments they spent together and the hardships they endured. So many good memories…

But now, he was alone, in a strange world, with the children of his friends looking at him with overzealous worship. Before drowning in his own depression and activating his passive race skill again, he reminded himself of his mission: to spread the glory of Ainz Ooal Gown and to find out if any of his friends came to this world as well. His depressive feelings went away quickly and were replaced with newfound vigor.

'Either way, it doesn't matter. The security of Nazarick and my friends' creations will come first. No matter what comes or what we face, I will protect them!~' The Overlord of death looked at his bony fists and clenched them. The red dots in his eye sockets glowed brighter, demonstrating his heavy determination.

Nothing would stand in their way. Ainz Ooal Gown does not know defeat!

The pillar of light subsided, and the silent night sky prevailed once again. The armored humanoid collapsed on the grass and appeared to be unconscious. Finally, it was over.

Ligun looked up and slowly got up, while the others nearby copied him. They collectively stared at the one responsible for all of this madness and were frightened out of their mind. Even the stoic 6th Seat couldn't hide his shocked expression. No one dared to speak and some of them were uncontrollably shaking, their minds simply stopped working.

This was severely beyond what any of them expected. It was simply surreal! The display of power they just witnessed beggared belief…

More importantly, if this thing wakes up again, it could potentially obliterate them to smithereens instantly! They needed to get the hell away from this forest now if they valued their lives!

After a long moment of silence between them, their captain attempted to gain their attention.

"Ahem! Listen up! I know what you're all feeling, but remember, we have our orders. We can't just leave this thing alone, or it might endanger human lives. Strap him into the leftover horses and let us depart from this place at once." Ligun concisely said to avoid mass panic and to not waste much time talking, his usual lax personality completely gone.

"Vice-captain, you will return alone to the Capital on a [Floating Board] to report our findings here to the Cardinals. We will retreat back to one of the Fort Cities at the border. Is that understood?" The Vice-captain was thankfully already recovering from the shock and looked at her captain.

"Yes, Captain. I'll leave immediately.~" Maya gave a quick salute to her superior, casted a [Floating Board], and flew away eastwards. She had much to report to her superiors.

Ligun observed her form flying away until she became a simple dot and disappeared into the horizon. He sighed for one last time today and looked at their spoils.

Dozens of them died in that dungeon trying to escape from that… thing. Now, the armored being was being tied up for transportation, although the personnel in charge of the job were clearly anxious to be near this entity and were taking additional precautions to not cause another disaster.

'Here's hoping it doesn't wake up mid-travel… At least I managed to make it out alive. After this is all over, I'll sleep like there's no tomorrow in a warm bed with hot milk by my side…' He thought to himself and smiled. This was a long day…

Days have passed since what the humans of the continent began to call "The Anomaly". The unknown mana burst that every competent magic caster felt, although their descriptions vary according to talent or sensitivity.

None of them, however, could explain how this event came to be, not even the famous Imperial Court Wizard of the Baharuth Empire, Fluder Paradyne, who was capable of conjuring magic of the legendary 6th tier. Nevertheless, it didn't stop them from wildly theorizing to their heart's content, even if none of them came close to the truth.

At the capital city of the Slane Theocracy, Maya Ivras Coloco just finished giving her report to the Pontifex Maximus and the Six Cardinals, the highest-ranking officials of the nation, who many times dictate its overall direction. Each of the cardinals represents one of their gods: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, Life, and Death.

"... Hmm. I see… Thank you for your report, Vice-captain. You may leave." Pontifex Maximus, the head of state of the Slane Theocracy, said in a calm voice to the kneeling woman. He and his colleagues had much to discuss on what to do regarding this new dilemma they are faced with.

"Yes, your Excellency.~" Maya got up and respectfully bowed before leaving the room. Pontifex Maximus then placed his crossed hands on the table where they were seated and initiated their meeting.

"So? What do you all think?"

"I believe this to be a great opportunity for us. If we can harness the power of our subject, we would certainly be able to further our own agenda elsewhere, such as finally ending the war with the Elf Kingdom whilst defending ourselves against the Argland Council State at the same time." Zinedine Delan Guelfi, the Cardinal of Water, spoke first. He was considered to have a brilliant mind, so it didn't come as a surprise he was the first one to speak.

"Although I agree with this logic, are we sure we can control this being? You all felt it, its power is beyond anything I've seen…" Maximilian Oreio Lagier, the Cardinal of Darkness, questioned worriedly. He wasn't confident they had the resources to cope with this new threat.

"Hmph! Not beyond one of the gifts our gods gave us. If we use[Downfall of Castle and Country], that thing will be under our control permanently." Dominic Ihre Partouche, the Cardinal of Wind, countered arrogantly. Almost nothing in this world could resist the mind-controlling spell their gods taught them.

"I agree on the use of the item, but we still haven't found a suitable replacement for Lady Kaire." Berenice Nagua Santini, the Cardinal of Fire, informed. Lady Kaire had died from her injuries when that powerful vampire attacked their Black Scripture.

"Then we should procure one with all haste! We cannot risk this opportunity slipping between our grasp." Dominic exclaimed slightly aloud, the urgency in his voice clear.

"Calm yourself, Dominic. There's no reason to raise your voice…" Yvon Jasna Delacroix, the Cardinal of Light, addressed his colleagues' improper behavior. He usually was the one to point out rude manners between themselves or those beneath their rank, but it wasn't as unbearable as it seemed.

"My apologies, Yvon. But my point still stands." Dominic finished crossing his arms. A few seconds of silence ensued between them until one of them continued their discussion.

"It's fine, Dominic. I believe we all agree with you on this point. We will prepare the next holder of [Downfall of Castle and Country] as soon as we can." Raymond Zarg Lauransan, the Cardinal of Earth and commander of the prestigious Six Scriptures, responded and the other Cardinals nodded their heads.

"But that begs the question. Where will we hold this being while preparations are being made? Surely we can't just pray for it not to escape…?" Yvon interlocked his fingers and asked. They couldn't afford to be unprepared when handling this particular predicament.

"The safest place would be to put our subject in one of our hideouts up north, near the Re-Estize Kingdom border, since the kingdom doesn't bother to investigate our side anyway. We should also employ every anti-divination magic we possess on its location. We most definitely weren't the only ones who perceived this chain of events, namely Platinum Dragon Lord…" Zinedine observantly proposed, gaining murmurs of agreement from the others.

"A good proposition, Zinedine. The Windflower Scripture will maintain guard over this… anomaly until they are properly reinforced and substituted. Until then, we will maintain total secrecy between our own ranks for the purpose of national security." Raymond concluded. They all glanced at him curiously for his choice of words.

In reality, no one there really knew how to address the armored giant they just captured. They didn't even know if it was alive or if it was some sort of golem. They were considering looking over the secret vaults their gods left behind to discover more. Judging from the report the Vice-captain gave them, they might have known the true identity of this being.

Yet regardless of who or what it was, what truly mattered was the power it possessed. Several days ago, they'd have used their [World Item] on Catastrophe Dragon Lord if they weren't stopped by that vampire. But now, they stumbled upon something that could rival, and even go beyond, one of the infamous Dragon Lords, and they would use this enormous advantage for the good of all humankind. It truly was miraculous how this just fell right into their laps when they most needed it…

"...Mhm. I believe we've found a sensible course of action. If there is nothing more to add, we should move on to other topics…" Pontifex Maximus suggested, and they went on to discuss other matters of state that required their attention.

The flying castle of Eryuentiu.

A massive fortress hovering above the ground and located in a desert south of the Slane Theocracy. According to legend, the Eight Greed Kings built it to serve as their empire's capital when they ruled the continent. Even after their downfall, the floating fort stands imposingly in the air, protected by 30 guards with unknown magical weapons.

Curiously, the structure can generate an unlimited amount of water, which falls like a waterfall to the desert below. Because of this, a prosperous metropolis has formed underneath the shadow of the castle, surrounded by a magic enchantment that shrouds them from onlookers.

Tsaindorcus Vaision, famously known as Platinum Dragon Lord, was safely slumbering away in a chamber inside Eryuentiu. He took residence in this place centuries ago, after the fallout between the Eight Greed Kings which led to their civilization's demise, and vowed to protect the treasures contained there so they would never fall into the wrong hands. His peace was interrupted when he heard footsteps approaching him. He hummed and opened his lizard eyes, only to see an old friend of his.

"It's been a long time, Tsa.~" An older woman calls to him while smiling.

Rigrit Bers Caurau, one of the Thirteen Heroes of 200 years ago. Tsaindorcus then raises his massive head, fully awake now, but doesn't say anything.

"What's wrong? Have you even forgotten how to say hello?~" Rigrit mischievously says. It seems she hasn't changed after all these years…

"Ha-Ha, sorry, Rigrit. I was just trembling with emotion at seeing my old friend again." Tsaindorcus responded politely.

The two then started reminiscing about their times as fellow members of the Thirteen Heroes, Tsaindorcus' deception, Rigrit's retirement, and what happened to that 'Inberun' girl. However, both of them knew they had to talk about something of far more importance.

"So, Tsa… You already know why I'm here, don't you…?" Rigrit says to her friend in an uncharacteristically serious tone. The Dragon Lord nods his head and says somberly.

"Umu. Great powers roam our world once again, my friend. This time, they are stronger than ever…" He briefly gazes at his platinum armor, damaged by that powerful vampire he encountered before.

It unsettled him to no end that the "Advent of Players" that happens every 100 years continues to threaten their world to this day, thanks to his father...

Yet, Tsaindorcus would defend his home against this scourge until his last dying breath. This, he solemnly swears.

"Are you able to determine their nature? Are they allies of the world this time?" Rigrit asked, still with that serious face of hers. Tsaindorcus knew that if something could make even Rigrit serious, then it should not be joked about. He would gain nothing from leaving his allies in the dark. In fact, it'd hinder him and his plans. So, he closed his eyes in thought and spoke.

"I can confidently infer that one of them is evil. However, the 'anomaly' is another matter entirely… In all honesty, I forgot about 'him' in all these 600 years, since I judged the matter already handled. Clearly, I was wrong."

"Him? Who are you talking about?~" The old magic caster questioned curiously. The Anomaly was someone? If it's true… the consequences could be severe.

The dragon appeared hesitant to speak further. It was uncomfortable for him to talk so openly about this subject. It involved something far more dangerous than the Players themselves after all. But after a few moments, he relented and divulged what he knew.

"Hmm… 'He' was one of the first to arrive from YGGDRASIL, 600 years ago. His power… was immeasurable. Not even my father could fairly compete. He raised mountains and flooded entire lands with the seas when he first arrived in his wild state, changing the landscape of the continent forever. The Dragon Lords of old were at a loss on what to do." Platinum Dragon Lord paused so this information could sink in and continued.

"The Six Great Gods, in contrast, knew exactly who he was and explained him in great detail. Apparently, the entity was referred to as a 'Boss', and one of the strongest they knew of. They clarified he wasn't a 'Player' and was more akin to an 'NPC', but was created differently by something they referred to as 'Devs'." He pronounced the foreign terms to her friend the way he remembered being told so long ago.

"They approached the Dragon Lords for help in dealing with the uncontrollable 'beast' that was still convulsing on its own power. The Dragon Lords, who didn't have much of a choice, ignored their own pride and agreed to team up. In an incredible display of unity, they succeeded in their task and the 'Boss' was contained… until now." Tsaindorcus finished giving his grand tale, to the shock and horror of Rigrit.

This was unprecedented. If this 'Boss' was on the loose, what could they possibly do to stop him? No. Tsa is still strong himself, so there's still a chance. After a moment to fully understand the situation, she spoke.

"... From what you said, Tsa, he wasn't in his right state of mind when he first arrived. I know the power of both the True Dragon Lords and of those from YGGDRASIL, so how come they were able to battle this 'Boss' and win?" If this being was as powerful as her friend said, then there barely existed anyone who could stop him that they knew of.

"Surprisingly, the being was greatly weakened when the day arrived to confront him, according to the Six gods, but he was still strong enough not to be slain by the party. They theorized that his outbursts were his full power gradually leaving him, due to the different natures of both our world and YGGDRASIL. So, it was decided by both the Dragon Lords and the Six Great Gods that they would imprison the 'Boss' in a special dungeon, using both Tier and Wild magic to hold him indefinitely. Evidently… they didn't account that he would be released a few centuries later…"

He shook his head at their huge blunder, but eventually let it go. Nothing would come out when mulling over past mistakes. He knew that lesson very well…

She placed a finger on her chin to further process all of this. Frankly, this was all too much, even for one as old as her and who fought the Evil Deities so long ago. But she knew that if nothing was done, it could release something that their world was woefully unprepared for.

"Does he have a name?" Rigrit asked and the dragon slowly nodded.

"Antares, the Son of Yggdrasil."

.

.

.

Deep beneath the earth, an armored being was completely shackled with chains in a secured cell upon a wall. The guards actively avoided the cell, thinking their prisoner a bad omen from the gods or something that shouldn't exist in this plane of reality.

They prayed and prayed for their prisoner not to awaken and create another cataclysm, for they knew what this being was capable of. Unfortunately, their prayers went unanswered, for their fears came true… but not the way they imagined.

The being stirred, slightly twitching his fingers. His feet, which were hanging on the floor, stood him up.

He slowly raised his helmet. And from its empty eye-sockets, golden stars gleamed in lost brilliance once, before returning to darkness.

"..."

The guards outside heard a voice, otherworldly to their ears, but notably weak.

"Where…

am…

I…?"

Chapter 1 finished


And so it begins…

Leave reviews, feedback, suggestions and whatever you'd like to me. I'm still new at this, so I hope I can get lots of help from you guys. Cheers!

P.S: I don't know how to put images or what images to put, so if someone could help, I'd be obliged