A/n: Okay so first things first.

I AM SO. SORRY, THIS TOOK SO LONG!

After finishing the chapter one rewrite I got burnt out HARD, completely dead I nearly gave up on the story as a whole.

But I didn't.

Otherwise thanks for reading and leaving reviews they help a lot!

Chapter six

Puppies and Dragons.

A Floating Castle.

BOOM!

Dust filled her vision as her strike met ground its original target already leaping away from her, but that didn't matter not when she could reach them in less than a second.

The Ground cracked beneath her feet as she dashed from the spot her sword cleaving through the air so fast a high-pitched whistle became the only noise in the room.

"MATCH!"

A yell came from her side, no doubt the observer had deemed she'd lost yet again.

But as she lowered her head ready to receive yet another scolding about shoddy form or sloppy movements the dust settled around her.

Revealing a moment she'd save for the rest of her life.

Pinned to the ground her sword a hairs length from their neck was Rigrit with a wide smirk across her face.

"Congratulations on reaching the realm of heroes Lakyus, I knew I was right to have you in Blue Rose."

The settling dust now revealed a third figure stepping into the large training room.

"Do not lavish her with praise just yet.

This masked player is likely stronger than all three of us in tandem, hubris will be our downfall."

Lakyus heaved her trusty sword out the stone floor, Kilineiram, originally she'd thought it was just a cursed weapon that happened to be quite strong. Now she wanted to slap her past self for never having the weapon reach its full potential.

Nor hers.

According to the platinum dragon lord, the weapon was far stronger than she'd ever anticipated. And not just for its ability to level a city in a single strike.

The sword as the dragon lord claimed was able to store something like the souls of those it killed, a strange energy he'd learned about from the players who once roamed the world, an energy called ekc-pea.

Now that strange energy flowed through her veins allowing her to grow far stronger than training ever had.

"Don't worry, I know my place in all this I'm just glad for the opportunity to avenge my sisters."

The room turned sullen with her mention of the fallen, sure revival would have been possible, had a third of E Rantel not been reduced to ash.

"Come, Rigrit we have much to discuss on the upcoming fight, I trust your withered old bones still know that word yes?"

Rigrit silently followed the dragon out of the room.

Her sisters would be avenged and her kingdom would be saved, she would guarantee that no matter what.

E Rantel.

The city was bathed in white as it seemed every citizen was out and about, a far different atmosphere from the months prior.

All along the city, multicolored ribbons stretched from roof to roof, every street corner caked in bright white streamers and confetti. All the while bands of bards sang out, their instruments turning the once drab city into quite possibly the happiest place in the world.

The occasion?

Why it was the first queen's coronation!

In one day the Re Estize kingdom would crown its first-ever queen and everyone wanted to celebrate.

Although most had far different reasons to do so.

Among the commoners it was simple, abundant food subsidized by the crown was everywhere just free for the taking. For adventurers, it signaled a change in the long depression brought on by the 'Day of Fire' and a surge of new blood to replace those that were lost.

For a large portion of noble society, they celebrated for a much more nefarious reason.

The new queen had just given them the perfect place to stage their coup alongside the rightful heir to the throne, and in one day their armies would march to the city cutting it off from any hope of rescue from the kingdom abroad.

Renner however knew their entire plan not only having a way to stop it dead but having a perfect counter once things started to turn. And if all else fails? A certain masked mage and his tiny little gift sat atop her head.

Placing her tea cup back into its saucer she couldn't help that her true smile was breaking free. After all, she was looking down to the garden below where her darling pet was sparing with some adventurers.

Every movement he took was beautiful, every breath that came was awe-inspiring, and every drop of sweat that fell was. . .

She composed herself, she couldn't have her facade broken only a day before her prize was to be given.

Returning to more civil thoughts she tried to watch the training in earnest. Swinging his sword Climb easily deflected an oncoming spear pushing it to the side where he struck its wielder firmly in the ribs.

Sure it was a dulled training sword but the strike still looked painful and the trainee fell to the ground writhing in pain. Causing all the others to take several steps back, far from the reach of Climb's sword.

The added distance did little as in a moment Climb was already swinging his sword right into the abdomen of a mountain of a man. The two standing so close was comical as Climb was dwarfed by the man twice his height, even more humorous was how Climb sent him flying.

As the large man tried to free himself from the branches of a nearby tree Climb called an end to the match, a resounding failure as not one of the trainees had so much as scratched Climb.

"Your highness, a moment of your time?"

A voice from behind pulled Renner from the lecture Climb began to drill into the would-be adventurers.

Standing with both hands behind his back was a tall man dressed in rich clothing, perfect for the highest of nobles. His aging hair was slicked back as his gaze never quite centered on Renner herself always darting away the moment it drew close.

"Ah, marquis Raeven, truly a pleasure to see you again after so long, may I ask, how is my brother doing all the way from home?"

Raeven shifted slightly at her brother's mention, no doubt fearful to even have the man in his territory let alone be actively assisting him in his ventures.

"His highness prince Zanac is doing quite well I believe he's fully adjusted to frontier living, in regards to your family might I inquire into your plans for your eldest brother?"

This was always the hardest part of her plans, how to lie to those smart enough to sniff out the deception while still keeping them in the know of her greater picture. She'd have to word everything carefully around Raeven not just for his intelligence but for the shadow sitting in the corner as well.

"It's currently very simple in design although that shouldn't prove an issue seeing as how my brother is quite simple himself.

We started the festivities yesterday as you should know but have you noticed something strange about those making merry in the streets?"

Raeven walked to the balcony and looked over at the streets below staring intently at every little detail certain he'd missed something.

"No your highness I don't see anything in particular about them."

"Take another look and tell me, aside from those in the noble district, where are the guards?"

Doing as he was told he again stepped over to the ledge and began to peer intently toward the city below.

"Well, they should be. . . Gone

They're all gone."

"Precisely, each and every one has been pulled away and reequipped with the best gear I could procure from the adventurers that retired.

Now hidden within the barracks of this city is an elite army all armed with magical weapons and wearing enchanted armor.

My brother the fool thinks I to only possess the remnants of the guard from the attack, oh to see the surprise of his folly."

In reality, her plan had far more points most of which just focused on what could go wrong but in the end, it truly was as simple as she said. There really were soldiers armed with magical gear awaiting an attack on the city, the city actually was devoid of any guard presence, and her brother really had no clue that despite the attack not one of the guards had fled.

"Truly brilliant, and please your highness do not hesitate to call for my aide I am always willing to lend help should the need arise.

Now if you will excuse me I must retain appearances for those nobles still within the city."

Walking away from the room Marquis Raeven could only think one thing.

'I must never anger her.'

Renner let out a slight giggle at the man's behavior as he left, oh what would the other nobles think if the strongest among them was seen quivering before a little girl?

Arwintar, the Arena.

The rich red carpet, comfortable seats, amazing food, and even better wine did little to lessen Clementine's foul mood. And so sat in luxury quite literally fit for an emperor she was seething in anger.

Not at her situation, her companions, nor her tendency to find herself in the worst possible outcomes for a fugitive trying to run from the strongest people in the world.

No, right now she was mad at one person, the masked mage who took her hand and ruined her already difficult plan to escape. Turning it completely on its head forcing her to go in the exact opposite direction she intended.

By now she should have been in the north far from the Theocracies prying eyes and more importantly the black scripture. But here she was center stage in one of the biggest allies of the Theocracy about to have a meeting with the damn emperor himself.

To top off her situation Khajiit under a false identity, looking like a corpse, while being one of the most wanted criminals in the world. Demanded she take him along this entire time instead of parting ways the moment they reached the Empire like the plan had originally entailed.

"Announcing his majesty Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix."

Stepping through the opening doors was a man Clementine could only call. . .

A twig.

For a title like the bloody emperor, she expected him to be some huge brute whose only defining feature would be a tendency to smash his lessers into a fine paste.

While she'd read reports from her time in the black scripture that told her otherwise his long list of accomplishments pointed towards her first thoughts about the man.

Dozens of well-known military figures dead, all of whose deaths were named as this man's kills. So either the intel was exaggerated or she was looking at the world's smallest warrior. Her bet was on the former.

"Greetings Swords of Darkness, first I would like to say marvelous fighting in the arena, so long has it been since I've been truly enthralled by a fight such as yours."

Clementine was at her limit and the useless pleasantries were about to send her over the edge.

"Skip the nonsense you obviously want us to do something for you so out with it already."

"Watch your. . ."

Silenced by a hand from the emperor the guard quickly stepped back a hate-filled gaze pointing straight to Clementine.

"No my apologies, you're very busy.

To come right out and say it I have a request I would like for you all to undertake. As I am aware you all hail from the Re Estize kingdom yes?

Well as you likely know the area between our two nations has become quite infested with the undead as of late. Thanks to my scouts I believe I've found the source of this wave of undeath and I'd like you five to put an end to all this madness."

Of course, It would be a job to walk back to the kingdom, no way in hell was she going to run all the way back just so she could fight some random litch and its army of undead.

"We'll do it."

Ninya's voice beside her sent what little restraint she had left sailing over the edge. With one swift kick, the door to the hall came free from its hinges a shower of splinters littering the once pristine carpet.

Her team was dumbfounded at their strongest member's sudden and violent departure. Only to return to their senses by the emperor's voice and light smile.

"Don't worry about the door, if anything it shows just how strong you truly all are, It was enchanted after all.

But no matter, there will be a meeting alongside other teams tomorrow just outside the western gates I hope to see you there."

Joy, yearning, depression, and fear.

Currently, Fluder Paradyne was experiencing every one of these emotions all at once.

Joy from finding a book on magic that somehow over the hundreds of years that he'd lived he had not once read.

Yearning to read and memorize every single spell the book contained and further peer into the abyss that was magic.

Depression at the eventual realization that despite his eagerness and abilities he would likely never learn all of the secrets contained within this book.

And finally, fear, fear that after weeks of hunting through pages, decoding the cipher they were written in, and translating the ancient text all his work would have been for nothing.

Even after being given a drawing of the spell the masked mage used he still wasn't any closer to finding the exact magic within the pages of this book.

Why was it fear and not frustration at his inabilities?

Because of all the books within the secret library, only one remained unread, a diary supposedly written by one of the gods over six hundred years ago.

The last book he had translated, was a simple leather diary withering and rotting from the passage of time.

But yet the book wasn't rotting, on closer inspection, the book only appeared to be in a state of decay almost as though the look of age was intentional.

Attempting to read the ancient book had proved futile as all attempts to open the damn thing more than the first pages resulted in nothing more than pained fingers.

For all the trouble the book gave him only one thing urged him to continue this seemingly impossible task, the book's cover. Written in a language he'd never seen, one he knew that the moment he translated it whatever secrets it held would no doubt be the key to the abyss that he so craved.

Clutching the book under his arm as he left the underground library he swore to pry the thing open if he had to, something he'd have to do in his lab where he wouldn't accidentally destroy a book hundreds of years old.

The book's cover was just visible around his arm.

"A player's guide to magic."

Slane Theocracy.

Pristine white tablecloth, a golden candelabra, and cutlery that seemed to glow from over-polishing. To top it all off were two dozen matching chairs made of rich wood that could only be found deep in the mountains.

Truly the grand table would be fit for any number of kings and queens to sit and discuss politics, however, only three figures sat at this table.

And silence reigned.

Each one's face was gloomy and serious as not a word was spoken between them, the room becoming so quiet one could hear the candles flickering at the other side of the table.

To see this sight anyone would wonder 'just how can they sit there in such luxury and look so sad about it?'

But the three sitting in this glorious room originally meant to serve the greatest leaders in the world could care less about this fact.

No, for each one of them knew that just outside those clean marble and gold walls awaited a nightmare of proportions they could never hope to contain.

"So. . .

I suppose we should begin with congratulations for our dear cardinal of earth's recovery.

Welcome back Raymond it's good to see you up and about again."

Raymond didn't even look up at the cardinal of winds jab at his condition.

After all that happened, he couldn't care less about his petty old rivalry, not when all that remained of his home was ash.

However, the cardinal fire seemed to be at her wit's end with the man.

"Now isn't the time Dominic we've much more pressing issues and I'd rather you don't start up your senseless bickering when so few of us remain."

"Very well but you should know my opinions on our future by now so I'll refrain from repeating myself yet again."

Raymond would have struck the man across the face if he could still stand to do so.

Dominic's idea could only be called childish and vain, among all the horrors that awaited them outside he'd proposed, they find new cardinals rather than attempt to put out the hundreds of fires that still burned across the country. And that didn't even consider the fact that the capital itself, the only such place an election could even be held, was currently a poisonous pile of rubble.

To think the he could care so little for the common man made Raymond sick.

"Yes, yes we've heard it a dozen times now, but again I'll repeat the only way we could even attempt that is after we reestablish the government and return order.

If things continue to go on like this petty riots will become the least of our worries."

Raymond agreed with Berenice in theory but his worries were much more pressing, more, fear-inducing.

As a former member of the black scripture, he was privy to information most others were not, he even knew a few things the Pontifex Maximus, the highest authority in the land, didn't know about

The biggest of these few secrets was one he dreaded to be true, among all the enemies humanity had faced and overcome there would always exist things they could never beat. Things like the dragon lords who reigned with absolute power or there were the mountain of Demi-humans each one capable of fighting mythril-level adventurers with ease.

It was common knowledge among the high council that these threats could easily overwhelm humanity even with the scriptures at hand. The council even knew of the existence of the many beings that came from the realm of the gods and that each time they came order would be rewritten.

What they didn't know was a warning, a warning from the last servant of the six great gods. Still to this day Raymond could remember his hushed and frightening words.

'My masters searched high and low for why they were forced into this world, driving themselves mad in the process.

For all their searching only one thing came to be known and it was their final order that I relay their warning when the time came.

Those brought to this world share but one similarity each one carries an artifact capable of changing the world itself, items that were feared even among those who dwelled in that realm.

My masters learned that as time goes on those coming to this world will each resist the pull more and more until finally the last arrives. My masters feared that the day no more arrive, but one would remain, a being of such power and strength they alone would be feared among all others.'

Raymond relived the short conversation almost every day since he was told of the coming doom.

For a being of strength on par with the gods to have said such a warning so fearfully brought shivers down his spine. And to make matters worse, nothing from that realm had been found in over two hundred and fifty years.

Something had finally come a being even the gods would have feared, something humanity no, the world would never hope to overcome.

A pair of fingers snapping startled him throwing his thought back to the ether.

"Raymond I know you're not in the best of shape but please pay some attention.

Now I'll repeat myself once more.

As our first action, we are to call upon all scriptures from abroad to return at once, from there we will reclaim the capital and the underground sanctuary where we will rebuild outward.

Agreed?"

Two voices rang out.

"Agreed."

Falling to his knees and weeping was hardly an overreaction at the sight before him.

Nigun was openly weeping position and morale be damned, not that he was the only one crying anyway.

No, nearly all of his men in the sunlight scripture had broken the moment they saw what remained of their capital city.

A holy place once home to the gods themselves was now a mountain of smoldering rubble, the scent of death heavy in the air.

After regaining his composure Nigun could think of only two choices before him, either he could weep until he died of dehydration or he could rebuild the majesty the gods thought to bestow on the world.

Obviously, he chose the latter and so too did his men following not a second behind him.

Passing through the ruined city he found that while the majority was little else than a wasteland, a small ring of buildings on the outermost of the city had somehow survived.

Of course, these few standing buildings were far from perfect shape but they were certainly a haven among the sea of piecemeal shelters and tents.

Surprising Nigun to no end a rather large portion of the city's occupants had survived whatever befell the once grand city. And even more thankful it appeared that almost all of these survivors were humans and not one of the many slave races was to be found.

"Oh thank the gods perhaps we have yet to bring the full might of their wrath."

If only the humans of the city were still living then maybe just maybe the gods had seen fit to give them another chance to correct their folly.

What the mistake was Nigun hoped was obvious to not only him and his men but those around him as well, for surely they would know it is by the grace of the gods that they even lived.

To allow such lesser beings into a holy city such as this it was no wonder the gods had seen fit to bestow calamity. Now the only thing left to do would be to rebuild with the heavenly decree in mind.

And he knew just where to start.

For what could be better for the starving masses than the blessings of food straight from the gods chosen apostles?

Finding the largest group of survivors was easy as they huddled around their pitiful accommodations looks of hunger and jealousy quickly replaced the somber mood.

"Come all who still accept the word of the gods!

Come, come and let the divine blessings bestowed upon those favored by the gods fill your aching stomachs!

Come and repent for our darkest hour has passed and our gods have seen fit to spare us!"

All around them people's heads began to turn as Nigun continued to shout his gods' will to the masses. Before long rows and rows of people were lined up beside him and his men turning what once was a desolate field of rubble back into a bustling city center.

{Create Rations} was a simple spell with a simple use, creating food for anyone who needed it. Of course, the magically made meal was far from the fine dining many of the disheveled survivors would be used to, but none complained.

In fact, as each one left Nigun could see the faintest of smiles spread across each face, no doubt grateful for the sudden generosity.

'Perfect, now they will listen, now they shall learn of the horror of what's to come if they do not change.'

Taking in a deep breath Nigun readied himself for what was to come, while he was once a man of the cloth his strength had far outshined his ability to preach.

"Yes! Eat! Eat and rejoice for those still standing here today may call themselves the gods' chosen few!

Those of you who can still eat alongside one another fret not for what has passed is not punishment but forgiveness!

Forgiveness for the sins of our greed!

We forget so soon the teachings of the gods blatantly ignoring the first thing we have been taught!

That humans! And humans alone should rule these lands!"

The crowd watched Nigun with everything from inspiring gazes to looks of fearful contemplation each word soaking into them like rain on a blanket.

Slowly as more and more came to know of the handouts of food so too did they come to learn of Nigun's preaching. Soon the crowd of hundreds turned to thousands and yet more was it growing a circle of people now forming around the white-clad mage.

With a look of determination, Nigun understood exactly what the gods had laid out before him.

These were lost sheep, masses desperate and needy forever stranded thinking that among the ashes their gods had left them to rot.

So right then he knew his purpose, to guide these lost souls, to correct this mistake by those who only wanted money and power.

"Look around you, my brothers and sisters!

Look upon the faces of those who stand beside you!

Look and tell me what you see?"

A wave of murmurs and hushed whispers whipped through the crowd of onlookers as a single question became common.

"What has happened to those of the lesser races?

I shall tell you what has happened!

The gods have seen fit to correct our mistake!

Our divergence from their teachings has led us to become weak and far too careless about these beasts we dared to let live!

Even now as we sit atop a pile of our homes and loved ones still do those outside the capital frolic with the animals that have led to this tragedy!

So I ask you again!

Look upon your neighbors and tell me what you see!?

For I see one thing!

Humans!"

With one last word, the crowd roared in realization a sense of comfort and relief washed over each of them.

For now

Now they had someone to blame.

Re Estize.

'THEIF!

THAT DAMN DIRTY THEIF!'

Barbro paced between his bed and the wall all the while muttering those same words again and again.

He was furious and if his behavior didn't point that out the massive painting he'd destroyed should be a pretty big clue.

Propped up against a wall was a massive portrait of the Golden Princess slash marks and arrows dotting its surface. Each one was a deceleration of exactly what he intended to do once he saw his bitch of a sister.

To think his father would pull a stunt like this and put little more than a child atop the throne when he'd worked day and night for the last ten years to ensure he and he alone would be the perfect king.

Now all that awaited him was the life of a third son, a position that he would rather be dead than be seen in.

Oh but he would be far from dead by the end of the week, no, by the full moon he was certain that not only would the crown be rested upon his head but there wouldn't exist a soul who'd dare to question his rule.

Certainly not after what he had planned.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

A sudden knocking on his door dispelled his fury in an instant, after all, it wouldn't do for the future king of Re Estize to be seen in such a state.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Your majesty Marquis Boullope wishes to speak with you."

The timid voice of a maid responded from behind the door. Boullope, his father-in-law, was the last person he wanted to speak with right now and he was certain the man knew this. After all, he was only married to the marquis' daughter under the condition he became king.

Now that man wished to speak to him personally it would likely be about canceling his marriage, or even worse he could be here to retract his support!

Either way it wouldn't do to keep the man waiting for very long the fact he wasn't doing anything of importance didn't matter.

Pushing open the doors he heard a small yelp of surprise from the maid waiting outside.

Staring at the startled woman only reminded him of his sister, a short blonde woman who jumped at every shadow.

'If he is to ask I break off the marriage I suppose I could always have my fun with the maids instead.

Surely they'd even be grateful to be bedded by the king of Re Estize, after all, it would be the highest honor I could give such a lowly woman.'

Stepping into the tea room the first thing he noticed was the sullen look across marquis Bullope's face accentuated by the flickering of a fireplace behind him.

Quickly standing the marquis bowed when he noticed Barbro enter the room, something he hadn't done since he gave his daughter's hand.

"Your highness my condolences, I've heard the disheartening news only recently and I came to offer my sympathies."

The sudden pity was a surprise for sure but that still did little to dissuade his fears of what would come next. His words would have to be thought out very carefully as even the smallest of slip-ups could lose him his biggest supporter.

"I thank you, but it is no worry I'm certain my father has simply made an err in judgment he is mounting in years and I worry for him every day."

Boullope nodded with a light smile.

"Yes so too do we nobles fret over our aging lord but shall we move on to more pressing issues?"

"Yes of course."

"As you've likely noticed your sister has chosen to reside in E Rantel during her coronation, however it has come to my attention that she's relieved the town's guard for the celebration.

With your permission, I'd happily station some of my most elite men to protect her in their stead."

Barbro was silent for a moment.

Before bursting into a hearty laugh.

"Hahahaha!

You surely are the kindest man in the kingdom to look after my sister like this I thank you with utmost sincerity.

Although I should tell you I've requested some soldiers of my choosing to assist her as well. They should be arriving within three or four days if I have been told correctly so."

Boullope leaned forward as a large grin crept onto his face.

"What a coincidence then, so to will my men arrive within a few short days."

At that, both men started to laugh.

Oh, how he couldn't wait to see his sisters smile once more, to see her on such a glorious day why his timing couldn't have been a second better.

He may even have to visit her personally.

After all, that's what family is for right?

Several drops of sweat splattered on the ground as she quickly jumped back to avoid an oncoming strike.

The war hammer that was seconds from caving in her skull now slamming into the ground a puff of dirt thrown high into the air.

She knew the hammer was too heavy for her opponent to quickly lift giving her the precious second she needed to dash forward. Her short sword raised high she brought it down the moment she came into range of her target.

Not her opponent, his weapon.

Slamming the flat of her sword down on the handle caused a satisfying cry to ring out as the massive hammer fell to the ground. Disarmed or not her foe was far from finished and the fist headed straight for her chest was proof of that.

Pain was all she felt as her vision blurred and her ears popped, seconds that felt like hours passed before she felt a new pain, this time from behind. She'd been sent flying across the room straight into a wall.

Pulling herself free from the bricks digging into her back she tightened her sword-arms grip and readied for one last charge.

Lowering her stance she burst forward.

And fell on her face less than a meter away as a loud whistle signaled the dual's end.

"That's it red wins!

Go get healed up and come right back!

Especially you Brita that hit could've broken your spine!"

Stepping in from the side was a bright silver figure.

Climb, the new queen's personal guard, and for the next two weeks, she and fifteen others would be calling him master.

'But he's so small!'

Limping away from the training ring the same thought kept pounding her head.

'How the hell is someone so short so strong!'

Like everyone else who'd been forced into this emergency training she tried to fight him once she was told that he was the teacher. Only to receive the ass beating of a lifetime when it turned out this kid was equivalent to a platinum-rank adventurer.

Grunting in pain as her bones melded back together she was at least thankful that the guild had decided to push some clerics into this training as sudden as it was. It started two weeks ago when one of the new guild receptionists told her to report to a meeting with the guild master himself.

Expecting to be removed for some hitherto unseen rule she violated somehow, she was instead met with the guild master and some kid telling her there would be forced training to raise her rank.

Sure she was happy that if she completed the course she would be raised a rank but the difficulty of the training was starting to get extreme. Her last match being perfect proof of that, her almost dying and all.

Sore and still bruised she walked back to the ring just in time to see a swordsman in leather armor sent flying his opponent still covered in a faint blue glow.

"Match, blue wins!"

Taking her place beside her fellow bloodied partners she quietly awaited their teacher's next lecture.

"Alright, I hope you all saw that last fight yes?

Well, I hope I don't need to explain that what he just used was a martial art and from the looks of it a damn good one too.

For the rest of the day, all of you will train the use of these abilities!

Remember they will come to you naturally once enough effort has been put in so I expect to see you all collapsing from exhaustion!"

As the young teacher walked away Brita could overhear the flurry of whispered curses as the boy left the ring.

Climb collapsed into the first chair he found, training a few soldiers with the basics of swordplay was one thing but to train so many adventurers was overkill.

He didn't care though, his lady had asked this of him, and by the gods, he would get it done, he had a lot of legacies to live up to as well.

Pulling a small ring from a pouch on his hip he sighed, for all his mentor had done for him to leave him such a valuable magic item boggled his mind.

According to the letter, Gazef had left him the ring could push one well past their limits, even pushing those on the brink right into the realm of the heroes when normally they would never reach such a height.

Yet he refused to wear it proclaiming to himself that only when he could match Gazef's legacy would he dare to use such a thing.

Looking at the adventurers he wondered just how far they would push themselves, would they keep going higher and higher just for the money?

Or was it more?

What drove these people who could easily live peaceful lives to risk life and limb almost every day?

He may never know.

"Amazing isn't it huh?"

A familiar voice startled Climb.

Turning to face the new arrival he was faced by a forty-something year old man dressed in thick leather armor, dozens of pouches and vials lining every inch of his person.

"Lockmeier sir I wasn't expecting you, please, sit."

"Ah, nope stop that right now, your training adventurers you need to act like them.

All that fancy noble talk will only piss them off and ruin all our hard work."

Climb nodded in understanding to the man.

Lockmeier was an ex-adventurer of mythril rank and a personal hire of marquis Raeven. Having been asked by the queen he and his entire team had happily accepted the role of training a new band of soldiers alongside Climb.

"So Climb my boy how goes the new blood?"

"Their doing quite good actually, so far two of them have learned martial arts and all but one have seen major improvement to their strength."

"Good, good.

I'm impressed, it's almost unthinkable that you've managed what should normally take years to do."

Turning to the training the two were silent.

"So any luck with her majesty?"

"W-what!?"

Lockmeier let out a chuckle as he watched the boy beside him turn a shade of bright red.

"Enjoy this peace while you can Climb.

Take it from a veteran like me, something big is coming and it's coming soon.

Best to make that move than to regret never doing it."

Lockmeier was silent as his face went dark.

Letting out a small smile he stood and walked away only offering a parting wave.

Climb thought about what he said and couldn't help the frown as he realized the truth of what may come to pass.

For months now things had only gotten worse and worse with only the recent few weeks being calmer than they had ever been before. Hell, even the Empire was acting calmer than usual not even hinting at their annual war.

Putting everything side by side Climb could only wonder.

Was this the calm before the storm?

Dave lived a relatively simple life every day being almost identical to the last the only difference of note is the weather changing.

Every day the same, wake up, eat breakfast, wash up, patrol the border, and go to bed.

It was boring doing the same thing every day but Dave liked it and even though it didn't pay the best it was still far better than working on his parent's farm for his whole life.

Sure his family didn't want him to die in some war against the Empire never even knowing why they fought but he knew that if he of all people had to fight the war was lost.

Such was the benefit of working as a soldier on the border opposite of your nation's enemies.

Today had started just like any other his same old routine his same old captain and not a thing out of place.

Staring out into the mountain range that separated Re Estize from the Argland Council State always filled him with a sense of peace.

Peace knowing that should the worst come to pass he and his loved ones could always run away.

He let out a tired yawn as he watched the wisps of clouds drift lazily in the morning sky. Like all day today was peaceful as always, so calm, so quiet, so so. . .

Thump.

Hitting the ground he never saw the massive black beast high above him, nor did he feel the magic take effect as his life was pulled from his body.

He died never knowing what had killed him.

High above the clouds, a dragon let out a yawn as it consumed more and more souls.

All the more to feed the coming fight and see just which of the two could truly be called powerful.

Baharuth Empire.

Wyvern meat cut from just below the neck and seared in butter and herbs found only in the deepest forests. Beside a plate of roast potatoes all on a bed of lettuce sourced from the dwarves of the Azerlisia Mountains.

This was the main course for what could be called the most important dinner in the history of the empire. And not a copper had been spared in preparing for it either, from gold inlaid drapes for all the windows, to the silver cutlery not a thing could be called any less than extravagant.

If Jircniv could have made but one complaint about the festivities he would tell you without hesitation.

"We lack the guest of honor!"

Throughout the dinner, people were enjoying the finest food and drink the Empire had to offer and yet everyone would bemoan the same complaint as their ruler.

"Where oh where is our dear guest now?"

Who, could hold such a reputation to allow a party so grand and yet never appear despite their name being cried to the heavens?

For that there was but only a single name that could come to mind. Why none other than Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself the golden princess herself.

Or perhaps she should be called the golden queen now that her coronation was only days away.

Either way, it didn't matter for this party this day and this merriment were all in her name and her legacy. Not to mention the milestone of being the first female ruler of the kingdom in its entire history.

Many outsiders would soon ask why the emperor and most all the nobles were celebrating the rise of an enemy ruler and if rumors proved true, a far more capable one than the last.

Well to answer such a question one would need to look no further than the kingdom itself. For with Renner's rise to the throne a civil war was all but guaranteed and soon after that so too would be the complete assimilation of the Kingdom.

So this party, this celebration had but one thing in mind.

Thanking the golden princess for handing over her country and saving the Empire years of work.

Jircniv himself could be called the most grateful of all drinking the day away and enjoying the best food he'd eaten in days.

"So your majesty I presume things have finally started to fall into place as you perceived them to."

Turning from the table of delicacies Jircniv eyed the noble standing beside him.

Count Flavella, one of the few remaining high nobles after his purge several years back. The man was honest and hard-working and could be relied on for almost any situation if Jircniv could sum up this man he would call him the ideal noble.

"Well, Flavella while I'd hate to stoke my ego in such an event I can't help the pride of seeing a job well done, more so after working on it for so long."

"I still can't believe it, something the Empire has dreamt of for so long finally coming to fruition after so many failed attempts, congratulations!"

Jircniv swirled the amber liquor in his glass remembering well all the failed attempts he'd seen, one more so than any other.

"Thank you, and please feel free to help yourself to a few new territories once the dust has cleared.

I highly doubt those incompetent things the Kingdom calls nobles will miss it anyway."

"Well, your majesty I may just take you up on that.

Now if you'll excuse me I see a prime plate of pastries just begging to be eaten."

Watching the retreating form of Flavella Jircniv felt a surge of satisfaction, it had taken months of planning just to create their current strategy. So to see it all fall into place was like watching his first son being born and yet despite the pride he still felt the nagging tug of dread in the back of his mind.

Sure things had resumed their expected paths once word came to pass of the building coup in the Kingdom, but still, the ever-present fear that among all his plans he'd forgotten some key detail.

No, he hadn't forgotten it not even a little bit rather he pushed it to the recesses of his mind clinging to the hope that it would only help.

This wild card he dared not to speak of?

A certain masked mage who'd not appeared in months since he decimated a city in one spell and fled.

Not even the greatest of his spies could find even the smallest of traces of the man, almost as though he'd fallen off the face of the world.

Just who was this man with some mysterious grudge toward the kingdom? So far all he learned of the man was a rough sketch stolen from the kingdom.

'Just where is that crazy old man when you need him?'

Ever since he'd asked Fluder to research the masked man's magic he not seen hide nor tail of the ancient magic caster. Only ever receiving occasional updates that were clear ruses to buy more time.

Crash!

From across the room Jircniv watched as the ornate doors burst open with a crash so loud the entire room became silent in shock.

As if he could tell he was being asked for Fluder was the one standing before an audience of gaping nobles.

Wide-eyed and disheveled far more than Jircniv had ever seen him the man looked as though his age had finally decided to catch up.

When he eventually met eyes with the two hundred-year-old madman he knew something was wrong, fear, something he'd never seen across his mentor's face. For what in the world could drive the strongest mage in human history to fear?

Like a wolf who spied a rabbit Fluder rushed towards Jircniv pushing past a crowd of confused and worried partygoers.

"Calm yourself at once Fluder Paradyne can you not see the celebrations around you?

Or have you finally gone mad after so long?"

Without so much as a word in retort of the jab, Fluder walked up and grabbed Jircniv by the arm and pulled him in close.

"Your majesty we must speak privately at once!"

A gauntleted hand on the mage's shoulder pulled the two apart but Jircniv dismissed the guard with a stern look.

"Very well meet me in my office."

Turning to the crowd of onlookers he widened his smile.

"If you all will excuse me for but a moment."

Jircniv watched as his mentor paced back and forth muttering incoherently all the while.

"So what was so important you had to interrupt the largest gathering of nobility in years?"

Fluder stopped dead still where he stood before rushing over to the desk and slamming his hands atop it.

"Call the imperial knights they must hear this as well!"

That was it, the dam broke and a torrent of anger flew out of Jircniv. He'd tolerated far too much from this mage turned madman and when it finally seemed he was ready to share he dared to delay further!

No!

Enough was enough he'd waited months to hear the smallest of details and would be damned if yet more time had to be wasted on such trivial things!

"No! You may tell them after!

What! What could be so important that you not be able to tell me despite the weeks I've given to you?

I even humored your pathetic excuses when I asked before and now that you wish to tell me you think I'll allow more delay?

Tell me what it is you've found!"

Fluder took a step back and shook his head.

"Very well your majesty.

As you have requested of me my research into that masked magic caster has finally borne fruit."

"Yes, I figured as much go on!"

"Well, I've come to show you this."

Pulling a decaying leather book from his side Fluder held it out to Jircniv.

"Please open it to the marked page."

Sighing at the needless complexity of his situation Jircniv noted the wooden bookmark and opened the book to the indicated page.

There written in words he couldn't read was an illustration one, unlike anything he'd ever seen before.

The work of a true master it was as though the painter had ripped the scene right from the world just to place it upon this page.

Depicted in crystal clear detail was a tower of strange magic circles, meters wide and reaching high into the heavens. Painting the landscape in blue light it seemed as though he was watching a god at play rather than a simple drawing.

"It is quite the artistry but how does this relate to our mystery mage?"

Pulling a rolled sheet of parchment from within his robe Fluder gently unrolled it atop the page opposite the drawing.

Jircniv froze.

Now before him were two of the exact same magic towers the left being far less detailed and on worse paper but the images depicted were almost mirror-like.

"W-what is the meaning of this?"

"Your majesty written beside that image are the words.

'Basic use of super tier magic'

A previously unknown form of magic."

Jircniv flipped to the next page only to once again be stunned silent.

Before him were two images in equal quality as the last only what these two depicted sent a shiver down his spine.

On the left was a field of monsters he'd never seen before each one looking as though they were born and bred to do one thing.

Kill.

Behind this army of death the same magic on the page previous, its blue glow encompassing the entirety of these monsters which could only number in the thousands.

The right page depicted this same field, only now it was bathed in death as every one of the beasts shown lay dead, a purple gas permeating the whole of them.

Fluder leaned in.

"On these, it tells of the effects of one such spell, one called simply {Decay}

From what is written it is clear this magic is far beyond what mere humans should be capable of."

Jurcniv was silent still.

This would change everything he had planned so far, the war pointless, the party in the other room a waste, and all his work against the Kingdom?

Utterly foolish.

If this one man could cast magic of this scale at will forget fighting armies this man could be considered an army all on his own! No, not an army he was a walking natural disaster, like the demon gods two hundred years ago this one man could likely destroy a kingdom in little over a month.

Or sooner if the spell he'd shown wasn't his only one.

"Fluder have you told anyone of this besides me?"

"No your majesty not a soul."

"Good, take this book and study its every word.

I'm unsure if you could do anything like this yourself but as the emperor, I beg you.

Please find something, anything to counter this magic or I fear our time as free men will be very short-lived."

Without a word, Fluder collected the book and rushed from the room.

Meanwhile, jircniv buried his head in his hands.

Years of work were useless if they couldn't counter a single magic caster, it was the worst possible outcome a wildcard of such magnitude that what happened two hundred years ago would be nothing in comparison.

Jircniv clutched his stomach, the pain had returned.

Nazarick.

A thread.

A string stretching kilometers into the void its destination unknown.

But Momonga knew exactly what lay at the opposite end even if he didn't know where it was.

A monster some would call it, others an affront to all that is good, to Momonga?

He had but one word for it.

Perfection.

Months of toiling away nonstop just so he could accomplish what many said couldn't be done.

Hell to even do something similar it took him the better part of two years and thousands of dollars from his pay.

But this thread this tiny thing was proof he'd perfected it.

Kilometers away carving a path through a certain forest was a creature he cared for like a son. And not just because it was one of his summons, no what made him so proud was the floating wall of text beside him.

The topmost part reading 'Level Eight Five'.

Yes, he'd done it, not only was his Crypt lord now a permanent summon now it was a whole fifteen levels higher than when he'd summoned it.

Something impossible in Yggdrasil was now not only a reality but for the empty tomb, it may as well be its salvation.

The crypt lord wasn't the only thing to level up either much to his joy and surprise all of the death knights the crypt lord summoned would level up as well.

Now after so long did he feel confident enough to scout the surrounding world, currently twenty-some kilometers away this crypt lord did just that.

Moving first through the forest nearby its next destination would be Carne village where it would scout outward. He hoped that with enough high-level summons he could create a security net without wasting Nazarick's precious mercenary scrolls.

Standing from the throne he vanished in a puff of magic lights.

Reappearing on the sixth floor it's familiar sand crunching beneath his boots.

Ahead lie the remains of his work these last few months.

Aligned in a neat row were two more crypt lords these being levels eight two and eight one respectfully.

From his tests, three things had become clear with leveling in this new world. One, the summons could level far past their original cap, two, experience was no longer gained solely through killing monsters, and third, he was still stuck at max level.

The fact he couldn't raise his level did annoy him somewhat but finding out his summons could just from practicing swings made up for that in spades.

Now almost all his summons were slowly raising their levels, his only hurdle left before he could truly restaff Nazarick?

He was out of corpses.

The great dilemma he now faced was one he feared he may never surpass. With so many high-level people and unknown variables on the surface could he risk attacking more towns and villages?

Or would he be swarmed the moment he did, quickly ending the guild's last defender?

Of course, he could always send his summons in his stead but what if they traced them back to Nazarick? It wasn't like they had any protections against divination magic without the help of items and those were far too valuable to waste on a suicide attack.

What he really needed to do was test the strength of this world's occupants.

And there were quite a few ways he could do so but which one would cause him the least trouble if things went wrong?

An idea came to mind, one convoluted and overly dramatic but one he was sure would guarantee a true test of power for those in this world. He was also certain it wouldn't come back to bite him so long as he brought forth something he hoped would stay buried forever.

How do you become strong?

This was a question many people had asked all throughout time one whose answers never seemed to match up.

There are those born strong people who without any effort could move mountains and fill lakes all from birth, never knowing the strife of hard work.

Some people get lucky the wayward adventurer who stumbles upon an artifact of power or perhaps the people who are just in the right place at the right time.

You could also add in those who train their whole lives, men and women who see the world and spit on expectations and rise far above where they started.

For Brain Unglaus his version of power was far, far different from almost anyone else his power, came from spite.

From him seeing those stronger and saying 'Fuck you! I could do it better!'

That's where his power came from, that's why he was strong, and that's why he knew among all the things the world would throw at him he'd be ready to cut them in half.

Rising from his bed he could smell the blood already in the air. It was time again for him to test his version of strength.

Walking past his fleeing comrades (though he couldn't care less about them) he made his way toward the would-be intruder.

Being a bandit was what most would consider the bottom of the barrel when one considered lucrative work. And yet somehow he and his fellow members of the Death Spreading Brigade had been doing exceptionally well lately.

Nearing the hideout's entrance he saw what brought so much fear to his fellow bandits and in a moment forgave them.

Standing at almost twice his height was what had to be the physical incarnation of violence come to make good on their group's name.

Dressed in full black plate mail with veins of deep crimson running throughout the only flesh exposed.

A rotting skull with a decayed grin that was just begging him to attack it.

And attack he did not waiting a second for the undead to move itself.

Running ahead he drew his katana and readied for his strike to be caught by the undead's weapon.

Yet no resistance came. Not one to waste an opportunity he swung with all his might forgoing his usual martial arts.

He had to see just how strong this thing was first.

CLANG!

Like a bell being rung out metal met metal as his sword's curved blade dug the smallest of lines into the black metal.

Leaping back with not a moment to spare he watched as the ground where he had stood was now a crater half a meter deep the undead pulling its gauntleted fist from the dirt.

"This is gonna be fun!"

With another leap, he dodged the swing of its massive sword this thing was fast and strong! Brain was sure of it he knew he was faster not by much but that little would make all the difference in a fight like this.

Rolling to avoid the undead's shield he activated his martial arts.

"(Ability Boost) (Greater Ability Boost)"

Like a bolt of lightning, he moved past another swing raising his own sword in turn aiming for the undead's shoulder as he swung.

Satisfaction overwhelmed him as his blade dug past the metal and bit into flesh cleaving an arm from the rest of the body.

Gong!

Falling to the ground the massive shield let out a reverberating cry, a cry that was soon replaced by a ground-shaking roar.

Brain tried to jump back as the undead swung its sword filled with fury over the lost limb but failed to react only bringing up his weapon just as the metal neared his torso.

Grunting in pain from the force of the barely blocked blow he knew a much worse pain awaited.

Slamming against the wall he could feel the bones in his left shoulder shattering on impact rendering the arm useless.

It didn't matter he only needed one to hold his sword.

"Heh to think I'd have to use this on a monster first!"

Lowering his stance his gaze turned fierce as the very air around him seemed to shimmer with power.

"(Field)

Let's see how strong you really are!"

Taking a deep breath he sheathed his sword.

And waited.

Like a bull gone mad, the undead rushed him charging with its massive sword held high, either ignorant to the man's sudden change in demeanor or uncaring.

Brain didn't care how fast the monster came, in the end, the result would be the same, it was always the same.

'One meter away.'

'Half a meter.'

'Quarter.'

'Now!'

"(GOD FLASH)!"

Faster than any eye could see a single line moved through the room calmly and effortlessly passing the dense metal armor. Tearing flesh from itself like paper between scissors Brain's katana tore through the undead as if it wasn't even there.

Taking a single step forward he watched as the massive sword fell to the ground, along with the undead's remaining arm.

"Heh, tough as hell aren't ya?

What's that saying, eye for an eye, that was it I think."

Brain didn't bother looking to his side, he could tell even with the adrenaline of the fight that like the undead behind him he too was missing a sword arm.

Blood pooled around his feet and his vision began to blur he wouldn't have very long now.

Falling to the floor with a grunt of pain he turned to gaze at his opponent one last time.

As it walked towards him splattering his blood with every step Brain noted that even armless the thing was still imposing.

Lowering its stance it almost looked like the undead was bowing to him in honor although Brain knew what would happen next.

Roaring louder than before it charged him, Brain smirked in satisfaction after all this time he finally got to test his final attack.

BOOM!

Wind ripped through the room as a wave of force blasted him away.

Coming to a stop with his back against the wall he watched as a scene he may never forget unfolded before his eyes.

Stopping the undead's charge with a single hand was a warrior clad in armor dark as the night itself.

Stood nearly as tall as the undead with twin great swords strapped to his back and a billowing red cape he looked as though the words dark hero had come to life.

With one motion his sudden savior flung the undead back sending it crashing through a wall. Watching it fly out to the forest that hid his hideout Brain never noticed the man walk up to him and pull a strange red vial from a pouch on his side.

Wasting one of his healing potions was never on his list but seeing the man use skills that never existed in Yggdrasil he just had to save him.

Justifying the use as an experiment on the potion's function in the new world helped ease the hoarder's side of his mind.

Following the red vial's contents as it washed over the man he noted that unlike the game the potion's effects were far stronger than before.

Growing back the entirety of his missing arm was completely unexpected but far from a negative result, if anything it meant either health in this world was far lower or that Yggdrasil items were that much stronger.

"I suggest you flee I can not ensure your survival beyond this point."

"W-wha. . ."

CRASH!

Not wasting a moment Momonga leaped forward meeting the death knight's charge with the full force of his swords.

The death knight having no arms to defend with took the blows head on leaving two deep gashes across its chest. Not wanting to let the summon get any closer he turned to the side watching as it dashed past him.

Readying his swords for the next charge he saw as the katana-wielding man slowly limped from his spot against the wall towards the exit.

'Can't let him die until he tells people about me.'

Darting to the death knight he knew the fight would have to end quickly or he'd risk losing his test subject far too soon.

"Foul monster taste my fury!"

As a piece of Momonga died inside his swords passed clean through his summon's neck and torso bypassing its ability and killing it in one final strike.

"Who are you?"

A voice behind Momonga startled him.

"You should know that sword won't pierce this armor it's far stronger than the undead before us."

"Calm down big guy this wasn't for you just, just a little spooked by that thing."

Momonga turned to leave.

"My business is finished here, so if you'll excuse me."

"Wait!"

Just what he was hoping for.

After practicing in a mirror for hours on end Momonga had finally nailed down his 'hero' image and now he would get to test it for real.

With a flourish, he spun on the spot his cape flowing out behind him.

"Who are you and why did you help me?"

"I am Momon, as for why I helped you it is simple.

Saving a person in need is always the right thing to do!"

Momonga could only hope that somewhere somehow TouchMe was smiling at him for recalling the paladin's favorite line.

Meanwhile, Brain could only stare in awe at the peak before him, he would need to get even stronger now.

E Rantel.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Painting the sky in a barrage of multicolored smoke were dozens if not hundreds of fireworks.

Below them, crowds filled the streets each one cheering and yelling in a cacophony of voices, joy, and celebration clear in all of them.

Drunken partying, people eating with wide smiles, and a sense of joy almost unheard of throughout the kingdom.

This was a scene identical all across the city, everywhere people danced and ate as if all their worries had faded away.

The only place that wasn't alive with celebration was a lone road wide and well-paved, with a single look, anyone would know from the parted crowds and held breaths that something was coming.

And came it did.

Louder than the city and full of pride came the horns their players blowing harder than they'd ever had.

Behind them came soldiers, the usual guard one would see manning the walls or patrolling the streets, but unlike normal now each one was glowing.

Armor shining with a polish none had seen before it looked as though the hundreds of soldiers weren't the usual rank and file but instead the elite of the elite.

Behind them came music, instruments from every corner playing in perfect harmony a melody that only the eldest of citizens could recall but was enjoyed by all.

What came next was a shock to everyone.

Bright silver and draped in a cape bearing the insignia of the kingdom was a boy leading something that could only be called 'imposing'.

Walking in perfect lines were adventurers and yet, they weren't. While each one was certainly dressed how you'd expect an adventurer to be so, the polished insignias they carried told differently.

From rangers to warriors they all carried a sense of pride as they passed the thousands of onlookers all of them smiling wide and some even waving to the crowds.

As one surprise passed a new one came to replace it.

Flowers, hundreds of them.

Every color under the sun and piled higher than anyone around was tall were flowers.

Pulled along by a dozen cavalrymen was a golden carriage layered with what looked to be thousands of flowers and atop them was the figure this whole day was meant for.

Waving to the people below was a figure that shined as bright as gold with a smile that matched.

Dressed in a flowing white dress that stretched far behind her was Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, no longer was she the golden princess.

Now.

Now she was the golden queen.

It was finished, no more hiding behind her brothers, no more scheming in the shadows to achieve the tiniest of goals, now and for the rest of her days she would be happy.

And woe for anyone who dared to step between her and this new life.

Much like her idiot brother who was waiting to ambush her along her journey to the capital any who tried to stop her life with Climb would meet a terrible end.

ACHOO!

"Damn this forest and all that lives here!"

Fury was all prince Barbro felt as he sat beside his men the darkness of the forest around them was only fended off by a few dim lanterns.

Like some kind of animal he'd been sat here for hours wallowing in the mud and filth, something no one of noble birth should have to endure.

All the more reason for him to hate his sister and the trauma she was putting him through.

Oh but she would pay she would pay dearly in time and all he had to do was wait, wait for her parade to pass where two thousand of the finest men would pounce like wolves.

Oh, the things he could picture once she was finally in his grasp.

He could torture her to death but that was far from a fitting end for what she'd done to him.

There were pigs, he'd heard a tale of what a starving pig could do and while he felt it far too quick it certainly fit her image.

Oh! There were always the men!

Each one loyal to death they deserved a reward for the hard work ahead and how fitting would it be to give them the subject of their ire as such a reward!

But a thought stopped him.

'Climb!'

That common birth trash she called a guard!

Barbro knew her feelings towards the boy and that only excited him.

The things he could do to her would pale in comparison to him seeing her break from the sight of her beloved torn to shreds by dogs.

Or he could. . .

Snap.

Somewhere opposite him and his men, a branch snapped.

"Keep ready it may be nothing but we never know!"

His whispered order was quickly passed around as men began to draw their swords.

No scouts had returned so this couldn't have been his sister's parade, no whatever this was would be far less troubling than the honor guard she carried.

With baited breaths, they awaited whatever would step from the trees opposite them.

Densely packed trees killed what little daylight remained turning the forest into a sea of pitch-black ichor.

Like the sea itself, the darkness called to them urging them to ignore the world and step into the water below.

But Barbro and his men knew that below the waters that were the dark expanse ahead of them untold horrors awaited them.

Things that made even the strongest of men quiver in fear and piss themselves like old frightened dogs.

CRACK!

The sound of a branch bursting under the weight of some unknown entity sent a wave of fear over all those who heard it.

A second passed with no sound.

And then a minute.

And soon what felt like hours passed by without so much as the wind blowing by to signal they hadn't all gone dead simultaneously.

A silhouette in the darkness proved that the noise wasn't some dear passing by.

Large and ominous it stood taller than even mounted cavalrymen and wider than a horse was long.

Whatever it was a fight was the last thing Barbro wanted and after stealing his nerves whispered his orders.

"Don't draw its attention!

Cover yourself with mud if you have to but don't let it sense us!"

Returning his gaze to the unknown beast was hard almost as if his body knew to avoid whatever lurked just a few meters away.

'I just need to wait if anything Renner will draw it to herself when she passes.'

BOOM!

A shockwave tore past his sending a tree flying as its splinters rained upon him.

Looking to its source he froze.

Rage welled up inside him a burning fury, unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

He stood drawing his sword and uttered a single word.

"ATTACK!"

Climb watched as a man was sent flying his scattering limbs the signal to attack.

A better word would be a massacre.

Unsheathing his sword and cleaving through an armored man in one fluid motion. The soldier dropped dead where he stood never even realizing the fight had already started.

Carrion splattered against his armor as he rushed forward to meet the next soldier, the next obstacle, the last thing between his lady's dreams and their reality.

A swing here and a parry there it was all a blur as he moved from one sword to the next never looking at the anguished faces as he tore limbs from bodies. Glancing to the side he dodged as a spray of gore whizzed past him coating a nearby tree in a thick pink layer.

The sight would have disgusted him any other day but knowing the aftermath before it happened eased his troubled heart.

The queen's plan had been perfect so far with each element executed so well that he wondered if his lady had the power of prophecy and had never told him.

Just as she predicted her brother was waiting to ambush them not an hour after they'd left the town. So to did she realize that with him were two full regiments ready to pounce from the cover of the forest.

All Climb had to do now was lead the charge against Barbro himself, with that no one would be left who could rally against the queen.

Ducking he narrowly avoided an overhead swing, he shook his distracting thoughts away. Losing focus here would mean death for not just him but Renner as well something he'd never allow.

Charging past his opponent he rushed towards the real goal his lady had set for him, her brother's head. Of course, if he could he was to bring prince Barbro back alive but Renner told him with teary eyes that such an outcome was unlikely.

And so with a heavy heart Climb accepted the task of dealing with the traitor prince, whatever that may entail.

Delivering a quick blow to the neck was the only kindness he could afford as more and more soldiers began to rush him. No doubt noticing his vast difference in strength and more so his target.

As his blade punctured the neck of yet another soldier a lone figure stood out among the rest.

Barbro was dressed in bright blue plate armor a golden sash draped across his chest and a long sword tight in his grip.

"Surrender prince Barbro, Renner has offered to spare your life should you do so!

If you refuse I've been told to kill you where you stand!"

Reciting a warning straight from Renner herself was the best chance he'd have to take the man in alive.

But all he received was laughter.

"YOU PEASANT!

DARE!

ORDER ME!

TO DO ANYTHING!"

Like a bull gone mad, the prince charged at Climb his knuckles turning white as his grip on the sword tightened.

Climb in turn leaped back and braced himself, the prince while not at the level of Gazef still had years of training and experience. How much stronger he was to Climb was unknown although he figured it would only be a moment before he found out.

Blocking low the clash of the prince's sword on his own rang out deafening the two to the chaos around them.

Sparks flew as metal grated on metal both men pushing their strength to the limit.

"(ABILITY BOOST)"

Both activating the same martial art at once did nothing to change the stalemate. Jumping to the side Climb pushed away from Barbro both heaving heavily from the exertion.

If the prince was on par with Climb the fight could last hours, time he didn't have to waste, he had to rethink his attack.

He had an idea, it wasn't a good one and it would likely hurt like hell but it would work, he hoped.

"(Fortress)"

With no guarantees and his lady on his mind he charged.

Barbro readied his sword as Climb pushed his legs to the limit running faster than he'd ever before this would be so or die and by the gods, no by the queen's grace he would win.

Renner gazed into her mirror.

Oh, how she hated to send her darling on such a dangerous request when their pairing was ever so close.

If only she didn't have to hide her true feelings until then.

As she practiced the many faces she'd used over the years a small yellow light distracted her.

Atop her head, a certain hairpin was glowing.

Climb grit his teeth in anticipation, he knew what lay ahead was painful but he had to endure.

'Just run. Ignore it until the end.'

SPLASH!

The sound of water hitting mud was barely noticed as two metal points stood out far more.

All around the two the fighting stopped as many gazed at both leaders.

Barbro for the sword that had pierced his chest killing him instantly.

Climb for the sword poking out of his shoulder after he ran straight into the prince's blade.

The gushing blood from both signaled the end of the combat, for now with no prince to back there was no coup to be had.

All Climb could do was smile, smile, and ponder how his life beside Renner would go.

He couldn't wait!

Gold on gold.

Bright and shiny it almost glowed in the light of the afternoon sun.

Behind the highest nobles in all the land each one dressed in such finery a dragon would drool at the very sight.

Ahead a father proud and smiling ear to ear as he lowered a crown made of solid gold and inlaid with every jewel one could think of. Beside him on a table draped in a plain white cloth was a scepter its gold and jewels identical to the crown.

The two items passed on from ruler to ruler they were the kingdom's prized possessions and now they were Renners.

Her father took the staff with both hands before passing it to her his smile never fading the whole time.

"And with these, I pass on to you and I ask, will you serve Re Estize no matter the strife?

"I will."

"And will you lay down your very life should it mean saving those who depend upon you?"

"I will."

"Then I congratulate you, Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself the first queen of the kingdom!"

All around cheers resounded as bells could be heard ringing across the capital.

Renner turned to the nobles behind her and bowed.

The pageantry aside she couldn't have been happier, now all that was left was to enjoy her time with Climb and ensure no one ever stood in her way.

Baharuth Empire.

Sunlight crested over the horizon draping the land in a thick yellow blanket of warmth.

From this warmth came a groan of annoyance, it was a signal that once again the facade of her new life would continue.

Clementine blinked away the last remnants of sleep as she made to throw her blanket to the side. Just for her to be once again reminded that that particular hand no longer existed.

"Piece of shit mage."

There wasn't a trace of malice in her voice as those words left her not after so many months of gritting her teeth and screaming those same words every day. Now she was just tired, don't get her wrong she was still pissed beyond belief it was just so monotonous by now the words had lost all meaning.

Just as her morning routine consisting of weapon maintenance and glares at her phantom hand was finishing up a tap came to her tent.

Alongside an annoyingly cheery voice.

"Clementine, are you up yet?

I made breakfast if you want any."

How among the shitstorm that was that girl's life she still managed to smile over every little thing, that aggravated Clementine almost every day.

As she slid her twin stilettos into their respective holsters her nose picked up the telltale scent of frying meat.

Stepping from her tent a sound like gravel being thrown down a mountain greeted her.

"Good morning Clementine."

The elderly man was smiling ear to ear something he'd been doing far too much of lately. To Clementine Khajiit's attitude had taken a complete one-eighty turning the once gloomy man into a veritable ray of sunshine.

It was disgusting.

But she knew the real reason this man was so happy and that helped to alleviate the awful sight of a corpse that could still move.

Like all members of undead-worshiping cults, this man too had a creepy obsession with finding a way to die and come back as an undead. And thanks to this little detour through the empire he may have found the perfect mentor to teach him this wish.

"Morning to you as well you bag of dried bones, any news?"

The man frowned at that, it was normal for the two to bicker and even fight on occasion so this meant he did have news, bad news.

"Yes, and it's not good.

Come I don't want the others hearing."

Pulling her from the intoxicating smells of breakfast the two huddled behind her tent.

"Last night I received a {Message} from my superior and I was told of a dire situation.

Sometime within the last few weeks, the dragon of disaster was sighted headed towards the Argland Council State."

Clementine had to suppress a shout of surprise, the dragon lord of disaster was a mythical being who'd not been seen for over five hundred years. For him to return now meant something had changed in the balance of power.

"Are you sure?

Something like this could easily be some yokel getting scared by a wyvern and setting off a false alarm."

"No, it was confirmed just the other day.

Talon prints the size of a building were found inside a decimated village."

Clementine shook her head.

"Doesn't affect us right now so pretend it didn't happen and pray that thing doesn't come straight for the Empire."

Khajiit nodded silently and turned back towards breakfast while Clementine stood there. She once kept tabs on the dragon lords as a member of the black scripture, especially the dragon lord of disaster seeing as how his last appearance caused hundreds of thousands of deaths.

For the flying natural disaster to be moving around something had to have pissed it off and she had a nagging feeling about who was responsible.

Hard work, ingenuity, and most of all loyalty were the three traits one Flavella Alexander Rockguard lived by.

So when the Emperor asked something of him with a seriousness he'd never before seen he knew all three of these traits would be tested to their utmost limits.

Especially his ingenuity.

Oh by the gods how he had been tested on this.

To find strong workers was one thing easy even, but to find four separate teams each willing to travel to the kingdom just to fight some unbelievably strong undead.

To be honest for the first time in twenty years he genuinely considered committing treason just for the chance to be done with the whole thing once and for all.

Of course, he still managed to accomplish this insane task but the mental toll alone was far from worth the effort. Now all that had to be done was to ship these poor souls to what the Emperor described as certain death.

Shaking these useless morbid thoughts away he turned to the small crowd beside him. Separated into their respective teams were the only four worker groups to accept his request.

Foresight, Dragon Hunt, Heavy Masher, and Tenmu.

Aside from a single adventurer team, he'd yet to meet this was all there was against some legendary undead roaming the great forest of Tob.

Flavella reached into his coat pulling out a stack of letters each one made of the finest paper the Empire could offer, a shiny gold seal facing the workers.

"Here in my hand are your rewards should you all succeed and knowing your strength I should hope for good news.

As I assume you were paying attention when we recruited you all your job is to find and kill the undead that has been terrorizing our border."

Five people running towards them interrupted the Count's speech.

"Ah, our late arrivals, everyone I'd like to introduce your guide for this job, the adventurer team Swords of Darkness."

A tall blonde man stepped from the crowd.

"What is the meaning of this?

I did not agree to be led around by some cowardly know nothing adventurers like some kind of child!"

"Well, you see. . ."

Flavella's response was cut short as a blur of motion moved through the crowd stopping right beside the tall blonde.

A dagger was at his throat held by a woman wearing a dark brown cloak a smile painted across her face.

"What did you call me?"

A single bead of sweat could be seen rolling down the man's forehead.

"You heard me.

A cowardly imbecile is all you are."

Leaping back the man had already drawn his sword before his feet had even touched the ground.

"Unless you'd care to correct me that is?"

The air itself seemed to tense as the two began to circle one another.

That is until a voice rang out.

"ENOUGH!

Clementine quit it before you ruin the job!"

Flavella watched as without a word the woman sheathed her strange dagger and walked behind the one who yelled out.

Standing proudly as though she wasn't only a meter off the ground was a young woman with short brown hair bright blue eyes and a wooden staff far taller than she was.

"Sorry about that, please continue."

"Ahem yes well.

As I was saying these five are from the Re Estize kingdom and will be guiding you through the forest of Tob.

Remember the goal will be to kill or capture whoever or whatever is causing all these undead to manifest so far from the Katze Plains.

Any questions?"

Silence.

"Then I'll see you all in ten days."

A letter could hold a lot depending on what's written in it, more so when the writer is the emperor of a country.

One piece of paper sealed in wax and gold would be all that was needed to gain a new life.

Money, fame, power, and luxury, could all be yours if only you had a single piece of paper.

But none of that appealed to her in the slightest, no, what she wanted was so much simpler that she was certain to be laughed at the moment she asked.

They would think it a waste saying how foolish it was to not ask for more but to her that request would mean freedom.

Freedom from the mistakes of her parents, from the debt they refused to acknowledge, and from the way they had pushed all of their issues onto her.

It would also be the freedom her sisters so desperately needed.

Her name was Arche Eeb Rile Furt and nothing would stand in her way not the empire, the kingdom, not even the gods, and definitely not some random undead.

This last job would guarantee that.

Those shiny letters the Count had waved at them like meat to a starving dog? Letters handwritten and sealed with the emperor's insignia each one entitling the holder to a single request from the emperor himself.

Getting one wouldn't just free her and her sisters, no it would change their lives forever, and unlike when her family was stripped of power this would be for the better.

With determination she hadn't felt in years she pulled on her heavy pack and tightened the grip on her staff, even if she had to kill the thing herself she would be getting her reward.

"Let's go."

As her eyes passed over those of her friends she could feel the pity in them burning through her skull. She had told them of her family's situation and of course they had all offered to help pay it off, or at least go kill the debt collectors.

Without a moment of hesitation, she'd declined she could never put her friends through that kind of a burden.

"Why don't we go say greet our feisty guides."

Taking charge was her group's leader Hekkeran, an excellent fencer he acted as the group's front line always putting himself and his swords between the others.

Beside him was their cleric, Roberdyke, a kind older man who helped Hekkeran when things got bad and healed whatever wounds they got along the way.

And lastly, the oddity of their little group, with bright purple hair and pointed ears Imina acted as the group's ranger her skill with the bow having saved them countless times.

Looking to the supposed guides for this journey she couldn't help a growing sense of unease as she watched them. That feeling only doubled when she watched the dagger-wielding woman smack one of her companions.

"Whoa what'd he do to deserve that?"

If glares could kill Hekkeran would have died on the spot.

"It's none of your damn business and until we get to the forest of Tob it'll stay like that."

As a bright red hand print was forming on his cheek Arche couldn't help but notice that instead of a grimace or a scowl he was smiling.

In fact, he seemed overjoyed to be slapped across the face, something that seem to only further enrage his companion.

"Oh come now my love your tender caress only seeks to warm my heart."

"Pervert."

The woman literally spat at him.

"Sorry about him he does this all the time best just to ignore him it'll pass eventually.

Hi, I'm Ninya!"

Holding out her hand was the girl who'd pulled her companion from a dual against one of the other worker teams.

Hekkeran gingerly took the young girl's hand as she looked over toward Arche and the others.

"I'm this group's leader Hekkeran behind me are Arche, Roberdyke, and Imina."

"The one who got slapped is Lukrut the slapper is Clementine.

Over by our camp is our druid Dyne and a fellow mage Dale.

Nice to meet you all."

Re Estize, The Capital.

Two cups of tea.

Both sat untouched while their owners sat in total silence.

One for the sake of proper etiquette, for how could they drink when their guest had not?

The other simply because they could not drink.

"Smell quite lovely doesn't it?"

"Yes it does"

An awkward silence filled the room.

. . .

"So I guess I should begin with a question.

Who would you say is the strongest in this kingdom?"

Renner smiled while miming a thoughtful look.

Was this a trick question?

If she listed off those of notable strength in the area he might consider it an insult that she didn't praise him.

But if she stated the obvious would he grow agitated claiming she dogged the question?

Careful wording would be needed in her answer, while he didn't appear to be the vain glory seeking type she knew far too little of him to assure herself.

The best course of action would be a mix of praise while listing those below him as notable figures.

Mind made up she shifted her expression to fit her answer but stopped herself before the word could leave her.

Was this what he really wanted?

To know if she was going to lie down like a dog ready for its master's orders, or if she was competent enough to be left to her own devices.

"There are a few that come to mind but shortening the list there's, Pluton Ainzach head of the adventurers guild, Azuth Aindra the leader of Red Drop, the magician guilds leader, as well as Zero of the Eight Fingers."

Momonga leaned forward in thought, well more so he could smell the tea, but he was thinking!

'Damn only two of those groups are!

What the hell should I do I can't just ask her which one she wouldn't mind dying!

Wait.

She didn't list herself?'

He pulled away from the fragrant tea below him.

"Any reason you decided not to list yourself among them?"

Renner looked puzzled for a moment before her expression returned to her odd smile.

"Well while I feel flattered that you'd call me strong sir Momonga I'm nowhere near any of those I listed.

At least in terms of combat."

That had to be deceit, right?

Using false information to hide one's abilities was commonplace in Yggdrasil and years of pvp'ing had long since given Momonga a third eye of sorts.

Which is why watching her he felt genuinely concerned by her answer.

If it was the truth then was her seeing through {Perfect Unknowable} just a fluke and he was being overly paranoid?

Or was it a lie to hide her true abilities?

Worse yet those she listed could be that much stronger than he thought them.

'Time for operation dark hero to reap its rewards!'

"Do you know of a man named Brain Unglaus?"

"Oh, yes actually, he's widely known for being on par with our late warrior captain Gazef Stronoff.

I'd say well within the top ten of all those I know.

I neglected to mention him as his whereabouts are unknown at the moment."

The emotional suppressor was all that stopped Momonga's jaw from hitting the table.

The man who'd almost died to a single unleveled death knight was one of the strongest people here.

"Ahem, a new question then how strong would you say the average soldier is?"

"Well since I am still seeing to that issue our main forces would be the conscripted farmers.

There are approximately half a million of them though, that being our only advantage over the Empire and their better-trained elites."

This, this was bad.

Had he been hiding from mobs this whole time?

How much time had he wasted?

The effort?

Days of restless, even if he was a tireless undead, patrols.

Wasted.

No, there could still be elements out there far stronger than him and now was not the time to be panicking when one such element could be across from him right now.

He had to refocus.

An awkward silence had again filled the room.

"Hmm, I suppose that means I should assist in removing the undesirables if your common soldier isn't capable."

Renner seemed to perk up at the mention of assistance.

"Well, I can easily think of one such thing.

How much do you know about Eight Fingers?"

"Little."

"They are the largest crime syndicate in the history of the kingdom and their reach spreads even beyond our borders to those neighboring us.

They deal in everything from gambling to slave trafficking and whatever lies in between.

Sadly as of the last few months, our efforts have all but ceased in stopping them in any of these.

However, due to the 'incident' as I'll call it, they too have been slowed down considerably."

A crime organization that big was like winning the gatcha on the first try!

Well for someone looking to accumulate a hoard of corpses at least.

"Are there any known locations they frequent?"

Renner's smile widened to that of a madman's.

"Well actually-

Reaching a hand under the table a soft click was heard.

Activating some unknown mechanism revealed a hidden drawer containing several maps of the kingdom's cities.

Large x's were drawn over various areas and buildings.

- I have several"

Delight, absolute joy was all Momonga could feel right now this had to be the best outcome he'd ever had.

Ding Ding!

"Huh?"

"Is something the matter sir Momonga?"

"Uhm yes, we'll resume this later."

The moment he finished speaking he teleported away.

Something, no, someone had just attacked the black dragons guarding Nazarick.