Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Volume 1: The Pecking Order

Chapter 3

Buser wasn't worried.

No, not worried, but definitely intrigued.

After all it isn't everyday that one of the stronger tribal leaders is killed. Apparently the 'White Elder' himself kicked the bucket 5 days ago during a duel with that brat Vijar. The conclusion to said duel was confirmed by his own scouts who found the body rotting where it fell. As is right.

Demihumans that die in duels aren't given a proper burial. After all, they were too weak, and thus, they died. Those who die in a true battle or of old age, rather than in a personal contest of strength, are given proper burials if possible. To fight and die for one's tribe is an honor, and to live long enough to die of old age means that one was strong enough to survive for so long.

However, it wasn't Halisha's death that was the most intriguing part of this whole spiel. Rather, it was the fact that Halisha's tribe, the Stone Eaters, joined the Zoastia under Vijar. This was unheard of. Usually, tribes that lost their leaders would lie low for a while, or until another demihuman strong enough to lead them was born.

What was happening now had only happened once before, with the Ogres and the Goblins.

This phenomenon only happened when one side had overwhelming power, enough to totally dominate another tribe. Obviously, Buser knew that Vijar wasn't powerful enough to do that. Maybe there was some credence to the rumors that Vijar received help in that duel.

"Maybe I'll send some scouts to confirm what's going on over there.Yes, I think I will do so." After deciding on a course of action, Buser left his large hut, and proceeded to bark out orders.

"I wonder what's really going on. I do know, however, that whatever it is could be interesting."

Ainz was stumped.

It had been 5 days since he had arrived in the Zoastia village. Things were a little hectic at first with getting housing and food for the Stone Eaters, but,after forming joint hunting parties they managed to stave off most of the food problem for now. However, Ainz knew this solution wouldn't last forever. Even if wildlife had mostly gone extinct in his time, Ainz knew about over hunting from his friend Blue Planet. So, he would need to find a more permanent solution soon.

As for housing, Ainz immediately put both the Zoastia and the Stone Eaters to work on building huts for the new arrivals to the village. The village itself was strategically placed on the top of a cleared hill, so that any would be invaders would have to climb uphill in the open, and the hill was surrounded by forests. The village itself was surrounded by a wooden wall about 12 feet tall. However, with the new arrivals, there were now many huts outside of the wall, as there wasn't enough room inside of it.

So there was another problem that needed a solution. But Ainz wasn't only solving those problems with his time. For the past 5 days Ainz had been milking Vijar for every last drop of information he had, and he'd been testing out his abilities. First of all, he had confirmed that both his spells and skills worked normally. Secondly, he discovered that his emotions would be suppressed after they preached a certain threshold. Finally, Ainz found that his summons worked just as they had, and would disappear after a few hours. (A.N: He has no corpses yet)

Honestly, the amount of work he needed to do was really weighing down on him. "At least I don't need to sleep because I'm undead, so I can get work done at night. But, being undead means I can't eat either. Uwahhh...I always wanted to try food that wasn't the nutrient supplement paste the government issued us, and I'm in a new world! With new foods! But I can't even eat it! Sigh"

Ainz digressed internally while in his tent. The tent itself was of good quality, but Ainz didn't really care about that. What he did care for was that it was spacious enough for him, a wooden throne, a desk, and a place in front of the desk where his new subordinates could speak to him. Ainz had also enchanted the tent with anti-divination magic, after all, while Ainz himself was immune to Divination due to his [Ring of Anti Divination], his surroundings were not.

After sighing internally, Ainz went back to his thoughts. "Still, I have to focus here. Uwahhh...it's like I just performed a company merger. Which wouldn't be too bad except I'm just a salaryman! Plus, there was no preparation at all! Ugh. I wonder if CEOs faced these kinds of things back on Earth. If so, I do not envy them...what do I do now?"

As Ainz was mulling over what to do, Vijar and Muar stepped into the tent.

"My lord," Vijar spoke "the hunting parties have returned. I report that the hunt today was successful, and we should have enough food for another 3 days. The cooks have already started to prepare some for dinner."

Muar grunted in what Ainz thought was agreement.

"Umu, that's good." Ainz responded simply.

"My lord, what is your will?" Vijar questioned.

"My will, huh..." Ainz said in a quiet voice.

"What do I want to do? No, what should I do? I think it would probably be best to get some sort of protection for the newer inhabitants of the village that are outside the wall. Yeah, let's do that." Ainz finished his thoughts before speaking his orders. "Vijar, tomorrow I want to have you start constructing a wall surrounding the new perimeter of the village. I'd like it done as soon as possible." "After all, you never know when an opponent will strike, so it is best to be prepared for anything."

"It shall be done my lord." Vijar stated in a serious tone.

Muar again only grunted in agreement.

"I never really asked this but is he mute or something? I don't think I've heard him talk once. Maybe I should ask? No! If he is actually mute and I ask that I'll look like an idiot. Like it or not, I'm a boss now. I have to look competent in front of my subordinates." In contrast to the chaos going on inside his head, Ainz spoke clearly once more to Vijar. "Thank you for your report Vijar. You may go now."

"My thanks lord." With that, Vijar and Muar left the tent in search of food. Leaving Ainz to his thoughts.

"Uwahhh...why does being a boss have to be so hard."

Vijar was extremely excited.

Why wouldn't he be? After all, it should only be a matter of time before Ainz begins to spread his name and legend, and with it, Vijar's own.

In the short time Vijar had known his lord he had found out a few things. First of all, his lord was strong, very strong. But, that had been obvious to Vijar since he had killed Halisha with a single spell. The second thing Vijar had found was that his lord was very intelligent. He was not a mindless brute like the rumored War Trolls of the east, no, he was a planner, a being with an intellect that could easily come up with a solution to any problem that should arise. The third thing Vijar found was that he was planning something.

Vijar didn't know what his lord was planning, but he knew that whatever it was, it was going to be big, as was befitting of his lord's intellect. After all, why else had he been shoring up the village defenses, why else had he been grilling him for information on the other demihuman tribes and the leaders he knew of, and why else was he trying to form bonds between the Stone Eaters and the Zoastia through having them hunt side by side, as brothers in arms. The results of which were astounding. Through this method many of his own people were treating the Stone Eaters as if they had been brothers all long, rather than former rivals.

Truly, whatever his new lord was planning was going to be big. And Vijar couldn't be happier!


Hectowaizes Ah Ragara was preparing to evacuate his tribe, the Orthrous, from their village.

He could not fight his enemy. Hectowaizes was a great general yes, but a great warrior he was not. He could lead his tribe to victory over a more numerous enemy, but in the face of overwhelming power, the kind his opponent held, there wasn't a chance of victory.

Other tribes would call what they were doing cowardly, after all, they were running from their enemy without a fight, but Hectowaizes knew that this was the only way for his tribe to live.

His plan of escape was to leave a Skelton crew of volunteers from the elderly to light fires during the night. This would give his enemy the impression that they were still there, and naturally, they would then attack. By doing so they would waste time, time which Hectowaizes and the rest of his tribe could use to escape.

He planned to move southwards. This is because the lands to the north were a land of sink holes, and adeath trap. They could not go westward either. In that direction they would find the Great Wall of the Holy Kingdom. To attack the great structure would be akin to suicide, especially since they were by themselves. They couldn't go east either. That way would lead themto the stronger demihumans like Buser and Nasrene Belt Cure, both of which would probably kill or enslave his people, something Hectowaizes wouldn't allow. Thus, their only option was south.

To the south was the Zoastia, the Stone Eaters, and a few other species, but the leaders of those tribes were mostly reasonable. Except of course for Halisha, but, rumor has it that he fell in a duel against the leader of the Zoastia, Vijar. From what Hectowaizes knew of Vijar he wasn't that bad, at least in comparison to the other tribal leaders of the Abelion Hills, the most he would do would be challenging him to a duel.

Hectowaizes took a look at his village as he and his tribe rode away. He gave his thanks to those who stayed behind, hoping that they'd at least be granted a quick death, and one free of suffering.

After all, that is the best one can hope for when facing against 'The Ashen King'.