Kyoko was feeling conflicted to be honest. On one hand she is feeling happy because she's definitely getting a chance to wreak some havoc, on the other hand she also felt embarrassed and angry for getting encircled without her realizing it.
'Then again, those are [Archangel Flame]. They're far to weak to be picked up by my radar...'
And that's where her inner dispute escalated.
'Ah Mou! And here I was hoping for a real fight! Hopefully the summoner can at least call an [Elemental Seraph]...'
Perhaps the mastermind only summoned the lowest tier of angel to conserve his/her mana. Their number is also pretty large and they have completely surrounded the entire area, from the looks of it Kyoko's wish of an even fight may not be too a pipe dream after all.
So why the heck are they hiding?
"I see… so there were people out there."
Gazef peeked out at the people surrounding the village from inside the
darkened house.
He could see three people within his field of vision. They were slowly advancing on the village while maintaining an even separation from each other.
They were unarmed and were not wearing heavy armor. However, that did not mean that they were pushovers. Many magic casters disliked such equipment and preferred lighter gear. This suggested that they were magic casters.
However, it was the winged monsters floating beside them which confirmed their vocations.
Angels.
Angels were monsters summoned from another world, and many people --particularly, the citizens of the Slaine Theocracy-- believed them to be messengers of the gods. However, the priests of the Kingdom ruled that these so-called angels were merely summoned monsters.
While these religious disputes were part of the reason why the countries were set against each other, Gazef felt that their status as divine messengers was secondary to their strength as monsters.
To Gazef, angels and demons, their similarly-ranked counterparts, were stronger than many other monsters summoned using magic of a similar tier.
Most of them had special abilities and some could even use magic. They were troublesome foes, in his reckoning.
Of course, that depended on the individual angel. Not all of them were difficult to beat.
However, the angels this time round, with their shining breastplates and flaming swords, were of a type that was unknown to him.
"They must really hate you, Warrior-Captain-dono."
Momonga, or Ainz as far as everyone else know him as, remarked after assessing the situation. There was no riches that can be taken from such small village, so he concluded that what they are seeking is something else entirely.
"It comes with the job of Warrior-Captain. However… this is troubling.
Judging by the way the other side has so many people who can summon angels, they must be from the Slaine Theocracy… and it's clear that the people carrying out this operation must be a special operations unit… the legendary Six Scriptures.
It would seem that both in numbers or ability, the opposition is superior to us..."
"Legendary you say... Heh, this might not be a waste of time after all~" As she said this Kyoko walked towards the door, but was stopped by her husband.
"We can't go charging in blindly Pallas."
"Eh!? Why not!? We can take them on, no sweat!"
"That's true. But think about it, if we intervene then it's the same us openly declaring our hostility towards an entire country."
"So?"
Momonga was pretty sure that he wasn't the only one dumbfounded by her reply.
"Look, even if it's impossible for us to get along with them why should we risk our necks? Changing a neutral relationship into an aggressive one?"
His words was cold and uncaring, but nobody present can blame him. Momonga's reasoning was logical and sound after all, not even Gazef could find any fault in his stance especially considering the fact that the couple are nothing more than a pair of traveller.
"Are you an idiot? It's exactly because of that!
You said it yourself, it's impossible for us to ever get along with those guys, ever! So why bother building bridges that's going to end up getting burned anyway!?"
Well she got him there. The theocracy practice the belief of Great Six Gods, and promote human supremacy, in other words the likes of [Ainz Ooal Gown] whose roster completely consist of Heteromorphic races will never be able to construct any meaningful exchange with the country.
"So are we going to do this or what? We did promised to protect this village didn't we?"
"...Yes. Only this village, right?"
"Well, obviously. Where are you getting at?"
"And that means we'll kept collateral damage to a minimum, RIGHT?"
The hair on her back suddenly stood up straight. This isn't good, that only happens when she's losing an argument. She gotta do something quick before he delivers the finishing blow!
"In other words, charging in blindly is the LAST THING we can afford to do. RIGHT?"
Ah shit, he got her good.
"FINE! I GET IT SHEESH! I won't do anything stupid..." Further reinforcing her word Kyoko's spear and shield dissipated into nothingness. It was less alarming than when she summoned it, but it still caught a number of people off guard.
'Now that's one thing out of the way. As for the other one...'
Momonga turned to Gazef. "Warrior captain, I assume that you will try an gain our aide in this situation."
The man nodded. "If it is alright with you, would you be willing to let me hire you? You may name your price and I will meet it."
"Please permit me to refuse, neither can I lent you my summon for that matter."
"I see… then, what if I conscripted you, in accordance with the Kingdom's laws?"
It was Kyoko who chuckled before answering. "I didn't know you were one for terrible jokes, Warrior Captain-san."
'In other words you're most welcome to try but you will die.' Gazef received the message loud and clear. From the very beginning his instincts have warned him that Making an enemy of these two would be a fatal error.
It might also be the end of the country he had sworn to protect.
"...I see that it's meaningless to keep going on about this. Then, Gown-dono, please take care of yourself. Once again, thank you for saving this village."
Gazef removed his metal gauntlet and shook Ainz's hand. Originally, Ainz was thinking of removing his own Jarngreipr to return the courtesy, but in the end, he did not do so. Still, Gazef paid it no heed. He gripped Ainz's hand tightly, and said:
"I am truly, truly grateful to you for protecting these innocent villagers from being slaughtered. Also… I know it is very selfish of me and I have no authority to make you do anything… but I hope you can protect the villagers here, just one more time. Right now, I have nothing to give you, but I hope that no matter what, you will heed my plea… I beg you."
"Sheesh, no need to be so dramatic! We already give our word to protect this village, we won't allow anyone to get hurt so just get on with it!"
"I apologize for my wife's crude language. But it is as she says, we shall protect the villagers. I swear that on the name of Ainz Ooal Gown."
"Well I'm not swearing on my name. You should already realize that I'm one who is always up for a fight."
After hearing that Gazef breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you very much, Gown-dono, Pallas-dono. Now I have nothing more to worry about. All I need to do now is charge boldly ahead."
"...Before that, please take this with you."
Ainz took out an item and handed it to the smiling Gazef. It was a small,
strangely carved statuette. There did not seem to be anything special about it.
However—
"If it is a gift from your good self, I will gladly accept it. Then, Gown-dono.
Time grows short, but I must now leave."
"...Will you not you wait until nightfall before setting out?"
"There's a chance that enemy has [Darkvision] or other kind of spell that will allow them to see in the dark. And I can tell that none of your men is a mage so you'd rather go out now to avoid anymore disadvantage."
"It is as you say, Pallas-dono. Also… we need to let you see how we stand or fall."
"I see. As expected of the Kingdom's Warrior-Captain, your keen insight is truly worthy of praise. Then, I wish you all the best, Warrior-Captain-dono."
"And I wish you a safe journey home, Gown-dono, Pallas-dono."
Momonga and Kyoko quietly watched Gazef's back shrinking into the distance as he rode off.
"It's not like you to pass up a fight." Even he have to admit that, especially because it was extremely convenient for him. "What made you give up so easily?"
"Nothing. Everything you said make perfect sense. I can be a logical person once in a while too, you know?"
...
...
...
"You're waiting until they're at their last peg before making a grand entrance aren't you?"
"Yup." with that said Kyoko re-summoned her spear and shield.
XxX
Gazef bit his lip, and continued slashing.
His record for the most consecutive uses of his ultimate attack, [Sixfold Slash of Light, was rapidly increasing.
A warrior like Gazef could use six different kinds of martial arts at once, and combined with his hidden ultimate attack, that made seven martial arts at once.
Until now, he had been using martial arts to improve his physical attributes, fortify his mind, improve his magic resistance, temporarily render his weapon magical, as well as another technique that he used on hitting an opponent.
That made five martial arts.
The reason why he had not pushed himself to the limit and used all seven at once was because powerful martial arts depleted one's concentration.
In particular, the [Sixfold Slash of Light] required three times the focus of his other techniques.
Gazef had two ultimate attacks like this, but he could only use them with four other martial arts at the same time.
He could easily defeat an angel with those techniques. But even if he struck them down, more of them were summoned anew. As long as he did not defeat their summoners, they would call up more angels to face him. While trying to run the opposition out of mana was an option, Gazef would probably tire before that.
The truth was, Gazef's arms were growing heavier and heavier, and his heart was racing.
[Instant Counter] was a martial art that forcibly corrected the body's balance after making an attack, resetting it to before the blow was struck. While that meant that the practitioner could immediately attack again, the forced reset of the body would place immense strain on it.
[Flow Acceleration] was a martial art that increased the speed at which one's nerves functioned, increasing one's attack rate. However, that technique created fatigue in the brain.
And then, there was the ultimate attack, the [Sixfold Slash of Light]. Using them put a great burden on the body, but without them, he would have no chance at all.
"Bring them all on! Your angels are nothing!"
His fearsome shout startled the Theocracy troops, but they soon recovered and renewed the offensive on Gazef.
"Pay him no heed, that's just the roar of a caged beast. Don't worry, deplete his strength bit by bit. But don't get too close. That beast's claws are long and sharp."
Gazef glared at the man with a scar on his face.
If only he could defeat him, he could turn the battle around. The problem was the other angel near him, different from the ones with the flaming swords. And then there was the great distance between them, and the several layers of defenses in the way.
They were simply too far apart.
"The beast is about to make a break for it. Show him the meaning of the word 'impossible'."
The man's calm voice only served to aggravate Gazef further.
Even if he stepped into the realm of heroes, Gazef could not win with his refined melee techniques alone.
Still — so what? If that was the only road available to him, then he would have to charge down it with all his strength.
As the strength returned to his eyes, Gazef began his charge.
However, the road ahead was hard, like he had expected.
The angels loomed before him, one after the after, swinging their swords of scorching red flame. As he evaded and counterattacked and destroyed the angels one after the other, Gazef suddenly felt an intense pain. It felt like he had been struck hard in the belly.
As he looked in the direction of the pain, he saw a group of magic casters casting a spell of some sort.
"Well, if you're priests, you should act like it. How about a little healing over here!"
As though to answer Gazef's jibe, an invisible force smashed into Gazef's body.
Even if the enemy used invisible attacks, Gazef was confident that he could avoid them by reading traces in the air and the looks on his opponent's faces. That might even have worked, if there were only a few of them. However, against 30 of those attacks, there was nothing he could do. Just keeping his sword in his hands was taking all his strength.
The pain filled his whole body. He had no idea where it was coming from, only that it was so great it almost made him collapse.
"Gahaah!"
The taste of steel welled up in his throat, and Gazef spat a mouthful of fresh blood. The sticky ichor welled out of his mouth and stained his chin.
Gazef's legs were shaky after that barrage of invisible blows, and now an angel was swinging its flaming sword at him.
He could not avoid the blow, and it struck his armor. Fortunately, it deflected the sword, but the impact travelled through the breastplate and deep into his body.
He swung wildly at the angel, but his poor balance meant that the angel easily evaded the attack.
Gazef's sword trembled in his hands as he gasped for breath.
The fatigue that filled his body seemed to be whispering into his ear, telling him to just lie down and rest.
"The hunt has entered its final stages. Do not let the beast rest — order your angels to attack consecutively."
Even though Gazef desperately wanted a moment to recover, the angels surrounding him obeyed their masters and mercilessly attacked him, one after the other.
He somehow evaded the attack from behind, and parried a thrust from the side. He used the strong angles of his armor to deflect an angel's charge from above.
Gazef wanted to counterattack his foes, but he was greatly outnumbered.
As his strength diminished, he could only take out one opponent at a time, since he lacked the stamina to use martial arts. As his subordinates fell one by one, the enemy's attacks were concentrated on him. With no way to break through the enemy's encirclement, he felt death closing in on him.
His concentration faltered, and he nearly fell to one knee. He desperately tried to refocus so he could fight.
The invisible impacts came again, striking the tottering Gazef.
The world before him shook mightily.
Not good!
Gazef used all his strength to try and maintain his balance. However, something seemed wrong with his body, and the strength that should have held him up was nowhere to be found.
The itch of touching the grass spread through his body, and Gazef realised that he had fallen.
He struggled to rise again, but his body betrayed him. The angels' swords meant death for him.
"Now, finish him off, but do not send in one angel. Use them all to ensure he is dead."
Yes, he was dead.
His well-trained hands were shaking uncontrollably, and he could not pick up his longsword. Even so, he could not give up.
His gritted teeth made creaking sounds.
Gazef was not afraid of death. He had taken many lives in the past, so he was prepared to meet his end on the battlefield.
Like he had told Ainz and Pallas, he was hated by people. That hatred became a sword that would one day pierce his body.
But he could not accept an end like this.
They had attacked several villages and murdered defenseless, innocent villagers, all to lure Gazef into a trap. He could not allow himself to die at the hands of honorless dogs like this, and he could not bear his powerlessness.
"Gaaaaaaah! Don't look down on me—!"
He shouted with all the strength in his body.
Blood dribbled out the side of his mouth as Gazef rose to his feet.
A man who should have been powerless to stand now stood proudly, the mighty force of his presence forcing back the angels that surrounded him.
"Haaa—! Haaa—!"
Just getting to his feet made it made him breathe hard. His mind was a blur and his body felt like it had turned to mud. But he could not lie down. If he lay down, all would be lost.
This little bit of pain he felt could not compare to the suffering of the dead villagers.
"I am the Warrior-Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom! I am a man who loves and defends his country! How can I lose to bastards like you who stain my country with your footsteps—!"
He was certain that they would protect the villagers.
Then, what he should do was defeat as many of the enemy as he could, so the people would not meet the same fate as all the others.
Protecting the future people of the Kingdom. That was all he wanted to do.
The enemy commander sneered in response. Gazef knew that look very well, and he's thick skinned enough to shrug off whatever mockery he'd throw at him.
It never came.
The ground in front of him exploded. Dust filled his entire vision but he was too weak to swat them away, or do anything else for that matter.
He knew that it wasn't an enemy attack, they were far too prepared and disciplined to miss with such powerful strike.
It could only mean...
A hand took hold of his shoulder, and although Gazef could not feel it directly he's recognize their presence anywhere.
"Gown...Dono..."
The figure next to him remained silent as Gazef finally faltered. His strength leaving his legs he could do nothing as he slowly tumbled.
In a surprising display of strength the magic caster doesn't seem to be at all bothered by the shift of weight, keeping the Gazef standing and balanced with his right hand alone.
As for Pallas.
"Those are some honorable words warrior captain-san, and judging from your action none of them seems to be a lie..."
Her words not only filled him with hope, it also assured him of victory as well as the village safety and his own.
"There's no way I can sit down idly after hearing such."
With a swing of her spear Kyoko dissipated the dusts surrounding her, the sight of a warrior goddess now for all to see. So mesmerizing it was even the autonomous angel halted their slaughter and only hovered in place.
"Now then, Warrior Captain." Ainz started. "This may sound cliched, but do leave the rest to us."
Before he realized it, he was already in the corner of what looked like a simple village hut.
XxX
There was no trace of the intense battle that had taken place earlier on the plains.
The light of the setting sun covered up the blood staining the grass, and the stench of blood was blown away by the wind.
There were three figures on the plains who had not originally been there.
Nigun of the Slaine Theocracy's special operations unit — the Sunlight Scripture — looked at them with perturbation in his eyes.
The was dressed like an arcane magic caster. He(?) wore an evillooking mask to hide his face, and a pair of iron gauntlets on his hands. He wore an expensive-looking black robe, suggesting he was a person of some status.
One of them was dressed in a suit of jet-black full plate armor. It looked very impressive, and it was certainly some sort of masterwork magic item. One look at the exterior was enough to tell that it was a high-end magic item.
The beleaguered Gazef and his men were gone without a trace. In their place were these three mysterious individuals. It seemed to be some kind of teleportation magic, but he had no idea what kind of spell had been used here.
He had to be wary of the mysterious magic caster, but the one he must watch out the most is of course their leader.
"An... Angel?" One of his men dumbly uttered. Normally Nigun would have chided him for such idiocy.
He is a deeply religious person who believed in the power of God. Nigun considers his own god to be divine and hate worshipers of other gods. It would be nothing out of place for him to kill his subordinate for his earlier claim.
But the 'thing' in front of him, certainly was not 'human'.
It was dressed in a suit of armor of archaic design, seemingly made out of ethereal gold and doubling as a dress. Gold metal wings sprouted from her back, beautifully crafted and adoring her already perfect features.
On her right was a spear with a tip as large as a grown man's torso, yet she wielded it with one arm and shows no trouble in lifting its weight. A perfectly round shield was glued to the back of her left arm, inscribed with runes from civilization long lost.
She stood between the angels and the other two intruder. A mere warrior shouldn't made a difference in numbers, yet Nigun failed to convince himself so.
No matter how much force he gathers, none will be able to get past the 'wall' standing in front of them.
Nigun called the angels back, ordering them to form a defensive perimeter on their side. His assiduous gaze studied their movements, and then the magic caster stepped forward. Now standing next to the warrior woman.
"Pleased to meet you, gentlemen of the Slaine Theocracy. I am Ainz Ooal Gown. This is my wife, Pallas Ooal Gown."
He was some distance away from them, but the wind carried his voice over clearly.
Nigun did not respond, and thus the mysterious man called Ainz continued:
"The person behind me is called Albedo. I would like to make a deal with you. Might I have a moment of your time?"
Nigun tried to attach some meaning to the name Ainz Ooal Gown, but it was no use. It might be an alias. Perhaps trying to glean some information from him would be more productive. With that, Nigun raised his chin, indicating that Ainz should continue.
"Wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. Then, I would like to start by making one thing clear to you gentlemen. That would be — there is no way you can defeat us."
He could hear the absolute confidence in that statement. This was not a bluff or a boast. This was something that the man Ainz Ooal Gown believed from the bottom of his heart.
"That much is given." The woman Pallas, seconded. "Why did you even bother telling them that anyway? It's not like we're gonna let any of them escape."
"Well, figures if we rattle them enough they'll surrender and save us time."
"Eh~!? But I don't want them to surrender! I want to fight!"
"Don't be so selfish. What will you do if one of your attack accidentally hit the village."
"Geh! I-I won't! I'm not gonna use any AOE attacks! And don't worry about collateral damage! See!? Those guys are nowhere near the village! "
"Hm..."
"Come on~! I promise I'll stick to physical strikes only, so please~?"
The finally Caster relented with a sigh. "Fine. But we'll take turns attacking. This is a good chance to test offensive spells on actual living target..."
"YES!"
Their exchange further flames Nigun's fury, and secretly, his fear. They were outnumbered and is surrounded yet they chatter without a care, as if he and his men wasn't even there. As if he wasn't even an opponent that they don't need to take seriously.
A thrill of cold ran from the bottoms of Nigun's feet to the top of his head. He had felt this countless times in his struggles along the edge of life and death. It was a sign of impending doom.
Deep down, although he tries his best to deny it, he knew that they're already dead.
"Have the angels charge! Don't let them get close!"
Nigun's voice broke slightly as he shouted his orders. It sounded more like a scream.
It was not to raise his men's spirits. He was simply afraid of the two unknowns in front of him.
Two Archangel Flames flapped their wings in response to Nigun's command, launching an attack.
"Oh! Here they come! I got first strike right!?"
"Yes-yes. Just remember we're taking turns attacking. There's something I want to test..."
"Roger~!"
Merrily the warrior woman spun her lance. Kyoko just can't contain herself any longer. True her enemy may only be weak archangel flames, but this is her debut fight! She's guts to give it everything she got!
"Here we go!"
To her inhuman vision the zooming angels were moving in slow motion, intercepting two incoming flames was nothing short of easy. With a single stroke of her trusty spear Kyoko cleaved the two Archangel Flames into four.
However her attack was far from finished.
Instead of vanishing the bifurcated angel's corpse began to glow, compressing itself into four hovering glowing orbs.
Before the flabbergasted men could even voice their shock the four orbs raced through the air and began destroying the rest of the angels, piercing the summons as stones would through glass.
Only when they were mowed down to half of their original number did they finally disappeared.
"Ah, shit. I forgot to turn off my [Ricohet] skill."
It was one of Kyoko's crowd control skills. Often passed off as useless she probably would have never bothered learning it f it weren't for her husband's insight. To put it into words, the skill works when the player performed an attack that exceeded the target's total HP.
The remaining overkill damage is converted into ranged attack that targets mobs with the same race as the original victims. It rarely kicks in during PvP, but it was extremely helpful in tedious grinding mission and fighting swarm based summoners.
Kyoko was a bit surprised, and relieved, that she only killed half of them. If she had ended it in one blow then she would have blown her chance to cut loose! Of course the summoner could always just call for more, but still...
"Alright then, it's my turn." Momonga proclaimed.
"Eh!? But I've only attacked once!"
"Which means now is my turn to do so. We did agree to take turns didn't we?"
"Mu... Fine! But leave some for me!"
"No promises. Now then, I apologize for the delay. Let us continue where we left."
A sudden spike of cold pierced his spine, followed by a surge of nausea. Nigun, the hardened killer who had presided over many slaughters, was now feeling something that he had never felt before.
He had to run. He had no way of beating any of them, so doing battle with him would be very dangerous.
However, Nigun struggled to shake that feeling away. He had cornered his prey Gazef — how could he watch him get away now?
Still, a warning resonated from the depths of his soul. Nigun shouted his order:
"All angels, attack! Hurry!"
Every one of the Archangel Flames shot toward Momonga like bullets.
"What a lively lot…"
Nigun could hear the cool, calm voice of someone who was being attacked by angels, but did not care. Ainz was surrounded by so many angels that nobody could even see him, but yet his voice did not carry even the slightest hint of worry.
It looked like he would be impaled by countless blades — no, Ainz's spell took effect before that.
"[Negative Burst]."
The air shuddered.
A wave of black radiance erupted from 'Ainz', like the negative image of a camera flash. It only lasted for an instant, but it had an immediate and obvious effect.
"Im-impossible…"
Someone muttered those words, finally voicing their disbelief that has plagued them since the beginning of the fight.
The angels, over 40 of them, had been annihilated by only two attacks.
"Oy... Weren't you the one who told me not to use AOE attacks? What'll you do is the villager got caught from the blast?" The Great spirit prodded in a jeering tone, but Overlord was unfazed.
"That won't happen. Unlike you I know all of my spell's ranges. By the way, you didn't take any damage from the blast didn't you?"
"As if! That attack wasn't even maximized or chained! Not to mention most of your spells are weak to begin with!"
Momonga only sigh, he was already used to his wife's boasting.
"Maybe so, but it also could be a friendly fire setting."
"What are you talking about? I can attack you and the kids just fine."
"That's certainly true. Perhaps it depends on who the attacker is targeting and his or her willingness to harm them."
Kyoko nodded. "Could be it, why don't you let me stab you and find out!?"
"...I'd rather you not..."
"Come on! I'll just be a little sting! You're a man aren't you?"
"That weapon deals extra damage against those with evil alignment, who knows what'll happen to me if I get hit? Besides it's clear that you want to stab me. Testing it with that kind of intention is the same as useless."
"Boo~! Since when are you such a killjoy!?"
Again they completely ignored Nigun and his men in favour of bickering with one another. It was not the sight of strong warriors letting their guard down, no. After all who would feel threatened when they face mere ants.
Nigun could not help but tremble, trying desperately to bring himself over.
Nigun knew that the members of the strongest special ops group, the Black Scripture, could also eliminate this many angels. In other words, all he had to do was treat Ainz as an opponent on their level. While he might be as strong as a member of the Black Scripture, he had the advantage of numbers on his side, so victory was still possible.
However, could those members of the Black Scripture take care of all these
angels with just one attack like those two did?
Nigun shook his head to clear away his doubts. He could not think of that question. If he got his answer, then he would truly be done for. Therefore Nigun reached inside his coat, and touched the item within to give himself courage.
He fervently believed that as long as he held it, everything would be fine.
However, his subordinates did not have the same source of moral support that he did.
"U-uwaaaah!"
"What, what the hell!"
"It's a monster!"
Once they realized their angels were useless, they wailed and fell back upon
the spells that they knew and trusted.
"[Charm Person, [Iron Hammer of Righteousness, [Hold, [Fire Rain, [Emerald Sarcophagus, [Holy Ray, [Shockwave, [Confusion, [Charge of Stalagmite, [Open Wounds, [Poison, [Fear, [Word of Curse, [Blindness]..."
All kinds of spells rained down on Momonga and Pallas.
"Oh! I haven't heard of those spells in a long time! It sure brings back memories of my beginners days!"
"Umu, those are indeed first tier spell usually used by new players. Never thought the day It'd ever hear of them."
The two commented in a nostalgic fashion.
"Those spells...who taught them to you? The Slaine Theocracy? Someone else? There are more and more things I want to ask you now."
"You can just asks that to whoever are left once we're through with them."
"Hm... Since most of them are summoner they'd probably be easy to capture once they run out of mana."
"Yosh~! Then it's settled!"
Not only could he slaughter all their summoned angels in one move, their spells were also incapable of harming him.
Nigun felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. And judging from the content of their conversation they intend to capture them alive. The news might brought some relief to the ears of fools, but he knows that there's only one reason why would a victorious side would not kill the losers.
Extraction of information. In other words torture.
"Hyaaaaah—!"
One of the men screamed wildly as he saw that his spells were ineffective. In desperation, he pulled out a sling and loaded it with a bullet. Although Nigun doubted the effectiveness of such a projectile when even an angel's sword was useless, he did not stop the man
The bullet that could easily shatter bone sped toward Pallas.
It was followed by a sound. That sound was like an explosion.
An instant.
It had happened in an instant.
Since they were in battle, they could not take their eyes off their target. However, Albedo — who should have been behind — had moved in a mysterious way in front of Ainz to defend him. The source of the apparent explosion was because she had violently kicked off the ground to get to where she was.
With a speed that the eye could not even see, Albedo swung her bardiche, tracing a beautiful curve of the weapon's sickly green light in the air.
After that, the man with the sling slowly collapsed to the ground.
"...Huh?"
Nobody knew what had happened. They were the ones who had launched the attack, yet the result was completely opposite — one of them had fallen instead.
One of the men went over to inspect his dead comrade, and he shouted:
"His, his head's been smashed in!"
"...What? Smashed… don't tell me it's the sling bullet he threw!"
Why had he been killed by his own projectile?
Just then, the wind carried a voice into the puzzled Nigun's ears.
"My apologies, It would seem my subordinate used a combination of the Missile Parry and Counter Arrow skills to return your projectile to your man. I believe you have some sort of magic which defends against ranged attacks on your persons. That would mean an attack that is stronger than the defense will break through it, no? It's hardly worth panicking about."
"Umu-umu! Perfectly executed Albedo! I couldn't have done better myself!"
The one wearing the jet black armor instantly faltered to the praise.
"W-What are you talking about Pallas-Sama! My inferior skill should never be compared to your godly capabilities!" She shrieked in panic.
"You really think so? I'm pretty sure had I be the one who did it, it'd pretty much be the same."
Albedo looked like she was about to argue further, but Momonga.
"That's enough, Albedo."
"Ainz-sama!?"
"My wife had decreed that your skill is up to the task, and her judgement can't be wrong."
"...!..."
"And besides, it'd be extremely rude to turn down a compliment like that wouldn't it?"
"...! I-indeed... My apologies, Pallas-sama."
"Well, it's not like I'd get angry over something small like that. By the way, it's my turn now right!?"
"It is, knock yourself out."
"Yosha! Oi you over there!" Kyoko pointed her spear at Nigun. He felt as if it was inches from his neck despite the distance. "Hurry up and summon more angels or something! I'm not gonna hold back since I could only attack once!"
"Ngk! Puh! Principality of Observation! Attack!"
In response to Nigun's orders, the angel that had been standing by up till now suddenly spread its wings and flapped, propelling itself forward.
The Principality of Observation was an angel in full body armor. It held a mace in one hand and a round shield in the other. A garment that looked like a long skirt covered its legs.
The Principality of Observation was stronger than the Archangel Flames, but it had not been deployed into battle until now because of its special skill. In accordance with its name, the Principality of Observation had the ability to raise the defense of all its allies. However, this ability lost its effect once the angel moved, so the wise decision would be to order the Principality of Observation to hold its ground.
The fact that Nigun had ordered it to attack was a sign that he was grasping at straws. He had to clutch at anything which might turn out to be a lifeline, even if it ended up being chaff.
"Eh? Seriously? You're only sending him!?" Pallas protested. Instead of summoning more angels this idiot only sent over a weakling. That's the worst decision anyone can ever make! (From her point of view at least).
"Well, I'll just have to make do..." Just her luck, to get a turn where only a single enemy attack.
As ordered, the angel drew up in front of Kyoko, and raised its shining mace.
Instead of retaliating she positioned her shield between them and prepare to receive the full attack.
The loud clang could be heard even by the hiding villager, showing just how powerful it was. However to those who witness it directly the result was the exact opposite.
A spider web formed in Principal of Observation's mace, spreading and spreading until it covered its entire body. The Sunlight Scripture knows what will happens next, but only after it finally did they believe it.
Like a porcelain doll dropped to the ground, the strongest angel Nigun had summoned, shattered into a million pieces.
No traces were left behind. The previous scene — that of the angel's attack and its destruction — felt like they had been illusions, like they had never happened.
"Hoh. Countering with a combination of Shield Bash and Defense Strike. I see your timing is as good as always." Momonga praised.
"Well... figures I should just practice it. Especially since there's only a single target to fight."
"From the looks of it your worries are for nothing."
"Yeah-yeah. Just hurry up and get it over with, this is your turn after all."
"I'm actually surprised that you'd keep your end of the bargain considering the nature of the deal."
A tick mark appeared on Kyoko's helmet.
"And I'm actually surprised that you'd waste my once in a lifetime kindness of letting you doing it."
"Dully noted."
While those two once again exchanged words casually fear spread like a wildfire upon the scripture.
"How, how could this be."
"In just one hit…"
"Hiiiiiiii!"
"Im-im-impossible!" Nigun shouted amidst his confusion.
He did not even know he was shouting. He was simply converting his thoughts into words. It did not feel like shouting to him.
The Principality of Observation was a high-tier angel whose offensive and defensive strength were in a 3:7 ratio. It boasted the strongest defense of all other angels in its tier.
In addition, Nigun's natural-born talent, [Enhance Summoned Monster, could improve the stats of any monster Nigun summoned. As a result, there were very few people who could defeat a Principality of Observation summoned by Nigun.
Nigun had never seen anyone defeat it with just one spell. Even the Black Scripture, whose members' power pressed against the limits of humanity, could not do it. In other words, Ainz Ooal Gown's and Pallas Domina Gown's power exceeded that of mankind.
"It's can't be! It's impossible! Nobody can defeat a high-tier angel with just one strike! What kind of man are you, Pallas Domina Gown?! It's impossible that nobody's heard of you before! What is your real name!"
There was no trace of calm left in Nigun, just his wild screaming in the hope of denying reality.
"How rude! I'm a woman through and through you know!" Kyoko responded while puffing her nonexistent cheek.
"...Indeed. What you just said is very...VERY...RUDE..."
Nigun did not know it, but he had accidentally signed his own death warrant verbally."
"For you to say such a thing to my lovely wife. My mind is now set. I will take you alive, but your demise would be the furthest from quick and painless!"
His proclamation rendered Kyoko dumbstruck and sent Albeod into a feat of squeal.
As a salary man Kuzuki Satoru was someone who was used to be stepped on. This mentality combined with his timid nature made him a very hard man to set off, with his button countable by a single hand.
One of them was his wife, and even the slightest of insult was more than enough for him to erupt his bottled stress and rage.
In the face of Ainz's wrath, Nigun was unable to respond to what he was hearing. Yet, he understood that he was as good as dead.
—That is a monster beyond my wildest imaginings. I could never hope to defeat it.
Was what he honestly think.
"Cap-Captain, what, what should we do...?"
"Figure it out yourself! I'm not your mother!"
Nigun only managed to calm down after he could no longer see the face of the man he was shouting at.
Losing his cool in front of an unknown monster like this was a very bad thing.
The sun was slowly falling below the horizon, and darkness threatened to swallow the world. It felt like Death itself was opening its maw to devour everything. Nigun tried to force his fear back, and gave an order:
"Protect me! Protect me if you want to live!"
Nigun brought the crystal out in his trembling hand. His subordinates, usually vigorous and nimble, were chained down by fear and their movements were slow. Even these fearless men would hesitate when ordered to become a shield against a monster like the one which stood before them. However, he had to have them buy him some time, no matter what.
The magic sealed within the crystal could summon the most powerful angel known to man. It was an angel that had single-handedly destroyed a Demon God that rampaged throughout the land 200 years ago.
It was an angel of the highest order, that could easily destroy a city.
Casting the spell to summon that angel again required an incalculable amount
of money and manpower, but Ainz Ooal Gown and Pallas Domina Gown, these two mysterious beings, was worthy of being eliminated by its power. More importantly, it would be worse if the crystal was taken without the spell being cast.
This was what Nigun told himself.
He concealed his fear that he would become a lump of meat like his deceased underling.
"I am going to summon an angel of the highest order, hurry up and buy me some time!"
Once they realized the truth, his subordinates moved swiftly.
Ainz, who was facing them, should have noticed the flames of hope blazing up.
However, he made no move, instead allowing them to finish the act with the sole intention of crushing their spirit completely.
'That's probably a spell sealing crystal, and from its brilliance, it should be something that can seal anything except a super-tier spell. So they have a YGGDRASIL item like that as well…'
If his deduction is correct then there's a chance that what they'll summon a Seraph-class. He didn't think that they can bring out a Seraph Aesphere, but if they manage to summon a Seraph Empyrean, he'll will have to fight them seriously. There's also the possibility of him summoning an unknown monster native to this world.
Even so his boiling rage easily scorched his worry and paranoia.
For him to demean the women he loves! To mock the mother of his children!
"...Whatever comes this way... I'll destroy it!"
Unknown to him Albedo had almost passed out from nosebleed while Kyoko was struggling to hide her embarrassment.
While Ainz held his ground, Nigun ritually broke the crystal in his hand, and a brilliant radiance spilled forth.
A hidden sun seemed to have risen upon the land, dying the grass a blinding white.
A dull fragrance filtered into everyone's noses. The legendary angel descended upon the earth, and Nigun exulted:
"Behold! The glorious visage of the highest angel! Dominion Authority!"
It was a mass of many shining wings, and among them were a pair of arms that held a scepter, symbolizing royal authority, but there was no head or legs visible. Though it looked quite disturbing, anyone could tell this was a sacred being. In the moment it appeared, the surrounding air turned bright and clear.
The advent of this supreme incarnation of goodness drew wild cheers from everyone who saw it. The blood of Nigun's men boiled with excitement.
Now, they could kill Ainz Ooal Gown.
This time, he would be the one to be afraid.
He would learn his foolishness before the power of the gods.
(SHANK)
But Instead, what happened next was so underwhelming that it made them stare in dumbfounded silence. It might even be laughable. But they could no longer see it.
Just like the other angels it took a few seconds before it completely vanishes. Their last hope of salvation and victory, dematerializing just like any other common angels would.
The Dominion Authority has been destroyed. And the one who killed it was...
"...I thought you said it was my turn."
"Ngh! Well sorry but did you really expect me to just stand still after all the sappy corny things you said!"
Right after the summoning finishes the great spirit threw her spear at the angel, the weapon piercing through its target without much of a hitch.
Thanks to one of its feature the spear would instantly return to the owner once the target dies, but the fact remains that it was an act of unplanned impulse. She didn't even imbued her attack with enchantment whatsoever, showing just how easily any of them could lay waste on the so called secret weapon.
"Hm... His remark certainly set me off. But I didn't recall voicing out anything mushy or the like."
"Idiot! It's not about the lines! The implication alone is plain embarrassing! How can you not realize such a thing!?"
"I don't really get it but sorry?"
"...It's not like I hate it or anything..."
In a feminine display that does not fit her earlier outburst Pallas lowered her head and began acting shyly. Slowly but surely nudging closer and closer towards the Overlord.
For once he recognized the signal Momonga wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Kyoko then leaned on him causing his mask and her helmet to gently rubbed against one another.
There are only few things in this world and the previous that could turn her beet red, and her husband protecting her honor is on the top of that list.
Nigun, who was stunned by their easy-going back and forth as well as the, finally managed to recover enough of his senses to shout:
"No! Impossible! It cannot be! Nobody can be stronger than the highest-placed of the angels! This is a being which can defeat a Demon God! In the face of a foe that humanity cannot beat!"
It would seem Nigun could no longer control his emotions.
He could not, would not acknowledge this. He could not believe that a man who could defeat Dominion Authority was not only an enemy of the Slaine Theocracy, but was standing right in front of him.
Unknowingly again, he had stepped on another landmine.
"You... You INFERIOR LIFEFORMS!"
Albedo's shout ripped through the air.
"YOU INFERIOR LIFEFORMS! HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING TO MY BELOVED LORDS! TO RUIN THEIR MOMENTS OF HAPINESS WITH YOUR FILTHY VOICE!
DO NOT THINK THAT I WILL ALLOW YOU TO DIE EASILY! I WILL HAVE YOU TASTE THE GREATEST SUFFERING THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER UNTIL YOU GO MAD FROM ANGONY!
I WILL MELT OFF YOUR LIMBS WITH ACID! CUT OFF YOUR GENITALS AND FEED IT TO YOU AS MINCEMEAT! THEN I WILL HEAL YOU AND DO IT AGAIN!
AHHHHHHH! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU SO MUCH THAT MY HEART IS GOING TO BURST-!"
Her arms, clawing at her head and sheathed in black armor, were writhing.
It felt like the world was distorting, with her at the center. A wave of worldtwisting, courage-sapping malice smashed into them like a hurricane.
Something seemed to be crawling under that black armor, like there was an enormous creature that was about to break through the plates and reveal itself. Nigun knew this was happening, but there was nothing he could do but stand there and watch the emergence of a monster that would pollute the world.
Only two people in this world could rein her in.
Breaking away from her husband and approaching the raging guardian, Kyoko worriedly addresses her.
"Um.. Albedo, are you alright?"
Those words were enough to stop Albedo in her tracks.
"Y-yes! Pallas-sama! I'm completely fine!"
"Doesn't sound like it. Why don't you take a deep breath and let us handle the rest!?"
"...But, but Pallas-sama, these inferior lifeforms…"
"—It's fine, Albedo. Things did went... off the rails a bit... Besides, it's kind of our fault for doing that in the middle of a fight..."
"That can't be! It is undoubtedly their fault for being so insolent despite receiving your greatness-!"
"Even so there is no need to raise your voice isn't it, Albedo."
"...!..."
Momonga knew very well that the NPC practically worships him, thus he theorized that the best way to keep them in line is by voicing out how their conduct is running counter to his expectations.
'As expected she responded more sensitively when I pointed out her mistakes...'
Since he managed to rein in Albedo despite her reaching peak emotional meltdown, it's safe to assume that this method is the most effective of all.
'Even so this is a dual edged sword.'
If even the smallest of action was able to set her off this much then letting any of the NPC to act on their own without surveillance would brought about untold destruction.
Of course this might also be the byproduct her personality, which means he'll have to do an evaluation on who are capable of being dispatched independently and those who are never to be left alone.
'For now I'm done with the stick. Guess it's time for the carrot then.'
"It's alright, I'm sure you mean no harm."
"Guh! For me to commit this many blunders! I shall accept any punishment! Please dispose of this useless one as you see fit!"
Momonga then turned to Kyoko who nodded in understanding.
"Nobody's killing anybody here-" she started. "The truth is, I'm quite glad that you would be worried and angry for me. But it's a real shame to see you without that charming smile of yours! "
"Gufu—! Char-charming! —cough, thank you, Pallas-sama."
"Then, I assume all is settled?" Momonga asked.
"Yes! Thank you for putting up with this one's antics, Ainz-sama, Pallas-sama!"
"Now then, I'm sorry you had to wait for so long..." He turned to Nigun and his men.
"Who… are you people…" Nigun asked these impossible beings again.
"I have never heard the name of a magic caster called Ainz Ooal Gown or a warrior name Pallas Domina Gown before… no, there can't be someone who could destroy the highest-ranked angel in one blow! Someone like that should not exist..."
Nigun shook his head powerlessly.
"All I know is that you are far beyond a Demon God… this is unbelievable… who exactly are you…"
"In the past, there was nobody who did not tremble in the face of our names..."
"Damn straight! Only the greatest of the greatest have ever even come close to beating us!"
The sun set completely, and darkness swallowed the land.
Nigun knew that this was the end. This was an unassailable reality. Just as his subordinates fell into despair one after the other, cracks appeared in the sky, like the breaking of a pot. They vanished in an instant, and the scenery returned to normal.
"What the? Was someone spying on us!?" Kyoko suddenly shouted.
"Seems like it. but because I was in the spell's effective range, my anti-scrying offensive barrier activated, and you were not observed."
"Huh. Guess those lame skills of yours have their uses after all. Still, if I ever ended up meeting those perverts I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind!"
"You don't need to tell me that. Really, if I had known, I would have linked a higher-tier attack spell to it."
Those words filled Nigun's eyes with realization.
The Slaine Theocracy must have been spying on him.
"A widened [Explosion] might not be enough to teach them how to behave…"
"Of course not! We should track them down and beat the crap out of them! That'll teach them to invade someone's privacy!"
"Oh well, things being as they are, playtime is over."
A wave of cold ran through Nigun as he picked up the hidden meaning in those words.
He, who had always been the oppressor, was now going to become one of the oppressed.
He was filled with an incomparable fear. The fear that he, who had taken countless lives in the past, was now going to have his own life taken. His subordinates saw his terrified expression and it frightened them as well.
He was on the verge of tears.
He wanted to kneel down and loudly beg for his life, but none of them looked like a compassionate person. Thus, Nigun fought back the urge to weep, trying his best to look for a way to survive. But no matter how he thought, he could not think of any way to get help from the outside. Therefore, his only hope was to beg for their mercy.
"Wait, wait a bit! Ainz Ooal Gown-dono, no, -sama! Please wait, we, no, I wish to make a deal with you! I guarantee you will not be disappointed! As long as you spare me, I will give you any amount of money you want!"
He could see his shocked subordinates out of the corner of his eye, but they were no longer relevant to him. The thing that mattered now was his own life. Everything else was of secondary importance.
Besides, he could find more subordinates, but his own self was irreplaceable.
"Wow, what a sellout. Do we look like someone in a financial slump to you?"
Those words, ones that is unmistakably a scolding from a mother towards a child, extinguished whatever spark of hope Nigun has.
"Indeed. It seems that your rudeness knows no bound, although there seems to be a misconception from your part..."
'What does that mean?' he wondered.
"Ainz-sama, Pallas-sama, I don't think someone like him deserves none of your visages of wisdom. Please, allow this lowly servant of yours to inform this fool of his own foolishness."
"You think so? Then do please enlighten him, Albedo."
"Yes!" The black-helmeted warrior woman happily cheered before silently muttering 'this time I won't mess up'. Albedo the clears her throat before starting.
"Bluntly speaking, you wanted to beg for your life because accepting his proposition would also mean your death. Am I correct? Then as Ainz-sama said, you have indeed gotten the wrong Idea.
Ainz-sama and Pallas-sama holds the power of life and death in Nazarick. Since they have decreed their will inferior lifeforms like you humans should lower your heads and gratefully await the taking of your lives."
Albedo's forceful words were backed by an adamant resolve.
"Well said! I mean did you seriously think you can get away after slaughtering so many innocents? Nobody is that lucky."
"Indeed… it is as my wife says. Cease your pointless struggles and lie down quietly. As a final act of mercy, I will kill you without drawing out your suffering..."
Nigun, and all members of the Sunlight Scripture knows that it was a lie.
"Of course it goes without a saying, all of your sufferings will be drawn out as long as possible."
XxX
"Oh look over there! Is that Vega or Altair!? Maybe Deneb!?"
"I don't know. I'm not even sure if this is summer, and besides BluePlanet-san is the one knowledgeable about those kind of things..."
"Hehe~ so even the great Ainz Ooal Gown is clueless about such a thing. I'm no better though~."
"..."
As the walked along the night-veiled plains, Momonga raised his head. What greeted him was the beautiful sight of stars in the sky, the same thing behind Kyoko's current mood.
They have sent Albedo back to Nazarick first much to her chargin. Doing so in order to avoid further complication and bloodshed. Them having the moment for themselves was bonus of its own, even with the countless eight edge assassins lurking in the shadows.
He sighed at the scenery for the second time, and then he headed back to the village.
They won that's for sure, and yet there was no celeb
"Did we go overboard earlier?"
"...They're bad guys who definitely got what they deserves... But I get what you're worried about."
"..."
They have sentenced those men to a fate worse than death without any hesitation. Granted her wife's words was nothing short of the truth and that they were only delivering, maybe even ensuring, what was due.
Even so...
"It really bothers you huh? Not being human."
"...Yeah, even more so because I prefer this form more..."
"Is that so..."
Even now there are many things that they don't understand, so many unanswered question that surfaces with every answers. With how much at stake it was only natural for him to be terrified of future prospects.
"YOSHA!" Kyoko suddenly shouted and startling Momonga.
"What was that for?" He asked, feeling irritated.
"I was letting out my stress, obviously." She answered without a hint of guilt "Trust me you're not the only one frustrated about those things, but brooding isn't gonna give us any answers. Hell, I'm 100% convinced that it's self destructive."
She has a point. Constantly pondering about what ifs held no merits, they'll just have to cross that bridge when they get there.
"Honestly, I really don't know what I'll do without you." The Overlord admitted causing the great spirit to smirk.
"I'm guessing you'd probably be dead by now or is living alone miserably. Bottom line is you'd have none of this if it weren't for me."
"Things wouldn't be the same, that's for sure."
"You forgot to add much more glum and sucks an entire ass."
"We really have to talk about you using that language. It'd be bad if the children picks up on that."
"Please! I know better than to swear in front of the kids." Blood thirsty, yes. But Kyoko would never be so reckless to risk her children's future. Momonga scoffed in response.
"I believe otherwise."
"Whatever." Surprisingly she waved off the offense easily. Maybe because she had a chance to take out her stress earlier. "Let's just get back the village. Gazef is probably super grateful. He might even give us some rewards for saving his ass."
"The man's barely armed so the chances of that is unlikely. More importantly..."
"Hm?"
"...You don't need to call him by name you know."
"..."
"..."
"Are you... Jealous?"
"...No, I'm not..."
"Nope! you totally are! You're jealous aren't you!?"
"You know we still need to come up with an explanation on why there's no corpses."
All members of the Sunlight scripture had been shipped back to the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. Even if they claimed to have eradicated them completely leaving no trace of anything behind would surely gave birth to suspicion.
"Changing the topic now~ do you really think you'll get away that easily~?"
Just like last time she intertwined her arm with his, and again leaning her head to her shoulder.
"We can't go back like this, it'd be too odd."
"But if we do it the warrior captain will now he doesn't stand a chance." She cooed. After another moment of silence he finally answered.
"...Hard pass."
"Killjoy~." She booed, the phrase lacking the usual edge. "You know we could just say that they fled after we fend them off."
If he has eyebrows Momonga would have raised them.
"Wouldn't that explanation wounds your pride?"
"Meh, I'm in a good mood. Besides they're just strangers, so it doesn't really matter."
"That's surprisingly mature of you."
"Can it! Geez, you're the only person who would dare to waste my kindness."
"Since it's the only time where you'd actually listen to others, I can't waste any seconds of it."
"Yeah-yeah 'Mr. I'm the smart one'. Tell you what? When we get back to Nazarick I'll tell you what I'm planning to do then you can tell me what do you think about it. For now let's just go back to the village and wrap things up."
Perhaps she knew, perhaps she doesn't. Perhaps what he said next was actually what she herself wanted to say.
"There's no need to worry. I'll be with you every step of the way."
XxX
Sorry for the long hiatus, I was focusing on my other story that I was really fond off (fate rubeus ater please read it if you have the time).
Volume two and three will be mixed into one arc since I'm planning on executing them based on chronological order, which means Momonga might end up not meeting Clementine. Someone else will deal with her and it'd be on a completely different TUNE from the light novel.
Anyway Momonga's human account appearance if based on FGO Archer Napoleon (yes it's a seiyuu joke).
If any of you are worried about abandonment, please don't. I just got busy this past few months with college coming up and my other stories.
I love this story too much for that
Voidwalker77 signing out. CIAO!