Chapter 10

"I can't believe him!" Albedo yelled in disgust. "A human being able to defeat a guardian is absurd!"

"And yet he managed to beat you," Ainz said. "Given you didn't go all out in that fight, you still lost. So, you stand to criticize yourself Albedo."

"Mmm.. forgive me lord~."

'It is strange though,' he thought, resting his face in his hand. 'Not only did she lose, but she deployed Einherjar way too early. She'd never be that reckless.'

Albedo and the rest of the guardians stood in the throne room with Ainz atop his throne, golden scepter bobbing in the air beside him. In the center levitated a giant golden oval mirror with vines etched into the frame that swirled to a diamond shaped emerald at the top. As a pair of maids stood on either side of it, the mirror's reflection showed Garmadon slung over the shoulder of a muscular, dark skinned man with a mohawk.

"As things stand, I believe it's safe to say that Garmadon won't pose much of a threat in the future," Demiurge said, pushing up his glasses. "I doubt we'll receive any more problems from him. Like another friggin hole in the tomb."

Demiurges posture was shaking very slightly with fists clenching.

With Albedo by his side, Ainz held his head in one hand with his eyes momentarily void of light. "Calm yourself Demiurge, thinking rash like that won't help at all. It's how the powerful trip over themselves. In moments like these it's important not to be wishfully thinking, but to be learning of what has transpired before us," raising a finger his sockets glowed a deep crimson.

"Firstly, why couldn't we see anything after Garmadon used his trump card? What could he have done that overpowered Shalltear and create what he claimed to be 'a super nova'? That would mean he possibly poses an artifact on pare with a World Item." Ainz raised a second finger.

"Secondly, the Slane Theacracy intervened in the end because they were looking for him, that'd mean they more than likely have spies or contacts in the Re-Estize kingdom, extensive surveillance magic or all three," he lifted another finger.

"Finally, how do you think the control dimension will view this? Will they make it so that Garmadon becomes a pawn for the enemy if we do nothing?"

Demiurge stood taken back a bit before bowing.

"My apologies, lord Ainz. I was distracted by anger and merely saw what we could do now rather than what would happen in the future. Your insight and foresight truly surpass me."

'I seriously doubt that sometimes.'

Ainz internally sighed as he rested back in his chair in thought. 'And now we've got lightsabers in the mix? I would've loved it if he summoned them while he was here. The saga back in my life gave me such a thrill, even being over a century old. But now that the Slane Theocracy has them, who knows how they're going react to the sabers, and we'd be in a lot of shit if he brought out the death star. It's colossal build rivaling that of the moon with it's-NO, no I shouldn't think like that. Nazarick against the death star would only leave a canyon the size of Star Wars popularity in the ground. I need to control my urges-.'

Suddenly the double doors to the room burst open with a lone figure standing, his arms spread wide and dawned in orange.

"Looorrd Ainz!" Pandoras actor yelled

The maids either side of the mirror guided it to one side of the room as the financial guardian marched like a robot to the base of the throne and assuming his military salute.

"I have arrived with the requested gold from the treasury, amounting to not even a mere speck the worth Nazarick is!" he spun to face the doors and clicked his fingers.

Eight giant platforms levitated through the arch way with mountains of gold on each accompanied by CZ delta, Yuri and four other maids.

"As requested my creator!" Pandora's actor announced, turning back with his hand on his heart. "5 million gold for the resurrection ritual. I'm filled with honor to oversee this order and to finally walk the great halls of this tomb once again. I was worried it had been broken after the earth shook and your swift exit. How it warms my heart to see its beauty hasn't changed from when I last saw it!" He tipped his hat slightly towards Albedo. "Among other things~."

Bowing one last time, the guardians all starred with mixed looks of shock and confusion. While Ainz's jaw hung low, a green light engulfed him as he screamed internally.

'Why'd I instruct him to leave the treasury and bring the gold up here? I should've just told this actor to stay down there!'

Ignoring his own pun, Ainz moved a fist in front of his mouth. "Cough…Y-yes, thankyou Pandora's Actor."

"Hie! Das Gold für den Fluss Stix haben angehäuft, um eine sichere Passage zurück zu den Lebenden zu pflastern."

Ainz slammed his fist onto the arm of the chair. "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR GERMAN?!"

"M-my apologies, Lord Ainz."

While Pandora's actor slunk back with his hand rested upon his heart, a green glow enveloped Ainz for a split-moment.

"Now, all that's left is to begin Shalltears resurrection," Ainz announced, heaving himself off his throne and snatching the scepter from midair. "Albedo I'll need you to watch her name while I perform the ritual. If she's still under mind control once she is revived, I may have to do the unspeakable."

"Don't worry about it," Demiurge voiced, stepping forward. "If that does come to pass we will be the ones to take care of her."

"Demiurge…~"

'Garmadon faced Shalltear to save me from the pain of having to kill her myself, but as the guild master I must protect the legacy and pride of both myself and my friends.'

"Please lord," he said, clenching his hands. "To let our Supreme ruler face such danger without his guardians acting would be a tarnish on our pride."

"I hear you. But…~"

"If Shalltear continues to revolt against Nazarick, then the guardians of Nazarick should be the ones to deal with her," Albedo said behind Ainz with a transparent screen hovering before her. "Please step down my lord. As Demiurge said, this is something that we guardians must take responsibility for with pride."

'….She's right, the NPC's of Nazarick now have wills of their own. Hopes and beliefs, if I were to continue treating them as NPC's then even my pride in my friends creations will diminish.'

"I understand," Ainz mulled over before caving in. "Then if that happens then I will let you deal with it my guardians."

"We won't fail you. All that we ask is that you stay by our side. If you leave us, who will we pledge our fidelity to? Without a supreme being to rule the guardians would cease to have a purpose. We know our creators didn't reject us, but it is far too lonely when no one is here~."

"…..You're right~," Ainz sighed, gazing at the numerous banners hanging throughout the throne room of his fellow guild mates. "It is lonely when everyone else is gone~…. Continue to protect me my Guardians, now let us begin!"

"Lord!"

'It will cost 500 million gold to revive her,' Ainz thought, raising his staff. "Shalltear, resurrect!"

The six gems in the scepters head each shined bright and a transparent wave pulsed forth towards the mountains of gold which rippled and liquified. The mountains gushed over into a golden sea which flowed towards the base of the stairs before condensing on the spot and continuing to run in. Eventually it took on Shalltear's petit form with golden skin until becoming pale with silver hair.

"Nnnh-Albedo?"

Albedo watched closely as a name popped on the screen in white. "Be at ease my lord. It would seem she is free of the mind control."

"Wonderful," Ainz breathed, kneeling beside Shalltear. Reaching up, his hand disappeared into a black void with bits of light dancing inside before pulling out a folded dark purple blanket. He gave it a toss over Shalltear, unfolding in midair and somehow landing squarely over her body say for the feet and head. "... Shalltear?..."

Lazily, Shalltears eyes fluttered open before blinking around until resting on the supreme being above her. "Is that you lord?~"

"Thank goodness," Ainz gasped, sending his scepter levitating to the side to cradle her in his arms. "I'm sorry Shalltear. This was all because of my mistake."

"No please lord. I'm not sure what's going on here, but, being in your arms can't possibly be a mistake~," Shalltear sung as she climbed Ainz and embraced him around the neck with an ear-to-ear smile and a blush on her face. "Hehe, so this is where my first time will be~?

'C-crap! She's getting turned on….'

"Excuse her lord," Albedo spat, shooting daggers with a shadow over her eyes. "But I believe Shalltear is still out of it."

"Huurr?!"

"Y-you must be tired," Ainz panicked, brushing the petit vampire off. "We'll go over the details later."

"There's one thing I would like to know," Shalltear questioned, glancing around at the other guardians. "How did I get back to Nazarick when I was just hunting humans in the woods? Oh and, why am I naked on the floor and why is everyone acting so strange? I hope I didn't cause any trouble for you or Nazarick, lord Ainz.~"

"You don't remember?"

"Uh, no.~"

"I'm sorry Shalltear. Then please tell me what you remember last."

Shalltear's face contracted from straining to remember. "Well, other than hunting the humans I remember giving you my regards before leaving the great tomb to join Sebas. After that we rode a carriage into a large town.~"

'So, the one who used the world class item on her remains a mystery,' Ainz mulled over. 'Though the one who'd most likely knows not only refuses to speak up, but is now in the clutches of the Slane Theocracy. I feel like this is all connected somehow.'

"Do you feel strange in anyway?"

Shalltear pattered herself down before resting her head in her hand. "I feel like I usually do.~"

"I see."

"OH-O, OH NO!" she screamed in panic while looking down the blanket she wore. "It's gone, my chest is a wash board!"

"You lamprey!" Albedo barked stomping forward. "Do you have any idea how much suffering you put the rest of us through?"

"So you've conveniently forgotten?~" Demiurge mused in annoyance, pushing up his glasses. "But your pears still remember your blunder!"

As the Guardians bickered non-stop, Ainz sunk onto the lower step in mental exhaustion. His nonexistent heart can't take any more surprises today. Looking up, Aura and Mare where now pestering Shalltear about how she should atone for her folly.

Suddenly, for a spilt moment Ainz experienced a daja vu. The guardians hazily formed his past guild mates and a deep pain ached within the depths of his bones. Reaching out, his hand grasped nothing but air and the vision disappeared. Moaning in disappointment, he slumped back.

Albedo seemed to have noticed this and stood before him, bending over with a smile and an outstretched hand. "We await your orders~."

"Albedo~."

Reaching out and grasping her hand, Ainz was hoisted to his feet. In that moment, the small part of him that could still feel became lighter, as if he'd been relieved of a great burden. But he couldn't put his bony finger on it.

"As leader of the guardians, I recommend scolding her mercilessly."

"I second that. Don't go easy on this bone head, lord Ainz," Aura laughed with a grin on her face and hands behind her head

"Agreed, harsh words are the least she deserves at this point," nodded Cocytus.

"Shalltear, accept your punishment with humility and grace, okay," Demiurge smiled at the petit vampire with the slightest hint of malice in his voice.

"W-well, you don't have to be hard on her lord. If you don't mind," Mare stuttered, hugging her staff closer.

As Albedo brought Ainz before Shalltear, he realized what that feeling from before was. It was warmth, the warmth you feel from the love of your family. Hero hero, Suratan, Garnet, Touch Me, Flat foot, and all the other thirty-five members were like his own brothers and sisters. But on the day when the servers were to shut down and they didn't come, he thought he'd dwell in solitude forever. Though now he's seeing the same kindness and love he felt with his friends through the children they left behind. How could he act down now? He's more than just their ruler, he's practically their god-father, if not father.

"Hehehe…Hhahahahahaha," he bellowed. "I deserve the scolding. Despite all the information we gathered, I'd never thought something like this would be a possibility. The mistake was mine and mine alone, understand? Shalltear, you are not guilty of anything. I want you to remember that, always.~"

Shalltears face slowly brimmed with hope and smile came across her face. "Thank you lord Ainz."

"Demiurge, you will explain everything to her once she has had a chance to rest."

"Lord, by the way, Sebas failed to return to Nazarick as ordered."

"He is bait. We don't know who targeted Shalltear, or why. But since Sebas was with Shalltear, there is a strong possibility that he will be next. Albedo, I want you to gather two teams trained in stealth and have one scout out the area near Sebas and the other to keep survaliance on Garmadon."

"Lord~."

"Sebas may be bait, but I have no intention of letting them bite. If they make even the slightest, move on him, we will end them."

'Some day, we will meet the one who used the world class item on Shalltear. And when we do, I will pay back this debt a thousand-fold.'

"Ah, question Master,"

"What is it Mare?"

"Umm…Garmadon left a big scare in the forest. Would you like me to repair the damage for you?"

"There's no need for that."

"Huh?"

"If you destroy a magic sealing crystal the unleashed power will go wield. It's even capable of destroying a large area apparently."

"What? But Garmadon never used a sealing crystal, and I've never heard of a crystal reacting like that."

"Because I just made it up. And since it's unlikely Garmadon will be returning to E-Rantael, the people will accept both the crystal story and his eath during the fight at face value. Now that we know sealing crystals are rare in this world, I doubt anyone will waste one to test it. Also, I made a major miscalculation before. It is now plainly obvious that there is someone else out there with the strength to harm Nazarick, and if there's another there could be more. I want to take immediate steps to strengthen Nazarick with the intel we've gathered. I was thinking of using my necromancy skills to make an army of undead. But we'll need bodies to turn….~"

"I was actually thinking about that Lord," said Albedo. "It's true that undead soldiers could protect us from most intruders, but they are relatively powerless overall. Case in point, one human corpse can only become an undead of level 40 or below."

"You make a good point."

"There's a village of lizard men in the area nearby, Aura found them while scouting. I wonder what kind of undead their corpses will make~."

Later

"And that's your assignment," Albedo announced, within the tombs 9th floor with a small crowd before her. "Are there any questions?"

The crowd was split into two groups, each comprised of three shadow demons, four homunculi (both male and females with pale skin and grey hair) and four silver furred werewolves standing over two meters tall. A homunculus from the group assigned to monitoring Garmadon raised her hand.

"What should happen should we enter the capital of the Slane Theocracy?"

"You will continue cautious observations. Werewolves will assume constant human form in the presence of other humans unless deemed absolutely necessary, and you may no longer attack humans for game."

Along the road

"Open your eyes boy, we need to talk," echoed a voice.

"Hmmm, no mum I wanna sleep.. ~snore~…, just five more mi-!"

Slap!

"Arrgh, alright, I'm awake," snapping my eyes open and sitting up, I was met with the soft bounce and feeling under my hand. Looking down I found myself seated in a fluffy pink recliner looking chair surrounded by a landscape of pure cogs as far as the eye could see, hamming away.

Great and small, countless pillars of them climbed from the ground up to several much, much larger gears levitating above that slowly turned. Each were in turn was connected to a cog that was so big it covered the majority of the sky, reaching out to the horizon. Gawking in shock, I marveled at it. "Ooooh myyy gawwd, this is unbelievable. It must've taken forever to make this… But that's impossible, no way can those gears be held up one another alone…..."

"You're not dead if that's what you're thinking," spoke a feminine voice.

Twisting my head around I faced a woman who sat cross-legged in a pale throne outlined in gold with red cushions on the armrests, seat and backrest. Above her head, embedded into the face of the throne was an emerald the size of a fist. The woman in question had long blonde hair which stretched down to her lower back. She was resting her head on her fist with the elbow on the arm of the chair. She had a bit of a scowl on her face, but my eyes were wondering elsewhere.

"If you keep on checking me out I might consider taking you're sight for this conversation. Not like you'll be needing it."

"Hey, I take offence from that," I said, crossing my arms and lying back, my heart thumping away as I tried to remain calm. "I'll have you know I was admiring the beauty before me. And it's not like your getup doesn't say 'look at me'."

She was in a crimson dress that had slits down the sides that stretched down to her ankles, something like Abledo's. Though unlike the demonic succubus (or fallen angel, I'm not fully sure what she is with all the different sources I've read), the top half of this attire had two pieces of cloth going up her middle that covered her chest, which I swear are 'G' cups.

On her wrists, ankles and neck she wore a blue metal collar with gold outlining and a circular sapphire in the center. She also had a purple cloth tied around her waist with ends that stretched past her shoeless feet.

"That aside, who are you? And isn't my right eye supposed to now be in affect since I'm sleeping?"

After remembering all the abilities my character had in the fight against Shalltear, I realized that all the dreams I've been having up till this point have been events occurring in the present. While I slept my right eye would show me the current situation of the last thing on my mind before losing consciousness. Like how after repairing Nazarick I thought of the trouble I'll have beating Shalltear, the dream I had next was a vision of what she was doing right there and then.

"My name is Vosdulite, envoy of the being Luvike. Humans in your world call him, God. As for your eye, you weren't thinking of anything in particular, so I used this opportunity to slip in a conversation or two."

"…..Is this a joke? …..I mean it's a pretty sick one if you ask me."

"This is real Garmadon. Or would you prefer your real name, James? You seem to enjoy being called someone you're not."

"HOW THE….?!"

"James, I dragged you from your own world and granted your wish. Did you really think I wouldn't know your name?"

"Wai-… you granted my wish?... Oh, now it makes sense, so you're Geader. Never thought I'd see the day, or dream. First, I'd like to say thanks for granting my wish, second, can you please answer a few questions for me?"

"By all means, ask away."

"Why me, where are we, do you have anything to eat here and can I please know if I'm going home soon? I wanna show off these powers."

"Hm, you humans are always so greedy. You're in the soul of this dimension, the 'inner workings' if you will. All the cogs here represent an aspect of it. Whether it's a life, inorganic substances or a natural phenomenon, it's here. Also, there's nothing for you to eat here, unless you want to devour the gear of fresh harvest over there," she mocked gesturing to a random cog in one of the pillars.

"Yeaa, nah I'll pass. Metal doesn't sit well in my stomach," I frowned, patting my belly. "Okay, next barrage of questions, why grant me my fictional character's powers, why wasn't I able to heal my wounds even while Shalltear and I were in that space-time pocket? I thought I could heal immediately like I was immortal."

"Are you an idiot?" Vosdulite monotoned. "You couldn't heal because Shalltear stole all of your healing abilities when she struck you with her lance. Though when you pulled its head out of your chest there was enough healing left in you to mend the hole in your chest and the burns shortly after. But from there on you couldn't heal yourself anymore."

'Wait, does this mean I have a limited amount of healing before I'm drained dry?'

"A-and, the shard I got from tearing out Shalltear's heart?" I asked with a shudder, remembering how her heart thumped away in my hand after tearing it out and it changing into the shard a little after.

"That shard is the source of your healing. Stab yourself with it and there's a fifty-fifty chance you'll get your healing back."

"And the other fifty?"

"Your heart will explode from the inside along with every blood vein throughout your body right before you die of a heart attack and melt as if you were wax in a fire. Something like that 'Indiana Jones raiders of the lost ark' you watched when you were a kid."

"How do you know that?!" I turned in surprise.

"Oh please, while you were galloping around in this world I made it a point to know all your life. And I do mean all your life," she sarcastically winked at me.

'What could she…. Oh god no,' I flinched at the sudden thought. 'This is a total invasion of privacy…..'

"Eheheheh, no pressure then in getting my healing back I guess."

"Now as for why, you've been assigned a holy mission from the great one," Vosdulite got up and extended both arms. The cogs at her feet suddenly stopped rotating and fell away into darkness with a clacking noise followed by several others around them. A transparent light blue orb rose from the pit, hovering in the air, it had patches of dark blue on random areas.

"Currently, this world is one of millions that don't believe in God. What's worse is that the dead have taken physical form, drying up the life pool of the planet," a black dot appeared in the heart of the sphere and began snaking out like roots in all directions while the blue orb changed to a shade of dark orange.

When the black tips reached out to the surface, the ball shattered from all sides.

"If this continues with the lack of faith in God it shall perish. The reason why you've been chosen is because out of all those who know of this dimension's story, you're one of those who has more knowledge and belief in the almighty one."

'Shit, is she referring to my junior Christian school and how I was reminded of the bible in Christmas?'

"Y-yeah, so? This dimension is the product of someone's imagination and creativity in my world. It won't end unless everyone gives up on it, if the power of belief is real. And believe me, there are those who love what this world offers," I jumped up and stood on the other side of the crevice where the orb had come from before, the shards around us began shaking and the rolled back into the pit. "Let me tell you, it will be decades before everyone gives up on 'Overlord' in the control dimension."

"You believe so?" Vosdulite responded, I hopped over the fissure and stood right in front of her while she peered into my eyes. Her collar bone was at eyelevel.

'Aaah, she really smells nice.'

"I know so…"

'Cut the pervy thoughts, cut the pervy thoughts.'

"Then you should know that if one dimension dies like this, it's presence is erased from all others," Vosdulite smiled, clasping my shoulder. "So when this goes, it'll be like 'Overlord' never even existed and since you're here, the same thing will happen to you."

"Gha!" I chocked on my words as I tried to comprehend what she said. "…I …would have never even existed?"

Vosdulite's smile grew into a grin before she shoved me to the side, tripping over myself and landing flat on my backside.

"Now you're getting it~," Vosdulite chuckled, seating herself back on the throne and assuming her previous position. "Create enough believers, cut down the undead to none and you'll be sent home. Furthermore, I won't speak to you like this again until you make some progress. One more thing, there's another person in the world with you that'll probably help you. You two should know each other when you meet."

"Wait-!" before I could continue, purple chains shot out of gaps between cogs around me before snacking around my arms and torso then yanking me down. The cogs broke away and I fell into complete darkness.

"….."

"…..…"

"Hey, he's waking up."

"Nnnn…..arr," '…wa-heavy..,' creaking my eyes open, I felt like I was sitting in an upright position. The scenery before me was blurred with light and shadow. A humanoid figure squatted over my lap. 'Hey, hey, hey who's this chick? And why is she in my lap?'

She was young, a little under my age with pink hair and sapphire armour outlined in gold. She reached out and began pocking my chest before rubbing it. Looking around, I was at one end of a small dimly lit room illuminated by a lantern hung by a nail on the side of the wall. My coat was folded neatly on one of the wooden benches fixed into either side with tatters, tears and bits of dust all over. Sealed chests laid under each chair and the outline of a door was visible at the other end.

"Please stop. This is weirding me out…..," I protested, trying to lift my arms up in an attempt to push her off, but I found I could only move my left and even then was somehow securely bounded behind me followed by chains rattling.

I strained my head around to take a look and found both were cuffed to the wall by my wrists with thick black shackles going half way up my forearm. Orange rings were engraved around each on both ends and runes with the same colour glowed throughout. The chains themselves seemed to be made of ordinary iron. "Kwa…..?"

"Alright, coming," came a women's voice from the other side of the room.

The door at the other end lowered outwards with orange light gleaming in before landing with a light thud to reveal a camp fire and a pair of people sitting on either side chowing down on steaming bowls of soup.

'Why do those guys look familiar?'

A figure, shadowed by the fire's light came in with a large witch's hat perched atop their hat and blue twin ponytails stretched down to the ankles

"It's about time you got up. I thought it would've been a lot longer until you did after what Harold did to you," coming closer, the lantern illuminated her features to have calm blue eyes looking down at me with a disappointed expression.

'There are so many things wrong with this attire…. Why's she wearing ragged pajamas and a funky sombrero?'

"Oh hey, you're Thousand Miles Asssssstrologer…. right?"

"It's Thousand Leagues Astrologer. Don't go making names up," she said coming closer, the girl on my lap got up. "Here Laurissa, dinners ready, enjoy."

A steaming wooden bowl with a spoon sticking out levitated from behind Thousand Leagues and towards Laurissa. She took it graciously with a nod before scooping a spoon full while making her way out.

'She doesn't say much, does she?"

Thousand Leagues took a seat on one of the benches and another bowl levitated in through the archway and rested into her hands before she also started eating.

"Uuumm…..So, can you please tell me where I am before you get to into your meal. And where my stuff is, I know I had bag of coins in my pocket," I shuffled my pants around to double check there wasn't a bulge. "I'd also like my coat back, it's a bit chilly."

"gulp. Four hours unconscious and you're worried about some gold coins? They've been confiscated, along with that shard you tried to hide before. Also, you're in the back of a wagon, sorry but we can't leave you outside," Thousand Leagues said before pointing her spoon at the folded coat. "[Levitate], and yes, you can have your coat. Speaking of which, how's that back of yours doing, not aching anymore right?"

As the fabric lifted itself off the bench, it unfolded in midair while floating over and embracing me from behind, I gave my shoulders a role. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "Yeah, it's alright. Thanks ….. and I understand, if I were in your shoe….stockings…..I guess….. I'd do the same. "

'If I were the captor I would've transported you in a truck with an onboard prison. So much armour on board….'

"Hmmm, you're my most understanding hostage yet," she complimented with a slight giggle, waving her hand and a third wooden bowl levitated through the open door and settled down in front of me. "That's good to hear about your shoulder. The gash that ran down your back looked pretty serious, but nothing a healing potion couldn't fix~. But I've gotta ask, how'd you get it?"

"Eerrrr…."

Earlier

"What….where the hell is this?!" Shalltear cried out standing with Einherjar by her side in the middle of a vast waste land.

Towers of all heights and shapes rose from the ground at angles so far, they should be falling. Up above in the sky, clouds sped by as if time had accelerated while the sun hung high, but it didn't hurt to look at. Even as a vampire she couldn't feel this sun's rays nor could she feel a breeze.

"Not exactly the most beautiful of places to beat you, I admit-," came a voice next to her.

Instinctively Shalltear spun round and swiped at the source but found her hand running down the side of the boy she'd been fighting. Still in the motion she thrust her lance at him just as the ground at their feet erupted and gave way to a giant bronze pillar.

Both Shalltear and Einherjar had no problem backflipping to safety as the towering cylinder slowed to a halt, and atop stood Garmadon unfazed while starring down at them. His right eye had a trickle of blood leaking form the base.

"-But as my trump card I'll gladly take pride in it," he announced, raising his hands as though he was about to conduct while a smile crept onto his face. "Welcome, to my imagination!"

"You-you dare look down at me insect!" Shalltear yelled, gripping her lance harder. "DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOUSELF HUMAN-?!"

Suddenly a spiral of blue pixels swirled from behind Garmadon and began cork screwing at Shalltear. Soon a massive obsidian cylinder with a curved top, two fins aside the back and a tall one in the middle formed and continued to plummet towards them.

Both the vampires leaped out of the way and the object smashed into the ground, crumbling under its own weight before combusting.

Ka-BOOOMMM!

Shalltear and Einherjar were both caught in the blast, the searing flames and extensive heat burning away at their bodies. By the time Shalltear landed with a crooked leg, half burnt face and smoldering arm, her newly stolen healing was already in affect. Einherjar wasn't so lucky though, she lay motionless a little way off with half her body already missing. She faded away with thick lines of steam rising from her body while her eyes where lively open yet lifeless.

Clap, clap , clap-clap-clap-clap…

"I congratulate you for surviving that nuclear submarine," Garmadon applauded with a smirk. But as he clapped, landscapes on both sides folded up and countless mini pixel storms formed all around, up in the air and down on the ground.

Each one brought into existence dark blue tanks with twin barreled cannons on either side, black and scarlet jets with twin turbines in the wings equipped with many missiles. Behind him came a gigantic flying dreadnaught with an airstrip atop and single barreled cannon under belly. The cannon lowered towards her and green energy began welling up inside.

"But in this world, I have no restraints."

Raising a hand, a dragon-headed cane manifested itself in his clasp before bringing it down in Shalltear's direction.

"FIIIIRRRE!"

Present

"-It's ummm…. complicated," I answered with a slight giggle. The bowl at my feet began beckoning to me.

"Hmm, guess you don't have to answer if you don't want to," she sighed having not got the answer she wanted.

Thousand Leagues clicked her fingers and then both my arms went slack accompanied by metal clanking. I tried lifting both my arms but my right was still unresponsive, grabbing the palm I inspected the insignia in the middle, the metallic fingers drooped back lifelessly. It had become dull with a crack racing between the yin and yang three quarters down.

'Man this draw back on my character really is the pits…I'm not even left handed,' while mentally complaining and jerking my hand around to get some life into it, the faint scent of the bowl tickled my nostrils.

I decided to put the matter of my arm to rest and reached out for the bowl-

-Grrgrrrguuughhruuu…..

I froze midway with my stomach aching while embarrassment rammed into my heart. Thousand Leagues eyes widened mid bite turning to look down at me. "You know, if you're that hungry you might as well go ahead and create some food for your-self after that. That is what your magic is based on, right? Though even that's going to be pretty much pointless while 'zero-point shackles' are in effect. They negate all forms of magic the bearer would possess, hawp. Bfat toof be told, I woldf bewn fntefed in faw-."

"Please stop talking with your mouth full. You remind me of my brother when he eats sloppily~. 'The eleventh seat of the black scripture should have more manners than that'," saying the last part in my best posh Britishman impersonation I swiped the bowl and pressed it between my knees, taking a quick spoon full. But that just made her look a little confused.

'Oohhh….I hate it when people look at me like I'm an idiot,' I thought, letting the soup rest in my mouth. 'Hmm, this is good…..beef? Not as good as my worlds, but what the hey.'

She was right though, probably. The cuffs were still on me with the runes glowing deeply, and I couldn't see them coming off anytime soon.

"gulp. Sorry about that, so yeah I would've been interested in what food foreigners eat," she said before taking another spoon-full.

"So you abducted me just to find out my eating habits? Yeesh, talk about extreme," I giggled, giving some thought to it. "Okay, if I could use my powers I think I'll make… some bangers 'n' mash with a side of backed beans. Oooooh that just makes me hungrier," moaning I took a bigger load using my left arm. It felt weird using it in place of my right.

'Even if I didn't have these shackles, I still can't use my creation powers until those 24 hours are up, and I never drew or made food out of LEGO, but she doesn't need to know that. Why'd I put this kind of draw back on my trump card?'

"Uuurr, what kind of meal is that? It sounds like a mix of people types-."

"guugh cough cough cough…..No, no, you've got the wrong idea! Bangers 'n' mash is just another way of saying sausages with mashed potato and often with baked beans where I'm from. We're no cannibals, honest."

"Hurrrgh, you had me going there. While on the topic, I'm curious who the 'we' are. We've never heard of someone like you in the Re-Estize kingdom before, we're you from?"

'Oh Christ, what do I do? If I say I'm from the Baharuth empire chances I'd be executed on the spot, same goes with the Re-Estize kingdom….. oh dam it, I don't know any other kingdoms from this world that the Theocracy aren't on bad terms with. '

"Oh, I'm from …Australia. It's a country far up North, doubt you've heard of it."

"You're right, I haven't. To the best of my knowledge this domain only has the three kingdoms….it must really be far up North. So, what's it like, from what I've learnt of you in our first…encounter….. I'm in doubt that religion's a strong of a thing compared to here."

'I just realized Australia is South of nearly everything. Man, I just flipped the world upside down.'

"Oh no, we don't have that strong a religion. But we do have multiple ones, the most popular one is Christianity. It dictates the world was created by God, that's him in both name and stature. But as popular as it is it's grown weaker and weaker with each generation, so our economy is based on politics, emotions, business developments and resources. As for the country itself, well… the funny thing is, is that it's built on a foundation of blood, torture, slavery, invasion and plans for a convict island, hehe….~ Not exactly something you'd expect from a county that ended up the way it has."

"Well that's something… unexpected. But a successful kingdom always has its empire built on a foundation of slavery and conflict-."

"Actually, we elect our ruler every four years. We got rid of the monarchy system a good while back, so it's no kingdom."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be, we do alright without a king or queen, hawp."

'We invented so many things after changes like those in history. But I best keep that to myself. It'd be hell on earth if they got designs for an atom bomb.'

"gulp. Soooo now that I've answered your questions, mind answering mine?"

"Shoot, hawp."

"…You're taking me to the Theocracy, aren't you..and how young are you? You look like you're nineteen or something."

"gulp. That's because I am….. and yes we are. You don't look that old yourself if we're talking age."

'…no..no, no, no, no, NO! If I'm brought before those priests I'm gonna lose it….. Period.'

"….Well… I'm two years younger than you.. surprise~."

"That's not that big of a shock. Some of our new recruits are still in their junior years-."

'Okay, I knew medieval military trained people at a young age but this is ridiculous.'

"-so it's not all that surprising. Our orders were to either recruit you, or kill you and I'd rather not have the blood of someone young on my hands. If it can be helped," she said, staring off into space for a moment before raising her spoon as if she were pointing at something. "We humans must stand our ground if we want to survive, that is the only way to true peace~."

"Okay, I've just gotta ask. Why'd you join the Theocracy's black scripture? I remember you saying something like that earlier with the same passion and it's making an itch in me that needs to be scratched. Surely there were other things you would've wanted to do?"

"gulp, Well, I know I said before that I joined for the benefit of humanity… but I also joined to help my family. They run a small business on the outskirts of the kingdom by practicing the art 'cezary kanegu'. Heard of it?"

"Can't say that I have."

'Though it certainly sounds familiar.'

"It's an art that involves engraving pictures into metal panels or bending metal into sculptures. We've practiced it as a family tradition for generations, but I've never found an interest in it. It's not really a popular product to sell anyhow, so we didn't make that much money. The only ones who buy it are noble men and a number of churches."

"That's rough. So, you joined to support them financially? Hawp"

"Well of course I did, I wanted them to live safer, happier. Away from all those monsters. Back before I was recruited, we lived in a small town away from the capital, one of the closest to the boarders. We just didn't have the money to move further in," she said, laying the bowl on her lap. "But it's more than just that. Every night when I went to bed I could hear the cries and howls of beasts in the forest, they plagued my dreams…."

Thousand Leagues hands began shacking and her breathing heavier and heavier. The poor bowl in her clasp was also trembling with her to the point I thought it would spill.

"gulp. Hey, calm down. You're not dreaming, now are you? No need to get so worked up," I tried to sooth her. It worked a bit and her shacking stopped, but it was obvious the thought was still in her mind.

"Thank you….. but….that's the reason why I joined the theocracy. But it's not just cuz I wanted to financially help my family, but because I want to help everyone else in any way I can. And that's my belief why humanity was chosen, and the theocracy will spear head that belief across other kingdoms. Helping others where needed and purging the filth."

At this point her face didn't show sign she was thinking of the previous topic at all but was now beaming with hope and a smile on her face. She'd gone into full ideal believer mode.

'And now I feel uncomfortable. It's like she declared a silent death threat to crooks and demi humans everywhere.'

"I'm guessing this 'filth' are human crooks and demi humans all together."

"But of course."

'Totally called it. Blimey, Geader- Vosdulite sure isn't making this easy for me, changing this one's beliefs is going to be near impossible. I'd have better luck cleaning the bathrooms of a football stadium than this.'

While in thought and the topic now dead, we both chowed down on our remaining soup in silence, eventually it was gone and I rested the empty bowl in my lap. Laying back with my eyes closed I let gave a sigh of relief.

'That was a nice simple meal….'

Floor boards creaked in front of me and the weight of the bowl disappeared. Opening up, Thousand Leagues stood before me with my bowl levitating next to her.

"Thanks for the conversation, Garmadon. It was very… enlightening," she said, lifting her hand. "And I'm sorry about this," swiping her fingers a glow streaked in its path before fading, my arms were yanked back behind me followed by chains snapping together. "But we can't have you try anything while we're out."

'Oh come on! If I can't get my leg off before I sleep it's gonna hurt throughout,' I thought, Thousand Leagues was now making her way out.

"H-hey, wait I gotta pee. You can't leave me busting here."

"F-fine. But make it quick," Thousand leagues stuttered, turning back and clicking her fingers again. "[Phantom restraints]."

My arms felt slack again and held them in front of me. The shackles were still on but half a link hung lose from each.

"Make it quick, yawn, I've had a big enough day as it is."

As she made her way out, I wobbled to my feet and took a step forward. The pinch in my thigh wasn't there anymore, so I wasn't limping while I walked out.

'That healing potion really did take care of most of me."

Ducking under the archway, the campsite outside was surrounded by towering pine trees on all sides. The shadows cast between the trees looked like specters residing among the branches. Up in the night sky, the stars glittered a soothing array with the lack of light pollution. Momentarily distracted by a pair of horses strapped to a tree beside the wagon, a pair of blurs whizzed by me.

Thunk-thunk.

Jolting around a pair of small knives were imbedded on either side of the archway, wobbling ever so slightly before becoming still.

"Dam, I missed. Next time don't move will you," beside the blazing fire sat a man with silver hair tied back into a ponytail. He juggled another knife in his hand while glaring intently at me. "I won't miss that way."

'Even his eyes throw daggers.'

"Jesus man, how do you plan on making friends if you're going to throw knives at everyone," I yelped.

"Wa-, stab, AAHHH! Mother of fuc-!" In the split moment he was distracted, the guy had lost concertation while the knife was in midair and impaled his palm. "Halitosis, get me a healing potion. Quick!"

A big guy on the other side of the fire was remerging through a bag while the other was tapping the blade as if it were a fire that would burn him if he touched it.

"Just go into the bushes and come back when you're done~." Thousand Leagues heaved, while she buried her forehead into her hand. "…Idiot.."

'And that's my que to leave,' I thought, hopping off to the side and scampering behind a tree while my arm jerked around.

"Drrrrgghhh!" an agonizing scream came from the direction of the camp.

"Quit being such a baby, Harold. It's like taking thorn from your heel."

"No, it's nothing like taking a thorn from the heel!"

A minute or so passed and I finished doing the do. 'Right, time to say good bye.'

"….Bye."

Turning round I ran from the clearing, weaving between trees and long jumping over bushes. As the trees sped past, everything started blurring together. Suddenly the scenery around me snapped into wooden walls and ran face first into one of them.

Bam!

"UUUHUURRGHH!," falling to the ground, I cupped my face wailing and rolling from the pain. If felt like my nose was broken.

"So, you tried to run?"

Peeking through my fingers, Thousand Leagues stood above me.

"What happened?" I said with my voice slightly muffled.

"[Phantom restraints], when activated they set the target in their current location for a certain amount of time. Get too far and they shift you right back," she explained, turning back and exiting the wagon. "[Link coupling]."

"Hey, wai-," my arms were yanked back and the loose chain links on my shackles glowed golden before snapping behind me and reconnecting with the chains on the back of the wagon.

"Sweet dreams, Garmadon," She said, the door at the other end closed with the camp fire light shutting out. Soon I was alone in the small room with the single lantern on the side of the wall next to me.

"…. Well this sucks…" moving my right foot above my left I pushed my prosthetic off and revealed the silicon liner underneath. "Now I gotta sleep with this thing on…"

'Shit, I was supposed to do a job tomorrow with team Blue Rose back in E-Rantel. Guess I won't be making good on that deal for the map anytime soon.'

Laying back, I tried to get comfortable on the hard wooden floor with my arms still bound. The act made me think of the non-existent warm bed. 'Yawn, now that I think about it, I'm starting to get a little homesick here.'

Listening to the sound of fire crackling, my eyes began feeling heavier and heavier.

A small town at the edge of the Slane Theocracy

Ablaze, everything was ablaze. Houses crumbled under their own height, class shattered and corpse lay charred and torn. In the center of it all stood a church, it too ablaze. The half burning doors hung on busted hinges, the glass all but shattered and the bell close to falling. Inside were numerous chairs for believers on days of pray.

Aside from a row at the front all were trashed, and seated on one side of the long chair was a someone dawned in a camou green cloak whose head was covered by a hood and was in the middle of a prayer of his own.

"..Amen.," he muttered before looking up to stand before him. Upon the alter were six crumbled statues of this kingdoms' deities, and behind it a wooden cross was erected.

Close to being set ablaze, the cross had this churches priest nailed to it. Stripped of his robes the man was very much alive, but as he remained nailed to the cross the flames began licking at his limbs and was on the verge of crying in pain.

Getting up and walking out, the cloaked figure left the chapel just as the roof and the bell in the tower caved in, ringing as it went down. As he made his way through the burning hell, a small fox like creature came out of an alley and climbed up to the boy's shoulder. It had long blood orange fur and white at the tips of its tail and ears.

A soldier, clad in silver armor stumbled into the middle of the road, helmetless the man's hair was singed and rage was carved into his features. In his hands he clutched a spear with a half-burnt flag strapped around it.

"Y-you monster!" he yelled in hatred. "For the sins of your crimes, I sentence you to death, charrrr!"

The soldier charged at the boy, spear raised with a hearted battle cry. The boy didn't react until the soldier came in close, in the blink of the eye he was behind him with a glowing orange executioner sword outstretched in his right. A slight haze of heat was coming off the blade.

The tip of the soldier's spear broke off and a long gash cracked across his chest plate. His face was the now in shock. "Wh-what the hell…?" he stuttered, a cut running perpendicular to the one on his chest appeared of his face. "Fo-forgive me…father….. I tried…."

Blood burst from the cuts and they burst into flames before thumping to his knees in defeat. The boy sheathed his sword below his cloak, and as he did silver armor was revealed underneath.

"This is an ugly part of the job," he muttered, looking around at the burning scenery. The burning corpses of a husband and his wife, hugging together in a door way turned his stomach over. The boy turned his gaze away and covered his eyes while walking out. "tch.. These murders had better mean something in the end, Vosdulite...right… Lord?" he stared out through a gap between his fingers, his eyes hardening. "James….where the hell are you?"