"Hello, Orlox~" sang Sunkren as she came into his castle. "I want a little chat with you~" as the succubus keeps moving there. "And where is everybody? Normally half your guards are trying to stop me from moving within your abyssal holes." while twirling once to try and catch more attention due to the… lack of whereof.

Orlox was sitting on this throne, arms crossed and tipping one of his arms with the fingers of his other hand, and obviously, his face showed that wasn't for nice chats.

"Not a good time?" mused the succubus with a grin "What happened?"

"Doom Slayer…" He murmured in a very low voice, nearly not opening his lips.

"What?"

"The Doom Slayer, you crazy bitch!" He suddenly spat.

"WHAT? He is out of his coffin? Who had so little brain to let him out?" shouts the succubus before she paused. "Or… did some high demon try to invade a world again and got the seal broken that way?"

"Yes, seems that some moron tried to invade a world and that idiot, thinking that sealed was a possible ally, he released him." He answered her.

"After he killed the titan and we had to DROP a TEMPLE on him? Bet that demon is dead now," she groaned and rubs her head, "I thought the death of Ze-Katel was lesson enough? He did cause that guy to exist in the first place."

"I know, I just have that demon in one of my special cells right now," Orlox replied.

To which the Succubus blinked "I were sure his soul was wrecked as well in the aftermath. I mean he got BATHED in holy light until he fell to dust"

Orlox sighs. "At times I believe you don't know the real goal of the Abyss…"

"Orlox… I destroyed thousands of souls. I know that it is possible. Hence my surprise that he is still there." she stated deadpan.

"Anyway!" He changed the topic. "I was just doing my usual business when I just found that the Doom Slayer, the only being able to wreak havoc even on the Abyss Lords, is now walking the Desert of the Lost Souls like he owned the place!" He said extending his arms to the sides and unleashing furious bolts that damaged the walls of the chambers.

"Wow. Of course, he is in the worst place in the entire Abyss… the Abyss lords' fun places notwithstanding." signs Sunkren. "Can we have our quick talk? I need to be as far from the Abyss as possible."

"The Desert is the largest area of all the Abyss, dividing the four areas. I don't need to remember you the tale of its origin." He said. "He will take a lot to reach any of the territories, and in my case, I placed my soldiers at the frontier."

"Hence my words. I am pretty sure he just gets more fuel from there. Or worse fuel something we missed there." Stated Sunkren and gestured to a window. "That guy wiped out half of the Abyss population last time. I am not in the mood to find out if he, don't know, tames an abyss worm just to ram it into our ass."

Then she pointed at Orlox. "I make it quick. Info for an Info. Who tipped you off where the wife of Overlord Kuran was? Because those guys who tipped Steadfast off can only know it from you in any way. In exchange I tell you something from Heaven and what they are up to again."

Orlox laughed. "You think I'm a moron? Even if you don't trust me, I have my methods for supervising some worlds. In the past, I was in contact with the former Overlord. When he was destroyed, I thought I wouldn't have anything more there, but then, surprise! I spotted the old Minion taking the kid's body, and we know that he doesn't do anything without reason, right?"

"After figuring out his plan, I began to investigate a little, finding out about his wife, and after discovering it, I kept a spy watching her from the shadow after that.

"She has a Crossblade!" huffed Sunkren, "I know that you need to PAY for their locations to know them. That's their nature. That's why I am here. Thought I still wonder what type of hellish pact you made that you got such a limitation."

"You think that, right? Sorry, but this time, it was a casualty. Look, Asterios found one of my spies when he informed me about your dear wife, and he must have followed him to the place. Really, for what I make good spies if they can be spotted by anybody?"

"That's it? And you didn't try to stop him? You are aware that he tried to sabotage the deal between you and Kuran." stated Sunkren with a raised brow. "Or is the great Orlox missing his own minion's plots?"

"Don't talk to me like that! I just found out about that after our last meeting!" He yelled at her, appearing near her and signalling her with a finger. "Don't forget who is the oldest one here."

She wasn't really surprised by this reaction but also not faced. As a priestess of the strongest Abyss Lord, she can allow herself quite a bit before he can use it as a reason to kill her. "I won't," and starts turning around. "And thank you for giving me what I wanted for free. Now I know who I will thank for… a problem that occurred above the Abyss." and starts walking off.

But suddenly she saw Orlox in front of her. "No, so fast. You said it before, an Info for an Info."

"You never said you agreed." she stated simply with a grin "We never made a pact."

"Don't taunt me. You came to my house, you insulted me, while we have that psycho demon killer wandering around, and you said that Heaven has something in mind. Those are two things that can cause troubles, even to your master."

"I bet you will learn it anyway… the Paradiso Faction is halfway done with a Ritual that revives Jubileous the Creator. And this time they got even the help of a Lumen Sage AND a lead to the other half of the deal." stated Sunkren "So the destruction of that world is closer than ever."

"Pfff, again?! Is that they never learn?!" Orlox huffed. "Maybe I should guide the Doomguy to that world to give them a lesson."

"That… doesn't make sense. Paradiso is an Angel Faction, not a Demon one. Sure, if you want to make Inferno a bigger hell space than usual it would but that way…" she trailed, not sure how a Demon Slayer could the synced on Angels. Even if most looks like Gold and White Demons in her opinion.

"Yeah, that can be a bad idea, even if he sees the angels as inner demons…" He muttered. "Which still doesn't solve our problem here."

"Drop another Temple. This time a bigger one I suggest. Worked last time." she suggested. "Or we try to lure him to a world and seal EVERY gate there. Even the Nexus gates."

"That doesn't solve completely the problem." He spoke. "If they were still alive…"

"Who?"

"The Dimensional Titans." He replied. "Fearsome warriors from another dimension that was immortal while out of their dimension…they could deal with him easily, but now their dimension is gone, with all their kind."

"First: Doomguy killed a couple according to Legends. Second: IF you had come a few months earlier, I would have pointed you to one. We had one in the tournament."

Orlox just stared at her. "There is a Dimensional Titan ALIVE?!"

"Yeah. But left the world a few months ago. Who knows in which world or Dimension he is." she shrugs. "If it helps: Gnarl gave him a weapon of Kuran's arsenal… the first price even though it should have gone to somebody else."

"Well, there are forms of the trail the trace of one… If I just remember where I placed that thing."

"How about you look at your list?" she stated as she turned around. "If there is nothing else I am taking my leave."

"No, so fast, my dear." He said to her. "You gave me a good clue about how to find the only creature able to beat the Doomguy if he comes here. In compensation, I'm willing to share with you some special information that I just got, and maybe your Overlord will love to know. And who knows, maybe giving that info yourself will give you points over the other wives."

"Oh?" asks Sunkren and turns around. "And what is the information?" she mused in curiosity.

He waved a finger, and she closed her ear to him, which whispered something to her ear. She looks at him. "Ok! Now I seriously ask you how in the Abyss do you know that?"

"Come on, everyone has his secrets. I can't reveal all my secrets to anybody." He replied.

"True… well. I got now ammunition" she smirks and winks at him. "Thanks and now I need to go. Got a married daughter to tease about the absence of her husband… and got an Overlord to please."

"Just go, and please don't warn him about that psycho demon slayer. Who knows what nonsense would try to do…"

"Afraid he could find an ally in him?" jokes the succubus but shakes his head. "But don't worry. I am a lot but not suicidal. Hope Cross isn't sent to him." before she created a portal to leave the place as fast as possible.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

Princess Rome-Tah were sitting in the garden of her palace, close to the small pond in the middle of it and waited patiently for her guest to come. And she didn't have to wait until a guard brought in and announced Lord Silver's arrival and the young man indeed entered the garden soon after

"Hello again Lord Silver," she stated to him with a simple smile.

"Good day, your highness." The young lord bowed. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

"It is about our business talks," she stated simply. "Please take a seat so we can discuss it without getting tired from standing alone." Silver took a seat next to the princess. "Thanks. Now let's be honest… we talked for quite some time and… all your Overlord could offer us are troops. Troops we have no use for."

"I agree, it is sad that we can't agree." Silver admits.

"Anyway, due to the new game you showed me and the deep conversations we have, I permit you to stay in my palace as a guest until your ship is ready to leave," she explained to him and rose. "I hope you enjoy your time here Lord Sil-" suddenly a guard rushed in and whispered something into the female Canalis. Her eyes widened and turned to the guard. "Is that true?" to which the guard only nods. Turning to Silver the princess stated "Sorry Lord Silver. But an emergency has arrived, and I need to talk with my father… please stay a little longer as he might want to talk with you. Unfortunately, I have to leave town, but I should be back within two weeks." and rushed out with the guard. While a second guard came to Silver's side. To guard and guide him to wherever the Lord wishes to go.

"Wonder what riled her up so much…" Silver mumbled to himself. Then he remembered he could try asking Ke-Kai… that boy seems to know as much of anything happening in town as the royal castle if the snippets the local guide told were any indication. "Maybe Ke-Kai might have an idea of what is happening."

And he stood up and went to find him, which was to no surprise by the servants' room next to his room, enjoying an apple now. "You look like you're having fun, Ke." He said to the young boy.

"Yeah… thought the town might get turbulent soon, given what I heard," he stated. While taking a bite from his apple. After chewing and gulping it down he stated, "After all… we might get a civil war on our hands." and sighs loudly. "Why did it happen now?"

"What do you mean, a civil war?" Silver asked.

"The Forgotten Queen has raised," stated Ke-Kai to Silver and stood up. "It's an old story and legend in our country… it differs depending on who tells it, but the mist is that roughly 3000 years ago, a powerful dynasty ruled our country, aided by a loyal and special branch of the Tangel people. If they were benevolent or tyrants depends on who tells the story… anyway one day the ancestors of the current royal family appeared and fought against the dynasty, wiping them out except for the queen and her closest ally. But even if they lost, the queen was sealed in a coffin. But the allies, defeated but not wiped out managed to secure the coffin and prophesied that the queen will one day return, reclaiming her throne. And according to rumours, the forgotten queen arises and is calling those who are loyal to her to come to her so she may retake her rightful throne.

"So right now, an undead army is heading toward here." Silver surmised. "And right now, I don't think the army can stand a chance against a hoard of the undead."

"Well, I think undead won't be the case. All stories and legends point that the main infantries of the Dynasty were golems controlled by the soldiers behind the ranks, aided by Palao Riders… Palao's are large running birds that can be used as a mount. But they are out of fashion by the military since we got the wolves." countered his guide. "And the civil part is that some parts of our population want the old Dynasty back as the laws and taxes of our currently ruling government are a heavy burden for many. Especially those who were known to descend from loyalists of the old Dynasty."

"Fighting golems would be difficult to fight…. I wonder how the king will do in this situation." Silver wondered.

"Properly the same what his ancestors did… just not sure what he did. All I know is that the prophecy states that despite the Golems being stronger but the Royal Army being larger that it will be a stalemate… until the green-eyed wolf causes the tide that decides all."

"Green-eyed wolf?" asks Silver to which Ke-Kai just shrugs as he wasn't sure who they were supposed to be.

"Your guess is as good as mine, milord." was his reply to Silver with a shrug. "But now that you know about another party calling for the rule of this land, what will you do?"

"Honestly, I don't know. But I do know this situation needs to be solved before it gets worse." Silver said. "I'm going to message the Overlord, he needs to know about the upcoming civil war."

"Then I will guide you to a Message Service once you have written that letter." stated the young guide with a nod. "They can send it to your Lord. How fast depends simply on how much you are willing to pay."

"I'll need the fasted they have." Silver adds.

"Then start writing," urged Ke-Kei to SIlver, who nodded and went to his desk, starting to write a letter that also acts as a report.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

Standing on the helm, Zhi Mu Ling was looking at the sea before her ship. Her mood was sour as always for the recent time. Since that accursed day, she allowed Torrap on board her ship.

FLASHBACK

Zhi smiled at Siltra, the leader of the Torrap as they were shaking their hands. "Alright. We have a deal. I will ship you over to Ases. I have a delivery there anyway, so it is only convenient for me."

"Glad to hear that," smirked the reptile and chuckled. "It will be also the first time for me to be within the only Kingdom the Kobolds managed to build."

"Yeah… thanks to their goddess Jizara as they claim," stated Zhi with a gesture of her hand. "I have a few friends there. Though some want more from me. As obvious it is."

Siltra tilts her head. "And you never jumped on that? I heard Kobolds are at least great lovers."

Thought the human woman shakes her head too. "It might be true, but I am more interested in a stable relationship. And Kobolds have very rarely something that lasts. For most, as far I can tell it is a time of fun and then split ways."

"Understandable." nodded the Torrap and gestured to the land. "I am preparing a few things, but until you wish to leave port. I am done and ready."

Some weeks later...

At the Lands of Jira, the only known Kobold Kingdom at the trade port town of Ases, Zhi were busy discharging her cargo while Siltra had disappeared somewhere, though her fellow mercenaries were not leaving the ship.

While odd for Zhi, until she is leaving port, she can tolerate them being on board as long they are not interrupting the sailors or grabbing their supplies. Once she was done, with her business she went on board the ship and to her cabin… only to see that it opens from the inside and Siltra stepped out…. with a bundle in her arms.

Her eyes widened as she saw that picture and narrows her eyes. "Explain yourself! Why are you holding my son in your arms?"

Siltra smirked simply at that question and reaches into her cloak and holds up a letter. A letter bearing a seal and Zhi stepped back in shock, her back hitting one of those mercenaries and before she could react, her arm was twisted behind her and the mercenaries arm wrapped around her throat, locking her in place and defenceless.

"Good that you recognize that." nodded Siltra and waved that letter. "It just arrived in the town the moment we got here… a good timing in my eyes." and moves closer to Zhi with the son of the woman in his arm. "He hired us to find you and bring you to him. What a bad woman… to run away to her betrothed. My my."

"We aren't engaged," spat Zhi with a glare. "He is forcing himself on me since my husband is dead. Nobody tells me who I marry."

That caused the Torrap to raise an eyebrow in curiosity but shrug. "No matter anyway. We are hired. We are going to be paid, so we just bring you to him. How you handle your trouble afterwards is not my problem."

Then she waved the letter at her. "That is a reply to the simple message that we found you and that we are on our way here. However, he couldn't make it and hence a new order was issued: We must bring you to Seaburn and hand you over there. And if you comply…" she grins and looks at the baby in her arm ."Then we are protecting little Tsu Tama here well~" and winked to Zhi who froze in fear for her daughter…

FLASHBACK END

Now Zhi Mu Ling was a prisoner of her ship, despite still commanding it. While the woman was sure she could escape them alone, even if they had taken her CrossBlade, there was no belief the same could be said with her little Tsu in tow. Having to carry the little boy in some matter would hinder her greatly and the risk of harm coming upon her son was too great in combat.

Also by the time she had realized what kind of snake this Torrap was, another trap had snapped. That bitch had bought most of her sailors into her pocket. A portion of the sailors would gladly fight for her without any issues as they were together for years now. Even as her late husband Kuran was still the captain of that vessel. However, being outnumbered so greatly, the hopes of successfully pulling an escape plan were too slim.

"How is the weather captain?" grinned Siltra as she came up to the helm. "Do you think we will make a good way today?"

Zhi glared at the Torrap but states, "There will be no trouble as far the eye can tell. We have a good wind in the right direction. We might even arrive one or two days earlier than expected."

"That is good," grinned Siltra and leans forwards on the railing. "Which means payment earlier for us and for you dealing with your problems." Zhi didn't answer that and simply glared again but Siltra wasn't impressed "come on. We are only paid to bring you before him. If you slam a dagger into his heart once we have the money, then is it outside our own business."

"So your loyalty only last until business concluded?" asks Zhi with a huff. "How assuring. So, hiring you to kill him after he paid you is an option?"

"If you were not the one, I have to deliver it would be tempting," stated the Torrap. "But on principle, I am not accepting killing jobs on former clients. At least not without a reason as well, with enough time between the kill and the job that I don't earn the reputation of a backstabber." then she laughed. "Perhaps Kobold Messager is willing to help if you ask."

Zhi didn't say anything as it wouldn't bring anything. Sure, they got an extra passenger in form of a messenger that has a letter of his "Goddess" for the new Overlord.

That still leaves a bitter taste on her tongue. It is said it takes a few decades for a new to raise. Only to learn from that messenger that a new one had already raised and secured a kingdom for himself. Did her Kuran die to kill one Overlord only for the next to raise instantly and trample on the legacy?

She didn't hold it at Kobold as he is only doing his job and only shared that information as both she and Siltra were surprised by the news. Zhi didn't have a name, but she didn't care. She spends her time trying to figure out how to deny Siltra and her contractor the pleasure of being successful on their part. The Torrap in regards to a successful contract and her contractor finally getting his filthy hands on her body. Sadly, nothing short of suicide came to mind… but she couldn't bring it to herself for the sake of Tsu Tama.

On the other hand, once the Bahamut mercenaries have delivered her, who says HE would let her son live? How far gone into that madness that caught her former friends was he by now? that uncertainty was driving her mad but also knew she had nothing to do about it.

And that worried her the most… too many uncertainties regarding anything she could think of to escape but she had to take a risk at some point.

She prayed in her mind that an opportunity arises.

Siltra, however, shrugged suddenly. "No answer? Properly because you know how useless that motion would be. As well a few other things." and laughed, "I think we would have been good friends at some point… if the business didn't interrupt.

And that is what Zhi hated about Siltra the most: She is treating the whole thing just as a business. Human traffic as a casual business.

Zhi swore to herself if she gets out of this mess, she will personally ensure that this purple reptile was learning soon how Zhi is feeling with

her own experience.