Reviews;

No1Gamer89, thetabularasa, RyuujiVantek; thank you for your reviews, predictions and arguments. I think you can all satisfy your discussions by just reading the story, so I won't be addressing them here! But as always, thank you for dropping a review and sharing your thoughts.

mario, it did show it as a recent addition, written in red ink. It is in the chapter. Also it takes time to draw maps. It is more likely than not for maps to not have Sorcerous Kingdom. Especially taking into consideration that one would have to travel there to draw out the concise location of the borders.

Thank you for loving my average story and the review!

Alassandro, Blue Planet can dominate the living up to mid-level 90s and can put some nasty mental status effects up to level 100. He doubted if he can control Edward because levels aren't the only indicator of whether he can control a living being. Some skills that could possibly make an individual immune to mental effects or if one dumps enough levels into will so that his will modifier is really high, domination might not work. He wasn't sure because he did not know the exact character build of Edward. About thetabularasa's information, I was not sure so I have changed it just in case because it made sense. Then he/she clarified it so Edward now has a legendary set.

Shalltear, I would refrain from being bitter as much as you are, since it is a good reflection of a shit personality. I do not mind you disliking my ideas about the story, you are free to do so and you are making some people laugh with your "stories". Those are fine, but posting a negative comment in every new Overlord fic just because they don't do what you want is just some next level childishness. I don't like some stories either, but that doesn't mean such stories are necessarily counterproductive for the community. Live and let live man. All I can do is let you know what I think and hope that you can reflect on it. Thank you for your review, I appreciate your purist approach to Overlord.

The true god, thank you for the compliment! I am not intent on fucking up anything haha, also Blue Planet isn't an op character. He is as strong as what you should expect from a guild member. If you think he is op from what you have read so far, do enlighten me on how so. Like thetabularasa did with Edward's equipment and alassandro did with timeline, I appreciate reader's help about the Overlord universe.

Beware, rant incoming~~

When I read the comments, I do see that there is a phobia developed in the community about OC characters. Some people hate to see (it bothers me too frankly) someone self-inserting an op character make it so that all world building by Murayama goes into gutter and the story solely becomes this shallow character's adventures. Most of these stories in my opinion are seen as the writer handling their own god complex. Indeed, there is more to Overlord than "I am strong, so I can do whatever I want to others and others are entitled to worship me.". Ironically, most of the staunchest Overlord purists do the same thing with Ainz, put themselves in his shoes and sate their egos. That is why they get so mad when they read a writer do the same with another character. Their fragile egos take a hit. In BOTH cases, I do not think that someone trying to fondle their own or reader's ego is a bad thing. What I think most people mix this with is immature writing, bad character progression and no substance and sense in how created characters act. To sum up, what makes the story good or bad is exclusively the skill and imagination of the writer, not OPness or OCs. There are great fanfics that has OCs within it especially in the crossovers, great fanfics with many guild members present and there are also great fanfics that only has Ainz in it and have minor OCs. But NO fanfic can be a fanfic without OCs and/or writer interpretations!

This is my humble attempt, to write a journey, and just that. I don't expect it to be top tier writing but it is definitely not going to become an op self-insert story. This will be the foundation for my attempt for a volume 12, if real life responsibilities allow and I have the drive to do so, that second part will start to be published after August. Which means we have nearly come to the end of Pilgrimage!

Chapter 17

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Matella Mundi took her time as she walked to the throne room. Although Joann had implored her to be silent about the evil that had gripped the kingdom by the balls, she had heard naught from the knight for four months. Was the Knight Captain remained silent or was silenced, Matella did not know. However, as an elite and patriot, no one in her shoes would have refrained from taking action for such a long period of time; while seeing the changes Roble was going through.

With fiery speeches and promises, the impostor Thull have puppeteered the entire country for the conquest of the wild lands that laid between Roble and the rest of the civilization. With the masked devil Jalbadaoth's guidance, massive furnaces and never-seen-before machinery was built all around the country, where mostly the elderly, women and children worked sixteen hour shifts. The male population was shifted from farms and shops to border cities next to the Great Wall. The factories armed these men, building the biggest war machine Roble has ever created in its history. The Crusade was made of hundred thousand soldiers scattered along the key points of the Great Wall and around four hundred thousand support, machinery, logistics and scouting units. The reorganization of the military by the demon Jalbadaoth was advanced way beyond the strategy and tactics of Roble's generals whom were somewhat functioning as vessels to give out the orders of the masked demon. The upcoming wars were not the only thing that concerned Matella.

For a month now, nonhumans were being sent to camps established all across to country, never to be heard from again. After using her divination spells, Matella had discovered that none of these buildings were big enough to hold onto the influx of nonhumans coming in. Of course, with divination magic being a rare quality among sorcerers and sorceresses, people were unaware about this possibly morbid situation. Who knew how the gathered up nonhumans were treated? For all she knew, they could even be skinning them alive there.

The corridor she was currently walking in was adorned with the pictures of the royal family on both sides. The ancestors of the former great king of Roble Holy Kingdom, King Adlai. King was now retired and was cut off from all functions of Lloyd Castle. In a way, this made it easier for the king to make his own moves. A month after contacting Joann, Matella had begun to help the slowly growing resistance and doubters among the elites within and outside of the Lloyd Caste. Former king Adlai included.

It had been her efforts, along with her friend Orello Federick and a couple other elites that made it possible to create the secret group Libera. Through meticulous planning and secrecy, they had been working to create a strong front against Thull. Now after the organization was month and a half old, she had been summoned by the emperor to his quarters. Matella thought about what Joann had said to her on the day of coronation. 'Were we found out? Will he try to make me talk about the resistance? Regardless of the inquiry, they won't be getting anything out of my old bones.'

Those were Matella's thoughts as she entered the Emperor's Quarters. Thull was sitting on a chair, still in full gear at the end of the large suite. His hand wearing a gauntlet which was designed to resemble the talons of a bald eagle rested on the handhold of his chair while his gloved hand rested on the pummel of his golden sword. With a slight nod, Thull ordered the Elite to come closer.

Matella approached to the traitor, barely containing her animosity. Many other elites that sided with King Adlai suggested confrontation. However, she knew better than to openly oppose the impostor. Even with the couple meters between them, Thull's raw power was oppressive to the degree that breathing was a legitimate difficulty. After a brief pause, the Emperor spoke.

"This country will become great again Matella. This is the inevitable course of events that fate has in store for us. With the loyal subjects of Roble, we will do great things, it is going to be magnificent."

Thull leaned his head forward slightly.

" But as always, even our own kin, some of our fellow citizens and elites have been jealous of the progress we have achieved under my directive. Consequently, I have heard that many Fake News have begun to circulate. That is not good." Silence followed as the old sorceress stood in a loss of words.

Matella held her breath as the piling pressure washed over her. She couldn't help but be angry at how this person was completely terrifying her although he was just a charlatan. 'He knows. I will be interrogated and executed. Should I just try to take him on? If I am going to die, I rather prefer to spit on that face before getting arrested.'

Upon evaluating her chances of winning, Matella had to bitterly accept that she could not even scratch Thull. Impostor or not, this being was still too powerful for a sorceress specialized in divination. Completely negligent of her inner turmoil, Thull spoke again.

"…This is why Matella, I have chosen you to regulate the conduct of your fellow elites. After all, information gathering is your specialty."

"What?" Matella couldn't help to look dumbfounded.

Thull scowled at her, nodding slowly "I know, it should be hard for you to learn that not all of your comrades are loyal to the throne and heretics to your belief. I will give you a day to process this information, but you are expected to start working on this subject as soon as possible."

All the sorceress could say was a weak "Yes, your majesty."

After the elite had left, Eggy contacted Demiurge.

"I have poked them as you have requested Demiurge-sama."

"Good, they have been really slow with the resistance." It was part of the plan. To control the fools and distance the strong willed and intelligent. This was a necessary compromise for his plans to work.

'Being blind followers of a false god sealed their fate. They might not know they are wrong; they might not be smart enough to realize the falsehoods in their ideology, but that doesn't mean they are not responsible.' The idea was to show mercy to the ones who had the will to denounce their own god. They will be the one that will be accepted into the kingdom come of Ainz-sama. The rest were to be used as stepping stones and the victims for Demiurge's experiments. Even now, with the concentration camps created for nonhumans, Demiurge had discovered that humanoids also were good raw material for scrolls.

'The biggest move is yet to come, time to change the borders of the New World.' With the raise of his hand, the massive iron gates of the Great Wall opened. A sea of spears moved forth on to the wild lands from Roble, upon the request of their Emperor. In between regiments large war machines cavalry and support units were stationed. Demiurge realized the greatest strength of humanity for the first time since he had arrived this world as he watched the men march onward with conviction. Unity. Humans were laughably weak and pathetic. May be that was the reason why they so instinctively yearned to be a part of the whole.

This action was imitated along the wall in couple kilometer intervals. Roble was pouring out of its borders.

…..

The massive chunk of earth hanging in the sky was visible know although they still had a long way to go. Berethur had been travelling with his new company for a week know, flying non-stop on top of the eagle Blue Planet had summoned. The young sorcerer had thought that he had gotten used to feeling small as fate had thrown more and more events and people that exceeded his grandest dreams. Berethur felt bad recalling how he had thought when he was studying in the church. 'I thought I was a rare talent; thought I knew better than others. Now I see that strength is relative, only reason some humans think they are mighty is because they are too dumb or ignorant to realize that there is always someone mightier.'

He was now riding on a giant eagle with a being that stated he was the master of life like it wasn't anything substantial. Not too further away, a demon was matching their speed while standing upright on a fucking luggage. Berethur could not imagine how he can feel smaller after experiencing this.

The new group was now riding over the desert. Up until the massive chunk of Earth hanging in the sky and the small figures of buildings under it, sand had claimed the entirety of their vision. Here and there, one could see the tips of buildings and towers swallowed up by the sand. Berethur decided to learn more from the Vanir until they arrive to the floating city. Blue Planet was probably the best person to ask if one wanted a true perspective on what was truly powerful. Maybe he should start by asking how did Blue Planet matched up with Edward?

"Ahem, Blue Planet-san?"

The Vanir came out of his own thoughts, "Yes?'

"I know you and Edward did not start on the best foot, but you managed to switch him to our side without a scratch. I was curious, how powerful you are compared to him. I also would like to know where we humans stand compared to the other races of the world. Surely, you are the person to ask this since you have mastery over the living, if you don't mind me asking of course" Berethur added hastily.

"Ah, it is only natural, I don't mind." Vanir waved his hand dismissively

"Plus, you thought me some wild magic so it would be unbecoming of me if I did not teach you something in return." Blue Planet tapped his chin as he tried to remember information from his past life and from Yggdrasil days.

"Well… Although it is not an ever-accurate measure, one can put as far as I know; all living and unliving hosts of this world on a level one to a hundred scale. For your first question, there are twenty levels between me and Edward. According to the scale you may think that means I am one fifths stronger than him but along with levels, abilities of the individual also get stronger and new abilities are acquired. As a result, I am quite a bit more powerful than him."

"There are many other major factors and millions of small nuances that determine your actual capabilities though." 'Yggdrasil always offered an immense variety of classes and builds, such that it was possible that no two character would be identical and still the game would be balanced.'

"I have not been to many places since I have regained consciousness. Travelling via air is not helping much either, but from what I have sensed along the way, not much has changed since my days. I think I can confidently say that the average level of most beings in this world are around level nine to fifteen. For humans, the average range is probably level four to ten. There are of course exceptions."

Berethur thought about this new information. 'Everything is so low leveled…and humans are even lower in average.'

"Uh, if you can…" Berethur gave him a reserved look, "can you tell me my level?"

"Haha!" Blue Planet laughed loudly, "I knew you would be curious about it but you don't have to be scared Berethur. You are currently level twenty-one, which is not at all bad for a human. Quite exceptional actually."

The sorcerer looked thoughtful. "How about Edward?"

"Well, let's not go that fast my boy." Blue Planet chuckled. "I think it is better for you to focus on your development, it won't help you to know Edward's level."

'That high huh…'

The Eagle began to descend since there was a mere kilometer between them and the city now.

"Wouldn't it be better to just fly to the castle? We will have to do that at some point anyways."

"It is not sound to just fly over the city when we do not know what is living there. This place feels more dangerous than the kingdom and the elven woods we have flown over. In addition to that, there is a dome surrounding the city. I do not know if the eagle can go through it."

'Barrier? I do not see anything…' Berethur looked carefully into the air albeit in vain.

They unmounted a hundred yard away from where the walls stood.

Blue Planet inspected the air while his fingers massaged his chin. "Hmm…"

The Vanir made a poking gesture with one of his long fingers. To Berethur's surprise, a small red hue appeared around the finger. After a moment of pause, the Vanir stepped forward, the red hue enveloping a different section of his body in every inch forward. After he was through, everything became as unsuggesting as before.

Prompted by his gesture, Edward and Berethur passed through the invisible barrier too. Rather, tried to. Berethur was promptly ejected back out. Although he wasn't hurt, the barrier was not letting him pass into the city. After multiple attempts, all the sorcerer could do was to look at the other two dejectedly.

'I can't leave the guy there when he suggested me to come here at the first place. But I am worried what would happen if I dispel or tinker with the barrier's conditions… Eh fuck it.'

Blue Planet conjured a small bubble which got larger and larger and the red hue hovering around the bubble suggested an opening for the sorcerer to pass through. Indeed, Berethur was not ejected this time. All three had entered through the city's presumable first line of defense.

Blue Planet was half expecting some complications but nothing happened until they entered the city through the open gate. Vanir raised an eyebrow to the scene they were in while Berethur stared aghast. Edward wore a tiny scowl at the side of his lips but unsurprisingly, was expressive as rock.

The city was bustling. Merchandise was being exchanged at a small bazaar to their right while guards did their duty alongside the first couple meters of the road. Many were walking to their destinations. A city as crowded as any other large human settlement. Ironically, there were no humans though.

Sand. Figures in the likeness of people, made entirely of sand moved to their daily business. As far as their vision went, sandmen played their part in this gigantic theatre. While there was movement, the whole place was eerily devoid of any sound besides puffs of sand feet, sounds as merchandise moved from one sand hand to the other, sound the cloth made as sandmen moved and from the cart that was pulled over an adjacent road, by sand horses. They were completely ignored.

"Uh ok, let's move on." Blue Planet walked forward into the city as the silent inhabitants went on their business. Their footsteps joined the music of Eryuentiu.

"So Edward, tell me a little about yourself. Besides the basics that I already know." Blue Planet attempted to break the eerie silence.

"I am a lawyer working for Devil-san. Or rather was. I don't feel a thing towards him anymore. Neither towards you, but your voice has something compelling in it."

Blue Planet slapped his forehead.

"Oooh you are a summon!" Because of his racial traits, Blue Planet had a passive to see the stats and names of living beings. However, that did not give him a clue about whether something was a summon or not. Although he should have remembered this summon from Yggdrasil, it had been ages since he had played the game. The absence of arcdemons whom are the only race that can summon this specific NPC in the New World did not help refresh his memory either.

Now however… "So an arcdemon huh." 'Another player?...' Blue Planet was intrigued.

"Would you tell me more about your summoner Edward?"

He nodded sideways, "I would, but I cannot. I am a lawyer Blue Planet-sama, information on my clients is forever confidential. As you should now, restrictions on classes can be quite binding."

Blue Planet nodded, scowled as he inspected his surroundings. "Indeed indeed, we will simply have to accept that you can't help us on that respect. Besides, I think we have a more immediate problem."

Berethur's eyes darted around anxiously and settled on the Vanir upon his declaration.

"It seems so Blue Planet-sama." Edward agreed in his nasal, uncaring tone.

"This is the fifth time this cart passed next to us. Many of the clothing does not change too. It seems everything is moving with us."

The news sent a chill down Berethur's spine. What kind of fucked up thing was going on? Although he wished for the best, he knew the worst would happen due to his awful luck. Fate agreed with him as many of the sandmen just started to blatantly follow them as they went deeper and deeper into the city.

When they arrived to a large town square, the massive crowd of sandmen were just walking along with the group. Unphased, Blue Planet and Edward walked right into the empty square. Berethur was walking couple inches behind the Vanir, his sweaty hand on his booklet.

'This is fucking terrifying.' Blue Planet would have agreed with his thought if he was still human. But being level hundred really limited the amount of hazards one could face. Considering he had Edward with him too, they did not lack in strength.

The sand began to gather in the middle of the square and their followers finally cut in front of them. Now all three were circled by a tightly knit wall of sandmen. Sand piled on one another until a large wiggling hill stood in the middle of the square. Countless weapons were poking out of the hill and its tendrils. The sandmen revealed weapons and armor as their sand bodies morphed, as well.

"Ahhh, it is an old sand slime! That was quite an ingenious trap for a race with no brain. Morphing tendrils into human figures! These things have always been really rare and exceptional." Blue Planet seemed to be excited. "Pretty hostile too." He added in a more thoughtful tone.

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Thank you for reading. As always drop a review and let me know what you think!

Would be glad if you point out any grammar mistakes too~