XII-I
Asta began gliding downward through a narrow rocky pathway, trying to minimize her fall through small hops left and right. Her gaze was fixed on her objective, still partially visible amidst the foggy noon.
"This time I'm right for sure..." she muttered through gritted teeth. As soon as she landed, her fingertips grazed across the rocky wall, feeling its texture and warmth. Her body tensed up at the sensation, knowing that she had found traces of recent passage. A few men, or perhaps monsters, had undergone through the same path she was travelling on. Alerted but not panicked, her heels drew a sign in the soil, to remind herself of that peculiar point. Then, she moved forward with one hand firmly placed against the hilt of her dagger.
She moved on tiptoes until she reached a small crevice, guarded by several figures clad in dark robes. She knelt and summoned one of her pigeons, the tenuous blue light enveloping the enchantment sprinkling through the air as the summon surveyed the area.
"These guys seem strong..." she commented, taking a better look. From behind they only looked taller than the average man, and certainly more bulky, but now that she had access to the front too, she could clearly see that they were not simple adventurers. They looked like imposing skeleton knights, but even bigger than she thought possible.
Her gaze moved on to the center of the crevice, down below her position. There she saw it, albeit faintly: Rose & Chrysanthemum, the prized relic of the gods, was ripe for the taking.
"There. Finally found it" she commented to herself, overjoyed. Her lips curved upwards in a small smile while her thin, slender figure hopped back up the adjacent rocks one by one. Her gaze met with her temporary companion.
"Its right below us, lady Cledna".
"I see. Then I shall get back what is ours. I will do this for our people... and for brother, too". Cledna's stern gaze lingered in the distance for a bit before meeting Asta's. She had not been that serious for long, as the timeframe in between the preparations for the electoral ceremony and the subsequent release of Solution Epsilon had given her the chance to take a moment to breathe. Shortly before the audacious quarrel between the Drykven brothers, she had taken the opportunity to review Asta's findings and survey the outer walls, encouraged by lord Bormeliar to take a more direct approach. If the people had seen her actively on the field, he thought, both her popularity and the troops' morale would skyrocket. After thoughtful consideration, she had acted on it, and tentatively obtained a rough layout of the plains and possible location of the artifact that could aid her in the upcoming battle. That had not been an easy feat, for Asta had worked on it tirelessly for several days before coming up with a suitable location for it. Her scouting abilities had been put to the test, and only at the last possible moment did she in fact reach a satisfactory conclusion. Truth be told, convincing Bormeliar that it was worth leaving the electoral ceremony had not been easy, but Asta wanted to see it through.
"I thank you for your cooperation, but are you sure that you'll be able to keep up?" Cledna asked hesitantly, scrutinizing Asta's gaze and frail constitution, "You know that this is going to be tough, right? There might be someone out there that not even I can fight. It would be best for you to stay put".
"No... I'm sure" Asta replied with determination, albeit a subtle hint of fear could still be heard through her quivering lips "this is also my battle. If I had acted sooner I wouldn't have wasted everybody's time. I shouldnt have hesitated when I had been asked to contact lord Flannar".
"As they told me, your head was not on your shoulders at the time" Cledna remarked, torn between a small giggle and her stoic demeanor "so what is there to blame yourself for? Brother appreciates all you do. Please dont beat yourself over it".
Asta sighed softly before diving back down the rocky formation, as gracefully as she had done previusly. In the past she might have decided to remain behind and not interfere, however after much consideration and the Judge's inspiring speech, her resolved had found new vigor. Surely her soul was still deeply conflicted and part of her had wanted to give up and flee the Star City, but she was not about to let go of that opportunity yet. They were looming dangerously close to the Sorcerer King's camp though, so both Cledna and Asta were feeling anxious to get the job done.
Still, to lord Bormeliar was important for Cledna to secure her secular facade of knight and guardian of peace and justice throughout the city. For that purpose, he had arranged for a maniple of intrepid adventurers to escort her and record her movements for the population. Her chronicles would start anew, so that everyone could appreciate her efforts.
Feeling observed from every angle, Cledna could not let herself be intimidated by her own fame. She took a deep breath and moved forth, reaching the crevice in a swift long jump. Although her body looked frail due to her feminine frame, when her feet landed on the rocky ground they produced an audible stomping sound and a tremor in a large area.
Her gaze met Asta for a brief moment still before the young girl began sprinting ahead, summoning her birds to glide across the area to ensure that Cledna could move reliably. The more the two were advancing towards the mysterious guardians of the crevice, the harder the task felt. Cledna could see their tall and imposing nature, and she was fully committed to strike and retreat. She gripped at the hilt of her peculiar sword without any blade on it, and swiftly pulled it out in front of her.
A long creaking green flame emerged from it, crackling with vigor and expanding high into the sky. Asta admired the miracle and stood in awe for several seconds before resuming her task. She had never felt such a powerful heat wave in her life.
"Oh lady Hilda heed my words of victory. I shall give you all the honors and praises. To battle!" she roared, fiercely assaulting the closest guardian to her location.
Cledna had never seen a skeleton knight before. Due to her solitary and innocent nature she had never been exposed to anything remotely subterranean such as a skeleton. It was hard to believe, but all she knew came directly from her brother, especially after he had reconfigured her parameters. However, that was not the time to dwell on the past. She swung her flaming sword and hit the large skeleton knight, engulfing it in a holy cascade of burning acid.
The monster writhed in pain for a short while before recoiling and dissolving into nothingness. A large black puddle of unknown origin replaced it.
"So they can be beaten after all. Asta, give me their locations!" Relieved, Cledna proceeded to jump at the next one, and then the next one still. Her slashes were precise and fearless, and the acid damage mixed with the burning flame mercilessly disposed of all the guardians one by one, reducing them to puddles of black matter.
After catching her breath, Cledna met Asta's gaze once again. "Good job. Now remain up there and be sure to tell the others that we are about to move. I dont wish to stay here for long" she commanded shortly before descending the rocky walls towards her destination. Finally, Rose & Chrysanthemum seemed in arms' reach. She could almost feel its intoxicating magical aura engulf her body for the first time in decades after it got stolen by a band of humans who had deceived her. Time and time again she had cursed her own ingenuity, yet there was no reason to stir her own stomach more than necessary. She was finally free to fix everything.
She reached for the beautiful flower and its deadly thorns, eager to feel its warmth. However, as soon as her fingers touched its shape, her senses activated all at once.
"Its a trap... it has to be". She could tell by the texture and shape that there was something amiss. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The aura around the relic was very different than what she remembered. Indeed, it didnt take long for her body to feel shivers of incommensurable danger.
She opened her eyes wide and jumped to the side just on time. A large quantity of gooey black substance came forth in her direction, leaving a trail of bubbly yellowish putrescence. Cledna regained her senses just as a second wave was about to reach her and she fended it off with her burning blade, splattering its evaporating remnants all across the rocks around her.
Someone clapped their hands behind a dark patch beneath a few slabs of stone nearby.
"Bravo, young one. I dont know who you are, but I am pleased to see that the fun hasnt stopped just yet".
"That question belongs to me. Who are you? Show yourself!" Cledna yelled at the voice echoing in her head, her flaming blade at the ready.
A shadowy figure clad in red with long straight white hair emerged seemingly from thin air, their twisted visage a mixture of pain and delight. For how hard Cledna tried to distinguish their primary facial features, it was difficult to discern their eyes from the rest of their face.
"I am nothing but a humble servant of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and part of lord Demiurge's entourage... and you have overstepped your boundaries" they replied, seemingly uncaring of anything beyond their immediate proximity. A few seconds later, a large glob of gooey black matter seeped from the soil, mutating in a multitude of black creatures which seemed to be molded akin to a dark and twisted desire for decay. Their rotting corpses were tall and they looked like their own existence was an agonizing pain. Their putrid spit produced acidic sounds upon contact with the ground and their bodies exuded vaporous fumes.
"What in the world is this..." Cledna stepped back with her blade at the ready "Nileforge will protect me. I cant back down now. We are too close..."
She closed her eyes and found inner peace. Deep in concentration, she mustered the courage and strength to face her fears. Little by little, she looked at Rose & Chrysanthemum with half-lid eyes. It dissolved in a layer of sand, as if it had never been there.
"Illusion magic... no! We have been deceived! Asta, recall everyone. Fall back!" Cledna shouted in a hurry as she proceeded to fend off the first waves of black spit that had been vomited her way.
"Oh, please dont go so soon. We have just met one another, shall we deepen the connection between us?" the mysterious figure extended a hand towards Cledna, inviting her to keep fighting.
"Tell me where you keep it, vile demon! Where is Rose & Chrysanthemum?" Cledna roared in a fit of frustration.
"I would like to say that it is closer than you think. However, given your allegiance to my master's enemies, I cannot comply with your request".
"What... does that even mean? I am not an enemy of the Sorcerer King, if that's what you are implying. In fact, we are not even at war right now" she pointed out, hoping to buy the others some time.
"True enough. Yet my master and direct superior is lord Demiurge, and he begs to differ" the mysterious figure replied with a wicked, distorted grin "so please understand. Regardless, I am not here to help you, nor to stop you. I am merely passing by. You will never find it in your current condition. Let us entertain each other a while then, shall we?"
"There is nothing for me to gain here. I wont indulge you demons any further. Tell Ainz Ooal Gown that this is not over". Disappointed and deeply flustered, Cledna blushed and retreated further, evading the incoming jets of black putrescence one by one. A small legion of rotting creatures had formed by now, and they were eagerly dragging their bodies towards her location.
"Such bold words. I will be sure to inform my superior about your conduct. Please do try to stay alive in the meantime, it would be a waste for me to not see you again. Witnessing someone slightly competent in this world has been a rare opportunity". Cledna's interlocutor smiled in a twisted way before returning their slender figure to the shadows.
"I could sense it. Its aura was so close... how could I have been deceived so easily?" Cledna muttered through gritted teeth, "I am not that weak... I cannot be!" she returned her gaze towards the location where she had first felt that odd sensation of familiarity and comfort. The spot where she had thought Rose & Chrysanthemum would be.
She reversed her blade so that it would face the ground and began to recite a spell.
"Tier 5: Acid Slash". A large wave of green flames emerged from the center of her blade, followed by several others of considerably smaller size. These resonated around the area, covering everything in a thin veil of green acid. The horrific creatures that had been sent after her got hit in droves, and even though the damage was minimal, the acid nature of the attack began to slowly take its toll on their rotting demonic bodies. They fell as they moved, splashing in a large multitude of swamp-looking putrescent puddles.
As soon as the summons got hit and disposed of, the clapping sound from earlier could be heard yet again. The same twisted visage emerged from the shadows but this time their slender figure stood taller and more imposing than before. Beneath them, their shadow seemed to dance in a different direction than the sun itself. Cledna squinted her eyes and took in the vision before her in stride, maintaining a safe distance at all times.
"Ah so you have found it in you, the courage to keep on fighting. How precious. It may seem foolish to the untrained eye, but even those who come from Nazarick can appreciate such beauty, even coming from a low level creature like you" they smiled in agony and despair, yet their visage betrayed somewhat of a pleasurable state.
Cledna concentrated on her surroundings rather than the mocking words of her interlocutor and she began scanning the area more attentively, aided by the flaming acid aura she had just unleashed.
"Not enough... I know its here. It has to". She inhaled sharply and spread her arms wide, summoning all of her strength.
"Tier 9: Acid Rain". A sudden burst of bad weather emerged from the distance, no more than a few clouds barely obfuscating the sun. Yet, amidst their thick grey layers, a dense rain of glinting green acid emerged, covering the whole area in toxic fumes. Immersed in her own element, Cledna basked in the afterglow of the spell and felt a powerful surge of heat engulfing her body. Her platinum plated breastpiece, which had belonged to lady Hilda herself, glowed of a tenuous blue light. Her senses were deeply heightened and she could definitely feel her own world class item in the near distance.
"Well then, enough playing around. I see that you wish to do battle again, therefore I am happy to oblige". The mysterious figure twisted their wrist and a large portal materialized before them. It took only a few seconds for a twin couple of demons to emerge, even taller than the ones who had preceded them. These seemed slightly stronger, their bat wings large and cold. Cledna could sense that their mere presence had dropped the temperature several degrees below the norm even from afar.
"Apologies, but as I said I have no intent to keep fighting". That said, Cledna sprinted away from the area and slid through a narrow passage in between the slabs below which her interlocutor had previously emerged. There, protected by a large illusory field and a magic shield considerably stronger than anything her own guild could muster, she finally took a glimpse of Rose & Chrysanthemum. Her eyes glanced over at her throne long enough for her to long for its warmth.
"That is quite enough. I like your energy though, and I shall advise lord Demiurge not to dissect you out of respect". The mysterious figure moved much faster than Cledna and they slashed at her body with something sharp that she could not even see. Despite the precision and speed of the hit, it was rather minor as she had had time to react and protect herself with a thick layer of acid, one of her passive abilities had granting her body such a property from birth. She flew on the ground and recovered throughout the fall, hitting a nearby wall of rocks with her back so hard that she had to keep herself in check from yelling in pain.
"I refuse... I refuse to give in" she murmured while getting back up "get away from it. It's mine. It was given to me by my mother... you could never understand this kind of value!".
Cledna moved in to slash with Nileforge and met the assailant's own attack, their hands gripping at a series of double edged blades sawn in each finger. The clash was rough and inevitable, both parties ended up on the opposite side of the area, unhurt and seemingly unfazed by each other's hit.
A sudden wave of mental fatigue engulfed Cledna's brain, one so peculiar that she could barely keep her posture straight. A voice she had never heard before began to speak, its effect on her mind both terrifying and intriguing.
"Sloth, cease your activities if you please. We shall partake in an endeavor more... befitting our goal."
"Master? Is there something inconvenient going on?" the twisted figure suddenly interrupted all activities involving Cledna as if she had never even existed. "Oh. What a splendid turn of events. As you say, I shall comply then".
With these words, the assailant returned their gaze towards Cledna.
"I apologize for the sudden loss of interest. I will admit that I am rather keen on continuing this another time and I do not look forward to your immediate demise. Therefore, I propose this encounter to be called a friendly draw." They extended their hand towards Cledna yet again, but this time it wasnt an invitation, rather an order.
"What in the world... Will you let me go just like that?"
"Oh no, dont be mistaken. This is merely a diplomatic courtesy" they replied, averting Cledna's gaze as if to imply that it was none of their business.
Confused but hopeful, Cledna seized the opportunity without thinking about it and immediately bolted towards her world class item. She hurriedly sat on it, and soon she felt the benefits of its activation. Her body sensed a wave of regeneration and reinvigoration, her energy swiftly restored. There was no denying its amazing properties, she felt like she could do anything with ease.
Her legs shakingly dismounted the large flower at the base of the throne of thorns, her strength replenished but her spirit still on high alert and her mind running on autopilot. Flannar's wise words, lady Hilda's soothing presence, Asta's resolve... they all had given her the courage to keep up with her duty. In that moment, she felt at a crossroad: leaving the artifact there would mean inability to complete her mission and perhaps it would never again be possible. However, pursuing her original plan might lead to her demise and more importantly, decimation of her party. There was no telling if the enemy had just agreed to a temporary truce or not, for that was outside of the scope of that encounter. All she had was her brother, and his own words ingrained into her brain.
"...I hope this is your doing. I beg of you, stay safe". With these parting words barely muttered under her breath, she inhaled sharply and jumped back onto the rocky walls, leaving the world class item behind.
"I want to see him again… I want to feel brother's embrace again".
"What happened? Why are we leaving?" Asta asked upon realizing that Cledna had returned to the original path she had previously discovered, stunned by her unwavering gaze. She followed briefly before landing back down again on the muddy path herself.
"There's too much that we dont know still... a formidable enemy might be just up ahead. And I cant afford to confront them as of right now" Cledna explained, her heart aching with pain and frustration, "I have felt the true power of Rose & Chrysanthemum on my skin again after such a long time... it gave me a small shred of my life force back to the way I formerly was. That same life which my brother cherishes so much. I cannot in good conscience give it up for such little gain. I… dont want to break his heart again. I want to stay alive, and recount my accomplishments to him in person".
Cledna wasnt sure herself if her words come out of pure platonic love or not. Still, she preferred to err on the side of caution. She wanted to be by her brother's side more than anything in the world, and more than ever before her reinvigorated body demanded for a moment of calmness.
"Asta… the monsters I faced down there were nothing compared to the puppeteer summoning them. And that same puppeteer still was operating under direct command of someone else. I could barely feel their aura in the area but… I could sense deep down dread seeping into my flesh. And to be frank, I'd rather face it head on longside brother rather than die alone in this crevice".
As she approached the band of courageous adventurers who had been staying far behind acting as her rearguard, she mentally prepared to announce her failure in a roundabout way to prevent her records from misleading the people into thinking that it was already too late for them.
The memory of that brief moment of triumph kept looping inside her head as she witnessed the silly quarrel between Rokkan Drykven and his brother. The need for release was ever present within herself, an almost unbridled rage towards these rude, uncivilized men who seemed to be arguing over nothing for the sake of their own benefit.
Yet she kept herself composed and passive as much as possible, something which Bormeliar commended.
The electoral building was still in a state of upheaval. The militia had full control over the exterior, while the military held all politicians at gunpoint inside its walls. A human shield of highly trained professionals forged from years of patrols and shooting range routine wielded their muskets proudly against what they perceived as enemies of the nation, vipers in sheep's clothing. To them, having Bormeliar force the situation the way he wanted it was the only real way to keep the nation safe and united. Amidst the panic and confusion, the two Drykven brothers looked like ants dribbling with a piece of cheese much larger than them both.
.
"Why do you stand in my way, brother? This is a poor joke on your part" Rokkan roared towards Fratherickus, uncaring for any formality or etiquette after the initial shock due to his presence, "stand aside and give me what is mine by right of hand and virtue. Dont you know who backs me in this election?"
"B-But... you are not the one who should be governing right now, dear brother". Fratherickus replied weakly, his eyes darting in all directions with no focus nor life left in them "lord Bormeliar is right... This is a situation which requires men with a firm hand who know what their place is. Men who are afraid of the gods and rightfully so. Men who fear divine intervention and submit to their will...!"
Fratherickus' body started spasming uncontrollably, his sclera fully visible where his pupils should have been. "Oh mighty Hilda, strike me down as I am about to commit a sin! My mouth speaks ill of my family, my own flesh! Please punish me!" his ramblings spurted out of his mouth suddenly and quavery, as if his brain had been overloaded with mystical revelations unbeknown to anyone in the building. Bormeliar moved a few paces and placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping at it with enough strength to break a wooden log. Fratherickus recoiled in pain and a small smile came out of his twisted visage as tears began to fall from his cheeks.
"Thank you, my lord... more pain! MORE PAIN! I deserve it, and so do you!" Fratherickus' gaze seemed lost in a sea of torment and relief alternating in his mind, "brother is my reason for living this far. Our family has committed many horrifying deeds... he was my light, my soul. But not anymore!"
"What are you saying? Snap out of it you insolent fool!" Rokkan scoffed with a sly smirk, his hand trembling slightly towards the hilt of his grandfather's sword.
"You have lost your way! You dont believe in the gods anymore! You dont fear them, like I do! You need to bow your head in shame and repent for your vile actions against them!" Fratherickus' words came out shakily yet anyone could spot an underlying tone of determination.
"Nonsense! I shall not indulge in your fantasies any longer. Either put me as a favourable candidate, or things will be done my way". That said, Rokkan gripped at his sword firmly and held it high towards the heavens, swinging it almost maniacally. A tenuous blue light engulfed his body, and soon after a lightning bolt covered his muscles completely, rendering him a living, breathing source of electricity. The bystanders could not help but feel the air becoming increasingly heavy with heat and magical particles as his power grew steadily with each passing moment. His aura began to expand towards the innermost section of the room, vivid blue sparks and violet flames of spellcasting nature intertwining. A loud noise similar to that of a large bell ringing erupted from his robes, which he shook off to reveal a series of medallions and rings set on his very own flesh. The runic symbols imprinted in his muscular bleeding chest began emitting a powerful blue light, signaling that Rokkan was removed far from his former self. For all intents and purposes, his human form looked more like a charade under which a true villainous fiend from mythical beasthood resided.
"Behold! The power that has been bestowed upon me by my gracious mistress! And this is not all..." he murmured with pride and arrogance, pointing his index finger towards Bormeliar as if he had been a commoner not worthy of his time, "I have vanquished my foes one by one. All the major rivalries in this city have been eradicated by my hand! No more will the people suffer, for I will do what I must to break them free from the gods!"
Rokkan flexed his muscles and invigorated his shoulder blades with a powerful thrust backwards, making them protrude from his back alongside a new set of arms emerging from his ribcage. Now in possession of four muscular arms and an engorged torso that looked like a pulsing mass of pure muscle, Rokkan smirked at his brother with conviction and unwavering willpower.
"You dont need the gods of old. Look at me, brother! And you too, pathetic excuses for public servants! I hereby declare this election invalid. Henceforth, things will be done differently".
"To think that I once loved someone like you... y-you have no shame!" Fratherickus sunk on his knees, tears welling up in his eyes "how could I have been so foolish? Repent, brother! Please! I-I dont want to consider you a fiend. Show me that there is still hope for you after all..."
Rokkan's mind was far above anyone's plea for restraint. His brother's words echoed in the hall and soon vanished from memory. With one final act of defiance, Rokkan slashed at the air with his gaze fixed on Cledna's features. The slashing sound reverberated throughout the embroidered curtains and stained glasses, its sheer force tearing the former and shattering the latter.
"And you... so called protector of the city. What have you been doing all this time? Do you have what it takes to keep up with this state of crisis? I think not. The people need a real man of virtue and strength. Someone who is not afraid to cooperate with the Sorcerer King and guide them into a new age".
His eyes were unmoving from Cledna's visage. A shameless and perilous act to be sure, yet Cledna gave no sign of moving a single inch. She remained composed and passive, her resolve greater than ever before. This angered Rokkan tenfold but it also emboldened him considerably; nobody could or would dare stand in his way now, after all he had achieved. He proudly showed off his set of rings, shiny and infused with magical energy as they were, trembling on his fingers as if agitated by an intense desire for action.
"I have been silent for far too long. Working tirelessly in the shadows to bring forth this new era. And if you refuse to accept me as a suitable candidate, then I have no remorse".
"And what of it?" Bormeliar finally replied, moving towards the Drykven lord a few paces with a somber gait "pray tell, what kind of reign would yours be, should you be accepted as a candidate? Enlighten us with your rhetoric".
Hearing these words, Rokkan's lackeys grinned maliciously at the prospect of finally being accepted as equals among the electoral body, and they began to distribute themselves at the sides and center of the hall with their menacing gazes darting back and forth between Cledna and the politicians still kept under strict surveillance by the militia.
Rokkan gave a knowing nod to the former mayor who still stood smiling behind the building's doorstep before inhaling deeply for a long-winded speech. His gaze moved up to the bright sky, which even in the fading light of dusk seemed to shine upon his visage with ever-growing intensity.
"Reassuring the Sorcerer King will be my first priority. One of his closest allies already resides in this city, thus advancing our common interests. You think that you have a good grasp of the situation, but you are sorely mistaken! My election is sanctioned by the most gracious, the most holy among those who you so vehemently defy. You believe that you're safe, staying here all day, debating behind closed doors while the people suffer? Ha! Think again! What have you ever accomplished? I destroyed all opposition, cleaned this city with my own two hands, and I will gladly extend my palm towards those who wield real power. The power of change!"
"Change huh… as if it could come at the snap of a finger. You are rather pathetic and quite frankly too naive to govern. But I will indulge you in your little game" Bormeliar looked disappointed, yet his piercing stare didnt let up "if you believe to have obtained true power then prove it to me".
Rokkan didnt let his opponent finish the sentence completely; his fast legs and bloated muscular thighs gave him an undoubtable edge over the old strategist, granting him a sprinting power far superior to his human form. As the two were about to make contact, Rokkan put all of his strength into one decisive thrusting motion with his grandfather's sword, now powered up to its fullest potential.
"Martial Art: Rolling Redoubt". A fierce wave of glowing, incinerating light emerged from the ground. A white flash soon followed the hit, pervading Rokkan's eyes with a pure euphoric sense of sheer triumph. His mind, so full of the new unknown sensation, became unfocused and blurry. His thoughts seemed to be clenching tightly on the idea that his moment was then and there, his magnum opus, the most magnificent scheme he had ever devised now ready to bear fruit. The whole city was at his fingertips…
A scorching screech followed his jumbling train of thoughts as he felt himself falling down. He could see a large puddle of black blood oozing out of his torso, and an almost horrifyingly disfigured pectoral muscle gouged out of him dangling on the floor. His gaping mouth released a torrent of gastric acids and blood before exhaling a long, tired breath.
"Hmm... still alive. I guess I really did lose my proficiency over the years" Bormeliar thought to himself with a hint of sarcasm, his boot firmly planted over Rokkan's head.
A second later a loud stomping sound could be heard across the hall, and the Drykven lord's scattered brains gushed out of his skull like soft grapes. Not a single ounce of his bolstered strength was left in his corpse.
"It is a pity that a man of your dedication wouldnt stop at getting rid of the other criminal families that plagued our city. Had you just stopped there… well, it doesnt matter now does it?" Bormeliar's sarcastic remarks affected the shocked bystanders in a flash. Incredulity was soon set aside for fear.
"So... anybody wishes to become our next candidate? I am willing to listen, but perhaps you should refrain from distracting us any further. I will however, accept any nominee for a future, yet-to-be-planned election in the coming years. There are plenty of forms for you to compile". His tone and mannerisms did not betray any sense of urgency nor anger. Bormeliar acted as it was customary for him to do, with politeness and a firm grasp over the situation.
It didnt take long for the rest of the horde of conceited goons to drop their weapons and run away, some faster than others. Most of them had no idea such an occurrence could happen, including the former mayor.
"Oh dear. I guess lady Albedo will have to take matters in her own hands then. Pity, but unavoidable". The old man said before turning around and sprinting at inhuman speed towards a nearby roof, soon after disappearing from view.
"That was fast. Unusual for a human being that age. Which leads me to believe… hmm. Lady Cledna, would you please send a detachment in pursuit and silence them all?" Bormeliar addressed Cledna directly, pleased with her stoic composure "This fool and his property must be searched from top to bottom. If what he said is true then there is much to do still".
That said, his gaze moved to Fratherickus who, despite being visibly shaken by the brutal execution of his brother, seemed oddly at peace.
"Anything to add?"
"N-No my lord, I swear I would have never followed his example. I just... I hope he can receive a proper burial. That… might be in order?" his words were barely above a whisper, unable to coherently process any of what was taking place around him.
"Granted. That is the least I could do for such an obedient citizen. Keep this up and the seat will be yours sooner than what you'd expect" Bormeliar replied, affectionately stroking his hair.
.
Albedo stepped inside the catacombs with a bored gaze. Her eyes were not tired due to the new wave of paperwork still due for completion, nor the seemingly endless ex criminals pleading to get a job under her command, but rather she felt a strange sort of exhaustion. One that is deeply rooted in one's own depression.
"So this is where they keep their dead. Just below the city… no wonder I couldnt find any suitable corpses to reanimate. Oh well, this will be the first and last time I come down here anyhow".
She moved swiftly towards the next set of granite stones and down to a large staircase. The path seemed to have been traced several times before by a large group of men, some of which had the stench of death on them. Her eyes met someone's figure lingering in darkness. Upon further inspection, she realized that it was the carcass of an elderly person who had been long gone, kept in captivity inside of a large cage.
"This one... looks familiar". Her mind shifted to Bludigar'd-Bluden's new appearance, immediately making the connection. "I see. What a strange choice, to let an old man starve to death in such a place. Hardly pitiful, yet befitting of low life humans such as these. If this is how they treat their leaders…".
She stopped in her train of thought and diverted her gaze as swiftly as she had placed it upon the corpse. Her footsteps were the only perceptible sound in the entirety of the cave in which she currently resided. The large, intricate web of tunnels separating the basin from the catacombs were damp with murky water and partially blocked out by landslides and mineral formations. It seemed as though no life could thrive there, not even that of a traveler from the world they once lived in.
"I wonder where it could be..."
"Lady Albedo, a word". As if she had called for him telepathically, the doppelganger's voice began to manifest in Albedo's ears. Bludigar'd-Bluden must have been close, she thought, to be able to use Message at such a distance from the city walls.
"Ah, what an excellent timing. If you are here, then I must infer that something went wrong? Or perhaps its the other way around and it went so smoothly that our troops are already on the move to meet lord Ainz?" her dead gaze barely grazed the entrance to the catacombs where she was expecting to see her subordinate's face at any moment.
"I'm afraid it's the former, lady Albedo. I am terribly sorry, but it would appear that your pawn has proven unreliable and far too greedy".
"Were we found out?"
"No, I would have personally dealt with them in that case. However, gaining support has proven too difficult in the present state of affairs. Though there are many who wish to pledge their allegiance towards our cause, key elements posing as government officials are being too stubborn to be bribed. Moreover, those who did switch sides have been dealt with recently. Some units at the upper echelons of government are most likely similar to us in sheer strength or acumen".
"I see. In that case, I request that you continue working directly under my supervision a bit more. Please lend me your support while I look for an entrance".
"An entrance, lady Albedo? You dont mean..."
"Indeed". She turned around and smiled with a thousand-yard stare that would freeze the most dedicated fighter, "I'm going to find the fabled Guild Base and graciously give it to Momonga... And after that, we will leave this putrid swamp and burn its contents to the ground".
"If that is your wish, then I cannot refuse. Your will is my command". The doppelganger appeared at her side after several minutes, close enough to the catacombs to be able to land more hastily towards her location. He bowed deeply and followed his mistress with an attentive gaze, scrutinizing their surroundings for possible entrances. There were hardly any tangible signs of YGGDRASIL's technology in there, yet he knew for a fact that there were many passages that they had previously ignored. His confidence stemmed from the many witnesses reporting on unusual sightings in and around the catacombs, as well as folktales which he believed were rooted in truth. Somewhere below the city, they would have found an immensely rich treasure, one that could give lord Ainz Ooal Gown the edge he so desperately sought after: he would finally meet, battle and conquer another one of the supreme beings.
Several minutes passed by as they ventured deeper into the catacombs when suddenly, they came across a large gravestone with several ancient runic symbols etched on its sides.
"This place seems significant. Perhaps there is more to it than what meets the eye".
Albedo approached one particular symbol etched on the blocky granite surface and inspected it closely.
"This seal…It appears to be some kind of teleportation device. But teleportation magic doesnt work here… so why is it in such a remote place? Would this be connected to something else, a physical object maybe, rather than a set of coordinates?"
Albedo tried stimulating the area affected by the rune with her fingertip, soliciting a response through her own magical aura. Surprisingly enough, this caused a low humming sound to be produced somewhere else entirely. She followed the source of the sound, with Bludigar'd-Bluden close by in a state of high alert.
A mechanism of unknown origin which was pumping in and out of the rocks lower at their feet seemed to be the cause for the sound, a large opening in the ground released reddish fumes in the air nearby.
Albedo approached the opening in the ground and peered down into it. The smell of sulfur and brimstone hit her nostrils, further drawing her attention to what could be a hidden entrance to the Guild Base. She evaluated if it could be worth the potential risk, sensing a strange yet alluring force hidden beneath.
"It seems like a risk... yet I dont feel like wasting any more valuable time dwelling on whether or not I should jump. None of the human workers would be able nor willing to do it anyway" she thought to herself before looking at Bludigar'd-Bluden. "I'll go first. Please keep close watch".
Albedo made the jump into the opening, expecting to land on a surface of some kind. However, her expectations got subverted as she slowly but surely was engulfed into the void, the strong smell of volcanic fumes and steam getting even more intense. It took almost a minute of uninterrupted descent for her to finally land on a granite platform that led deeper underground. The heat from the fumes was almost unbearable, but Albedo's resistances granted her all the protection she needed.
"It seems to be deserted. Please begin exploring" she ordered, not caring to take note of her surroundings for more than necessary.
As she began to look around the edge of the platform, she gasped in surprise as she saw several discarded bags full of food and freshly baked cakes littering the area. Among them, ancient-looking spoons and forks were being kept in pristine condition. An eerie red glow in the dimly lit tunnel downward led to a large mausoleum.
Albedo couldnt help but feel a certain degree of curiosity as she approached the structure. The door seemed ancient, yet there were clear signs of it having been opened recently.
"Do you recognize these inscriptions on the side of this door? These symbols look familiar."
"Lady Albedo, perhaps these are no inscriptions at all. I suggest… yes, this seems like a stamp from the world of the supreme beings".
The doppelganger was indeed correct: on the door to the mausoleum, a series of stamps had been collected and placed in a way that would be easily recognized by their owner.
One of these had been used with something the supreme beings called "a promo code", Albedo noted, since it looked reminiscent of one lord Ainz had used in the past.
"There's no mistaking it. We are getting closer".
Albedo's heart started to beat slightly faster for the first time in ages.
They entered the mausoleum and they found themselves at the very beginning of a series of stairs leading further down. The path was so long and convoluted that the two couldnt even begin to look for the ending.
"Should we proceed further? If so… what would be the best way to make it down faster? the urgency of this mission is of imperative importance".
Albedo barely finished the sentence when the doppelganger's senses caused him to flinch and recoil.
"Lady Albedo, please get down" he said hastily, "can you sense it too?"
Albedo nodded quickly and lowered her head. A faint red light passed by just above their bodies, traveling around the corner and dissipating into a wall.
"That's a laser guided device. It's a trap from the world of the supreme beings… it's rather exciting to see" she thought to herself while moving further into the structure. Her conviction grew tenfold upon finding an even more familiar symbol laying beneath several layers of dust and granite; Albedo recognized it as a typically used emblem from YGGDRASIL, it was what lord Ainz had called a "default icon". Apparently, according to Ashurbanipal's scriptures, it referred to a guild that had been created anew and was still in need of proper care.
Eager to find out more and battle - or better yet, kill - a supreme being, Albedo plunged downstairs not caring for her own safety at all.
Bludigar'd-Bluden was deeply surprised yet he followed suit, jumping into the unknown.
Several flights of stairs downward, the seemingly never ending spiral staircase halted abruptly. A large hole into the ground seemed to be the only way forward.
"Again with this? Do these weird commoners love to bury themselves into so many holes?"
Albedo asked herself, descending even further. The next room looked completely different from the previous one, rivers of blood and rotting flesh drenched the shores of an artificial lake amidst a large crest soaked in bodily fluids and aromatic tea leaves. The stench was unbearable, yet Albedo felt oddly at home. The sinister environment was reminiscent of Nazarick's inner walls and that was comforting.
A banquet left untouched had been prepared somewhere at the edge of the new mysterious location. Lingering traces of magic could be felt around it, and not too far from it a set of gargoyles were guarding what appeared to be a hidden passage. Albedo prepared her world class item in case of an ambush, yet approaching the statues only triggered mild spurts of acidic fluids from one of the gargoyles' mouths, weakly dribbling down its base.
Evidently, Albedo noted, that trap had been set up ages prior and its source of power was long gone. She proceeded unmolested towards a large metallic trapdoor which led to a rusty old ladder.
"This is taking significantly longer than expected. Lady Albedo, please let me handle it". Bludigar'd-Bluden jumped downwards and set out to find clues. The area below was more metallic in nature with a series of tubes connecting further down and all doors separating the rocky tunnels from one another were sealed with steel gates requiring keypad access.
"This technology is clearly beyond any we have seen so far. It's definitely coming from the world of the supreme beings. Come on, we are closer than ever before, I can feel it".
Albedo forced her way into the next gate, destroying it with a powerful spell. Despite their nature, it appeared as though they had not been used in ages and their devices, much like the gargoyles, were no obstacle to anybody with a small amount of power.
More laser traps ensued, signaling that their destination was ever closer. Albedo just casually jumped and ducked over them, displaying innate stretching abilities and flexibility which made her doppelganger subordinate gasp in awe.
"Splendid work lady Albedo. I can see why lord Ainz would want you as his wife" he boldly stated, completely oblivious.
"Please keep your remarks to yourself. This is no time for jokes. Ainz will want me for sure once we are done here, dont ever doubt that fact".
Bludigar'd-Bluden nodded in agreement, and in so doing he spotted an opening on the side of a large metallic surface. The light coming from the fissure seemed unnatural and unusually bright. Upon further inspection, Albedo and her companion could see someone or rather something clinging desperately at the edge of a mechanical device. They appeared to be a myconid-like monster covered in a slick layer of fluids. Their breathing seemed uneven, and their porous surface was getting progressively more wrinkled.
They moved cautiously into the next room through the fissure and slowly approached the creature; the room proved to be in reality nothing but a large cave filled to the ceiling with a series of interconnected tubes and organic constructs pulsating with life. The bright light they had seen shortly before then came from a large cocoon at its center, standing sliced and dripping with darkened fluids on a sea of putrescent water. Albedo noted how despite the murkiness of the water around it, the rest of the cave was pristine and every other little puddle around the cocoon was crystalline.
"So… is this the… guild base of the supreme beings here?" she spoke to no one in particular, gazing towards the upper floors of the cave, "you mean to tell me that after all I have been through, the sheer volume of work I had to put into this, all we have is a derelict? This place reeks of death, and not in a pleasant way".
"Perhaps it would be wise to interrogate this creature?" Bludigar'd-Bluden proposed, observing the myconid monster with mild interest "I can sense a faint aura albeit weak. It could prove to be useful to you, lady Albedo".
"How so? This creature is barely breathing" she noted, not intrigued enough from their presence to care "Look at this though. It looks like a remarkable device. I have never seen anything like it, not even within Nazarick's walls".
Albedo's eyes were looking at what appeared to be a large metallic object on the opposite side of the cave. It looked like a half-circle with several glowing rings intertwining at regular intervals. Moving closer to it, she noticed traces of someone's passage.
"Fingerprints?" a slight layer of sweat particles from a long time prior still lingered in a specific point, suspended in thin air almost as if trapped there by magic. Albedo tried touching the area affected by what she perceived as remnants of someone's presence, and sure enough a large virtual console materialized under her fingertips.
"What in the world is this? These words and symbols look like ancient scriptures from our world" she thought to herself, noticing multiple floating panels opening around the console "surely lord Momonga would know… no. I must know. I must act for his sake".
As her fingertips began gliding around the console, the myconid creature began grumbling weakly, as if it wanted to tell them something important. Yet neither Albedo nor her subordinate would listen…