Argland Council State, Hall of Legislation
"We were able to save a majority of the survivors. None of the dryads perished in the fighting, nor did any of the humans that we rescued after the initial assault. Arthur and I did good work in that aspect."
"Hmmm. And what of that information that you learned from the human, Svend? They claimed to have a patron who watched over them who went by the name of 'Blue Planet'. You were unable to follow up on it due to your weakened state. Am I understanding that correctly, Umbarth?"
"That would be right, Tsaindorcus. Pity too, I was hoping we could make it a party with some more players! Isn't that right, Arthur?"
The samurai grumbled, rubbing his face in exasperation. "What this man-child means is that it would have paid off to investigate further who this 'Blue Planet' was, but I felt we should return to the council state and give our full report. It would also give Umbarth a chance to rest so that we were not caught off guard."
Many of the councilmen assembled within the Hall of Legislation muttered discontentedly. They were forced to accept his answer, however, so they did not do much more than that. Arthur despised having to look up at the councilmen while they gave their report. Because of the way the hall was constructed, it meant he was in a lowered sort of podium area, while the councilmen sat on raised seats that were separated by marble railings. The dragon councilors sat on circular daises that they could lay on, housing their true forms.
Presently, all council members were accounted for in today's meeting. Arthur's return had been a hotly contested topic of debate when they saw him walk back in with Umbarth limping beside him. They only backed down when the human immortal showed off the [World Pact] tattoo on his arm.
Even then, they glared at him with distrust. His face was a stoic brick wall, not allowing any of his feelings to leak through. That was for the better since the only thing on his mind beyond the catastrophe of Tob was his family.
Keyleth must be getting the children settled in by now. I hope she takes them down to the markets while I'm out, that way I'm not a complete liar to my children.
He smirked at the thought but then winced when he recalled the disappointment that radiated off his wife when he told them they had to move back to Argland. She said nothing the whole time they were packing, but he could hear her unspoken questions nonetheless. He would make it up to them soon enough. He just had to get through today.
Tsaindorcus Vaison, the Platinum Dragon Lord, rumbled in thought. "You performed well in your duties, either way, you two. This 'Blue Planet' is a matter we can deliberate on in our next meeting. For now, I'd much rather focus on those undead which you found in the Forest. It seems our concerns about the Black Dragon have come to pass. He has begun the first stages of Ragnarok."
"But sire, surely that could not be!" One of the councilmen, a lion-man, cried out. "Magdor prophesied that Ragnarok would not happen until the day of 'the Black Sun'! There was no eclipse yet, nothing to herald its coming whatsoever! Nor have the Three Heirs appeared yet!"
Another councilman, a blond human, huffed. "And yet the Heavenly Dragon Lord reported that when he was scrying over the Forest of Tob, he saw nothing but darkness. When he approached a certain area, it felt like his skull would split in two if he didn't back off. Sometimes a 'Black Sun' is not always so literal."
"Even still, the world itself seems on edge. Lord Tsaindorcus, tell me, can we be sure that Ragnarok is not yet coming to pass? Surely we would have seen a much greater sign if that were the case."
"I… am uncertain. While I can not say Ishmael Magdor's prophecies are in any way accurate with their timing, their overall accuracy cannot be ignored. His visions are often shrouded in mystery and allegory. Regardless of what has come to pass, we cannot ignore the signs which present themselves before us."
Arthur watched the Platinum Dragon Lord shift on his dais. "What I can confirm is thus. I have reason to believe that the World Serpent may be preparing to move. The Deep Sea Dragon Lord spoke to me and said that there has been unusual seismic activity near the underwater empire's borders. Her Wild Magic has been able to do little in quelling it."
"T-that's absurd! What reason could Jormungandr have to move?! The only times he moves is to visit the other continent where his sibling resides and to smash all our envoy ships! What blasted reason would that oversized sea snake have for moving?!" Shouted the lion-man.
The demi-human wilted in his seat under the death glare of one of the dragon councilors. Suveria Myronsilk, the Blue Sky Dragon Lord, growled deeply from his chest. His coat of scales that gave him his title glittered with simmering anger.
"You would be wise to remember whom you speak of, councilman. The watchdog of the oceans has millennia of experience on either of us. He is no mere simpleton to be hurled insults at, nor is he one to take them lightly. His hearing pierces the earth deeply."
The other dragon counselors nodded in agreement. Arthur recalled them being his peers when he last took up a chair among them. From what he recalled, they were Omnaadsence Iculvuls, the Diamond Dragon Lord. Gessenvult Yukleelilith, the Obsidian Dragon Lord. Zalazilkalia Nahaeunt, the Wyrm Dragon Lord. And, of course, Suveria Myronsilk, the Blue Sky Dragon Lord. Tsaindorcus Vaison led the dragon counselors, unifying them for the great project that was the Argland Council State.
Of the five counselors, only the Platinum Dragon Lord wielded Wild Magic. The other four were all born post the advent of Tier Magic with the Greed Kings, meaning they could only learn Tier Magic to earn their title of 'lord'. Currently, the highest tier any of them reached was tier seven. They were young by the reckoning of dragons, so once they truly reached an ancient age, they could learn Tier Magic which rivaled that of a player.
Even then, they're pale imitations of their predecessors. I could cut through them all like carving a cake… whereas the True Dragon Lords… The Storm Dragon Lord felt like actual PvP, no, even stronger than that. The amount of times he nearly got me...
Tsaindorcus's voice shook him out of his thoughts. "Arthur, what have you to add to all of this? Your knowledge of Yggdrasil far surpasses our own. Was Jormungandr's current behavior considered 'normal' back in your homeland?"
"Truthfully? Jormungandr encircled the entirety of Midgard with his length. He was a hidden world enemy, something that only players who knew of him would be able to fight. He did give some incredible materials when defeated, and many players farmed-er, killed him over and over again. There were times this created events in Midgard where his movements could uproot rare and valuable items across the world."
"Is that so? Were it not for his previous actions against us, I would have suggested we send out more fleets to survey the ocean floor for these items. Alas, if it were true, I imagine the emperor would have already scoured the depths for any traces of them."
Arthur chuckled ruefully. "He always was crafty, but not even he dared to mess with Jormungandr. No player worth their salt would do so on their own, not unless they had the backing of a full guild."
"Which does bring us to that other, more pressing matter," Zalazilkali added, "The Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown. They have been quite active as of late. Who is to say they were not responsible for the 'blackout' that Kennisdat experienced? What if they are in league with the Black Dragon?"
"They have been present in almost every area where he or his minions were spotted…" Gessenvult agreed, "It could be possible but my instincts disagree. Pragmatism dictates that if that were so, they would have done far more damage than what we've found. They are not lacking in physical or magical might."
"You assume that all those groups we've discovered are united. The Argonauts, those wanderers in Tob, and the sirs which appeared in that backwater village, Carne."
"Better to believe they are together than separate. Can you imagine how many world items would be circulating if that were the case? It would be a catastrophe that buried anything the Greed Kings could have ever thrown at us."
A horrified silence fell over the Hall of Legislation at the thought. Everyone present knew full well the power of world items, and to have so many all at once from different parties would bring about Ragnarok faster than the Black Dragon could.
Arthur was inclined to believe Gessenvult's reasoning. The primary reason was that even at the height of Yggdrasil's glory days, the strongest guilds had, at most, two or three in their possession. To have so many different groups of players with their world items, when it had never been the case before for any of the player summonings, stretched the fabric of belief too far.
Something did nag at the back of the samurai's mind though. It felt like a tidbit he'd forgotten, in much the same way his finer details about Ainz Ooal Gown were. It frustrated him to no end. He'd need to go back to his library and dig up whatever info he had on enemy guilds when he had the chance.
Tsaindorcus hummed in thought. "These are dark tidings indeed. Though if I might propose, perhaps it would be wise to… reach out to them. We make a similar offer of peace as we did with Arthur, though I doubt we would be able to convince them of a [World Pact]."
That made the immortal human scowl. "Yeah, 'convince'. That is a fine choice of words to use. I'm liable to agree since a large group of players like that cannot be strong-armed into any sort of agreement like that. You'd need a hell of a bargaining chip or multiple."
"Then that is a matter we shall discuss for tomorrow's meeting. This has dragged on long enough, and I would have us break for midday meal. We must rest, we must ponder, and we will take action. This council is dismissed."
Everyone present began to head for the front door, conversations between council members filling the air now that they were no longer pressed for their time. Arthur scratched his beard, wondering what the next steps would be to handle this situation. He guessed in the future, he may be used to seek out the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown and establish their intentions. He doubted he'd be sent alone for fear that he could be ganked by hostile players.
Barring any immediate threats, Tsaindorcus will be cautious in his approach. The damn hypocrite may think he does not need spies, but I do not doubt that he will have Kenisdart scrying again for more info. When did my life get so complicated?
Umbarth's arm wrapped around his shoulders. "Don't worry too much, man. I've known you long enough to know when you're getting stuck in your head, so knock it off. We'll get it figured out. World Spirit be willing, the finer details will sort themselves out. Why don't we grab lunch? A couple of new restaurants have popped up since you left! Could even bring the wife and kids."
Arthur brushed aside the dragon lord's arm. "Not today. I need to check up on Keyleth and the little ones. It's been too sudden a change and I want to give them a chance to adapt. Besides, I owe Keyleth an apology for getting dragged into this mess."
"Pfft, this isn't exactly new territory for her. I get what you're saying though. Well, when you get it all figured out, we'll head out and grab lunch, all of us! It'll be my treat to welcome you back."
Strangely, Arthur found himself considering the offer. While he still heavily distrusted Umbarth's associates and how they might be using him, he felt no sinister intent. It genuinely seemed like an offer to eat and catch up.
"…We'll see then. In the meantime, I'm returning to the house they gave us. I'll see you tomorrow."
They had just stepped outside the main door to the Hall of Legislation when they felt it. A sudden jolt that shook the ground. Arthur and Umbarth steadied themselves easily, but a couple of the mortal councilors tripped. It might have been amusing if it were not for another, more violent jolt that came three seconds later.
The pillars flanking the Hall's entrance cracked, the immaculate marble unable to resist the powerful motions. A third jolt made them crack further, startling the dragon lords leaving the Hall. The frequency of the jolts increased.
"What the hell, is this an earthquake?" Arthur shouted. Heavy Wild Magic enchantments placed over the whole city should have prevented such a thing from occurring in the area. That confused Arthur to no end since it was happening nonetheless.
"That is impossible! I made certain the enchantments were correct, so for this to occur-" The Platinum Dragon Lord started only to be cut off.
"Tsaindorcus, look! Near the shoreline of the city! It is receding! We must get the people to safety!" Suveria Myronsilk said, pointing towards the far end of Argland.
A dragon's eyesight was far better than a human's even if they were immortal. Combine that with the fact the Hall of Legislation was situated on a leveled mountaintop, it took him a moment to see what the Blue Sky Dragon Lord was referring to.
Near the shores where Argland's ship harbor was, the tides unnaturally drew back further than they should have. Several shallow-water fish were left gasping for air, jumping fruitlessly in place. Whole ships moored at the dock sank into the exposed sand, stranded. Their crews yelled orders at one another, the workers jumping overboard to try and push the ships to safety if possible.
It would mean nothing. Where the new shoreline began, Arthur saw a whirlpool that could swallow entire fleets. It steadily opened like an all-seeing eye, a fervor of power that few beings could scarcely match in the New World. For one of the few times in his life, Arthur felt his stomach plummet into the soles of his feet.
The others could sense it too. Umbarth's jaw dropped when he realized what was happening. Tsaindorcus's eyes widened in surprise, and the other dragon counselors' scales flared up. The mortal counselors turned white like sheets at the implications of his arrival.
An explosion from the whirlpool caught the attention of people deeper in the city. People shouted in terror, attempting to make it back to the inner districts where their homes were. Items forsaken in the fray, people pushing past one another in a panic.
From the whirlpool arose an all too familiar head, colossal with a mouth that could swallow the mountaintop whole. Amber eyes like searchlights bathed the streets with the world serpent's gaze, darting about as they scanned the whole city. His coiling length rose so far above the city that a fraction of his neck blotted out the sun in a straight line.
Waterfalls fell from between his scales, dousing the streets in impromptu floods. A low rumble from within the serpent's throat caused the marble roads to quake, cracking beneath the pressure of his mere voice. Despite all of this, Arthur knew that this was barely a one-one thousandth of his full size. It was the equivalent of a person sticking only their jaw above the water while they swam.
Eventually, Jormungandr, the World Serpent, Bane of the Thunder God Thor, Watchdog of the Oceans, settled his eyes on his true prize. Those swirling discs for eyes focused on the counselors of the Argland Council State. With considerable slowness and grace, the mighty beast slithered his head through the air until his snout was just barely passing the border of the leveled mountaintop.
A stench of rotten fish and salt from his gullet stained the air, gagging the samurai player. Another rumble gurgled from the world enemy's throat. Arthur got the distinct feeling that Jormungandr may have noticed his reaction and found it amusing.
So he finally comes to us after all these years. He would have words with us.
Jormungandr exhaled deeply. "I thought I might find you all here. Those who gather in solidarity do so with a bird's eye view."
Nobody said anything at first. His voice vibrated the air itself, making the samurai's ears ring. It was difficult to hear anything else over the scrapping din of Jormungandr. Arthur felt rooted in place, a blast of memories filling his mind. With the World Serpent right in front of him, vivid recollections of his guild and his farming this very same boss came to light. He never imagined that the consequences of their repeated ventures might come back to bite him.
Glowing light nearly blinded Arthur. "Ah, and you have brought a godling here with you as well. Arthur Kalman, who lived on his lonely island adrift in the sea. Arthur Kalman, who raised his mate and kin away from the woes of the world. Arthur Kalman, who slew me a thousand times in the name of his progression."
The serpent sighed, closing his eyes. "You have nothing to fear, little godling. My brother and I are not one to hold grudges, not when we have been afforded a chance at a peaceful life. To bear any importance unto the past when there is the future to concern ourselves with would be a grave mistake."
"Is that why you have broken your animosity today? You wish to discuss matters of the future?" Omnaadsence Iculvuls, the Diamond Dragon Lord, asked.
"Indeed, dragon. Recent events have compelled me to ponder my relationships with others who inhabit this world. Though I strive for peace, whether through mercy or punishment, I find myself in a situation that may prevent the completion of this goal. I have decided it is time to make amends… and pass along requests as well."
A mortal counselor, emboldened by the dragon lord's bravery, stepped forward. "M-my! The stories of your t-terrible size and immense s-size do not give you justice! T-truly, you are an illustrious servant of t-this world!"
"I have little patience for either flattery or groveling, human. My efforts to move without upending this world came with extreme planning. I will not have my time dulled by such idletries."
"What he means, World Serpent," Tsaindorcus started, "Is that you would not have come here without serving another purpose. Why choose now to seek us out? Why condemn our envoys to the depths and then visit us within our own city?"
Now the serpent was visibly amused, baring his column-sized teeth in a gruesome smile. "The irony is not lost upon me, Son of the Emperor. First, I shall make my amends, and then I shall pass along my request. It will be to both our benefits, of that I assure you."
His jaw opened a crack, blasting them with his foul breath. A forked tongue deserving of his name, slimy and wretched and pitted with bulbous taste buds, darted out. On the tip was a black, metallic object with hints of green. It was deposited at the feet of Tsaindorcus Vaison.
A clawed gauntlet dark as midnight stared back at the dragon, with emerald gems embedded into the knuckles. An eternal flame blazed on the forearm, with yellow citrines carefully inlaid and carved to resemble slitted eyes. The sharp angles could easily cut anyone who mishandled it, a certain malevolence pooling off the piece of armor.
Those glistening plates on which it was constructed reminded Arthur of the very same scales that adorned a dragon, a comparison he wasn't the only one making based on the pained grimaces of the other dragons present. Just staring at the gauntlet filled Arthur with icy foreboding. A primal instinct within him demanded that he take the gauntlet and shove it back down Jormungandr's throat.
"At long last, that which your kind has coveted since Terminus, the end of the great lords' rule. The Defiance of the First Flame, the world item of the Devourer of the Nine Worlds. I have safeguarded this gauntlet for millennia, but as of today shall no longer. It is now yours to protect."
The Platinum Dragon Lord did not pick up the world item. He gazed with a somber expression or a dragon's version of one. "…My mother spoke of this. She told me of how the Devourer dropped this while his body dissolved to ash from my father's final attack. To see it here in the flesh…"
"See it and rejoice, for it is yours. Consider it a token of my goodwill, fit to be its new guardians. I do not forsake such power lightly, not unless I was certain it was the right path."
"Something else has changed, hasn't it?" Arthur suddenly asked. He stepped toward the World Serpent. "I know this gauntlet. I had only heard of it, but it's known to me. Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
Another flash of memories came by. Defiance of the First Flame was a world item shrouded in secrecy and near-myth by Yggdrasil standards. For many years, all anyone knew of it was the name that player explorers had found. It wasn't until Arthur's old guild, Illicit Sinners, dug a little deeper that they discovered more of its nature.
From the info they had, it was a world item of extraordinary power. It could absorb a near-infinite amount of eternal fire, one of Yggdrasil's strongest classifications of elemental flame, and redirect it as pleased. It could even generate a sizable amount on its own, but that was not where its power ended.
Sadly, the account of its secondary abilities was spotty at best, but the rumors stated it could summon a full gear kit of divine-tier equipment known as the "Dragon Armaments." There may have been a third ability, but that knowledge was lost to them. Now that it was in Argland's possession, they could confirm the full scope of abilities.
Jormungandr snarled, his eyes narrowing into twin beams of outrage. "Do not take me for a fool, godling. I do not hold grudges, but I have not forgotten the pain you inflicted upon me a thousand times. 'What have I done?' you ask. Listen and you shall learn."
The titanic serpent raised his head, each muscle groaning from incomprehensible strength. The samurai thought that he'd doomed them all by speaking up. There would be nothing they could do at that point if he chose to unleash his full power, not at point-blank rage.
"Hear me and obey, land walkers. I have gifted you this gauntlet for I believe that an alliance is mutually beneficial. A new wave of godlings has descended upon this world, carving their path into the annals of its history. You will seek them out and provide them a gift just as I have with you. You will do so by any means necessary, lest we all fall beneath the shadow of the Black Dragon."
"My sight has been… subdued. Whatever foul power the Devourer possesses now, it has blinded me to his movements. I shall not risk a surprise attack on my being while he eludes me. To that end, we will gather for the twilight of the gods. A meeting must be ordained."
"New players have indeed arrived then? Of how many have come this time? Is it six like the Great Gods, or eight like the Greed Kings? Could it be an impossible number like thirteen, those of the Demon Gods?" The Platinum councilor inquired, looking high above to meet Jormungandr's eyes.
Everyone squirmed at the possible answer. Arthur doubted it was such a large guild like Seraphim or Trinity, as they had capped guilds of a hundred players. So many all at once would have spelled extinction for the entire planet if they went out, so he doubted that it was them. It was likely a smaller guild or clan that was moving around. Maybe Kitty Kingdom or Divine Crusaders? Could it be the Dwarven Trade Federation or Lizard Underground? Perhaps-
"Forty-one. Forty-one godlings have made landfall in this confluence. Forty-one that you will acquaint yourselves with. You, Arthur Kalman, shall serve as the mediator. Ainz Ooal Gown will be brought into this alliance of ours."
One could practically hear a pin drop on that vast mountaintop. Umbarth's mouth opened and closed repeatedly. The dragon councilors blinked rapidly, the Wyrm Dragon Lord cleaning his ears to make sure he heard properly. Arthur himself felt like all the wind was knocked out of him in one punch.
Tsaindorcus, thankfully, recovered and asked the question present in their minds. "How do you expect us to accomplish such a task? To have forty-one players to deal with all at once… the emperor, he had mentioned-no, I cannot consider his omens now. How do we proceed?"
"I recall an adage that was taught to me by the last of the Titan Lords: Family is where the heart lies. One of Ainz Ooal Gown's number misses his quite terribly, and compelled action on his part to alleviate that pain. You will mend the hole in his heart. Aid that silver paladin and his sway will land you in Ainz Ooal Gown's good graces."
Jormungandr slowly began to recede his neck to the whirlpool. However, before he fully submerged himself, he paused. His voice echoed across the entire nation of Argland when he next spoke.
"The prophet, Magdor Ishamael, has abandoned his post. The dragon empress summons him to perform his duty, and they shall wander the earth together. They are joined by an elemental sent by a comrade of mine. Do what you must to fulfill our pact. I will not be disappointed."
Then his island-sized head sank beneath the waves. The tides returned to normal and the people of Argland gained back some semblance of peace. Those who fled to their homes were cautiously returning to the streets, glancing at the mountaintop.
So much had happened in such a short period that Arthur had to process it all. Any moment he half-expected to wake up back in his bed next to his wife on their island, getting ready for the day. All of it would be chalked up to a feverish dream and they would laugh it off together over breakfast.
Umbarth broke the illusion by laughing nervously, brushing back his hair. "Well, I, um, that was… nice? Hey Tsa, what was that all about with the whole "mend the heart" deal? Please don't tell me that's what I think it means."
Arthur looked quizzically at the Brightness Dragon Lord. When he turned to see the Platinum Dragon Lord, he noted a thundering, frustrated gleam in his eye. It quickly passed, and the large dragon sighed tiredly.
"Unfortunately, it would appear the World Serpent demands an incredible price for his 'gift'. We cannot pass up on this opportunity. His counsel has proven invaluable, and he has shone a light upon this dark road ahead of us. I contemplated how we might utilize Arthur for the future, but now it seems another path lies at this fork in the road."
He scooped up the gauntlet. "I will return this to my base of operations and store it with the treasures of the Greed Kings. The protections of their old guild base shall suffice. In the meantime, the dragon counselors shall work overtime to gather whatever information they can on Ainz Ooal Gown. I had hoped it would not come to this, but we may need… spies. I will not risk Kenisdart anymore than I have to."
"Umbarth, I am entrusting a mission to you and Arthur. You must fetch someone for me who will be instrumental in what comes next. Jormungandr has declared our resident player the 'mediator', but to even have a chance at an audience with Ainz Ooal Gown we will need another to utilize the Well and tear open the Veil. There is no other way."
Umbarth groaned. "Seriously? Goddammit, can't we just call in a favor with your mom? Surely if it's for Ragnarok, she'll make an exception and come back to Argland for just a bit."
"You know as well as I that she will not. She is set upon her mission, and so am I. There is no reconciling that. For the good of all, you two must bring him in. If we are to have hope of tearing the Veil, then we need the Well, and we need at least two members of the royal family for this."
Without another word, Tsaindorcus took to the sky, the buffet of his wings taking him to his destination. His scales glittered in the afternoon sun until he was but a blip on the horizon. And then he was gone altogether.
Arthur shook his head. "Really? So soon? Who is so important that I will leave behind my family again? Umbarth, who is it exactly that we are supposed to fetch? Couldn't we just send them a [Message]?"
"Nah, man. Who we're going to get isn't reachable by a [Message]. Better pack your bags 'cause we're going on a field trip. We need to go catch the most insufferable asshole of all time. First stop is one of the old entrances to the Underdark, close to the center of the continent. We need to find Tsa's uncle, the brother of the late Dragon Emperor. The one and only Deep Darkness Dragon Lord, Damrosdam Vaison."
Light. There was nothing but bright light which surrounded her. It flowed through her and around her and against her. Tiny little motes of brilliant hues, ranging from sapphire blue to jasper yellow flitted about in the air. A great void expanded around her, running for kilometers in all directions as far as the eye could see.
Beneath her feet, there was the gentle caressing of waves. It lapped at her soles, a great sea that she hovered above without a care in the world. Within its tranquil waters, she could see luminous shapes that gracefully swam in its mysterious depths, inviting her to come and play with them. She was tempted to. She reached out a hand to join them.
Her hand stopped just short of the water's surface. Wait. How did she get here? What was this place that she found herself in? Who was she?
Ripples like gems disturbed the water's surface. The great shapes grew restless now. Why won't she come and play with them? They could show her magnificent wonders that only a god was deserving of. No mortal of flesh and blood could come here. Only their souls were allowed. Her soul shone the brightest amongst them all. She must come and play!
A subtle PLUNK off in the distance caught her attention. When she turned to look, she saw something mighty rise from the depths of the sea. A hulking mass of twisted limbs and silver leaves grew from the water. Roots slithered out across the waves, roiling the sea and uplifting all manner of fickle beasts that hid away from her sight.
Before her stood a tree of glistening bark, metallic gold in its luster. Silver leaves gently swayed in a nonexistent wind, enticing her to look up between the branches. From within the tree's leaves, she spotted nine fruits of glimmering iridescent skin. The lushness of the greenery and the sturdy, thick trunk identified it as an ash tree. How did she know that?
An urge filled her to go up and admire the tree. She wished to pluck those nine remaining fruits and devour them all. Now that she was thinking about it, she did seem rather hungry. Perhaps… a quick bite to eat wouldn't hurt.
Invisible feet began to propel her towards the tree. Every step set in motion a series of ripples across the water, revealing a variety of images that did not make sense to her. In one image, she saw a young man traveling a dusty road accompanied by two women, one his wife and the other his daughter. Both women had animalistic features but were nonetheless humanoid enough. A shield was strapped to his arm.
Another was of a similar scenario. Three women accompanied the man this time, all three seemingly annoying the man to no end, even as they progressively lived in luxury. The man, dressed in a green adventurer's outfit, appeared ready to tear his hair out. Another image showed a little blond girl in a military outfit, hovering over a battlefield. She decimated enemy soldiers by the dozens with only a rifle and a strange, box-like contraption strapped to her midsection.
One last scene showed a hollow-eyed boy in a modern tracksuit, lying down in bed while he was comforted by a silver-haired woman. A floating cat watched from nearby, the woman speaking something to the boy. Their words were lost to the swelling of the sea. Harmless nothings which would not come to pass.
More and more of these images materialized while she walked. By the time she reached the tree, she was nearly smothered by the weight of those scenes. Some played directly in her ear, voices of heroes and villains alike vying for her attention. She did not let this distract her. She reached up to clutch one of the iridescent fruit.
IT IS NOT YOUR TIME, DAUGHTER OF THE HARBINGER. YOUR FRIENDS YET CALL YOU BACK.
Out of the branches rose an indescribably beautiful bird with flared wings. A majestic and towering specimen that made her no larger than a mouse in a field. Beneath its inscrutable gaze, she could sense a primordial but savage wisdom directed at her. The bird, an eagle she deduced, folded its wings while it stared her down.
Her hand felt like it was boiling. She immediately snatched it back and noticed a pressure around her waist tugging her from behind. The pressure increased by several magnitudes, yanking her away from the tall tree that was strangely familiar to her now. Every centimeter she was forced back, a stream of memories made their way to her, revealing who she was and the person she had been.
She had died. Devoured whole by the maw of a black dragon. Slowly crushed by its muscular gullet and unable to breathe, dragged down into acid-filled depths. There had been no escape for her then, no way to claw her way out of the darkness, no matter how she screamed.
And so she screamed now, the torrent of memories too much to bear all at once. She whirled on that which tugged at her, demanding to know what it was that was bringing her back. Her rage dissipated at what she saw. A figure of ethereal form held aloft what looked like a chalice, several dozen smaller spheres hovering about it.
To her, that figure possessed the same sort of iridescence as the fruit of the tree. It brimmed with life and happiness, but also sorrow and anxiety. The latter emotions, an irksome brown that stained the glowing colors of the figure, were held in check by an invisible force.
That being was an entire world, encapsulated by the many moons that orbited it. It was a beautiful, proud being, and it was calling her back. She had no choice but to obey. Soon everything narrowed into a pinprick of light, rushing towards her at breakneck speed. Whispers from the world and moons reached her ears, imperceptible at first but becoming clearer as she was pulled closer and closer.
And then she breached that pinprick of light, leaving the entire sea behind.
Throne Room of Nazarick
Ankoro Mocchi Mochi awoke gasping, squinting her eyes at the harsh light of the Crystal chandeliers that hung above her. A pervasive chill ran over her fur, penetrating deeper than it should have allowed. Loud cheering assaulted her ears, making her flinch from the sudden noise. That she was aware of this told her two things about her situation.
One. She was alive and well, sitting in the Throne Room of Nazarick on the Tenth Floor. That everything wasn't a wreck meant that the guild had succeeded in driving back Nidhoggr. She breathed a sigh of relief at knowing they won despite having a literal World Enemy appear on their doorstep.
Two. She was stark naked, sitting on the floor right before the Throne of Kings. She immediately drew into herself, trying to preserve her modesty as best she could. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't care, but the entirety of Ainz Ooal Gown was assembled there, watching with wide-eyed anticipation at her.
"Hey Aunt Ankoro, are you doing okay?" Lupusregina meekly asked from beside her, equally as naked. Ankoro couldn't help but stare a bit, surprised at seeing her "niece" so casually waiting. The NPC was downcast, smiling sadly at her. Guilt was written all over her face, likely from the way she was killed by Nidhoggr.
Without thinking about it, Ankoro drew her in for a hug. "You did good out there. No need to look so by-the-dumps, kiddo."
She must have been revived at the same time that I was. But wait, where is Suratan? He died before we did.
The bulky body of her brother, Mekongawa, swooped in from the crowd. His wide wings covered her and Lupusregina. He hugged them both tightly, not saying a word. A thick cloth wrapped around them, preserving their modesty further. Lupusregina squeaked in happiness, having received affection from the two of them. The werewolf scout jolted when she felt wet drops hit her shoulder.
She embraced her brother back just as fiercely. "I'm here, big guy. What, you wouldn't last that long without me huh? Didn't realize you'd miss your big sister so badly."
It was an admittedly poor attempt at humor, but it worked. Mekongawa laughed shakily. "Nah… I don't think I would've without either of you. When that bastard ate you, when he smashed Lupusregina as he did… I thought… I didn't know what to think!"
Her brother, the beast king, one of Nazarick's top brawlers, the most theatrically charming of them all, fully broke down. He openly wept on her shoulder. She could feel a few awkward coughs from the crowd of guildmates, likely wondering if they should be around for such a private moment. It wasn't until she heard a familiar voice clear their throat that her attention was drawn away from the small reunion.
Momonga stood up by the Throne of Kings, handing off Hygegia's Chalice to Pandora's Actor, the world item used to resurrect her. She was somewhat shocked that her friend would pull out such a powerful item to bring her back, but she supposed the circumstances did warrant the need for it.
Given she was killed by Nidhoggr, a world enemy, it was possible he could prevent her resurrection through traditional means. While she had foolishly left behind one of her self-resurrection items, she feared even if she did have one on her, it would not have worked with the way that she died.
But then again, I think I saw Shalltear manage to come back after she got blasted. Bah! I was just being careless. It won't happen again!
A deep THUD from by the throne caught her attention, as well as her guildmates. She happened to catch a glimpse of Suratan, freshly revived as well. He was wrapped up in a cloak, smoking what looked like a cigar. He gave her a head nod in greeting when they made eye contact before focusing on Momonga.
"It is good now that we were able to confirm that Hygegia's Chalice worked as intended in this world," Momonga started, his voice curiously calm. "Ankoro, do you feel any sort of weakness in your body? Perhaps a loss in your levels?"
She tilted her head at him. "Nope. Feel alright, maybe a little hungry after everything that happened. After I went down, did anyone else take some bad hits? Oh shit, did you guys manage to recover some of my items?"
"We gathered up what we could," Coup De Grace piped up from the crowd. "After we defeated Nidhoggr, we found your daggers and Gleipnir in the remains of what was his stomach. Thankfully they were undamaged."
"His stomach? How'd you guys manage to get into his stomach? Wait, is his corpse just sitting right above the guildbase?!"
"No, he exploded."
Ankoro had to do a double take at the casual comment, but the confirming hums from her friends told her that Coup De Grace, as always, spoke true. She shook her head in amazement.
"Then I guess that means the green-eyed bastard is finally out of our hair. Never would have thought this whole situation would culminate in a fight with one of Yggdrasil's world enemies."
Already Momonga shook his head at her, dispelling the relief she was beginning to feel. "Unfortunately not. Shortly after Rubedo and Gargantua destroyed his body, he reformed as that immaterial shade that you saw the first time in Tob. Whatever the point of this fight was here at the Tomb, this is far from over."
"But why?" Blue Planet asked. The Seilenoi looked the most agitated, his face flush with anger. "He managed to sneak up on all of us on our home turf! He assumed his true form and pretty much leveled a third of Tob and the whole surface level of Nazarick! He killed four of our own in the blink of an eye! What was the point of all of that if he didn't intend to end the fight then and there?!"
Blue Planet's question managed to get the other guildmates riled up, speaking amongst themselves and drowning the room in their worries. To Ankoro's sensitive ears, it almost hurt hearing so many dissenting opinions on what Nidhoggr was doing at Nazarick, and alongside the one known as the Weeping King no less.
"Does he have any other enemy players out there working with him?"
"If the Devourer of the Nine Worlds was here, what other world enemies are out there?"
"God, it almost felt like he was toying with us! Was he just waiting to make a final strike and we barely made it out with a win?!"
"Goddammit! Please don't tell me we have to go on lockdown again! I can't take being cooped up in the tomb anymore!"
Several times, Ankoro saw Momonga try to reign in the players of Nazarick. He would wave his hands to catch their attention. Since they were not in the usual meeting room, he lacked the mallet he would use to settle down the conversation. She watched him closely, noting the mounting frustration in his body language that was normally not there.
It wasn't until she heard Temperance's vicious tone that the mood in the room took a turn for the worst. "Hey Bellriver, mind explaining why the hell the Devourer kept referring back to you during that battle, especially towards the end? 'Et Tu, Bellriver?' Was that some sort of sleeper agent phrase?!"
The gibbering mouther jabbed a finger at Temperance. "What? Absolutely not, you moron! I'm not some sleeper agent for the Devourer! If I were, wouldn't an opportune time to turn against you guys have been during the battle itself?"
"Maybe that's what he wants us to think! Maybe you're going to slowly be corrupted over time, waiting to betray us all when our guard is lowest and deal a blow from within the tomb! You don't think it's weird he first claimed that he had something to do with you coming back to life, and now he called you out specifically here? Seriously?!"
Now Blue Planet got in between the two of them. "You got some nerve, Temperance. Maybe Nidhoggr knocked you around harder than you thought when he shot you off his shoulder. Might explain why you have a few screws loose!"
"Oh please! You think I want to consider one of us being the Devourer's bitch boy? We saw how well that turned out for what's his face out there! I'll be damned if anyone of us ends up the same way either."
Temperance looked around at all those assembled. "This bastard has been harassing us since day one! Every time we turn around and think we're safe, either he or one of his goons is waiting for us! And now he's trying to involve Bellriver in his conspiracy somehow? Doesn't that smell fishy to any of you? Doesn't it seem strange that a world enemy is focusing on one of us so hard like that?!"
Blue Planet was dangerously close to Temperance's face now. "Not. Another. Word. He's just trying to get in our heads. All he's spouted is nothing but lies, and you're falling for it! It's just another scheme! Another trick to-to-"
"To what?! He's already in your head! Ever since the Grover kid died, it's been nothing but the Devourer in your thoughts! You cannot tell me with a straight face that after what happened today, you seriously think it's a good idea to let Bellriver roam around! It's incredibly stupid, and I expected better out of you!"
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone was startled into silence by the sudden booming baritone of Momonga, his voice amplified through magic. He had stamped the butt of the guild staff against the floor too, the metallic ding echoing across the throne room.
However, Ankoro suspected it was not the noise that made everyone comply, but rather the fact that Momonga of all people was intervening with such frustration in his voice. Even as his undead nature worked to keep calm, his free hand shook with passion.
"Regardless of whether Nidhoggr or the Devourer or whatever else he may call himself had something to do with Bellriver coming, we must not forget that he is ultimately still our friend. Temperance, I have heard your concerns, and I will act to address them in time. For now though, to behave rashly would be the height of folly. Our entire worldview has been turned upside down, and we must think clearly before proceeding."
"He does have a point though, Boss," Suratan piped in, taking a long drag from his cigar. "Bellriver may be acting fine now, but who's to say he doesn't act up later? Gotta be some way we take care of it."
Yamaiko was fidgeting with her oversized hands. "We can't just lock him up. Bellriver hasn't done anything weird as of late. It's just… the way he was brought here was strange, that's all. Much as I don't appreciate the way Temperance said it, we have to worry about it, Blue Planet."
Blue Planet looked scandalized. "But-but this is Bellriver we're talking about here! He's one of the most level-headed, trustworthy people I know! He would never betray us. So what if he died? He's here now, and screw the Devourer if he is responsible."
Bellriver rested a hand on Blue Planet's shoulder. "It's okay man, I get it. If it were me, I'd be suspicious too. I don't know how I got here or why, or what the Devourer has to do with it, but I do know this: As I am now, I would never stab any of you in the back. That being said, I don't think it's a good idea either to let me roam free."
"But you haven't-"
"I haven't done anything yet. I feel myself. I have my mental faculties. I have full control of my body. Who's to say that the Devourer didn't implant anything in my soul or whatever when he brought me back?"
Then the gibbering mouther turned to Momonga. "Whatever it takes to clear myself, I'll do it. If I have to serve probation or go into solitary confinement or take some sort of exam to prove my bearings, consider it done. I will say though that if the Devourer did have something to do with this, he's an idiot. All of us together managed to kill him, and damn did it feel good to do so."
"Yeah! All of us together drove back Ygg's final boss!" Cuttlefish jumped in. "Bellriver was helping out too! Circumstances are weird, but we at least know he didn't stab us in the back then!"
Tigris Euphrates was nodding along as well. "Yeah, yeah, that's fair. But still, that doesn't answer the question of why the Devourer chose to attack us now. What's an endgame boss doing in what's essentially our prologue? Wouldn't the trope be that we were forced to lose? Rebuild from the ground up and become stronger for the next time?"
There were mutters of agreement. Ankoro could feel the cogs in everyone's heads turning, thinking desperately for an answer as to why Nidhoggr attacked the guild base. She had a couple of thoughts, but she didn't feel comfortable enough voicing them. It would only give power to those ideas.
Ancient One, collected as ever, spoke up. "From what I can discern, Nidhoggr's plans have been premeditated for some time. Given what he has admitted and what we have seen, it is clear that his agenda extends back an extremely long time. For all we know, this battle could have been the culmination of centuries of careful planning, only executable by striking us directly. It may appear brazen by our standards, but Punitto Moe has always said that to 'get the other party's attention, sometimes you have to strike first."
Punitto Moe nodded appreciatively. "Adding onto that, I see a couple of different strategic advantages for him attacking us first. It's obvious he was waiting for us specifically, either antagonizing or drawing in other players who knew of us or had some sort of connection. We can't just ignore how he's manipulated people like that to get our attention. He had an army waiting to take us down, and based on the reports Nubo gave us about the Weeping King, he was conquering other places for manpower."
"So what would be the endgame here, you two? I have a few ideas of my own, but I'd prefer to hear yours first before I discuss any sort of theories," Momonga asked, taking a seat on the Throne of Kings.
"The first strategy is that the Devourer wanted to strike in his true form to force us into hiding. I could foresee him hedging on our cautious nature and us agreeing to stay in Nazarick to build our strength, which in turn gives him time to run amok on the surface and finish tidying up any last-minute plans he has. It could be viable but it has too many 'risks' associated with it. He's essentially betting on us staying in Nazarick with our tails between our legs. I don't like how nonchalant he was about dying either. For all we know, that body was just an avatar to test us and his real body is hiding out somewhere."
"And what about your other theory?"
"The second most prominent one is the exact opposite. He attacked us in the hopes that we'd be forced to retaliate. For whatever reason, he expects that we work to expand our reach and increase our strength. Given the players we've encountered and the fact his existence confirms a world enemy made it here too, he could be betting on us running into someone else and wiping ourselves out."
Warrior Takemikazuchi huffed, crossing his arms. "No offense Punitto, but don't you think that second strategy is a bit… far-fetched? Who in their right mind would want to mess with a guild like ours and then hope we give chase? It's tantamount to suicide."
"If I am understanding my counterpart correctly, it may be that Nidhoggr seeks to have us draw out other similar forces. It could be that he has many enemies who, like us, remained in obscurity for however long they've been here. By provoking us to mobilize in full, we would undoubtedly stir up trouble." Ancient One clarified.
"Yeah, that makes sense. We're his bloodhounds. Strength invites challenge, and who better to invite it than one of Yggdrasil's top ten guilds? I'd wager that he wants us to create as much chaos as possible for his own purposes. Make a smokescreen to distract from his end goal."
"So… Then we just need to stay home, right?" Jo-Bro asked, his tail swishing nervously. "We get to be all comfy in the tomb and rest up for round two. We don't act stupid and gather our wits. Play it smart, keep it simple, all that."
"Seriously, you want us to go into another lockdown?!" Temperance ridiculed, "It's clear that us sticking our heads in the sand is exactly what he wants! First time I could understand, but if this bastard knows us as much as he claims he does, then we're dancing in the palm of his hand!"
"So what? We go out into the real world where he can pick us off at his leisure too? At least in Nazarick, we have World Protection and all the built-in defenses. Unless he comes here in the flesh again like he did, no army is gonna overtake Nazarick. The Eight Guild Alliance Invasion is proof of that."
"Alright, that's enough out of both of you. We cannot afford to become so divided that we turn on each other. By doing so, we will already face defeat. Only by sticking together and making a choice as one can we ensure that we survive this," Momonga said, raising his hands in a placating manner.
As always, his words had a calming effect on those present. The guildmates settled down, though their anxiety persisted. Stares of suspicion were shared amongst the denizens of the tomb, a seed of doubt planted in their ranks from the events of the day. Ankoro couldn't stand it, nestling closer into her brother's comforting embrace.
Nidhoggr was nothing like how he was described in the legends. At least in the Poetic and Prose Eddas, he was just a trapped animal eating away at the roots of Yggdrasil. Here though, he's almost like… Loki.
She looked into her brother's eyes, mouthing "What do you want to do?". He shrugged helplessly, which prompted a surprised look from Lupusregina. At this moment, Ankoro didn't care to preserve whatever image of "all-powerful" her niece or any of the other NPCs might have of them. Though to be fair, she was certain that image was likely broken the moment she and Suratan were killed.
Now that she thought about it, why did it feel like she saw something while she was down under? She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt like she had been somewhere else before she was resurrected. Her memories were fragmented, but the most prominent one was that she felt… hungry.
I'll have to ask Suratan if he experienced something similar. I do recall there being a lot of light. That'd be cliche as hell if I saw a literal light at the end of the tunnel.
With a snort, Ankoro focused back on the present. "Momonga, thanks for bringing me back. As much as I'd like to debate this further, I'd like to get off this cold floor sometime today. Opinions seem pretty split, so what do we do? Where do we go from here?"
All eyes landed on their beloved guild leader. Even Punitto Moe and Ancient One, their chief strategists, were patiently awaiting his response. It was not rare for Momonga to serve as the guild's tiebreaker back in their glory days. This situation should have been no different.
Except there was the added pressure of this being reality. Everyone's lives were on the line, whether they die tomorrow or sometime in the distant future. Whatever choice the overlord made, it could decide their ultimate fate in the New World. She was vaguely aware of Ancient One moving around in the background of Nazarick's machinations, working alongside the NPCs on his projects. She took comfort in knowing that regardless of the choice made, they all had a safety net to rely on.
Momonga fidgeted, shuffling his feet. He was unsure, that much she could tell even if he lacked a face to read. He glanced at the staff a few times, seemingly sharing a private conversation. The NPCs, who were content to be quiet until now, leaned forward with anticipation at his answer. Albedo especially was expectant, her wings fluttering.
The undead guild leader reached a conclusion. "It is clear to me now that we as a guild have become too complacent. For months, we have entertained ourselves with exploration and meeting with the natives. We have made new friends, forged new alliances, and gathered rare and valuable objects. Despite the appearance of other players and their world items, we blinded ourselves to the danger of what their existence meant. Nidhoggr, in particular, took advantage of this and struck down Ankoro, Suratan, and Lupusregina. He slew Shalltear as well, only making it out because of her resurrection item."
"We cannot continue like this. We cannot allow ourselves to be hunted so carelessly by our enemies, just as we didn't in Yggdrasil. That being said, we also cannot merely hole ourselves up in Nazarick and hope that the danger passes. We become enticing targets for all who wish us ill intent. No, what I propose shall be possibly the most dramatic action any of us as a guild shall undertake."
He gestured to Ancient One and Punitto Moe. "These two have toiled to secure our safety, and I shall honor their efforts by putting them into effect. We shall exploit the information we gathered and the connections we made. As I recall, Bellriver, you once expressed a desire to conquer this world as you wanted with Midgard."
Bellriver chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, a bit out there at the time. Wait, hold on, you don't mean…"
Momonga nodded in confirmation, shocking everyone present. Punitto Moe's eyes turned red with fury, beginning to reach into his sleeve but being stopped by Ancient One. The two rapidly whispered, but the battle priest's hand stayed from pulling out the newspaper. He grumbled instead, tapping his foot with impatience.
"We will expand our influence. Whether we are damned if we do or damned if we don't, we will explore every avenue and take it for our own. Whether through the people, their knowledge, or their items, they will become our bulwark against Nidhoggr. He wishes to cause the extinction of all life? I think not. He has made an enemy of our guild, and for that, he shall pay with every pound of flesh that still lives on his rotting carcass," Momonga's eyes flared, twin flames that mirrored his passion.
"We will never be at his mercy again. The world is ours to rule!"
Hello dear readers,
I hope you all are having a great month so far! Sorry for another late update to the story, but I have finally finished Act 1's epilogue haha. I've been very busy with my senior year of college and studying for graduate exams. Thankfully, I was able to finish up this chapter, and I must say I am quite proud of it! I am also working on the A03 release. Got my account and I've been tinkering a bit with the website to learn how it works, so expect the first chapter of this story to go up sometime soon after this chapter is released.
I am also pleased so many of you have enjoyed the art portfolio! My artist, Lyron, deserves all the love for his labors and creative mind. I hope to be able to show off to a wider audience once I am able to directly post the link to A03. I have very exciting plans for the future, and I can't wait to show all of them off for you guys.
As always, I'd like to thank my personal beta team for their hard work in revising and offering for this chapter. Without them, this project would not be possible. If you guys ever want to chat or ask questions, just join me on the Library of Ashurbanipal discord server or shoot me a message at my gmail of dynobot0102. Without you guys, I would not have made it this far.
Until you collect the other eight!