Chapter 12: The Graveyard Incident (Part 2)
The underground portion of the Mausoleum was like a labyrinth. As Diablo and Ainz followed Batutta in hot pursuit, the former paladin captain led them through a series of snaking tunnels. Some of these were natural cave formations, while others were clearly artificial, yet neither of them could imagine how long ago they'd been excavated.
I'm moving at full speed while using「Perfect Warrior」, and this man continues to outpace us… Even Diablo is just managing to keep up…
This gap wasn't the result of any kind of major power difference, but instead from Batutta's superior knowledge of these maze-like passages. Both pursuers had keen enough senses that the darkness of the underground structure wasn't a major problem, but the sudden turns and drop offs forced them to hesitate.
"Batutta! If you've harmed Lumachina in any way, you'll wish you never came crawling back to the land of the living!"
The old man's sinister laughter echoed through the tunnels as they all turned a final corner, revealing a massive underground space that dwarfed anything they had seen along the way. The ceiling didn't extend much further up, but the bottom was easily a few hundred feet beneath the entrance they stood at. From down below, Diablo could hear the anguished cries for help of the woman who believed in him more than anyone else.
"Diablo! Please, get me out of here!"
Tied to a wooden post in the center of the chamber was none other than Lumachina Wesalia, the head priestess of the Lyferian Church. Much like her first time as a captive of Batutta, the holy woman was surrounded by a mob of people engaged in nearly every sin imaginable. The unadulterated influence of the death knell had taken the seeds of degeneracy that exist within every intelligent creature and forced them to rapidly take root and grow. These victims of Batutta's curse had lost any semblance of reason, as they had been reduced to mindless beasts whose only focus was hedonistic pleasure.
"A lovely sight, isn't it gentlemen? I've outdone myself compared to the last attempt, I'm sure Diablo agrees too."
The Death Knell disease, which at its core was actually a curse engineered by the fallen, grew stronger from the sinful acts of those under its influence. While normally those afflicted by it would only succumb to symptoms similar to that of a sickness, when exposed to the Death Knell in its rawest form, at the source, it led to these animalistic compulsions. While Diablo wasn't yet aware, by introducing some of the negative energy generated by Khajit's Death Spiral ritual, the potency of the Death Knell had been amplified to previously unforeseen levels, in addition to augmenting Batutta's power as well. If left unchecked, not only would the rising spawn rate of undead wipe out E-Rantel, but should this upgraded version of the Death Knell be released into the public, it would ravage the population and potentially spread beyond the city. What had originally been a rescue mission had quickly become the first response to an existential threat. This was new territory for Ainz, yet in Diablo's perspective, it was just the status quo. Presently it applied even more so, given that he'd triumphed over Batutta in the past. Unfortunately, the regularity of these life or death scenarios didn't ease the anxiety the demon lord felt in this moment.
I'd heard rumors of a new disease popping up in E-Rantel, yet never would I have thought it was the Death Knell… It's strange though, after his last defeat, I would've expected Batutta to simply defile and kill Lumachina when he had the opportunity, yet he waited as if he was expecting me to show up… Perhaps it's no surprise that he would rather use this as a chance to torment me, it's in the man's nature… What's the point in perfecting his Death Knell curse if he never gets a chance to see me despair? That has to be what he's thinking…
"Did you not learn your lesson in death, Batutta? Why attempt the same scheme if you knew I'd be here to stop you?!"
Diablo already had his《Tonnerre Empereur》in hand, and pointed it towards the former paladin captain as he made his fierce declaration. Before he could fire off a spell though, Batutta jumped from the edge that he had been backed into, dropping down several stories and landing on the snaking walkway that was carved into the wall and spiraled towards the bottom. Without hesitation, both of the otherworldly men jumped down to follow him. They would quickly realize, however, that this was a grave error.
"I'll handle Batutta for the moment, go get Lumachina and bring her to the top! You can assist me here once she's safe, go now!"
It was a logical plan, seeing as Diablo had fought this opponent before and was less susceptible to his tactics. However, the demon sorcerer wasn't the only one who had grown since their last battle.
"A simple, albeit effective plan of action. Yet, it won't be possible, unfortunately for you."
The meaning behind Batutta's words became immediately apparent as he stuck out his hand and activated an ability that Diablo had nearly forgotten existed. A green translucent barrier materialized around him before he had any time to react, and with that one move, the entire situation had changed.
"Barrier magic? Did you think a simple party trick like this would be enough to stop me?"
I don't know how he acquired it, but this is the same type of barrier for containing magic beasts that Galford used on me during our mission to stop a conflict with the elves… There's not enough time to untangle it myself, but I come prepared for these scenarios!
Reaching into the《Item Pouch》at his waist, Diablo pulled out his SSR class《Asterisk Dispel Wand》, the same equipment he used to invalidate the invincible barrier of the God of Destruction《Europa》. As he activated the wand, however, his confidence began to waver. What he now saw before him brought the startling revelation that Batutta had been more thorough than he'd expected. The《Asterisk Dispel Wand》had worked as intended, yet once the barrier was dispelled, a second outer layer revealed itself.
"Did you really think I would only use a single barrier on the man who bested me in combat? For someone who calls himself a demon lord, you truly underestimate the lengths your enemies will go in order to defeat you!"
Touching the barrier elicited the reaction he'd expected, a jolt of what felt like electricity forcing his hand away. With the《Asterisk Dispel Wand's》cooldown of an hour, his only option was to untangle the remaining barrier's flow of magic power himself and destroy its core. Even with his prodigious ability in sensing the unseen structures of magic, it would take at least a minute to unravel, probably longer given Batutta's level of preparation.
Not to mention the fact that I have no way of knowing if there's another barrier on top of this one until I destroy it… No matter how thorough Batutta is, I have to believe Momon can hold him off until I manage to break out of here…
While their adversary was still distracted by Diablo's distraught reaction, Ainz leapt into the air, pulling both his greatswords from their sheaths on his back, and brought them down on the barrier with all the power afforded to him by「Perfect Warrior」.
*KA-SHOOOM!*
The dark warrior's blow of legendary strength did nothing to weaken the magical construct, and instead caused a violent reaction that sent Ainz flying in the opposite direction as lightning arced tempestuously around the room.
"Momon! It can't be countered through brute strength, I have to disable it myself by destroying its core! Until I can do that, you're on your own! Above all else, don't let him near Lumachina!"
Shaking himself off after learning of the barrier's shocking durability, Ainz was back on his feet, swords raised in a battle stance that somewhat mimicked the Master Swordsman.
Perhaps I'm reading into his words too much, but what does he mean by 'destroy its core'? Does he have an understanding of magic that extends beyond just using spells and skills? I'll have to investigate that later, right now I need to strategize… Ultimately, I could always reveal my true form as a magic caster and end this decisively, but with Diablo here, that isn't an option… My MP is near empty from using「Perfect Warrior」as well, so magic wouldn't be a viable option regardless…
Getting Nazarick involved and thus ruining his cover as an adventurer was to be avoided at all costs. Not only would it make his actions up until this point a waste, but it would inevitably lead to conflict with Diablo and his companions. He still believed that with all of Nazarick at his back, defeating the fellow otherworlder would be assured, although not without significant losses.
Live by the sword, die by the sword… Was it a famous warrior who said that? No, it was from the gospel of Matthew I think… Not that I intend on dying of course, but I'll have to clean up this mess with nothing but my blades until Diablo is back in the picture…
Batutta had already walked past the contained demon lord, and was approaching Ainz with a gleeful smile and his spear at the ready.
"Let's see if a lumbering armored oaf like yourself can keep up with a one armed old man!"
As the distance between the two grew rapidly closer, Batutta's spear was the first to leave its mark.
*SHING!*
A sudden thrust towards Ainz' head was delivered the moment Batutta stepped within range, and it was only through his slight stat advantage that the disguised overlord was able to slip the majority of the attack's force. Still, a glancing blow had landed, as the former paladin's spear scraped across Ainz' adamantite helm, producing a flurry of sparks in the process.
"Oh, very impressive. Here I was thinking I'd be able to gouge your eye out on my first attack. Now let's see if you can manage that for the next hundred!"
This time, Ainz wouldn't be so easily caught off guard. With his greatswords at the ready, he began blocking each and every one of Batutta's attacks. Sparks and shrieks of metal meeting metal were the only way for a layperson to try and follow this fight, as the results of their repeated collisions flared along the spiraling stone pathway. Although far from a normal human in her own right, Lumachina could only spectate at this level of perception with nerve-wracking angst. Her divine protector had been stripped of his ability to act, leaving her fate in the hands of an unknown dark warrior. This man had one qualification that gave the head priestess hope, and that was the fact he had arrived alongside Diablo.
Throughout his travels, Diablo always manages to attract powerful allies… It's no surprise that someone blessed by Kami-sama would meet those needed to fulfill his grand plan for us… Still, I can't help but worry after seeing what Batutta has done in the past, and knowing him, he's only grown more conniving and insidious after all this time…
Even if she couldn't follow this clash of titans with her eyes, Lumachina had no choice but to fix her gaze upwards. Her psyche could barely handle the sinful chorus assaulting her eardrums from the poor corrupted souls surrounding her, having to see their actions as well would be too much to bear. This spiritual pain wasn't just a matter of her own discomfort, it was the fact that these people had been compelled to act so brazenly against the laws of God. Nothing could bring her greater sorrow than the thought of misguided souls being denied an everlasting life in heaven alongside their creator, and in a scene similar to that of another world, Lumachina cried out in desperation like Jesus on Calvary Hill.
"Forgive them God, for they know not what they do! Their sins should fall upon Batutta, the source of this great affliction! Please grant them mercy in your final judgment!"
In the midst of combat, Batutta still found an opportunity to laugh at and chide the naive pleas of the distressed head priestess.
"Hahahaha! Give me a break you foolish woman, we both know these carnal acts are ingrained in all of us. It's just a matter of people needing the right push!"
As he delivered his Freudian analysis of the human condition, Batutta finally capitalized on the rhythm that he had baited Ainz into following and growing comfortable with. Instead of thrusting forward as per his usual attack pattern, he activated a martial art, twisting his body a near 180 degrees as he wound it up.
"《Swing Spike》!"
The spear that had been cocked back in a near instant swung towards Ainz with previously unforeseen speed. It was a perfect execution of tactics that would have left any other opponent wide open for a devastating blow. However, the being that Batutta was up against possessed far more abilities than he could have ever foresaw.
"「Body of Effulgent Beryl」, activate!"
In the moment that the side of Batutta's spear made contact with Ainz, the dark warrior appeared to phase a few steps backwards, as if the attack had missed entirely. With all his momentum still carrying over, the former paladin captain was left defenseless as he attempted to recorrect his stance.
I knew the「Body of Effulgent Beryl」that I never got to use against Sasara would be a perfect counter at some point in this fight! Although it's not a pleasant thought that had I used it back then, I might have been taken out from just this one attack…
Whether it was dumb luck or fate, Ainz wasn't going to waste the opportunity he'd been granted. Despite lacking any proper attack skills of his own, with the strength of a level 100 warrior, a single free attack would still be devastating.
"I guess fortune favors the bold, Batutta."
Bringing one of his greatswords down from above his head, the raven black hero impacted the villainous paladin's one good arm before he could bring his spear back to defend.
"Ahhhhg! You wretched fool, what kind of martial art was that?!"
It was a testament to Batutta's skill that his arm remained attached at all, as the wound on his shoulder left by Ainz was deep enough that any and all functionality had been lost. Despite this, the tenacious man's spear remained firmly gripped in his hand, even if he could no longer use it.
"You are the fool for thinking I wouldn't have plans and tricks of my own. The least you can do now is admit defeat and die with some dignity."
Ainz approached the now kneeling Batutta, as he lowered one of his swords next to the man's head.
"Any last words? Dying regrets? Not that I'd bother to tell anyone, but it feels like the right thing to do."
Considering that the person before him had never acted directly against Nazarick, Ainz didn't really despise him in any way. While his part in murdering the Swords of Darkness certainly soured his opinion of Batutta, it was nothing that amounted to a desire to kill him. It was clear that he was an evil man who worked against the interests of humanity, but those interests didn't necessarily align with his own after becoming an undead.
Still, there's no point in building my reputation if the city gets destroyed. Not to mention that killing this guy and saving Lumachina will make Diablo indebted to me…
Ainz had waited patiently for Batutta to say something, but after a few more moments of silence, he sighed and brought back his sword.
"It's a shame we couldn't fight longer old man. Maybe if you had both your arms this would've gone down a lot differently, but that's something we'll never know. Don't expect a resurrection this time around, I'll make sure of that much."
In the instant that Ainz started to bring down his sword, Batutta began to glow with a brilliant yellowish light. Instead of feeling his sword cleave through the man's neck, the dark warrior was left stunned, as an arm made of that same strange light held his weapon at bay.
"What was that about having both arms?"
Still shocked from the sudden change, Ainz was blindsided as a second arm of light delivered a bone-shattering punch to his chest.
"Guhah!"
The impact sent him careening backwards as he attempted to reorient his senses and get back on his feet, a task made difficult by his repeated collisions with the ground. Finally, he came to a stop after slamming into a support pillar on the edge of the pathway.
This guy… Any normal person would have used an ability like that at the start of the fight, yet he baited me into underestimating him because of his missing arm… Not only that, he was willing to tear his now useless arm off in order to replace it with another artificial one…
Looking up from his disheveled position against the pillar, Ainz saw a reinvigorated Batutta marching towards him, his spear clasped in both of his newly created luminescent hands.
I… might be in trouble here…
…
As the conflict within the depths of the Mausoleum continued to ramp up in intensity, things outside were comparatively calm. Neither side believed it was possible for their allies to fail, so despite the high stakes of the situation, they were able to act without much worry. This applied to no one more than Clementine, however. Her involvement in this plot was but a means to an end, an improved chance of her escaping capture by the Windflower scripture. Then again, considering how powerful Batutta was, she also didn't see their plan failing regardless.
"Is this spot suitable for your death? Not that it matters to me, but humans have an odd fixation on such things."
Following a few meters behind the striking woman who had challenged her, Clementine couldn't help but grin at her boastful words.
"I can count on one hand the number of people who actually stand a chance at killing me, and you aren't on the list. Also how interesting, referring to me as a human as if you're above them somehow."
Many had referred to Clementine as an inhuman monster in the past, yet she still considered herself tethered by her mortal limitations, even if she had stepped into the realm of heroes.
"Humans are creatures bound by irrationality, something that doesn't apply to a loyal servant of the Demon Lord like myself. Be grateful that it's my hand you'll be dying by, it's a far greater mercy than the terrifying magic of my master."
"Oyah~? It was your boss who did Batutta in and left him down an arm? I'm sure those two are having lots of fun as we speak. Fighting a magic caster would be boring for me anyways, the old man can handle those theatrics."
After walking a fair distance away from the mausoleum, the two femme fatales faced each other with adequate space between them for their fight to the death. Clementine grasped both of her enchanted stilettos with gleeful anticipation as she analyzed the actions of her opponent. Rather than getting into a combat stance like herself, Rose simply stood with her arms crossed, the curious looking double-headed blade on her back remaining fastened in place.
"Your name is Rose, right? Maybe the fighting etiquette is different where you're from, but around here, it isn't polite to leave your opponent waiting. Killing you while you're off guard would be ever so unsatisfying."
Clementine was expecting the typical reaction to her chiding, yet Rose simply stared at her with an even greater intensity, as a sinister smile began forming that betrayed her angelic features.
"Off guard? Don't be ridiculous. A peon like yourself couldn't hope to lay a hand on me even if I closed my eyes and held an arm behind my back. Perhaps you were expecting something else, but I didn't come here to fight you."
Taking a step towards the now annoyed Clementine, Rose unleashed her aura of killing intent, which elicited an instinctive step backwards from its target.
"I came here for vengeance! Not for the lives of the weaklings you dispatched, but for the grief you've caused my master!"
In all her years of fighting strong opponents, never had she felt such an unbearable pressure. Clementine was aware of the effect killing intent could have on weaker opponents, but how could she possibly be suffering the same mental strain that she normally inflicted? Not to mention that this woman wasn't angered by her butchering of the Swords of Darkness, but instead from how the event affected that haughty demon sorcerer she called master. The sadistic warrior had known this from the start, but it was abundantly clear now:
This woman isn't normal, even by my standards…
"Know this, if you manage to make me draw my weapon, you can consider yourself the victor. I'd recommend not holding back either, you're far from in a position to be gauging my strength."
At this point, the rage Clementine felt began to boil over any fear of the unknown that had plagued her up until now. This wasn't the first time someone had acted so superior to herself, and she would be damned to allow such humiliation beset her again. The only reason she tolerated Batutta's presence was that he served a purpose in furthering her own goal of escape, but to hear such overbearing ego from someone that stood against her, it could no longer be tolerated.
"Have you lost it? You're going to give me, the inhuman lady Clementine, a handicap? Don't say I didn't warn you when your little stunt results in an untimely death!"
Lowering herself into her cat-like attack stance, the former 9th seat of the Black Scripture began activating a plethora of impressive martial arts. The fact that she could maintain so many at once was a testament to her position in the realm of heroes.
"「Stride of Wind」, 「Greater Evasion」, 「Ability Boost」, 「Greater Ability Boost」!"
In the moment she pounced towards her target, the speeds she achieved would have been enough to triumph over nearly anyone in the New World. Yet as time slowed in her perspective, the lack of a reaction from Rose caused her instincts to scream that something was wrong. Perhaps it was her wounded pride, or a lapse in rationality from anger, but nonetheless, Clementine ignored her instincts and went in for the kill.
"《Asterismos》!"
Even with her incredible perception, the slayer of adventurers was left stunned as she saw two colossal mechanical arms appear out of thin air next to Rose. One of these held a massive two headed blade that looked strikingly similar to the human sized version on her back, the sight of which left Clementine both awestruck and terrified. Before she could get anywhere close to her target, the mechanical arm which didn't hold《Asterismos》plucked her out of the air, and held her in place with a suffocating grip.
"Yes, I know I said that if I drew my weapon, you would be the victor.《Asterismos》is wielded by my《Magimatic Sol》, so in no uncertain terms, this doesn't count as a win for you. Admittedly, I just wanted to see you get riled up and make a haphazard attack, which you did! Winding up in the grasp of my《Magimatic Sol》, that was going to happen no matter what."
Clementine had a million things she wanted to say, whether it be petty insults, cries of foul play, or even pleading for her life. Yet the pressure being exerted on her entire body made breathing, let alone speech, nearly impossible.
"I'm not sure what you were expecting, did you seriously think taking on the right hand of the demon lord would be a winnable fight? This outcome was never even a question, because I know humans like you. A change of heart is impossible for your ilk, the selfish nature you're defined by would never let you concede anything meaningful. So if you're grasping for a reason as to why this is happening, I've laid it out graciously for you."
I can barely think anymore, but… Is this demonic woman actually right? Was I doomed to this fate because of my hubris?
Perhaps the appearance of Batutta was an early warning of the coming change in the world's balance of power. She hadn't truly understood the implication of his arrival, and was able to look past it solely because their interests aligned. However, now that other people bearing anomalous power have shown up to stand against them, it became clear to her that this couldn't all be a coincidence. Such a breakthrough came far too late though, and it would cost her everything.
"P-Please… Anything b-but this…"
Clementine had far from reconciled with her impending death, but at the very least she wished to depart from this world in a less agonizing and drawn out fashion. The intensity of the situation made her forget that had the roles been reversed, she would never be so benevolent towards one of her victims. It was another example of the extreme entitlement that plagued many powerful beings, but a psyche as twisted as that of Clementine's was unique even amongst her peers.
"Sorry, but my master was quite clear that he wanted the perpetrators of this nonsense to be executed in quite the painful manner. Death by crushing wasn't a direct request of his, but anything quicker would fall short of quelling his righteous anger."
The increasing pressure of the《Magimatic Sol's》grip had reached a point that Clementine's rank plate armor began breaking down, as individual plates sprang off in various directions to escape the unrelenting force. It didn't take long after this point for her internal organs to begin suffering the same fate, and as the gruesome Danse Macabre reached its climax, a look of resigned terror fell over Clementine's face.
"You can continue to pay for causing Diablo such grief in the afterlife. If I'm to believe that annoying woman Lumachina, there's an eternity of suffering waiting for individuals like yourself. Just know that it'll be far worse than what you're experiencing now."
Left with the terrifying prospect of the afterlife for an irredeemable sinner, Clementine's last thoughts would be of faith in the supernatural.
If an evil bastard like Batutta can be brought back by some kind of divine providence, then there must be plans for me as well! I may just get a chance at revenge, this might not be the end!
*CRUNCH!*
While lost in the thought of a second chance, Clementine met her grisly end as the《Magimatic Sol》closed its hand as tightly as it could. Bone's shattered, organs ruptured, and most importantly, the light in her scarlet eyes vanished, replaced with the crimson red of burst blood vessels. Her body collapsed to the ground with a grimacing thud, as Rose recalled her《Magimatic Sol》and《Asterismos》to whatever space they reside in.
"Sigh… Killing arrogant humans is always enjoyable, but is a proper fight too much to ask for? The only semi-competent fighter I've encountered from around here is Momon, and even he's just a brute lacking finesse at swordplay. I guess I'll go check on Nabe, it wouldn't be surprising if she's having trouble."
Laughing to herself as she wandered away from the unsightly remains of Clementine, Rose's attention was drawn to the sky as a massive dragon composed of bone landed at the entrance of the Mausoleum.
"Maybe that high strung woman actually wound up with the better opponent, just my luck… Well, I'm sure she won't mind if I lend a helping hand."
…
*BOOM! CRASH! CLANG!*
Shockwaves lashed out like claps of thunder all across the room as the pair of warriors exchanged blows at a rate far fiercer than before. The slight advantage that Ainz had held due to Batutta's missing arm was now gone, and it took every ounce of the overlord's concentration to keep up the stalemate that was beginning to form.
I might be able to win a test of stamina, seeing as I'm undead, but it's highly unlikely that Batutta will tire out before he pierces my armor and starts chipping away at my HP… I also don't know how long he can maintain those artificial limbs, but it has to be a time based skill of some kind since he isn't a magic user…
The yellowish light that made up Batutta's new arms was actually an advanced application of the glow, a form of manipulating SP either outside the body like he had, or from within in the form of buffs or defense. At its core, the glow was a barehanded fighter's version of martial arts, akin to the ki used by monk classes that Ainz was familiar with. What this all meant, was that these appendages generated by the glow could only be maintained as long as Batutta had SP to spare. It was part of the reason for him holding back many of his martial arts, as if he were to waste more SP like he had with the failed《Swing Spike》attack, his chance at victory would deteriorate further.
"Got any more tricks up your sleeve? I'm raring to see another attack like the one that cost you your arm!"
Ainz spoke boldly, but in reality, it was taking everything he had to keep up his current pace. Despite the fact that he was dual wielding, he never had any opportunities to land a critical strike, as staving off Batutta's assault left him with little time to strategize. There was only one way to end this battle decisively, and it wouldn't be easy.
I could try and keep this up until Diablo frees himself, but there's no guarantee of that happening soon enough… My best chance to end this is baiting him in with a false opening, it's gonna have to be convincing though…
Relying on the tactics he knew from his years as the guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown, along with his new firsthand experience in this world, the overlord would make an attempt to turn the tides of this battle. First though, he would need to create some distance from his opponent.
*KACHANG!*
By momentarily increasing the pressure of his attack, he forced Batutta to commit to blocking with the shaft of his spear. Using this opportunity, Ainz pushed off with his swords, allowing him to jump back several meters while forcing the former paladin captain in the opposite direction. This space that he had created would vanish the moment his opponent resumed his attack, so Ainz acted immediately.
"Alps Fall III!"
Raising one of his blades into the air, Ainz perfectly mimicked the martial art that Emile Buchel Berger had used against him in the guild office. To top it off, he activated「Despair Aura I」to recreate the rising aura that was synonymous with《Alps Fall》. The sinister darkness that now emanated from him was far from the norm of this martial art, but as a spear user, Batutta lacked the certainty to call him on his bluff.
"You finally decided to reveal an attack skill, and you chose《Alps Fall》? Is this an attempt to belittle me? Or are you truly that much of an amateur?!"
Everything about this screamed 'Trap!' in Batutta's mind, yet he knew that a charge-up type move like《Alps Fall》couldn't be halted mid-activation so easily. Even if he could use the《Instant Activation》skill, there was still enough of a delay, not to mention how telegraphed his attack would be. Either his opponent believed this seed of doubt would allow him enough time to fully charge the attack, or he was truly just that much of a combat moron. With time working against him, Batutta had no choice but to take the bait and sharpen his reflexes to their utmost in order to prepare a counter if necessary.
"Maybe you'll learn how to properly fight in the next life,《Lance Charge》!"
In an attempt to leave as little reaction time as possible for Ainz, the grizzled spearman used his equivalent of《Sword Smite》to close the distance at a speed that surpassed anything he'd previously shown. As his perception heightened and time slowed around him, Batutta charged in with his spear thrusting forward, aimed directly at the neck of the dark warrior.
What happened next was no fluke of luck like the previous martial art attack that nearly cost him his life, this was information warfare at its finest, a field that the guild leader of Ainz Ooal Gown was a resident expert in. By failing to consider possibilities outside of his known paradigm, it was Batutta's own extensive experience that fated him to fall for this gambit.
Hook, line, and sinker!
All it took was a simple movement of the sword that his opponent had assumed would be of no use while stuck charging up his 'martial art'. The momentum that Batutta had directed towards Ainz would be his own undoing, as the overlord moved his massive greatsword so it was pointed directly towards his oncoming attacker. Despite having heightened his perception, Batutta could only watch with horror as the blade made impact, puncturing all the way through the right side of his chest until its point came out the other side.
"AHHHHHHGGG!"
For a moment, the underground chamber fell silent. The former paladin captain looked upwards with a visage of unrelenting pain and rage, right into the eye slit of his opponent's helmet. Perhaps it was a hallucination brought on by the stress his body was under, but Batutta swore he saw a flickering red flame in place of the man's eye.
*PLOP… PLOP… PLOP…*
The silence was broken by the increasing amount of blood that continued to splatter the ground beneath the mortally wounded paladin. As the sword implanted in his chest was pulled back, there was no longer anything to stem the bleeding, and Batutta's vision began to blur as frightening quantities of blood began spilling from his wound. The effects of blood loss and oxygen deprivation to his brain were already setting in, and as much as he loathed to admit it, his body could no longer fight.
"I'm-hah the last… hah- person who get's-hah… to say this… but I never thought-hah… I'd fight someone as underhanded as me…"
Falling to his knees, the broken man could only keep himself upright by holding onto his spear for support. His glowing arms of light had begun to fade as well, until one disappeared entirely, leaving his upright position even harder to maintain. It was a sad sight compared to the threat he posed mere moments ago, yet Ainz still felt a hint of respect for the fight he'd been able to put up.
"In a life or death battle, there's no such thing as 'underhanded'. It's only about who gets to walk away afterwards. I doubt you've got any more trump cards up your sleeve, so it looks like we've already answered that question."
Before Batutta could give a response, their attention was drawn towards the top of the path as a series of bright flashes briefly lit the room. Deep in concentration, Diablo had finally untangled the magic of the barrier he was imprisoned in, and located the source of its power.
Yes, I've got it! The barrier's core is right here!
*CRACKLE Zzzzt zzz…*
Opening his eyes, Diablo watched his containment dematerialize around him, as its core was crushed within his hand. He quickly made his way to the edge of the path, where he looked down to see a mortally wounded Batutta and Momon standing over him.
I knew he had it in him! Even without watching, I could hear and sense the final blow that did Batutta in… It's a scary idea, but maybe Momon is closer in strength to the Master Swordsman than I originally thought…
Jumping down dozens of feet to join them on their level of the path, Diablo approached his impromptu adventuring comrade, standing beside him as they both looked down on their defeated opponent.
"I offered you mercy once before, and it wound up being one of my greatest mistakes. You won't be hurting anyone else, Batutta. This time, I'll make sure!"
Drawing his staff, the demon lord activated its sword configuration,《Tonnerre Empereur• Libéré》, and pointed the blade beside the former paladin captain's neck. He was expecting a look of rage or bitterness on the man's face, but betraying his assumptions, Batutta bore a grimacing smirk.
"Did you think- gah! That I would lose… even if you took my life?"
The meaning behind his words was not immediately apparent, but as the dying man moved his gaze downwards, it became obvious what he was referring to.
"Lumachina!"
Caught up in his desire for revenge, Diablo had neglected to promptly secure Lumachina's safety. Now as he stared down in shock, the sight of a skeletal undead approaching the head priestess was burned into his mind.
"Don't- even think about it… Move one step, and my minion slices her jugular open!"
Batutta's pained words weren't a hollow threat. The undead standing beside Lumachina held a plain dagger to her throat, more than enough to kill someone with the durability of a normal human.
"What- what do you want?! Even on the verge of death, you can't help but be a selfish bastard to the bitter end?!"
"I want to watch the hope drain from your eyes, to see you in utter despair! Guhaha-"
Batutta's maniacal aspirations were cut short by a fit of bloody coughs, signaling his rapidly depleting life force. The man had already resigned himself to death, but to rob his mortal enemy of such an important person, it was the final thing he wanted to experience before departing from this world.
"You… You heartless…"
Diablo was practically boiling at this point, and standing beside him, Ainz was uncertain of how to proceed.
This battle is already won, and as far as I'm concerned, that woman is just collateral damage… Yet I can't act so callous in front of Diablo, whoever she is, she clearly means a lot to him… There's not much I can do, though… Even if I kill Batutta before he can get a word out, there's nothing stopping that undead from killing her anyways… I could use domination and just order it to stand down, but that will raise far more questions than it's worth… It might be best to leave this to Diablo, I can't be expected to take the fall for this!
"Ahhhhh! No, please… don't do this Batutta!
The cries of pain from below as the undead minion began sliding its blade across Lumachina's body almost made Diablo act without thinking. For every second he hesitated, his dear companion was made to suffer even further. Yet every move he could think of didn't leave enough time to intercept the undead before it could finish off Lumachina. It was a desperate ploy, but out of all his options, making an attempt and being ready to heal her with a potion might be the best chance he has.
"Hahahaha! Do those sounds of pain not upset you, Diablo?! You better do something fast, there's no telling if that skeleton will accidentally cut her too deep!"
Despite his previous trouble at forcing out words, Batutta made sure his verbal jabs were as clearly spoken as possible. Perhaps it was an example of terminal lucidity, or just his unrelenting desire to see Diablo suffer. No matter the reason, it was clear that the Demon Lord was about to make his move, hasty or otherwise.
"Lumachina-chan!"
Breaking the intensity of the entire situation, a resounding call from above forced everyone to turn their attention to its source. Bounding out from the cavern's entrance, a golden warrior plummeted through the air before landing at the bottom, directly on top of the undead holding the head priestess hostage.
*CRUNCH!*
The force of a warrior at the precipice of the limits of the races was more than enough to obliterate a simple skeleton, especially with their weakness to blunt force damage. Shock still hung over everyone present, but as soon as the realization of what had happened set in, Diablo quickly jumped down to thank Emile and secure Lumachina.
"Emile! Help me get her off this thing, quick!"
It took but a moment to free Lumachina from her restraints, and after giving her a once over, he was able to breathe a sigh of relief. The wounds inflicted by the skeleton's dagger were superficial, she was going to be ok. This didn't stop Diablo from quickly grabbing an HP potion from his《Item Pouch》and gently pouring it down the startled girl's throat.
"Diablo… I knew you would find me!"
As her wounds began healing over, Lumachina couldn't help but wrap her arms around Diablo and bury her head in his chest. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to act so unbecoming in the face of her rescuers, especially knowing Diablo's tendencies surrounding such acts of emotion. Even while trying to control herself, the socially underleveled demon lord had frozen up from her sudden embrace. After a few seconds, he managed to reciprocate the gesture, putting one of his arms around her, albeit with great effort on his own part.
"I-I'm the demon lord, remember? All of this was within my expectations!"
Diablo himself knew this was a lie. Had Emile not shown up in such a timely fashion, there was no guarantee that Lumachina would be alive right now. As someone who claimed to be a demon lord though, it could never be implied that there was a significant chance of failure at the time. Following their embrace, the grateful head priestess turned to her unexpected golden rescuer.
"And Emile, thank you for stepping in, you have no idea how perilous things were before your arrival. Living this nightmare a second time truly opened my eyes, that God's plan for us is far more grand and mysterious than I originally believed… I could never fathom a reason for Batutta's return, or why we've come to this new land, but there's a purpose for all of it. God will reveal his meaning in due time, for now it's up to us to carry it out."
The weight behind Lumachina's words resonated with both the men standing beside her. Despite the vast difference in temperament, they shared a goal of doing right by their actions. It was easy to feel out of their depth in this strange new world, but such convictions would continue to guide them, just as they always had.
"I couldn't agree more, Lumachina-chan. However, your thanks are not needed, I was simply fulfilling my duty as a defender of all women! Hahaha!"
Even in the face of such tumultuous circumstances, the golden warrior managed to charm those around him with his honest personality. The brief lapse in seriousness could only persist for so long though, as their attention was turned to the mass of people that still surrounded the altar.
"Diablo, we have to save these people too. Their sinful actions are borne from the death knell, not their own hearts, and after the demise of those Batutta controlled in Zircon City, I could never forgive myself to allow it to happen again!"
In the heat of the moment, Diablo had admittedly forgotten about the corrupted people being used as a part of the death knell ritual. With his attention refocused, however, it became near impossible for him not to shut down at the sight of what they were doing.
A social failure like myself can't handle this kind of stuff… I'd feel more comfortable fighting a demon lord than having to watch all of this debauchery! Lumachina's right though, they're just victims of the death knell, people that need to be saved…
"Banish the thought, Lumachina. I would never allow Batutta the satisfaction of damning these people to their current fate. As for saving them, is it possible you'd be able to use a blessing to purge the death knell from the entire room? I hate asking such a thing after what you had to go through, but I fail to see any other options."
Lumachina resolutely nodded her head in agreement, as she clasped her hands together to begin praying.
"I could never use my own plights to excuse the suffering of others, especially when I've been blessed with the ability to free them from it. It will take a minute or two given all the people, but I know I can save them."
Giving an "Umu" of acknowledgement, Diablo patted Emile on the shoulder and told him to stay put while he rejoined Ainz in overseeing Batutta's execution. The golden warrior felt conflicted over what he'd been told, but as someone who knew Diablo well, for a person like him to arrive at such a conclusion, it had to be justified.
"I won't leave her side, I promise you that. But Diablo, make sure you don't let your emotions get the better of you. Because it's moments like this where a certain victory can become an inevitable defeat, but I imagine you already understand that better than most people."
Diablo recognized that Emile wasn't outright questioning his actions, it was a careful reminder from a friend who wanted the best for him. Even if their friendship was relatively one sided, it didn't make the man's concern any less true.
"Thank you, Emile. You truly are a dependable ally."
As he turned away and began flying up to Momon's position, Emile couldn't help but crack a smile. Diablo hadn't used the term 'friend', but he knew how much those words meant coming from someone as closed off as him. All he could do now was watch over Lumachina as she prepared her blessing, and hope that his unlikely comrade came to the right decision.
"Do you really think he's gonna finish off Batutta for good? Diablo never struck me as that type of guy, but given the circumstances, I can't blame him if he does…"
Emile had meant to direct his question towards Lumachina, but he quickly realized she was fully focused on her blessing. Her lack of response mattered little anyways, as he had a good assumption of how she would answer. The concerned warrior wasn't certain of the exact religious doctrine that would apply in this instance, but as someone who believed in Diablo more than anyone, he knew Lumachina would remain steadfast with her faith in him.
As the demon lord landed next to his dark warrior comrade, the defeated visage of his mortal enemy came into view. For all the careful planning that Batutta lauded himself over, once again he found himself at the mercy of his otherworldly foe.
"Don't worry, he hasn't tried anything funny. I commandeered his spear as well, if you wish to have it once we're done here, I won't protest."
Diablo had no use for such a weapon. Despite being a collector of rare items, the last thing he wanted was to commemorate an anathema that belonged to such a dastardly person. Perhaps a warrior like Momon would be able to find use of it, such an issue was the last thing on his mind currently.
"Forget it, take the spear. Also, I know you're the one who put Batutta in this state, but in return for his weapon, I ask only that you leave this part to me."
There was little hesitation on Ainz' part. He had no attachments to this man, the only reason for fighting him in the first place was to maintain his guise of an adventurer. Claiming his weapon uncontested, however, would serve his interests greatly.
A powerful weapon from another world, who knows what kind of secrets I can divine from it? I can't wait to cast appraisal magic when I get the chance, and then maybe I'll put some of Nazarick's brightest minds on the task of researching it further… There's a fair chance that nothing will come of it, but the possibilities are too great to ignore…
"Pay it no heed, you and your companions have a history with this man, taking his life would grant me no satisfaction. If you require any assistance, I'll be investigating the cavern's interior for the remainder of our time here."
Following a nod from Diablo, the dark warrior strutted away and up the path, leaving the two star-crossed enemies alone. A bitter silence hung over them, as the indignant demon lord pondered his next course of action.
"So… What are you… waiting for? I didn't take you for the kind of man *cough* who willingly let his enemies suffer… instead of providing a quick death…"
The chiding remark from his mortal enemy sparked an epiphany within Diablo. At this point, it wasn't a decision to kill Batutta, because the man was already mortally wounded, his fate was sealed. He was now forced to decide if he wanted to be the one to deal the final blow. There was no intent of prolonging his agonizing demise, even though Diablo wholeheartedly believed he deserved it, it was a matter of whether he wanted this on his conscience.
"You aren't someone who gets to levy an accusation like that… For everything you've done, we should leave you down here to rot! How am I supposed to know if having me kill you is all a part of some plan to prove that I'm no better than a monster like you?!"
Diablo's confliction caused his voice to accidentally raise in volume, as the echoes of his desperate question reverberated throughout the underground chamber. No one else present to hear it could confront him at this point, but they felt the pain in his words nonetheless.
"Killing me… has nothing to do with it. We are both selfish creatures, it's in our human nature. You can try and hide that fact behind the guise of 'good deeds', but ultimately, are you not always acting in your own self-interest?"
Despite his hatred for the man before him, Batutta's words rang repeatedly inside his head.
How many conflicts or casualties could have been prevented if not for Diablo's reliance on his demon lord persona?
How many of his heroic actions actually came from the heart, and not just following in the wake of those around him?
Am I… really a good person?
Frozen in place, Diablo was suffering from more than just a moral dilemma. He'd been forced to question his entire world view, to reevaluate the motives behind his past actions. Unfortunately, this was exactly what his doomed enemy had been hoping for.
"Pitiful… Perhaps I was mistaken… We aren't so alike after all, for I have no qualms with embracing my selfish desires!"
Batutta's sudden declaration shook Diablo from his existential crisis, but it was a moment too late. Leaning over the path's edge with his one remaining luminescent arm pointed down, the forsaken paladin gathered the remainder of his vitality for one final act of defiance.
"《Shining Blow》!"
A blinding light shot forth from the man's palm, and it became clear that this attack was on a whole different level compared to his previous usage of it. Hurricane strength winds lambasted the entire cavern as the meters wide beam of light barreled toward its targets.
Not again… I'll never let him have this much control over me… I'm not the same person as back then, I can do this!
Time slowed to a near standstill as Diablo made a split-second decision. Allowing himself to sink into despair would be playing right into Batutta's hand, so he put his thoughts aside and acted on instinct.
"《Sword Smite III》!"
With his《Tonnerre Empereur》already in its sword configuration, Diablo was able to immediately make use of the martial art. Every muscle in his body shrieked in protest as he prepared to activate it, but there was no other way to guarantee the safety of his companions.
*SHOOOOM!*
Launching himself with all the power he could eek out of the ability, Diablo managed to outpace Batutta's《Shining Blow》, planting himself firmly in front of Lumachina and Emile.
"《Darkness Cannon》!"
Forgoing his usual theatrics, Diablo instantly cast his《Tonnerre Empereur• Libéré》upwards, and unleashed a darkness attribute spell of the highest caliber. A sinister jet black energy of incredible intensity shot forth, colliding with the effervescent light of Batutta's equivalently high level martial art.
"Did you seriously think I'd let you get one over on me?! It seems you're forgetting who your opponent is… You're not fighting any mere mortal being, but the True Demon Lord Diablo!"
Even after forgoing his own survival, and pouring every last bit of not just SP but his very life's essence into this attack, Batutta was left dumbfounded. His assumptions about Diablo merely being an amateur wielding power he didn't understand had been proven faulty. Never would he have imagined that someone who prided themselves so heavily on their magic would level up their warrior class and subsequent abilities. Had that not been the case, his《Shining Blow》would've allowed him the last laugh of killing those his enemy holds dear. Now he was faced with the same fate as before, stuck in a beam clash while on death's door.
*RUMMMBLE…*
While his primary objective may have been thwarted, the shockwaves generated from the colliding beams were beginning to destabilize the entire underground structure of the mausoleum. Being crushed by a cave-in was far preferable to Batutta if it meant he got to witness the demise of those down below.
"Diablo! I'm getting Lumachina out of here!"
Emile had placed himself over her to shield off any falling debris, as he began trying to get her to move. The demon lord wanted nothing more than to assure her safety, but a panicked plea from the head priestess betrayed his ultimate wishes.
"No! I have to save these people first! Even if we can't prevent their deaths, the least I can do is give them a moment of lucidity! Otherwise they'll have no choice but to confront God without ever having a chance to reconcile while they're still alive!"
Diablo didn't have the concentration to spare to argue with Lumachina right now. The least he could do was make sure Emile escapes safely, though.
"Don't bother trying to change her mind, just get out of here while you can! I'll protect her, but I can't keep the both of you safe!"
Amidst the cacophony of the clashing beams and crumbling walls, Emile simply shook his head, and remained in his position, shielding Lumachina.
"Then you should know it's pointless trying to change my mind too! I'm seeing this through, and I'll make sure Lumachina does too! Focus everything you've got on that spell, show me the power of the demon lord!"
Emile's commentary elicited a sly smirk from Diablo. Not only was he just as firm in his beliefs, but he knew exactly what to say in such a perilous moment.
"Hahahaha! Don't regret making such a request, for my power transcends the mere limits of the races!"
This is who I am! A demon lord forges his own path, he doesn't follow the rules, he enforces them through his unmatched power!
As Diablo's soul roared with fresh confidence, Batutta was running on fumes. The darkness grew in intensity, and the light began to fade, both in terms of their attacks and his own consciousness.
I shouldn't have expected to triumph in my second attempt at life, at least not by using my previous methods… Many would assume death to be a sufficient motivator for change, but that's coming from those who have yet to experience it…
There's only one respite in all of this…
The so-called demon lord and his merry band of fools have no idea what's coming…
These were the last thoughts of the man called Batutta, as his《Shining Blow》was overwhelmed by darkness, followed by himself. No one was able to witness it, but his final look was not of despair or regret. Plastered on Batutta's face as Diablo's spell broke his body down into its most fundamental components, was the grin of a cognoscente, borne of his knowledge from the place between worlds. The same realm he was now doomed to return to, for eternity.
*BOOM!*
As the former paladin captain was consumed by the ferocious torrent of energy, it continued past him whereupon it impacted the side of the cavern. The previous instability escalated to the point that car-sized chunks of stone were raining down from throughout the underground space.
"Lumachina, it's now or never! We have to teleport out of here!"
Maintaining such a powerful attack for so long had left him mentally drained, but there was no time to complain about his discomfort.
"《Prism Wall》!"
Electing to use his strongest and most versatile defensive spell, Diablo cast a prismatic barrier above them that contained every magical attribute. It would hold off the falling debris for the meantime, but once the cavern collapsed entirely, no level of protection would matter.
"O heavenly father, hear my prayer! Banish the darkness that corrupts these poor souls, so they can be granted forgiveness before meeting you in your kingdom!"
The soft light that had enveloped Lumachina began to grow in intensity, to the point that Diablo and Emile had to strain their eyes. Normally, dispelling negative status effects could be done through the simple and summarily named《Dispel》, but on a scale this large, and with a curse as potent as the Death Knell, a more powerful miracle had to be called upon.
"《Holy Fresh》!"
At Lumachina's behest, a massive column of light shone down from the roof of the cavern, enveloping everyone present. Unknown to all those but the caster, the light from this miracle extended up and into the heavens, creating quite a spectacle for the city of E-Rantel. Immediately, the surviving victims of the Death Knell were purged of the disease, along with its source, leading to all of them being forced to confront their current reality. Most sat silently, a few cried uncontrollably, some even found comfort in a simple embrace. Yet all were now given a chance to reconcile their inevitable deaths. As much as Diablo and Lumachina longed to spare their lives as well, the now fully collapsing ceiling made it an impossibility.
"Lumachina, Emile, grab hold of me!"
Shedding a tear for the dozens they couldn't save, Lumachina grabbed Diablo's hand, while Emile put his on the demon's shoulder.
"《Teleportation》!"
In a flash of light, the trio was whisked away as the《Prism Wall》succumbed to the total collapse of the cavern, dooming those below to their inevitable fate.
…
"So things went fine on your end, it seems."
Arriving back outside the entrance to the mausoleum, Ainz was greeted by the sight of what had been a very brief battle. He assumed the pile of ashes at the foot of the stairs were the remains of Khajit, and looking out into the distance he could see the gory state of Clementine's body.
"Of course, Mr. Momon. These insects were a triviality, there was no chance of failure."
"You say that, but I had to come help you finish up, and that was after giving the girl a lengthy death."
Narberal's response to her master was mocked by her maidly equivalent Rose, leading the Pleiade to fume with anger as her instigator laughed off to the side.
"Nabe, you mustn't give in to mere jokes like this. We have appearances to maintain, and if you keep giving her reactions, Rose will continue to chide you."
Immediately painting a look of utmost seriousness on her face, it made one wonder how genuine her previous anger was.
"You- you're right, Mr. Momon… I mustn't let her get the better of me…"
These words came with great strain as Rose sneered in her direction, knowing how badly she wanted to assault her.
"More importantly, is that who I think it is you're carrying? Where is Diablo?"
The magimatic maid asked this with a calm inflection, but it was obvious how fast that could change if she was given an unfavorable answer. Her initial assumption was correct, as the unconscious boy held carefully by Ainz' gauntleted hands was indeed Nferia Barreare.
"We beat Batutta, this spear of his should prove that fact. I gave Diablo the role of executing him in exchange for it, although it didn't seem like he wanted the weapon either way. Lumachina is performing a blessing to cure some people that Batutta was using as test subjects for the Death Knell, and I assume you saw golden boy run through here earlier. I took some time to examine the cavern on my way out and found who we came for in a chamber not far from the entrance."
Rose's inquisitive glare remained, but it seemed that his explanation was sufficient.
"Oh, one more thing, Mr. Momon. I acquired this from the remains of that disgusting bug Khajit, I doubt a belonging of scum like him could serve your interest, but I could never hope to grasp your inner thoughts,"
As Ainz walked up to his subordinate, she presented him with a dark orb, and even without an appraisal spell he knew it was a magic item of some kind.
Looks like I have another item to research, although it's not nearly as interesting as Batutta's spear, just based on level alone…
"Thank you, Nabe. The others should be out soo-"
*RUMMMBLE*
Cutting off Ainz' reassuring answer, shockwaves from the depths of the mausoleum began to shake the ground beneath their feet.
"I thought you said Batutta was defeated? What else could possibly be generating a force like that?"
Killing intent began to seep out of Rose as she turned to face the dark warrior that she still didn't trust.
"He wasn't in a state to do something on a scale like this, but I fail to see a different possibility. Please remember though, it was Diablo himself that took responsibility for ending Batutta, so I ask you don't direct any hostility towards me."
The words of the overlord were true on every level, yet Rose refused to take them at face value. However, her immediate attention was not drawn towards him, but instead the mausoleum, as she began running towards the entrance.
"Rose! Do not go in there! Think for a moment, Diablo can teleport! What would he think if you ran in and died for nothing?"
Despite her distrust towards him, even Rose was forced to acknowledge the logic behind his words. How could she consider herself a devout follower of the demon lord if she didn't believe he could handle this on his own?
"Fine. Don't take this as me listening to you, I'm only trusting in Diablo's might."
Deciding that a response wouldn't be worth it, Ainz remained silent and simply looked on towards the mausoleum's entrance. There were three potential outcomes, either Diablo and the others would emerge from the entrance, or they'd appear suddenly as a result of teleportation. The third and what he considered the least likely option, was that Batutta had another trump card and killed them all along with himself.
Diablo's ability set is far too versatile to succumb to an enemy like this… If he somehow does, then all the time spent stressing over him will have been for nothing… It would be one less thorn in my side, but I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't enjoy the mystery surrounding him…
His internal dialogue was cut off when a massive beam of light poured down from the sky, right over the center of the mausoleum.
"That light… only Lumachina could generate something so overtly 'holy'. It means they're still okay, but why haven't they teleported out yet?"
Ainz had yet to formally meet the head priestess, but the understanding he currently had of her led him to think that she demanded to stay until her ability was ready.
Diablo wouldn't leave without her, so now it's a question of if they have enough time to escape…
The seconds dragged by as the three adventurers waited with anticipation. Only Rose had genuine concern for one of those in peril, while the two who called Nazarick home were merely interested in the outcome.
*BOOM!*
Finally, the vibrations shaking the earth reached their climax, as the entire structure of the mausoleum began collapsing in on itself. The cacophony of such large quantities of stone colliding with each other was nearly deafening to those close by, and could be heard far into the distance. Ainz glanced over at Rose, who was staring in disbelief at the crumbling entrance, denying any chance of their comrades' escape on foot.
Oh no… If they actually died, Rose is definitely going to attack me while blinded by rage! It won't matter how much logic I try and use, no one with such levels of devotion will be able to grasp it!
Before any hostile actions could be made, their attention was shifted to a flash of light in front of the mausoleum's destroyed entrance.
The fading light revealed the form of three people, all worn out in their own way.
Lumachina cried for the massive loss of life, even though she knew they were given a chance at salvation.
Emile lacked his usual boisterous look, replaced instead by a sorrowful frown.
Standing at their center, Diablo panted heavily from excessive MP usage, as he locked eyes with a delighted Rose. The genuine emotion on her face, and the tears welling in her emerald gaze made it hard for him to believe she was truly an automaton.
"You made it out, my master!"
Betraying the superior attitude she held in front of others, Rose buried her head in Diablo's chest, squeezing him in a hug that caused him slight discomfort.
She's gotta be more careful with her strength… The last thing I need is being put out of commission by a level 150 bear hug!
"Of course-ugh, Rose. You never have to worry so strongly about the safety of the demon lord, remember?"
Pulling herself off of him as she wiped away forming tears, the magimatic maid attempted to resume her usual attitude, for the sake of looking good for her master.
"You know I can't help myself sometimes, I'm just glad you won."
Diablo couldn't help but think to himself if he truly 'won' in this conflict. He'd slain Batutta for the second and final time, and his allies escaped unharmed alongside him.
But all those people… they didn't get to escape, to survive…
Did Lumachina really save their souls? Did they go to a better place?
The existence of God was something Diablo hadn't fully rectified, but he couldn't deny the power behind Lumachina's miracles, and her unwavering devotion to the being she called God. With nothing else to go on, he tried to believe that those people were granted some kind of absolution. It sat with him far better than the alternative.
It's like I told myself earlier, a demon lord can't fret over such things… I did everything I reasonably could, and we still managed to prevent a disaster on the scale of affecting the whole city or worse…
Opposite Diablo's melancholy, Ainz was quite pleased with how everything had wrapped up. He'd acquired not one, but two new magic items to research, both from worlds foreign to Yggdrasil. Contrasting the teary-eyed reunion of Diablo and Rose, Narberal stood off to the side looking disinterested as usual. The sight of his uncaring subordinate served to remind him of something he'd accidentally put off, as he walked past his demon comrade, nodding affirmatively to the man who looked largely uncomfortable in his current embrace.
Entoma messaged me earlier saying she had to tell me something… She instructed me to message Albedo once I finished my current task, so it can't be that serious…
Once he was a short distance away, Ainz decided the conditions were safe enough to contact his most trusted subordinate.
"「Message」."
Activating the spell subvocally, he felt the mental connection between himself and Albedo form. Before he could even greet her, the overseer of the guardians addressed the issue immediately.
"Lord Ainz, Shalltear Bloodfallen has revolted against us."
Huh?
…
End of Arc 1
…
Finally this chapter and story arc are done! I spent way too long relenting over what to add or not add for this fight, but I think I found a good middle ground. There were a lot of moving parts here, and I had to be sure I wasn't forgetting any plot points, so if you want a reason for the lengthy gap since the last update, that's primarily it. I can't wait to get properly started on this next arc, as many of you know there are plenty of things brewing in the background, plus more that have yet to be revealed. I think the next chapter will be an intermission of sorts, to wrap up the fallout of the graveyard incident and lay some groundwork for the upcoming chapters. For now though, make sure to follow and favorite if you enjoyed and want to see more, or leave a review if you have suggestions, theories, criticisms, whatever you want. See you all in the next installment, the beginning of Arc 2!
P.S.
I still haven't decided how many arcs the story will be, but assuming they'll be of similar length, I'd say probably 3 arcs in total. Could be more, definitely not less because I still have lots of things I want to cover.