Chapter 14: Lies and Preparations

"I'm glad you could make it Momon," Ainzach said as Momon took a seat at the table and removed his helmet. He glanced around at the mythril class adventurer teams who were also gathered here. There was Igvarge of Kralgra, Bellote of Sky Wolf, and Moknach of Rainbow. Additionally, there was a very thin man that Momon recognized as Theo Rakheshir, the guild master of the E-Rantel Mages Guild, and a rather plump man who everyone knew was Panasolei Gruze Day Rettenmaier, the mayor of E-Rantel. Momon felt a certain smugness as he realized he was the highest ranked adventurer in the room….. unless you counted Ainzach.

"Damn, foreigners," Igvarge muttered as he looked at Momon's face. Momon simply ignored the pest.

"I'm honored to be here," Momon said with false friendliness. "However, I get the sense that this isn't a social call. Has something else happened?" Ainzach nodded grimly. Before the guild master could even open his mouth, Igvarge started bitching.

"He hasn't even been an adventurer for a week! Why the hell is he here?" he demanded irritably. He had worked long and hard to get where he was, killed innocents and lied so no bad rumors about him spread, and the thought that Momon could rise through the ranks, and even surpass him, so quickly infuriated Igvarge.

"Stop complaining, Igvarge," Moknach said, sick of the man's attitude.

"He DID save the whole city, Igvarge," Bellote said diplomatically. Igvarge, seeing he was in the minority, decided to shut up but continued to glare at Momon like an upset child.

"Now, that we're all here, another situation has arisen that I fear may be connected to the events of last night," Ainzach began.

I spent all night talking to Demiurge to come up with what we could say here. I'm going to have to give these fools a sneak peak of Operation: Hellfire a month in advance.

Momon thought as recalled Demiurge's plan regarding the capitol city of Re-Estize and his alter ego: Jaldabaoth.

"As you all know, a mob of the undead attacked E-Rantel last night and butchered countless civilians," Ainzach continued. "The undead almost succeeded in taking the city until Momon arrived and turned the tide of battle, thanks again by the way." Momon nodded in response while Igvarge crossed his arms.

"I could've done it," he muttered to himself although that didn't keep Momon from hearing him.

Really? I didn't see you out there princess.

"What isn't common knowledge is that the attack was orchestrated by Khajiit Dale Badantel, a high ranking member of Zuranon," Ainzach stated. "Additionally, in the midst of the chaos, there was a vampire attack shortly followed by an adventurer team being slaughtered by a vampire. I believe that these instances revolve around the same vampire."

"What do we know about this vampire?" Moknach asked.

"It can't be that tough," Igvarge said arrogantly.

"Calling it a powerful vampire is putting it mildly," Ainzach said as he ignored Igvarge. "The ranger who survived said that it was immune to silver weapons and holy magic. Additionally, it can cast high level magic with frightening ease and create Lesser Vampires out of every human that it kills. The way the ranger described the foul creature was: it looked like a corpse that had spent years rotting in hell before it crawled its way back out." Everyone was silent as the details of the vampire's prowess came to light.

"So," Bellote said. "Are you saying that every person this vampire kills becomes another vampire?" Ainzach nodded in response.

"Should we strengthen the city's defenses?" Panasolei wheezed out.

"Pointless," Theo finally spoke up. "If this vampire is indeed a magic caster then it would be very easy for it to infiltrate the city. This isn't the Empire where they have their Sky Calvary patrol the airspace above Arwinter."

"So what should we do?" Igvarge asked, deciding to start taking this seriously. As the humans debated Momon suddenly received a [Message].

[Guten tag Lord Dracuuuuuuuuul!]

Pandora's Actor. I've been putting off meeting with him because I was afraid of him embarrassing me in front of the other NPCs.

[Pandora's Actor, is that you?]

[Mein Führer! It pleases this most huuuuuuuuuuuuuumble of dienerschaft that you remember him!]

I was expecting him to be embarrassing, but if anything he is entertaining as hell.

[It is good to hear from you my creation. How are things going on your end?]

[Our observation net has been established! Albedo and Demiurge are handling the north and south sides of the forest, while I have led several of your gepanzert Death Knights to the west side as well as the loooooooooooooovely laaaaaaaaaaadies Yuri Alpha and CZ2128, who has taken up a sniping position.]

[Good work Pandora's Actor. Has anyone managed to leave the forest?]

[Nein.]

[Good. Continue to keep them boxed in until I get there. I won't be much longer.] With that Momon ended the message and continued to listen to the humans.

"So you think this vampire is affiliated with Zuranon?" Panasolei had gulped.

"There is a high probability given their obsession with the undead," Ainzach replied.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," Momon spoke out. Everyone's head swiveled around to stare at him.

"Do you know what's going on Momon?" Moknach asked. Momon nodded.

"I know the vampire's name, why it's here, and who sent it," he listed off.

"How?" Theo questioned.

"Because it's the vampire I've been chasing all this time." Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the Dark Knight. "That is an extremely powerful vampire that I've been hunting for three years now. The reason I became an adventurer here in the first place was because I lost track of it about two months ago and I was hoping that becoming an adventurer would give me access to information that could lead me to where it ended up. Funny how things work out."

"Then what are we dealing with here, Momon?" Theo asked.

"This vampire is known as Valeda Tepes," Momon stated the name he came up with last night.

"Okay, everyone here is thinking about it, I'm just the one asking it. Momon, who are you and where are you from?" Panasolei demanded.

"I'm sorry mayor but I can't answer that. All you need to know is that I was sent out with the purpose of hunting down and destroying this vampire and the abomination's master," Momon said refusing to give up such information. The mayor sighed but nodded in understanding.

"Why is it here? Is there something we can do so it will leave the city alone?" Moknach asked.

"No, she wants something that is inside the city. As to what I don't have the answer, but in every city I've tracked it to, the Eight Fingers have some level of influence so I believe it has something to do with them. However over the years I've been hunting her, Valeda has picked up a number of lower vampire subordinates. I'm expecting an extra 3 dozen Lesser Vampires to be present," Momon supplied.

"You said it has a master. Does it serve another vampire, Momon?" Ainzach asked, a little shaken after hearing the number of vampires they would have to deal with.

"No, it serves Jaldabaoth, a demon whose power is greater than even that of the Evil Deities," Momon declared as everyone else in the room turned pale.

"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" Igvarge shouted.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not seeing as he isn't the one we're dealing with today," Momon said, not caring for the fool's outburst. "Let my team and I go and deal with this. Payment can be discussed later but I would like to be raised to Adamantite Plate once this is taken care of. It will make my hunt for Jaldabaoth much easier." The others nodded to each other in agreement since his reasoning was sound.

"No fucking way!"

Except for Igvarge.

"I don't trust you and I can't believe that a vampire that powerful exists! Like it or not I'm going with you!" Igvarge declared.

"Igvarge!" Ainzach shouted in a manner that meant: shut up.

"It's fine sir," Momon said. "But be warned Igvarge, you almost certainly will die." It wasn't a threat. It was a promise. But Igvarge was too thickheaded to back down.

"For you maybe!" Igvarge growled.

"That brings up a question, Momon," Theo spoke up. "I can clearly see that you are confident in your ability to deal with this threat and no one here can deny your strength, but how can we be sure that you will emerge victorious?"

"I have two reasons to remain confident in my chances of winning," Momon said as he laid his massive black swords on the table. "First are my swords. They've been enchanted with powerful magic. See for yourself Mr. Rakheshir." Theo walked over to the table and cast a spell.

"[Detect Enchant]!" after a few moments of silence, Theo's eyes widened as he found the enchantments Momon had added to his swords last night. "This-this is imbued 7th-Tier-Magic! [Holy Smite]! Where did you get these swords!?"

"Family heirloom," Momon shrugged. "Don't bother asking who enchanted them, he's dead. But these are the perfect weapons for hunting vampires and demons alike."

Technically I really am dead.

"The second is this Sealing Crystal. This is what's really going to kill that thing," Momon said as he held up the same blue crystal Nigun had used against him to summon Dominion Authority. Once again, Theo used [Detect Enchant] and this time he absolutely freaked out. "INCREDIBLE! THIS IS REALLY MYTHICAL 8TH-TIER-MAGIC!"

It's not that impressive.

"The spell in this crystal will put a curse on the vampire causing it to take damage from moonlight. So we will go out, set up camp, and strike when comes up." That was a lie of course. The true purpose of attacking at night was that humans couldn't see as well in the dark and he would get his +15 stat buff.

"Let's move," Igvarge said and walked out while deliberately bumping into Momon. Ignoring him, Momon looked over at the mayor.

"Mayor, I suggest you lock down the city to keep people away from the battle. No one gets in or out," he said as he walked out the door.

"Will do!" Panasolei replied.

A hooded man stood in front of the Bareare Pharmacy, only to find it closed. What had happened while he was gone?

"Do we really have to lock down the whole city, Pops?" he overheard a guard ask his captain.

"Orders are orders, boys," the grizzled veteran replied. "Although personally, I don't think we have to worry about it. After all, they're sending the Dark Knight Momon to kill the vampire!" he added with a grin.

Momon? Who the hell is that? It kinda sounds like…..Nah, I must be losing my mind.

Miles away Igvarge was throwing a tantrum while his teammates stared at the tall man in fear. Momon had revealed his true colors. Lucifer Dracul simply stared at them with his usual cold smile and soulless eyes.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Igvarge roared at the vampire. Lucifer rolled his eyes as he tightened his grip on the new and improved Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown. After he had added Jewel to it, he was a little worried she would find a way to turn the staff against him. His concerns were unfounded however. Although she was sentient, she had no control over what she did. She was simply an item to be used. "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU BASTARD! LOOK AT-" deciding he had heard enough of his ranting, but not wanting to waste magic, he decided to simply smack the pest across the face with staff resulting in the annoying man's neck being snapped. Lucifer turned around to look at Albedo who was smiling as if she hadn't just seen a cold blooded murder.

"Albedo, be a dear and kill the rest," he said coldly. Albedo tilted her head cutely.

"As you say my lord," she replied happily as she pulled her enormous battle axe from out of nowhere and started carrying out her orders. Ignoring the sounds of people dying, Lucifer turned to Demiurge.

"Have the Black Scripture made any moves?" Lucifer asked as he licked the blood that had splattered onto his hand.

"No my lord," Demiurge replied. "It seems they're content to stay in the forest and play "Hide and Seek" among the trees," he reported mocking the humans.

"I see," Lucifer said as he pointed the staff at Igvarge's corpse after deciding to experiment with its new features. He had used [Appraise Magical Item] earlier so he knew what he could do now. "[Create Skull Knight]!" Igvarge's corpse convulsed until it become a tall monster in black, bone-like armor that made it look a bit more regal than the average Death Knight, and had a skull for a head. (It's the Skull Knight from Berserk)

"Intriguing," Demiurge, who had been watching, said as he adjusted his glasses. "I've never seen an undead like that before. As expected of you, Lord Dracul. I knew you excelled at necromancy, but never had I imagined you could create an entirely new breed of undead creatures." Lucifer smirked at Demiurge's praise as Albedo approached, axe dripping with blood.

"Let's go. The others are waiting for us," Lucifer ordered as he headed towards the rendezvous point while the demon and the succubus followed close behind. "It's time we put an end to this childish game."

Sorry about short chapter. I had to fill in for someone at work and now I'm exhausted :(

HAIL AND KILL!