A/N: So Chapter three, I did read the reviews and I'm going to try and fix my grammar issues I even got Grammarly as was suggested. Aside from that I just wanted to say I will try to update once every week but that's a best case scenario. Oh and for anyone a little upset I killed off favorite characters, good the point is for us to all feel like shit.
Chapter 3
Woe for those who remain.
E Rantel Twelve Hours After Momonga's Visit.
King Ramposa sighed, dealing with the aftermath of what many now called "The Day of Fire" would be harsh. Rebuilding the district now turned crater would be all but impossible, in place of what was once the homes and businesses of over two thousand dead was now a pit full of ash. While the kingdom would certainly fill in this hole at some point to put anything on top of it would be a financial drain he could never bear, the reason? Some of those ashes were once the adventurers guild and over two hundred adventurer teams ranking from platinum all the way to adamantite.
The loss of so many high-ranking people at once meant defense from monsters now fell to the army, which consisted of peasant levies and spare sons who lacked any form of training beyond holding a spear. The king knew hundreds would die just to clear the weakest of monsters, but the only other option was to ignore the people outside the towns entirely.
He leaned back his head, first Gazef and his warrior troop, then the undead, and now some mage witnesses claimed was on par with the gods of old. Old age was creeping ever closer and he was certain only a few good years remained. He thought of who would replace him and while he loved all of his children, his eldest son Barbro was a fool in the pocket of wealthy nobles. His other two children still eligible were his second son Zanac, and youngest daughter Renner, Zanac wasn't the worst choice but he was inexperienced and foolish while Renner.
He paused, Renner was brilliant and the majority of the common people already loved her, the only obstacle being the nobles who refused to place a queen on the throne for the first time. Now however the kingdom was already on the brink of collapse before all that prevented him from abdicating the throne was the threat of civil war, but now every noble no matter how strong would be forced to use even their guard to slay monsters. Yes it would be sudden but he could do it and best do it fast, currently, Renner was in E Rantel originally to assist the adventurers, now she would likely stay to help with the relief efforts.
Normal messengers would take six hours even with them switching horses at every town in between. This meant with only a few able to make such a trip he was racing against the clock, no matter who he sent word would spread like wildfire the second the messenger left. He trusted his two sons but if they heard the sudden news, either one could be swayed by honeyed words from nobles and form a coup. If this happened it would circumvent the weakened nobles entirely pitting his own family against each other in what would be a bloody civil war.
Of his guards, aides, and soldiers none could be trusted to not leak the information either being the sons of nobles or nobles themselves. So the question came to be who could make the trip to E Rantel in under a day and still be trusted? Then it struck him, while only three remained Gazef's men were loyal to the king and best of all, commoners with no noble ties. Standing from his chair he left the room to find the three survivors, since their return they had been allowed to remain as a somewhat elite guard unit housed within the castle. Making his way past maids and butlers, he slowly walked the castle halls, if he showed any urgency in his movement they would demand to assist him in whatever task he sought out.
Finally reaching the garrison's doors he thanked the gods it was empty save for the three men. Gasping in surprise at the sudden appearance of the king each man kneeled before him head bowed low.
"Raise your heads and stand we must be quick about this, you three are to go to E Rantel find princess Renner and deliver a message."
"Yes, your majesty." Each man said as they stood however when they raised their heads and saw no letter confusion covered their faces. "Where is the letter, your majesty?" One man asked.
"No letter, it would leave a trace as this is of utmost secrecy, you three are to tell the princess she is to return to the capital at once."
"Your majesty, what if she refuses to leave the relief efforts?" Another man asked.
"First assure me on the honor of the fallen Gazef Stronoff not a word of this will be spoken to another soul."
Receiving three quick nods the king continued.
"Should she even hesitate to return you are to tell her it is to be crowned the first queen of Re Estize. Should she still hesitate I allow you to use force if necessary so long as she is not harmed."
His words were met with shocked silence, and then three bows as each man excused themselves and ran to find the nearest horse.
Satisfied in his plan Ramposa smirked, if things went well his kingdom may yet live to see another decade, he only hoped fate would smile upon those men the fate of millions unknowingly resting upon their shoulders.
Nazarick's sixth floor.
Momonga couldn't help but be happy right now, while the fight in the city was a bust two things had gone extremely well. First, in the chaos of his spell, no one noticed an army of death knights appear in the graveyard and steal what he thought was close to half a million corpses. Second, while the fight itself lead to nothing gained it confirmed that there were indeed other Yggdrasil players here. On the downside even if he had killed the player named Evil Eye she was likely already revived and out for blood. Though now she would be around level eighty-five unless, of course, she had any rare revive items.
But all that aside he was just glad he wouldn't have to leave Nazarick for quite some time. After the last corpse was dragged away, and he began storage he realized that while most higher-tier undead couldn't be made permanent it might just be from a lack of strong corpses or not enough of them. So here he was on the sixth floor ordering death knights to pile up a mountain of corpses a hundred strong.
While he could use experience points to summon something like an overlord Wiseman, it would likely fail as it was over level ninety. So with a test subject in mind Momonga mentally grouped the corpse pile and used his ability "{Summon Undead tenth}".
As Momonga felt his daily summons dwindle, he watched as the now familiar black ooze dripped from his hand and slowly covered the mountain of death. Once a day Momonga could summon a selection of undead with no mana cost, with twenty being around level thirty max, twelve could be up to level fifty, and most importantly four could be up to level seventy. He could make stronger undead but most either died over time or cost experience he wasn't willing to waste and so with his choice in mind the pile of corpses coalesced into a single being.
Standing before Momonga was a tall figure dressed in purple robes with a shining crown atop its head, it kneeled before Momonga a guttural groan escaping its decaying throat. Standing over it he chuckled he was positive he'd just made a new permanent level seventy undead, a crypt lord. Momonga was giggling at the prospect of an army of high-tier undead the thought that with just a few hundred corpses each he could potentially amass an army so strong even a level hundred paladin would struggle to win.
Ready to bust into laughter, the familiar sensation of his emotional suppressant quickly made all joy he felt at his newfound power vanish. Staring at the crypt lord's form a thought occurred to him, the purpose of this undead was to have it summon and buff twenty death knights. But if Momonga could make them permanent could the crypt lord do so as well?
Ordering a few corpses to be dragged over he had the crypt lord summon its first death knight. Almost identical to his summoning a black tar-like substance fell from the crypt lord's hand and covered one of the corpses laid before it. Growing into the towering figure that was a death knight he smiled internally, with this and the fact he could level up summons now he could build entire teams from the ground up.
With another order to the surrounding death knights, he had five hundred corpses dragged out of storage. If one worked why not do all of them that was what Momonga thought as he used his last three high-tier summons for the day. If each of the four newly summoned crypt lords could make a full party of permanent death knights then did that mean each death knight could make the squire zombies it created permanent as well, and through that, each squire zombie makes a nearly infinite number of permanent zombies?
The possibilities were seemingly endless as Momonga thought of all his undead that could summon others in turn. While many high-tier undead could summon lessers few would have an effect better than a crypt lord or Momonga himself but that was back in Yggdrasil before he could level summons.
He looked at the pile of corpses set aside for testing and chuckled "It will take time but our lost strength will be returned to us no matter the cost."
As he proclaimed his goals aloud four towering undead could only stare in awe.
E Rantel Four Days After "The Day of Fire"
A young boy shot up from his bed drenched in sweat and with a look of terror plastered onto his face. Looking around the room he tried to calm his panicked breaths next to his bed was a small nightstand and on top a small necklace. Along the barren walls was a simple table with a wooden staff leaning against it illuminated by a small crack in the tiny room's only window. For it to be that bright it could only mean one thing, he was late.
Jumping from bed and tossing the blanket aside he rushed to change into his robes if he was as late as he thought he was then the scolding of a lifetime awaited him. Grabbing the necklace and stuffing it inside his shirt he ran for the door only to double back and grab the staff as well. Making sure to lock his door he rushed through the hallway and down a flight of stairs as he was hit with the scent of stew and fresh bread.
Turning past a wall that separated the stairs from the inn's tavern he smiled, waiting at their usual spot right in the middle of everything was his friends. Seeing him a tall blonde man raised his arm and waved a toothy grin stretching ear to ear.
Running over he sat right next to the tall blonde his usual spot every time the group had breakfast. Sitting with them was a stocky older man with his graying dirty blonde hair and a wide smile that radiated the word peace. Next to him was a younger man his face youthful but hardened the occasional scar marking that he'd seen battle they were the Swords of Darkness.
"Yo Ninya you sure slept in we thought you were gonna miss breakfast." The tall blonde greeted, this was Lukrut a woman chasing pervert but also a damn good ranger.
"Should you have slept any longer I would have had to come to awaken you and knowing how deep you sleep it would not have been pleasant." The stocky older man quipped, he was Dyne the group's Druid and healer a kind man who only wanted to help those around him.
Last to speak up at his late arrival was Peter the defacto leader of the small group. "Hurry up and eat before it gets cold we've got another job today." He was the only front-liner in the group but he was great at it so no one complained.
"Sorry I'm so late I didn't sleep well last night you said we had a new job?" Ninya half whispered.
Sensing something wrong Peter was quick to speak up "Nope, no I'm gonna stop you right there what happened and why are you trying to hide it from us?"
Ninya lowered his spoon back to the bowl and sighed Peter could always notice this stuff. "I had another nightmare about what happened."
At his words, it seemed as though the entire tavern had quieted some, while it only happened a few days ago no one wanted to think about just what it truly meant. Lowering his head and frowning Peter hesitated before he spoke. "Listen we did all we could and what happened that day wasn't our fault. We saved a lot of people and we should be glad we did anything even the toughest adventurers cracked after all that but we didn't."
Peter's words helped but it didn't change the fact that a lot of people got hurt and while he didn't feel responsible he did feel helpless. "Yeah I know we did all that we could but what I saw I don't think will ever leave my mind not as long as I know whatever caused it could happen again."
Ninya sighed picking up his spoon and stuffing a piece of roasted potato into his mouth it was delicious but his thoughts couldn't even process its flavor.
"Well, Peter how about you tell us the good news, what's this latest job looking like?" Lukrut said no doubt trying to change the awful subject.
Peter raised his head and clapped quickly smiling as though he'd forgotten the horror they saw four days ago. "Ah yes I got sidetracked, we got a personal request this time! Some traveling merchant is asking us to escort him to Arwintar!"
"All the way to the Empire's capital? Should he not seek stronger adventurers? And to pick us by name are you sure this is no trick, Peter?" Dyne questioned in between mouthfuls of bread.
Lukrut's eyes narrowed "Yeah if it's some big shot merchant why the hell would he only be after a silver team? Either he's broke, desperate, or a con man trying to steal from us in which case he's an idiot too."
"No no, nothing like that I checked up on this guy myself seems more like he's just scared since he showed up in town right as all this started," Peter replied.
At Peter's words, the group began to quietly finish their meals, it was easy for them to forget with so many high-ranking adventurers dead even the richest requesters could only get gold rank teams at best. Over the last few days, the demand for adventurers had grown so high that even a silver team like their own would be considered a rarity now.
Meals finished the four left the inn and stepped onto the deserted street, with what happened still scaring the populous no one wanted to leave their home out of fear. To see the familiar streets so empty was shocking just a few days ago you couldn't walk two steps without bumping into somebody. But now only the bravest dared to move from place to place as even the many merchants packed up their stalls and hid in their homes as well.
Passing by empty streets Ninya wondered just what could have caused the destruction he saw that awful day. Being only silver rank the Swords of Darkness had no reason to lounge around the guild hall when it happened so the only things they knew of for sure were the blinding light and the aftermath. Gods the aftermath he could still remember the smell of burning corpses and blood running from beneath collapsed buildings.
They had spent hours digging through rubble mostly finding mangled corpses but those few still breathing rarely lasted. With Ninya putting out fires using magic and Dyne healing all he could it was hours before they ever even saw the ash-filled crater. To see so much destruction knowing it happened so suddenly was terrifying especially when he knew adamantite adventurers were the biggest casualty.
Shaking those awful memories from his head he almost didn't notice the others stop in front of a small tavern. Following the three into the small but wealthy-looking tavern Ninya wondered who this merchant was only able to hire a silver team yet drinking in a place where the cheapest drink surely cost a whole silver. Stepping past the intricate wooden doors the group was met with a room full of glares as rich merchants and low nobles stared at the odd ones out.
However, when two figures waved them over to a booth they knew this was the right place, sitting opposite those they assumed were their new employers Peter offered a handshake. To the left of the two was a scowling woman dressed in a dark brown robe her gaze seemed to scream killing intent, on her right sat an aging bald man his eyes sunken pale skin and the lithe constitution would no doubt bring comparisons to a corpse. Grabbing Peters's hand and quickly shaking it he seemed to already be upset at the group's performance. "The name is Dale and this is my bodyguard I was a traveling merchant here to trade but with what happened I lost all my goods and will be forced to leave."
"And you want us to escort you past all the monsters swarming outside the castle walls right?" Peter finished for Dale.
"Yes normally my guard there would be plenty to protect me but with the attack, she has lost her usual strength," Dale said as he motioned toward his fuming bodyguard.
Slamming a fist on the table sending out a wave of cracks the woman spoke up. "Just shut up and take us to Arwintar I'm already pissed as it is so I don't need you, dumbasses, bugging me even more!"
As the woman pulled her hand away Ninya noticed that amid the splinters of wood, not a single piece had so much as scratched the woman's fist. Whoever she was she was strong as even Peter being a silver rank fighter couldn't smash through wood with reckless abandon as she had. Wanting to break the shock of the woman's outburst Peter spoke up. "When would you like to leave then? If we head out as soon as possible we should make Arwintar within three days."
"If it is alright with you I would have us leave sometime around noon Id hate to get trapped in a panicked city any longer so the sooner the better. Now if you'd excuse us we need to prepare for the long journey." Dale said as he stood from the table.
Standing in turn Peter turned to the group "Yes we should get ready ourselves, come on guys let's go."
Clementine was pissed, no she was furious after fighting that overpowered mage she was unable to find any priests capable of regenerating her lost hand. So after a shitty patch job, she returned to Khajiit to try and rethink the plan only to find him crying on the floor. Somehow another group had come in and stolen every single corpse in the graveyard, all two hundred thousand of them. With no more catalysts, the plan to destroy the city was bust but at least they could try again in the empire.
That is if they could flee the city in the first place with all the chaos, so out of real options they decided to make up a story about a merchant desperate to leave the kingdom. And once they made it far enough they could just kill the weak adventurers and claim a monster attacked.
Still, Clementine was pissed that bastard not only took her hand but he also ruined her best shot at escaping the Slane Theocracy. Though she was relieved the chaos would slow down any pursuing scriptures it would only take a few days for them to catch up so time was of the essence.
Kicking a pebble down the street she thought just who the hell that mage was he was far stronger than anyone she'd ever met aside from maybe those Godkin freaks. She paused "No, no fucking way is he an unregistered Godkin? Those idiots lost track of a guy that strong!"
This might change things, there was no way that spying bitch didn't see what happened in town. If they thought the same thing she did then it would be any minute now that the black scripture tore its way through the kingdom to find the rouge, Godkin. And here she was the only living witness to his fight as well as a traitor to the state forget execution she'd be tortured for decades if they found her now.
She had to leave, now, she'd have to find Khajiit and get him to expedite the plan. Dashing through the empty streets she needed to hurry, chastising herself for not realizing the obvious Godkin she hoped to reach Khajiit before the Theocracies favorite hit squad decided to tear apart the city. Turning the corner she saw her companion slowly walking from the inn they'd been hiding in.
Running right up to him she nearly knocked over the old man "We have to get the hell out of here right now!"
Still wobbling from the sudden appearance Khajiit scowled at her words "What else could have possibly gone wrong that could worry you more than that mage?"
Grabbing him by the shirt collar she turned him towards her "No you don't get it old man that mage he was probably a Godkin and I hope to fuck you know what that means!"
The anger at being grabbed melted from his face as a dawning realization came to him "You don't think, no, of course you do it only makes sense. Your right we have to go I'll head to the gate with our stuff you go grab those adventurers. We have to keep cover as long as possible so we aren't marked the second we try to leave."
Clementine dropped him and ran off as much as she hated even pretending to be protected the old man was right. If they tried to leave now then any of the scriptures would pick them out in a heartbeat ending their only chance to escape. Reaching the in those adventures were staying at she pushed open the double doors despite being crowded she spotted him immediately. The short childlike mage from the group they hired was sitting alone eating from a sad-looking bowl of soup.
Pushing past filled tables Clementine slammed her palm on the boy's table "Hey change of plans where are your buddies we need to leave right now."
Startled the boy could only stutter in reply "Wha- what well I don't um I forgot uh what?"
Even more pissed at the boy Clementine pointed her stump hand in the boy's face "You see this, the fucker that did this might still be here so Dale and I want to leave early so go find your friends."
Still shocked the boy stared at the handless arm in front of him body frozen in place much to Clementine's anger. Lowering the hand below the table she raised her voice and yelled at the boy "I SAID GO!"
Peter sighed he hated shopping for long trips on such short notice but when money was as tight as it is he was just glad to have the work. Closing the shop's door behind him he tried to remember the things they might need for the journey. Of course, there were the obvious things like food and water but with such a drastic change to life outside the walls, he could only speculate what dangerous situations could occur.
First and foremost there was the increase in monsters seeing as how now there was no one to fight them, second, there would almost certainly be an increase in crime as bandits became bolder, and lastly, there was the little matter of a super powerful group of undead that now had no one strong enough to challenge them.
So keeping the shit show things likely in mind Peter was trying to buy just about every countermeasure he could think of. From flasks of oil to slow down undead all the way to health potions should Dyne run out of mana and someone gets hurt.
It would be hard to explain his spending to the rest of the group later but it was his money anyway so they could hardly complain although at this point he was flat out broke.
Walking from the shop his bag full of seemingly random crap he almost fell flat on his face when from seemingly nowhere Ninya ran right into him.
"Gotta go fast request lady mad" Through gasps trying to catch his breath Ninya sputtered out his words.
"Whoa kid slow down and breath whose mad and why do we have to leave?" Peter said trying to relax the timid boy.
After swallowing air for a solid minute Ninya finally caught his breath long enough to speak properly "That bodyguard lady with the requester said we have to leave town right now!"
"What the hell what happened to noon? Ah, screw it you go get Dyne I think I know where Lukrut is we should hurry!" With Peters's words, the two nodded and dashed away from each other.
Peter gripped his knees as he tried to catch his breath running all over town with a pack full of crap had been a bad idea. Looking at a sign overhead he steeled his nerves and opened the door hopefully Lukrut was here and this wouldn't have been a waste of effort. The second his head passed the threshold his nostrils were assaulted with the smell of cheap alcohol, sweat, and blood.
Wondering to himself why Lukrut would ever want to go to such a seedy place he looked around the dim room. Laid out before Peter was the perfect image one would imagine when someone said the words cheapest brothel in town. Ignoring the patrons and their partners he made his way to a small bar nestled in the corner of the room.
The bartender was a tall man with brown hair and scars running down his arms his face that of a combat veteran but upon seeing Peter his scowl and disinterested eyes disappeared. "Well if it ain't my favorite adventurer Peter. I'm guessing you here for that lay about do nothing Lukrut right?"
"Yeah actually, is he here we've got a job right now and I couldn't find him anywhere else?" Peter replied, that he'd been here many times looking for Lukrut and over the course of a year became friendly with some of the staff.
Placing a hand on his chin the bartender shook his head "Technically I'm not supposed to tell people who our current guests are but." Pausing for what felt like an eternity he shook his head "Ah fuck it if he don't go I know he'll never pay his damn tab, he's in the back third door on the left."
Placing a silver coin on the table Peter nodded and left the bar Lukrut had come here every single time they had a difficult job and every time he would get drunk and end up late. But the requester was demanding a faster deadline so pre-mission jitters would have to wait, stopping at what should be Lukrut's door he paused praying that everyone inside was dressed.
With three knocks as loud as he could manage and not waiting for a response he pushed open the wooden door. Quickly scanning the room he sighed in relief when he saw a fully clothed Lukrut staring straight at him furious at the intrusion.
Standing from a bed Lukrut quickly pushed the two out into the hall "What the shit are you doing here Peter do you have any idea how much I paid for this!"
Already in a rush Peter didn't hesitate to reply "According to the bartender nothing, now grab your things the requester wants us to leave early."
Lukrut muttered a few swears under his breath before reopening the door and grabbing a small bag off the floor. "Come on let's go no point in making them wait any longer I do still wanna get paid after all."
Not wanting to ruin one of the rare times his comrade was willing to work Peter silently followed Lukrut out of the brothel.
Kneeling silently inside a bright white building a man in dark green leather armor prayed to the gods. Satisfied with his plea for the gods to grant him and his friend's safe travels he stood and made to leave. Dyne smiled when he saw a friendly face standing by the tall double doors of the temple gently waving the boy jogged over to him. "Ah, Ninya what brings you here today have you come to pray for your sister again?"
Ninya shook his head "No I came here to get you, the requester wanted us to leave early they said they were getting scared to stay in the city."
"Well then let us make haste to the town gates, I assume our companions are headed there as well?" Dyne asked as the two left the temple.
"Yeah Peter should be getting Lukrut now but I don't know how long that would take him" Ninya replied.
Silently walking down the flight of steps that lead to the temple the two headed for the town gates. Despite both of them living in E Rantel for years, the city was still massive so navigating the many intentional twists and turns was quite challenging even for them. Turning down yet another series of clustered buildings they finally reached a familiar sight one of the city's main roads.
These roads still curved and twisted every which way but unlike many others, these were wide enough for four carriages and paved in stone. No longer running around it took Ninya only a moment to realize just how creepy it was to see these streets barren. With most of the city still panicked inside their homes, he swore he could feel the dozens of gazes from the windows.
Dyne shook his head, to see what was once a bustling city reduced to this state was saddening, to think such a person so evil existed and could cause this kind of panic. He hated thinking about it but the silence along the street only made things worse as he desperately tried to shake away the things he saw.
Failing to forget something so recent was almost impossible even for an experienced healer like himself. Just walking along the street like they were now he couldn't help but remember the poor souls lined up along the roads. Broken bones, missing limbs, and gods the burns most of those injured were from buildings collapsing from the fires even now he swore he could smell burnt flesh.
They both stopped in unison dark memories immediately forgotten, that smell was impossible to forget but what the two smelt right now could only mean one thing. Breaking into a full sprint they rounded a corner towards the smell only for it to be accompanied by a new one, another one they knew well, blood.
Turning past a closed corner shop they could see what caused those awful scents. Laying flat on its side was a dead horse its stomach carved open and one leg hanging on only by a few tendons. Spotted with burnt flesh all along its body the horse had been attacked and from the looks of it by a complete team.
Stepping around one of its legs Dyne moved closer to get a better look at the poor beast's injuries. While he couldn't save it at this point he could at least try to see why such a mutilated horse was in the middle of town. Leaning down to examine the large cut along its stomach Dyne nearly toppled over when he heard Ninya cry out from one of the alleyways
"Dyne come over here someone's really hurt!" Ninya yelled out to him.
Running over to the dark alley he nearly vomited when the smell hit his nose. Leaning against one of the walls was a man dressed in a full guards uniform although this one was half melted. Somehow still breathing Dyne looked over him as best as possible, while he could cast healing magic if the armor was still inside him it may only make things worse.
Sensing his hesitation Ninya looked over at Dyne "You can help him right, right?"
"I could but first we must attempt to remove the metal off of him. If even one piece remains inside when I heal him it will only complicate the healing process." Dyne shakily said.
Pulling a small black knife from his pouch Ninya started to carefully cut the leather straps holding up the metal plating. While the wounds seemed deep Ninya thanked the gods that the many struck areas seemed to only be grazing shots. Cutting the last bit of leather the man screamed out in pain as the heavy metal of his armor fell from his body with a sickening sound like that of meat hitting the ground.
Kneeling next to the man Dyne muttered a silent prayer that the man would live through this then cast his spell "{Light Healing}."
The man's body was covered in a light green glow as exposed muscle and torn skin began to meld itself together as though it never happened. This would likely not be the only healing the man would need but he was certain it would at least save his life his fears washed away as the man started to move his face contorting into one of pain.
"Caution friend but you've almost died I healed what I could but you will likely need a priest to fix the rest," Dyne said as the man started to open his eyes.
Bracing himself against the wall the man tried to stand only to collapse to the floor. " I thank you for the aid but I must complete my mission at any cost even my life."
Dyne shook his head as the man tried again to stand this time being caught mid-fall by Dyne "If you must be so stubborn then so be it at least allow me to help you along your way."
Heaving up the man with little effort he braced him against the wall "Thank you should I see you again I'll repay you properly." With those words, the man hobbled out of Dyne's grip and limped away.
Turning to Ninya he smiled "Come now we should hurry to our friends before someone tells the temple I healed him for free."
Ninya smiled in turn and the two walked away trying to forget that a horse still laid dead on the road.
The Great Forest of Tob
"Fuck" A small red pool began to form through his shirt accompanied by a stinging pain throughout his abdomen. Nfirea clenched his teeth in pain, he knew the route to Carne quite well but wanting to avoid any undead that may still be roaming he had detoured through the nearby forest.
But almost immediately upon entering the great forest, he ended up walking straight into a branch scratching his stomach deep enough to draw blood. Not willing to waste one of two life-saving healing potions he'd brought with him on a scratch he just tried to ignore the searing pain. Stepping over a fallen log he strained against the pain to try and remember if the path he was on would lead to the village or not.
Gripping his scratched side he grimaced when his hand came up covered in blood. Sighing he sat down and pulled one of the bright blue vials out of his pack, if he kept bleeding like this there was no doubt that the wound would likely become infected. Either that or it would attract any number of predators or monsters that roamed the forest it could even lead something like the wise king of the forest to him so hoping he wouldn't need two he drank down the blue liquid.
Instantly feeling the small cut close itself he breathed out in relief now all he had to do was rinse away the blood and he could resume his journey. Pouring out some of his canteen's water wouldn't matter in the long run after all he did know quite a few spells to make more water. Satisfied with the clean clothes he made to stand only to feel that whatever he was sitting on was soft, really soft.
Nfirea swallowed and slowly looked down, laying there dead on the side of a dirt path was a massive beast covered in fur and a tail like that of a snake. Even dead the beast seemed to radiate so much strength Nfirea wanted to run just looking at the thing. Standing from its corpse only one thing came to mind, The Wise King of The Forest, this surely must be it.
Quickly moving on from the legendary beast's corpse he couldn't help but notice the deafening silence throughout the forest. Musing that the pain he'd endured likely deafened him to the sudden lack of noise he tried to ignore it. For there to be nothing not even the tweeting of birds meant something powerful was in the area and if the wise king's corpse was anything to go off of he was nowhere near strong enough to not die instantly.
Traveling another hour along the dirt path he slowly began to recognize small detail around him he must be close now. Reaching an area he knew for sure Nfirea braced himself that as soon as he passed the tree line he would see the village ahead. He'd come here with two things in mind first he would check for signs of survivors, and second, he would bury any of the corpses he came across.
Stepping out of the trees into the afternoon sun he winced at the bright light. Blinking he looked around the village he'd known for years and nearly wept when he saw the many blood stains and burnt-out husks that were once people's homes. Passing by the roads he'd traveled a thousand times he stopped when a familiar building came into view.
Stepping over the destroyed remains of his friend's front door he looked around the small living room. Every piece of furniture in the room save for the dining table had been flipped over or ripped open most likely by bandits coming to loot any valuables left over.
Wiping away a tear he called out "Enri, Nemu, can anyone hear me!" Silence.
He knew it was unlikely anyone would have survived and not already made it to E Rantel but he wanted to try anyway. "Hello is anyone still here!" This time however he heard a crash from a nearby home.
Running outside he frantically scanned for any movement from the few building not touched by fire "Hello? Is anyone out there?" He yelled out.
Stepping from one of the abandoned homes stood a massive figure, wearing dark armor that covered its entire body as only the face was visible it held a massive sword in one hand and a shield in the other.
Upon seeing Nfirea it let out a bellowing roar and charged at him with a speed he'd never seen before. Raising its sword high above its head Nfirea readied himself he knew coming out here was a risk and he long accepted any fate that may befall him for being so naive to come here alone.
That is until a voice called out "That won't be necessary you may stand down."
Turning to look at the new arrival Nfirea audibly gasped stepping from a swirling vortex of dark energy came a masked figure clad in dark purple robes that seemed to scream magic.
"So young man what has you out here in such a dangerous place?" The masked figure spoke to him his voice was deep and regal what someone would expect from a powerful person.
Swallowing his fear he replied, "I had a friend who supposedly died in this village and I came to bury them since it seemed abandoned."
Placing a gloved hand on their chin the masked man seemed deep in thought at Nfirea's words "I see no reason to doubt you but you must know I've long since checked for any survivors in the area and not even found any corpses."
Nfirea paused looking around he realized the truth in the man's words, not a corpse was to be found. Plenty of blood and damage everywhere but from the look of things not even any sign of corpses. Such a thing should be impossible, even if everyone rose as zombies there should have been signs of where their corpses fell. But as he looked around Nfirea couldn't see a thing to prove anyone had actually died sure injuries but actual deaths seemed unlikely.
"So you see your noble effort is for naught as no one is left here to bury." The masked man said as he turned towards a new swirling disk of black energy.
"Please wait, sir, may I ask what are you doing here if no one remains?" Nfirea shouted after the man.
Stopping he turned back to face him "I came to prevent any more people from entering the forest and getting killed"
"Um sir I know it's unlikely but if you ever see a girl about my age say she's from this village can you tell her Nfirea is looking for her." Nfirea knew it was a gamble to expect her to even still be alive but he'd take any chance.
The masked listened to his words in silence before placing a hand inside his robe "You say your name is Nfirea yes? Then I believe this was meant for you." He said pulling out his gloves hand and a small folded piece of paper.
Stepping over and grabbing it he started to cry the moment he read the first line "Where did you get this thank you mister um, sorry what was your name?"
The man folded his arms seemingly lost in thought "Umu, You may call me Momon I am a simple hermit with an interest in the arcane, farewell young Nfirea." And with those words, he stepped through the dark vortex the massive armored figure following close after.
Nfirea returned to the home he searched and started to read the letter. It was clear she made her father write it but he didn't care every word was beautiful and by the end, he was a weeping mess. He knew he'd never forget Enri his first and only love not now not ever.
Momonga screamed internally, that kid wasn't even remotely scared of the death knight charging him! He thanked past Momonga that he cleared out all the bodies so soon because if that kid saw a death knight carrying away a dead loved one no doubt he would attack without question!
Sighing he wondered just what level that kid was the average death knight was usually under level forty so he had to be at least level forty-five. However, he didn't have any weapons on him so he was most likely a mage of some kind meaning to take a level forty without fear of death he'd need to be around level fifty.
"What the hell is wrong with this world that was definitely a child and to be so high-leveled now what the hell do the adults average?"
Thinking back to the incident a little while ago he almost screamed out loud. He just used super tier magic on a town, in broad daylight, after giving out his guild's name. He wanted to collapse, if Punitoe Moe were here he'd most likely beat Momonga to death for his stupidity.
He was just glad he figured this out now rather than before he ever went back to a town. No doubt there were going to be roving bands of player killer killers hunting for him as he stood there.
" I have to get back to work if I don't hurry I'll end up with a repeat of the great raid!"
Unknown
A black void, an expanse of absolutely nothing, looking around they saw nothing just black. The last memories they had hurt and not just pain they were sad as well. The void flowed like an ocean as they were swept along a path they didn't know.
Until a force grabbed them, not just a hand or a leg, no it felt as though something had grabbed their whole being everything that made them, them. Refusing the darkness they tried to grab back gripping at anything that could even be held. Then they felt it like a hand reaching out to a drowning sailor the clutched it as tight as possible and pulled.
Light blinding, light that forced them to shut their eyes as tight as possible. Gasping and coughing they tried to listen for any sound to identify their surroundings but there was nothing but a deep ringing. Attempting to sit up from where they lay was impossible as well as the moment they tried it was as though a pair of hands gripped their shoulders and forced them back down.
Lying there unseeing, unhearing, and unfeeling they could only wait,
And wait
And wait.
After what felt like hours their breath had calmed and the light started to dim but still, it was hard to breathe and difficult to see. It felt like ages but they could soon hear a sound once again as well, listening for any clues they strained their ears. "We have to learn who did this this is a clear sign another one of them has arrived"
The voice was deep and clear yet distant as if the speaker's voice was far away even though they stood beside you. Straining their eyes past the brightly lit room they blinked staring down at them was a familiar old woman who were they again?
Pushing what little strength they had left to the limit they could no longer stay awake and so back to the dark void they fell.
Rigrit Bers Cuara watched as one of her best students sat straight up stared right at her then passed out cold. "If I hadn't seen the fight against the demon gods I would call that the scariest thing I'd ever witnessed."
"Oh come now that was hardly even shocking we were talking about her the whole time" came a voice next to her.
Standing in bright white armor with four equally bright weapons floating behind them was a figure none could forget. Crossing his arms he turned to Rigrit "So you're positive she saw who attacked the town?"
"Yes, I am certain, among all those present only she could have seen what happened. Well, those still living that is." She replied.
The armored figure sighed, the fact the woman lying half naked on the bed in front of him was even alive, to begin with, was a miracle unlike any he'd seen. Finding out just how she did so would have to wait for later, the moment she awoke she would be drilled for all the info she had on the attack.
Rigrit had wanted to cry out in pain after she heard what happened in E Rantel. To lose so many promising students in one spell was unthinkable and yet here she was only one survivor remaining and everyone else a pile of ashes. "If we do find out who perpetrated the attack how do you plan on fighting them?"
"You still doubt my strength after all these years do you? Should I give you a live example of how I plan to deal with this fool?" His every word dripping with ego enough to kill a dragon.
Rigrit sighed she hated when he got like this "You and I both know if they truly are one of them you'd die just as fast as I would no matter how strong you think you are."
The man lowered his head "No your words are true, I would not have lived this long had I allowed my ego to control me."
The two watched the sleeping woman in unison it would take some time for her to recover completely and with nothing wrong physically no healing spell would help. And so they waited.
E Rantel
Sunlight poured through a window illuminating the vast hallway ahead its many decorations glistening in bright silvers and golds. There were paintings over a hundred years old worth a king's ransom, vases lining the walls made of precious metals any dragon would drool over, and even the walls themselves had small engravings of silver and gold.
But what lay at the end of this magnificent hallway truly terrified Elias Brandt Dale Raeven. Yes though he had been a marquis for nearly twenty years already and seen some truly despicable things what awaited behind a bright white door engraved in silver scared him. As though it were a perfect metaphor the door in front of him perfectly mirrored the occupant of the room.
An image not unlike the angels of the temples preaching only to reveal a demon once turned to face you. Yes, the room's occupant was none other than the supposed golden princess herself a woman who marquis Raeven knew was hiding her true face.
With one deep breath, he stepped forward and knocked praying that she was out in the gardens or some such and he could delay the meeting. But fate seemed to be against him when the soft clicking of locks could be heard and the door slowly creaked open.
Standing in a gleaming metal chest piece as the door opened was the princess' retainer a commoner at birth the boy was elevated to her knight when she found him dying on the street.
"Ah, Climb is Her Lady Renner in at this moment I believe she wished to speak with me." Raeven hatted these petty formalities but he'd long learned the walls had ears.
Climb bowed slightly "Yes her highness is awaiting you for tea at this moment." Standing upright he opened the door completely.
Seeing the princess sitting on her sofa was expected what wasn't were the two other occupants of the room. Sitting across from Renner sipping from a teacup was the second prince Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself the elder brother of Renner. The other occupant was what looked like a kneeling soldier though he looked quite exhausted and was missing a portion of his armor.
Seeing him enter Renner smiled gently "Oh Marquis Raeven how good of you to join us you came at the perfect moment for this gentleman here had news from the king himself."
Raeven was a little stunned this man was clearly no normal messenger not to mention the quick arrival of the message itself. An expert messenger could travel on horseback to the capital in around eight hours under perfect conditions. But for a normal soldier to arrive only three days after the last missive was sent to the capital meant his words would be of dire importance.
"Well, then my apologies for being so late I was not aware such important news had come to us." Raeven said as he sat beside Zanac.
Gesturing to the still kneeling man Renner spoke "Yes we have had to confirm the king's mark he brought to us so you are not the least bit tardy."
Sighing into his tea Zanac looked to his sister "Enough of this waiting and small talk and have him relay the message already. I'm loathed to be in this doomed city as it is but a crisis is always good for my image so I'd rather not stay much longer."
"Very well you may begin and tell us what the king has said" Renner said a small frown replacing her smile.
Standing up with one swift movement the soldier saluted "Yes your highness, as of this moment Princess Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself is to return to the capital immediately!"
"Huh, that's it no news of relief for the citizens, no warning of war with the Empire, just a summons? Zanac asked.
"Well, I'm quite busy dealing with the injured masses and spreading panic so I'm afraid father will have to wait to see me," Renner said drawing a slow sip from her tea.
"Is that wise dear sister if he wishes you to return so dearly he may have important news perhaps even a possible suitor has been found," Zanac said knowing Renner's hatred for an arranged marriage.
"Yes, brother why not it may even be that our elder brother has finally ascended to the throne and we're to be invited to the coronation." Renner quipped back with a wide smile.
Raeven shook his head at the two siblings bickering the three had long ago agreed to raise Zanac to the throne with Renner being gifted her darling Climb and Raeven to be further elevated as a noble. To see them playfully fight like this was mildly pleasant but he knew the second face of Renner and would never consider anything she did truly pleasant.
Coughing into his hand the soldier drew the group's attention "Pardon the intrusion but I have been told by the king that refusal is not an option your highness."
Ever so slightly stunned Renner almost slowed her mask to slip "I'm ever so sorry to return you without me but these people need help and guidance right now, I must stay."
Frowning the guard looked at Zanac and Raeven and sighed "The king requested I tell only you your highness but I'm afraid I can do so no longer. Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself is to return to the capital at this moment to be crowned the first queen of Re Estize."
Silence was followed by the sound of shattering glass as Zanac's teacup fell to the ground.
Standing in unison all three said the same thing.
"What!"
A Pitch Black Cave
The darkness shifted, something wasn't right something new just appeared.
And with it, a great wave of power surged from far away a telltale sign another of them had arrived. It had been hundreds of years since the last ones came but they were boring and weak.
No, this new one was strong it could tell, it could feel the thousands die as the wave of power passed over the lands. And yet something familiar as well, a feeling it had known quite well some two hundred years ago but to sense something so similar.
It had to be a challenge, likely not a direct challenge certainly not with such a broad declaration of power but a challenge nonetheless.
"So another one seeking a fight has come, I will not be left behind again as my siblings claim glory over these invaders."
Raising a massive head the cave seemed to light up all on its own revealing a massive figure that outstretched equally long wings. Beneath it, a crowd of shambling figures numbering no less than a million strong began to climb the towering beast as its wings slowly began to flap.
"Come to me one of undeath I have long since sought one who could rival me, come so we may see just who really is the master of the undead!"