A/N: Again a long wait but the story goes on!
Special message at the end!
Chapter 11
Absolute Madness
Just outside the Elf kingdom.
A lone woman sat atop a flower covered hill.
In the distance, a small pond was illuminated by rays of fading sunlight turning the surrounding meadows into a picture out of a children's storybook.
Small animals grazed and butterflies floated around gracefully.
The woman's gaze continued to stare blankly at the scenery as her knees tightened against her chest.
Beside her sat a small round object.
"Do you feel satisfied?
Was it worth it?
If so why do you sit here with such an expression?"
Behind her, a deep regal voice spoke out.
It was questioning her but she could tell of the concern hidden deep within.
She looked to her side at the round object.
"You've waited a hundred years for this and yet there is no joy in your heart as you stare at that wet sack."
The object slowly came into focus for the woman as her eyes couldn't bare the sight.
A small burlap sack stained a deep dark crimson sat beside her poking out a strand of matted blonde hair.
"What joy should I have? What little happiness could I possibly have after all this?
I spent my entire life training honing my body to the pinnacle of pinnacles and for what?
To stab a man so weak it's like cutting tissue paper.
My life was wasted searching for strength and yet it wasn't needed, two swings was all it took."
She stood and faced the person.
Bright silver metal was all she could make out as her eyes filled with tears.
"Why!? Why was that man able to take so much from me when he was so weak!?"
Antilene Heran Fouche began to sob as her world blurred around her.
Her entire life had existed for the sole purpose of killing her father and yet once she'd done the deed she found not a man of unparalleled strength, but a pathetic man only good for destroying the lives of those weaker than himself.
Decade upon decade living in fear of what was sure to be her last fight the culmination of all her work a final test to see if she truly was the strongest.
To see if her mother's suffering and sacrifices weren't in vain.
Through tear streaked eyes she watched the metallic dragon as his eyes lowered to meet her own.
"Because we are cowards, you and I could easily be called the strongest beings alive and yet we cower and hide at the mere mention of our fears.
We spend ages preparing for the someday, the eventual, and the hopefully but in truth we have always been ready.
The longer we wait the worse it becomes until it is more akin to a lost limb than what it really is. That's why we must stop these people and the feelings of despair they bring us long before it takes root.
Antilene, I ask you, will you not fight him again? Will you allow a dead man to crush you so easily when in truth he is so much weaker?
Prove it! Prove to not just you or me, prove to the entire world that we are not weak we are strong and no one can take this truth from us!
Stand I tell you! Stand and fight your father!"
Antilene wiped away her tears as a burning sensation filled her chest, rage quickly replacing the sorrow she felt.
A kick, so fast the sonic boom could be heard for kilometers, landed directly against the sack still sitting on the ground. In an instant, the head of Decem Hougan, the Elf King, was turned to pink mist in the wind.
"Others like him still exist many so and if you agree to help me rid this world of their presence I will ensure no one ever feels the same as you.
Help me right the wrongs of our fathers."
She turned toward the dragon her gaze burning with such passion it threatened to bore holes through his head.
"Never again."
Carne.
The fate of a frontier village is often found rest upon the edge of a knife so much as a light breeze could turn hundreds of lives into a grim reminder of how dangerous the world was. Yet this same breeze could go the opposite direction turning tragedy into hope and prosperity.
Overcoming disease and famine, withstanding monsters only heroes could fight, and turning war into stories for misbehaving children.
The villages that could claim such a legendary background could be counted on one's hands.
Growing ever larger they would soon turn into beacons of hope and rays of light for the starving and desolate masses to flock toward.
Some would grow even larger becoming nations on their own, the Slane Theocracy being the largest example of this phenomenon.
Carne was not going to have this sort of future.
Of its fifty some residents only three could say with certainty they would live another month.
Situated deep within the untamed wilds of the forest of Tob meant every day was a struggle for survival.
Monsters and beasts unknown, poisonous plants that acted as though sentient, and hoards of Demi-humans that wouldn't think twice about eating you and your loved ones.
As well as the still very present undead population.
Even one of these factors could lead to the deaths of dozens or even hundreds if the wrong person were to die.
Carne had been the epicenter of the undead threat several months ago and while none of the undead had been spotted in quite some time so too had none claimed so much as a copper in reward.
With the only other option being starvation a mass of homeless had made the daring journey to this burnt-out husk that was once a village.
Deep within the forest nestled beneath a mountain of anti-spying spells laid a small wooden shack.
To an outside observer, this shack would be just that, a small one-room building without windows or a proper door but to those few people allowed to see the truth it was far more inviting.
A crack of thunder overhead told of a storm's quick approach however despite the pouring rain a sound could be heard.
With the dying moans of a hinge not oiled in years, the front door creaked open revealing a short young man not yet in his twenties.
Burdened by a heavy coat that offered little protection in the torrential rain he sighed and closed the warm building behind him. It would take ages to get home and there was no doubt in his mind that his usual scolding would be doubled.
Enri hated when he worked overtime but to Nfirea his job was the second best thing that could've happened to him.
The young alchemist's journey was relatively short as he trudged through the thick mud of the forest it was only upon reaching town that he truly slowed to a crawl.
In the forest, he knew he was safe as his benefactor's minions would watch over him with utmost care but the moment he passed the threshold to the village the only help he would receive would be the retrieval of his corpse.
Why Momonga was so terrified of the villagers wasn't an issue for Nfirea to ponder as he knew the truth already.
His master was a. . .
A crack of thunder interrupted his thoughts and he quickly tried to forget the grim reality of his work.
The village was quieter than usual as no one was very keen on getting sick from the rain storm still drenching the charred homes.
The sudden arrival of fifty wayward souls should have been a call for celebration and yet not one of those living here was very happy about the current arrangements.
All of the new arrivals had come empty-handed and starving stretching the already thin supplies to their utmost limits.
Enri being the saint she was refused to allow even one person to be without food and after a very short discussion, he and Ninya agreed though she was more reluctant.
Reclaiming the crop fields would have to wait as most people still had damaged homes so while the rebuilding took place teams of people would march into the forest to scavenge for food.
This was working for the moment but everyone knew just how dire things were.
Mass starvation aside Nfirea had a much larger problem to deal with, one he'd yet to share with Enri and Ninya though he suspected the young mage already knew.
Enri was kind so much so it was sometimes difficult for her to understand just how awful humans could be to one another and with her still in denial about her family he refused to tell her about the stares some of the People had sent his direction.
Nfirea knew it was only a matter of time before someone began to question just how he and his new family had managed to give away so much food. Then it wouldn't be long before a mob of hungry faces barged into his home demanding the food.
He repressed a shudder at the thought.
If the time came, could he kill someone?
Ninya stared at the woman peeling potatoes beside a large cauldron.
Her mind ran wild with theories and ideas about her sudden return to the living and the man who'd performed the miracle.
[Raise Dead] required one to be a fifth-tier divine caster at the minimum and even then the chances of revival were iffy at best.
To begin with the deceased would have to be strong enough to survive the process in the first place and if so they would then have to agree to return.
For a woman who'd spent her entire life in a small farming village and just watched her entire family die before her eyes neither of these requirements should have worked.
Not to mention the fact that the caster was in no way a divine mage of any sort. Not with all the undead running around the woods.
Perhaps he'd learned an equivalent spell in his long time as a necromancer and that was why the situation was so odd.
Or perhaps Enri wasn't actually alive, she could just be an uncommon type of undead that mimicked life to the best of its abilities.
'No, she's unaffected by the healing potions like a normal undead so that's ruled out.
Could she be a demon of some kind?'
The front door opened sending a wave of cold misty air across the room.
Nfirea quickly walked in and slammed the door shut.
"And where have you been?
I was worried sick you could've gotten hurt and I would've never known!"
Enri had looked up at Nfirea with a mix of anger and fear.
"Yeah, why did you stay so late?
I thought you already finished everything yesterday?"
Ninya's question wasn't in worry as she knew the young man could easily protect himself.
She was more concerned about what the benefactor wanted with him and what evils he would then carry out with Nfirea's work.
"It was mostly the storm but I also had to train a new group of employees.
Sorry, I should have had one send you a [Message] but I was so caught up I forgot to."
Ninya shuddered at the word 'employee' as its meaning was far more deceptive than one would think.
The small building Nfirea had to work in every day was a construction of none other than Momonga himself and the moment Enri had settled he arrived with Nfirea's newest assignment.
Training liches of all things how to make the healing potion he'd developed in mass.
She'd gone once to give the young man a break and the moment the door opened she was certain they'd all sold their souls.
Row upon row of lich sat working in the most advanced laboratory she'd ever seen. The lab's capabilities aside she was more concerned about its workers as there were more than enough to decimate the entire country twice over.
She snapped out of her thoughts as Enri placed a bowl of steaming stew in front of her its aroma was heavenly.
For now, she could do nothing against this horrifying mage so she would just bide her time.
Two figures clad in black cloaks slowly rose from the mud.
"Are you sure this is the right place, I thought you said it was abandoned?"
The second figure only nodded before silently nodding to themself.
After a few more minutes of watching the small village, the two began to move closer.
A gust of wind tore the hood from one of the figures revealing long blonde hair.
Nazarick.
"Ha
Haha
Hahahahahahahahaha!"
Momonga laughed as he stared at a small menu floating beside him.
The arena of the sixth floor was alive with noise as dozens of figures clashed together.
On one side two humans fought with every ounce of strength they could muster and on the opposite sat a neat line of death knights.
The reason for Momonga's joy wasn't the impending death of the two foreign elements but rather their speedy progress.
As he watched he could help but feel amazement as the two worked to slay the next summon in the line.
Ruthless efficiency was their only hope at survival and they had accrued quite a lot of practice.
This was Momonga's latest experiment, what would happen if two humans native to this world were leveled to the standards of Nazarick?
So far the results were jaw-dropping.
It appeared that while each person in this world was laughably weak in terms of levels they had no theoretical limit when it came to their physical abilities.
It was almost as if the exp meant for their levels was instead pumped directly into their bodies.
It was a strange phenomenon and warranted extreme research but it had already given wonderful results.
The two men who fought non-stop thanks to magic items were now dealing damage equivalent to a level forty player however despite this neither one had the usual resistances or abilities of a player that strong.
If this strange system applied to everyone in this new world then Momonga could rest easy knowing that despite his foes appearing strong none of them would surpass his immunities.
The fighting began to die down as the last death knight was nearing its final moments.
Momonga hated to see his summons die but progress like this couldn't be wasted.
He would have to thank Renner for her gifts, perhaps another reward was necessary as well?
Barbro Andrean Ield Ryle Vaiself glanced at the man beside him as blood and sweat dripped from his forehead.
His name was Succulent and he was an excellent combatant and at the moment the closest thing Barbro had to a friend the only issue being that the man was utterly insane.
The moment the two had awoken in this awful place he began to mutter incoherently about punishments and the underworld and hadn't stopped even as they fought to the death.
While Barbro had many theories as to where they were Succulent had concluded the two were in the fabled land of the dead forced to fight for all eternity.
Barbro chuckled lightly.
Mad or not he was a fool not to see the truth of their situation.
Of all possible outcomes, he'd not expected his sister to counter-attack especially not with forces so strong.
He lamented the loss of his forces but in the end, they knew the risks of such an attack he too had long ago accepted those himself.
He knew with certainty he'd died and that a long time had passed since then whether it was weeks, months, or years he didn't know or care.
The blood running down his head reached his lips and as the coppery taste reached his tongue he savored the taste of life.
Where they were would always be a mystery but the fact of the matter was that he was alive and for whatever reason, some godlike being had seen fit to give them strength.
A piercing whistle filled the arena signaling their victory, for the moment that is.
From a large iron gateway came a figure just as menacing as the blackened knights they usually fought although this one was no foe to the men.
With rotting flesh and exposed bones, all draped in an academic robe came a raspy voice like the lid of a coffin being torn open.
"The supreme one is pleased with your progress, he has allowed you to receive healing, stand still.
[Twin Lesser Heal]."
In an instant, every gash and scrape healed on the two men, and without a word, the lich returned to the seemingly endless corridor it came from.
"You two have done well to exceed my expectations these past few days!"
All at once a voice Barbro had only heard once before filled the arena sending shivers down his spine.
"With your progress, I feel it is time for you to face an even greater opponent.
Should you defeat this foe and live you will advance to the next step of your 'training'.
Fight well you two."
As quickly as it came the ever-present sensation of death vanished leaving the two men to ponder what this next step could be.
However, the two men had little time to think as a small boom rocked the area.
And then another.
And another.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
. . . And silence.
The two warily scanned the arena for even a hint of movement, ready to dive away from some gargantuan attack that had yet to come.
A bead of sweat dripped into Barbro's eyes and he quickly wiped it away.
And was left staring up, at the rotting carcass of an undead dragon.
Momonga's mouth would've been a grin if he had the lips to do so.
The corpse of the black dragon hadn't gone to waste and while it didn't retain any special abilities it still had the enormous health pool of a level eighty creature.
If the two men were fast enough they should be able to kill it with minimal injuries even if it took several hours to do so.
Should either one die though he could just have the liches resurrect them and begin the training anew, he did in the end have all the time in the world.
Even the dragon itself could be reused so long as the corpse wasn't destroyed during the fight, one of the many benefits to this new world Momonga supposed.
Personally, he couldn't wait to test the next step of their training even though it was more akin to brainwashing than training.
According to its flavor text, the spell [Control Amnesia] would allow one to alter the memories of those it was used on, back in Yggdrasil this only meant a chance to remove agro from some NPCs, here who knew how it would work?
Eryuentiu, The floating city.
Tsaindorcus covered his ears as the three women before him yelled at one another.
The latest addition to the ever-growing anti-player forces was an old comrade from two hundred years ago, an eternally young vampire by the name of Landfall.
Though she went by EvilEye as of late.
Apparently, her undead nature hadn't been revealed to Lakyus who thought she was dead, making matters worse Rigrit had known this for years and failed to tell her driving the woman mad.
Lakyus had started the yelling match and over the last hour, it had only grown worse.
"Enough!"
The room went silent as his booming voice echoed through the halls of the abandoned castle.
"I've had enough!
Either reconcile or leave!
We have bigger issues at the moment and I refuse to listen to pointless bickering while the very world is in danger!"
A short round of apologies was whispered between the three women and despite the glare, Lakyus held she remained silent.
"Now if you three are finished I would like to move on as I too have brought us some more help."
Rigrit stepped closer.
"So the Theocracy agreed to help us?"
"Yes it took some convincing but they've offered one of their god-kin in support of our cause.
With this, we should now have ample forces to begin our assault on the player."
Rigrit nodded, with the Theocracy's assistance they would have far more leeway in the upcoming fight.
While the nation was a bit fanatical towards the six she had to give credit where credit was due, out of all of humanity and possibly the world the Theocracy alone had amassed the majority of knowledge on players.
That and their trump cards known as the god-kin existed for the exact situation the world found itself in now.
"So when do we kill the bastard?"
Entering the room with a comically large scythe draped over her shoulder was the newest member of their group.
"We have a plan, we have the firepower, so why don't we just go attack him right now?"
At her question, all heads turned toward the platinum dragon.
"I-I well you see, you must understand that this is a very delicate situation and attacking outright wou. . ."
"He's scared."
Rigrit stated to the room.
"We're all a little scared right now, it's to be expected, what we face isn't like the demon gods two hundred years ago, it's not even like the greed kings.
No, what we face isn't something the world has experienced before.
According to every record we've found players always came in groups, always, and yet this one didn't.
And that could mean something very good for us, or as I and Tsaindorcus fear it means something far worse."
As Rigrit finished the room went silent for a moment.
Antilene planted her scythe into the stone floor.
"How much worse?"
Both Rigrit and Tsaindorcus faced the black and white elf and spoke in unison.
"We don't know."
Elsewhere in the castle, two dragons held their own meeting.
"Why do we work with these mortals when the three of us could easily kill that stain on the world?"
"Now now friend don't you recall what happened the last time we thought we could kill a player by ourselves."
"Yes, I remember that is why so few of us remain now but back then there were dozens of the things roaming about causing havoc for our lands.
Now there is only one and yet we still hide like rats in a cave.
If I wished to cower I could've stayed home."
"You are truly a fool, I have shown you the message have I not?
Even if such a thing is but lies we must still be wary lest we fall on our talons."
"The message is a warning for them! Not us!
I have heard that same man's voice a hundred times and each time I am again told of how weak he is!"
"For a coward, you act far braver than you did four hundred years ago.
No matter, we will fight when ready and that is that, if you are truly so starved for action go pester those in the mountains I hear they are decent foes even for us."
A torrent of wind marked the deep black dragon's departure.
Cure Elim clicked the small device on and once again listened to the warning it held.
The Slane Theocracy.
Two men grunted as their shovels continually pushed aside dirt and stone.
It was hard work excavating the capital but of the few jobs available this was the least difficult.
Sure their backs ached and hands were thick with calluses but the work put food in their family's bellies and helped to slowly rebuild homes.
Not to mention anything that found that wasn't food or a relic was all theirs to keep, though it wasn't like money was very useful at the moment.
They'd even heard rumors that survivors had been found even after all this time buried deep within basements and wine cellars.
The work went on long into the day but neither man complained.
Until.
A small clink was heard.
The two had found their fair share of metal as it was a very common building material and one of the few ways left to identify a building once stood there.
However, as they pried away the charred wood and gravel they found not the steel frame of a business or home but a corpse.
Unlike the bodies they'd found before this one was remarkably still intact as though untouched by the fire and poison of that horrible day, what was even more unusual was what the man held.
Still clutched tightly in their hands was a large box made of a strange green metal neither had seen before, their curiosity grabbed hold and they went to open the box.
The box was dark green with dozens of drawings and strange symbols wrapped around it, oddly there were no visible hinges nor a lock of any kind.
Despite no visible lock, neither could open the strange box regardless of its tapered lid, not even their shovels could pry it open only bending the tools out of shape as they tried.
The fading daylight meant their time was waning and if they didn't return soon not only would they be fired but they would lose their rations for the day.
Taking the box back was not an option as their bosses would believe it was a relic to be sent to the government.
In a panic, one of the men began to search the corpse for a key they might have missed and after scrapping away a pile of rubble he found, something.
At a glance, it looked nothing like a key it more resembled one of the many symbols he'd seen used in the churches, a sword with six angelic wings spouting from its hilt.
Not a second later he was back at the box searching for anything resembling a lock but to no avail.
With no time left, they both sighed and began to walk away but as they looked down at it one last time an idea formed in their head.
Of the vast tapestry coating the box, a scene could be made out, a fight of some kind they believed possibly a story from one of the gods.
On the battlefield two figures could be identified, an angelic figure wielding a flaming sword high above the land, and an undead with a horrifying visage down below.
Carefully the man placed the sword onto the undead.
Like a picture come to life, the sword key gently moved into place as though he himself had bested the terrifying creature eliciting a small series of clicks.
The lid popped open on its own and both men cursed.
Inside the box was only a stick.
A somewhat large stick mind you but an ordinary wooden stick fresh off a tree.
In anger, they threw the piece of wood as far as they could and walked away.
Hopefully, the box was worth some extra bread.
A line of elves stood atop a wooden platform.
Each one was naked save for the shackles binding their hands and legs.
Some were crying and begging toward the crowd of humans below them others were silent and some cursed with everything they could.
In one swift motion, a bright orange bathed both sides.
And then came the screams.
Like a chorus of torture, fifteen elves burned to death as a crowd of onlookers cheered at the grotesque spectacle.
Nigun watched with a thick grin as his followers relearned the teachings of the gods.
Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, BaFolk, Lizard men, Goblins, and Dryads.
Each race was an enemy of mankind that had been allowed within the sacred walls of their holy capital.
Rectifying their mistakes was the only way they could appease the gods now that their wrath had been shown and if it meant the deaths of the lesser races.
So be it.
Returning to his quarters his smile dropped instantly.
The survival of the council was a gift from the gods however Nigun was beginning to wonder as their decision to work with the dragons was blasphemy of the highest order.
The dragon lords were the sole enemy of the six great gods and to work with them was akin to spitting in the face of humanity's saviors and protectors.
Behavior like this had never occurred in the past as the council had time and time again shown their deep disdain for the dragons.
To change their opinions now meant something was wrong with the council something had to have happened after the disaster to change them. Something sinister he feared.
Challenging the council directly was impossible as even now they held more political and military power.
His sole option would be to find the only person whose decisions could overrule the council.
The Pontifex.
He may have been elderly but he was far from weak and Nigun doubted the disaster had outright killed him and even if it did more than half of his squad could cast [Raise Dead] making that issue moot.
He just had to find the man's body.
Sitting down Nigun began the long task of organizing the finds of his many excavation teams and he had just begun when a man burst into his room.
Nigun was ready to strike him for the disrespect until a heavy object landed on his desk.
Atop his desk was an object the gods had gifted to the first Pontifex
An object that had been passed from Pontifex to Pontifex for generations some would say the sole reason for the position's existence.
And here it lay wide open and empty.
Re Estize Capital.
The game known as politics was one best won by not playing.
To play meant learning hundreds of years worth of rules and regulations each one more complex than the last.
Something as simple as which fork you ate with could lead to your head on a spike if Lady Luck truly hated you.
At the moment Brain Unglaus felt like he was witnessIng that exact situation.
As he stood to the side of the table and its two occupants he couldn't help but wonder just how wrong the current situation could go.
Sitting across from the queen of the nation was the strongest human mage to ever exist.
Even with Brain as strong as he was a single spell would mean ruin for the kingdom's already fragile state.
Of course, he doubted the elderly mage would do anything he still feared the worst.
In the end, all he could do was watch and listen as a conversation between geniuses took place.
Renner was the first to break the silence.
"So sir Paradyne what brings you to our nation?"
"Fluder will be fine and I came here to join your burgeoning kingdom.
It is as simple as that."
"Yes you say that but I have a hard time believing you would leave your much better position in the Empire to join a nation that until recently despised magic."
The mage lowered his gaze to the steaming cup of tea he'd not yet drunk from.
"I take it the news has not reached you then?"
Only Brain noticed as the young queen suppressed the smallest of giggles.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.
We recently removed some, darker, elements of our nobility but aside from that we've not had much going on, nor have we heard much from abroad."
"The Empire is gone. Wiped from the face of history."
Renner's faint smile faded.
The Empire despite the many issues it caused her was integral to the nation's survival without it trade would stagnate, Nobles would grow emboldened, and the mountain of nations the country held back would now be their problem.
There would also be refugees to deal with as they were the closest human nation.
'Wait if he's right we should have seen refugees only a few days after their collapse.'
"How do I know you're telling the truth?
How do I know this isn't a ploy to lower our defenses or to just learn more state secrets?"
"The spies."
"What?"
"You noticed the deaths of our spies yes?
The ones we so carefully hid amongst even your nobility and so well I should add you only ever found two?"
Renner listed off the known traitors and while she did know of many the deaths that day were far greater.
"Let's assume I do believe you, what could you possibly gain from us who are so far behind in every aspect."
"I know you're working with the masked mage."
"I don't know what you could possibly be. . ."
Silence filled the small room.
. . .
"Fluder why, would I the queen of the nation attacked not once but three times by that mage side with him?
We've lost almost every village along our border to him as well as two-thirds of our adventurers.
So disregarding the leap in logic it takes for me to even have met this person how would I join forces with someone who so clearly despises me and my country?
I doubt you've forgotten that I was the third daughter of the king.
I've only gained this throne through sheer luck."
As Renner finished she almost appeared out of breath.
Fluder narrowed his eyes for the briefest of moments.
"It was simply a guess at best your majesty I meant no offense by it."
"I will tolerate your presence in this country for the moment as my agents attest to the validity of your claims.
Should you be right we may speak again."
Renner stood and walked from the room with Brain and Climb following quickly behind her.
Fluder was the only one left in the small guard station.
"Hehe.
Hehehehehehe!
Hahahahahahahahaha!
It true! There's no doubt I was right, that man is here somewhere and I must meet him!"
Brain sighed as he followed behind the queen.
Something about that meeting had felt off and it wasn't coming from the legendary mage.
For the entirety of the meeting, his every instinct was screaming at him to run as far as he could.
Just like when he encountered that dark warrior.
He cleared his thoughts, and for now, he would focus on training and the work he had to get stronger.
"Stronger than even you Momon."
The Roble Holy Kingdom.
In the past year or so the world has seen destruction on a scale only the figures of legends could replicate.
Millions of deaths and thousands of towns destroyed it would seem to the residents of this world that humans were destined to die as though bugs.
And yet. They didn't.
For all their weaknesses and shortcomings humans were resilient far more than any other race.
When disaster looms overhead others would lie down and accept the quick death but humans, humans would scatter like cockroaches only to come back a million strong.
And should they fall yet again the cycle would repeat until the day humans could stand proudly atop a pile of their enemies.
. . .
From beneath the dense undergrowth of the forest, a shadowed figure watched a city intensely.
The city was best described as a hellscape compared to its previous state, with fires still raging days later and corpses piled high in the streets it was one of the worst places possible for a regular person.
This figure camouflaged deep in the forest however was far from regular they had training and experience aplenty but still, the city would hardly be a suitable home.
So for two weeks now they'd lived off nothing but foraged berries and whatever small game they could catch but winter was closing in fast and if they didn't prepare it would mean a slow cold death.
Death wasn't an option, not when their family was still out there, not when they still had a chance to break free from this hell.
The city would have more than enough food to last them through winter and then some, the only problem was its, unique, situation.
No, no it wasn't unique at all half the country was identical to it at this point, the city was overrun with the undead.
With no more living citizens any food would've been left as is the issue was getting to it.
If they charged in a horde would overwhelm and devour them, sneaking in would be optimal but a single mistake would mean death and they were far from confident.
A gust of wind brought a freezing chill that reached their bones.
It was now or never.
Two piercing black eyes watched as the town grew ever closer.
Pulling a bow from their back they quickly notched an arrow.
For the family he was separated from Pabel Baraja would survive.
The country was in ruins as cities fell left and right to the hordes of unending dead that roamed freely.
Only the northernmost of the country could still be called livable at the moment and it's from here that the young queen once loved by all tried to solve their ever-encroaching doom.
Calca Bessarez stared down at a map of her precious country holding back tears of rage, two more strongholds had fallen and with them, the hordes had only grown stronger.
Fighting the undead menace should have been easy for the nation so devoted to their gods as the entirety of their army knew some form of holy attack.
So why, why was this army of unholy abominations so easily tearing through her soldiers and citizens alike?
From a myriad of reports she and her closest advisor, Kelart Custodio, could only surmise that the undead was simply too many to fight.
At the moment a common soldier would only poses the strength to handle around fifteen undead and that was assuming it wasn't all at once.
The best of the best like Kelart and her sister Remedios would be able to handle thousands and that was if they came all at once.
However, the situation was far worse, if she were to line up every able hand against the undead the average man would then be expected to fight close to ten thousand zombies apiece.
It was an impossible fight.
Even their most defended cities with walls tens of meters high and thick could only last a few months at most as the literal sea of undead crashed against them.
The waves would grow in height like ants over a corpse until the city was a pit of death and everyone within trapped as though it were a grave a kilometer long.
Their only hope was the few coastal cities close enough for the navy's cannons to be in range but even those would only hold for another year at best.
It truly was a hopeless situation but Calca refused to let her people suffer any longer.
So with great strain to her and her people, she enacted a plan, word had come from afar that the Re Estize kingdom had survived a very similar event her nation was experiencing at the moment and despite heavy losses, they now thrived.
With the agreement of her advisors, she sent Remedios alongside a small retinue to beg for aid of any kind.
Honor and image be damned she refused to sit quietly as a solution hung so closely overhead, they just had to hold out until help came, however long it took.
ACHOO!
"You better not be sick we don't have enough medicine to treat anything but a life-threatening illness."
"No sir just the cold weather I'll be fine."
"Very well, move ahead and scout the next area I want us camped as fast as possible, every minute here is a hundred more dead back home."
Without another word, Neia Baraja moved to the front of their formation and began looking for even a hint of danger.
It had taken a toll on them to sneak out of the country but once they passed the border things became quiet.
Very quiet.
Despite passing by several known tribe's territories they'd not found so much as a goblin along their path it was as though the route they traveled was devoid of all life.
Still, she was the only ranger so it fell on her to scout the many roads and forests they passed on the way.
Scanning the horizon she was satisfied when nothing came into view, it was only one more day to the capital of Re Estize and after this, the only threats to be faced would be bored guardsmen and politics.
Deep within the Tob Forrest.
"You've seen the chaos around us have you not?
If we continue to act ignorant we may very well face our doom, I doubt whatever force that is behind this will let us simply sit idle as they destroy all else!"
"Please elder I understand your concern but as chief, I have to consider the situation as a whole.
There isn't a doubt in my mind that the other tribes haven't already made moves to prepare for the worst possible outcome.
If we act too recklessly we risk starting another war like before and I doubt any of us want something like that to happen!
And besides, have things not calmed down in the past few months?"
A lone individual stood from the congregation.
He was a towering figure with dark brown scales and a long flowing tail that matched his height in length across his chest was a symbol in a deep red.
"Chief I could go around to the other tribes and ask for their stance on the undead in the forests.
If we act now even if they don't wish to ally with us I could easily convince them to avoid attacking one another they would fear a war just as we do."
In a rage, the eldest among them slammed his fist onto the floor.
"Zaryusu Shasha you'd do well to hold your tongue!
Do not forget your presence here is a formality at best!"
"Quiet!
You, elder, would do better to mind the situation!
Wed do well to listen to the words of an outsider he has seen things we can only dream of!"
"Bah! You simply treat him kindly as he is your brother!
If anything should be done it should be done by you Shasuryu!
Or are you not our chief?"
"You!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Without a second thought, the two brothers dashed outside only to stop in place at the scene unfolding in their small village.
In the village center, were three of what could only be called abominations.
Two were massive undead beings each wearing midnight black armor and wielding a massive shield and sword.
In between these monoliths of violence and death stood something that sent shivers down their spines.
Floating above the swamp they called home was a mass of flesh and teeth.
Slowly more and more soldiers began to arrive steadily forming a circle around the monstrosities.
Zaryusu was the strongest among them and even he doubted surviving a fight against even one of the things.
As the thought of his death passed through his mind the mass of flesh began to move revealing that the thing possessed well over a dozen mouths.
"HeeD tHe caLl of the GreAt onE
"In tHree dAys tiMe, deAth sHall cOme foR aLl!
PReparE yOur mEager LivEs foR the GreAt oNe's ApProach!"
As the strange creature finished speaking all three vanished in a cloud of black smoke.
Elsewhere the exact event was carried out much to the horror of the lake's residents.
Carne.
A small knock came to the door.
While it wasn't late in the day visitors were nonexistent in the village as few wished to interact more than necessary.
People didn't wish to grow too attached to someone who could die the next day.
Regardless Nfirea was raised with customer service in mind so without hesitation he opened the front door.
There in the blistering heat of midday were two people dressed in thick black cloaks so out of place for the small village he was certain they were outsiders.
"C-can I help you?"
The taller of the two stepped forward and for a brief moment, Nfirea truly believed he was to die in the next second but his fears were misplaced as the smaller of the two placed their hand upon the shoulder of the other.
"We're looking for a young woman who was seen coming to this village some time ago.
Have you seen a girl around fourteen years old with short brown hair and bright blue eyes?
She's also a mage of some talent so maybe you'd recall that as well?"
The voice coming from the hooded person didn't match their appearance as Nfirea expected the gravely voice of a trained assassin but heard the voice of a young girl.
"Uh yeah one, one moment."
Turning back to the house he then shouted.
"NINYA!
Some people are asking for you!"
Nfirea didn't get a chance to see as the two pushed past him sending him to the floor, he was able to catch on his way down the long blonde hair of the woman he spoke with.
"NINYA! IT'S TUARE!"
Suddenly a door in the back of the house burst open and Ninya ran at the cloaked woman, the two ran to each other meeting in a tight embrace and weeping.
The two spoke in mumbled cries to one another as the hugged leaving Nfirea to climb up from the floor even more confused than before.
"They are sisters.
They were separated some years ago."
The one speaking was the very tall man still covered head to toe in thick black cloth.
"Well thank you for that Ninya is a close friend of mine I'm sure this means the world to her.
I know! Why don't you all stay for dinner I doubt Ninya wants you to be apart from her sister again and ours is one of the better houses in the village so there's plenty of room for you!"
The man let out a sigh.
"She may stay for now but I have other things to do, I'll return tomorrow."
The two sisters were still crying into each other when the man finally left.
Tuare and Ninya talked throughout the night telling of their lives and stories after being separated with Tuare neglecting to mention her time as a slave and Ninya carefully hiding the face she was being hunted.
Both knew their lives were filled with strife and neither wanted to burden the other with unnecessary info, not after all this time apart.
For now, they would just enjoy the other's presence.
A crowd moved silently in the dead of night.
They all watched as the lone house on the hill was alight with laughter and joy while they fought like dogs for the scraps.
With each passing day they grew hungrier and hungrier while those three ate their fill without regard for those below them.
After tonight though their children wouldn't have to go hungry any longer.
As they neared the light of the home only the truly observant could spot the assortment of blades as each reflected the faint candlelight.
Unbeknownst to those desperate people two figures watched them from the shadows neither one aware of the presence of the other.
Ninya sipped from a small wooden mug, alcohol of any kind was always gross but tonight she was celebrating so it would be rude not to.
They were celebrating not one but two reunions.
Her time in this house had been short but it had never been anything but pleasant as even now the scare with Momonga seemed almost childish.
Sure she had regrets, hundreds by this point but in the end, she couldn't help a sense of comfort knowing that the man who was so strong as to own a dragon was now protecting her.
Not to mention it wouldn't have been possible for her sister to come if she hadn't met all of her friends along the way.
Thinking of them saddened her but it wouldn't dampen her mood however it did give her an idea.
"Nfirea, I know I owe you a lot you've even saved my life but, could I ask a favor from you?"
Nfirea looked up from his meal with a wide smile.
"Of course your sister can stay here she's your family after all and don't worry you've helped out enough to more than repay me!"
She looked down.
"No that's not it, I was going to ask.
In the morning could you. . .
Help me bury my friends?"
The room went quiet.
"I-I, I would be glad to help."
"Me too."
Enri said with a faint smile.
"As would I and I'm sure my friend would help as well."
Ninya turned to the people as tears began to fill her eyes, after so much work and so much hardship at last she felt she'd found what she could call home.
The other three moved to comfort the girl as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Tuare leaned in and hugged her sister, they'd both gone through so much the gods only knew how much they'd suffered.
"Ninya I swear to you as long as I live I will never again leave your side."
CRACK!
Prematurely ending their time together was a shower of wood splinters as the front door was caved in by the boot of an angry villager.
"Ha! We were right!
While we starve they're up here eating like kings!
They even have alcohol and cheese!"
Without any hesitation the man swung his cleaver toward the four who were still shocked at the sudden chaos.
The knife never reached its target as a bolt of green collided with the man sending him back, only for his spot to be filled by four more men.
As his body lie there melting from the [Acid Arrow] he let out a painful chuckle.
They knew there was a magic caster here and they didn't care if it meant keeping their families alive each one would be glad to die.
A wave of people filled the room as Nfirea cast another [Acid Arrow] toward the attackers.
He'd figured something would happen from the looks some villagers gave him but he always suspected it would be a mugger from one of the alleys not a direct assault on his home.
While another man fell to his magic the others closed the gap far faster than he could cast and as one neared he feared the end of his life.
"[Magic Arrow]!"
From behind Ninya began to cast as well tearing four holes into Nfirea's would-be killer.
"RUN FOR IT!"
Each one ran for the back door not caring that the men behind were tearing apart the small dining room they'd just eaten in.
Flinging it open Enri and Tuare ran out first as Ninya and Nfirea dropped another two men wielding very large cleavers and a spray of viscera coated the floor as the two bodies hindered the rest of their pursuers.
It was only seconds after leaving the house the another group surrounded them, from the looks of it the entirety of the village was here to kill them.
Nfirea prepared to send another bolt of acid at the men but a sharp pain stung at his side.
Reaching down he saw a small but very sharp-looking rock coated in blood, his blood.
Turning he saw the source of the rock and he nearly collapsed at the sight.
The few children in the town were standing beside small piles of rocks each one sharper than the last the kind of sharpness only a tool could make.
How long had they been preparing for this night?
"[Fire Ball]!"
In his distracted state, he barely noticed the flame careen past him and into the doorway behind him.
Turning he saw as a man fell to the ground already dead, It took Enri slapping him for him to hear the screams.
"Focus! Please, I can't lose you too."
He shook the fear from his mind, he couldn't lose her either so with all his might he would fight to the end.
As he was readying his next spell he saw the knife, like the world was moving in slow motion he watched as it gently spun in the air.
Right toward Enri's neck.
Without a second thought he began to push her away he knew it would kill him and he hated to break her heart but he'd lost her once before and could do nothing about it.
Not this time, so with resolve he faced oncoming death.
Clink.
Like dropping a spoon on porcelain he heard not his blood splattering but the sound of the knife meeting what could only be called an immovable object.
"MOMONGA!"
"I'm a little proud of you Nfirea I don't expect you to be capable of such violence but the conversation can wait until after."
With a flick of his wrist, all four watched as a wave of people dropped dead like puppets whose strings had been cut.
"Hmm, interesting.
[Chain Dragon Lightning]."
A bolt of pure blue energy shot out at the remaining attackers turning the twenty still standing to dust.
Nfirea looked away from the very small piles of ash beside the rocks what was done was done.
Momonga then turned to the still anxious four holding four pink bottles.
"Here drink these they should heal your wounds."
Nfirea had to look around to notice it but indeed each one of them had cuts and bruises all along their bodies.
"How long were we fighting them?"
Momonga placed a gauntleted hand on his mask.
"Hm, I received word from my summons around an hour ago about strange behavior in the town.
So perhaps twenty or thirty minutes."
"That, that's insane!"
Ninya shouted.
"Far from it even I can lose track of time quite easily.
Now onto a more pressing issue."
The large man then turned toward the house as it slowly burned away his hand covered in a dozen magic circles.
"I'm sure you don't mean these four any harm but I'd still prefer it if you didn't hide from us."
From the burning home came a red even brighter than the flames around him.
Covered head to toe was what Nfirea assumed to be a man in full plate armor, armor like he'd never seen before.
But Momonga had. Back in Yggdrasil.
'WHY DOES HE HAVE POWER ARMOR!'
Far far away.
A woman clenched her left hand.
She released.
She clenched her right hand.
And smiled.
Bright yellow metal glinted in the light.
She released.
"This is all you'll get from that crown you're on your own from here."
Clementine smiled even wider.
She didn't need any more than this.
Hey, author here as a thank you for all the support I wanted to give a sneak peek into certain events going on in the world.
The best way I could think to do this was through, drum roll, please!
Population counts!!!
Re Estize: Before 9 million / After 8 million.
Baharuth Empire: Before 8 million / After 5 thousand.
Slane Theocracy: Before 12 million* / After 10 million
Roble Holy Kingdom: Before 5 million* / After 2 million.
* I found no population anywhere I looked so I had to guess from what the novels and wiki said.
As for the other nations not mentioned, well, I don't want to spoil too much but let's just say the next chapter will involve dwarves.