(In case people miss this chapter due to the current errors with the FanFiction e-mail notifications, this was uploaded on schedule on Friday 20th October 2023)
Hey there everyone, hope you have all been well in the past fortnight since the last chapter. Welcome back to Chapter 15 of the Nazarick Triumvirate where we are continuing this awesome Lizardmen arc. The royal procession and Nazarick's retaliation are coming, but Ainz and Henry must be informed of Fengxian's loss before deciding on their next move.
daniel: Hey guys! Great to be back! Been loving this anime season something fierce! Especially Eminence in Shadow, Shield Hero, Goblin Slayer and Frieren. But now let's show you all how awesome royal processions can be in a fantasy world!
As my co-author just stated, this season of anime is knocking it out of the park so far. As well as the continuation of amazing series such as Eminence in Shadow, Shield Hero, Spy x Family and Dr Stone, I'm also watching Ragna Crimson and Shangri-La Frontier which are two of the new anime starting this season and both are proving to be awesome watches so far.
But enough of that, let's get into what you are all here for: Chapter 15! As always, the usual disclaimer that neither I nor daniel own Overlord or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime, manga or Light Novels. The only things we own are our OCs, Henry and Fengxian. ENJOY!
Chapter 15 – Royal Procession
"To our glorious victory!"
"And to our Ancestor's spirits!" These were some of the cheers echoing around Razor Tail village as all five tribes celebrated their victory over the undead armies earlier that day. Drinks were passed around and quaffed by the barrelful once the party got underway which had been slightly delayed due to the funeral rites that were conducted to honour the sacrifices of those who had died during the battle. In total, 165 brave warriors had perished on the battlefield earlier that day with the casualties spread equally among each of the tribes, and so, in the spirit of the bond they now shared, each tribe performed their own funeral rites for their departed clansman as the other four watched respectfully. Once it was over, each of the chieftains and Zaryusu (once they had recovered from the injuries they had sustained during their battle against Iguva=41) gave a short speech honouring their fallen comrades, giving thanks to their ancestors for guiding them to victory and commending each living warrior who still lived for giving their all to defend their home and way of life before announcing the village-wide celebration, which had resulted in a large cheer of joy from everyone assembled.
"I thought I'd seen all of Frost Pain's capabilities during my duel with Zaryusu," Zenberu spoke up from where he and the rest of the chieftains (apart from Crusch and the aforementioned Zaryusu) were congregating amid the revelry surrounding them. "But I didn't know about that fancy ability he was showing off during our fight against that lich."
"Icy Burst, you mean?" Sukyu said. "The ability is strong, but it has limited use. That's why Zaryusu couldn't use it repeatedly and had to choose his moments wisely."
"Even we knew that…surely as one of the Chieftains you should've been aware of the capabilities of one of our Treasures, hm?" Kyuku teased.
"Yeah okay, you got me there, but did you know that it has the power to protect its wielder from the most extreme cold possible?" Zenberu countered.
"I did, but that ability also has its drawbacks," Shasuryu pointed out, a hint of concern on his face. "It doesn't grant complete immunity to frost damage, and as you saw it took all of my brother's strength and willpower to not only resist being frozen but to also land the final blow against that lich. It may take him at least a full night and day's rest for him to get his strength back."
"Even with my resistances I would've struggled not to give in. Your brother is one tough egg, I'll give him that," Zenberu said as he quaffed another bowl of liquor. "Drawback or no, that do-or-die manoeuvre that allowed him to finish off that bastard wouldn't have been possible without the combination of Frost Pain and your brother's tenacity and spirit. He's an amazing warrior, and it was an honour to stand alongside him during that final battle."
"Aye. I am proud beyond measure to call him my brother," Shasuryu agreed as he also took another drink. As he gulped it down, he became aware of the sound of Rororo's massive footsteps as the hydra, having fully recovered from the burns it suffered during the fight, bent its heads down to nuzzle against the Green Claw chieftain's shoulders. "You did well too. Thanks for having his back," he complimented the creature as he stroked its nearest head affectionately.
"So then, I assume it'll be back to life as normal after this?" Zenberu asked as he and the other chieftains also took a moment to either scratch or stroke one of the hydra's many heads.
"Doubtful," Shasuryu answered. "I think it's far more likely that we've pissed off these so-called 'Supreme Ones' that you mentioned the lich kept bringing up. They'll probably come to attack us personally to avenge their loss so we need to be ready for when they do."
"Best make the most of this night whilst we can then. Speaking of your brother…how come he's not out here like the rest of us?" Zenberu asked.
"Like I said he's probably taking the chance to rest as much as possible. Last I checked he was already fast asleep," Shasuryu said. "He and Crusch were pretty much dead on their feet, so we probably ought to allow them their space and let them rest for a while longer."
"Heh, don't be an idiot," Zenberu grinned as he got to his feet, drink in hand. "We both know resting ain't what's going on in that tent."
"Just don't make a nuisance of yourself, you hear me?" the chieftain of the Green Claws shouted to Zenberu's retreating back, but the hulking warrior either hadn't heard or didn't care for his words as he made his way over to the tent where Zaryusu and Crusch were resting in.
"Hey, how's the baby-making?!" He roared as he pulled back the tent curtain to find both of its occupants wrapped in each other's arms, only to jump apart with a loud cry of indignation courtesy of the new arrival which caused them to blush and (in Crusch's case) set their tail wagging furiously in heat, which only amused the Dragon Tusk chieftain to the point of letting out a full-bellied laugh, drawing the attention of the rest of the camp and only adding to the shame and embarrassment felt by both the Red Eye chieftain and her prospective mate.
~TNT~
Teleporting straight to the Lemegeton upon his return to Nazarick, Fengxian was greeted by both Yuri Alpha and Entoma Vasilissa Zeta who were dutifully waiting beside the massive doors that led to the Throne Room. As the Grand Marshal approached, the two dutifully fell to their knee and bowed their heads. "Welcome back, my lord Grand Marshal," Yuri spoke up. "If I may be permitted to ask, how goes your affairs in the Great Lakes concerning the Lizardmen tribes?"
"That is what I am planning to discuss with my Lord and Crown Prince since they sent for me to return with all haste," Fengxian replied with a courteous nod. "Are they within?"
"They are, my Lord. Lord Ainz and Crown Prince Constantine have not long returned from E-Rantel where they, along with Lady Albedo and Narberal, were undertaking more quests in their mission to bolster the reputations of their adventurer aliases," she replied crisply with a small hint of dismay at what she felt was the 'inappropriateness' of two of the Supreme Beings having to perform these menial errands in order to please some humans rather than taking what was theirs by right. Nevertheless, they were her masters and she their subordinate…if that's what they believed was best for Nazarick then who was she to speak otherwise? "Upon their return, Lord Ainz ordered those Guardians who were not already deployed further afield to gather so that he and the Crown Prince could be updated on their progress. They are currently assembling as we speak."
"Who has already arrived?" The Grand Marshal asked.
"Since Lord Sebas is still in the Re-Estize Kingdom and Lady Shalltear and Lord Cocytus are still on deployment with your glorious self, the ones who have already assembled are Lady Aura, Lord Mare, Lord Demiurge, Miss Ninya and Lady Albedo," Yuri answered once more. "I believe my Lord Ainz has also sent for Lord Victim who should be arriving shortly."
"Victim too? Wonder what Suzi and Ise are planning…" "Very well. Pop your head in and announce my arrival."
"As you wish, my lord Grand Marshal," Yuri stated as she got to her feet and pushed open one of the doors. Despite their size and weight, it parted easily when the Pleiades maid pushed her hand against it. "Master Ainz, Crown Prince Constantine," she called through the open door. "Grand Marshal Fengxian has returned and desires to enter."
There was a brief pause before Henry's voice floated their way from the other end of the Throne Room. "Tell the Grand Marshal he may enter." By way of a response, Yuri pushed both doors open allowing the Grand Marshal to enter. As he made his way down the red rug that ran from the doors to the throne, he saw Ainz seated regally upon it, the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown that had been newly anointed with Jewel of Death clutched tightly in his left hand, his glowing red eyes watching his friend approach. At his right-hand side, as was appropriate, stood Henry resplendent in his golden/black armour and who was watching his oath-brother walk towards them with a warm smile, whilst on his left stood Albedo who inclined her head politely at the Grand Marshal's approach. Kneeling already at the base of the throne were Aura, Mare, Ninya and Demiurge who, upon hearing of the Grand Marshal's return and his heavy footsteps, turned their heads and inclined them dutifully as well.
"My Lord Ainz…Crown Prince Henry…I have returned from the Great Lakes with news," Fengxian spoke up dutifully as he ascended halfway up the stairs to Ainz's throne and knelt before them.
"We are pleased to welcome you back among us, my loyal friend and Grand Marshal," Ainz replied warmly, his arms spread wide. "And we look forward to hearing your report during the course of this meeting. Now rise, and take your rightful place at my left hand."
"It is good to see you as well, my friend," Henry added as Fengxian rose to his feet and did as Ainz bid, with Albedo moving to stand alongside her Crown Prince instead. "We are just waiting for Victim to arrive, and then we will get started."
"My lords!" Came the call once again from the Throne Room doors as Yuri Alpha's head appeared there once again. "Lord Victim, Guardian of the Eight Floor, has arrived and requests to come before you as ordered."
(Speak of him and he shall appear) Ainz chuckled via Message to his two friends before speaking out loud. "Tell Victim he may enter, Yuri," he bade. A few seconds later, the doors opened wide once again as the new arrival floated serenely through them before making his flight to where the rest of the Guardians were currently waiting. Created by guild member Luci Fer and standing at a height of only 3 feet and 3 inches tall, Victim was easily one of the smallest if not the smallest being to inhabit the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and bore the appearance of a bright pink foetus with an angelic halo above their head and featherless stick-like wings on its back. Due to not possessing a neck of their own, Victim had to turn their entire body around in order to survey their surroundings.
"Now that the last of us has arrived, we can begin," Ainz declared as he banged his staff against the base of the Throne, causing everyone's gaze to turn reverently upon him. "I want to thank all of you, my faithful Guardians and friends, for assembling so swiftly. We have much to cover during this meeting."
"Your thanks are wasted upon us, my Lord Father. It is our duty and pleasure to come when you call," Albedo answered pretty much automatically. "Tell us what you desire and we shall give life and limb to see it carried through." The rest of the assembled Guardians along with Henry and Fengxian nodded at her words.
"As always, your loyalty and willingness to obey are commendable and greatly appreciated," Ainz said with the barest incline of his head as his gaze turned upon their latest arrival. "Victim, come forward and introduce yourselves to those who have not met you yet."
The tiny pink Guardian did as his Master bade and floated towards the front of the steps before turning around and inclining its minuscule head towards the rest of the Guardians. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you," it spoke in a soft voice. "I am Victim, Guardian of the Eighth Floor and the creation of Lord Luci Fer. I exist to serve the Master and the rest of the Supreme Beings."
In all his time with the guild before their arrival in the New Word, Fengxian had only been to the Eighth Floor once or twice and so was not overly familiar with the tiny Guardian, nor for that matter their creator since he and Luci Fer, with the exception of when they joined the others on raids, had not had much interaction due to often being online at different times. However, he was aware that it had been this diminutive NPC who had played an essential role in halting the invasion force of 1,500 players and NPCs that had been the only group to make it past the Seventh Floor, with not one surviving to go onwards to the Ninth Floor, and had often wondered just what sort of power it possessed that enabled him to do that. "Since he's introducing the rest to Victim, I'm guessing Suzi will tell them about what they can do…"
Henry, meanwhile, was watching the diminutive Floor Guardian with a mix of endearment and slight awe as Victim was the epitome of what could be called 'creepy cute', not to mention that it was thanks to them that they were able to come to the New World in the first place since it was by their efforts that the colossal raid on the Great Tomb had been thwarted. As for Victim's creator, Henry had been on friendly speaking terms with Luci Fer despite his reputation as a troublemaker within the guild, though their bond was nowhere near as close to those he had with the likes of Suzi, Ki, Peroroncino and Touch Me.
"Though you guard the Eighth Floor, that is not the reason we have called you here," Ainz continued. "Though the Slane Theocracy's attempts to use a World Class Item on Fengxian and Shalltear ended up being for nought, I doubt we have seen the last of them. For now, we are assuming they are licking their wounds and putting their heads together to think of another way of luring us out into the open. In order to protect myself, my son, the Grand Marshal, the Guardians and everyone else in Nazarick I will use every method at my disposal, including the powerful detainment skill that can only be activated upon your death." The Overlord bowed his head apologetically. "I promise that should this occur, I will bring you back to life immediately. I hope you can forgive me for indulging in such a method."
"That's what makes Victim so special? A powerful ability that can only be used with his death? That's messed up…what the heck was LuciFer thinking?" (Did you know about this, Ise?) Fengxian privately asked Henry.
(This was all Suzi's idea, but trust me when I say I fought tooth and nail to prevent this. The last thing I want is for anyone to die to ensure we live) the Dragonoid replied. (He was dead set on it though, so the only concession I could get was using it as a very last resort)
"Better than nothing I guess…" The Nephilim pondered with a sigh. "Strategically it makes sense and is a useful ability, but still…I guess Suzi must really be paranoid about any potential threats and is playing it safe. In his shoes, I might have done the same thing…"
"Do not let it bother you, my lords," Victim spoke up in the same gentle voice as they bowed before them. "That is the purpose I was created for. If I can be of use to the Supreme Beings, and the Tomb as a whole, nothing would give me greater joy." The soft resignation and acceptance behind their words caused Aura and Mare to shed a few tears, Ninya's expression to turn heartbroken and even broke the normally composed expressions of Demiurge and Albedo as they pursed their lips slightly. As for the three Supreme Beings, it was taking all of Henry's composure to not break down and go over and cuddle Victim as their soft acceptance of their fate caused a great deal of pain to his all-loving heart. Fengxian's expression was grim behind his helm, and even though he couldn't show any emotion, Ainz was deeply conflicted over having to use the creation of one of his beloved guild-mates in such a way.
"There is a motto that the rest of the Supreme Beings and I often lived by which I am reminded of now: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends'," Ainz added sagely amid the silence. "Wise words to live by, and ones that I believe fit you perfectly, Victim. I am grateful for the love you bear for us all." Henry nodded at these words, a slightly pained smile still on his face. Suzi and Touch Me had introduced him to that particular phrase, taken from the Christian Gospel of John from their world, and they had become one of his many mottos both in that world and this. Though he would do his best to live and see the world he and his brothers would create, he would also gladly lay down his life for everyone he loved here, and he was certain both Suzi and Ki felt the same way. "Now then…Demiurge, raise your head." The demonic Guardian at the end of the line did as he was bidden. "First, allow me to honour you. You always answer our calls with haste."
"You are too generous, my Lord," Demiurge interrupted abashedly. "It is expected of me as it is for all of your humble servants to answer the call of the Supreme Beings when you have need of us."
"Indeed. I have been inspecting the sheepskin parchment you have been providing from your experiments." Both Henry and Fengxian titled their heads in curiosity as neither of them had been informed of what Demiurge had been up to on his farm (nor had they asked given the demon's sadistic interests). "It is evident they will stand up for use as low-tier scrolls. Can I count on a stable supply of it, especially on Jemima's behalf given her extensive use of them in her work?"
"Of course, that will not be a problem, my Lord," Demiurge replied as Henry, who'd been expecting worse, allowed himself a small sigh of relief. "I have acquired an ample number of them which I can immediately provide for Miss Jemima."
"Very good. And just out of simple curiosity…what is the name of the beasts you have been harvesting?"
"Their name? Ah…I believe the name 'Abelion Sheep' would suffice, would it not? After all, the skin is similar, as in their role in your eventual conquest," Demiurge answered after a moment of consideration.
"Sheep huh? Interesting…" "So the beasts are actually chimeras or at the very least a subspecies of them? In YGGDRASIL, chimaeras had the head of a lion and a goat and their tails were snakes. Demiurge must think that a beast with sheep-like skin must be different…" "Whilst I think the term 'Abelion Goat' would make more sense, the success of your endeavours is more important than a discussion over what a beast should be called. Continue your good work." Ainz's gaze travelled back down the line until it landed on his apprentice. "Young Ninya…raise your head."
"Y-yes, my lord Ainz?" the formally human spellcaster said nervously as all eyes now turned to her.
"Given how you have only been in our service for the best part of three weeks, I must say I am very impressed with how you are progressing regarding the growth of your magical abilities," Ainz continued. "Not only have you applied yourself diligently during the lessons and practical training sessions with both Narberal and myself, but you have also been using a lot of the spare time and gaps in your lessons when we are on business outside of the Tomb to do your own independent study in Ashurbanipal if the reports from Titus are to be believed." Ashurbanipal was the name given to the great library of Nazarick on the Tenth Floor where most of the Tomb's great wealth of knowledge was contained, including collections of recorded monster data from YGGDRASIL, magic items, data crystals, scrolls and books that contained all of the magical knowledge and created spells that had been crafted or written by all of the members of Ainz Ooal Gown over the years, a collection of event items which could be used for changing one's class and/or race, a cosmetic skin database that contained the cosmetic skin data of all of YGGDRAIL's various weaponry and armour and a collection of novels, mostly old and classic literature but with a few fanfictions scattered in had been written by many players in YGGDRASIL, not just the members of Ainz Ooal Gown. This vast repository of knowledge was overseen by the NPC Titus Annaeus Secundus, an undead skeletal mage.
"And even though your resurrection as a living undead was not by your choice and instead was a result of our selfish actions, you have shown neither resentment nor fear towards us nor anybody here in Nazarick, even though you had every right to feel so," Henry added. "Instead, you have shown respect and courtesy to all those you have interacted with and are fitting in well amongst us. I'm sure I can speak for those among us who have grown close to you when I say that you have been a welcome addition to the Nazarick family and that we are all looking forward to your continued growth among us."
"T-thank you, Lord Ainz and Crown Prince Constantine for your undeserving kindness," the young mage stammered. "I am merely doing all that I can repay you for all you did for myself and the rest of the Swords of Darkness when I was alive, and for giving me the chance to fulfil the quest they started with me as well as to one day see my sister again with this new life you have given me." Even the normally strict Demiurge and Albedo couldn't help but smile at the earnestness behind her words. Though she had once been human, she'd quickly endeared herself among the denizens of Nazarick with her kindness, courtesy and eagerness to help and learn. She'd also struck up a lasting friendship with both Aura and Mare and frequently spent time with them on the Sixth Floor when they all weren't attending their duties.
"Just keep doing what you have been doing, and you'll see those dreams fulfilled in no time, young Ninya. I can promise you that," Ainz told her. If it were possible, he too would've been smiling at seeing how far the girl had come from when he'd first met her as Momon. His attention then shifted to his Grand Marshal who had remained quiet for most of this meeting. "Now, Grand Marshal Fengxian. I'd like to hear your report on how your campaign against the Lizardmen of the Great Lakes has progressed thus far, as we've been concerned about how long it's been taking you."
"As you wish, my Lord Ainz," Fengxian replied shortly as he knelt on the steps in front of Ainz and Henry. "Lord Ainz, Crown Prince Henry and the rest of you gathered here…I have come to report that in the first battle between the forces of Nazarick and the Lizardmen, our forces suffered a total defeat." Gasps of shock and horror followed his words as the Guardians struggled to comprehend just how the Grand Marshal, a master of war and strategy, had been defeated by what they assumed to be a mere primitive culture of demi-humans.
"I see. I must admit, Grand Marshal, that this news is of great surprise to us. Given your superior military might and knowledge, I was expecting you to have easily conquered them within a few days at most." Though he was certain he would be confident in his friend's reasoning as to how this had happened, Ainz knew he had to continue playing the part of the strict ruler who tolerated no failure. "How did this defeat come about?"
"After you relayed your message to the Tribes declaring your intent to subjugate them, I ordered Shalltear to have her Brides observe their reactions and see what they would do next," Fengxian explained. "When they reported that several among them intended to unite the Tribes against us, I decided to wait and observe to see how it unfolded and if their efforts would be successful."
"Forgive me, my lord Grand Marshal, but surely it would have been more prudent to go after and defeat the tribes one at a time rather than facing them all united?" Albedo was torn between her respect for the Grand Marshal as one of her Supreme Beings and her anger at him for not only wasting the time and manpower of her beloved Crown Prince and Father but also bringing humiliation to them and Nazarick for having suffered defeat at the hands of such primitive beings.
Fengxian almost chuckled at the irony of Albedo and Shalltear sharing the same line of thought. "Such an endeavour would have had our forces bogged down in nasty ground wars on their turf which would have only resulted in a longer campaign and potentially the loss of our forces without any sort of gain on our part," he explained, unperturbed by the Overseer's words. "And though it was also my original intent to wait and observe, it was Cocytus who came up with the full scope of the plan when I asked both him and Shalltear for their input. He explained how having them gather as one united force would allow us to defeat them quickly in one decisive battle, and that allowing them to do so would give us an opportunity to gather information on the tribes, their leaders, their cultures and the land around us in order to strengthen our position and fight on our terms instead of charging in blindly and allowing them to dictate the pace of the war. Though his plans would require that delay to come to fruition, his reasoning and justifications for such were both logical and sound and in my opinion the optimal way for us to proceed with the campaign."
Everyone present, especially Ainz and Henry, was impressed by the detail and logic shown by the insectoid Guardian. "It sounds as though Cocytus has learnt much from your example, Grand Marshal," Henry said, maintaining a stern outward expression whilst smiling on the inside at witnessing proof of a Guardian's growth. "What happened after you decided on this course of action?"
"I merely offered guidance…Cocytus was the one who applied himself to his studies," Fengxian replied. "Once we set our course, we spent the next few days observing the tribes to see if they really could come together. Thanks to the nature of the threat we posed, along with the efforts of Zaryusu Shasha, younger brother of the chieftain of the Green Claw tribe, they all came together and forged the Lizardmen Alliance before gathering their forces around the village of the Razor Tail tribe. On the seventh day after Lord Ainz's first warning, once we had ascertained that their forces and ours were fully prepared, I sent our forces in a full-scale frontal assault against them."
"Whilst we may have outnumbered the Lizardmen forces by 5-1, what we didn't count on was their martial prowess and battlefield tactics," the Grand Marshal continued as his audience listened raptly to the tale he was weaving. "Each of their warriors was easily worth at least 5 or 10 of our rank-and-file troops and were only brought down when they were swarmed. I then decided to test them by sending in our skeleton riders, only for them to be easily countered by the archers and slingers they had positioned on an elevated ridge outside the village. But even when we deployed our own archers to out-fire their own, they shifted the advantage back in their favour by having some of their stronger warriors charge and engage them in melee range, neutralising them in the process."
Even those among the Guardians who still viewed the Lizardmen as a primitive race couldn't help but be impressed at what the Grand Marshal was telling them. "To be able to counter our Grand Marshal's plans and nullify our armies' superior numbers…perhaps I underestimated these Lizardmen…" Demiurge mused as Fengxian continued to tell the story of the battle.
"The only troops we had left to deploy, aside from the commander, were the beast zombies. Though their initial attack caught the Lizardmen off guard and managed to make a dent in their numbers, our adversaries were able to take back the upper hand when their magic casters summoned a pair of giant elementals that easily tore them apart," Fengxian explained. "With the battle now fully in their favour, I decided they were worthy of our final test and unleashed our elder lich commander, Iguva=41, against their exhausted forces, sending them into retreat with a few well-placed fireballs. That's when they decided to play their own trump cards and mobilised two of the chieftains, the aforementioned Zaryusu Shasha and his pet hydra to oppose him. The hydra charged Iguva, shrugging off his fireballs as he covered the chieftains' and Zaryusu's advance until they got close. Iguva then summoned a few skeletons to fight them off, but the chieftain of the Dragon Tusk tribe, Zenberu Gugu, was more than a match for them with his fists whilst Zaryusu engaged Iguva with Crusch Lulu, the chieftain of the Red Eyes, providing magical support, and whilst it was a close-run fight that exhausted all of their strength and power, they were able to defeat Iguva with Zaryusu dealing the final blow with his special blade, a sword made entirely out of ice called Frost Pain, that cleaved the lich's skull and killed him. Shortly after the battle ended, CZ told me that you wished for me to come back to Nazarick, so I returned here straight away to give you my report." With his tale now over, Fengxian lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head to await his superiors' judgement regarding his defeat.
The Guardians and those servants of Nazarick currently present in the Throne Room, even those who fully believed in the Tomb's superiority over the rest of the primitive races such as Albedo and Demiurge, couldn't help but be impressed upon hearing how the Lizardmen had defeated their forces and now considered them to be a nation and people worthy of respect at the very least. Their gazes turned to their Overlord and Crown Prince as they awaited their decision on how they took the Grand Marshal's news and what would come next.
Though they were both wearing similar pondering expressions, both Ainz and Henry were inwardly pleased by what their Grand Marshal had reported despite the fact he had returned in defeat. When originally planning the campaign against the Lizardmen tribes, Ainz had originally intended to conquer and wipe them out, plundering their natural resources to fill Nazarick's coffers and supplies as well as using their corpses as fuel for raising more undead forces which would be required to go up against whatever the Theocracy had in store for them. But now, upon listening to Fengxian's recalling of their heroic exploits and savvy battlefield prowess, Ainz couldn't help but think that the Lizardmen would have better use alive than dead, but he still wasn't fully convinced. Whilst their forces may have been superior to Nazarick's in terms of a large-scale battle, he would still like to witness for himself the capabilities of their commanders when pitted against warriors that were either equal or superior to them in combat such as Fengxian himself or perhaps even Cocytus if the Grand Marshal were to decline.
Henry was delighted to hear that the Lizardmen were not only worthy warriors but also a tribe of people who valued strength and cooperation and whose daily existence was all about preparing to survive into tomorrow and the days, weeks, months and years that followed. That was the mark of a race of people who were tough and dedicated to surviving the hostile environment they were thrust into, and for that, they had the Crown Prince's respect. As with Ainz and Fengxian, Henry had come from a world where the deciding factor that marked those who ruled it was the amount of money one could throw around along with their social status, and those factors gave way to lazy and corrupt rulers whose only interest was in gathering more power and wealth with no regard for those they were responsible for. These Lizardmen on the other hand…their leaders were decided through tests of combat with the strongest proving to be the most worthy. And even when they became the leader, they'd had to go through the same struggle to survive that the rest of their people had to make it there, and as a result they could sympathise much better with the others of their tribe and thus make decisions on what was best as a whole for the tribe knowing what it took for them to simply survive. Unlike Ainz though, Henry had always been on the side of wanting the Lizardmen as allies or very much preferably as willing and loyal vassals of Nazarick should they have to go the route of the conqueror, and hearing Fengxian's tale of how they'd waged battle and had proven to be more their equal only served to strengthen his resolve to get them on board without resorting to killing them and raising them as undead. Looking over towards his friend/'father', Henry was pleased to see from Ainz's thoughtful expression that he seemed to be getting on board with his adopted son's line of thought.
"Though it was at your hands that we lost the battle, the blame for our forces' defeat does not lie entirely in your hands, Grand Marshal," Ainz stated, causing the Grand Marshal to tilt his helmeted head upwards in curiosity at what the Overlord was getting at. "My son and I must also share some of the blame for this failure for not only underestimating our foes but also for providing you with an insufficient force that lacked the required battlefield commanders to lead them properly." The rest of the Guardians and Ninya were either shocked or appalled to hear their master blame himself and the Crown Prince so easily, but Ainz raised his hand to forestall any of their objections. "Therefore I will not punish you by ordering yourself, Cocytus and Shalltear to exterminate the Lizardmen as I had originally intended. In fact, I am now coming around to the idea of leaving them alive instead." Ainz then turned his head in Henry's direction. "What do you think, my son?"
"I agree with you Father, both in that we should both share the blame for our loss and for keeping the Lizardmen alive," Henry replied. "From what Grand Marshal Fengxian has told us, they seem to be not only worthy and honourable warriors but also a race of people whose way of life and daily struggle to survive is something we could all learn from. I believe that our best course of action would be to give them a proper display of our power and might that will leave them with no choice but to surrender to us whilst preventing a wasteful loss of life that another all-out assault by our forces would result in. Subjugating a renowned race such as theirs and having them as willing vassals would also give us a chance to show how capable we are at governing another race through peaceful means whilst forging for ourselves a reputation as both powerful and merciful conquerors which we can then go on to show the rest of this world."
"If I may, my lords…I would like to speak in support of our Crown Prince's proposal," Demiurge spoke up once Henry had finished. Ainz nodded and motioned for him to continue. "If we are to one day bring this world under Nazarick's glorious banner, we will undoubtedly need to gather various forces as well as exert control over the various species of this world under your rule. The Lizardmen tribes would be a good starting point and testing ground to prove our worthiness to rule, the results of which could prove very useful in how best to go about conquering or subjugating the other races along with the best methods to lead them."
"You both make convincing arguments, and a wise ruler knows when to heed the wise counsel of his subordinates," Ainz decided after a moment of thought. "Very well then, it shall be as Crown Prince Henry and Director Demiurge have said. Since these Lizardmen have proven themselves worthy of our respect and attention, they will have the pleasure of witnessing Nazarick showcase its full power and glory. We shall then ascertain the worthiness of their leaders as warriors with a show of our strength given by our very own Grand Marshal, thereby giving them a taste of what they could achieve under the rule of such a mighty warrior whilst peacefully subjugating them under our rule without another drop of blood being spilt." He then turned his gaze back to Fengxian. "You and Cocytus would then be responsible for not only ruling them but also instil in them a sense of deep loyalty and respect towards us and cultivating the best among them to serve as future generals and leaders under our banner. Do you accept this charge, Grand Marshal Fengxian?"
"It shall be as you say, my Lord," Fengxian intoned with a low bow. "I shall give my all to not only see your endeavours come to fruition but also to avenge the shame of my loss."
"I have no doubt you will prove worthy of our faith in you. For now, I want you to return to the Great Lakes and make ready for our arrival. Be sure to inform Cocytus and Shalltear of our new plan." As the Grand Marshal acceded to his request and teleported away, Ainz looked over the others who were all kneeling before him, their heads bowed. "We will all follow imminently, but first we must prepare. Gather the Nazarick Old Guarders, Elder Guarders and Master Guarders and have them prepared to mobilise. Demiurge, I am trusting you to ensure their safe passage via the use of Gate."
"As you wish, Lord Ainz. I shall see to it immediately," the suited Guardian replied.
"Albedo, inform Pandora's Actor that he is in charge of the Tomb whilst we undertake this expedition, then inform Yuri Alpha and Entoma that they are to assist him should he need it."
"Yes, my Lord. I exist to serve and obey your will," Albedo answered promptly.
(Still too embarrassed to deal with him face to face, eh Suzi?) Henry lightly teased his friend.
(You try living with the shame of being responsible for how he turned out) Ainz grouched via Message. "My son, I want you to go to the Fourth Floor and activate Gargantua. He will play a key role in our display of power."
"Guess the Lizardmen really impressed Suzi if he's pulling out all the stops like this!" Henry thought to himself with rising excitement. The thought of going all out in a grand showcase of the majesty and power they had at their disposal had the normally calm Dragonoid almost salivating at the thought of emulating many of his Royal heroes. "As you decree, Father," he answered respectfully
"W-what do you wish of me in all this, Master Ainz?" Ninya spoke up timidly, doing her best, and failing miserably, to hide her tentative hopefulness that she too could come along to see more of the world outside the Tomb and E-Rantel.
Ainz couldn't help but chuckle at the look of longing on the face of his and Narberal's apprentice. "You are coming as well, young Ninya," he answered. "You are as much of a part of Nazarick's future as every else here, which means you too ought to bear witness as we make our next mark upon this world." He then stood up from the Throne, the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown clutched in his hand. "Loyal servants of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, let us go forth and begin to seize our rightful destiny with our own hands!"
"Yes, my Lord!" They all shouted as one.
~TNT~
The day after the first battle was meant to be one of clean-up and recovery for the weary Lizardmen, but the sight that awaited them and their chieftains upon rising from the previous night's revelry immediately put to rest any thoughts of a peaceful and relaxing day. The sky over the forest from which the undead forces had emerged yesterday was once again a roiling black mass, and stationed in front of this forest was a sizable force of undead skeletons wearing elaborate breastplates and bearing various weaponry, ranging from swords and shields to bows and even a few spears. These were the Nazarick Old Guarders, originally created to serve as dungeon guards of the Great Tomb of Nazarick but who now served as the foundation of Nazarick's burgeoning military might in this new world.
"I knew this might happen, but not this soon," Zaryusu spoke up from where he and the other chieftains were currently watching.
"Look at them…they're all much more elaborately garbed than those we fought yesterday," Crusch pointed out.
"I noticed it too. Every one of them is bearing magical equipment," Zenberu stated grimly. He enjoyed a good fight more than any of the other chieftains, but even he was nervous upon seeing the ranks of well-equipped undead. "Our tribesmen wouldn't stand a chance against them."
"A mythical undead army…it makes me fear just what else they have in store for us…" Zaryusu's words became instantly prophetic as the wind around them began to blow a lot faster and the temperature suddenly grew a bit colder.
"I don't believe it…" Crusch murmured, causing the rest of the chieftains and Zaryusu to look at her questioningly. "The only magic I know of that could change the air like this is [Control Weather], a spell from magic's Sixth Tier."
"You sure about that?" Zaryusu asked. Crusch nodded. "Then this must be the power of one of the Great Ones that elder lich was talking about."
"Remain calm! Do not let fear rule you, brave warriors!" Zaryusu, Crusch and the other chieftains turned their heads to see Shasuryu standing over and addressing their gathered tribesmen before leaping off the barricade and heading over to where his brother and the rest were standing "The ancestors are watching over us. Don't think or do anything that would cause them to hang their heads in shame!" He then lowered his voice so that only Zaryusu and the other chieftains would hear his next words. "What do you think?"
Zaryusu turned his head to once again observe the undead ranks who were beginning to make their moves. Yet instead of striding towards them, they were instead moving to the sides and parting ranks in what appeared to be a pre-rehearsed display. "Whatever they are up to, it doesn't look like battle preparations."
"For what purpose?" Zenberu asked. Just like Zaryusu's earlier, his statement was answered straight away as the ranks of undead fully parted down the centre, revealing an ornately dressed skeleton wrapped in a dark robe bearing an ornate staff that glowed with many jewels in his right hand. As every Lizardman's gaze shifted to the new arrival, they lifted their head. Even from this distance, their glowing red eyes seemed to pierce the soul of every being who was currently watching him.
"Is that…one of the Great Ones?" Zaryusu questioned, almost in disbelief at what he was seeing. Before any of the others could respond, the figure lifted their right hand and surrounded themselves in a dazzling and towering font of magic that appeared to cleave the very heavens above and which was further amplified by the sheer array of symbols and circles floating around them.
"What is that Crusch?" Zaryusu asked the Red Eye chieftain. Even with his limited knowledge of magic, he could tell what they were bearing witness to was on a scale none of them had ever seen before.
"I-I don't know…this is new to me," Crusch stammered, so flummoxed was she by the amount of power currently on display. As everyone watched on in astonishment, the pillar of magic suddenly exploded outwards and rapidly froze the wetlands around them, coating them in a single large sheet of ice. Such was the speed and force of the spell that it rushed upon the chieftains and the rest of the Lizardmen before they could react, anchoring their webbed feet to the icy ground.
"Everyone! Get to higher ground now!" Shasuryu bellowed. None of those assembled needed to be told twice as they ripped themselves out of the ice and crawled up the dirt mounds surrounding the Razor Tail village that had mercifully been spared from being covered in ice. As the shaman and other magic casters started to heal the wounds and soreness that had resulted from the sudden freezing, Zaryusu and the chieftains gathered on the edge of the hill they were standing and looked out over the frozen ground below.
"I think we can safely assume that is one of the Great Ones from that display," Zenberu deduced.
"Most likely. I've never borne witness to such power in all my travels around the world," Zaryusu agreed.
"Well, I'm sold. We don't stand a chance against whatever that thing is. Might as well be dung beetles from where he's standing," Zenberu concluded which only deepened the others' worries. If even Zenberu Gugu was nihilistic about their chances, then they really were in trouble. But their troubles were far from over as they all spotted a massive shape slowly rising from what they assumed was the middle of the forest.
"Are any of you hallucinating, or are you all seeing what I am right now? Just what is that thing?" Zaryusu murmured once the new being had risen to its full height, towering over the forest canopy as it took a few massive steps towards them. It was well over 30 metres tall and appeared to be carved out of the very earth itself aside from its glowing red eye sockets and the red lines that permeated over its entire chest like a heart. As the Lizardmen watched on in fear and trepidation, the massive golem reached down and picked up an enormous square boulder before launching it at the Great Lake with ease. The size and impact of the square block as it landed on the ice caused the ground around it to shatter and a massive wave of water to rise, drenching the assembled tribes in a small rain shower. Thus, the New World was introduced to Gargantua, the colossal Guardian of the Nazarick's Fourth Floor.
Now that the massive block was in position, the seemingly endless ranks of the Nazarick Old Guarders marched past the robed skeleton to the base of the block itself where, to the astonishment of the watching Lizardmen, they proceeded to bend down and start piling on one another as their bodies formed a massive staircase that extended all the way to the top of the large stone block. Once they were in position, the Nazarick Elder Guarders who resembled helmeted skeletons wearing identical silver breastplates and draped in tattered red cloaks came forward and surrounded the base and flanks of the massive stone in order to guard against any sudden move on the Lizardmen's part, not that they would given the state of awe and terror they were currently in. Now that the area around the block was sufficiently guarded, the Nazarick Master Guarders came forward in two lines leading from where the robed undead was standing to the base of the skeleton staircase, where they proceeded to turn to face one another and brought forth red and black standards atop golden poles bearing the emblems of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown and Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar that they proudly held aloft over the ground between them.
"Hold on…is this a royal procession?" Zaryusu asked out loud as the ornately robed skeleton began to move forward in between the robes of gold-plated undead, and as he did so it became abundantly clear to all those watching that he was not alone. What they were bearing witness to was the most over-the-top and awe-inspiring display of power that anyone in this world had ever seen up until this point with nearly all of Nazarick's prominent personnel coming forth to give the inhabitants of this New World a taste of the power and majesty of those who would one day claim it all as their rightful domain.
Behind the robed skeleton marched a majestic warrior with medium-long and messy golden hair clad in black-and-gold armour and who bore two swords crisscrossed across his back, and at his sides came two beautiful black-haired beauties. One was clad in a white dress and had crooked white horns coming out of the sides of her head, whilst the other wore the outfit of a simple maid and bore a pale complexion that took nothing away from her attractive appearance. After them came a pair of small blonde-haired child-like figures, the first of whom was clad in a red shirt and, judging by the way their hands were clasped behind the back of their head, was taking this majestic display with a very laid-back attitude. By contrast, the other small figure in the blue shit was clutching a small wooden staff tightly between their fingers as they looked around nervously at the undead on either side of them. Behind them walked a small hooded figure who, judging by the way they were walking, was just as nervous as the second small blonde. If one looked closely, they could see the hints of pale skin beneath their hood. In stark contrast, the petite white-haired girl in a purple dress was walking with an air of confidence and superiority, her expression eager with anticipation at what was to come. Then came a tiny pink creature with a halo over its head that was floating through the ranks of undead almost serenely, and then at the rear of the procession came a male figure in a bright orange suit and spectacles who bore a long, snake-like tail that trailed behind him.
As the procession came to the base of the stone, they momentarily disappeared from everyone's view as they presumably walked up the skeleton staircase. Once they all appeared at the top of the block, two large black thrones appeared from almost thin air behind the robed undead and the armoured humanoid who proceeded to sit down upon them, with the rest of those with them taking their places at their sides. Once he was seated, the undead raised his hand, summoning forth a crowd of the same angry black masses that had given the Lizardmen their initial warning over a week ago, and then with a flick of that same hand he sent them out over the frozen ground until they were hovering over Zaryusu and the rest of the chieftains where they proceeded to address them in the same haunted voices from before.
"HEAR NOW THE DECREES OF THE GREAT ONES! OUR GLORIOUS MASTER AND HIS HEIR WISH TO CONVERSE WITH YOU!"
"LET YOUR DELEGATES STEP FORWARD AND RECEIVE JUDGMENT FROM THE OVERLORD AND CROWN PRINCE OF NAZARICK!"
"KNOW THAT TIME WASTED IS DISPLEASING TO THE GREAT ONES! DO SO AT YOUR OWN PERIL!" Their message delivered, the ungodly shapes scooted back in the direction from whence they came, and as they hovered over the pair of thrones the girl in the purple robes simply clapped her hands, causing them to vanish on the spot.
"They used all those monsters…just so they could invite us to speak with them…" Zaryusu finally spoke up from the crowd of astonished chieftains and warriors.
"That's crazy…just how powerful are these Great Ones?" Crusch wondered as Shasuryu stepped forward.
"Brother, will you walk with me?" The chieftain of the Green Claws asked. "You were instrumental in bringing this alliance into existence, therefore it is only right that you take part in this discussion as well, however short and pointless it may end up being." Zaryusu nodded in response.
"Be careful, both of you," Crusch entreated as Shasuryu leapt off the bank to the icy ground below.
"Don't worry, we'll be back," Zaryusu reassured her before leaping down to join his brother.
"You better be," was all Crusch said as she watched her presumptive mate and his chieftain walk towards the stone block in the middle of the lake.
"Thank you for this, brother," Shasuryu muttered as they drew ever close to those who awaited them.
"I would never let you go alone. Besides, they make take us sending a single delegation as an insult," his brother reassured him. "And if they should decide to make an example out of us, our newly formed Alliance will only have lost one leader and a lowly traveler. I'm fine with that."
~TNT~
"I've read about and borne witness to many royal processions back in our world, Kami bless the UK and Japan for still going strong with their monarchies, but never did I think I'd actually take part in one even though it was one of my wildest dreams to do so," Henry thought to himself as he watched the pair of Lizardmen approach from his throne. "It's one thing to be Suzi's heir and to be known as the Crown Prince, but what I was part of just now, walking behind my best friend, 'father' and ruler and with two of my future consorts at my side…that made me feel like a proper Prince and heir." Henry wondered if this must have been how Edward the Black Prince, a Prince of Wales and in Henry's opinion England's greatest prince who never came to the throne, felt when he was by the side of his father, Edward III, one of England's greatest kings and the closest the world got to having a real-life King Arthur, in their many processions.
"Shalltear, you were with Grand Marshal Fengxian and Cocytus during your initial planning meetings against the Lizardmen," Ainz addressed the vampiric Guardian who nodded eagerly in response. "Tell me, who are these that approach us?"
"Hmm…" Shalltear hemmed as she peered at the approaching pair whilst wracking her brains to remember their identities. "I believe the one on our left with the brown sash over his chest is Shasuryu Shasha, the leader of the Green Claw tribe and the head of the Lizardmen Alliance, and alongside him is his younger brother, the traveler Zaryusu Shasha who was instrumental in the Alliance's formation."
"That's the one who Fengxian said was responsible for slaying Iguva," Henry realised as he studied them closely. Both of them carried themselves with the air and dignity of warriors, with the various scars across their bodies serving as further proof of their experiences, and on Zaryusu's hip was the icy blade that Fengxian had talked about. Even from this distance, Henry could feel the casual magic radiating from it. Before he and the others could comment further, the leader of the Green Claws spoke up
"I am Shasuryu Shasha, leader of the Green Claw tribe and representative of the Lizardmen alliance!" The green-skinned lizardman bellowed. "And with me is our mightiest warrior as well as the one I call brother!"
"Zaryusu Shasha is my name," was all his fellow added.
Both Albedo and Narberal bristled from what they perceived as a disrespectful slight on the part of these two primitives. Though they may have earned some respect from the denizens of Nazarick for their skill in battle and leadership, it was still insulting for lower life-forms such as them to so casually address the Supreme Beings as though they were in any way their equals. "They ought to be on their knees and giving thanks for having the absolute privilege of laying eyes on our Master and our beloved Crown Prince!" Narberal seethed to herself.
If her next actions were anything to go by, Albedo was thinking along the same lines as her harem-sister. "Demiurge, please teach these lower life forms the proper posture to adopt before our Master and his heir," she ordered. Demiurge nodded as was about to do as the Overseer commanded only to be stopped by a raised hand from Henry.
"Easy you two…they have proven themselves to be worthy of our respect and should be treated as such. I am sure they didn't mean any disrespect by approaching us in this manner," the Crown Prince gently rebuked them before turning his bright green eyes on the Lizardmen delegation. "Forgive my subordinates for their rash behaviour, but their words do bear some truth. It is customary to bow or simply incline one's head when addressing the leaders of a nation." Sometimes a forced bow was useful when trying to make a point, when shattering an upstart's pride and putting rebellious vassals in their place, but these warriors were not deserving of such treatment and should be allowed to give the proper respects on their own free will.
Both Shasuryu and Zaryusu looked at each other uneasily for a split-second before coming to a decision. Though they were dealing with those who had come to conquer them, the seated humanoid had a point. During his travels, Zaryusu had come to learn that even in the face of one's enemies, it was common courtesy to show respect to their fellow leaders. And given the power they seemed to possess, it would not do well to insult them or their subordinates any further. "We apologise, we meant no disrespect by our words or actions," Zaryusu stated as both he and his brother politely inclined their heads.
"Greetings, honoured delegates of the Lizardmen Alliance," Ainz finally spoke up as he and Henry both nodded in response. "I am the Master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown, and sitting at my side is my adopted son and heir Henry Plantagenet-Caesar. We would first like to congratulate you on such a wonderful display of military might and skill when you defeated our forces and killed our commander. You have our gratitude for undertaking such a crucial part in our experiment to prove your worth."
The Lizardmen brothers exchanged an uneasy look at the undead's words as he continued speaking. "It has been decided that your race shall fall under our rule. However, I am sure that neither you nor the rest of your people will want to come under the rule of those whose forces you were able to defeat so easily. Thus, we will give you four hours before we attack again, only this in time instead of facing an army you will be confronted by two of my loyal subordinates: The Grand Marshal of Nazarick's forces and our strongest warrior, Fengxian, and his lieutenant Cocytus. Fengxian will engage your chosen warriors in a contest of arms, and should you prevail…you have our word that we will leave your lands and your people in peace from this day forward…"
"We surrender!" Shasuryu interrupted, instantly recognising the futility of such a display and wanting to preserve the lives of as many of his kinsmen as possible.
"You are mistaken in believing we would simply accept your submission that easily. With your victory still fresh in the minds of your people, there's no doubt that they would take every opportunity to make our rule over them as difficult as possible while undermining our status as rulers, an act which would displease us greatly," Henry retorted sharply. "But in the event that the very best that your people have to offer falls in battle, they will recognize the futility of resistance and insubordination. So it is our desire that your strongest warriors fight against our Grand Marshal and prove your worth as our future vassals and ensure your obedience." He had no concerns about Fengxian's chances of victory, knowing his friend was worth at the very least a hundred of these Lizardmen if not more. "And should he defeat you in battle, you have my assurances that should you submit peacefully to us as a result, your people will not only survive but will be more prosperous than ever under our guidance."
"They're toying with us…" The two brothers thought to themselves as Ainz and Henry both got to their feet.
"Our business here is complete. You have four hours to recuperate. I suggest you use them well," was all Ainz said as he turned to leave. But just as he was about to summon a Gate, Zaryusu spoke up.
"If I may be so bold as to ask, will this ice melt away?" The traveler beseeched him
"Have no fear for your lands, we simply did not wish to dirty our garments in mud," Henry replied as he took his place at his Ainz's side. "My father will dispel his magic at some point in these four hours, thus restoring the ground to the state it was in before our arrival here."
"Farewell, Lizardmen. Until we meet again. Gate!" Ainz stated shortly as he summoned the familiar black-and-purple portal before stepping through.
"It was an honour to meet you both. May your warriors fight well and honourably in the battle to come," Henry spoke before following Ainz on through.
"Until next time, should you survive against our Grand Marshal," Albedo said next as she followed her beloved. Narberal neither spoke to nor looked at the Lizardmen as she went in behind the succubus.
"See ya!" Aura called cheerfully as she passed through
"Try not to get killed out there!" Shalltear told them sweetly as she followed the dark elf.
"U-um….please take care of yourselves I guess!" Mare stammered before hurrying after his sister.
"I-I hope we can all speak to one another once this is over!" Ninya added as she followed her friend.
"I bid you farewell and good fortune in the battle to come," Victim said serenely as they floated on through.
"Do try to enjoy yourselves in these last few hours, and please make sure not to disappoint our Grand Marshal when you come to fight him," Demiurge told them last of all, and as he passed through the Gate it vanished behind them. Once they had left, the undead forces who had formed the staircase and surrounded the stone block also mobilised, withdrawing back into the forest as the two Lizardmen watched on dumbfoundedly, their minds awhirl at what they had just witnessed.
daniel: This was amazing as always guys! We are so close to the climactic battle that will result in the very first successful conquest of Nazarick in the new world, the first step towards bringing all the new world under the banner of the triumvirate! See ya next time!
I couldn't sum it up better myself. Ainz and Henry have shown off Nazarick's power and majesty, now it will be up to Fengxian to show their might which will be coming next time. Chapter 16 will deal with the immediate fallout from the procession before building up to the epic showdown between the greatest warriors of the Lizardmen tribes and the mightiest fighter Nazarick has to offer, and make no mistake Fengxian is definitely not going to go easy on them. Once that's done, we will have officially finished the Lizardmen arc and will be moving on to the Men in the Kingdom arc from Chapter 17 onwards, where we'll be linking up with Sebas and Solution again and seeing what they have gotten up to whilst the rest have been tied up with the Lizardmen.
That will be coming, as always with this story, in the next two weeks maximum. Until then, on behalf of myself and my co-author daniel, thank you all once again for all the love and support you've all shown this story, it really means the world to us, and we'll see you all again in the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!