AN: "Cookies" → Speech / spoken air quotes
"Cookies" → Thoughts
"Cookies" → Spells / Martial Arts
"Cookies" → Message spell speech
"Cookies" → Language unknown to character POV / known only to reader
I don't own Overlord
Have fun, enjoy and please review
Chapter 62
→ HRK Hoburns / Demiurge ←
For the last week the battle of Hoburns had come down to a crawl. The chaplains were trying to hold every corner, every street and every house. Citizen militias and professional soldiers fought on and on, hoping for the arrival of their queen, the leader of the paladins and the strongest magician of their nation.
But everyday that hope got smaller and smaller, as the mountain of corpses grew and grew. If they were even able to retrieve the dead. Most of the citizens were shuddering when they followed that train of thought, hoping that they would not perish closer to the enemy.
Fear was slowly crawling inside their hearts, as the attack got more beastial in nature. The normal demi-humans were net unsimilar to berzerkers, while those rat-men were now snapping and biting the human defenders in combat.
But, thanks to the chaplains, the defenders kept their courage. Albeit it was more a morbid and fatalistic kind of courage. The casualties of the enemy rat-men were growing rapidly and even the demi-humans were suffering terrible losses.
Over all of that the most dangerous foe of the Holy Roble Kingdom looked down upon the city, Jaldaboath. Though that was only what the defenders saw from their little hole.
Demiurge himself enjoyed the time. Some of the prisoners were taken to his farms. The skaven were able to send reinforcements with ease. He now had double the amounts of those rats than before. They didn't even need to be fed, as they were quite resourceful.
The other demi-humans were too terrified to defy his orders and thus kept doing their part.
"When can I get back to Lord Ainz? The smell is horrible and I don't want it to seep into my cloth." he heard the high pitched voice of Shalltear.
Shalltear, due to Lord Ainzs orders, had spent the last week in his camp. Since then she had spent most of the time complaining about the smell and ordered some of her servants here. They even washed her dresses three times a day.
"It should be possible for you to leave today. But first we need to find a fitting place to bring our Lord and his entourage." Demiurge replied, snickering in his head at Shalltears annoyance.
"Then we better go now." she grumbled and swaggered out of the tent.
"Fine with me, but I will give orders first." Demiurge agreed and left the tent.
So Demiurge went and collected Throat. Once the orders for another diversionary attack were given, he got two steeds and rode towards Shalltear.
"Took you long enough." she huffed and Demiurge almost broke out laughing.
"I was just getting us the horses, if you rather want to walk…" he pointed out and again Shalltear glared at him. Yet the horse was soon carrying Shalltear as they rode through the forest around Hoburns.
The scouting wasn't something special, as anything sentient enough decided to keep its distance from them. But soon they found a nice clearing just 3 miles to the east of Hoburns and both agreed that it would make the perfect ground to bring a force to face Jaldaboath.
Thus Shalltear, with her servants, departed.
→ Karak-Ar-Araz / Gongrimm ←
After the, less than formal, declaration of war the dwarfs had begun to prepare. One of the largest armies they had ever fielded was already training and preparing. Runesmiths and runelords already recited their runes and prepared their anvils spiritually. Warriors and longbeards polished their armor and spared against each other. The clan heads and shortkings were equipping and honing themselves.
But the most important part, for Gongrimm at least, was the preparation of the battlefield. He had already found the perfect place, and now there were only two things on his mind.
One of those two points was already marching through the main gate of Karak-Ar-Araz. The engineers of clan Powdernose, with a small troup of longbeards as protection, were hauling artillery, pickaxes and shovels towards their destination. Two villages north of the capital would suffice and the engineers would prepare the equipment there.
"But how do we get the foe there?" Gongrimm asked himself as the last engineers and longbeards left.
That question had burned in his mind since the war was 'officially' declared.
He was slowly moving towards the 'Forge' to meet the dark elf, so she could report the situation to Arachama. On his way he met with Fargrimm, who mainly did the paperwork.
"I tell you, those are insane numbers, Gongrimm." Halfhand muttered in disbelief.
"Then we better win. For that I only need a few ideas." Gongrimm grumbled as Fargrimm shut up.
They reached the 'Forge' in short order and were greeted with the usual honors.
"How may we help you, true friend?" Belegar smirked, already weaning his new armor.
The helm had wings on the sides, but only covered the neck. The armor itself was comparable open, as it only covered the torso and beard. Legs, arms and face were still open.
"So you have taken my proposal?" Gongrimm asked, as grimm he smiled in relief.
"I did. What about Grolli?" Belegar inquired.
"She will be needed afterwards, thus I haven't approached her. But the other five clan heads agreed as well. I will give the thane armor to my son and the other will be done in the usual manner. But still thanks for going along with it." he answered.
"No problem. But back to my question, what can I help you with?" Belegar laughed.
"I need to meet the dark elf from Arachama. She is living with you?" Gongrimm told him.
"Yes, she does. Follow me." Belegar agreed and thus the three walked through the 'Forge'.
The smoke was heavy, the heat unbearable, the clanking of metal was everywhere.
"Clan Firebeard seems to have a field trip." Gongrimm threw out.
"Oh yes. We love smithing and with the prospekt of battle our kin needs good armor and weaponry." Belegar nodded along as they continued.
"But it is harder than usual." Gongrimm sighed as they closed in on the guest chambers.
"To us it is just as normal. We just love it this way…" Belegar shrugged as Halfhand coughed.
They entered the main room of the guests' chambers and Belegar knocked at a door.
"Miss Mare, Gongrimm Ironspine of Clan Ironspine wishes to speak with you," he announced.
"Eh-ehem. I am on m-my w-way." she answered and soon emerged from her room.
She looked around frantically until she found the small group of dwarfs. Mare wore a more traditional and formal dress, though a bit taller than for the usual female dwarf.
"H-how can I h-help you?" she shuddered.
"I am merely here to inform Arachama that the dwarfs are now at war with the Re-Estize kingdom."
"T-then I w-will inform her i-immediately." Mare told Gongrimm who nodded.
She stood up and looked like she was concentrating.
→ E-Rantel / Arachama ←
The day after Ramposa woke up from his coma, Arachama had quite a bit on her table. First she had contacted Arachne to check if she was well. Arachne had confirmed her well being and thus Jircniv lived another day.
Afterwards she had called Enti to check on her mansion, which was still standing. That Arachama counted as a win and thus a positive outcome.
But that was only to get warm for her trip today.
Right now she stood in the throne room in E-Rantel and sighed at her timetable for today.
"Meeting with the former king,inquiring in the guild, making sure Mare is well. Then my least favorite thing in the world, paperwork." she sighed as she observed the paperstack in the room. It seemingly grew while she glared at it.
"At least I have a little bit less of that. Thanks little Renner." she beamed as she got one of her cockroach cookies out of her inventory.
"Still warm. But I have to go. A lot to do." she mused.
So the arachne was set in motion and got to work. As she walked the streets the citizens bowed and she waved at them. The closer she got towards the guild building the more the citizens seemed to calm down.
She entered the guild hall and Ainzach immediately bowed towards her and then signed her to follow him. Arachama shrugged and went to his office, as Ainzach was heading there.
"Tea or anything else?" Ainzach inquired.
"No thank you. I heard that the expedition team was back and thought I could get the necessary information." Arachama explained and Ainzach nodded.
"Of course. They will be here shortly." he agreed.
She looked at him.
"I already sent a messenger out, as the guild needs a report anyway. If your highness wouldn't have come here we would have brought the report to you." he explains as she nodded along.
"That makes sense." she thought.
"I would like to keep a written report, if only for documentation." she threw in and Ainzach wrote it down.
A knock came.
"Come in." Ainzach shouted and the door opened.
Blue Roses and Darkness walked in. Narbe glared at the small vampire, who reciprocated it. The mountain of a woman was seemingly barely able to not laugh. The twin assassins were observing the surroundings. The leader of blue roses, Lakyus if she recalled correctly, was looking a bit downed though also defiant.
Momon, played by Pandora's Actor, played his part wonderfully and represented the calmness of that group. Arachama suddenly shuddered as she remembered the antics of Pandora's Actor.
"Probably not so calm but surely enjoying his act." she thought.
She nodded towards the group, who bowed towards her before taking their seats.
"How did the expedition go?" she inquired.
"We found the battleside easily. After we made sure there were no surprises we began searching and documenting the area. That will be all in this written protocol here. Momon found a hidden cave, which is marked upon the map within the report. We resealed the cave with the necessary steps within the report. Whatever was there was nowhere when we were there, otherwise we would have used the provided scrolls." Lakyus spoke for the two adventure parties.
"The inside of the cave is now within the treasury, my Lady." She heard Pandora's voice.
"Well done. The pay was already deposited, but let me give you this as a tip." Arachama looked towards Ainzach and placed seven more bags of coins onto the table.
"It is appreciated, Lady Arachama." Lakyus responded.
"Then I will take care of the cave. I wish you a good farewell then." Arachama nodded towards Lakyus, 'Momon' and Ainzach. All of them bowed as she opened a "Gate" towards the inn she used for the former king of the neighboring kingdom.
Once there the clerk, surprised by her appearance, bowed immediately and hit her head at the counter during that.
"Watch out. No need to smash your head, little one." Arachama shot out and tried to calm the clerk and heal the forming bump on the forehead.
"I am sorry, Lady Arachama." The clerk apologized, holding her forehead.
"No problem? Though you might want to be more careful in the future." Arachama cautioned as the bump on the forehead retreated back.
"How can I help your majesty?" the clerk inquired.
"I am only here for one of the guests. I also know where they are. Just calm down." she smiled and left the foyer.
Not long after she knocked, Ramposa was sitting at a table and still looking tired. Stronoff meanwhile led Arachama inside.
"I hope you're getting better, your majesty?" she smiled as she got one of her couches from her inventory.
"I am awake and feel better. But I still have to work through the situation." Ramposa, albeit begrudgingly, admitted.
"As is natural. Do you have any questions? Or would you rather go over the situation with me? I know that my friend is considered an enemy of your people, but there is no one else with my network around." Arachama proposed.
"First I want to know what you will do with my daughter?" Ramposa asked, fear in his eyes.
"She will reside in Nazarick, where she will be taught by the guardian overseer. She will be treated as a guest." she explained and while the face of Ramposa and Stronoff never softened completely, relief became visible.
"I see. Is there no other way…?" Ramposa tried.
"That was her proposal and I took her up on it." Arachama shut that down.
Ramposa looked at her and after a few minutes sighed.
"So there is no way… tell me then, why did you help me then?" Ramposa inquired, staring at her.
"My friend believes that a stable Re-Estize is important to avoid further conflict with us. Armed conflict can be quite inconvenient, as we prefer a more peaceful solution. As to why I had Pestonya heal you, the current ruler of Re-Estize is making Re-Estize extremely insatiable. The talented, smart and crafty people flee it. War is on the horizon, broken loose by your son, Barbo." she told him.
"He doesn't need to know everything though…" she mused in her head.
"So my son has usurped me? I would have expected Zanac to do it, but Barbo?" Ramposa almost whistled.
"Obviously he botched it a bit. The power of your lineage will be drifting away. The chance that your family will continue to stay royal hangs on the victory of Re-Estize in the coming war against the dwarfs. If I may be so bold?" she pointed out and Ramposa nodded to her question.
"I believe the dwarfs will win this. Even if they lose the pitched battle, there are still few points to attack a karak. And none of them are either easily available nor are they militarily feasible for Re-Estize. Then there is a looming threat from another direction. All in all, the best solution should be obvious, shouldn't it be Ramposa?" Arachama pointed out, hiding her smirk.
"There the partiality comes through." Ramposa smirked.
"You got me." she snickered and raised her hands.
"The last few decades I held the throne. I saw quite a number of cunning nobles try to snatch it from me. The smartest was probably Marquise Elias Brandt Dale Raeven, albeit he stopped when his son was born. I know full well what your friend deems the best solution. I know full well what that solution would bring and agree that it would most likely be the best, seeing that my son seemingly has driven my kingdom further in the ground. There is one problem though, Arachama." Ramposa sighed.
"The culture of your nobbles…" she pointed out as Ramposa and Stronoff nodded.
"With that in mind, the question remains. What is your plan?" she asked again.
"Barbo, albeit I dont think it was his idea, made a great move to bring Stronoff out of the picture. My little Renner is safe as long as I behave the way the Sorcerer King sees fitting. What is with my other sons and daughters?" Ramposa wanted to know.
"Zanac is currently residing with Marquis Raeven. They plan to take the kingdom from Barbo, if only to protect it. Your other two daughters are safe and sound with their husbands, heir Boullope and heir Urovana." she reported and got a cooky from her inventory.
"So my daughters are safe. I may have an idea forming. Could we talk about it tomorrow? I feel my strength waning again." Ramposa sighed as he slowly slumped down further into the chair.
"That should be possible. I wish you a good rest then." she agreed and stood up.
"L-lady A-a-arachama? The dwarfs want to talk to you." She heard Mares' voice in her head.
"I will come over shortly." she promised Mare and left the suite.
Once outside the suite she used "Gate" to get to the 'Forge' of clan Firebeard, where she almost stumbled upon Gongrimm, Belegar and Mare.
As she collected herself and scooped Mare up, some of the younger dwarfs brought out ale.
"Mare told me you wanted to talk with me?" Arachama began.
"Indeed, honorable ally. Let's get comfortable so we can talk with a calm mind." Belegar confirmed and pointed towards the guest wing's living chamber.
They took their seats, though Arachama used another of her couches, and then the ale was given out. Even Mare, to Arachamas surprise, drank from it.
"He enjoys ale? That is a new one. They even let him enjoy his quirks." she mused as she didn't recognise the dress as something he had before.
"I thank you for the hospitality shown towards Mare." she began.
"It is nothing to be thankful for. We were the ones calling for you, thus we shall fill you in on the reason." Belegar grinned and pointed towards Gongrimm.
"The 'diplomat' from the Re-Estize kingdom had brought his demands and we declined. We will be officially at war soon enough." Gongrimm informed.
"Then I will tell Monga and prepare the undead army of Nazarick." Arachama confirmed.
"I had another idea. I take it that Mare is a druid from her build?" Gongrimm inquired.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Arachama asked, raising two eyebrows.
"Can Mare also cast "Control Weather"? He continued and Mare nodded.
"Good. Then I would like to have Mare in deployment. Further would I request that you dont send masses of "Death Knights" into either the Karaks or near my kin." Gongrimm shuddered.
Arachama looked at him and saw the glimmer of someone that found himself back in his element.
"I guess they are terrifying for the average dwarf…" she slowly agreed.
"Yes. Lower level undeads are acceptable. That way we have support, can settle grudges and show our merit to our ancestors." Gongrimm sighed.
"That is understandable. But I am still hesitant about Mare. She is, as the rest of the floor guardians are important to me…" she stated.
"She wouldn't be in danger. I only need her ability to make sure the weather fits. No combat for her." he laughed and Mare had pleading eyes.
"Mare taking charge? So it is important for him. Argh. I hate all those puppy eyes sometimes. But they are so cute." she thought, fighting her own urge to say no.
Finally she nodded to herself while Mare drank the rest of her own mug.
"I see it is important for Mare. Here is a "Gate" scroll. If you are driven into combat you will immediately leave the area and return to Nazarick." she pointed out as Mare started to slowly rock back and forth.
After that the talks drifted to a more funny direction. Exchanging tales, stories, drinking and telling jokes.
→ Near E-Rantel / Ainz ←
During the last week Ainz had mostly taken care of the paperwork and waited for any sign that 'his plan' would change. That sign came when Demiurge had told him over "Message" that Shalltear would return shortly.
And true to the devils word the portal had opened and Shalltear came through.
"My Lord, I report back that Hoburns is under siege by demi-humans." Shalltear reported while kneeling.
"We must go immediately…" Remedios shot out, almost going through the portal.
"I would caution against running into potential problems." Ainz ordered, reciting the poses and phrases he had learned from his booklet last night.
"But the citizens…" Remedios argued.
"How many demi-humans are there? What is the situation?" he asked.
"The outer city has fallen and the survivors are fighting on the inner walls. The demi-humans are large in number, though a good part of them is under equipped and underfed." Shalltear explained.
"I propose that we use "Gate" to get to Nazarick and then to get to the place Shalltear deemed fit. Afterwards we can go against the demi-humans from there." Ainz proposed.
"I concur. Charging in would drastically decrease our chance for success." Kelart threw in and Queen Calca nodded along.
"Then I will go to Nazarick and return shortly after." Ainz said and used "Gate" to enter the first floor, where he summoned Death Knights every day.
Another "Gate" was opened that led to the front of the encampment.
"Move through the portal. Don't attack anyone in or around the encampment." he ordered and the undeads began to move.
He was the last to leave through the portal and as he looked onto his 40 Death Knights and 5 Souleater.
As he turned around he saw Queen Calca, Kelart and Remedios shudder, albeit the last one hid it better than the other two. The few guards of the queen positioned themselves between the queen and the undead, albeit it was visible that they would prefer to be really far away. Neija, who had become something of an aide to him, just stared at the undead with interest. Shalltear on the other hand would probably be bored, if it were someone else that had brought the army here.
"Shalltear, it is your turn." he ordered.
"As you wish, my Lord~" Shalltear almost sang and casted "Gate" to the position she deemed fit.
The undead army marched through, followed by the rest. Once through the confusion looked around until they recognised where they were and looked aghast at Shalltear and Ainz.
"H-how? I know of "Teleportation", but that spell never works that far, not speaking with the amount of people transported." Kelart inquired.
"That is for you to find out. Now we need to prepare a plan." Ainz pointed out as Shalltear rolled out a carpet of a map that depicted the surroundings and placed a red button where their own position is.
"You are right, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown." Queen Calca agreed, already showing impatience.
→ Under E-Rantel / Squeal ←
The clanrats under Squeal were slowly fighting their way through the tunnels around one of the more major cities of the man-things. As far as Squeal cared for it was on orders from Bubonica, whom he feared. Thus it would be done.
He himself, as the superior strategist, stood proudly behind in his red armor hung with war trophies. He observed the forces of clan Critz being ripped apart, albeit under high casualties on his own side, and his stomach churned.
Clan Critzs clanrats, realizing that there was no way out of the situation through the underway, began to fight fiercely and drove the numbers of casualties higher. It also didn't help that some of Squeals elite guards were killing any skaven under his command that dared to retreat.
The onslaught had started roughly two days ago and still continued. But then Squeal spotted an opportunity.
"It is time-time." he squealed and scurried forth, the elite guards skittering just behind him.
The opportunity, an opening that occurred when one of the walls of the rock collapsed, was reached with comparably ease. Squeal climbed inside and immediately licked his teeth as he advanced. The smell, as bad as the one in Skavenhaven, assaulted his nose. But he was used to it as he had practically lived in Skavenhaven.
It intensified as he broke through another thin wall and waded through dirty water. The surroundings were built, but he didn't care as he continued on, his guards scampering directly behind him.
Another breakthrough and he let himself drop onto one of the assassins of clan Critz. Then he looked around. Through the training he had received from his childhood onwards, he immediately located the enemies and the attacks they were trying.
A swing from the right came as Squeal struck the ax on his left into the skull of another rat. The guards jumped down, directly engaging the enemy. Red mist slowly waded into Squeals vision as he continued with maniacal laughter. But it didn't matter, as the view was already lowered due to the lack of light.
Another attack came, this time from behind, but Squeal snickered as he ducked away and then scampered around. A short stab with the shortsword in his right hand stopped the wannabe assassin.
The tail weapon, a spike, then was rammed into another clanrat as he jumped over it to reach his next target, a ratogre. He caught it by surprise, as it was just impaling one of his guards, and rammed the spike into its knees and the ax into the skull. Squeal rolled back after this successful strike.
A grunt came, but Squeal knew better than to think it dead. He had a few of his own and scurried forth. With his agility he dodged an angry swing of its mutilated left arm, which ended in a large bladed hook, and rammed his ax into the shoulder. Thanks to his speed he rotated around and landed onto its right shoulder, before driving his blade through the thick skin into its lungs.
Albeit dying the ratogre continued on. It swung around in complete rage and without any care what it hit. Squeal and most of his guards easily dodged. As did some of the more experienced clanrats of clan Critz. But the younger ones and even some of his own guards found their deaths by being gouged by its hook or being crushed by its weight.
In its final moments the ratogre locked eyes with Squeal again, who smirked. The beast charged forth in a desperate attempt to grind Squeal down. The hook came from the right and Squeal ducked under it while slicing the beast's arm. A hit from the spiked tail was visible and he dodged it. With the sound of crushing bones, pain filled voices and the dying grunts of the ratogre, it had crashed into the wall. Albeit it took down two of his own guards in the process.
A sigh escaped his lips as he sniffed the air. The musk of fear spreaded through the tunnel. But it wasn't from him or his guards, it was from the food still standing. He laughed as the red mist in his eyes continued to take his view, though he let his own bloodlust consume him.
When Squeal came back to his senses he looked around. He was behind the second layer of the undercities three walls. A trail of blood and corpses was behind himself. It consisted of both many foes and his own army.
"But that-this is ok-good. More food-food for me." he thought as he continued to observe his own clanrats and guards trying to catch up. Lifting his left arm to sign them to stop, as he found clan Critz clanrats scurrying onto the walls. He charged back.
"Bring equipment-things." he ordered, already licking his front teeth.
"I want them dead-dead." he laughed maniacally and cracked his own shoulder as even his guards stepped back and then scattered away.
→ Hoburns / Demiurge ←
As Shalltear departed Demiurge began his part, damage control. He knew that there needed to be a grand entrance for his Lord Ainz Ooal Gown. But that didn't necessarily mean that he should suffer great losses nor did it mean that his accumulated forces should just lay down. On the contrary, the challenge now was how to make the least hurtful losses while also giving the illusion of resistance.
"Are all the important artillery pieces brought back underground?" he asked Throat.
"Yes-yes. All skaven are-are expendable." Throat replied.
"Good. Then we finish preparations." Demiurge smirked and Throat stroked his whiskers, a sign he agreed albeit did not voice it.
"Who-what will take lead-lead of forces after scatter-scurry?" Throat inquired.
"That is where one of my summons comes into play. I prepared it to take the mantle of Jaldaboath." Demiurge explained.
"Did we-we miss anything?" Throat inquired.
"No. Now you go to my farm while I prepare the summon." Demiurge ordered and Throat left.
As Demiurge's tent was emptied Demiurge opened a "Gate" to his own floor within Nazarick and his subordinate Evil Lord Wrath stepped through.
"Lord Demiurge?" the demon asked, only respect for the floor guardian keeping the anger barely contained.
"You know your role?" Demiurge inquired.
"Yes. How much freedom do I have in this act?" it inquired.
"I already talked with Pandora's Actor and he brought a few items. You are able to command the forces as you will, except to destroy the companions of the supreme being. The city is irrelevant. As for the Death Knight, I doubt that even one will fall." Demiurge told the demon.
"Good. Anything else?" the demon asked.
"No. Just engage Lord Ainz in battle and retreat with the help of the mentioned Items. Besides that there is only one thing, you will be called 'Jaldaboath' for this play." Demiurge pointed to the items again.
"Yes, Lord Demiurge." 'Jaldaboath' confirmed as Demiurge casted "Gate".
"Then I will take my leave." he smiled as he stepped through the portal.
→ Hoburns ←
As the day continued the defenders realized that the battles and skirmishes ebbed off until it ceased. Still fearful of a trap they stayed inside the inner walls, ready to fight again.
But on the other end of the battle, the situation had changed drastically. The Skaven, as paranoid as they were, realized that Throat and the devil-thing were nowhere to be found. The Demi-humans asked the rat-men and soon hell broke loose. Infighting plagued the horde, as demi-humans cleaved Skaven in two and Skaven stabbed the demi-humans over and over again. At least it lasted until the tent, where the hords leader usually resided, burnt away.
There stood a gigantic devil, which glared at the horde and they all began to bow towards it.
No word was needed as they shivered. They knew that this was the stronger form of their usually frightening calm leader. They just knew it and they would continue to bow.
"Prepare for battle, scum." it ordered as a wave of hate flew over the entire horde.
Immediately they wanted to charge the walls, but again they were stopped.
"Not them, idiots. We will be attacked from the east." their leader spat and the charge turned around before running again.
With their leader in the back they runned without pause and only knowing haste. It had a whip and the backs of the last few learned that specific weapon well enough, as the demon drove them forwards. The anger of it only seemed to grow further and further, to the dismay of the horde.
The small rot filled the nostrils as they charged into battle. The first line of shields towered before them. Immovable. Unbreakable. Unbreakable. Like a wave they crashed into it. Like a wave on the beach, it only went so far before retreating.
That was the extent the charge reached, before panic set in amongst the demi-humans, for they saw their greatest fear.
"Soul Eater!" one on the left flank shouted and all hell broke loose. Immediately the horde dissolved in all directions. The demon tried to keep his horde together with whip and orders, but it was futile. The panic of the demi-humans had swept over the already cowardly rat-men, as they were now also scurrying away.
"So that is the mighty force that threatens my ally?" came a voice the demon knew all too well. It had to bite its inner mouth to make sure that its anger didn't take over.
"They will flock to me again when I beat you, Ainz Ooal Gown." the demon played.
"We will see. "Call Greater Thunder"" Lord Ainz casted and hit the demon. It hurt really badly, but he had a role and thus he would see it through.
Thus he charged and went into melee. A few swings, some of which almost hit Ainz Ooal Gown, followed. The eyes of every mortal in the area was on them as the Sorcerer King fought the demon. It went on for a few minutes, until an unknown sign for the demon prompted the final act. The seemingly battered King stood almost higher than the demon.
"You will be banished now, Jaldaboath. "Hellflame"." Ainz casted as the item on the demon reduced the damage substantially. But to the public eye the demon was engulfed in purple flames.
Screams filled the area until the demon was gone. All, except Ainz, knew the demon was gone, for now. The, seemingly, battered Ainz sat down and calmed his nerves. Meanwhile the panic that was stopped for the duel, resurfaced and was now even greater. The Death Knights and Soul Eaters took care of that as the delegation of queen Calca was still in shock.
The only one eyeing the Sorcerer King suspiciously was Remedios.
"I will need more help to defeat you, undead monster." she thought as a glare, rivalring the normal eyes of Neija, was sent to the object of her ire.
AN: I hope you enjoyed the read. If you did feel free to comment/ review.
I have a lot on my platter for now. But towards August it should become fewer. Thus it will take more time for the chapters to come out. Until next time and I hope that your all doing well.