Heteromorphs are being hunted down by humanoid players, gradually turning humans into the dominant species in New World. Due to the presence of a guild base floating in the sky, there is no doubt they possess an arsenal of high class equipment and possibly World Items. Shirogane managed to defeat one of them, reducing him to grind meat beyond resurrection. Although she managed to defeat a player with level and equipment equal to her, she immediately retreated back in Eljudnir along with her daughters.
"Margaret and Nellian are mentally mentally children even if they're half demon teenagers. I'm a lone paladin, I can't take on seven other players with a guild base!"
Shirogane hastily walks backs and forth inside her personal office. Rather than scream her frustrations alone inside, a half fire elemental, flips through one of her books with little to no care. He nods without paying attention, only adding to Shirogane's frustration.
"You look relaxed for someone who got into a near death fight..."
The devil whips her mixed crystal and metallic-like tail left to right while her horns reveal linear gaps the reveal weakly glowing ember inside. The intense emotions also drastically alter her appearance, physique, and height altogether - twisting and swelling from a less friendly and somewhat monstrous appearance.
"Geh!"
The half elemental swings her arms in one direction and lifts his legs, when large clawed black hand tightly grabs his book and violently tosses it to the corner of the room. An onyx bulky demon nearly two and a half meters tall exhales and releases cold steak from both sides of its exposed fangs.
"Aaah...now that's your face saying you're seriously pissed off" The half elemental swallows his breath
"This is serious...!" A deep and echoing voice asks him
The claws on each fingers and toes are much like metallic silver talons. Her scarlet red eyes transform to a pair of golden ones with bloody red sclera. Snow white hair shorten to swept messy dark hair with red tips. The only form of clothing it has is a tattered black nobleman's cloak and equally dark pants but lacking an undershirt so its pectoral muscles are bulging out. It's merely one of Shirogane's form depending on her intense emotions.
"A child in a half demon body was molested and she watched as I brutally murdered someone. She's too scared to even come out of her room and you're here acting like nothing!"
The wrathful demon roars, emitting extreme cold from the gap of its mouth that ice engulfs the entirety of the room and even freezes both legs of the half fire elemental. It grabs the top of his skull, gradually tightening its size but not enough to cause significant damage.
"You can't think straight if you're angry! If you don't vent out, you'd do something stupid and get yourself in danger!" The half fire elemental immediately explains
"...I have no family left. Those two girls are my family now...so I gladly played the role of their mother..." The black demon growls
"I may not be your family, but I'm your friend. If punching me gets you to cool off, then I'd gladly take a beating!"
The freezing surface slowly retreats beneath Shirogane's feet when she slowly removes her hand from her friend. Her form gradually decompresses, loosening the towering physique and onyx skin. Instead, Shirogane reverts into her default form, but to a "less regal" demon form. Instead of her normal costume, the magic item's other option transforms her into her default form but her cape is replaced by tattered wings with athletic prehensile arms. When not stretched out, its silver talons hang on her shoulder, masquerading as a cape with only the claws being visible.
"You should have at least said something, dumb fuck..."
Other than the wings, her pupil is diamond shaped with golden iris and crimson sclera. Her teeth are all slightly sharper and her fingers retain the silver talons. The current incomplete form is part of the combination of Shapeshifter and Demon Lord job classes. However, the magic item penalizes her with fatigue and incomplete form if the attack and speed-oriented transformation is ended manually.
"I didn't know what to say to comfort you! I'm bad at this but I'm trying my best to be a good friend!" The half elemental flails his arms.
"..." Shirogane shakes her head while her hand is on the side of her head
"Don't shoulder everything by yourself, Azusa. You have kids now and your people needs you. I...need you. That's why, if you're going to do something - we do it together!" The half elemental raises both fists in the air and split his legs when bending down
"It's Shirogane. Hashimura Azusa was me when I was human..."
"Yeah, I don't care. Azusa is Azusa even if you're stoic a woman or horny - wait, that came out wrong?" The half elemental scratches his head
"Pff...ahahahaha! You sound cool one moment and stupid at the next, but that's not a bad thing. That eccentricity of yours knows when I'm going too far. Is that because of your positive one hundred karma?" Shirogane presses her forehead when she can't resist laughing
"I'm just a decent person! You, on the other hand, is either brutal or perverted! It's either you kill someone or violate them!"
"My instincts always urge me to seek amusement in either killing someone or tormenting them. I never felt like a degenerate monster when everything was just a game..."
"Hmph. It's fortunate your daughters keep that demon nature of yours in check. Nellian was the one who stopped you from going and slaughtering a human settlement where soldiers are staying"
The half elemental puffs his armor covered chest and proudly crosses his arms while Shirogane sighs, unsure whether to admit of the possibility. Shirogane herself has no qualms with killing civilians or torturing them, but her daughters are not as ruthless as her.
"Anyway, what's our strategy? Seven other players with a guild base. We have World Items and an army, but you will not sacrifice your NPCs"
"Some of the World Items here are one-time use due to their absurd effect. Dainsleif is extremely useful against players, but its damage and heal-ignoring effect needs to accumulate. It has an unknown penalty to the user, but I have yet to find out"
"It's a cursed sword that cannot be healed by any spell and ignores defenses! What do you expect?! Don't use it too much or you might lose something since this isn't the game anymore"
"I use it alongside Jargreipr to nullify status effects and debuffs. Other than that, I'm considering giving defensive World Items to my daughters. They're too scared to kill someone, but they need protection"
"Your kids need to learn how to slice someone to prevent the incident with Nellian again"
"Once all the players hunting us are dead, I plan to create a home for my children and my people. I don't plan on conquering the world or anything, but I wish to create a place they can always call home. I promised them our home will be where no one is oppressed and free from fear. I intend to keep that promise even if it means killing everyone who tries to hurt us"
"..."
"Look, I know you love them like your own daughters, but they shouldn't grow up sheltered. Sooner or later, they will set out on their path because all children grow up. As a parent, you have to do what's best for them"
Shirogane clenches both of her fists, sincere and determined with her goal of a perfect home she can leave to her adopted daughter. Her heart races in anxiety as while her personality is the same, her current body renders her to be cruel, sadistic, selfish, and ruthless.
What is...this...?
Who...is that...?
Is this...where my dream begun...?
I...don't understand...
She recognizes Eljudnir from five hundred years ago, an unknown point of time. Her perplexed mind focuses on the man with coal dark hair and a unique wave of faint golden orange ember constantly flowing from the root of his hair to his tips. His horn are rather unique: not only the right side is shorter, the horns themselves are much like molten rock. From the brief conversation, it's evident her past self is much more casual and cheerful than her brooding and lost current self.
[She surely did a number in your head, huh. That woman poked quite a lot of holes, so you're estranged to your own past]
A tall and slender woman stands right behind Shirogane without the slightest warning. Her instincts couldn't sense her teleporting or any form of instantaneous movement when her skills compensates for alerting her of ambushes.
[You have yet to fill out those centuries of darkness. What happened in your absence, Azusa?]
Pale left hand and black right hand mildly rubs her shoulders, attempting to easening her tensed muscles, but the woman's unnatural chill and lulling voice only intensifies an emotion Shirogane hasn't experienced for a long time: fear.
"I heard...your voice before. Who are you really?" Shirogane can barely swallow her breath
Shirogane desperately gathers the will to turn her head just to get a glimpse of the voice of occasionally whispering in her wake. The woman's figure looms over her and the cold physical touch strikes every nerve in her body that even her fingers are trembling.
[You do not need to know of me...yet. My presence is still unnecessary, but you will be able to face me soon, brat. Live in your reality and do not dwell into your dreams too often...or you will find yourself drifting to my side]
The woman squeezes Shirogane's shoulder as she forcibly pulls the demon by a small step on each foot. Shirogane can into react with a nearly silent and cut off gasp when the unknown chilling woman pushes her without warning that she nearly stumbles to the ground filled with stretching snd unimaginable darkness.
...
...
...Your...ma...jesty...
Your...majesty...
Your majesty...
An on with dark red hakama and with short messy dark hair with a distinguishable white bangs on the left side, bows when Shirogane begins to slowly her eyes, somewhat irritated by the bright light.
"Qlipoth..." Shirogane rubs her eyes
She finds herself sleeping on her throne again. Shirogane lifts her head resting on her arm and straightens her position, leaning straight on the steel throne.
"Preparations are all ready within requested time - no, four hours earlier than ordered to ensure any necessary adjustments. In addition, I already laid out my proposed approaches as also ordered whether you wish to lay groundwork on Re-Estize or Baharuth. Of course, I already taken into account of her majesty wishing to have the two human nations take notice at the same time. We're fortunate the Emperor is infamous for being cunning and intelligent while I wouldn't say the same thing for the noble-infested kingdom"
(Qlipoth is a chatterbox when he's in a good mood but I designed him as the caretaker of the castle and a manager sometimes)
Shirogane appreciates Qlipoth fulfilling all his tasks efficiently, but even she can't bear to listen for an hour straight. She knows he's simply enthusiastic and tend to be proud like a child showing off to their parent which is somewhat accurate considering she created the NPCs in Eljudnir.
"We're only awaiting your command, my queen"
(Right. I'm the only one who can deactivate the concealment but retain the barrier...)
Shirogane rubs her temples while the rest of her senses recover from the sheer exhaustion when the unknown woman in her dreams holds her gently.
"Also, Nidhogg and Garmr are outside by the forest to observe the surroundings as you requested. Nidhogg is sensing the surrounding nature by extending his senses with the plants and..." Qlipoth rubs his flat and slender horn
"Garmr is complaining how Nidhogg is talking to grass and forcibly made friends with a Mandragora he pulled from the ground)
(I'm sorry! That stupid background is also my fault!)
Outside, Shirogane pressed her hand on one side of her face but screaming in embarrassment in her own mind. No one expected Yggdrasil NPCs to become sentient, so she's either embarrassed or angry at herself for designing their backgrounds on her whim.
"Your majesty, Tamamo Mikon and Sariel have arrived"
An imp flies beside her and salutes at her, reporting half a minute earlier than the large door of the throne room slowly swings open with such weight.
"Shirogane-sama, your faithful fox Tamamo has arrived in time"
The magic caster of the group, a fox woman who always wears an optimistic smile and speaks in a polite manner, kneels after stopping at a certain distance before Shirogane. She has numerous tails but usually show only one to deceive enemies and to appeal to her creator.
"My queen, I, Sariel, returned as soon as I received orders"
Sariel, an angel currently taking the form of a muscular man with golden hair tied in a short ponytail and glittering eyes mixed with gold and silver. Although human in appearance, his two pairs of wings and layered halo with four protruding spikes are still visible. In his true form, he has a lion-like head with four eyes on both sides, a large eye on n the forehead, and four arms.
(Akane and Dekad guarding the castle, Dynas is out again to gather information from the Baharuth Empire, Danzo is waiting for orders, Nehemoth is checking the castle's defenses, and Hraesvalgr is surveying the skies around the forest. I called back Tamamo due to being the other brain of the group and Sariel for being the weapon master)
Shirogane mentally counts the current position and roles of her strongest NPCs serving as her Royal Guards while she sits back on her throne and waves her left hand. Several screens projects in front of her, displaying the live feed of areas outside and near the castle.
(Deactivating the concealment is a lengthy process with the only me holding the authority to ensure no intruder or spy can tamper the defenses)
Perhaps it's out of her instinctive protective nature or her overthinking that made the castle a home and base that no one discovered while she slumbered for centuries. She becomes cautious on her base's defenses or capability to overcome an invasion ever since some bandits accidentally stumbled upon it through unknown means. She couldn't extract information from them due a failsafe ensuring they become brain dead after speaking one truth.
"..." Shirogane opens her palm
A golden object vaguely resembles a key about two inches thick and about the a book manifests bit by bit on top of Shirogane's palm. It's close to a magic item due to needing mana to fuel it but with only a singular use. She could feel the cold reaching her skin as soon as she grips it even when she wears her black leather glove. Shirogane slowly stretches out her hand holding the key and a click can be heard by anyone but with no keyhole to insert it.
"..."
It's barely visible at all, but there's indeed a key hole in the middle of the projected screens. The object perfectly fits inside in a single push. Shirogane then wastes no time by slowly turning her hand and the key clockwise, echoing the sound of how all doors unlock but with a heavy and deep sound.
"Ooh~" The fox woman lifts her tail at the surge of magic being flowing throughout the castle
The floating birdman, the werewolf and dragonoid on top of the trees, all witness as the faint groan of the barrier reverberates up to half of the forest. It starts from the top when the transparent yet faintly colored concealment begins to drop down in a manner resembling a bubble popping in slow motion. The powerful illusion and enchantment spell melts around the perimeter, the presence of a demon prompts birds and other small animals to flee from the dread.
"...!"
Demons' within the forest chatter their teeth and cold sweat drops profusely at the announcement of a powerful demon within the forest. Sentient monsters and other creatures residing throughout the forest drop their jaws and blink in bewilderment when an enormous silver castle becomes visible on what everyone initially believed are nearly destroyed ruins. High walls, towers, forming an octagon and the castle itself in the center surrounded by even open areas. The silver status of royalty and might present itself to all those fortunate and unfortunate to witness it after five hundred years.
Great Tomb of Nazarick...
Through the use of Mirror of Remote Viewing, Ainz rubs his pointy skeletal chin when what he sees as ruins with little evidence left is now an enormous and intact castle adorned in silver. As it's designed to be initially a dungeon where a raid boss once resided, it's naturally spacious outside and well protected.
"That's a demon's castle, huh. Fitting for someone called a demon lord indeed" Ainz keeps his gaze on it
"Ainz-sama, have you decided on your meeting with the player?" Albedo faithfully stands by his side
"The appearance of a demon castle will surely draw attention from both the Kingdom and the Empire. We'll wait for a while to ensure no one will take notice"
"From the view here, I believe the Re-Estize Kingdom will be alarmed that a devil is not only ruling a large castle also houses an army of various monsters as well" Albedo makes her initial impression
"That's for sure. An undead magic caster that can create an endless undead army is already a threat to humans. To those humans, a devil commanding an army of different monsters is as bad" Ainz chuckles
"That devil also mentioned having missing player companions"
"Sebas reported that the conversation included that the player Shirogane is looking for her half devil daughters who are also players. I suppose it will make a friendly impression if we can offer some form of assistance and not as a form of bribe" Ainz turns his head to Albedo
"I'm cautious of this player, Ainz-sama"
"Since Shirogane is a big fan of Touch-san, it's best to form an alliance. There were no signs she sided with any human nation and I doubt a devil player would have any love for humanity"
Ainz speculates based on his undead body being apathetic to most living beings and him imagining how Demiurge and other demonic races view humans. If the body affects the personality, Ainz guesses the player doesn't think highly of humans or would rather not deal with them.
"I wonder if the castle was in a separate space only tangible and visible once a condition was fulfilled. That would explain why it was unknown for so long..." Ainz begins to theorize
"It's likely the protection is mostly on concealment than defense, Ainz-sama. It hid behind open ruins and no monster dares to approach it before" Albedo also guesses
"Summon Sebas. I'll send him as a messenger to pass the day and time I will visit her castle"
"Ainz-sama, as the great ruler of Nazarick, it's risky to walk in that castle even if the player is a follower of a Supreme Being" Albedo immediately voices out her disapproval
"My plan is to have a discussion over tea and I won't be going alone. Not only will I bring Demiurge, you will also be there as my other emissary. It is for possible future cooperation between two sides if negotiation goes smoothly"
Ainz has a lot of faith in Demiurge and Albedo's intelligence which he believes will have the best offer that will mutually benefit both sides. He doesn't plan to leave the diplomatic and persuasion job to the two as a player, only he can understand and has the best chance of persuading another player.
(A castle that big is either a dungeon or an expansion of a guild base. I wonder if she's the only member present upon shutting down too? I'll set the meeting as soon as possible before the human nations take notice and make a move against her or persuade her. I want to avoid conflict with another player if possible)
The sight of a skeleton mage brings fear and panic to nations already, and Ainz is aware the humans will react with hostility on the appearance of a devil ruling other monsters. The fact the castle has been revealed means the player has prepared for that possibility already.
The next day...
Death Cavalier arrive at the first checkpoint on the way to Eljudnir. Bipedal and other humanoid demons guard the path, wielding armor and weapons superior to adventurers. As the demons merely serve as guards and watchdogs, their average level is fifty. The level eighty to ninety monsters are stationed within the castle itself, designed to fend off players in the past or at least stall and weaken the raiding players.
"We are emissaries of the almighty Ainz Ooal Gown-sama and our lord has arrived as per the scheduled meeting" The undead riding a dark steed speaks in an echoing tone
"Who are the two main escorts?" The demon captain asks the undead cavalry
"Ainz-sama Floor Guardians, Lady Albedo and Lord Demiurge"
"It's them. Let them pass" A demon clad in black armor orders the other demons
As soon as he faces the other demon guards, he waves his hands. The bipedal demons nod at each other and step out of the way with their spears relaxed and planted on the ground.
"A cooperation between our sides is a splendid idea, Ainz-sama. Not only we will have more access to resources, but you've thought of an asset to Nazarick" Demiurge grins in amazement
"Ainz-sama, are you certain it's best to treat the demon lord as an equal?"
"As a fellow player and another friend of Touch Me, it's natural to at least see her as an acquaintance and an ally if she's also willing" Ainz lightly nods
"The appearance of a demon and an entire castle housing an entire army means human nations will have another threat to focus on. I see!" Demiurge slaps his knees
"Heh?" Ainz nearly shouts in shock
"Ainz-sama set up the meeting as soon as possible to form an alliance before the human nations can make their move. To prevent immediate aggression, Ainz-sama took all measures to not alert the human nations, so he summoned a squad of undead and brought the two of us!"
"W-well..."
"Ainz-sama, I suppose you plan to propose an alliance in the form of extra force in subjugating the whole world. Nazarick can offer the manpower and resources to aid the demon lord all while showing the humans as a neutral and non-aggression pact. Not only this will surely secure an ally for Nazarick's future but mask it to draw nations who will scheme against us! That way, they will flush out themselves and we can determine whom to give the carrot or the stick. Your brilliance is unmatched, Ainz-sama!" Demiurge can't hold back the excitement in his voice
"More importantly, an alliance masking as a neutral pact benefits as a wild card for both retaliation and negotiation. Those human insects will be caught off guard at the moment Eljudnir moves to support us! Like crushing a cockroach on both sides" Albedo's eyes shine
"T-That's right! Not only Nazarick will gain ally but the humans will reveal their schemes for us. D-devils are experts in drawing out treachery and deception after all!" Ainz plays along
In his mind, Ainz simply wants to form a friendly relationship with a fellow player and avoid potential conflict. He hasn't thought of rooting out humans who will betray him at the first opportunity they get.
"Devils are known for keeping their word so long as no one tries to betray them, so I don't plan on scheming or cheating my planned agreement with Shirogane. We will be allies, so she will be both my equal and an acquaintance"
Ainz voices it out as soon as possible to prevent Demiurge and other NPCs to provoke hostility by taking advantage of another player behind the agreement. He doesn't know Shirogane's entire personality, but he trusts Sebas' report on how she's sincere and regal if treated like any decent person would treat another.
"Ainz-sama, we've arrived"
Albedo confirms as soon as the carriage stops after about ten minutes of travel time which doubles or even triples when on foot. The horses gradually stops on their footsteps just a few meters before the main gate.
"Hmm..."
Ainz steps down the carriage himself when the a death cavalier opens the door for its master and bows. A high and stretching castle wall greets his sight. Through the eyes of a magic caster, he can faintly see a barrier, invisible to weaker magic casters, surrounding the entire castle. Fully equipped demons and several undead with full set of armor mainly guards the only entrance to the castle.
"Welcome to Eljudnir, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown. My name is Nehemoth, Shirogane-sama's attendant and the one tasked you to escort you"
A demon butler with short black hair and a pair of glasses, bows and calmly greets the special guests. Outside, he appears as a regular human butler, but max level characters like Albedo and Demiurge immediately recognize him as an archdevil.
(A butler? I suppose a demon ruler of a castle has to have one) Ainz thinks to himself
"Her majesty arranged the meeting to be in the castle courtyard for safety reasons as the interior of the castle are filled with traps" Nehemoth truthfully answers
"Hmm, very well. Lead the way"
"Please follow me. My mistress is waiting for you"
Nehemoth bows again before facing the castle entrance. The demons take one large step away from the gate, allowing Nehemoth to personally guide the guests to the castle's mistress.
(It looked mysterious and ominous on the outside, but it's actually normal inside?)
As soon as Ainz walks past the castle gate, he lifts his head when the view inside drastically changes to a large and open courtyard tended by humanoid monsters and golems. Imps carefully trim the bushes, carefully maintaining its shape and some even water both the grass and bushes. The castle itself will take at least twenty to thirty minutes of walking. It's an space usually filled with golems, but they're all on standby near the walls due to the occasion.
"The thick outer walls hide the green and spacious scenery. Life behind darkness, huh" Ainz is mildly surprised
"Her majesty loves an open scenery for tea time and sun bathing despite being a warrior charging to the front lines. She also mentioned wanting to spend less time cooped inside the castle" Nehemoth quickly explains
"Your queen fought before?"
"She fought five hundred years ago and clashed with local demons striving for dominance. Shirogane-sama gained the sole title after slaughtering the competition in a short amount of time and became feared by the demons of this world. Well, they didn't accept her, so she slaughtered more demons until she lost interest"
"What happened after?"
"My queen and everyone else went into dormancy in an incident we cannot remember why and how. Shirogane-sama has no memory of it either as it happened some time after her daughters went missing"
(Daughters. Sebas and Aura mentioned Shirogane has daughters who are players. They're half demon sisters, if I recall)
The brief conversation comes to an end when Ainz spots the demon lord sitting by a gazebo. For someone who has two children, the demon player is rather youthful in appearance, estimated to be physically appear in her early twenties when her actual age is five hundred years old and her consciousness is that of a woman in her thirties. She's accompanied by a black insectoid clad in armor from head to toe, resembling more of a knight than a beetle. The other bodyguard is vampire swordswoman wearing what barely resembles traditional Japanese outfit mixed with western style skirt.
"Welcome to my courtyard, Ainz Ooal Gown-san. I'm pleased to finally meet you"
Shirogane herself stands up and presses her right hand on her abdomen before lightly bowing. She's lively while maintaining a disciplined and regal demeanor. She doesn't equip her main armor and weapons as a friendly gesture and goodwill. It's just her paid costume she usually wears when not in actual combat. It's merely for royal and militaristic aesthetic in Yggdrasil but the fabric can block most weapons and magical attacks in New World.
(Hmm?)
Ainz doesn't physically see it, but his undead senses, imagines a tall and beautiful woman loosely grabbing Shirogane's neck from behind. The woman in question is shrouded in dark and chilling mist, but Shirogane or everyone else don't appear to notice her presence.
(It's like a ghost clinging to her? What's this uneasy feeling? It's as if she's only looking at me)
Ainz himself couldn't see the woman's eyes but his instincts can visibly senses the fixed and curious gaze solely on him. Shirogane is a full blooded archdevil warrior but the enormous presence and strong scent of pure undeath emits from the shrouded woman.
(Perhaps this is a form of curse. The butler did mention she fought a long time ago and killed other demons)
"Gown-san?" Shirogane tilts her head
"Is there something wrong, Ainz-sama? You've been spacing out" Albedo leans a bit out of sudden concern
"It's nothing. Something just came to my mind..."
The woman tightens her grip on Shirogane's neck, so Ainz chooses not to speak about it for now. He can't confirm if it's a mental hallucination or an invisible effect of the curse. The presence strongly resembles a curse clinging and leeching off the victim, but Shirogane doesn't display any discomfort.
"Let's have a seat, Gown-san" Shirogane leads her to the gazebo
"Please call me Ainz-san" Ainz gives her permission
"Is that alright? You're the ruler of Nazarick and a close friend of Touch-san"
"Hahaha. It's fine. Future allies should treat each other as equal after all"
"Hmm, you're actually considering that"
Shirogane is genuinely surprised that Ainz is the one to first raise the topic before the actual discussion begins.
"As fellow players in this new world, it's best to cooperate and reach an agreement. I also don't like to be enemies with someone who greatly admired one of my friends"
"I haven't thought of anything grand for now since I'm more focused on finding my daughters and building a home where my people can thrive. To leave behind a home where no one is oppressed or hated is the least I can do for them" Shirogane faintly smiles
"Have you ever thought of the possibility that Touch Me is here too?"
"Seeing your guild transported here, a bit of me hoped Touch-san is here too. Even if it's a possibility...I'm afraid to actually face him" Shirogane lowers her gaze
"Isn't he your hero?"
"He is and that's exactly why I'm afraid. I'm not an ideal hero like Touch-san because I slaughtered a lot of people in the past. I was forced to kill a fellow player when one of them molested my child in front of me. My hands are stained the blood of the innocent and he wouldn't approve of senseless slaughter..."
Shirogane tightens her fists, retaining the anger eben after centuries and the culprit is beyond resurrection. It's the unbridled wrath of any mother would have if someone harmed their child in front of them.
"You really looked up to Touch Me don't you?" Ainz asks softly
"Touch-san saved me in the past. Before I met my daughters, he became my source of hope. I had nothing in the past, so the fact an ideal hero like him exists in the game rekindled some of my will to live. If it wasn't for his encouragement to move forward, I might have killed myself as a human..."
"..."
Shirogane sorrowfully smiles at Ainz, forcefully hiding behind past sorrow and despair. She can't deny the lingering shame of attempting to end herself when she's at her lowest point.
"Other than that, Touch-san taught me how to fight and get stronger...even if he brutally pummeled me again and again during mock battles. He's quite ruthless and strict, but also a caring and patient mentor"
"Has Touch-san invited you to join the guild?"
"He did ask again when I got stronger, but I had to turn him down" Shirogane lightly shakes her head
"Why is that?"
"If I join a guild, I have to commit myself to the guild and fellow guild members. I wouldn't be able to watch over my daughters. They're actual children, so they can't fit in the part of a functioning member of society" Shirogane scratches her cheeks
"I see. That's understandable"
"They're not my actual daughters, but I came to love them as one. I have no family, so I gladly roleplayed as a demon mother protecting her half demon children when a PKer angrily asked if I was their mother"
"..."
Ainz silently gazes at her for a moment, briefly thinking about how he sees himself as a parent to Floor Guardians. Her expressions paints the fondness in her sincere smile and the sorrow in her gaze. More importantly, Ainz once had a loving mother who overworked herself and died while cooking his favorite meal.
"Anyhow, we're supposed to be on official business discussing about potential alliance" Shirogane clears her throat
"Yes, let's proceed" Ainz lightly nods
"Ainz-san, I'm willing to consider an alliance between our factions so long as our goals don't harm each other. The truth is, I don't really trust the human nations of this world, but you're a fellow player and a good friend of my hero"
"How should I put this? Nazarick has put forth a grand and long plan of spreading the name of Ainz Ooal Gown and gradually dominating the whole world"
"World domination? That's indeed a grand plan! I haven't thought about it since I want my daughters to live a normal life free from harm...if I ever find them"
(Even as a Demon Lord, she's a mother first and foremost...) Ainz notices
"Then I suppose, you consider being an asset to further spread Ainz-sama's great name and having lowly humans submit to his rule" Demiurge adjusts his glasses
"A helping hand to spread Nazarick's influence and rule, huh. Since I haven't sided with any nation yet, then I will consider it as part of the alliance. However, I require certainty that my people being independent and having a territory of my own"
(She doesn't particularly care about what happened to other nations. I suppose she has no love for them when she fought in the era where heteromorphs are hunted by the Eight Greed Kings...)
Ainz isn't surprised at Shirogane not hesitating, but studying her expressions and tone, it's difficult for him to imagine how Shirogane struggled to defend her people and actively eliminated those who threatened her. The Demon Lord speaks in a formal yet friendly manner, truly reflecting how she is treated by those in front of her.
"I don't request a large portion of the world, but enough to call my own country. It's part of my goal to build and secure an ideal home for my people, so they can thrive and prosper even if I die" Shirogane clarifies her intention
"We can discuss where Eljudnir can set up their own territory in the near future. I take it as an official agreement of your alliance with Nazarick"
"Shall we sign it in official writing? I suppose verbal confirmation won't suffice since Nazarick is expanding as the Sorcerer Kingdom"
"Albedo and Demiurge formed the agreement with my approval. It will appear as a non-aggression pact between our sides, so the human nations will only view a neutral and mutual stance on the outside. This is to avoid hostile movements from different nations"
"I see. To humans, two heteromorph rulers allied with each other is alarming and might motivate them to form an alliance. This is indeed the safest way to legally mask an alliance and your purpose of personally visiting" Shirogane briefly smiles
"Demiurge will explain" Ainz gives him permission
"That is correct, lady Shirogane. It was all Ainz-sama's brilliant master plan including flushing out possible troublemakers and traitors that will incite internal conflict. This way, we don't need to spend resources to narrow down threats. They will crawl out themselves at the open opportunity of having the Demon Lord be in conflict with Nazarick. This will allow us to herd the unnecessary and separate those who will be subjugated"
"Hmm...you want me to be the bait, huh" Shirogane crosses her arms
Albedo gently places neatly stacked pages of the contract in front of Shirogane and she briefly widens her eyes at the lengthy paragraph. Normally, she won't be able to comprehend lengthy contracts, but she doesn't know how her Demon Lord improved to Demon Queen job class passively allows her to dissect the terms and conditions of the entire agreement due to intelligence score bonus under specific conditions and certain situations.
"Nazarick and Eljudnir have the military strength and resources to crush opposing nations. If they can't be crushed from the outside, then it's best to simply find a gap within the structure and exploit that flaw. Then, there's the option of pointing our factions at each other, baiting us in destroying the others and eliminating the surviving one once the smoke is clear"
Demiurge proudly explains how humans will attempt to stir discord and pressure within a powerful nation to both distract them and gradually weaken their control. He's also obvious about the tactic of having allies fight each other as an opportunity to eliminate the exhausted and weakened winner.
(This involves collaborating with projects and experiments to exercise cooperation between the nations we plan to develop. Ainz-san emphasizes on being equal and fair exchange of services. I didn't think I could precisely read a contract when I'm not even a lawyer!) Shirogane is mentally impressed by Ainz's written negotiation skills in the agreement
"So what do you say, Shirogane?"
"I officially agree to this proposed alliance, Ainz-san. I will keep my word and abide by the agreement so long as Nazarick is willing to do the same"
"I give you my word as Ainz Ooal Gown and the supreme ruler of Nazarick. Neither I nor my subordinates will betray an ally and an acquaintance"
Shirogane signs the bottom of the agreement with her official signature and engraved the main symbol of her banner on top of the signature to fully seal the official documentation.
"So outside of official business, what are you occupying yourself other than your main goals. Like a project in progress" Ainz clears his throat
"Hmm...studying now this world's magic compared to Yggdrasil's tier magic through...volunteers and breeding experiment, I suppose?"
"Breeding experiment?"
"One of my servants, Qlipoth started it because of my curiosity. My original form is this female humanoid devil but I can alter my size, age, face and even gender at will as a shapeshifter. I asked if my other forms are compatible with humans and other humanoid species. That if I don't want another devil as a partner, I can simply procreate with either a husband or a wife of another species. The others raised the concern of an heir from my bloodline as well" Shirogane rubs her chin
She briefly displays the ability by changing both her appearance and gender. Her hair shortens, her frame becomes bulkier, and her voice deepens. She even alters his clothes to a more western noble attire. A fully male demon with pitch black-skin, black scleras, and exposed jagged teeth takes Shirogane's place for about a few seconds before reverting to her original form.
"Ainz-sama, may I propose something to our new ally" Demiurge presses his hand on his chest
"Go ahead"
"Lady Shirogane, my farm is aiming to produce high quality scrolls through the use of bipedal abelion sheep. We're crossbreeding them in hopes of producing hybrid genes. I suggest you can take part by procreating with specimens if there's any to your liking"
"What's an abelion sheep? My people haven't told me about bipedal sheeps?" Shirogane scratches her head
"It's like chimeras. You could say they're goats too in a sense" Ainz briefly explains
"Eh? You want me to fuck a sheep? I may be a devil or demon, but I wouldn't go after farm animals..." Shirogane leans back
"Hmm, I suppose it's difficult to explain through words. If you have time, I hope you'll visit my farm and see the specimens yourself. I'm also adding the result of sexual intercourse between those from Yggdrasil and New World inhabitants"
(I'm willing to force myself on others but animals aren't really my fetish. Well, also young children...) Shirogane is slightly nervous of the idea
Even for a devil filled who does as she wishes when left alone, she still finds beasts and children to be absolutely off limits and unappealing for her libido in either forms. It's her tendency of being a devil with standards or at least knowing when to set up a boundary to herself.
"Hmm, I suppose I'll have to visit Nazarick soon to discuss the future between Nazarick and Eljudnir"
"If you're going to create a country, what would be your kingdom? We can start with a name" Ainz snaps his fingers
"I want it to at least sound decent if I'm going to have different kinds of people living in it. I suppose I'll have to carefully think about it, but the first issue is how Eljudnir will be recognized as a country to begin with" Shirogane crosses her arms and groans
"I have a fair idea how. It involves the bloody emperor himself not knowing he will fall into another trap" Demiurge wags his tail
"Ho~ Now I'm interested"
Demiurge is rather excited with further elaborating the plan while Shirogane is sharing the same amount of curiosity and enthusiasm while Ainz quietly looks at them back and forth, wondering if archdevils naturally understand each other.
Baharuth Empire...
News or a large monster-occupied castle in the middle of a forest spread to the Baharuth Empire due to the eyes and ears of the emperors meddling among the populace and the corrupt nobles taking bribes for favors.
"The scouts were nearly spotted by a Demon Lord? The last one that showed up was five hundred years ago and that was when they killed each other for territory. There's little known about it other than the last demon lord standing appeared one day, massacred armies, then disappeared"
Jircniv waves her hand and slams his rear down his favorite sofa. He stares at the stacks of documents his officers and assistants brought to him for official and final approval.
"Our scouts confirmed monsters of all kinds roam the area. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and even undead too. Your majesty, it's as if another Ainz Ooal Gown showed up to threaten humanity" Nimble swallows his breath
"How was a mere demon able to hide a castle that big? The fact it showed up all of a sudden only meant the extreme care they used to hide their existence. They waited all this time in preparation to wipe us out"
"Your majesty, do you think this demon is an ally of Ainz Ooal Gown) The castle is on the Great Forest of Tob and the undead's tomb is on the other side of the mountain and forest"
"They're both evil races, but demons are fickle. They're selfish, arrogant, and petty. Their kind are known to look down on others and to them an undead like Ainz Ooal Gown is no different from a mere elder lich. The prideful and territorial nature of a demon lord will put them at odds. That's why the other Demon Lords killed each other in the past...or so they said" Jircniv grins
No history recorded of a selfless demon. Their race is common and everyone is well aware that even demons slaughter and betray each other for power. Demon Lord is said to be a title meant for a demon who rose to power and commanded an entire army, often known by red wolf-like demons as their enforcers. As such they tightly cling to power and won't allow any competitor in their domain.
"Perhaps I could use this to my advantage against Ainz Ooal Gown" Jircniv leans on his sofa
"Y-your majesty?"
Baziwood Peshmel nearly raises his voice after hearing another scheme from the ever cunning and sharp young emperor.
"Demons are egotistic and domineering. They're like vicious beasts but you have to stroke their needs and feed their ego. To a demon lord, a human emperor is no threat, but Ainz Ooal Gown is a threat. Of course, I can't outright point the threat myself since that monster will crush me after the Empire formed an alliance"
"If we can't tell how much of a threat Ainz Ooal Gown is, how can we deal with both?"
"We make them fight. No two monsters will be allowed to exist closely to each other especially if they're expanding territory. We don't bring the lion to another lion, but we simply throw the crumbs behind their backs"
"I get it. You're leading them to bite each other" Baziwood grins
"We stroke that pesky demon's ego and while we're the humans not wanting to get killed, Ainz Ooal Gown will be the villain. I'll let them fight over a territorial claim and hopefully both sides kill off each other. Of course, I have to think which one should step within the other's boundary first. Either of them needs to be the instigator"
Jircniv forms the basis of his scheme to have an undead ruler and a demon ruler provoke the other to stir conflict. For that to happen, either someone crosses another territory without permission or stir trouble within their factions and instill pressure on either rulers. Whoever it is, the discord among their people will be the crumbs for Jircniv to lead the two monsters to each other.
"How do you plan to approach the demon lord, your majesty? I doubt someone with a castle that big will need gold or manpower"
"Humans will be offerings. For safety measures, we will offer young virgins and death row criminals. Demons love to violate pure ones and feed on sinners. We're offering two kinds of meals"
"Maidens, huh. Well, demons are perverts and depraved beings" Baziwood shrugs
"I'm the heartless emperor who will offer his own citizens. That's the best way to approach a demon since they'd be more repulsed to those without power or with good nature"
Jircniv has always been ruthless but efficient, so he's unfazed at sacrificing a few people barely even known as a sign of goodwill to a demon lord with an army that can slaughter thousands. The Baharuth Empire has soldiers who have magical armors and high grade weapons, but Jircniv avoids conflict that won't benefit and that tends to backfire.
E-Asenaru territory...
The Blue Roses adventurer group rests in a small village a bit far from the ruling noble's main territory. They're a bit exhausted after fending off demons killing soldiers and adventurers sent to defeat them. Gagaran is the most sore for nearly being squashed by an Overeating demon and bitten by a pack of demonic hounds.
"Those demons mentioned a Demon Lord reemerged near E-Pespel. They were too scared to fight back so they fled" Gagaran massages her aching forearms
"Demon Lord, huh. I read about a few of them that emerged before the Thirteen Heroes gathered. They were said to be influential and powerful of their kind, so they fought for territory. I don't know how true the fact one suddenly showed up, slaughtered all of them and disappeared"
"They left like that? That's weird even for a demon" Gagaran laughs
"The area in the forest where the castle emerged. It's not far where we tried to find a demon's lair, right?" Lakyus remembers
"You mean the one where we met the weird girl sleeping at a place like that?" Evileye eye scoffs with distrust
They haven't met the strange but defenseless girl after escorting her out of the forest, but Evileye still paints the unusually calm citizen who isn't the least surprised or afraid of nearly being eaten or captured by imps.
"It scared off demons like how an alpha wolf scares off weaklings from its territory" Tia shrugs
"A castle hidden for so long and that large is surely housing hundreds of monsters. It's good we didn't find it before" Tina sighs in relief
(There was little information even from two hundred years ago. A rumor once said about a devil in black armor permanently froze an entire town and was responsible for slaughtering a human army)
Evileye doubts the truth of the rumors since it happened before she was even born and due to a human's short lifespan, the words and reality of history becomes diluted and vague after several generations.
"It's too dangerous to investigate in a group, so I will scout the area after we get back" Evileye volunteers
"No way. You can turn invisible and teleport, but we don't know how many of them are there" Gagaran slams the wooden table with her fists
"That Demon Lord may have been resurrected by demon worshippers or unsealed which explains the disappearance a long time ago and sudden appearance now"
"How about we wait till someone from Re-Estize hires us to scout and investigate" Tia raises her hand
"We're not going to risk our lives for free. Even if we're paid, we can't march in there and we should only scout" Tina nods
"There might be countless innocent lives lost in the kingdom if they don't act soon. I don't think the kingdom is prepared to defend from a demon army marching on their doorstep while dealing with the Baharuth Empire" Lakyus clenches her fists resting on the table
"Don't think of going by yourself, Lakyus. If you plan to sneak off, we either tie you up or go there with you"
"Huh? We're risking ourselves" Tia blinks in confusion
"We're just going to take a look, right?" Tina is a bit nervous
"That's why I'm going because I have the means to escape. Lakyus, you might either be killed on the spot or get captured. Trust me, you don't want to get captured by a demon. Priestess like you either usually ends up as sex slaves until they die"
"I-I know that!" Lakyus pulls herself back a bit
It may sound like Evileye is scaring Lakyus to discourage her too, but the short vampire's tone is neither sarcastic nor casual. She's serious at the risk of Lakyus dooming herself to a fate worse than that.
"No one can resurrect you if you die. None of us know how to use Raise Dead!" Gagaran slams the table again
Despite her strength and size, Gagaran holds back a lot of force, worried she would damage a simple wooden table that served meals and drinks for years.
"Ms. Adventurers, help us!" The village chief barges in, huffing and screaming
"What's wrong?!" Lakyus immediately stands up
"Demons are heading to the village!"
"Alright everyone, we got demon skulls to bash and burn!" Gagaran goes to lift her hammer leaning near the door
The village chief runs outside to make way for the adventurer group rushing out of the door and immediately running to intercept another group of demons threatening the village. Tia and Tina rushes first as the most agile followed by Evileye using Haste.
"...!"
The demons are at least ten minutes away from reaching the village but as soon the group leaves the village the large group of demons aren't running and instead, lying dead on the ground. Smoke from charred ground and barely recognizable corpses rises up in the air.
"I'm sorry, big sister. I tried to hold back and most still died like ants..." A young female half demon magic caster pokes her index fingers together
"Good grief. We just wanted to ask about the demon lord they're babbling about but they tried to run..."
The older one one with armor on some areas only lift her lance skewering a hellhound and sighs as she tosses the corpse away, splitting it in half as soon as she sends it flying in the air. The young one has wavy blonde hair tied in a ponytail is comforted by a winged serpent coiling around her neck when it rubs its head on her cheek. As for the older one, she has a similar hairstyle but tied in a lower ponytail. She wields a perfect mix of gold and silver lance, decorated intricate patterns that can shift it to a spear form if needed.
"Half demons?" Lakyus raises her sword
"Look, big sister. A bunch of weirdos!" The younger sister excitedly points out
"They don't look strong. Judging from their equipment, they're not bandits and more likely adventurers" The older sister lowers her lance
"Should we kill them too? I really don't want to resort to that, but..."
A rarity among demon kind, the younger sister doesn't view killing a habit or entertainment and her furrowed eyebrows slightly hesitates at even using it as a means to defend herself. The winged serpent resting around her neck, raises its head and rudely hisses at Evileye alone. Its scales emit sparks that only tickles the younger sister
"Watch out!" Lakyus charges forward
"Lakyus!" Evileye immediately follows after her
"Hmm?" The sisters turn around
Some burnt demons and mutilated demons still have enough vitality them to lift themselves from the ground to raises their claws and weapons at the indifferent sisters. They stare without the slightest care since a simple fireball spell disintegrated half of their group earlier.
"..." The younger sister tilts her head
One furious demon clenches its fist and attempts to crush the vulnerable half demon magic caster. Evileye sends a Crystal Lance spell towards a large demon with three arms remaining and pierces right through its chest, crushing its heart in the process.
"Hyah!"
As for Lakyus, she swings her sword with all of her might and successfully bisects three demons with elongated claws and thick fangs.
"She didn't hesitate to save a half demon..." The older sister whispers to her younger sister
"They're good people. I like them, big sister" The younger sister winks
"I suppose we're somewhat indebted to them even if the help is unnecessary. Still, mother taught us to never leave a debt unpaid no matter how trivial it is"
The older sister dislikes humans, but her sense of honor is more important. She reacts with a slight amused smile, focusing on Lakyus, who's fixed gaze towards them is far different than the other humans. While the priestess is wary of them, her expression is relaxed without any hint of disgust or fear.
"You killed these demons by yourselves before we arrived? Impressive that you were unscathed"
Evileye briefly recalls a half demon being one of her comrades in the last but human history omitted those blood of monsters. She takes a few steps forward, standing in between her friends and the pair of sisters.
"We were about to interrogate them but they ran away and tried to target the village" The older sister answers first
"Even if we have these horns, we will protect innocent people. It's another story if someone tried to attack us" The younger sister points at her short black horns
"Thank you for protecting the village. I'm Lakyus of the Blue Roses. May we know your names?"
"My name is Margaret Vesalius and this is my sister Nellian Vesalius. We may be half demons, but don't harm humans unless we're provoked. If you raise your weapons against us, we won't hesitate to cut you down too"
Margaret immediately warns the group since they are half demons even if they're technically devils by nature. Humans resent half breeds like them, so Margaret moves to block her younger sister. Just like her younger sister, she only considers killing if they cannot be reasoned with...unlike their mother who will gladly rip off someone's tongue at the slightest insult.
"The small one is a vampire, big sister. I doubt they're like those racist humans who summoned angels" Nellian whispers from the back
"So long as you don't hurt people, we won't hurt you" Gagaran rests her hammer on her shoulders
"We just protected this village from a group of demons a while ago. Since you defeated the demons trying to reach the village, we won't fight you" Lakyus stands beside Evileye
"They're not bad people, big sister. The leader looks a bit naive and reckless though" Nellian giggles
"What are a pair of half demon sisters doing in the kingdom?" Evileye refuses to speak casually
"The demons in the kingdom were restless yesterday. They were flushed out and scared off like cockroaches. They spoke of a Demon Lord in a silver castle, so we travelled here to investigate"
Margaret still doesn't fully trust humans even if her younger sister doesn't seem to mind their presence. She only informs their basic goal, gouging the kind of people they are from the level of wariness from their expressions and gestures.
"Perhaps we can help each other. We plan to scout the castle as soon as we return to the capital"
Half demons are considered to be no different from pure demons and treated as half breed abominations, but Lakyus follows her judgment that the sisters aren't as violent and bloodthirsty as their demon kind.
"You know where it is?" Nellian peeks from Margaret's back
"A lot of people do. It stands out too much with it sheer size" Evileye avoids telling the exact location
(Big sister, what if it's mom?) Nellian whispers
"Is it Eljudnir castle?"
"El - what?" Gagaran scratches her head
"It might not be it. What a waste of time"
Margaret is certain of Gagaran's cluelessness, but she chooses to act disheartened and upset as she turns around. She despises the vampire staring at them behind the mask and how her mana flow is an indication she's ready to unleash a spell at any given moment.
"We're leaving, big sister? We're not going to help them?" Nellian is genuinely confused
"It may be false alarm. We have to continue our search somewhere"
Margaret still has her back turned away from Blue Roses, used this chance to glance at her younger sister with a slight nod as a form of signal.
"Oh..." Nellian immediately realizes
"Don't go near a demon's castle. They don't take kindly to intruders" Margaret turns for a moment to warm them
Since Blue Roses prove to not view them as disgusting half breeds of try to kill them in sight like every humans they encountered, Margaret believes it's necessary to warn them. Her tone just happens to be stern and annoyed, so not everyone understands her intent.
"One last thing. You tried to save us without hesitation. For that, we owe your group one" Margaret places her hand on her chest and slightly bows
"Y-you don't have to owe us or anything. Since you're not evil pure demons, there was no reason to see you as an enemy" Lakyus frantically waves her hands
"Our mother is a pure demon, but she's ruthless to humans. I can't say you're wrong since I know she wouldn't stand around to chat with lowly humans" Nellian rubs the back of her head
"Oh. They're actually decent half demons"
Evileye scoffs a bit after learning that not only are they aware of their demon parent but raised differently judging from the way they speak and act. She observes them from beginning to end, but neither of the sisters bear any malice or killing intent towards them. Like a normal person, the half demons are only focused on the conversation while being cautious of human strangers.
"I hope we'll meet some day so we can repay your kindness, Blue Roses! Greater Teleportation!" Nellian waves her hand and turns away too
A white flash and blur envelops the two sisters' body when Nellian casts a spell for the two of them. They can leave far with Gate, but Nellian chooses the spell as part of her older sister signalling her earlier.
"Oof!"
Maria tosses a small gem in the air, and the piece of fragmented pink gem cracks into glittering dust in a blink of an eye. An invisible and passable field surrounds a small area around them, eliminating all sounds inside form leaving the area of the spell.
"We should observe everything. Has your shadow demon hid in their leader's shadow?"
Margaret carefully scans the surrounding area before asking her younger sister. She tightly grips the divine class weapon, fearing of possible enemy ambush. It's their adoptive mother who taught them to always assume an enemy is nearby or observing them, especially out in the open.
"Confirmed, big sister! Why do we need to trail them anyway?" Nellian salutes
"The demons ran off because a dominant one appeared - a Demon Lord as they used to call it. We can't be certain if it's our mother because we couldn't find Eljudnir's exact location after she sent us away five hundred years ago" Margaret frowns while staring at the ground
"What happened to our mother back then?"
"Someone else spoke in her stead...as if she was possessed"
Margaret tightly closes her eyes for a moment, recalling how the white-haired devil's appearance suddenly changes. The right side of her hair turned completely black and so is her sclera. Black marking also appeared on the same side of the face, followed by a drastic change in speech and behavior. Her mana drastically increased as well and the stench of death surrounds her like a breeze.
"T-that can't be right. Mom is a paladin and has high immunity against emotional and mental tampering"
"If mom is still alive, I'm afraid she might not be the same mom. She may still be possessed or controlled"
"Ever since six months ago, we found how this world drastically changed. Just as we found a real mother..." Nellian bites her lower lip
The shrunken storm elemental nudges her cheek with its cold and static snout. It doesn't fully understand human words, but it guesses Nellian is upset and saddened by something.
"What if it's not the same mother we once knew? Will we be able to kill her?" Margaret grits her teeth
"Why...why would I...we do that?" Nellian tightly clutches her skirt
"Nellian, can you really stand and watch as some wretched person uses our mother's body as their own? In the worst case scenario, both her mind and soul have been eliminated after centuries..."
"Even if we kill our possessed mother, can we even resurrect her? It's true I can use resurrection spells, but will it work on us? More importantly, do we even have a chance of winning? It's always her who helps killing PKers targeting us. I mean that's how we first met her"
"..."
The two sisters pause for a moment, slightly discouraged and nervous at the fact that Shirogane is a better fighter due to past experiences and better equipment. Her eyes drawing emotions betray the sentimentality and emotional attachment they once had.
"Even if it's Eljudnir and that's not our mom in there anymore, we're done for. She commands every NPC there...and World Items" Nellian's anxiety grow
Two players aren't sufficient to battle an army of NPCs, excluding the level one hundred NPCs loyal to their mother. To Nellian, who remains the human child she used to be even in the body of an adolescent half demon, she couldn't fathom the thought of killing someone who treated as any loving mother would treat their child.
Unknown location...
In the far western area within Slane Theocracy, lies a fort surrounded by ruins and only occupied by the local wildlife. All monsters inhabiting the area are culled to near extinction by women with angelic wings and shining armor. Not even humans dare to approach the area as these "holy warriors from the heavens" fend them off with force but never through fatal means.
"My queen, it's indeed true Eljudnir has resurfaced after centuries. The stench of undeath lingers around it" Thrud kneels and lays down her spear
"El...judnir? Shirogane has woken up from her two hundred year nap. It means that filthy woman is there too!"
A valkyrie with long wavy snow white hair and full plated golden armor furiously slams the pommel of her spear into the silky red carpet. The echo makes the other valkyries tremble in silence and stiffen their muscles, afraid to even utter a word without permission and even move a single step.
"We also spotted a tomb with a strong presence of undead on the other side of the mountain. It hasn't existed in the past yet it appeared in the blink of an eye not too long ago"
"Another one showed up, but they're not our main priority right now. I only care about crushing Eljudnir and that wretched woman first. Since it's another filthy undead, I might as well deal with it"
"My queen, apologies for interrupting, but we should observe further. Even without full domination, the Demon Lord wiped out half of the frost giants and nearly slayed your...former husband" Brynhild, standing next to the valkyrie queen, kneels
"I know very well what she's capable of. She left a permanent scar after all"
The valkyrie queen reaches out to the visible scar on her lower left cheek, touching the reminder with the tip of her finger clad in golden steel. Her thoughts drift for a moment, still freshly recalling how the World Item in the form of a sword combined with an attack severing the space - thus ignoring her barrier and armor.
"She's going to pay for humiliating me!"
The valkyrie queen grinds her teeth, producing the sound of two jagged steel violently scrapping each other. What's more in her memory from five hundred years ago, Shirogane grabs the valkyrie Rangrid's leg and smashes it to her with a force enough to both smash the unfortunate valkyrie into flying bits of blood, guts, and steel fragments while the queen herself has her face forced into the ground, dirtying her with soil and squashed brain matter on her face. The worse is, half of her armor is shattered as a result.
(I can't believe that stubborn woman nearly did me in with The Goal of All Life is Death if that devil brat didn't start coughing out blood! I won't forgive her for staining my pride!)
The valkyrie queen tightly holds her spear that her weapon trembles and she can only utter incoherent growls while her valkyrie subordinates are too afraid to disturb her deep thinking. Her excessive pride fuels her thirst for revenge especially how her past is her trembling and immediately flying away as soon as Shirogane is kneeling on the ground and violently coughing out blood and suffocating.
"I'm the queen of the mightiest warriors Vanaheim, Freyja! I will not be humiliated by either undead or fiends! This time, for sure, I will make sure she won't humiliate me again!"
The goddess and warrior queen of the Valkyries, Freyja, takes a deep breath and loosens her stiff facial muscles. As her presence lightens the atmosphere around her, she slams the pommel of her spear one more time. While she is furious, she declares her intention of regaining her honor by certainly hunting down Shirogane and defeating her for good this time.
"My warrior sisters, seek out powerful undead and fiends! If they are from Yggdrasil as well, ensure to wound them enough to leave a message to their master. I don't care if it's either from that tomb of Eljudnir! If it's 'her', then she'll be drawn to powerful undead in that tomb" Freyja raises her spear
"...!"
All the valkyries gathered in the room raise their weapons in response and let out a loud battle cry, fully agreeing with their warrior queen. The golden spear emits bright light on the sharp edges of its blade and the outlines of the weapon is more defined by a red glow as a warrior and magic caster with skills mostly focusing on holy, fire and metal elements.
"I'll cleanse this land of filthy undead then you're next"
A tall and slender woman is engraved in her memory. One who sits upon a lonely throne while a dark sky casts over her and the chill of all matters of undead as her only companion. A neutral yet self-willed woman doesn't express the slightest emotion - her azure eyes barely gazing at her for five seconds yet she lacks the pride present in her "kin". The sole whimsical woman who doesn't detest living yet finds her home in undeath itself.