Chapter IX

Almost no traces remained of the deadly battle that had just occurred on the plain. The blood dampening the grass was hidden by the setting sun, and the metal scent of it was dispersed on a capricious wind.

But the worst were the two figures standing there, seemingly coming out of nowhere.

Captain Nigun of the Slane Theocracy's Sunlight Scripture turned to look at them, bewildered.

One appeared to be a caster who hid his face with a strange mask and wore unrefined gauntlets. As to prove high status, he was wrapped in an extremely expensive-looking black-purple robe with golden threads.

The other was completely covered in raven-black full plate armor which looked like it had been carved out of an enormous dragonscale. It was a magnificent suit, not one a person could find just anywhere. He could guess from looking that it was a first-class magic item.

The newcomers had appeared in the place of Gazef right as Nigun and his men had him cornered. And now, Gazef and his men were gone. It must have been some kind of teleportation magic, but Nigun couldn't think what spell it might be. Two unknown individuals using magic he'd never heard of, he couldn't be too careful in this situation.

As Nigun floundered for an explanation about the disappearance of Gazef, the arrival of the two strangers, and the magic explosion in the sky, the armoured man gave him the response about the latter.

"Sheesh, you should be grateful. It looks like someone was trying to monitor you with intelligence magic!"

Those words were a revelation for Nigun. My country must have been checking in on me… do they not trust me? or is something they do to all Scriptures? Ah, I have no time to think about that now!

Nigun had all the angels fall back and form a wall to protect him and the other casters, who they took a bit of distance from their new adversaries. Then, he stayed on his guard to see what they would do.

The warrior now kept silent, while magic caster took another step forward.

"How do you do, people of the Slane Theocracy? My name is Ainz Ooal Gown. Feel free to call me Ainz though."

His voice crossed the distance on the wind. When Nigun didn't say anything, the stranger Ainz continued.

"And behind me there is… should I say his name? it's not like they're going to survive anyway…"

"I'm Oshiku, Ainz Ooal Gown's best friend and sworn sword." He puffed up, but it was impossible to notice due to the armour.

…Oshiku? well, whatever…

"First of all, I'd like to make a deal with you, so might I trouble you for some time?"

Nigun searched his memory for the names Ainz Ooal Gown and Oshiku, but not a thing came up; it was possible they were fake names. For the time being, he decided to go along with their story and get some information. Having made that decision, Nigun gestured with his chin to continue the conversation.

"Marvelous… It seems as though you're willing, thank you. Very well, there is one thing I must say up front and that is you cannot win against us."

His tone of voice contained complete certainty. He wasn't bluffing or talking crazy, Ainz truly believed what he said from the bottom of his heart.

Nigun furrowed his brow slightly.

This wasn't the kind of thing one would say to Slane Theocracy elite.

"Ignorance is a pitiful thing. You'll have to pay for yours."

"Hm, I wonder about that… I've been watching the whole fight while my dear friend has been spying on you since this morning… Sunlight Scripture!"

The Theocracy men looked bewildered, their commander included.

Shit. They've always known we were here! But then how… and why…

"The only reason we came is because we were absolutely certain to win. Don't you think we would have forsaken that man if we thought we couldn't possibly defeat you?"

He makes sense.

A caster has other ways to approach the situation. All wizards generally wore only light armor and for that reason they had a better chance of winning if they avoided close combat and used Fly to shoot Fireball or some other spell from a distance. So for him to come and meet them face-to-face meant he must have some trick up his sleeve.

How did he interpret my silence?

Ainz continued speaking.

"Now that you understand that, I have some questions. First, a little something I'm curious about: The angels right there with you seem to be tier-3 summons magic flame archangels, is that right?"

Why are you asking if you already know?

Paying no attention to Nigun's surprise, Ainz went on.

"It seems like you're summoning the same monster as from Yggdrasil, but I'm curious if you call it with the same name or not. Most monsters in there used to have names from mythology. I'm pretty sure many angel and demon names are from myths. The most common source of angel and demon names should be Christianity. It feels very unnatural for there to be archangels here when you have these Six Gods. It would seem to indicate that there are others like me in this world."

I have understood less than half of the things he's going on about. And I like less than half of those.

Annoyed, Nigun countered with a question of his own. "That's enough talking to yourself for now. Time to have you answer a question of mine. What did you do with Stronoff?"

"I teleported him back into the village," replied Ainz.

"…What?" He hadn't even been expecting a reply and the confusion showed in his voice, then he realized why. "You fool. If you lie, all we need to do is search the village and—"

"It most definitely is not a lie. I just answered when you asked, although there is a reason I told the truth."

"To plead for your life? If you don't want to waste my time, I'll consider it."

"No, no, you misunderstand. Actually, I was listening to your conversation with Captain Gazef. You guys have a lot of gall." In reply to Nigun's ridicule, Ainz's tone and vibe changed. "You declared you would kill the villagers that I took all this time and efforts to save from your cavalrymen. Does that strike you as a very nice thing to do?"

Ainz's robe flapped dramatically in the wind. The same gust maintained its force and blew through Nigun and his group as well.

The wind blowing over the plain had just happened to come from Ainz's direction, that was all. Feeling the chilly wind all over his body, Nigun felt many thoughts popping up in his head.

That wind didn't actually smell like death… It was just my imagination. Besides, killing those fools is no big deal. As if I could be scared by that… I'm more worried about how did that guy spy on us with all that heavy armour…

"That's some big talk, caster. And what about it?"

Although he was feeling a bit overwhelmed, he maintained a taunting attitude with a sneer. The commander of one of the Slane Theocracy's ace special-ops units, the Sunlight Scripture, Nigun, was not going to be fazed by two people, no, he couldn't afford to be.

But…

"I mentioned a deal before. How it goes is you surrender your lives without a fuss, and this won't hurt a bit. If you refuse, the penalty for your foolishness is the pain and despair that you'll die in."

Ainz took a step forward.

It was only one, but he looked huge now.

The members of the Sunlight Scripture took a step back, overawed. "Ahh…" From near Nigun came a handful of hoarse voices, they were scared.

This presence was unbelievably overwhelming. Nigun himself had never felt something like that, so he could understand his men's fear. Even the Scripture leader, who had made it through many a life-or-death situation and taken countless lives, had the feeling he was going to be crushed by all the pressure exerted by this unknown magic caster. It probably affected his men even more.

Who the heck is this guy?!

What is this caster really? What kind of face is under that mask?

Ignoring Nigun's panic, Ainz's ever coolheaded voice continued.

"Here's the reason I told you the truth: I don't care if I tell you because you're going to die anyway."

He slowly stretched out both hands and took another step forward. He looked a bit like he wanted to give a big hug, but the sinister curve of his gauntlets gave the impression of a beast that was about to strike.

A chill ran from the tips of Nigun's toes to the top of his head. He'd had this feeling before: a premonition of death.

"Angels, charge! Don't let him get any closer!" Nigun shouted orders in what turned out to be more of a hoarse shriek.

He didn't do it to improve morale. He was just too scared of Ainz Ooal Gown coming toward him.

Two archangel flames attacked at his command. Wings flapping, they sliced through the wind. After making a beeline for Ainz, their swords were thrusted without a hint of hesitation.

Oshiku will probably step out in front of him or Ainz will cast some spell. That's what everyone was thinking, but they couldn't believe their eyes. Not because something happened, but the opposite.

Their two opponents didn't do a thing.

Ainz took both swords without moving a muscle. No magic, no evasion, not the slightest protection. He didn't do a single thing but get stabbed.

Surprise turned to ridicule.

Their presence, how strong they was, it had all been just talk and illusion. It wasn't that Oshiku hadn't tried to protect him, surely the angels had just been too fast. Once their jig was up, these two weren't so tough.

Nigun sighed in relief along with his men in spite of himself. Feeling ashamed for his earlier panic, he looked toward Oshiku. "You wretches, trying to fool me with those ridiculous bluffs…"

Then, a question formed. Why hasn't Ainz's corpse fallen to the ground? Ah, the angel's swords must be keeping him up…

"…What are you doing? Pull the angels back, there's no need to keep him still standing…"

"W-we're ordering them to pull back, but…"

Hearing his subordinate at such a loss, Nigun snapped his attention back to Ainz.

The angels were flapping their wings hard. They were like butterflies trying to escape a spider's web. Two of them slowly parted to either side, but they were moving unnaturally and away from each other, as if someone was forcing them to. And then Ainz, who had previously been hidden by their bodies, was clearly visible in the gap.

"I told you, didn't I? You can't win against us. You should take people seriously when they warn you." His quiet voice reached Nigun's ears.

For a moment Nigun couldn't believe at what he was seeing. Ainz was standing there perfectly fine despite swords sticking out of his chest and gut.

"No way…" One of Nigun's men groaned what he himself was thinking. Judging from the position and angle of the swords, Ainz should be fatally wounded, but it didn't even look like he was in pain.

Of course, that wasn't the only surprising thing.

In Ainz's outstretched gauntlets he was holding the necks of both angels. They were struggling to escape, but he wasn't letting go.

"This can't be…," someone mumbled. Angels were summoned monsters, and their bodies were made up of the summoner's magical energy, but that didn't mean they were light. They weighed slightly more than an adult human male, plus they were wearing heavy armor. It would be no easy feat to hold that up in one hand. Maybe a talent holder could, or a muscle-bound warrior who had gone through the most rigorous training would eventually be able to do it, but the man before them was a caster, which meant that rather than muscles, he had poured his efforts into increasing his wisdom and magical energy. Even if he was using magic to increase his strength, if the base number were low, the effect wouldn't be so great.

"This has to be some kind of trick."

"O-of course! There's no way he could be unharmed with two swords stuck in him!" Shouts went up in a flustered panic. As a special-ops unit, they'd been to the brink of death many times and survived harsh battles, but they had never seen anything like this. It would have been impossible even for the angels they summoned.

As Nigun's and his men's confusion deepened, a calm, even voice of someone who must not have been experiencing pain reached their ears.

"Greater Physical Damage Immunity—it's a passive skill that makes me totally immune to damage from low-level monsters and weapons that don't have a ton of data. It can only nullify attacks from up to level 60. In other words, any level above that and it wouldn't have any defensive effect whatsoever; I'd take damage like normal. It's all or nothing…but it seems like it's been pretty useful, huh? Now, then, these angels are in my way."

Ainz took the two angels he was holding and smashed them into the ground with tremendous force. He'd put so much power into it that it felt like the earth shook along with the slamming noise.

The angels turned into countless particles of light, and disappeared together with their seemingly useless swords

.

"I thought if I could figure out the reason the angels are named the way they are, I could figure out why you can use Yggdrasil magic, but I guess I won't worry about that right now."

Nigun's opponent straightened up slowly, still muttering nonsense. That nonsense was part of his mysterious horror. Nigun swallowed hard.

"Okay, have you had your fill of this dull child's play? I take it you refuse to make a deal with me. So now it's my turn."

The angel destroyer straightened his posture and stretched out his hands, as if to show he wasn't carrying anything. In the uncomfortable silence, his words felt infinitely loud.

"Here I go! This is a massacre!"

Nigun felt like he'd been stabbed in the back with an icicle and wanted to throw up. He felt something that as a veteran slaughterer he'd never felt before.

We should retreat. Fighting with Ainz without knowing for sure we can win is too dangerous.

But he dismissed that gut feeling. They'd had Gazef cornered a moment ago; they couldn't just watch their prey get away now.

Ignoring the warning from deep down, he shouted orders. "All angels, attack! Now!"

All the flame archangels abruptly headed for Ainz.

"You guys really like to play, huh? Then, watch this!" Nigun heard Ainz's awfully calm and collected voice say in the midst of the angels' flock attack. He didn't seem the least bit anxious about having no way to escape the angels that were bearing down on him from all directions.

It seemed like he was about to be skewered by countless swords, but before that could happen, he cast a spell: "[Negative Burst]!"

The earth rumbled below them.

All at once a wave of pure black like the reverse of light, with Ainz at its center, swallowed up the area. The pulse took all of a moment, and the results of it were instantly clear.

"This… This can't be!" Somebody's voice was carried on the wind. The scene before them was that unbelievable.

There had been more than forty angels. They were all obliterated by the wave of black light.

It hadn't been counter magic to cancel the summons. The way the angels had been blown away by the black wave meant damage. In other words, he'd wiped out the angels with damage-dealing magic.

But the worst thing was another. The man standing next to Ainz seemed to be completely unaffected by such a powerful spell even if he was in range.

Who the hell are we up against?!

A violent chill went through Nigun's entire body. Gazef Stronoff flitted across the back of his mind, along with the words he'd said:

Gah… The foolish one is you. There's someone in that village who is stronger than me. His power is so unfathomable I'm sure all of you won't be enough to take him down…

The words matched the scene before his eyes.

That can't be possible! Nigun dismissed Gazef's words from his head and frantically talked himself down. The strongest group he knew of was the Black Scripture, and their members could wipe out angels. So all he had to do was keep in mind that Ainz and Oshiku are about as powerful as them.

Even if that is true, with our numbers we should be able to take them both down… But could a Black Scripture member wipe out a whole flock of angels with just one spell?

Nigun shook his head and cleared away his questions. He couldn't ask himself that now. If he realized the answer, he wouldn't have any way to proceed. So he put his hand on his breast pocket and took courage from the magic item inside. He was convinced that as long as he had the Gods' power, he'd be all right.

His men were coping in a different way.

"Yea-yearrrrrgh!"

"What the hell?!"

"He's a monster!"

Upon seeing that angels were useless, they began shooting off any spell they felt they could rely on, shrieking all the while:

"Charm Person!"

"Iron Hammer of Righteousness!"

"Hold!"

"Fire Rain!"

"Emerald Sarcophagus!"

"Shock Wave!"

"Stalagmite Charge!"

"Open Wounds!"

"Poison!"

"Fear!"

"Curse!"

"Blindness!"

They threw all kinds of spells Ainz's way. After all, he seemed to be the biggest threat, while Oshiku did nothing but stand still.

Through the hail of magic, the magic caster kept his relaxed attitude.

"Just ase I thought, these are all spells we know of. Who taught them to you? Someone from the Slane Theocracy? Or someone else? There are just more and more things I want to ask."

A being who can kill angels in one shot and can't be harmed by magic…

Nigun felt like he was trapped in a nightmare.

"Eaaagggghhhhhh!" Driven mad by the ineffectiveness of their magic, one of his men took out a slingshot and, emitting a strange scream, launched a pellet. Nigun wondered what effect that could possibly have against a guy who was fine being run through with two angel swords, but he didn't stop him.

The heavy iron pellet flew straight toward Ainz with enough destructive force to easily break a human's bones.

Suddenly there was a sound like an explosion.

One moment.

It only took one moment.

They were in the middle of a battle, so it wasn't as if they'd looked away. Yet there was Oshiku, who should have been behind Ainz, standing firmly in front of him. Did he teleport? In the place where she had been standing, some dirt was scuffed into a mound where he had kicked off. That strange sound must have been the impact…

Moving in a blur, he unsheathed a strange swords and swung it casually. A beat later, the man who had launched the pellet crumpled to the ground.

"…Huh?!"

No one could grasp what they had just seen. Our side attacked, so how come our man got taken out?!

Another subordinate ran over to confirm the man's status, dead, and cried, "A-an iron pellet cracked his head open!"

"What? An iron pellet? …You mean the one he just launched?!"

He shot it, so how did it kill him? A voice on the wind delivered the answer.

"Sorry about that. My friend here used his bare sword skill to reverse such an attack… It seems like your associate had some defensive magic up to block projectiles, but if the counterattack is stronger, the barrier would break, right? It's nothing to be surprised about."

Having said just that, Ainz ignored Nigun and the others and turned to Oshiku. "But you know a projectile that puny wouldn't hurt me. You didn't need to—"

"Oh, come on Ainz-san! You're having all the fun! Let me do something! Also, I promised to leave magic battle to you, but that was a physical projectile… that is within my field of expertise!"

"Hehe, alright. But you needn't worry, I'll let you have some fun with them…"

"P-principality observation! Engage!"

Responding to Nigun's hoarse voice, an angel that hadn't budged the whole time spread its wings. Principality observation was a fully armored angel which in one hand carried a mace with a large pommel, while the other was holding an oval shield. Its legs were completely hidden by a long skirtlike hitatare.

The reason this angel, stronger than an Archangel flame, hadn't moved until now, was its special ability. Appropriate to its name. it had the power to raise its teammates' defense just by watching. However, the skill would be canceled if it moved. So having principality observation stand by was the wisest choice.

The fact that Nigun had given it orders showed how shaken he was. It was as if he were grasping at straws, not even caring what could be done as long as something was.

"Not yet, my friend. Fall back."

Oshiku gritted his teeth, but obeyed without question while the angel took its orders and flew immediately to Ainz. Without losing any momentum, it began beating on him with its sparkling mace. Ainz took every blow straight on with his gauntleted left hand, seeming put out by the hassle.

The mace should have broken his arm, but it didn't seem to affect Ainz. He remained unperturbed as he took two, three hits. "Sheesh… I guess it's time for a counterattack now… [Hell Flame]!"

From the tip of his extended right hand's finger sprang a small black flame, flickering faintly as if one breath could extinguish it. It caught on to principality observation but was laughably tiny compared to the angel's gleaming body.

However…

With a whoosh, principality observation went up in flames. The resulting heat was so intense that Nigun and his men, even at a distance, couldn't keep their eyes open.

Within the roaring blaze that threatened to burn up even the heavens, the angel's form melted and disappeared. It happened all too quickly. Then, having burned up its target, the black flame also faded away.

Nothing was left behind. It was as if both the angel and the black flame had never been there at all.

"Th-that's absurd…"

"In one shot…?"

"Eeeegh!"

"How can that beeee?!"

Nigun's yells mingled with the chorus of confused voices. He didn't even realize he was shouting. He was just saying whatever came to his mind. Nothing was left of the professional leader as he had no sense of how loud or shrill he was.

But there was a serious reason why.

Principality observation was a high-level angel. Furthermore, its ratio of ability points for attack to defense was 3:7. It had the highest defense of all the angel principalities that could be summoned on the same tier of magic.

Plus, Nigun had a talent that strengthened any monsters he summoned. The effect wasn't huge, but the powers of monsters he summoned were stronger. That meant that there were not many people who could defeat a principality observation summoned by Nigun.

And to do it with just one spell, he'd never seen anyone capable of something like that in his life. That was impossible even for the Black Scripture members, who had entered the Hero Realm just like Gazef Stronoff. In other words, Ainz Ooal Gown's power was beyond humanity.

"Impossible! That can't be! There's no way you can destroy an elite angel with just one spell! What kind of monster are you?! Ainz Ooal Gown… how could I not have heard of you before? What the hell is your real name, you bastard?" He'd lost all semblance of composure. All he could do was scream his inability to acknowledge what had just happened.

Ainz spread his hands apart. The setting sun's gleam made them look stained with blood.

"Why didn't you think it was possible? It seems to me you're just ignorant. Or maybe it's just how things are in this world? Allow me to answer one of your questions." Everyone quieted down in anticipation, which caused Ainz's voice to sound extra loud. "My name really is Ainz Ooal Gown. It's not a pseudonym."

This wasn't the answer they'd wanted, but Nigun could sense the pride and joy coming through in every word. It all left him speechless. A mysterious answer from a mysterious stranger, it made sense in this messed-up situation.

Nigun felt like his shallow breathing was obnoxiously loud. The wind blowing over the plain was obnoxiously loud, too. His heartbeat felt abnormally loud.

Someone's heavy, irregular breathing sounded like they'd been doing sprints. He thought of various ways to console himself, but the sight of Ainz taking both of those swords, the sight of him wiping out all of those angels with one spell, etc. drowned it out with, He alone is more of a monster than I ever could have expected. I can't win.

"C-Captain, wh-what should we do?"

"Figure out something by yourself! Why do I always have to be the one who does all the thinking, dammit!"

The frightened look on his subordinate's face after being yelled at brought Nigun back to reality. He couldn't lose composure in the face of this unknown monster.

As the sun set, darkness swallowed the world bit by bit. And along with it, the jaws of death seemed to open, ready to swallow everything up. Frantically suppressing his fear, Nigun gave orders.

"Defense! Anyone who wants to live, buy me time!" With trembling hands, he took a crystal from his breast pocket. The chains of fear bound his normally quick subordinates and their movements became sluggish. Even a soldier who wasn't afraid of death would hesitate when asked to act as a shield against such a monster, but he had to get them to buy him some time nevertheless.

Two hundred years ago, when an evil spirit had been terrorizing the continent, a single angel destroyed it. Sealed in this crystal was magic to summon that most powerful angel. It had the capacity to take out an entire city with ease.

Nigun had no idea what it cost or how much effort was needed to summon this angel, but since only that could kill the unfathomable foe Ainz Ooal Gown was, and his armoured froen, then it would be worth it.

More than anything, they'd all be doomed if he didn't use the crystal and the enemy stole it. Those were the excuses he used in his head. In reality, he was just scared to become a lump of meat like the many beings he'd slayed.

"I'm going to use the Gods' power to summon the highest-level angel! Buy me time!" Dangling that carrot perked his men right up.

Their flame of hope blazed, and Ainz must have noticed, but he didn't do anything to stop it. He was just muttering things Nigun couldn't understand.

"So he really has a sealing crystal… From the sparkle, it doesn't seem to be super tier like you said, Oshiku-san. And it's probably an item from Yggdrasil, so…the highest-level angel would be…seraph class? I highly doubt it would be a seraph sphere, but even if it were a seraph empyrean, I'd have to fight with all I've got. Or…I wonder if it could be a monster specific to this world?"

While Ainz stood unmoving, the crystal glittered in Nigun's hands as it broke down just like Yggdrasil crystals did when used. Then, it was as if a sun that had been trying to hide suddenly appeared at ground level. The plain was filled with an explosive white light and a faint scent tickled everyone's nostrils. The legendary angel of whom tales had been told throughout the ages arrived before him and Nigun reacted joyously.

"Behold, the noble dominion authority!"

The angel was a cluster of sparkling wings. Inside, a hand was holding the symbol of sovereignty, a scepter, but besides that there were no legs or a head or anything else. Its appearance was certainly strange, but no one could doubt that it was holy: from the moment it showed itself, the air was purified.

Before this supremely good being, Nigun's subordinates' happiness exploded and they burst into applause.

This will be able to kill Ainz Ooal Gown, Oshikuru and whatever they can come up with. It's your turn to be scared! Know your folly before the power of the gods!

Faced with the object of their delight, Oshiku's imposing figure almost fell down to the ground while he brought his hands before his eyes, trying to avoid them to see the almighty angel. Even all what Ainz could do to string a few words together. "This is you getting serious? This angel…is the ace up your sleeve?!"

Ainz's astonishment and Oshiku almost bending over cast away all of Nigun's insecurity from earlier; he started to even feel pretty good.

"Yes, that's right! This is the highest-level angel! I know you can't help but be frightened. Normally it'd be a waste to use something like this, but I took the liberty of deciding you two were worthy adversaries."

"What the heck…?" Ainz slowly raised a hand and put it over his mask in a way similar to Oahiku's.

Nigun could see both were in despair.

"Ainz Ooal Gown. I summoned the highest-level angel against you, I do respect you as an opponent. Take pride in that! You're an immensely powerful caster!" He solemnly shook his head. "Honestly, I'd like to welcome you as a brother. It would be great to have someone as powerful as you for an ally…but forgive me. My orders this time don't allow for that. But we'll remember you, the great caster who forced us to summon the highest-level angel."

In response to Nigun's admiration came the loudest laughter ever. Oshiku had burst out laughing.

Ha! He's so afraid he's gone mad! Thought Nigun pretty satisfied.

Then Ainz also chuckled "This is truly ridiculous… get ahold of yourself though, Oshiku-san. You're giving quite the spectacle!"

"Oi, oi, sorry Mo—Ainz-san, but these guys are really killing me, hehehe…"

"What?" Nigun couldn't comprehend what had just been said. From his point of view, Ainz and Oshiku were nothing more than offerings to this angel. Instead, they seemed to be amused by it…

"Well, you're quite right Oshiku, I'm sorry for actually thinking this could be a true threat…"

"Ah, no, that was the right procedure, Ainz-san. I myself wasn't sure it was such a weak summon… "

"Right. Even so, I can't believe that this is all they could muster. I'm stunned."

The two of them were giving off the strong indication that even bothering with Nigun and his men any longer was absurd. Nigun began to get hot under the collar.

"How can you two act this way before the highest-level angel?" he bellowed at them as they chatted in a leisurely manner, ignoring it.

His delight was canceled out by their overwhelmingly superior attitude and his previous insecurity and fear returned. Ainz Ooal Gown and Oshiku can't be able to surpass even the highest-level angel…

"No! you can't be! you can't be! It cannot be! No one can be able to beat this angel! It destroyed an evil spirit! you must be bluffing! This has to be a bluff!"

Nigun no longer had the means to control his emotions.

He couldn't accept that there could be an enemy of the Slane Theocracy who was stronger than their strongest angel. Nor could he accept that enemy was standing in front of him.

"Dominion Authority, use Holy Smite!"

There was a realm of magic individual human casters could never reach: tier 7 and above. In the Slane Theocracy they were able to use some of those spells by performing large-scale ceremonies, but dominion authority could use them on its own. It wasn't the highest-level angel for nothing.

The spell Nigun asked for, [Holy Smite], was a tier7 spell he had been told by the Cardinal who entrusted him with the crystal. In other words, it was a spell of ultimate power.

"Okay, okay. We won't budge, so bring it on. Will you be satisfied, then?" Ainz's response was totally easygoing, as if he were yielding at a stop sign. Even the

warrior seemed carefree.

Their attitude frightened Nigun.

This angel was among the strongest beings on the continent, on par with most dragonlords if not even more powerful as it had even defeated an evil spirit. So there shouldn't be any way to take it out for mere humans.

But what if Ainz had some more tricks up his sleeves? What if the mysterious warrior's armour can withstand the angel's might?

That would mean that there were men stronger than evil spirits. How could this possibly be?!

In response to its summoner's wish for an all-out attack, dominion authority's scepter shattered and the shards began slowly revolving around the angel.

"Aha. A once-per-summons special ability that amplifies spell power? It seems dominion abilities are also the same as in Yggdrasil…"

"[Holy Smite]!"

The spell was cast and a column of light shone down, or at least, that's what it looked like. With a roar, the pale, pure light enveloped both Ainz and Oshiku as they stood still.

The seventh tier—this was a spell impossible for a human to cast.

Evil beings would be cleansed by absolute purity. And even if they were good, they would meet the same fate. It was just a difference of whether a little bit of them would be left over or they would be completely expunged. That's what a spell that transcended human potential did. It would be odd if it couldn't do something like that.

…But Ainz and Oshiku were fine.

The monsters had neither been expunged, nor fallen to the ground, nor burned to a crisp, nor anything else—they were standing there on their feet.

Even if Nigun could somehow accept Oshiku's armour was a powerful relic that protected the wearer even from the angel's spell, he could not believe Ainz was unscathed after that.

The bastard is even cackling!

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Just what I'd expect from a spell cast by a being strong against evil… So this is what it's like to take damage? This is pain, then. I see, I see. But even in pain I can think clearly and my movements are not inhibited. What about you, Oshiku-san?"

"All is good, Ainz-san. It was just a tickle thanks to this armour. Without it, I'm sure it would hurt, but not so much…"

The column of light faded despite not having done much of anything. "Marvelous. Yet another experiment completed." Ainz's voice was unconcerned, no, he actually sounded content somehow.

"Can I have some fun now, sensei?"

"Aye, give it a go. Surprise me, just don't overdo it."

Realizing what was going on, all Nigun and his men could do was twitchily grin.

"Well, then, what should I do to make you guys feel even worse… ", murmured the warrior playing with the hilt of his swords.

Nigun, who'd been going numb watching how carefree they were, came back to himself at this address. "I know what you really are! Evil spirits! You're evil spirits!"

Nigun had practically no knowledge of beings who could do battle with high-level angels. There were the six gods, which included the one he believed in, the dragonlords, legendary monsters who were supposedly so strong that one could take out a country, and evil spirits.

It was said that the Thirteen Heroes defeated the other evil spirits and sealed them away. It made the most sense to Nigun to consider that a seal on two of those beings had been broken. And if they were evil spirits, Nigun still had a slight hope that it would be possible to defeat them, as long as he had his angel. After all, he already had defeated one.

"Again! Beat them down with Holy Smite!" They both said they felt pain last time, so maybe he took damage. Even if still standing, maybe that's all they can manage. Innumerable maybes occupied his mind. If they didn't, his brain would surely break.

But Oshiku wasn't about to let him attack twice.

"No, I don't think he will. It's my turn, isn't it?"

Oshiku took some colourful flute out of nowhere. He yelled [Pied Piper] and started playing some music. The max power of the level 15 bard was directed in the Dominion Authority's direction and the angel which was about to start an attack against his summoner's enemies stopped doing that.

"What is this sorcery? It can't be… that evil spirit can stop magic attacks!

Nigun felt like he was going to faint anytime soon.

But it was far from over.

The flute's fife increased in volume and the Dominion Authority turned around, now facing the Sunlight Scripture.

Then, the symphony's rhythm grew quicker and quicker. The angel raised his mace-bearing arm and started flying towards the casters of the Theocracy.

"What can men do against who can control the highest angel…"

"No! Please stop! Resist the evil spirits!"

"We are followers of the Gods, don't do this, angel!"

Some prayed, others cursed, many tried to flee, but none managed to escape the mighty mace of the Dominion Authority. None but Nigun who had remained silent and immobile, too shocked to do anything.

Then, the angel turned to him and the man began hyperventilating, but it did not come any closer.

Yes! the control must be fading! Now the angel will come back to me! I can still make it out alive!

What was important now was his own life, nothing else. Besides, all of his dead subordinates were replaceable, whereas he was not.

But the flute's trill suddenly became somber, like a funeral sad ritual was about to happen. Sweat ran down Nigun's skin as the Dominion Authority let go of its shield and grabbed the mace with both hands. Then, with full force, the angelic being hit in the face so hard it exploded and the brilliant creature vanished.

With it gone, the light in the area dimmed all at once. The wind rushing over the plains, rustling the grass, seemed to echo.

In the midst of the silence, a hoarse voice spoke. "What are you…?!" Nigun asked the impossible beings again.

"I'm Oshiku and he is Ainz Ooal Gown. Once our names were known by all… But I think that's enough chatting, don't you? Any more than this and it'd be a waste of time. To prevent that, I'm going to let you know ahead of time that we've cast anti-teleportation magic around here, so know that escape is now impossible."

The sun had sunk completely below the horizon and the land was wrapped in darkness. Nigun felt like this was the end for him, and it was obvious that was the case.

"Enough fooling around, I think."

Realizing what Ainz meant, a chill went down Nigun's spine. The taker of lives' life was about to be taken. And he was so scared he couldn't stand it. Just like everyone whose life he had taken so far, he was terrified to have his life stolen away. The dead eyes of his subordinates staring at him was bothersome too.

He felt like he might start to cry.

He wanted to weep and scream and beg to be spared, but Ainz and Oshiku did not look like mercy was an option. So he held back tears and groped frantically for a plan. But no matter how much he thought, there was no way out. In that case, all he could do really was depend on their mercy.

"W-wait! I'd like you to wait a moment, sir—Lord! Lord Ainz Ooal Gown. Please wait! I want to make a deal! I swear you'll come out ahead! I'll pay whatever you want if you spare my life… after all, you've already killed my subordinates, isn't that enough?"

Ainz said nothing. Maybe I do have a chance…

"It must be hard to satisfy such a great caster as yourself, but I'll match your desired amount as closely as possible. I may not look like it, but I'm quite a valuable asset to my country. I'm sure they would pay an exceptional sum. Of course, if there is something you would prefer besides money, I could arrange that as well! So please, I beg you, spare my life!"

Having said all that in one breath, Nigun gasped a few times.

"S-so, how about it, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown?"

In response to Nigun's desperate supplication came a mocking man's voice. "Did you not refuse our most merciful offer earlier?"

"But—"

"I get what you're saying. Even if you took that deal, you would've been killed. You want to live, right?" The suit of armor's helmet moved in a way that all but said, Good grief.

"That attitude is plain mistaken. Ainz-san has decreed you shall die, and I'm glad he did. Besides, I am Hellking and he's Overlord, you piece of shit should just shut up and wait for the end, enough of your blabbering!"

Hellking? So he's a devil! Accepting death? Of course, you want to see humans die while they grovel at your feet, accursed fiend! I won't have any mercy from this one. But maybe then the caster is an extremely powerful necromancer, he certainly understands I'm more useful alive than dead.

Fully realizing this, Nigun turned again to Ainz with just a glimmer of hope.

The magic caster had been silently listening to their conversation up to that point and when he realized Nigun was waiting for his decision, he shook his head with a "sheesh."

"Let's see, I think you said something like this to Gazef…

Quit your futile flailing and die quietly. I'll take pity and kill you painlessly.

Well, that's what's gonna happen now."