Chapter 34: Ritual of Fidelity
Carriages rode through the wilderness as if there was no tomorrow. The horses, long exhausted, were not permitted to rest. Instead, stamina potions were used to keep them in good condition.
'Any moment now.' Marquis Raeven chipped at his nails, his anxiety showing as he neared the lair of the Sorcerer King.
Would this be his death? It could very well be. The thoughts of the Sorcerer King remained unknown, but Raeven had a suspicion.
'I am of use to him. Intelligent as he is, he won't let Re-Estize stay in its current state. Someone has to rebuild it.' At least, that was what Raeven would do if he were in the Sorcerer King's position. Even if his safety was guaranteed, it was not promised that his soul would be unharmed from the horrors the Sorcerer King would put him through. He shivered at the thought.
As he looked outside, he saw another wagon pursuing them. It was much grander and more majestic than his own. He noticed the crest being of the former royal family.
'That must be the princess. So, she really has betrayed her kingdom. But for what? She was never ordinary, and probably under that human countenance, one would eventually find a monster. No wonder she aligned herself with Ainz Ooal Gown.' Raeven mused, cursing the princess in his mind. If not for her despicable nature, things might have turned different.
He then remembered the words said by the demon.
'And now it seems I must work together with that-, that witch! What evils will she order me to commit in the name of her-, our lord? Escape is useless. The Sorcerer King's vassals were able to find me the moment I stepped into my own home. It seems fate hates me.' The Marquis thought, what if nothing of this sort had happened? What if the sky was still blue, the summer warm, and the smiles of children soft to the heart? Now, nothing of the sort was present. Re-Estize was a collapsing system, and with every minute, human lives would die of poverty, sickness, or murder.
Raeven rubbed his forehead with his hands. His head started to hurt after having such reflections. Even now, he couldn't be sure if this was a trick of the Sorcerer King as well. Influencing one's mind from afar was possible. Or the Marquis simply overthought it. Maybe it was a simple headache, nothing more.
The carriages seemed to slow down, steadily coming to a halt. Curious, the Marquis looked outside the window to see nothing spectacular in sight.
'I would have thought someone like the Sorcerer King would have a gigantic palace with many towers raging into the skies. But none of the sort seems true.' He carefully stepped out as the doors opened, surveying his surroundings first.
The carriage that followed him was some meters away, and Raeven waited to see her arrival.
There she was, dressed in pitch black like the night itself. Her smile appeared no longer innocent, her eyes dark and soulless. Her long golden hair remained, now a black rose resting at the side of her head.
She rested her eyes on the Marquis briefly before she strode forth. Raeven could feel a shiver go down his spine just from her gaze alone.
'She no longer seems human at all.' Raeven thought, only then noticing the bat-like wings sprouting from her open back. It seems his statement was correct. Would that happen to him as well? Would he have to sacrifice his humanity to serve?
Another carriage piqued his interest. Red with golden linings, the crest of Baharut on its doors.
'So the Sorcerer King's allies have come as well.' From the carriage, the emperor himself appeared. Young, handsome, and arrogant. Those were the three things Marquis noticed about him first. Yet the emperor was a sly and intelligent man, not someone who should be underestimated. The Marquis knew of that.
Behind him, an old man appeared. From his looks, he seemed to be a mage. Marquis Raeven knew of him. Fluder Paradyne, the greatest mage of the Baharut Empire and someone over two centuries old.
Two Imperial Knights were also present. Nimble Arc Dale Anoch and Leinas Rockbruise. The Marquis knew little of them, only about their martial prowess.
"Greetings, dear guests. Our master welcomes your arrival." Their attention was drawn to a maid. Pale white skin, glasses, silk-like skin with a beautiful face to match. She seemed handcrafted, like a puppet made real. her dress was also beyond what a normal maid would wear, having some armored parts that suggested she was active as a bodyguard as well.
She bowed shortly before she continued. "Please follow me."
The maid began walking to what seemed to be a wooden hut. Nothing impressive, and nothing they had expected. But they caught a glimpse of a structure ahead. It was massive, not in height but in width, only a path through two hills making it visible. They wondered what it might be, as it seemed ancient and old, worn by time. Or it simply appeared so.
Why weren't they led there? They didn't know, but they also didn't dare to ask.
The maid effortlessly opened the two heavy wooden doors with ease, and what awaited the three stunned them all.
An abyss swirling in dark colors, purple being the most dominant, hovered inside the hut. No one could see beyond it, and they wondered what would happen if they would step through.
"Please enter in a row." The maid said. Even if said in a friendly manner, her words were more of an order than a suggestion, reminding them of what terms they were here.
The emperor entered first, followed by Fluder, who watched the portal with awe. The two knights were right behind, their hands on the hilt of their swords, their unease visible.
The Princess was next, yet no fear was shown on her face, or rather, her mask.
Marquis Raeven gulped as he neared the portal. It gave off an aura that made his whole body chill. He swallowed his fear and closed his eyes, stepping through. To his surprise, he found solid ground to stand on. Slowly, he opened his eyes and was met with an incredible view.
They were inside a circular hall, colossal in diameter. Above them hovered four crystals of different colors. And around them, statues of different creatures could be found. One could almost think they would come alive. Counting them would take too long, but it was safe to say there were over 30 of them.
'What is this place? Did we just get teleported? I never heard of such a method.' Raeven panicked. The whole setting changed. Everything around him seemed priceless and more akin to a king's home. The ground was decorated with the sigil of the Sorcerer Kingdom, while every other part had details beyond human craftsmanship.
The emperor was having the same reaction. Not even his palace housed such wonders. Each statue was master-crafted, and the details were impossible to replicate.
'Perhaps I misjudged the wealth of the Sorcerer King, again. To have such a place, I wonder what else might await us.' He mused. He had brought some gold with him as a gift, but it seemed such would not be necessary.
"Incredible! This whole place, the statues, the crystals above! Everything is beyond the normal sight! Nothing here is at it seems!" Fluder said, laughing hysterically. It seemed the old man had finally lost it or simply saw things others didn't.
The princess had a different reaction. Rather than showing fear, she was in awe. She seemed excited. For how long did she have to remain inside her castle, fueling her boredom by the day? This was the moment her life changed, her intellect finally being put to good use. However, she would've liked it more if Climb had also been at her side.
"Please, if you would follow me." The maid said. The guests did as told, continuing up the stairs as they arrived before a massive set of doors. On the left side, an image of a devil could be seen, and on the right, an angelic goddess. Both seemed too realistic for their taste.
"You will now pass the Gates of Judgement." The maid said, gathering the attention of the three. The name was fitting. But for what would they be judged? What lies beyond this door? None of them knew.
'What manner of place is this?' Jircniv questioned. The whole surroundings seemed similar to a dream. Everything around him felt surreal. The others had similar feelings.
The doors then opened independently, revealing a blinding light before it dimmed.
What revealed itself was nothing a mortal could ever dream of witnessing. A throne hall so grand, one could not even spot the ceiling. Left and right, pillars seemed to stretch into the above for infinity. Flags of unknown symbols hung on each side, each different in their own way.
A carpet made of a violet color was placed in the middle and went all the way to the throne itself.
There sat Death itself, its red orbs staring right toward the arrived visitors. The throne it was seated on was beyond what a normal king would have. A throne of kings. From it, huge crystals sprouted upwards, reaching high above, yet not covering the huge sigil of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Yet their eyes quickly found themselves staring at the creatures before them. On the right, abyssal beings stood in a row. Seven, to be exact.
'Ainz Ooal Gown rules over demons…' Glancing over to the right, undead creatures, seemingly equally terrifying, stood. '..and undead, of course.' Raeven did not need to be an expert to know the creatures' origins. And he was sure the others understood the implications as well. The Sorcerer King showed his might. Yet the most interesting beings were the ones near the throne.
A beauty in a silk-white dress, with horns sprouting from her head while two feathered wings sprouted from her back. Jircniv immediately recognized her from her earlier visit to his palace. Her beauty did not fade; he might've lost himself in her eyes if he stared any longer.
On the other side, a man, no, a creature, stood with elf-like ears. His glasses reflected all light, making it impossible to see his eyes. He wore an intriguing red suit while an armored tail hovered behind him. His gaze of superiority did not go unnoticed.
At this point, they realized what they got themselves into. A realm of a demon god. Nothing better could describe this place.
"Welcome, Emperor Jircniv, Princess Renner and Marquis Raeven. I hope your travels here were comfortable." The Sorcerer King's noble and commanding voice greeted them. He seemed to skip the long surnames, showing his first step to dominate the conversation.
His voice surprised most because they thought an undead like him would sound raspy and chilling. Yet his voice sounded charismatic even.
"Indeed they were. I am most grateful for the invitation, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown." Jircniv replied. It seemed Albedo did not take that lightly, sending a warnful glare at the emperor as he addressed her master with lord instead of king.
"I see, and you, Princess Renner, Marquis Raeven? Did you enjoy the scenery while traveling here?" Ainz said, the Marquis's eyes widening shortly at the inquiry.
'I shouldn't have said that. They probably passed some towns my army destroyed…' Ainz thought, but it was too late to change his words now.
Raeven immediately noticed what the Sorcerer King meant and was sure Renner did as well.
"It was most beautiful to finally see some nature, your Majesty." Renner replied joyfully.
"I-I must say, I did not give much attention to our surroundings, your Majesty. But nonetheless, I arrived in good health and spirit." Raeven said. It was true that he mostly focused on his thoughts while traveling here, yet the latter was a lie. He was anything but that.
"Good. I suppose you know what you have come here for. Now that I have conquered Re-Estize, I need capable servants to rebuild cities and villages under my rule. For that, I have selected you two, Princess Renner, Marquis Raeven. Your competence has been noted. That is the sole reason you are alive." The undead ruler stood up from his throne, grasping the floating staff beside him. "Are you prepared to serve me faithfully until death?" Ainz said as he took deliberate steps toward them, they kneeling before him. His stature grew as the sound of his staff hitting the floor grew louder.
"We are." Renner replied, taking the initiative. Raeven could only grit his teeth. He seemed to have no say in this. Yet he followed the princess.
"Good. We may now begin with the ritual of fidelity, beginning with you, Marquis Raeven." Ainz stated, turning his gaze to the noble, who in turn stiffed up.
"I-I, Marquis Elias Branft Dale Raeven, pledge my undying loyalty to you, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown." Raeven forced those words out. Tears filled his eyes as he broke his pledge to Re-Estize, which he should have honored. But he failed. He was too weak, or maybe simply a father who wants to protect his son.
"I expect much from you, Marquis Raeven. Now, Princess Renner, it is your turn." Ainz said, looking at the newly-turned demon.
"I, Princess Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, pledge my undying loyalty to you, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown." She said, yet her words felt more realistic, meaning what she said, unlike the Marquis, who seemed to do this simply out of survival instinct.
"I accept your pledges. As long as you serve me faithfully, you will be rewarded graciously. But betray me, and a quick death will be the only wish you'll beg for." Ainz said, his voice turning menacing, a dark mist escaping his form, inciting fear. And as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared as well.
"With that done, let us turn to more comfortable matters. As a host, I have prepared an event we all shall attend to. I hope it will be to your liking." The Sorcerer King said as he snapped his fingers. To the right, another portal appeared, the same as before.
'So he can make such things out of thin air…' Jircniv thought, and as he glanced over to where Fluder was, he was not surprised to see him droll over the magic cast by the Sorcerer King. After all, he was one drawn to arcade arts, meaning there could be a possibility he would betray Jircniv for knowledge and power.
The Sorcerer King entered first, followed by his servants, and only then could the guests enter.
"Woah…"
"Beautiful."
Comments erupted as a violet night sky showed itself with countless stars visible.
"How…" They did not understand. They were sure that they arrived here during the day. Yet they found themselves in the middle of the night, with violet orbs around to illuminate the area.
They seemed to be in an arena, yet its size was colossal. Huge spikes strode out of the arena in a circle, making it appear like a horned crown. How they were kept in place was a wonder.
"As for the sky changing, pay it no heed. We are still inside Nazarick. What you see is not the real sky." The Sorcerer King explained. Jaws dropped, and more questions rose than answers from the Sorcerer King's words.
'What is this place?!' All three of them thought. What did they enter? Was all this an illusion, or was this real? It wasn't a simple castle or a tomb. No, it was something else.
"Forgive me, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown." Jircniv said but was stopped as Ainz raised his hand.
"Please, Ainz will suffice." Ainz said.
"Then Jircniv will as well. My question was, where are we exactly? I can probably speak for the others as well when we say we are confused about how the sky is dark and that we are suddenly in a completely different place. This pace of change may be too much for our simple minds." Jirnciv explained, seeming reasonable.
"Of course. This is but a floor of Nazarick. We are not on the surface, at least not on the surface you are familiar with. The sky is the making of a friend of mine. He really put his heart into it… Ah yes, if you're still confused, simply know that Nazarick is made of multiple floors, similar to this one." Ainz explained, hoping that it would ease their curiosity.
"Unbelievable…" Raeven murmured as he gazed at his surroundings. Someone made this sky? He couldn't believe it. But he couldn't believe the power held by the Sorcerer King as well. So, who were his friends that they could create skies like these? Was this a giant image? Yet it moved. And could the Sorcerer King do the same? Just who was Ainz Ooal Gown?
"Please, take a seat, I have arranged many fights for us to watch. I hope you all will be entertained." Ainz offered, and they accepted. They were brought refreshments that felt like nectar on their tongues. Sweet, sour, any flavor they could ask for.
'Every time I think I know what Ainz Ooal Gown is capable of, I am repeatedly surprised. This place, everything, is so bizarre. I am not sure what manner of creature Ainz Ooal Gown really is. Is he an undead or some sort of god that plays tricks with us? Maybe both?' Raeven felt a smile appear on his face. He found it almost amusing to think he wanted to oppose the Sorcerer King at one point. Almost hilarious.
The emperor was no different. He, as well, was put in deep thought. 'Showing me how both Princess Renner and Marquis Raeven pledged their loyalty to him was not unwanted. He meant for me to know that I was next. And seeing his terrible power and wealth, I am unsure how long I can resist.' He had an empire to protect. Who was to say the Sorcerer King would not turn on his nation next?
The Princess had none of those thoughts. She simply stared at the beautiful night sky. Something about the dark attracted her. Maybe now that she was a demon, she found it more appealing. But that wasn't the case. She was like this even as a child.
"Hello and welcome to Nazarick's 6th Floor Amphitheater! I am Aura Bella Fiora, Floor Guardian and today's commentator! We have prepared a multitude of fights today, and I hope you will enjoy it!" A loud voice appeared, projecting all over the arena. A young elf dressed in a stylish red and white suit appeared on the other side, holding a weird device in her hand.
Golems and other monsters poured into the arena, filling the empty seats.
'How many beings does Ainz Ooal Gown house in this place? This seems more of a city than a home for an undead ruler.' Raeven thought to himself. He watched the variety of species with awe. He hadn't seen much apart from humans and demihumans. But these things were nothing of the two. Insects, slimes, demons, angels, bird-like creatures, undead, and other races he couldn't recognize from appearance alone.
"For our first fight, we have a recently revived criminal from Eight Fingers on the right, known for his orichalcum-hard fists! A monk of incredible skill yet with a terrible personality! Zero!" Out of the dark, a bald man walked toward the midst of the arena. His stature was huge, with multiple tattoos covering his body, symbolizing different animals.
He seemed confused, blinded by the bright surroundings, as if he spent the last weeks in a pitch-black cell.
"W-Where am I?" The only thing he remembered was that he died. His mind was still unclear, a terrible headache plaguing him. He only knew that he found himself in an arena, likely having to fight for his life.
"On our left, we have a Nazarick Master Guarder, one of our lord's most devoted servants, here to strike the criminal back into oblivion!" An undead skeleton appeared in golden armor, holding a spear in one hand. It turned to the suite where the Sorcerer King sat and saluted, showing its devotion to his lord.
"It can't be!" Fluder called out, seeing the skeleton's armor.
"What is it?" Jircniv asked, annoyed yet curious about what the old man had found out.
"Every part of the skeleton is enchanted! This is incredible for a summon!" The Triad Magic Caster called out. Magic items were rare and only reserved for the most elite warriors. The Imperial Knights had such, yet it was a surprise for this undead to have one.
"That is some incredible armor." Nimble murmured.
"Do you think you could beat it?" Leinas asked Nimble.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to see how it fairs against this Zero." Nimble replied, his eyes going back and forth between the two fighters.
Both walked to each other, stopping just meters away.
"Now, let the fight begin!"
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