Chapter 35: Rigged Show
Fists flew, their speed much more than any ordinary man could react to. Their hardness was comparable to iron, honed over the years to become lethal weapons.
Yet the one at which these fists were aimed blocked the incoming blows, spear in hand, avoiding guaranteed hits with ease.
'How is it so fast!' Zero thought, having sent blow after blow toward the undead before him. He would've thought it would be relatively slow because of its heavy armor and nature as an undead, but that wasn't the case. The undead moved quickly to intercept his strikes, keeping a secure distance from the monk.
Whatever Zero did, he couldn't get close enough to the Master Guarder since its spear kept him out of reach. He wasn't sure if the spear could damage him, but he saw it was at least enchanted with electricity. He knew that that kind of attack didn't need to be lethal to do damage. One strike at his shoulder or legs, and he would be stunned for a short duration, giving the undead enough time to strike him down.
'I won't let that happen! I am the Battle Demon! I am Zero!' He screamed mentally.
"[Hundred Fists]!" He shouted, see-through fists appearing beside him aimed at the undead. There was no way it could dodge or block all of them. Zero grinned.
The undead saw the incoming strikes, executing the best possible maneuver to minimize damage. Without thinking, it used its spear as a lever to jump above the incoming attack, its red cape following behind.
'What?!' Zero was stunned momentarily, seeing how the skeleton evaded his fists. Now above him, it aimed the tip of its spear right at him, ready to pierce the former Six Arms member on the spot.
"[Iron Skin]! [Mammoth Fur]!" His body glowed, activating his martial arts just before the spear could connect. Blocking it with his forearms, he felt the spear's tip, and then, a piercing sensation filled his whole body, making him tremble from the immense pain he felt.
'Shit!' He cursed. Even when there was no wound, the damage was enough to bring him to his knees.
The undead pulled back his spear, prepared to send another strike at the monk's chest.
"[Will of the Beast]!" Zero screamed. Standing up, he grabbed the undead's spear and held it in place. The Master Guarder tried to remove it, yet the monk's grip was tight. Pulling his right fist back, Zero prepared to launch right at the undead's head.
It connected, hitting the Master Guarder's helmet. It was knocked back a couple of meters, its spear still in Zero's hands as he held onto it to disarm his opponent.
'Now you're dead!' Zero grinned, throwing the spear away as he rushed in on the knocked-down skeleton.
But before he could reach it, the Master Guarder held his hand out, his spear manifesting back in his grip. Zero quickly halted his approach, seeing his opponent get his weapon back.
'It can do that?!' The criminal was surprised, not having thought the skeleton possessed such an ability.
Even the Imperial Knights were surprised at this kind of thing.
"I wish our weapons had such an ability. Losing your weapon wouldn't be that critical in a fight anymore." Nimble commented, and Leinas agreed.
"True."
The Emperor but watched the fight. Not having said a single word.
'Zero from Eight Fingers. I remember he was said to be quite strong. As strong as an adamantide adventurer. If this 'Master Guarder' is on par with him, it could be quite a problem. The name suggests there are more of these, and the 'Master' before it must mean there are different ranks. There could be one higher, definitely some lower. I am sure it will be revealed sometime. But still, I must keep a lookout for the brute forces of Ainz Ooal Gown and their strength.' Jircniv thought. Even while he was here on friendly terms, he would not let such an opportunity go to waste. Knowing your enemy was extremely important in warfare. Having no idea of your opponent's strengths and weaknesses could end dangerously, just as the kingdom showed.
Marquis Raeven had found little interest in the fight. The only thing that piqued his curiosity was calculating Nazarick's strength.
'Even the lowest forces are stronger than ten of our soldiers together. If we only knew this before we fought Ainz Ooal Gown, things might be much more peaceful now. Lives could have been saved, cities left standing.' The Marquis had no understanding of how Ainz Ooal Gown came to their kingdom. He was sure a person with such power, might, and armies of undead would've been known all over the world. It was as if the undead king appeared out of thin air to make their lives miserable. But who was he to understand such a thing? He was no scholar who knew of ancient gods, legendary monsters, or forgotten cities. Perhaps the unexplainable shall stay unexplainable, for there are things mortals would never comprehend.
Slowly, Zero felt his stamina drain, his exhaustion rising from the barrage of attacks he delivered against the undead. He managed to get some hits on it, but the skeleton's armor was strong enough to negate most of the damage. If Zero wanted to kill the Master Guarder, he had to strike with even more force than before.
'My ultimate attack. It should do the trick.' Zero knew it could kill adamantide-ranked adventurers in one hit. If it worked with this undead, he wasn't sure. Yet he didn't care. He had to fight for his life. Hesitating now could be his downfall. He didn't come so far to die in an arena full of monsters. No, if there was a chance to survive, he would take it.
First, he feinted his exhaustion, making it seem as if he was burned out. The Master Guarder, seeing this, walked closer, spinning his spear as it prepared one last strike.
Zero slowed his attacks, awaiting the perfect moment to bring the skeleton off-balance. He needed some time before activating his trump card, meaning he needed to ensure the skeleton did not attack him for a few seconds.
"[Predator Strike]!" He activated another martial art that increased his chances of hitting his enemy. He aimed for the chest, knocking the skeleton far enough for him to activate his best chance at defeating the undead.
'This is probably my only chance at defeating that thing. I need to make sure my strike connects this time.'
He went into a wide stance, preparing himself mentally for his ultimate attack.
"Panther! Falcon! Rhinoceros! Buffalo! Lion! [Single Strike Kill]!" Zero could feel the power of all these animals concentrated in his fist. He had one shot, which he had to make at all costs. He ran at the undead, hoping he had enough time before it could react.
The Master Guarder, getting on his feet, saw how the criminal approached, a fist of rainbow colors ready to strike its chest. Quickly raising its spear, the Master Guarder tried to block the attack, yet the fist went right through, breaking the weapon in half.
Yet Zero's attack didn't stop there. Continuing toward the Master Guarder's chest, it made contact with its armor, the metal bent at the incoming force, spreading the incoming energy all over the chest plate to avoid being pierced through. How easily it bent was almost frightening, yet at some point, it stopped, the power behind the strike vanishing. It wasn't enough to make a hole into its armor, yet it made the skeleton fly into the arena's walls.
'That can't be! I honed this technique over the years! Perfected it! But I couldn't even go through its armor! I bent it, I fucking bent it!' Zero's eyes were wide, his gaze fixed on the undead that crashed into the wall. It didn't move, for now.
He didn't know what to do. He had depleted his strength, and his other martial arts were useless now. He could only win through a miracle, which he didn't believe in. He wouldn't have become the leader of Six Arms if he had done so.
Zero could only watch as the Master Guarder freed itself from the rubble. The damage to its armor was quite visible. Yet the thing still stood, prepared to end this fight. With its right hand, it summoned another spear.
"This fight is over. The monk has no more tricks up his sleeves." Nimble stated, seeing the undead still standing after such an attack. He wasn't sure if he could survive that hit. But his opponent would be long dead before he could use that attack on him. Something that the undead lacked was martial arts, which Nimble possessed. With their use, he could end the fight rather quickly. Sure, the undead showed better speed and strength. However, martial arts could change the outcome of a battle. Even a superior opponent could be felled through their use.
Leinas hummed, having the same opinion on the matter. While Zero had good skill as a close-up fighter, he lacked the damage output of a warrior. He could hit fast, yet none of those hits would do much against an armored opponent like a Master Guarder.
"Nazarick Master Guarder! Finish this." They heard a voice say, its deep tone undoubtedly belonging to the Sorcerer King.
The undead looked at him briefly, then nodded, approaching the criminal faster than before.
Before Zero could react, the Master Guarder moved faster than before. He raised his hands to block any incoming attack, only to see the undead strike at his foot.
"Agh!" Zero yelled in pain, the spear piercing his right foot to the ground. Holding its hand before Zero's face, the Master Guarder called his spear back to its hand.
Blood gushed to the floor as Zero witnessed his last moments. Before he knew it, a spear pierced his face, going all the way through his skull. A cheap move, yet the undead did not know morals or honor.
Zero's body dropped to the floor, and the Sorcerer King's champion removed its spear, raising it into the air. The whole arena burst into applause, even the Sorcerer King himself joining them.
"A fight well done!" He said.
Not wanting to offend the undead ruler, the guests did the same, applauding the winner to the best of their ability.
'Mmh, the Nazarick Master Guarder only has about one-third health left. The last strike was dangerous. Since fists are blunt weapons, they cause bludgeoning damage, which does extra damage to undead. But since he was weakened by the resurrection done by Pestonia, he couldn't finish the Master Guarder in one strike. I'll see if he leveled up after this is done.' Ainz mused. This whole fight was done intentionally, showing how strong Ainz's forces are against a notorious criminal from the Re-Estize underworld. Also, Ainz wanted to see if pop monsters could gain exp, hoping to find out after the guests left Nazarick.
"Truly an interesting battle, your Majesty." Princess Renner commented, Ainz turning toward her.
"I am pleased that it was to your liking, Princess Renner." Ainz responded.
"It was quite the show. I must say, your champion is truly commendable." Jircniv replied.
"Yes, even if he is one of many, he is quite a formidable fighter for any adventurer." Ainz answered.
Before they could continue to speak, the commentator, Aura, interrupted them.
"We have our first winner! The Nazarick Master Guarder! A close fight with lots of suspense! Yet in the end, our lord's warrior prevailed and won!" The spectators cheered. The Master Guarder celebrated with a bow to his master, leaving the arena right after. "We have another special guest from outside Nazarick for our next fight! A deadly warrior known for his massive stature and colossal strength! The one who terrorizes the imperial arena to this day! The one and only Martial Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen! Go Gin!" The crowd cheered.
'The Martial Lord, here?! How did he-, but of course, he probably had connections with the Martial Lord's sponsor. I should've known. But why did he choose him?! And who will he fight against?' The Emperor questioned himself. What game was the Sorcerer King playing?
Out of the gates came a figure taller than any man, armored in full-golden-plate armor. Two horns sprouted from his helmet that blended in with the chestplate, no neck visible. In its hand, a giant mace was found, the length of an average man; its strikes alone able to break through stone walls.
"The Martial Lord, here? But how?" Nimble asked, leaning forward as he got a better look at the war troll. It was him, no doubt. He had seen him once in the arena, where he easily disposed of warriors thought strong. Even he wasn't sure if he could win against the Martial Lord.
"Simple, he wanted a challenge, and the Sorcerer King provided him one." Leinas deduced, knowing full well the nature of the Martial Lord. He seemed like a battle-hungry individual, and if the Sorcerer King issued a challenge to him, he would be a fool to refuse such an offer.
"But who will he be fighting?" Nimble inquired, not knowing that it would soon be revealed in time.
"But who will be Nazarick's champion?! Good thing you asked! One of our strongest defenders of our lord's realm! Her name feared and respected all among Nazarick residents! The strongest Floor Guardian of Nazarick! The Queen of the Night! The Bloody Valkyrie, Shalltear Bloodfallen!" Aura announced, a violet portal appearing above the arena opposite the Martial Lord. He looked up, awaiting his opponent with appetite.
Out of the portal, a crimson-armored beauty exited. Her armor covered her whole body, nothing visible from head to toe except her face. The armor accompanied a metallic skirt. In her hand, a bizarre lance rested, a tube connecting it to the back of her armor, only adding to the strangeness of her appearance.
Two white wings sprouted from her back, giving her the appearance of an angel, yet her presence, crimson-slit eyes, and horned helmet made her seem the opposite.
Under her wings, a see-through cape of red color hovered behind, its texture slightly fluid, almost comparable to blood.
'Another one of Ainz Ooal Gown's vassals. As any other woman in his command, beautiful beyond comparison. I wouldn't have considered his strongest servant a woman, but she doesn't seem helpless. Quite the contrary. I believe whatever that monster is can probably give all of us a run for our money.' Jircniv mused, his eyes locked onto the female knight.
"Never have I seen armor nor a weapon like this." Nimble commented. Nothing in the empire could come close to what he saw the Sorcerer King's champion wearing. Plates that shifted in perfect unison to every movement possible. The lance held in her hand seemed bizarre; its design was nothing he would have thought of for a weapon of that sort.
With a look of superiority, the vampire glanced at the war troll, slowly descending to his height.
'I can smell it! This is it. The fight I have been waiting for. Whatever this creature is, it is strong!' Go Gin thought.
'Let's get this over with.' Shalltear yawned.
Her lord ordered her to limit herself a bit, giving the Martial Lord some chances to hit her as hard as he could. She did not object. Playing with this creature did bring her joy as well.
"You are small, but I know you are strong. I can feel it. I was promised I could wish for anything if I won this fight. And my wish will be to eat you if I defeat you in combat." The war troll stated directly, Shalltear chuckling at hearing this.
"Mmh, I thought of the same thing. But I don't think someone like you will be rather tasty. My master made other conditions already, so I won't be able to do so anyway. Lose, and you will become his subordinate." Shalltear stated with a smile. She already knew how this would end, savoring the naivety portrayed by the war troll. He really thought he had a chance.
"Then it shall be so." The war troll answered, shortly lifting his club from his palm
"Now, since this is not an official fight inside the imperial arena, the Martial Lord will not lose his title if he endures defeat! Instead, he will be allowed to keep it even after." Aura explained, getting a weird look from the war troll.
"What does this mean? I will not walk back into that arena with my title after I have been defeated! It will bring shame to my honor as a warrior!" The war troll shouted, angered.
"Why don't we talk about this after the battle before you bore me to death." Shalltear said, yawning as she put a hand to her mouth.
"Very well then. If you wish it that much." Go Gin turned around, looking at the True Vampire. Even while she was smaller, she hovered above him, making him look up. A sign of dominance he noticed.
The tension grew, and the only thing keeping the two warriors away from each other was that the fight hadn't started yet.
"On your positions! Three! Two! One! Go!"
Without breaking a sweat, the two launched at each other, a giant club meeting a futuristic lance. The clash sent sparks flying across the arena, the force created by the contact pushing both fighters back.
The Martial Lord glanced at his weapon, seeing a visible dent.
'What is that weapon made from?' He asked himself, yet he had no longer time to ponder as his opponent was already in his face, her lance ready to pierce through his head.
He knew he had been clumsy, taken off-guard like that. But he couldn't let his opponent win just like that. Dodging the attack completely would be hard, but slightly moving out of the way could be possible to avoid lethal damage.
Shalltear was smart to aim for the head, dealing enough damage to render him immobile for a while or even kill him. He wasn't sure what would happen since he never experienced it before.
His enemy would have the advantage while he had to heal, meaning he couldn't allow it to happen.
"[Flow Acceleration]! [Reinforce Hide]! [Greater Reinforce Hide]!" His body glowed as he activated his martial arts, moving his head to the right. Even with some armor-reinforcing martial arts available, he could feel how the lance pierced through his armor and made contact with the skin on his cheeks.
The lance went straight through, the war troll shouting in pain as he swung his club at the vampire to scare her away.
Not wanting to get hit, Shalltear did so, removing her lance as she dodged the incoming attack.
One could see blood ooze out of the hole in the armor, then stop as his wound slowly healed up.
The war troll did not say a thing, simply staring at the vampire with more caution than before, awaiting her every move as he feared her speed.
"Not gonna attack? Then I will!" Shalltear sped toward the troll.
The only thing that could block her attack now would be a mountain, the troll having a less than one percent chance of halting her charge.
Still, Go Gin held his mace to lessen the impact, yet as he moved his weapon, he saw a blur go past it. He was too slow.
The lance pierced through his stomach, yet Shalltear did not stop there. Her momentum allowed her to go through the war troll, creating a donut-like hole.
In pain, the war troll went to the ground, holding his wound as he felt the most agonizing pain ever. The hole was massive; he hoped his regeneration could suffice with this much damage.
"I expected more of you. But then, we haven't seen anyone strong enough to oppose us. Why would a mere troll like you change that." Shalltear said from behind, floating around the war troll. "Because I am so generous, I will let you hit me once. Then I will break your will so that nothing remains of it."
The Martial Lord could not refuse such an offer. Even while wounded, he put all his strength into his left arm.
"[Divine Skill Single Flash]! [Strong Strike]!"
He shouted, pouring his strength into an ultimate attack, blinding the enemy before hitting them with increased power.
Light shone from the Martial Lord, expected to blind his opponent. Then, his club hit the vampire from the side with full force, a small shockwave escaping from the blow while a huge amount of sand rose into the air.
Nothing could be seen, the arena going silent for a moment.
The Emperor, Fluder, the Imperial Knights, Marquis Raeven, and the Princess anxiously awaited the result.
"It can't be!" The war troll called out, seeing his club having done no damage to the vampire, not even moving her from her spot. She smirked, the Martial Lord's reaction honey on her tongue.
Before she could finish him, Go Gin did something Shalltear wouldn't have expected.
He removed his helmet, exposing his white, pupilless eyes. He had the typical characteristics of a troll and had a red warrior-painting between his eyes and nose. His hair showed his age, grey with a hairline long gone.
He dropped it on the floor, going for the next piece. Loosening some leather straps, his heavy chest plate and gauntlets fell to the floor, showing his muscular arms and rich-in-fat belly. The wound he had received earlier had been healed, showing the incredible healing factor trolls possessed.
"This armor would do little to stop your attacks. Wearing it would only slow me down. You are strong, the strongest I have ever faced." The Martial Lord grinned in excitement. "Please give me all you have. Hit me with your strongest attack!" He shouted, his hunger for the ultimate battle palpable. He found his last opponent, one he could not beat whatever he tried to do. He knew this even when he hadn't fought the vampire for long. Her speed, strength, and agility were simply out of reach for him. And he respected it.
"Mmh…" Shalltear glanced at her lord, who nodded in response. "If that is your last wish, I will do so." She said, raising her lance into the air as she prepared one of her stronger attacks. Anything more powerful would cause problems since Shalltear didn't want to risk showing the visitors any trump card she had. And, of course, she didn't want to waste it on someone like Go Gin.
If someone attacked her lord right after the battle, and she couldn't activate one of her special skills because she had used it up already, she would be at fault.
'Why is Shalltear looking at me? I should just nod to let her continue. Not sure what that was about.' Ainz thought.
"[Fiery Lance]" Shalltear activated one of her skills, putting her lance on fire. On contact, it would engulf the enemy in an explosion, charring him or her from the insides.
The war troll screamed as he welcomed the death blow, embracing his demise with all his being. He swung his club, yet it got repelled.
Shalltear's lance pierced through his chest, a light following from inside the war troll's body, fire exiting his mouth, ears, and eyes as his insides torched alight.
His burned corpse dropped to the ground, lifeless as it lay there.
"The winner is Shalltear Bloodfallen! Who would have guessed it?! Congratulations!" Aura cheered on, the entire rows of spectators following, chanting the winner's name graciously.
Shalltear embraced the masses with a smile, yet her glance only remained on one entity, her lord, Ainz Ooal Gown.
With a motion, she hovered before his seated place, looking slightly up at him.
"You have done well, Shalltear." Ainz complimented her.
"I thank you for your praise, Lord Ainz." She replied, bowing her head.
"No need. I will speak with you later once this is all over." Ainz said, rising from his seat as he slowly ascended toward the midst of the arena.
The guests watched in awe as the Sorcerer King lifted into the heavens and descended to Go Gin's body.
'This should work.' He removed a [True Ressurection Wand] from his inventory and applied [Invisibility] on it, making it seem like Ainz simply had his hand outstretched toward the corpse.
This way, he could make them believe he could resurrect people from his power alone. This might have been unbelievable until now since undead typically cannot cast holy magic, yet he wanted to prove these stereotypes wrong. Of course, they were wrong, but he could still make the guests believe he could do so. Thus, service to him would be more favorable than defying him.
"[True Ressurection]"
He cast, a light emitting from the war troll's body as his soul returned to his corpse. First, muscles twitched. Then, the Martial Lord slowly moved his hands and legs to stand up. He looked at his hands. Everything seemed as it was.
"What…" He was at a loss for words. The excruciating pain he just felt, being burned from the inside out, was gone. He had still memories of it, but the damage done seemed reversed.
The troll laid his eyes on the figure before him, the Sorcerer King, as he knew him.
"Did you bring me back to life?" The war troll asked bluntly.
"Yes. Will you serve under me for the rest of your life?" Ainz inquired, more demanding than asking.
The war troll, without hesitation, went to one knee before the Overlord. "I have lost, so I shall serve." He said, glancing back at the vampire beside the Sorcerer King. "Your champion has proven too strong for even me. I thank you for this experience."
"Do not think this will be the last time you fight an opponent like Shalltear. As your master, I will want to improve you. You will train here in Nazarick with forces stronger than your own so that you may regain your old strength and even surpass it. Resurrection has a toll on the body, meaning you have lost some of your lev-, I mean, vitality." Ainz explained, and the war troll nodded in understanding. "Now, excuse me, I have a crowd to address." Ainz said, and in an instant, his frame was enlarged. A huge depiction of him looming over the arena appeared, slightly see-through.
"You may know me as Ainz Ooal Gown, Master of Nazarick, Supreme Being, Ruler of Death, The Eclipse, or, my more recent title, the Sorcerer King. Now that we have conquered our neighboring nation, Re-Estize, it is time to show our true colors! We will call ourselves the Sorcerer Kingdom no longer! Together, we will be the Kingdom of Nazarick! Its name shall spread far and wide to every corner of the world! You may still address me as the Sorcerer King or your Majesty. Yet Lord Ainz may be enough since I do not intend to rule over my kingdom simply as a king but as someone who transcends these mortal titles made by men. Our kingdom will bring a new age without corruption or suffering!" Ainz shouted, the crowds chanting his name over and over again. Monsters upon monsters teared up and went to their knees as they prayed to their lord.
The guests could only look at the scene with mouths agape. The presence of the Sorcerer King was too large to handle; his speech was one of the best, if not the best, they had heard. No wonder he was a genius. He could manipulate the masses with only his words. That was probably his greatest power beyond the magic he possessed.
'So this is the true goal of Ainz Ooal Gown. Bring peace and prosperity? I doubt it. There must be some scheme he hides. And from his attitude, I don't think he will stop at conquering Re-Estize.' Jircniv knew the time to choose a side would come soon. Even if he was technically an ally to the Sorcerer Kingdom, no, the Kingdom of Nazarick, it was only a military alliance that wasn't needed after Re-Estize got absorbed.
Still, he was in a monster's den. He needed to show no signs that he was to betray Ainz Ooal Gown. If he makes one wrong move, he might stay here forever.
Marquis Raeven was sweating profusely. He had seen it all, nothing compared to what the Sorcerer King said.
'He is a madman, no, a monster cunning beyond reason. Describing him with human logic would not do much. Since he is a monster, his mind works differently. I should not try to understand him; I should learn more about his motives. To even try to comprehend how someone like Ainz Ooal Gown thinks would probably be impossible for me. And I thought myself intelligent.' Raeven thought. The surreal feeling he had from his surroundings did not stop since Ainz Ooal Gown made his attack on the Re-Estize army. Was this a dream? The question lingered in his mind for days now. But he didn't want to risk doing anything that would offend Ainz Ooal Gown. After all, his son's life was on the line.
The Princess looked at the projection of the Sorcerer King with a slight grin. Her new master truly was great. She could not wait until Climb joined her. Then, she could finally show him her master's greatness. She hoped he would be found soon. She already missed seeing the innocent face of her bodyguard. How he wouldn't pick up on things that were obvious because he wasn't as perceptive as her. She had given him many hints of her love for him, yet his duty to protect her clouded his vision. She hoped this would change. Her kingdom dissolved, her title meaningless. What was there to protect? Now, as a demon, she would have a better chance of defending herself than Climb ever did.
Before the guests could wander into their thoughts, they were drawn back to reality as a shadow loomed over them, the figure of the Sorcerer King floating above them.
"I hope you cherished your first visit to Nazarick. As the first outsiders to set foot here, I hope it didn't disappoint." Ainz said.
"Of course not, your Majesty. Everything we saw here is far from a disappointment. I enjoyed it very much, and I am sure the Princess and the Marquis did as well." Jircniv responded, the Sorcerer King watching him with his soul-piercing stare.
"That is good to hear." Ainz Ooal Gown said as he descended toward his suite. "Then, why don't we continue to dinner? We have prepared many delicacies I hope you will enjoy."
discord. gg / h6cpJ5d3xh
Here's my discord invitation code. Join if you're interested in becoming a proofreader of my next chapters, or you just want to hang around. Both work.
Wow, didn't update this one for a while. Hope you enjoy this chapter. A little longer. Expect the next chapter to come sooner than you think. I got some motivation back to write again. Let's see where this goes.
Tell me if you have any ideas what a title Ainz could have instead of the Sorcerer King while not sounding too cringe.