Title: Reputation
Alt Title: Mission failed, successfully?
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This one feels a little rushed, but that's because 90% of the events here, are the same as the anime. And I didn't want to just transcribe an episode. So there's a healthy dose of time skip.
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ShatteredPhos: I'll think about it. Problem is that Zamaina is attracted to strong women. And Ninya, even after her transformation, is still under level 40.
T4ndoris: The Left Eye of Odin will be a continual thing.
FAKE-ROB: Say please.
Crywolf178: Maybe.
Holosagewolf32: These are the advanced chapters.
Anyumaaka: I love it as well! Hell, I considered making Zamaina bite Clementine. But then thought that'd out of character for him.
RiverOffers: Thank you!
DancingLeaf: I edited the chapter. You are the third person to call out the Wetewolf.
Gearhead2177: Thank you!
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-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
[Spells/Telepathy]
(Text)
Sounds/Actions*
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-Great Tomb, 7th floor-
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James "Zamaina" Petrosky POV
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Having dragged the barely alive, fuck it her names Tangerine. It was an orange fruit of some kind so it fits.
Anyway, I'm dragging the girl through the portal to the seventh floor, The Burning Wastes. Demiurge's floor, and Ulbert's art scape.
Despite it's name being the burning wastes, it's not all on fire. Though quite a bit of it is. I had introduced Ulbert to Warhammer lore and the man fell in love with it. Calling it an accurate portrayal of humanities rottenness and our inevitable fate.
Needless to say he adored the chaos factions. Khorne and Tzeentch in particular. Khorne for, well, evil. And Tzeentch because Ulbert was always a sucker for the magnificent bastard trope.
So, not all burning. In fact some of it looks quite serene. Though, it's all a façade. Illusions meant to remind those who enter just what was left behind. A ruined and burning park has an ornate silver fountain with angelic imagery. That slowly twists into a rusted bronze demonic edifice spewing blood the closer you get.
And that's one of the tamer things he's coded in here.
Dragging the broken, battered and crying girl along the rough and ragged ground meant to damage and or slow invaders. She cries and screams as her face is cut along the sharp rocks. And a quick look behind shows that she's swatting scarab bugs away from her face.
I shrug. She'll be fine. She's strong enough to survive resurrection, she can put up with this.
I approach the Ruined Chapel, Demiurge's abode. Passing by rows of level ninety pop spawns known as Scorned Emissaries. Stereotypical demonic spear bearing creatures with ornate, jagged black armor and weapons. Red skin, gnashing teeth, black eyes and black forward pointing horns.
Making it through the master artisan level black doors. Black onyx as a base, with rubies, gold and silver inlaid to further detail the image of victims trying to escape up from a horde of maniacal demons.
Ulbert took his time making it perfect. I'll give him that.
Now, the password. Get it wrong, and the demons attack. Not that it'd be an issue for me. But, I doubt my tag-a-long would survive. And I really don't want to go through resurrecting her if I don't have to.
"Hmm, To dance with the devil in the pale moonlight." I announce.
Krt* The crystalline doors open.
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Demiurge POV
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Pooling over my latest review on the skinning experiments. I'm finding that humans are only capable of producing tier one and tier two spells. And a rare few are capable of producing third tier.
Understandable, given their insignificance. But frustrating in the limitations it imposes on my ability to produce scrolls for the tomb.
Animal hides don't produce anything above first tier.
"Hmm, if I had a wider range of subjects, and given some time, I could potentially breed a species of sub-human made specifically for skinning." I muse to myself.
'Yes, that's it! A perfect way to turn the, disgrace of sentience and flesh into a useful tool for the supreme ones!' I think joyously. 'I now see why Lord Zamaina and Lord Momonga are insistent on not just wiping them out! They truly do have some promising aspects for future use.'
Turning back to the one known as Nigun. I use the lowest healing spell I have access to.
"[Spare The Dying]." I cast, ensuring he doesn't bleed out before I can procure Pulcinella's assistance.
I don't care much for their names, but it makes organization and filing easier.
"Now then, where-" I stop in my documentation as I sense someone entering my workshop.
Turning towards the entity. I immediately drop to my knees before Lord Zamaina.
"My lord!" I pronounce as I drop to my knees in reverence.
"Rise Demiurge." He commands.
I do as commanded. And immediately notice the naked human woman, clasped by the ankle in his right hand. Bleeding, broken, wheezing and sobbing a beautiful melody.
Her visage is vaguely familiar to the reports of the rogue Black Scripture member that Nigun had informed us on. But, she's a bit too, damaged to make any determination on that front.
"Apologies for barging in with little notice." Lord Zamaina humbly proclaims. "But I have, a bit of a gift and a task for you."
The task must involve the woman in his grasp. She's dying, but still alive. He doesn't want her healed, no. He wouldn't have brought her to me if that was the case. She's human, and injured. And delivered personally as opposed to being passed along.
This is personal, and Lord Zamaina either wants her to suffer, or believes I may have use for her that is of the utmost importance.
"You truly are gracious my lord." I say gratefully. "But you must know that everything here is ultimately yours."
"Correct." He says with a nod. "But it would still be rude to not respect any boundaries you may have. And I prefer to lead by example most of the time."
To go so far as to stoop to our level! All to teach and show us a kindness for doing our very purpose? I am truly blessed to have such gracious masters!
"You honor me greatly, Supreme One." I say with a passionate bow.
"Yes, well. Onto the reason I'm here, before it expires." Lord Zamaina says as he lifts the woman.
"Of course." I say, standing straight as I observe the pathetic morsel.
Him, she's quite damaged. That's for sure. And she's urinated herself, indicating fear, or bladder control deficiencies. Though the claw marks on her back indicate that it was Lord Zamaina who put her in her current state. The damage to her face indicating she was dragged here. So, not a lot of care for her well being outside of her being, functional. And on a side note, her breasts and hips indicate she's at just the right age for child rearing.
"Am I to presume that she's to be added to my experiments?" I ask with a slim grin.
"Sharp witted as ever, Demiurge." My pride swells at the praise. "Though, I suppose it was an obvious conclusion."
He holds out the woman's ankle for me to accept. And I do so with pride. A task given personally by the Supreme Ones? For such faith, I could ask for nothing more.
"True enough." I concur as I right the woman around and walk over to the nearest empty table. "[Spare The Dying]. If I may ask my lord." I intone as I strap her down. "To what occasion has her brought directly to me? If you don't mind my impertinence of course."
"Not at all." He says as he walks to stand beside me, glaring down at the woman. "You see, I found a neat little pet. A human girl with a talent to learn spells twice as fast."
My mind bursts with the possibilities of such a power! If it could be torn from her and transferred to others, or somehow replicated, our forces would advance in strength exponentially! Why, the mere noti-
"And she killed her."
My line of thought is severed at its apex. Like a fishing line, snapped just before the angler could grasp the herring. And in its place a ravenous shark rages as my gaze bores into the woman. A cold, calculating rage simmers at the prospect of someone stealing from a Supreme Being!
"I, see." I say as I imagine all the ways I can, repurpose the living tool. "I suspect you'll want her to, pay her debt towards you, my lord?"
He shakes his head, surprising me once more.
"No. I am not so petty as to see her suffer without purpose. Not for too long at least." He says gruffly. "What I want, is for you to get as much use out of her for the benefit of Nazerick as you can manage. I don't particularly care how. But, she's of stronger stock. One of the Black Scripture in fact, said to be related to gods. See what you can do with that."
The information she'll have! The quality of her skin may be capable of producing fourth or even fifth tier scrolls! Why, she may even be capable of withstanding some of the more intense experiments. Yes, her strength will aid in my research greatly!
"I will insure she lives a long and fruitful life for Nazerick my lord!" I promise gleefully with a reverential bow.
"In that, I have full confidence." He turns to take his leave as I think of all the ways she can be put to good use.
Looking back towards Nigun, and then towards the woman who I've deduced to be Clementine. I smile at the prospect. First I'll need to see what tier of scrolls she can give us. Then I can initiate my, domestication experiments. And so far ahead of schedule too!
"Yes. Long and very fruitful." I say as I feel a wide, manic grin grow on my face.
To have just been pondering the viability of breeding stronger specimens to create a sustainable stock from which scrolls can be made?
"I am truly blessed."
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Zamaina "Inazama" POV
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I step back through the portal to where I left the discarded plate armor.
It was honestly the plate armor that had me believe she was a hunter. Collecting trophies and making them useful just, spoke to me. Hell, I considered biting her and forcing her to replace some of the pets she killed. She likely wouldn't have survived, but it was a thought.
Until I saw the sheer cowardice she held. She wasn't hunting for the challenge, she was hunting to feel powerful. The moment she noticed I was stronger than her, I could sense her fear.
And the thought of turning her made me sick.
"Still, I suppose I could turn this in." I mutter softly as I reluctantly slip back into my human form. "Might give us a boost in rep."
Now, where are Momonga and Naberal?
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-1hr later, E-Rantel adventurer's guild-
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I follow behind Momonga. A sack cloth containing the plate armor in my hands as he carries Nfirea through the doors. The inside of the guild being packed with more adventurers than usual. Likely due to the commotion at the cemetery.
"Oh! Oh Nfirea!" The old lady proclaims as she rushes to us as fast as her withered body can manage. "Is he!?"
"He's quite alright." Momong- Momon says as he walks over and sets him in an empty chair. "The ones who had abducted him were forcing him to use some form of unique magic item to enact a ritual that was raising the dead en masse."
"In the cemetery?" One adventurer comments.
"Holy shit!" Another adds.
"Wait, how are they here if?" And so on as the guild hall devolves into a muttering of conversations.
While this happens, I walk up to the desk and place the cloth down. Letting it unravel and display the litany of adventurer's plates all fashion into armor. Shocking and silencing all those in witness.
I just threw down the equivalent of a hundred soldier's dog tags. In a veteran's lounge.
"Oh, oh um." The receptionist stutters. "Where, where did you get th-these, if I may ask?"
"Off some blonde bitch in the graveyard." I grit out, making a show of being angrier than I actually am. "She wouldn't stop running her mouth, so I ran a blade through her neck."
There's a solemn silence as more and more adventurers gather around to see the commotion. Only to fall into a deeper quite as they see the object responsible.
"Holy, shit." One says. "How, how many plates are there?"
"Least a hundred." Another answers.
"If, if you don't mind me asking." The receptionist asks. "Where, is the one who was in, possession, of these?"
"Same place you'll find the rest of the monsters in the cemetery." I say before turning to leave. "If you'll excuse me, it's been a long night."
The crowd of adventurers part for me as I pass by Momon and Nabe. Momon looks up just Nfirea begans to wake, says something to the old lady, and follows after me with Nabe tailing after.
"That was quite the commotion." Momon says as we walk back to the inn and make it to our room. "It goes to show their sense of comradery, that they would all have such a reaction to the plates of various dead adventurers. What did you do with that woman, Clementine I believe?"
"That's her name? I was honestly calling her Tangerine in my head." I say half heartedly as I sit on the bed.
God I hate this disguise. It's, bearable during the day. But with the full moon still out, argh! I just need to get somewhere quiet. Or get back to Nazerick and get a decent steak. Check on my new pet vampire.
"The names of insects are hardly worth remembering lord, sir Inazama." Nabe says as she kneels on the floor.
"Naberal, you can sit on the bed." Momon says a he takes a chair.
"And put myself on the same level as you my lords?" Naberal asks rhetorically as she bows her head. "You are too kind my lord. But I could never."
"Anyhow, I gave her to Demiurge to get as much use out of her as possible." I say, cutting off the back and forth before it can begin.
"Hmm, not sure what use she could be." Momon says thoughtfully with an armored hand to his chin. "But if anyone could find a use out of her, it'd be Demiurge."
[Dude, seriously?] I message to him [Do you ever read the reports he sends?]
[I, skim them.] He responds.
I look to him with a glare. And he looks to me awkwardly in return. Before coughing into his fist and standing up.
"Right, anyway." He says. "For now we- hold on. I got a message from Albedo."
He puts a hand to his temple as he responds.
"Yes. … Okay? Hmm, I understand." He says before turning to me. "We're heading back to Nazerick. Now."
"What happened?" I ask, suddenly on guard as I stand up, a portal opening as I do so.
"It would appear Shalltear failed her assignment with, unexpected results." He says cryptically as he steps through the gate.
'How the fuck does a level one hundred vampire fail to capture someone?' I think to myself as I walk through, followed by Naberal.
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-few hours prior, road from E-Rantel to Re-Estize-
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As the coachman continues to drive the unwitting "nobles" into an ambush. Unbeknownst to him, none of his riders are even human.
"How much longer must we wait?" Asked the vampiric guardian of the first and second floor of Nazerick.
"The ambush is still a ways out, Lady Shalltear." The disguised predatory slime answers. "Roughly thirty minutes by my guess."
"Huh?" Shalltear breathes out with no little amount of exasperation. "Is there any way to speed this up?"
"Not without causing undo complications, my lady." Sebas answers her. "Not to sound rude, but I recommend cautioning patience."
Feeling she had been insulted, Shalltear glares at the butler. Her eyes narrowing menacingly.
"Watch your tone Sebas." She says in a low voice. "Need I remind you that I am your superior? And arguably the second strongest guardian of Nazerick? Remember your place."
Giving a curt bow, the butler offers his apologies.
"My apologies Lady Shalltear. I meant no offence." He says, before adding on to shift her attention. "If I may be so bold however, you say arguably. May I ask how that is?"
Shalltear accepts his apology. And, eager to speak of her strength and creation like all members of Nazerick would be.
"Well it's mostly because of Tsukune." Shalltear says with a hint of content in her voice. "The little anomaly that he is, is technically stronger than me. And then there's Rubedo, but she's not a floor guardian."
"Technically, my lady?" Solution pipes up. "I was under the impression that Tsukune was weaker than you."
"Well yes, but, it is not so simple as that." Shalltear begins to explain. "Lord Peroroncino and Lord Zamaina had a friendly rivalry with each other."
"Truly?" Solution asks. "I was unaware of that."
"Yes, they butted heads as often as they got along." Shalltear continues. "And would often get into arguments over various topics. So when I was created, Lord Zamaina took it upon himself to try and create his own ultimate guardian."
"But doesn't that mean Lord Zamaina took issue with your creation?" Solution asks yet again. "I'm sorry if I offend, but it just strikes me as odd."
"No worries." Shalltear assures the maid. "The Supreme Ones work in mysterious ways after all. It's not that Lord Zamaina took issue with my creation, or at least I should certainly hope not. It was simply a matter of rivalry. Lord Zamaina sought to outdo Lord Peroroncino, and in a sense, succeeded."
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-8 years ago-
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"Yeah, she's awesome!" Peroroncino says with no small amount of pride as he shows off his NPC. "Had to get a programmer to help me with the looks but, money well spent!"
"Wow!" Bukubukuchagama says in a cutesy as she looks upon the vampiric guardian. "You decided not to make a loli! I mean, technically still an oppai loli, but progress!"
"Piss off jailbait." Peroroncino snides at his older sister.
"Still don't see why you didn't have one of us help you code it." Zamaina says as he inspects the NPC's stats. "Hell, any of us could've helped you. Well, not me but, you get the point."
"I just wanted her to be a surprise is all." Peroroncino defends. "God knows you can't keep a secret."
"I can if you ask me to." Zamaina says absentmindedly.
"You shouldn't have to be asked to know not to repeat things other people vent!" Peroroncino hisses.
"Uh huh." Zamaina says plainly. "Question, what floors is she gonna guard?"
"The first floors." Peroroncino answers. "Why?"
Zamaina stares at her stat sheet. Seemingly looking for something to critique, before shrugging.
"Hmm, suppose she's a good stop gate then." He says. "Decent jack of all trade and great items. Should stop any scouts at least."
"You say that like you could do better." Peroroncino says with an edge to his voice.
"Maybe." Zamaina says absently. "I know I could build a guardian stronger than yours and still have it viable."
"Bullshit." Peroroncino challenges as he crosses his arms. "I paid out my ass to get the info on half the shit for her. To say nothing of the grinding I put in to get her gear."
"Oh? Is that a challenge?" Zamaina says, interest suddenly appearing in his tone.
"You know what?" Peroroncino says. "Yeah, I bet you couldn't make an NPC that could beat mine, and still operate as a guardian!"
"Hmm, alright." Zamaina says appreciatively. "Been bored lately anyway. Gimme a month."
"Deal!" Peroroncino says.
"Aaaand kiss!" Bukubukuchagama suddenly pipes up.
"Fuck no!/ He's not my type." Peroroncino and Zamaina say respectively.
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"Like a painter looking upon another's master piece." Sebas concludes. "Lord Zamaina saw you, and wished to try his hand at creation."
"I suppose that's one way of putting it." Shalltear says dispassionately. "Anyhow, in a one on one fight, I would win. So long as Tsukune didn't enter his true form."
"True form, my lady?" Sebas presses, earning a look of ire from the diminutive vampire.
"Yes, most strong vampires have a true form that they can achieve." Shalltear says. "Mine is referred to as a Blood Frenzy form. Whereas Tsukune's is a Crimson Hell form."
Still not quite understanding. Sebas and Solution share a quick look. It's not that they don't understand the prospect of an advanced form or transformation. Solution is a slime and Sebas is a draconid. But Shalltear is clearly not wanting to give the full details.
"All you need to know is that outside of our true forms, I'm stronger." Shalltear says haughtily.
"Of course my lady." Sebas says.
As they finish up their conversation, the carriage suddenly stops. Alerting them to the ambush they willingly walked into.
"Hmm?" Shalltear hums as she looks to the carriage door. "Is it time already?"
"It would appear so." Solution says with a soft smile. "If it's alright with you Lady Shalltear, I'd like to slip out and have the driver for myself."
"It makes no difference to me." Shalltear says casually. "Do as you wish."
Solution's smile widens to an unnatural degree as her body sinks and melts. Sloshing into an opaque blue that slides down and slips out the opposite door.
Knock* *Knock*
"Come on out!" They hear the confident voice of Shalltear's first victim. "Make this easy for us and we'll be gentle! Promise!"
"Oh that's cute." Shalltear gives off a small giggle, covering her mouth with one hand before standing up. "Well Sebas, I shall not be but a moment."
The butler gives a nod as the girl opens the carriage door. And soon, slaughtered the lot with a soft smile.
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-30min later-
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Shalltear Bloodfallen POV
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"Come now, if you don't try harder how'll I know if you're worth capturing?" I yawn.
He might have martial arts. I still don't understand what Lord Zamaina and Lord Momonga see in this, inferior technique. But, orders are orders. And the Supreme Ones are never wrong.
It's probably something more complex that I don't need to concern myself with. After all, one does not question their gods.
As he stops swinging his metal stick at me, I inspect my hand and find that overhang I've been trying to file down on my pinky is expertly filed.
"My!" I say as I turn my hand over in the light. "Martial arts or no, I may just keep you for your manicuring skills."
"Y-y-you! This can't be happening!" The blue haired human screams as he bolts away.
"Hmm?" I raise a brow. "Done already? Very well then! How about a new game!?"
I let the blood collected above me fall. Discarding my dress in favor of something less valuable and dignified. Something more befitting this horrid form.
It truly isn't fair that that oddity gets such a beautiful form as a base, and in his true expression! He isn't even a natural born vampire! And he looks like an armored warrior of darkness. While I-
No! I am the way my creator made me. I am perfect as per their design. Everything about me has a deep and meaningful reason. To think otherwise is blasphemy.
Cutting through the swaths of nameless prey, I let myself go a bit. Savoring the flavor of their blood as I paint the cave walls red.
There truly is nothing of note. Not even my brides are finding any difficulty.
Passing a few female humans in cages, a makeshift bar, some beds, more humans, I think there was a dog. Doesn't matter, just more to feed!
"Come out, come out wherever you are!" I taunt as I make it to the final room.
Opening the door I find, an empty room.
Nothing. A bed, a chest, some tapestries.
"What?" I say in confusion as I feel a sense of dread fill me.
Frantically looking around the room. Desperate to find my target. I find a hole behind the back tapestry.
"He escaped me?" I say in disbelief as my undead heart freezes over, and my blood boils.
I failed.
Again.
"No. No. NO!" I scream as I vent my anger on the room.
"My lady." One of my brides says as she enters the room.
"What!?" I demand.
"There is a group of humans gathering at the entrance of the cave." She informs me.
What now!?
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-10 minutes later-
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"Perish!" I shout as I gore the humans.
I don't have time for this! Objective one, stay hidden from the general populace. Objective two, find and capture strong martial arts users, magic casters, and talent holders. Objective three, return safely.
Objective four, NO WITNESSES!
I'm failing half of my assignments!
Looking to the human female, quivering in fear. I decide I might just have one of my brides hold her here for me to return to. I might need some, stress relief once this is over.
And she looks so breakable!
After slaughtering the rest, I turn to the female. And decide I don't have time to worry about saving her for later.
"Come here desert!" I shout as I charge her.
She screams as I charge her, and tosses a bottle at me as she falls back. The bottle shatters against me and I pause. This feeling of burning pain is familiar.
'According to Lord Momonga, potions from Yggdrasil don't exist here. Then why?' I ask myself.
In my moment of confusion, the girl scrambles up and flees.
Reverting back, and reequipping my dress, I order my brides to retrieve the girl.
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"No!" The girl begs hopelessly. "Please! I don't want to die."
'Most don't. You're nothing special.' I think idly as I grab her chin and force her to look me in the eye.
"Tell me." I say as I dominate her mind. "Where did you get that potion?"
Her eyes go wide, before going dead as her mind submits to my will with little effort.
"A dark haired man in E-Rantel." She says. "He started a bar fight, and smashed my original one. I tried to get him to sleep with me, but it turned out he was gay. He gave me a replacement potion to get me off his back."
"Hmm, could it be?" I voice my ponderings. "Lord Momonga said there was a good chance others from Yggdrasil made it here. Could this dark haired gay man be one of them?"
As I think on what it could mean for my lords, that another being from Yggdrasil could find themselves in this new world. I get a sudden idea.
"Do you know any martial arts perchance?" I ask the enthralled woman.
"No, but our scout knows flow acceleration." She says.
"Wait? Scout? There are more of you?" I ask as I recall my earlier failings.
"Yes, we split up to-" I tone the woman out as I turn to my brides.
"Fan out!" I yell. "[Summon: Household]!"
I feel my dark familiars form into existence, and I command them to scour the forest. Kill all humans who would escape!
'I can't believe it!' I start to panic. 'To fail so horribly!'
"Forget calling me to his bed, I'll be lucky if Lord Zamaina doesn't just up and leave like the rest!" I start to vent.
If he left, then only Lord Momonga would be left! I'd be the reason half of the remaining Supreme Beings left! I'd kill myself! I may just die of pure shame before I got the chance!
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I stop in a cold fear as my household dies. One by one. Their connection severed.
"What?" I mutter in confusion.
It doesn't take long for that fear, to shift into rage. To not only be failing, but to have something actively making me fail my assignment that was personally given to me by the Supreme Ones!?
"Rrrr!" I grit my teeth as I absorb the blood around me. "You will all die!"
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Charging through the woods, I spot the group responsible for my household perishing. A ragtag party of mismatched humans.
They say some things. But I ignore them as I focus on making them pay. And, I sense a strong force coming from the hag. So, charging the wretched woman, I equip my Spuit Lance and strike. Only to be thrown off course by another man leaping in the way, and further staggered by a blinding light hitting me.
"Lady Kyrie!" One man calls out as I'm stunned.
"Grab her! We need to evacuate now!"
"You're not going anywhere!" I shout as I turn to the blonde man.
"It didn't work!?" He cries out in shock as I put my lance through his head.
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-10 minutes later-
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"No no no no no no!" I cry out as I pace back and forth in the clearing.
I went into a blood frenzy and completely lost myself! I don't even know if I killed them all. But that's besides the point. The blue haired man has most certainly escaped by now. And that's to say nothing of any others.
I completely, and utterly failed! I, one of Nazerick's strongest have failed so utterly and so completely!
I just can't. I need to atone. I'm unworthy of the Supreme Ones. I don't even deserve to say their names.
[Shalltear.] I hear Albedo as I message my overseer. [Do you have a report? Has something happened?]
It is with a heavy heart, and tear filled eyes. That I answer her.
[I failed the Supreme Ones.]
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[Explain yourself.]
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Bonus
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-Adventurers Guild Master's Office-
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Pluton Ainzach POV
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Watching the dark haired man who claims to have singlehandedly killed the serial killer Clementine, I can't help but feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise in defense. There's something about this man that my instincts as a former adventurer are telling me, but I can't tell what.
"You wanted to see me?" He asks as stands before my desk.
"Yes, first, please take a seat." I say, gesturing to the chairs before me.
He sits down easily enough. A sign of trust, to relax your guard.
"Now, I just have a few questions as to the alleged death of Clementine." I say. "Despite our best efforts, we couldn't find her body. And with the lack of substantial damage on the armor, we're just curious as to how everything went down."
"Simple. She was flashing her armor as trophies, going on about how she took down thousands before me, and how she'll take down thousands after." Inazama exclaims. "Well, I took offense to that. And goaded her into attacking me at close range. And when she fell for my taunt, I forced her down and stripped the armor off of her before butchering with my axes."
I'll readily admit, that caught me off guard. To so openly and casually claim his actions in butchering another human being. My instincts were right. Either this man is cold blooded, or has the fiercest temper I've yet seen.
Or he's lying. But, while I feel he's not being completely honest, I don't think he's lying about this in particular.
"Afterwards, I asked Nabe to fry her body and I took her parts and tossed them around the cemetery." He continues gruesomely as he leans back in his seat, tiredly putting resting his head on his fist. "Before you ask why, it was to insure she couldn't be resurrected."
As understandable as that is. It just paints this man as the vindictive type.
"I hope you understand that this can add contention to your claim of killing her." I say slowly, hoping not gain the ire of someone who is clearly Adamantite in strength.
If it wasn't for Igvarge's whining and the bureaucracy involved, they'd have their plates already.
"What others choose to believe is their choice." Inazama surprises me. " I know what I did. When adventurers stop turning up dead with their plates missing. It'll become apparent."
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"In conclusion, after a formal questioning it is my personal belief that Inazama's claim is valid." I write down.
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A/N
Zamaina did succeed in creating a guardian that could beat Shalltear. Tsukune's Crimson Hell form along side his other abilities makes him far stronger than Shaltear, and on par with Rubedo. But, it can only be used once a day, and only stays active so long as he is in combat.
That's why he's the 8th floor guardian and not the 1st. Shalltear was meant to prevent scouts from getting too deep into the tomb, and probe their defenses. Tsukune is a beast in his Crimson Hell form, but his strength is entirely reliant on that form. Which is why he is the 8th floor guardian. Where he is likely to only need it once, as opposed to multiple times a day. Once he is out of combat for five minutes, he exits the form, and it enters a non-reducible cooldown.
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Ask about Zamaina's build!
His Gear!
His Abilities!
ETC.!
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Next chapter might have lemons
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Leave a comment and tell me what you think!
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