TouchMe had grown up with the dream of becoming a true police officer, using his authority to protect the low classes of the modern world. He was familiar with the touch of violence, but even so, he did not think that taking another person's life would ever be a simple task. This remained a constant in his life as he continued following his dreams of becoming a well-known police officer, and every time he'd watch another criminal drop dead, TouchMe experienced immeasurable guilt and shame for his own failures.
However, he did not feel the slightest bit of sorrow for the knight before him who lay lifeless upon the dirt. This new calmness allowed him to reflect on his actions, and there was little that seemed to unnerve him. The idea of hurting innocent people still made him feel extreme rage, but the restraint of causing pain and suffering within criminals of the world seemed to be non-existent and a natural thing.
The attack he used against the knight was the weakest he had ever attempted to touch someone. He released but a small percentage of his killing intent, the anger that now burned within him after witnessing the killing of innocent human villagers, and it had been more than enough to be too much for the feeble man to withstand. He dropped to the ground soon after, a large gash splitting between his throat and leaving a single clump of muscle connecting a bridge between his head and the rest of his body.
TouchMe had chosen to open with this attack because even if he failed to kill the knight, he could simply exert more of his strength. If using his physical power was not enough to defeat his opponent, then he would use his incantations to annihilate them with a basic elemental spell. Otherwise, he would require a new plan to save the girls and flee from the village before the other knights could reach his position.
It seemed that killing someone who was following orders from their superiors did not stir any emotions within him. Protecting the innocent villagers was the only thing he had currently on his mind. The cowering children sitting behind him were a reminder that he must fight these knights until the bitter end, and never turn his back on the suffering.
There was not guilt, fear or confusion in his heart, which resembled the surface of a calm lake in the moonlight. It was strange for TouchMe to feel so calm, despite his new life and the loss of his family - He hadn't even thought of his deceased wife and daughter since the moment he'd arrived in the New World, leaving him with a new guilt.
TouchMe took a step forward, earning a squeak of shock and amazement as both girls watched him approach the second knight who had just emerged from a near house. The silver-clad soldier noticed the Paladin approach, and took a step back in fear. The sudden, coward-like action from the human soldier caused TouchMe to growl aloud.
"You terrorise this village, hunt down its people as if they were mere cattle, but you cannot face someone who can fight against you? The lack of honour is vomit-worthy..."
The silence from the knight earned another grunt from TouchMe as he continued his advance, and the knight was quick to run away from the Heteromorph with the hope of escaping with his life. Unfortunately, there was little the man could do to escape from TouchMe as he raised his armoured hands and swiped downwards with his sword. Blood exploded from the human's body and covered the land with thick clumps of crimson. The knight was left to bleed out, alone, the light in his eyes eventually fading.
"That's it? Worthless vermin."
Now that TouchMe knew the knights were weak enough to be finished off without using skills or techniques, all of his tension vanished in an instant. Of course, it could be that these two knights were especially weak among their kind, but he doubted that the others would be much stronger.
With an effortless flail of his blade-holding arm, the blood that stained the sword scattered across the dirt and left a cleaned weapon in its wake. TouchMe nodded with great satisfaction, then turned around to face the children that continued holding onto each other for safety. He noticed them watching him with fearful eyes, and his heart began to tighten from the obvious terror that he had caused.
The Paladin approached them. The two girls shrank under his dominating presence, and tried their best to keep their postures lowered in comparison to his own. TouchMe had taken notice of their troubles and lowered himself to meet their gaze, plated knee pressing into the dirt, and spoke in a tone that suggested him to be a sweet, caring parent.
"Would you like me to heal your wound?"
The older sister, Enri, nodded her head and smiled with a crooked line that earned TouchMe's displeasure; she was not entirely certain if she could trust the armoured mam, but the acknowledgement of his question proved that he was making progress with the children and helping them both ease from the recent events. He decided to leave his worries for now, focusing on the eldest's fresh wounds.
"I think a healing spell should work," He commented.
TouchMe raised a silver hand, aiming for the girl's back, a haze of blue and green energy protruded from the limb. It caused the children to stare in awe, not realising that their bodies were slowly enveloped within the slime-like liquid until it reached their shoulders. Suddenly, a warm feeling overcame them both as the spell vanished into the wind.
"I have used a healing spell on you both." TouchMe said upon noticing their bemused expressions, chuckling.
The two of them looked back, notably focused on Enri and her back that had once been scarred with a fresh wound, it now seemed completely healed. The previously-torn cloth had mysterious reformed over her tanned skin and refused the touch of sunlight upon her naked flesh. She released a thankful sigh before moving her gaze back to TouchMe.
"T... Thank you..." She mumbled through teary gasps.
"No need to thank me; It was my pleasure to help you."
As TouchMe finished, he turned to leave, preparing to save the rest of the villagers from the honourless knights. What he had witnessed had unnerved the Paladin quite a lot, his mind focused on slaughtering them as an act of vengeance for the human lives they had already claimed. However, he moved less than five steps before two voices called out.
"Ah... ma-may we know your name...?"
"Yes, mister! Wh-what's your name...?"
TouchMe almost responded by reflex, but managed to stop himself from stating his name from YGGDRASIL; the name he had chosen was not appropriate for a real person to use, but that meant he did not have an alias he could use other than his human name. The thought of using the name was not proper, at least not to TouchMe, and so he hesitated.
What should he call himself now? What was the name of the last man who remained in the Great Tomb of Nazarick and vanished into a new world? The questions left him a little shook, and he took a moment to think about what it would mean for himself to change his name to something new and different. Suddenly, a name came to his mind.
"...I suppose there's no harm. I am Sir Ainz Ooal Gown! The Paladin of Pure Silver! Protector of Innocence! Bringer of Justice to those who cannot uphold it themselves! Do not forget this name, children, for it fights in yours."
Captain Belius of the Slain Theocracy surveyed the people of Carne Village with delight, finding pleasure in their fear and trembling forms that unveiled the undeniable horror coursing through them. "Look at you all. Pathetic, useless sacks of flesh," He laughed mockingly. "I shall take great pleasure in your suffering, that I promise you!"
He ignored their pleads for mercy, each villager falling to their knees in prayer to whatever deity who could offer aid in such a desperate time of need.
Belius gave another sadistic cackle. "How foolish, thinking the gods will show you mercy," he announced with such a finalised tone that each of the peasants could not hope for relief, it brought them to their lowest. With a final call to all knights assigned to him, Belius announced their execution in the name of the Slain Theocracy. Not that these meagre farmers would know about such a well hidden plot.
"How despicable," a voice echoed, sharp and cold, cutting through the smouldering remains of Carne Village. Belius and his knights exchanged nervous looks, unfamiliar with the individuals chilling, commanding voice.
Revealing himself from the shadows of the surround forest, the owner of the voice made his presence known. Vibrant blue glass-eyes reflected the sunlight towards the knights, exuding an unnatural determination. He was adorned in a shining, enchanted armour adorned with intricate golden markings and finely tuned leather. The beautiful reddish belt connecting around his waist held a large sword that seemed much too large to be held by any normal human.
It was a paladin, a follower of justice, come to deliver true consequences upon them for such an unjust display.
The knights moved away from him as they felt their will to fight completely sapped from their bodies when faced with the one-man-army marching before them. The presence of such godliness left them paralyzed, incapable of moving.
The paladin scoffed at their cowardice, an unimpressed, saddened sound that revealed the lack of respect he held for their tormenting of innocent villagers. "Truly, what an unforgiveable sight," he spoke in a hollow voice, filled to the brim with contempt. "You dare raise your weapons towards these innocent villagers, but refuse to battle an experienced warrior with the capability of fighting back?"
Unable to contain his resentment, the paladin raised one hand towards the group and used a Warrior Skill.
"[Perplexing Force]."
An overwhelming presence spread across them like a bad storm, shaking the entire forest around them despite there not being a direct tree in front of the man's attack, leaving the knights at the mercy of its wild winds. From that low level skill alone, all but seven knights were thrown across the remnants of a village, some of them impaled on wood chunks and jagged rocks, whilst the others were crushed into a bloodied paste that no longer resembled people.
"A-All of you, go and kill that madman!" Belius gave them an undignified screech, like a wild banshee, as the armour that encased him shook with his meagre body. It was a pitiful scene to behold. "I'm too rich to die in a hellhole like this! All of you, hurry up! Be my shields so I can escape this place! I command you all!"
The remaining knights made no movement, none of them willing to step forward and face the paladin. Their loyalty could only run so deep, sacrificing themselves for a rich fool did not fall under such lengths. Instead, they stood frozen and watched as the silver-clad warrior began marching towards Belius, who screeched with an unbearable voice before stumbling like a coward.
He advanced upon the commander like a relentless storm of justice, his enchanted blade swiping through the air and cutting through anyone who stood in the way of his attack. Belius tried appealing to the paladin using money, a horrible tactic, only to be curt short as the man stabbed forward with his sword and pieced through his armoured chest like it was nothing.
"AAAAAAGGHHH!" Belius cried out in pain. The silver warrior did not relent in his attacks, thrusting the blade deeper into the human's ribcage before pulling it back, then repeating. After some minutes of carnage, the paladin threw him to the side.
The paladin lifted his head, his eyes looking over the remaining knights whose postures revealed how little of their strength remained. He noticed the villagers standing in awe, but also fear, after bearing witness to the merciless execution of Belius. Even so, they felt no remorse for what happened to the man.
It didn't take long for him to deal with the rest, cleaving them in two with his weapon. He was somewhat unnerved by his own lack of care for what he had done but decided to ignore it. His gaze focused on the villagers as he approached them with a more relaxed posture, pushing the remnants of knight limbs to the side with his armoured feet in the process, coming to a stop.
The people of Carne Villager remained worried that he'd make demands, or perhaps hurt them like the other knights, but to their shock, the strange paladin spoke gently. "My name is Ainz Ooal Gown, a paladin of justice. I came to help after hearing your cries from the forests," he explained. "You are safe now, this atrocity shall never happen again, I swear it upon my name."
The villagers exchanged looks of astonishment after hearing such a noble declaration. The man had such an incredible sounding name, too, the title carried such weight and regal tones. It was apparent that Ainz Ooal Gown was not ordinary, certainly not after such a powerful display.
"Sir Ainz, we could never repay for what you've done for us today." An elderly man, the village chief, most likely, proclaimed. He looked upon Ainz with such reverence, it was astonishing.
In response, the Paladin of Silver raised a single hand and boasted to them, "I require nothing besides information about this land. After all, saving those in trouble is common sense. Don't feel as though your lives are deserving of less."
"Y-Yes, as you say, Sir Ainz," the elderly man replied, his voice trembling from the intense emotions coursing through him.
The chief explained the basics of the kingdoms, how they operated, and the systems in place to ensure protection against monsters. Ainz was a little disappointed, he admitted, because there was an obvious lack of information the villagers lacked due to their commoner status. He felt a desire to help them, to educate the, but such a dream would likely never come true.
'It's not like I could be a king,' he thought.
However, what the elder managed to explain to him was still useful: the Re-Estize Kingdom, the same kingdom Carne Village belonged to, was a decent-sized land that often competed with an opposing nation called Baharuth Empire whose lands were separated by the mountain range. It was accompanied by a vast forest to the south teeming with life, where the village stood with little means of defending themselves.
The most interesting was the Slane Theocracy. Humanity's most powerful kingdom, but also a place that seemed to harbour strong emotions about religious customs and placing the entire human race above the other inhuman races. It made Ainz somewhat angry, but he managed to keep himself composed and focus on the chief who explained more about the other nations.
The elder pointed to a spot on a map he brought to better show Ainz the kingdoms. "Up here is a city called E-Rantel, a place for adventurers and hired mercenaries to collect quest and fend off monsters from attacking the common people."
Ainz looked at the map thoughtfully, processing the information. "Interesting. This city might be good for a beginner, perhaps I should visit." The paladin remarked to himself as he rubbed under his silver helmet like a thoughtful, wise old man.
The chief nodded. "Indeed, Sir Ainz. E-Rantel is somewhere most aspiring adventurers go for a chance to make something of themselves. Its a good system to build up strong warriors"
Before Ainz could comment, a loud knock came from the village elder's front door, signalling that someone was there. The door opened to reveal one of the other villagers, struggling to breath as they stared worriedly at both Ainz and the chief.
"Village Chief," the man gasped, "there's a group of knights approaching just outside the village. It might be more of those knights!"
"What?" the chief shuddered.
Ainz stood up from the table, "how many of them did you see, young man? We need numbers." His calculating voice earned a bewildered look from the two humans, who pondered if the paladin in question planned to protect them once more. It was their only chance of survival, they noted.
"I-I think there's over one hundred." The man sputtered uncertainty. "To be honest, it's hard to tell with so much dust spreading across the area."
There was a moment of silence between them as both villagers looked to Ainz for an answer. The paladin thought about it for a moment, then he looked back towards the chief. "We shall go and meet these knights to confirm their intentions."
"I...I understand, Sir Ainz." The chief nodded.
A bell rang across Carne Village, and the villagers gathered into the chief's house. Ainz stood with the Village Chief beside him, the latter having an uncertain expression on his face. He wondered if these humans would be the from the same land, or perhaps from a completely different nation in an opposing area. The possibility was there, so Ainz needed to remain cautious.
However, as the mounted warriors along the road leading to the village drew closer, Ainz noted the distinct lack of uniformed equipment as each of them were outfitted differently. It was likely that these were regular troops rather than elites.
The knights from before wore breastplates which bore the sigils of the Baharuth Empire, and they were heavily equipped, each in the same way. It held a stark difference to these new soldier who seemed to bare simplistic armour and a regular sword on their aged, leather belts.
Some of them wore helmets, while others were bareheaded. The only thing they had in common was that they each showed their faces, and their swords were of similar make, but apart from that, they also carried bows, javelins, maces, and an assortment of backup weapons such as daggers.
The riders eventually entered the square, around twenty of them following behind a larger man on horseback. He seemed more capable than others, at least, that's what Ainz though, and the armour he wore seemed of better quality despite being a mediocre set compared to YGGDRASIL items. He had dark brown hair and equally dark eyes, with dramatic muscles that flexed between metal.
The leader's eyes rested briefly upon the Village Chief before he turned toward Ainz himself, who showed no signs of weakness; despite this man having a naturally strong aura, he was unsure if these men had noble reasons for coming, so he decided to remain cautious for now.
Once satisfied the leader spoke in a grave tone:
"-I am the Warrior-Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Gazef Stronoff. By order of the King, I have been visiting each of the frontier villages to exterminate knights from enemy countries who have been making trouble in these lands."
His rough, masculine voice echoed through the village square, causing some commotion within the chief's house behind Ainz, but he decided to ignore this and remain focused on Gazef, who in turn did the same to Ainz. The two of them took notice of the Village Chief who seemed awed, an uncertain shimmer in his wizened gaze.
"The Kingdom's Warrior-Captain..."
Ainz was somewhat confused at the elder's shock and awe, but he decided to remain quiet and let these humans explain everything to him. He was quick to learn that Gazef Stronoff was a powerful man who claimed the championship of a martial arts tournament held before the King, and now leads the elite warriors of Re-Estize Kingdom.
Gazef looked at the Chief, "You must be the Chief of this village. Tell me, who is this man standing beside you? Is he from the kingdom?"
The Village Chief was about to explain who Ainz was, but found himself interrupted by the paladin himself as he stood before Gazef. Both men were locked in a dangerous game of silent glaring, but Ainz eventually broke the silence. He gave out an armoured hand and introduced himself:
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Warrior-Captain of Re-Estize Kingdom. My name is Ainz Ooal Gown, and I am a paladin. The village was attacked by knights before I came to their aid."
Gazef was quick to dismount, his armour shifting with a loud clatter as he did. He bowed deeply to Ainz once his feet touched the dried soil.
"Thank you for saving this village. I have no words that can adequately praise your kindness."
The Warrior-Captain's willingness to bow before a nobody like Ainz, in a world where people were so clearly divided amongst each other, had been an unexpected surprise for both the paladin and the soldiers following Gazef. From what Ainz knew of this new world, humans barely understood what human rights were and had even used slavery a mere decade prior, so he held little expectations when it came to Re-Estize.
However, Gazef Stronoff had exceeded all these expectations in the first minute of talking. Ainz couldn't help but smile to himself, although he struggled to express such notions due to being [Insectoid] instead of human.
"It was no problem," Ainz said, "saving those in trouble is common sense, after all."
"Those are wise words, Sir Gown. Perhaps we can discuss this more in the village?"
Ainz pondered this for a moment, "I suppose I could spare the time. Come, Sir Stronoff, let us speak of this more privately."
"I understand. Then, lead the way for-"
In the middle of the Warrior-Captain's reply, one of the horsemen ran into the square. He panted with intense ferocity, as if he had just ran a marathon, before offering a report to Gazef. In a high-pitched voice, the horseman said:
"Warrior-Captain! We've sighted a lot of people around the village! They've surrounded the entire village and are preparing to close in!
Ainz and Gazed shared a look of surprise before the latter tried to follow his men towards those who threatened Carne Village, but found himself unable to move. He looked to Ainz, the paladin holding his armoured shoulder to stop him.
"There is no need for that, Sir Stronoff," he said before moving forward in his place, "allow me to speak with these mysterious individuals. I need answers, and planned to leave this village soon. Better to deal with these people before leaving."
Gazef paused, "I...understand, Sir Gown."
"I should have known Gazef wouldn't head our way. He must have followed a different route." A scarred man mumbled to himself, frustration and confusion evident in his voice.
The nearest mage approached the blonde man and saluted, "Sir Nigun, none of the knights have returned. What should we do." The mage's tone was filled with concern, as to be expected when a knight legion doesn't report back.
Almost four hours passed since Nigun, the head of the Sunlight Scripture, ordered his men to kill the villagers and prepare for Gazef's arrival, but now it seemed the Warrior-Captain planned to remain in Carne Village and wait for them to show up. Nigun had to admit, it was annoying.
"We can't afford to wait around much longer. We shall march into the village, slaughter those who remain, then kill the Warrior-Captain!"
Nigun declared with an urgent voice, earning loud proclaims of determination and resolve from the other members of his scripture. Their march was precise, a testament to their experience serving a strategic mind such as Nigun Grid Luin. The man was confident he could kill Gazef and appease the Six Cardinals of the Slane Theocracy with such an overwhelmingly good performance, perhaps this would help to bring more notoriety to his name.
However, as they began to advance, an unknown figure materialised directly in front of them like a spectre, halting Nigun and his forces. Nigun gave the mysterious man a curious -and shocked- eye glance as he beheld his appearance–he was tall and draped in beautiful, silver armour that made the Sunlight Scripture's equipment look pitiful.
The towering warrior appeared to be a paladin, a follower of the divine much like Nigun and those who served in the Slane Theocracy. There was a difference, however, as the silver clad man held unnatural charisma in his stance and aura which reveal his strength to those watching him.
Nigun addressed the paladin. "Who are you?"
The paladin remained still, unwavering, and his once-neutral aura became far more intense with every moment that passed between them. After some time, he finally retorted, "I am Ainz Ooal Gown. Paladin of Pure Silver." He looked at the members of the Sunlight Scripture with distain.
Impatience began to envelop Nigun as he grit his teeth, noting how the sun reached behind the distant trees as it vanished below the horizon, and he waved a hand to signal for his men to attack. "I have no patience for this! Summon the angels! Have them attack this foolish paladin!" Nigun barked, believing he could deal with this silver clad warrior and continue his advance into the village.
The commands of Nigun were heard through the ranks of the [Archangel Flames, whose ferocity remained entirely focused on the self-proclaimed Ainz Ooal Gown, before they rushed towards the knight like a violent storm, their blades enchanted with divine power that radiated in a small area.
Ainz remained frozen -unmoving- as the angelic summons thrust their blades deep into his chest. His tall, glistening form remained unperturbed under the judgment of these lesser beings who thought themselves strong enough to face him. Ainz remained quiet as he reached out with both hands and grabbed hold of the summons' faces, ensuring they could not escape his wrath. Using little of his strength, he crushed their head into shards and watched as their bodies vanished into blue light.
The magicians called for the other [Archangel Flames] to advance, their weapons drawn, but Ainz reacted faster and raised an armoured hand into the air. He released a breath from beneath his helmet, then called out, "[Divine Burst," which called forth amazing beams of pure, divine light. The unnatural rays of energy tore through the summons of the Sunlight Scripture and reduced them all to nothing, and in that fleeting moment, it finally dawned on the humans that whoever stood before them was no weakling.
In truth, Ainz had tried to hold back the true powers of [Divine Burst, not wanting to destroy the surrounding forests, but even with such measures in place he expected a large percentage of the battlefield to be effected. This prediction came true when his spell burrowed into both the earth and wind, purifying all that it touched.
Nigun stood in horrified silence as his summoned forced were utterly destroyed by a force many would consider deific. The confidence that had warmed his soul was now reduced to a shrivelled, cold dread, festering in his mortal soul like a terrible virus, it helped Nigun realise the true power behind his new opponent and what he could do against both the Sunlight Scripture and the Theocracy.
"What...b-but how could he..." Nigun's voice quivered with disbelief as he struggled to comprehend the notion of losing. He looked at his men, the once-proud member of the Sunlight Scripture, but found that all of them were now cowering in fear. Not that he blamed them for such a display, it was only natural.
Not wanting to appear weak, Nigun called out, "Principality of Observation! Strike him down, now!" His command rang out in a strained voice. The [Principality of Observation, a towering angelic summon adorned in gleaming armour, hovered towards Ainz with a determined presence and raised its enchanted mace into the air. Its weapon shimmered beneath the moonlight as it swung downward with righteous fury, aimed at the paladin standing beneath it. However, what happened next left everyone shell-shocked:
Ainz made no attempt to evade the attack, his confidence unwavering, and treated it like a small inconvenience. His uninterested stance was reinforced as the mace made contact with his armour clad form, but left no physical damage. The sight was unnatural for both Nigun and his followers to witness in person. It left no room for them to deny how much power their opponent held, and this was even further enforced when he reached out his hand, balled his fist, and threw it towards the summon with immeasurable force, causing its metal frame to break apart like weak plastic as it died.
"I expected better than this," the paladin mocked, his voice cold.
"T-This can't b-be..." Nigun felt the sweat building on his face, sliding down his cheeks, it dampening the neck of his collar. The once-confident leader of the Sunlight Scripture was now left to ponder how everything could have fallen apart so quickly.
He listened to the horrified screams of his fellow soldiers that bore witness to Ainz and his unfathomable strength. The constant noise left little time to think or plan, but Nigun felt that it wouldn't make a difference either way; this Paladin of Pure Silver was beyond a mere human in terms of strength, and experience, so using the current weapons provided would likely not matter in the grand scheme. Despite this, Nigun's mind raced with thoughts of survival, of ensuring he could escape from the holy knight and his unbeatable power. It didn't take long for him to remember the item in his breast pocket:
The summoning crystal.
Nigun's expression changed to hesitant resolve. "Protect me!" He commanded them all, his gloved hand reaching beneath his black collar. With an urgent voice, he continued to order his men, "I shall summon the highest-level angel!"
The Captain of the Sunlight Scripture motioned with the item in his hand, a large blue crystal with untold summoning power. Its mere presence uplifted the spirits of Nigun's magicians, an overwhelming sound of celebration thundering across the battlefield as they viewed the grand and powerful item their captain now held in his gloved palm.
However, rather than back away in fear, or perhaps attempt to retreat, Ainz remained stood in place with an unreadable posture that made him appear less than bothered. He watched as the legendary angel descended upon the earth in a blaze of divinity, appearing like a servant of god that had come to vanquish a great evil. Its form was both majestic and grand, inspiring awe within the human magicians who admired its steady approach, adorned with multiple wings that shimmered with their own radiance. The summon held a sceptre of immeasurable power -7th tier- in its metal-laced hands, a symbol of its unparalleled authority over mortals.
"Bask in the greatness of [Dominion Authority]!" Nigun declared.
The 7th Tier summon loomed above Ainz with an unwavering presence, but the Paladin of Silver was not impressed with this display. "I had expected something more high-level than a Dominion Class angel. Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter." He looked upwards at the [Dominion Authority, disinterested, and mentally activated one of his racial skills.
Before Nigun realised what Ainz was doing, the paladin focused his power into a racial skill known as [Defiant Stare] and unleashed it upon the angel. A small, intense pressure formed around the middle of its armoured chest, the once-blinding celestial light dimming as a new source of energy expanded over the angel's frame—a focused weight of gravity that forced the [Dominion Authority] into the ground. The scene of a powerful angel kneeling before its foe consumed the last remnants of hope and resistance that flared within Nigun's heart. He failed to understand how someone could wield such a powerful attack, one that both Nigun and the members of his scripture were unable to sense with their magic.
The summon gave a desperate, haunting screech before vanishing into specks of light, much like the angels that came before it, leaving the battlefield engulfed in an eerie silence. Ainz watched as each member of the Sunlight Scripture gave into total despair and wallowed in self-pity. He found the sight distasteful, watching these heartless monsters mope and cry as if they were victims deserving of mercy, it made him want to kill all of them. It was unnatural for him to want this, he understood, but after their threat against Carne Village, Ainz felt like it was now his responsibility to eliminate them before innocent people were hurt.
"Who the hell are you...?" Nigun managed to stammer.
Ainz, however, decided to ignore the man's question and approached with his word held in one hand, marching towards them like an inevitable spectre of doom, before using a small fraction of his power to rush into battle. He managed to claim almost sixty percent of the Sunlight Scripture before any of them realised and tried to muster a defence against him. It was a one-sided massacre that left Nigun devoid of resistance.
Blood stained the earth as screams of agony pierced the chilling air, but they soon came to a halt when Ainz revealed even more power to slaughter them all in less time. Even Nigun was not spared from judgment, despite his knowledge being useful, as Ainz cleaved him in two and proceeded with the small handful of servants who remained. In less than a minute, the Sunlight Scripture had been eliminated.
The forces of the Slane Theocracy had been dealt with, now Ainz felt the need to explain his successful to the people of Carne Village before leaving. He collected whatever items found on the corpses of his enemies, placed them in his [Dimensional Storage] for later use, hid all remnants of the battle, and then turned back towards the village. It would not take long for the paladin to explain the outcome to Gazef Stronoff and the Village Chief before leaving for E-Rantel. It was the closest city from Carne, and was a common place for adventurers looking to make a name for themselves.
After wishing the villagers well, Ainz set out on his next adventure.