incubuslord5: I prefer not to answer that kind of question. It's like being asked months in advance who will win a fight that I haven't even started writing about. I don't want to spoil the suspense of my own story. Also, comparing the strength of characters in my story like Vegeta using his Scouter to measure the strength of Goku in DBZ doesn't make sense to me. I have some experience in fencing and martial arts, which has taught me that real-world fights are unpredictable and can be influenced by many factors. Fighting strength is not a fixed and measurable level; it's a combination of speed, endurance, physical strength, and technical skill. Many variables can favor one fighter over the other. For example, if a vampire and a paladin are supposed of equal strength, the outcome of their fight could be influenced by the location and other factors. Imagine for example that they are fighting in the middle of the night in a cemetery or on the contrary by a beautiful sunny day in a church...
DragonS
Roble Holy Kingdom, Daggerford.
The rain was still falling. For two days, the grey sky seemed to weep over the lands ravaged by the madness of mortals.
The survivors of the Battle of the Ford of the Dagger formed a long and pitiful column. Exhausted, slowed down by the wagons where the wounded were piling up, they were huddled together in the cold rain, seeking human warmth. They were the victors of a great battle. However, as they stumbled in the ruts of the muddy road they did not give that impression at all. Silent, they went forward with their eyes lowered, their brains sorely wounded by too much violence only yearned for sleep, food, and a bath... they felt dirty... ashamed... ashamed of having survived while so many others had perished.
At the head of the column, Diolaine Gisle Kure was shocked to find guards at the entrance to the fortified camp surrounding Daggerford. Two weeks earlier, there would have been nothing unusual... this camp had been built to house the Army of the Northern Barons, after all. Except that this army had gone to the fords of Shelayen to be massacred there and since the place was abandoned... or supposed to be.
The rain curtains masked the silhouettes of the warriors, but as she approached... Diolaine took a deep breath realizing that there were no humans.
Two tall humanoids stood on each side of the open door, perhaps 2.30 meters high. They were dressed in samurai-like armor, red-lacquered and decorated with spikes on the shoulders, wrists, and knuckles. The helmet was adorned with sharp metal blades and the face mask represented a demonic face that seemed to smile mocking, unmasking oversized fangs. They had two sabers on their belts, one short and one long.
The young thief stopped as one of the guards' heads turned towards her. A chill that owed nothing to the cold autumn rain spread along her spine. Her instinct warned her that under these masks and armor, the gate's defenders were very dangerous creatures. She felt intense violence in them, a tightly contained aggressiveness, like doves tugging at their leashes, just waiting to be unleashed to attack the first person who passed by.
As Diolaine had stopped, the soldiers had imitated her, discovering just like her the strange warriors who guarded the entrance of the city they had defended.
Leyen Aristeia climbed up the column of immobilized soldiers, worried about what had suddenly stopped their advance. Discovering the four guards, he turned to the Battle of the Wall survivors.
"Remember why we fought? We had to hold the enemy until Elvil arrived. That's what we did."
A whisper crossed the column of survivors. His very morning the dragon had shown its power, metamorphosing into a second sun before falling on an army of half-humans who had suddenly appeared on their side of the river Shelayen... an army that threatened to annihilate them that it had destroyed in an instant.
"Elvil came with an army," recalled Leyen. With his hand, he pointed to the guards. "Them."
Calmly, he looked at the strange samurai with their spiked armor and turned to the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom.
"We're on the same side. You had nothing to fear."
... for now at least.
There was a flurry of activity in the camp. Various humanoid creatures were gathered, working on setting up tents and other temporary shelters to protect themselves from the rain. Some of them were small, frails creatures with big heads, crooked noses, and big pointed ears – unmistakably goblins. There were also larger, more muscular humanoids with a fierce appearance and prominent canines, orcs. Although they came from the OOO's universe, they bore a striking resemblance to their New World counterparts, making it easy for the soldiers to identify them. Additionally, there were unfamiliar creatures, such as rat-like beings with bodies covered in brown fur, communicating through squeaks, and primitive humanoids dressed in animal skins and wielding stone weapons, who had gathered around primitives' campfires to feast on barely cooked meat.
When the Roble's soldiers arrived, all the humanoids ceased their work and turned their heads in silence to observe their entry with open hostility. However, guards immediately appeared, standing between the hostile populace and the newcomers, forcing the humanoids to return to work while a path to the city gates was cleared by the pseudo-samurai.
"All right, let's not stand there... it seems we're in the way," said Khalid Deez.
But even as he was getting going, Antilene grabbed his arm.
"I'm going to see Miriel. You're coming with me." She turned to their companions. "And so did you."
It was hard to say "no" when it was so kindly asked.
The portal between the worlds looked like a tear with a red-light border. On the other side, the visitors could see an underground city in a huge cave, at the edge of a very deep abyss.
But this other world was much less interesting for Diolaine than its inhabitants. A continuous stream of demi-humans crossed the portal. Some of them belonged to military units that advanced in solid well-disciplined formations; others were non-combatants including females of various races carrying boxes, jars, or pulling small carriages filled with furniture and clothes. Some of them were mothers surrounded by children in rags who cried and did not understand the reasons for their sudden relocation.
But her gaze was especially attracted by the long line of porters that stretched from the tear. They were trolls, and other muscular humanoids carrying crates and chests overflowing with gold coins, jewels, crowns, and royal scepters. A treasure equivalent to that of several royal dynasties.
The porters walked between two rows of pseudo-samurai. Their route passed by a desk where a goblin, dressed in a long silk robe, a black cap adorned with a peacock feather, and eyes hidden behind thick glasses, controlled the movement of wealth.
"Yes... the treasures of the kingdom of Tsoranyi, destroyed in 302 by King Elvil... with the other trophies of His Majesty... hangar 3!"
Passing by Diolaine, hypnotized by all this gold, Khalid pinched her cheek.
She jumped, violently awakened from her trance, rubbing herself where he had hurt her.
"Ouch... what did I do?!"
"I think my head is fine where it is and I don't want one of those brutes in armor adorned with spikes to cut it because you have no respect for private property."
"... uh... yes..."
Gosh, it's not as if Elvil had counted every gold coin in its treasure and that... uh... the legends told that dragons knew their treasures to the smallest coin and... she turned her head towards the goblin in a silk robe... there was someone careful that not a piece of this treasure was lost during the transfer. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to make... uh... a transfer of ownership, at least for now. Diolaine sighed, that was always the problem with the rich. They never wanted to share one coin of their overflowing treasure with an 'honest' (cough, cough) thief who was just trying to make a living. It was so unfair.
Diolaine was stunned by the activity around her. In the company of her friends... well if she could call Antilene or Leyen friends... she had reached the center of the camp, where the pentacle was used to channel the magic energy from the Philosopher's Stone to the Orb of Usha.
They had found the Holy King's wizards. Although exhausted from days of uninterrupted activity, they continued to monitor the activity of the two magical objects. While taking notes, they discussed with excitement perfectly incomprehensible theories.
The wizards took a few minutes to tell them their version of events. In particular, they said that Elvil's invocation had only been successful thanks to the intervention of a strange person in platinum armor. According to their stories, the Platinum Knight had stopped an "army of demons" that crossed a portal "like a pond of black and red shadows".
Little interested in what they were telling, Antilene interrupted them at this point of their story to ask where Miriel was.
"Ah... Miriel... just after King Elvil had repelled the Half-human Army, Lady Miriel started bleeding from her nose. Then she fainted, collapsing on the ground," said one of the wizards.
"Before we could even react, King Elvil lifted her with one hand and ordered its servants to set up a large tent and bring in healers" added another spellcaster.
"Seeing that Elvil was taking her, we dared to ask what it wanted to do. The dragon king replied that we should not worry, Miriel needed care and rest and it was taking care of it."
"Correct, but he called Miriel 'its subordinate', yes that's what he said" specified another wizard.
"Not 'its subordinate', he said 'its precious subordinate', it's not the same thing" contradicts an assistant.
Antilene frowned
"Its precious subordinate," she repeated in an incredulous tone.
Princess Altiria smiled, visibly amused.
"Miriel has a strange talent for attracting the affection of the most incredible beings... even an old dragon as powerful as a god..."
Surprisingly, Sudden Death grew angry at the word 'affection'. But as contemptuous as a cat, she pretended not to care.
Diolaine shook her head, annoyed.
"I'm the only one who worries that Miriel has - once again- worked until complete exhaustion and loss of consciousness?" She turned to the Wizards. "Where did the dragon take Miriel?"
One of the men in robes covered with stars and cabalistic signs pointed his finger at a tent large enough to house the world's largest circus.
"Uh... over there, of course."
The thief felt a little stupid... obviously, the biggest tent... a tent big enough to protect a dragon from the rain. If you add the pseudo-samurai cordon surrounding the large tent, it becomes obvious that it was the dwelling of an important person.
They only had to ask to see Miriel, for the guards take off their naginata-like weapons and allow them to enter the huge tent. The inside of the tent could have housed thousands of people. Nevertheless, the center of the immense piece of cloth was covered with precious carpets and pillows on which an imposing red-scaled dragon was nestled.
Around the dragon king were courtiers belonging to several non-human races, guards, and servants. Some had only to enter to be received by their impressive sovereign, while others had to wait in one of the queues channeled by the pseudo-samurai. However, after a brief interview, the courtiers and warriors left immediately. No one dared to discuss Elvil's orders.
Directed toward a desk behind which stood an old goblin, they saw the latter turn to them with a myopic look.
"Reason for your visit to His Majesty King Elvil?"
Altiria Siina Verteil approached the goblin.
"We're not here to see King Elvil, we're looking for a friend. Her name is Miriel."
The goblin wrote a few words on the thick book open in front of him and then consulted one of the many cards hanging from his desk before turning to Princess Altiria to hold out a small round object.
"Gold token. Priority. Report to this Alkane."
With a movement of his goose feather, the old goblin designated a pseudo-samurai with much more ornate armor than the ordinary soldiers.
"Thank you," replied the elf priestess.
But the goblin paid no attention to her. He turned to the immobilized line.
"Next!"
Shrugging, the princess went to the pseudo-samurai... no... to the Alkane since these half-humans were called so, and showed him her golden token.
The half-human bowed.
"Please follow me."
The officer went to a cordon of soldiers and two Alkanes took a step aside to let them pass. Bypassing the lines of people who came to ask for an audience as well as the desks of goblin officials, they reached the center of the marquee.
The Alkane officer turned to Princess Altiria.
"Show your token to this employee."
As the pseudo-samurai returned to his post, leaving them there, Altiria sighed and went to the desk occupied by an old goblin in a silk robe. Once again she had to explain her request. This time, they had to wait while a younger goblin ran away with a memo.
Altiria and the others watched it as he crossed the last circle of warrior Alkane to speak to a goblin whose silk robe was much more ornate and whose toque was surmounted by three peacock feathers. Taking the note, the senior official bowed before Elvil before reading the contents. As a guard was called by the dragon, Leyen pointed to the ruler of this strange people.
"Look, near the dragon's right paw!"
They obeyed and saw that in the space between the paw and the armored body of the dragon, a young woman was lying on a pile of pillows... Miriel of course.
For some reason, the dragon was very possessive towards the half-elf Summoner.
Interview with a dragon.
That would be a good title for a book and there would probably be many people who would like to read it. Nevertheless, it was quite another thing to be in front of a dragon and really talk to it... especially Elvil...
Diolaine clenched her teeth and closed her fists to hide the trembling of her fingers.
Suddenly, she understood why no one was discussing the dragon's instructions and that all the courtiers left without delay. The mere presence of Elvil was unbearable. There was a fantastic pressure emanating from the Great Venerable Wyrm. Only Antilene didn't seem to be bothered, but Sudden Death was the most powerful native of the New World. All the others lowered their eyes to avoid meeting the eye of the impressive dragon.
"... as I said, you don't have to worry. Miriel is merely exhausted. Due to fatigue and stress, she also suffers from blood pressure problems. My doctors assured me that the rest... a few days of sleep cure... then moderate activity, sun, fruit, and lack of stress should quickly get her back on her feet. And my doctors better not be wrong, right?"
The dragon had turned its head towards a group of humanoids belonging to various races. These beings dressed in colorful robes, pockets filled with medical tools shivered and prostrated immediately, whispering in a hacky voice reassuring words about the accuracy of their diagnosis.
But the immense dragon had already lost all interest in this group of lackeys terrorized by his mere presence. Turning its head towards Miriel, wrapped in the crook of its arm, it held out a finger almost as long as she, touching her without touching her with a gesture that resembled a caress.
Despite the terror that gripped her heart, Diolaine could not hold back her sharp tongue.
"Don't stress? Are you sure we're talking about the same Miriel, King Elvil?"
Not accustomed to being contradicted, the great dragon turned to Diolaine and looked at her so astonished that it would have made smile... if most of the people present had not instinctively backed away in terror, expecting Elvil to flatten the thief like a man would crush a flea that would have stung him.
Diolaine swallowed, suddenly aware of what she had just done.
"Why do you say that, Diolaine Gisle Kure?"
Although she was in a nervous tremor, on the verge of fainting, the spy of the Theocracy found enough strength to respond.
"Because it's Miriel... one minute after waking up, she'll remember that Jadalbaoth and Gown are chasing her, killing her friends, torturing people just because they talked to her... two minutes later, she will begin to remember the massacres orchestrated by these two and that their armies of demons and undead set out to conquer the New World... Then she will jump out of her bed to do something, a new plan, a new magical object, a new potion, or a new ritual... anything that can help protect her. Because as soon as she stops, she is overwhelmed by fear. The Demonic Emperor and the King of Death terrify her!"
The dragon's eyes were splayed out, reducing to thin slits. However, the glare of its gaze became incredibly cold and hard.
The old fire-breathing king was far from stupid. Many people believed that terrorizing others was an effective way to control them. However, fear was a subtle instrument that must be handled with delicacy. When people fear for their lives, they become aggressive and therefore dangerous. Excessive fear was causing the population to rebel rather than submit.
"I see."
It had spoken only two words, but everyone shuddered, even Antilene. A cold anger made Elvil's voice vibrate. By chance or on purpose, Diolaine had just uttered the words that would goad the dragon into viewing its future confrontation with Demiurge and Gown as a personal issue.
Miriel had found the Orb of Usha, a powerful and unique artifact the dragon had been longing for two centuries. It promised to give her everything she asked for in exchange for the Orb... Miriel asked the dragon to protect the New World from Jadalbaoth and Ainz Ooal Gown.
As Elvil was extremely proud, the dragon refused to consider itself as in the service of the half-elf, preferring to believe that until Miriel had given it the Orb, she was still under its command and that protecting her or defending the New World was therefore the normal behavior of the owner towards its property.
Because, of course, Elvil considered its army, its people... even Miriel... as its possession, like any other part of its treasure. Dragons were possessive and defended to the death what they considered to be their property.
And as Miriel was the key to obtaining Usha's Orb, an object he coveted most in the whole universe, the half-elf became therefore its most precious treasure. (1)
In the hills overlooking the Shelayen River,
The red armor of Azuth Aindra comes to land near 'Riku Aganeia', the Platinum Knight looked towards the entrenched camp where Elvil's army was building dwellings.
"Did you spot the vampire?" asked Tsaindorcus Vaision through its remote control's armor.
Hundreds of miles away, the Great Platinum Dragon was lying on a circular platform in the center of his flying castle, meditating with half-closed eyes. He reflected on the implications of Miriel's revelations as well as its own discoveries... and especially the picture they drew if it saw them not as separate parts but as a whole.
The chest plate of the red armor opened, revealing a bearded blond man with a lock of red hair. It was suspended by a harness inside the chest of the Power-Armor.
"No, I didn't see her... if she was there. She must have run away with the rest of Jadalbaoth's army. But are you sure it's her? She's supposed to be dead! Momon the Dark Hero killed her."
The platinum armor turned its head to look at its ally.
"I'm sure it was her. I recognized her. I faced Honyopenyoko (2), don't forget."
On its platform, the Platinum Dragon half-closed its eyes, remembering an event that occurred a few months earlier, just before the first appearance of Ainz Ooal Gown.
The Slane Theocracy's Black Scripture had a member named Kaire who owned a World Item called Downfall of Castle and Country. This Chinese Qipao dress was a World Item that allowed the user to subjugate the mind of any creature, even those that possess racial immunity to mind-control. For instance, it can effectively bypass the undead's resistance without problem.
The Black Scripture believed at the time that the Catastrophe Dragon Lord was about to wake up and Kaire had been tasked with using Downfall of Castle and Country to take it under control and turn it into a new weapon for the Slane Theocracy.
Tsaindorcus Vaision had followed them to foil their plan... except the Black Scripture had run into an unknown vampire. Kaire was killed while trying to take control of her. Later, after a brief fight, the Platinum Dragon understood that the mind-control was incomplete. Judging that it was not very prudent to face such a powerful opponent, especially as she was completely passive and therefore unable to harm the inhabitants of the region, the dragon fell back. It was only a few days later that it learned that an E-Rantel adventurer called Momon had confronted and destroyed this unknown vampire. Tsaindorcus Vaision had managed to obtain a copy of Momon's testimony. It was only at this point that he learned that the vampire was called Honyopenyoko and that she was an old enemy of Momon.
The remote-controlled armor continued.
"There are only two possibilities. Either Momon lied about killing Honyopenyoko or someone brought her back to life after she was defeated."
Azuth smiled mockingly.
"Not hard to guess who... Jadalbaoth! After all, she arrived with the Demonic Emperor's army."
Far from there, Tsaindorcus narrowed its eyes, looking at the ceiling of the room pensively.
"Yes... it makes sense. Except that Jadalbaoth, Honyopenyoko, Momon, and Ainz Ooal Gown all appeared in the same place almost at the same time."
The dragon put its head between its forelegs and sighed.
"This can't be a coincidence... and there's more troubling. Miriel explained to me that she thought Jadalbaoth and Demiurge, one of Gown's servants, were actually the same."
Azuth turned to the remote control's armor.
"Do you believe her?"
"She has no evidence, but her explanation makes sense. Miriel says what she thinks is the truth."
The dragon stood up and then shook before crossing its paws under its chin.
"During my fight with Gown, I was surprised that he doesn't have a World Object even though Albedo had one. Then I assumed that Gown was just an NPC and the Player would be Albedo. But if Gown, Jadalbaoth, Honyopenyoko, and Momon were all Nazarik's NPC?"
"Yes, I understand where you're going with this... but the explanation seems farfetched to me. If Momon and the vampire with the stupid name are both in the service of Albedo, why did they fight?" But Azuth Aindra corrected himself. "Oh yes, it's true, the vampire was controlled by the Slane Theocracy. However, this does not explain why Momon and Jadalbaoth fought each other. At that time, no one was controlling the Demonic Emperor, right? Moreover, Gown supports the Holy Kingdom in its fight against Jadalbaoth. If both NPCs belong to the same Player, it doesn't make sense for one to interfere with the other's operations."
"On the surface, you are right. They behave as if they belong to different sides. But you forget that appearances are often misleading. If you only take an interest in the facts, you will find that all these fights have one thing in common."
Azuth appeared surprised.
"What are you talking about, Tswa?"
The dragon blinked, and when he spoke, even his puppet appeared angry.
"They all appeared in the Re-Estize Kingdom, and when you think about it, all their actions have in common that they have weakened the kingdom leading to its annihilation... Every time one of them has intervened, the real winner has always been the Sorcerer Kingdom."
"Wait, I agree for the stupid vampire, for Gown, or Jadalbaoth... but Momon has always worked for the people."
"Once again, only in appearance, Azuth. Remember that after the fall of E-Rantel, he joined with Gown. The champion of the people, the defenders of the poor... It was very clever. Without hope, the people revolt... and slaughtering the inhabitants would eliminate all interest in conquering the city. No need for Gown to leave the Great Tomb of Nazarick if he turns his new capital into another graveyard. But thanks to Momon the people of E-Rantel kept hope, remaining a productive society. Again, it's very clever to have created a hero rather than another bad guy."
The next day, Abelion Hills
Yuri Alpha held the position of vice-captain of the "Peiades Six Stars". Tall, tough-looking, with her lensless glasses and her hair tied in a low-cropped bun, she has the typical appearance of a cold and intelligent beauty, the great sister of the other Pleiades.
Cold? That was true only for the appearance.
Yuri was the creation of Yamaiko, one of the 41 Supreme Beings. Her karma was as positive as her Creator. Also when Ainz had ordered her not to kill humans without good reason, she was relieved.
However, as she walked under the trees near the exit of the Abelion Hills Dungeon, she felt nothing. At least, she felt nothing now that her emotions had been repressed by a green aura... experiencing a phenomenon that Ainz had often experienced in similar circumstances. Because like the Sorcerer King, Yuri Alpha was an undead (exactly, she was a Dullahan).
The Battle Maid had experienced a violent outburst of anxiety and horror just a moment earlier... because she hated it from the bottom of her earth her current mission. When she was left free to act as she pleased, Yuri preferred the help of people around her, especially humans, because she had a certain affinity with this species.
And there...
Dressed as a maid, with only one shoulder pad and a kind of open steel skirt, Yuri Alpha also had huge gauntlets covered with dangerous-looking spikes. The source of her malaise was the spear cut from a dragon horn that the Dullahan held in her hands.
Arriving in a clearing, she stopped and held the Dragonspear over her head.
"Malestor Rex, show up!"
The spear began to vibrate and expelled a ray of darkness that flew toward the sky. Inexplicably, instead of continuing straight like a normal beam, the line of darkness stopped at thirty feet from the ground to form a dark swirl. The vortex widened and rotated faster and faster before suddenly contracting... in a form as black as night, the silhouette of a hideous dragon with scales of darkness and a repulsive appearance.
This dragon lacked a horn... Although it had the appearance of a dragon, this creature was not exactly one since Malestor Rex was a national of a demonic plane of existence.
Always wielding the Dragonspear, Yuri Alpha began to speak with a loud voice:
"Malestor Rex, listen to me, I command you to attack the dragon Elvil with all your strength and destroy anyone who tries to interfere!"
The hideous dragon demon turned his head towards the frail humanoid who dared to give it orders. The monster fought for a moment with the immaterial chains that connected it to the spear made from one of its horns... but the enchantment was too powerful. With a cry of rage, he set out westward guided by an infallible supernatural sense to the target that had been assigned to him.
Malestor Rex was not only powerful, he was also fast.
Less than an hour after he left, he was flying over the Shelayen River... and Daggerford!
The dragon demon flipped in the air, shouted, and plunged towards the city. His mouth barred with fangs opened to vomit a stream of darkness that fell with the force of a cleaver on the camp where Elvil's army had begun to settle.
A part of the camp disappeared, swallowed up by darkness that absorbed all light!
This attack did not cause any physical damage... which does not mean it was harmless. This tide of darkness that had just engulfed rows of tents and muddy alleys was sucking the hope and any positive values of the affected beings, replacing them with nightmares of terror and despair.
The busy crowd that had been enveloped by this breath of darkness collapsed to huddle on the ground moaning or was turning around in panic, trampling those who had fallen. Some had drawn their weapons, and under the effect of hallucinations that assailed them, they attacked the other victims.
Worse, this hope-consuming mist lingered for a long time on the ground, creating almost insurmountable obstacles.
As Malastor Rex, the Hope Eater, passed for the third time over Daggerford spitting its breath of darkness, its challenge was met. Leaping from the ground, Elvil quickly climbed to meet its rival, roaring in anger.
The Dragon-Demon turned and spat his breath towards Elvil, completely swallowing the red dragon... for a brief moment, the dragon king disappeared... only for a moment. The Venerable Great Wyrm emerges from the other side of the black flaring, wrapped in the golden bubble of light of a Greater Sphere of Invulnerability.
Furious that another dragon dares to attack his property, Elvil does not slow down. Rushing on Malestor Rex, the red dragon hit it hard. The two dragons grabbed each other biting and scratching while twisting in the sky.
The two huge winged lizards were falling to the ground... fortunately, their fight drove them towards the hills and they crashed into the forest, breaking down the trees in a shock so violent that the valley below was shaken by a brief earthquake.
Humanoids and humans, all went up to the walls to watch the fight. But they saw only fire and darkness colliding and twisting one against the other.
The sky was convulsing over the two dragons, lightning fell ceaselessly, channeled by Elvil. It was like a spider with lightning legs, dancing over the confrontation. The spectators were forced to look away, the intensity of light blinded them, and the thunder made them deaf.
At the end of a moment in this battle of titan, a formidable cry of victory shook the hills.
Covered in blood, Elvil stood up above the shredded carcass of its enemy... already the remains of the defeated dragon radiated with violet light before dissolving into dust that evaporated in the wind...
Like all summoned creatures, Malestor Rex had just returned to its original plane of existence after dying.
At the same moment, hundreds of miles away, the Dragonspear lit up with a brief blue-black light as a vibration shook the shaft.
Yuri Alpha nodded with displeasure. Malestor Rex had been defeated... for once... Alas, this monster refused to stay dead.
Further on, in Nazarick, Ainz was sitting in his office, looking at the Mirror of Remote Viewing.
As the confrontation was over, the Overlord turned to Sebas Tian standing three steps behind his chair.
"Ulbert Alain Odle started working on the Dragonspear after he failed to create an object capable of summoning an endless amount of powerful demons. The Dragonspear only calls one enemy... the demon-dragon Malestor Rex. But the spear can summon Malestor Rex once a day, even if it is killed. It comes back, every day... again and again and again... How can one beat an enemy who refuses to stay dead? Malestor Rex is the perfect weapon to demoralize an opponent by making him lose all hope of victory. This demon-dragon well deserves its nickname of Hope Eater."
The Iron Butler did not answer, but one of his eyebrows curled briefly. In Nazarick, it was no secret to anyone, but Touch Me (the creator of Sebas Tian) and Ulbert Alain Odle got along very badly.
(1) There is another reason for Elvil's ultra-protective behavior. The Actorios, the garnet in the Ring of Kings is the source of energy that powers this powerful artifact. The Actorios has another name the "Dragon Hearth" because the first pact that the Menilbonéans sealed by using the the Ring of Kings linked them to dragons... The legitimate user of the Ring of King is therefore a friend of dragons. They cannot harm him and feel an instinctive desire to protect him. Even to serve him (in the case of the weaker members of the dragon species). Note that Miriel was aware of this special feature of the Ring of Kings and that it is one of the reasons that led her to summon Elvil to the New World.
(1) Yes, I'm not making this up. When Gown arrives where Shalltear Bloodfallen, he discovers a ravaged landscape. It was the result of a brief confrontation between Shalltear and Tsaindorcus Vaision.