Well, here it is! Enjoy!

Gate: Thus the Sorcerous Kingdom Fought There

Written by oblivon2991

Proofread by the Members of The Usual Gang of Drunken Perverted Idiots

Thank you for reading my fanfic!

My mother language is not English, so please be patient about the grammatical issues.

I don't own the Overlord(オーバーロードŌbārōdo?) novel or anime series created by Kugane Maruyama.

I don't own Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri novel, and anime series, written by Takumi Yanai.

Please review it. I know I will make mistakes that I intend to correct and will try to learn from them and improve myself.

Thank you!

Please enjoy the story!

Chapter 39: Theatrics of Despair (part 2)

A little bit earlier, before the demon Emperor made his descent: Above the Holy city...

"It is time then…" the demon emperor checked his pocket watch, smiling deviously under his elaborate mask.

Hidden by a spell, he and his forces already surrounded the city. The plan is set to go! No one is suspecting what he is up to. This is it! Time to strike! Everything is set!

"Will it really be alright if I use it, father? I mean…"

"Now, now… we have a task here, little one. You don't want to disappoint the Supreme Beings, do you?"

"No…" the demon girl lowered her head, grabbing the treasured scroll tighter.

"Fufufu! I trust your judgment. Don't forget, Ainz-sama gave us this role to prove our loyalty and understanding of his plans. He even drew these gods to one place, so we don't have to herd them. How magnanimous a ruler he is, truly, always thinking of us, servants."

"Truly!? How far does Ainz-sama see?!" the girl under the mask blinked perplexed, not even daring to imagine what the Supreme Being thought when he accepted this invitation.

"Even I don't know that. But do not fret, daughter, our master, is the man of mystery, it is not shameful admitting you don't understand his plans fully. Instead, try to grow, learn from mistakes. Even if impossible, try to calculate and catch up with Ainz-sama. This is the perfect opportunity for that. An important lesson you can call it."

"Bu-But, what if I botch Ainz-sama's plan? What if…" she bit her lip under the mask. No! That was impossible, right? How can she think of this?

"I…"

Demiurge, aka Jaldabaoth, raised his arm, stopping his daughter before she could say anything more. "As said, you need not worry about such minor details. Ainz-sama calculated with multiple outcomes, as well I myself made precautions to fix the holes." admitting, even the thought that Ainz did not think about every possible outcome could be blasphemous. Unfortunately, it was an old habit of his; he can't help it.

"Any more questions?"

"Yes… what about that Khan guy?"

"What about him?"

"According to my spies, he kidnapped Zorzal; I suspect he wants to use him to incite rebellion from inside the Empire, and garner support from the surrounding countries who are on to send their armies against the weakened Empire."

"Yes, that is his plan." hummed Demiurge with hands folded behind his back. "Nothing to be concerned about. The rebellious elements will march to their death. That is expected…"

"I know about that. I mean…" the girl wiggled her metallic tail uneasy, an appendage that resembled Demiurge's own — but more slender looking. "It is obvious he is planning on taking out most of his opposition by using us, and not moving his forces from that place. I am referring to the fact; this is too obvious. He is hiding something. First, sending my people on missions to recover worthless artifacts, then kidnapping that useless Prince to incite a rebellion that will surely fail. He is planning something, I feel it!"

"Fufufufu! Of course, he is! It is quite obvious he is an intelligent opponent. That's why… it would be a waste just to kill him. Beings like him are a rare find. The last such person was Princess Renner. Immensely intelligent and tactical, even now, she is of a great asset to us."

"Yeah, I remember her. We met a few times. She is surprisingly intelligent." the girl hummed, recalling the meeting with the blonde woman with a deviously sincere smile.

"That's what I am saying. Back then, no matter our advantage, she wouldn't obey our whims, rather hiding her true talent from us. Yes, that was her plan to fool us. Unfortunately for her, Ainz-sama was a few steps ahead of her, convincing her by just a mere act: the only way to earn her happiness is to do her best, and obey us without complaint. Basically, handing us the leash of her collar. Show us all her skills and assets. Giving us full control."

"Wow! Ainz-sama is amazing!" Now, under her mask that resembled her father's, her eyes shined, urging her to serve even more diligently.

"Indeed, we are lucky to be able to serve Ainz-sama. That's why we need to do our best for the plan to succeed —gaining even more faithful subjects to him. Don't forget, defeating this Khan by outwitting him is crucial, it will secure another great asset in Ainz-sama's arsenal. For now, let him think he will win, just to take away and curb his hopes at the last moment! Then… he will obey us, serve the Supreme Being with all his loyalty, without complaint, not offering his 50%, but his 200%! After all, intelligent opponents will never serve brutes; rather, they feign retreat and control through schemes."

This was the same with Demiurge. He was immensely loyal — may be the most faithful guardian — even so, serving a being of inferior intelligence was against his nature and purpose. He would work a lot less diligently if not for his marvel towards Ainz's bottomless charisma and intelligence.

"I see! I will do my best, father!"

"Fufufu! I entrust the rest to you. Now then, as we discussed before. I will go make my entrance. Don't forget the activation sign. I trust you will do your best." Demiurge placed his hand on her slender shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Yes!"

With that, Demiurge started to descend, making him appear out of thin air.

"Be careful, father…" the girl mumbled, only to something grab her behind, placing their hands before her mouth.

"Uff!" The grip of the stranger was immensely strong, even she couldn't escape. What was stranger, was that she couldn't even scream from the moment this person covered her mouth.

"Now, now… don't scream. I am only here to witness the show." the hand slowly removed from her mouth. It was of a gloved hand, with several metallic claws at the end of the fingers.

"Who are you?" turning around her eyes widened under her mask, recognizing the figure right away.

"Yo-You!?"

"Me…" the person grinned, and just like that, a new player joined the fray. Where will this lead? Maybe even Demiurge can't calculate. "Now then, let's make a great show, shall we?"

…

"Ohhh! What is that!?"

"It looks like a human in strange clothing."

"What is that behind him?"

"Is that a tail?"

"His face… is that a mask?" The people already recognized Jaldabaoth, who floated in the air — revealing himself to the citizens down below.

"Fufufufu! Let's get started. The preparations are made. All is set!" floating just in the distance he is visible, Demiurge recovered a small device, displaying the map of the city and its surrounding with many red dots across the whole map. "Indeed, every zone is covered, just as expected. Now then, let's start our carnival of death."

And thus, after clearing his throat, Demiurge gave his command, speaking directly to the handheld device. "[Citizens! I, Demon God Jaldabaoth, returned! Hear my voice and obey! Rape, pillage and kill! Do not hold back! FULFILL YOUR DARKEST DESIRES! LET THERE BE CHAOS! LET THERE BE DEATH! PAINT THE STREETS WITH BLOOD, VIOLENCE, DESPAIR, AND PLEASURE! DO NOT STOP UNTIL THERE ISN'T A BREATHING BEING IN THIS CITY! MOCK YOUR FALSE GODS WHO REFUSED TO SHOW THEMSELVES IN YOUR DARKEST HOUR! CAST THEIR IDOLS TO DUST! END THEIR FALSE REIGN! DISCARD THOSE WHO REFUSED TO ANSWER YOUR PLEAS! IN THE NAME OF JALDABAOTH, let there be… chaos.]"

The commanding voice washed over the whole city like a wave, coming from hidden loudspeakers all across the town, hidden even the deepest, darkest recess of this holy settlement!

Everyone who heard it stood motionless for a moment, their expression blank. Then… suddenly!

"ROAAR!" the whole city trembled, the people roaring up at once in their frenzy.

Everyone who listened to the command started to kill, rape, and fulfill their darkest desires! Close friends jumped on each other's throats! Wives, husbands, and lovers started to gouge each other's eyes out! Children raped and killed! Sections of the city drowned in endless blood and orgy! Most faithful worshippers spit on, and destroyed the altars intended to display their loyalty to their gods, desecrating them with pagan rituals and unsightly acts!

There was only chaos! Under a few minutes, the once prospering city descended to flames, screams, and death!

Every section with the exception of the main temple affected, inside and outside alike! Indeed, the servants made sure every little bit of the city was covered.

"So it begins… fufufu! Look at the confusion of the temple guardians and the apostles. How adorable."

Demiurge gave the order not to install loudspeakers near the temple, but rather isolate that section of the town with different methods; it was all part of the plan. Indeed, he will savor their despair to their last minutes! He will fulfill his master's plan - Even if he didn't said it directly!

Everything will be ordained… according to the design of the Supreme Beings.

"Let's introduce ourselves to these "gods"… shall we begin?"

Slowly, he descended, making his first step amidst the great carnage, landing softly as a leaf, taking his time to walk forth in the endless chaos and death elegantly, savoring every moment of this magnificent chaos.

…

"What the hell is happening!?"

"Apostle Granham! There is chaos all over the city! The citizens have all gone mad! Attacking us from all sides!"

The paladins and guards of the temple formed a steady wall around the holy place using their shields. Wasting no time; at the moment that the confusing situation started, they reacted without hesitation.

Their numbers were great thanks to the order of their gods, still, against the endless tide of worshippers and citizens inhabiting the city, they were like a drop in the sea, they will be overwhelmed eventually.

Citizens and affected guards are marching against them, battering the wall with violent frenzy, trying to tear down their defenses. They cared not for even their wellbeing anymore, going as far to claw the shields with their bare hands, losing their fingers, or bashing their head against them until they collapsed.

All for the simple goal… to spread their madness and chaos to the holiest place, desecrate the earthly seat of gods!

"What should we do? They are our comrades! The citizens! We can't just kill them!"

"Tch!"

"Kill!"

"Murder!"

"Rape!"

"For the demon god!" came the battle cries all around, and the battering intensified, putting a heavy strain on the guards that formed the shield wall.

"Demon god?"

"That demon god!?"

The remaining sane people started to get discouraged, and just like that, news began to spread like wildfire! This momentary confusion made the mob able to push back and even drag out a few paladins from the strict shield formation — tearing them apart right away with bare hands, feasting from their flesh and innards on the scene, sacrificing them to the demon god.

"How monstrous!"

"Mommy!'' The few civilians who managed to reach this safe haven trembled behind the wall of soldiers, seeing the hopeless situation around them.

Everyone heard about the terrible demon god who appeared in the capital a few months back — and the havoc he organized. Everyone heard about the great Supreme Being — the god of death from another world — Ainz Ooal Gown, who saved the day, banishing the demonic being once again!

From that day… Legends started to spread about their battle! How the heavens and earth shook in their wake! How it was the clash of gods! How the Supreme Being from another world did what their gods refused to do — appear personally, and place himself in harm's way to protect his people.

People whisper, pray for higher beings to save them from catastrophes, demons, and harmful things since times immemorable! Yet, until that day, no god really answered their pleas. Everything changed on that day! Right away, many converted to the new faith of the Supreme Ones. The gods of Falmart received a heavy blow, losing influence over the world they inhabited.

Unfortunately for the people of this city, no matter how much they prayed for their gods, they received no miracle. They would be better off leaving this place than hoping the gods take an example from the newcomers and save them.

"What should we do? If they continue like this, eventually, they will break through! If we let them continue, they will kill us!" muttered one of the guards in the backline, barely able to hold his weapon and shield out of sheer stress.

"How annoying!" Granham looked around, measuring the situation. She and the rest of the apostles stood behind the defensive line, guarding the entrance.

If this mob breaks through, they will be the last line of defense.

They cannot possibly allow these mad people to desecrate their most holy place. Even if it takes everything, they will guard the seat of gods — with their very life if necessary!

"Let's just kill them… they are simple people so who cares anyway."

"Mabel!?" the apostle of Flare glared at the apostle of Zufmuut; her glare couldn't be more profound or piercing.

"What?"

"You can't just kill them! They are the most faithful worshippers of our lords! If we do that…"

"Look at them! Do they look like people who worship our Lords? No! They are just brainwashed wretches! We will be giving the world and our Lords a great service by getting rid of them."

"Maybe you are right." Just seeing the crowd from the highest steps made it evident, they all lost their minds. Drolling, rampaging, desecrating the very ground they stood. Their vision is completely red, they cannot be saved anymore.

"Please, respected apostles! Let us in! Our children! We will die if we remain outside!"

"None may enter the seat of gods…" came the cold answer from one of the apostles nearby, refusing to let in the civilians in the temple.

"Bu-But… at least the children."

"None may enter!" the apostle pointed his weapon against the mother's face, filling her with dread and fear.

"Aiii…!"

"Mommy! What's happening!"

"That's the decree of the gods." was the last sentence before the mother started to back.

"At least let the children in! You bastards! They are innocent! What did they do against you?" a man tried to reason with the apostle, but he was simply brushed off by the simple excuse.

"This is the decree of the gods…"

"You damn bastards! We worshipped them! We give up everything to come here! And now you leave us to die? Damn you and your Lords! Damn you all! I should have remained in the capital! I should have converted to that new religion! At least that Ainz fellow is willing to save his people! At least he is not silent!"

The man grabbed a stone, throwing it towards the wall of apostles. Of course, the stone was sliced away with immense precision.

But seeing the guts of the man, the rest of the survivors gained enough courage, grabbing stones and starting to toss them at the apostles standing on the top of the steps.

"So you are sinners… so be it!" the apostle of Palapon had enough, jumping forth, with an elegant pirouette, cut down the revolting citizens.

"All who stand against our Lords will be purged!"

"Yo-You monster!"

"How could you do this!?"

"Mo-Mommy?" the children kneeled near his mother's corpse, his small hands bloodied, on his face confusion and terror.

It was evident, after this display, the rest of the refugees rather remained silent, daring not to raise hands against the apostles.

"Tch! Maybe you are right, Mabel. We have no choice but to get rid of these mad lads. As the appointed commander, I authorize the action. Purge these wretches."

"Fufufu! I am glad you see it in my way."

"Half of us should remain here, the rest…"

But her words were cut off, as in the next moment, the noise of the guards made their head turn.

"Wha-What is that!?"

"It is coming this way!"

The rampaging crowd seemingly ignored Jaldabaoth as he proceeded forth, continuing to barrage the shield wall. Mangling and tearing their way deeper and deeper through the layers of soldiers who did their best to fight them off and control the swelling crowd.

"[Stop…]" yet, in the next moment, a voice filled with power echoed through the whole square, and just like that, the crowd of rampaging people stopped, standing toe to toe with the shield wall they battered until now.

Grinning and foaming, their eyes still mirrored madness, pleasure, and despair; their trembling body only held back by the commanding voice that controlled their devious acts. Any moment, and they will continue their madness, jumping against the remainder of the guards!

"[Open…]"

Following the command, a corridor opened in the mob of people, giving the foul being a spacious corridor to walk forth and inspect the trembling guards before him.

"Fufufu… struggle. Tremble and despair…" Jaldabaoth whispered, his form making the remaining defenders cover in fear as he stopped a few meters before them, mockingly tilting his head.

The still resisting soldiers trembled, seeing the terrible being who seemingly played his cruel game, watching their struggle with enjoyment. Even if they wanted to move against him, they wouldn't dare to do so, the evil aura and the pressure of power being released made them hesitate even to try. Also, in some way, they couldn't even move anymore, the voice of command affecting even the apostles in the back lines.

"Do your best… little toy soldiers," he whispered with his hands behind his back, lowering his head slightly. "Take your time."

He murmured such things, walking through the way opened in the lines of defenders, not concerned someone might attack him on his way through.

"[Close…]" immediately, following the order, the hole in the defense and the rampaging crowd closed, forming one steady wall of protection again. Anyone watching this from above might think it was drilled instinctively into the people, of course, that was not the case.

"Wha-what happened!?" the people watched the scene flabbergasted, their body still frozen, unable to move against the demon god.

"Mmmm… the scent of despair, so appetizing…" Jaldabaoth mumbled, sniffing in the air as he stopped just near the base of the stairs, looking up at the apostles who protected the entrance, completely ignoring the civilians.

"Well then… [Continue!]!" and just like that, with a lazy wave of his hand, the rampage continued, the gears of fate on to move once again!

Many soldiers in the back lines tried to attack the demon, using their first moment of freedom. But, it was all for notch, with but a swing of his metallic tail, the armored soldiers splattered, only a bloodstain remained on the cobbled ground as a memento of their existence.

"Mo-Monster!"

It was evident, after this display, the remaining defenders would rather face the raging crowd, than going near this terrible being.

"What!?" Now, the apostles directly faced the demon who wrought destruction and death to the capital and he was seemingly planning the same for this town.

"Foul being… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" it was all confusing and flabbergasting! Just what evil magic had this demon used that even affected them, the herald of the gods — freezing them on the steps!

"Ah! The esteemed apostles, all gathered in one place. How joyful meeting you!" Jaldabaoth bowed, giving his respect.

"Foul demon! This is your doing!? What have you done!?"

All eleven present apostles aimed their weapons against the man, prepared to charge and cut him down at once.

"Fufufu! Just gave a suggestion. What your people do now… is coming from the deepest, darkest depths of their hearts. Indeed, their frustration until now was buried by fear and tyranny, I only freed their minds and heart. And well…" he tilted his head mocking. "It led to this… their dissatisfaction is evident with your masters. How delightful your frustration is. Indeed, I feel it; you can barely contain yourself, despair welling up inside you."

"Foul creature…"

"We will annihilate you!"

"Esteemed apostle, what should we do? Should I…?"

"No! Paladin captain! We will take care of him! Once and for all! We will free the world from his tyranny! You and the rest hold back the people as long as you can. Once we have defeated him, I am sure their minds will be freed." at least, Granham hoped so… they must stop this demon before it is too late!

"I hope you are right, for the sake of all of us."

All apostles unsheathed their weapons, starting to descend on the steps, and circle around Jaldabaoth prepared to strike at once. They can't hesitate! Now or never! One thing was sure, the victor will be decided today!

The remaining civilians were ignored, fleeing through the unguarded entrance, deep inside the temple.

"So be it… well then, entertain me, oh heralds of the gods. Show me their power and resolve. Offer me… your resistance."

"Your cockiness will be your downfall…"

"Fufufufu… we will see. We will see… Shall we start? [Aspect of the Devil - Razor Sharp Claw]." Jaldabaoth raised his arm, and his fingers turned into several long claws. The apostles have no idea who they challenged! "Let the game begin…"

Scene Change: Shrine of Hardy:

'Clang! Clang! Clang!'

"Lady Giselle is amazing!"

"Of course, she is! She is the herald of our goddess! In her sanctuary, she is unstoppable!" the head priest grinned, watching the scene filled with pride.

Despite all the injuries, all the damage she took until now, Giselle continued to push forth! Continuously rejuvenated by the power of the nearby Hardy, she turned into an unstoppable juggernaut!

Her strength, her speed, as well as her regeneration overcharged, she brushed off or dodged all attacks aimed against her.

She was basically alone against a whole group, yet, with each moment, she seemed to gain speed, her strikes became harder, her regeneration faster!

"This is disgraceful! Just because we refused to be possessed?" Yao frowned with disgust, something akin to fear welling up within her.

Indeed, this Giselle was much different than the one she saw fighting in the arena; it was like two different people, in strength and personality!

"How monstrous…" she muttered with a trembling tone, not even able to properly follow her movement. She sat behind the barrier Constantine set up not long after the battle started.

The barrier was intended to protect the more "squishy" members of the group as they waited patiently for the apostle to finish her work.

"Hopefully, it will serve its purpose even if the apostle starts to batter it directly." She gulped uneasily.

Because if it does not, and Giselle manages to fight off their fighting force, they will die — in the best case fast. Indeed, the battle was not going well. The pressure the apostle started to build up slowly started to overwhelm them, turning the favorable situation of the beginning into something dreadful.

"It is all according to Lady Hardy's will. You refused her grace, now you suffer the consequences." the priest bowed his head, speaking with great reverence, all along grinning with malice filled face.

"Tch! I should have known it! First sending those Flame Dragons to massacre our people! Now, this!? I don't even know why our people are worshipping her!"

"Be aware of what you speak, girl! You stand before the goddess of Underworld! If not for that barrier protecting you, we would have already cut you and your heretical friend's tongue out!"

"This is bad… very bad." Itami muttered near Yao, holding his rifle unsteady, trying to follow the sides, yet, he was unable to aim fast enough to be of any help. If he starts to shoot without aiming first, he might hinder the ones fighting outside. He can only hope for a few lucky shots.

"Damn! They are fast! I can't even follow them!" if he goes out there, he will die under a moment. He was but a simple human; he can't fight these monsters head-on!

"Any idea, guys?"

"Thinking…" Constantine dragged his cigarette, watching the battle unfold with an analytical view. "This barrier I set up might be able to last for a while even if those outside are defeated, but being we can't teleport out, it is kinda an impasse. If I move from this place, it will cease to exist." Under his feet, a magical circle surrounded by several occult symbols drawn, shining with bright light. Just as he said, if he moves out from the ring, the barrier will be disabled.

"Ah… I see." Itami muttered, starting to think.

Constantine tried to use his spells against Giselle at the beginning of the battle. Still, the blue-skinned woman just shrugged them off, or simply evaded by inhumanly twisting her body and dodging, barely annoyed before continuing her rampage.

"It was like she had a sixth sense…" what was not that far from the truth, supported by a goddess, she most likely had such an ability.

"Ah, man… what a mess."

Glancing up, Megumin, and Shirayukihime used the magic they called [Fly], supporting Rory and Zeno from above. Unfortunately for them, they can't use area effect spells or even any kind of damaging ability without risking damaging their companions below.

How could they? Now, even Zeno and Rory were only able to keep up with Giselle using their inhuman reflexes and specialized techniques. Any wrong move and the situation will turn even direr than it is now.

If they hit any of them accidentally with a [Fireball] — for example — Giselle will surely use the opportunity and end the battle in her favor.

"Well, they at least can buff them…" as the game term goes, Itami suspected what the two mages did above.

The two used spells that automatically follow the target to bypass the hindrance of their fast movement, debuffing Giselle, hindering her movement and buffing their allies the best they can—in other words, playing the role of the support.

"Too bad they are not specialized that way…" it was the bittersweet truth.

Using his fantasy and RPG knowledge, and what he witnessed in Carne and their mission together, Itami made his deduction.

Megumin was obviously specialized in area damage, worth not much in a situation where the use of damaging abilities was limited.

As for Shirayukihime… well, she has cast more spells since this battle started than the rest, so she has an extensive arsenal of spells if it comes to that. But alone? Unfortunately, this was not enough to turn the tide.

Lelei, Tuka, and Yao can't even follow the rampage outside. Even if the barrier allowed spells and projectiles to pass from inside, their help wouldn't be worth much anyway. Going out, they would be cut down under a moment.

In other words, they were dead weight in the current situation, better keep them behind the energy wall where they are safe.

"Heh… and I am the one speaking…" Itami knows it well, he is no different, he would be only in the way if he steps out from the boundary.

'Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!'

"[Hold Species]!"

"Grrr! AHHHH!"

Giselle stopped for a moment, only to grit her teeth and tear down the invisible chains that held her back.

"Stop interfering!" she threw her scythe, barely missing Meguminoi in the air.

"[Telekinesis]!" Shirayukihime used her spell and took control over the scythe, trying to separate it from the user. But Giselle was not stupid, faster than the eye can follow, the Dragonoid apostle used her wings, and caught up with her weapon, catching it in the air and tearing it out from the grasp of the invisible hand. Then with the same momentum, she was near Shirayukihime, raising her scythe to cut her down.

"DIE!"

"[Fireball]!"

Giselle grinned, letting herself fall, and the ball of flame missed her, hitting the snow elf directly.

"Guah!"

"Shirayukihime!"

The battle intensified second by second, the ground of the once-prosperous shrine filled with craters, the mark of battle visible everywhere. The whole room trembled, it was almost like it could collapse at any moment.

This was bad… very bad!

Shirayukihime managed to regain her balance and maintain her [Fly] — barely — but it was visible the [Fireball] damaged her frail body greatly.

"A-Are you alright?"

"Focus!" she shouted, stiffening her fellow magic caster.

"Right…" Meguminoi gulped, holding her staff tighter.

"Dammit! This hurt! This hurt so much!" Fluder was not accustomed to being hurt. Hell, it was a long time since she received damage in battle. She was careless; this new body and her years spent without really experiencing battle dulled his senses greatly.

"On top of this… snow elves have an innate weakness to fire…" this only intensified the searing pain she felt all over her body.

"Dammit…" biting her lips, she recovered a recovery potion, gulping it down at once.

On the ground, a death battle went on between the famous Sun knight, Zeno, paired with the apostle of Emroy, Rory Mercury.

Their opponent merciless, giving them no opening or even a moment to rest, starting to overwhelm the duo.

"Dammit! Her strikes start to turn harder and harder."

"Just die, dammit!" Giselle battered the enchanted shield of Zeno, each strike of hers growing in power and speed.

The adventurer was lucky, always carrying the "quick equip crystal" his master gifted him, without his enchanted gear, he would be dead by now.

'Clang!'

"DON'T INTERFERE, RORY!" Giselle jumped back, barely avoiding the cursed artifact of the apostle of Emroy. "Stand aside, and the goddess will be merciful!" she pointed her scythe against her opponent.

"Hah! As I would believe that. I know well what she intends to do with us."

"Then die, like the rest of the slugs! DIE LIKE A DOG!" and thus, Giselle charged once again.

…

"Oh! The battle intensifies even more!" The adventurer called Chunchumaru clapped, akin to enjoying this hopeless situation. Like of… watching a great show.

Until now, most ignored her, as they had more pressing matters. But now, behind the barrier, all glared at her wide-eyed.

"Are you serious?"

"What? Can't I enjoy the show?"

"Our friends are risking their life outside, and you're… enjoying this!?" Yao grabbed her cloak, raising her closer. "What do you think of yourself?"

"Nothing?"

"Nothing!?"

"I mean… I can't do anything anyway. Worrying too much about things you can't do anything about is bad for the stomach. Isn't that right?"

"Yo-You…!?"

"She is right…"

"You too, Sir Constantine?!"

"We can't do anything now, only hoping for the best. Let her be. If we start to bicker amongst ourselves, that will only make things worse."

"Tch…" Yao snorted in disgust, letting the adventurer go.

"Thanks, senpai!"

Constantine only glanced at the adventurer with a strange attitude, inspecting her for long seconds.

"Damn, Nergal! You are making me paranoid!"

His divination about meeting the "Joker" was too in place not to recognize, or even not be afraid of it.

"Maybe that old fool was just messing with me, but until now, his predictions all came true." And as such, it would be a foolish decision to ignore them just like that.

"Hmm…"

Glancing over his shoulder, Constantine also recognized one more thing. The expression of Hardy starts to look distressed, despite Giselle's undeniable edge, she is concerned about something.

"She tried to leave through the walls, but every time she tried, she was pushed back by an unknown force."

Hardy was subtle about it, trying to float backward and exit the place while the others were busy fighting, disappearing without anyone noticing it, but it was all for nothing, Constantine was too experienced not to recognize her attempt to escape.

Yes, it was evident, she, like everyone else, was worried about the situation. Whether she was a god or not, her attempt to leave was too transparent. This was the oldest trick in the book.

"I saw a few godlike entities try to do the same when the situation starts to turn dire. Looking distressed before her head priest and the apostle would surely make her look bad. Heh… a goddess caring about what people think of her? Rich!"

Constantine analyzed Hardy ever since they made their first step in this town, researched the gods and religion of these "deities" since he came through that portal.

He came to a conclusion after just a short time.

"Rory stated the gods of this world didn't care if they were worshipped or not. But that is false! They just make it look that way, so they do not look vulnerable. They need… no! The "gods" of this world are addicted to the worship and fear of these people. They gain their energy from it! The energy of prayer and anxiety nurtures them! Losing face before their most loyal followers would be catastrophic, worse than merely letting these followers die. It may cause a backlash that can damage them irreversibly."

These beings are deliberately hindering advancement and the spread of knowledge, even using force to "cut down the branches" to silence the voices, holding back information which might make people think rationally and turn away from worship and fear.

These things calling themselves gods are using the mental energies, the fear and worship of people to fuel their existence so they can remain on a higher plane. Rule over the mortal world and provide their nourishment through their enforcers.

All in all, they resembled more of mental parasites than gods, using people as mere batteries to sustain themselves. It was apparent things were this way, Constantine met his fair share of beings like them, he knows them too well.

"It is not my first time meeting such a thing…" he is no young chick, after all, he saw his fair share of horrors in his life. This was not an exception.

"I still wonder why all of this is happening? Is this just a coincidence all of us are gathered here? That all of us are trapped? In a seemingly… inescapable situation? Or is it deliberate, the machination of a puppet master?"

If he had to guess, it was the latter. Too much coincidence! The augur of Nergal… the appearance of the "Joker." The fact, even he can't escape from this room no matter how many failsafes he set. Yeah, all points towards outside manipulation. Or rather, inside.

"The kid was suspicious since the beginning…" once more, he glanced at their new "friend."

Their meeting was, in itself too much of a coincidence, not speaking her attitude towards all of this.

"Normal people would act differently, at least show a little bit concern…"

Maybe this… Chunchumaru was just too childish and immature to recognize the situation they found themselves. Or rather, she is confident they can get away unscathed, and just enjoying the show.

"I read every note and document the command managed to collect about this world and the other... Amongst these info dumps, the description of the creatures called Supreme Beings was also present. One currently present in their world is an undead, their ruling king. According to the available historical documents; his personality is steadfast and calm, always making wise decisions, prescient beyond measure. According to many, he already planned and foresaw everything ten thousand years prior."

A rumor Constantine found highly unlikely; still, he cannot rule out from the options. He met his fair share of beings who were able to foresee many things in the far ahead future. If this Ainz fellow is like that, he is highly dangerous — or rather a flexible opponent.

"We also need to mention the other Supreme Being. This… Esdeath Gorgon." Her name was more like the name of a bad movie villain; he wouldn't be surprised if it would be just a fake one. "Her true face is only known to the inner circle of the kingdom. Her personality, according to the documents, is rather tactical, yet, easy-going, often teasing and childish. In that case…"

He glanced at the dark-skinned adventurer on his side, still enjoying her snack unbothered by the situation around them.

"Want some? Constantine-taan!" she offered the bag of chips, shaking it a few times.

"Yeah… it cannot be denied. My suspicion just gained confirmation." or rather… the chance she is the one hiding under a fake persona became highly likely.

"Thanks no…" the man removed the cigarette from his mouth, offering a sour expression. "Tell me… Do you really just want to watch them struggle? Kid…"

"Oh! What do you mean, mysterious stranger?" Chunchumaru blinked, playing the innocent.

"Isn't this much enough? Are you not satisfied yet?"

"Fufu… games are all good and exciting. Don't you agree? De-tec-tive?~"

"They are all good and funny until someone gets injured. Or you just want to see them die? To suffer?"

"What is he speaking about?" Itami whispered, confused about the situation.

"I don't know…" Lelei muttered.

"Father? What does Constantine-san mean?"

…

"Be careful, Rory!" Outside of the barrier, the fight accelerated, Rory and Zeno trying to fend off the buffed Giselle with less luck than more.

Above them, the mages started to run out of mana, their support coming less and less. The fact that Giselle almost killed them a few times during the battle played a big part for them to play more carefully and maintain their defenses over offense, this also lessened the amount of support they provided.

All sides looked quite battered, more so Rory who already lost an arm, barely standing, her regeneration barely keeping up with the damage.

"[Mid Cure Wounds]!" Zeno cast a spell, closing her wounds and regrowing her missing limb.

"Be more careful… I can't use this continuously…"

"Noted…" Rory hummed, now even she took the battle seriously, her joking, playful attitude completely disappeared.

Zeno was not a specialized healer, as a paladin, he mostly used his mana for his defensive and offensive skills, Martial Arts to support himself in battle. In that case, using his limited mana for healing was a big waste of resources — as he was not a specialized healer.

"Dammit! If only Medhirth would be here…!" raising his shield, he blocked Giselle's strike, then activating a Martial Art repelled it, pushing her back.

Amongst his comrades, only the two of them really could use healing magic — Zeno being more of a mock user than a real master like Medhirth was — only knowing a few to complement his skills and save himself from tight situations.

That meant… His use of such skills was highly inefficient, only ever doing so to save themselves from the death's door. Using it on Rory only meant one thing: If she goes down, he will most likely follow her shortly.

"Damn! She was a lot weaker back then!"

"Tch! It cannot be helped! With Hardy being so close physically and standing in the middle of her domain, Giselle's abilities multiplied. Not only her regeneration but her strength and speed! We need to do something, or we lose!"

Even ceaselessly bombarded by spells, even facing an adamantine adventurer and the apostle of Emroy, the situation started to turn to Giselle's favor.

Now, even the usually playful and fearless Rory Mercury started to turn serious, realizing their dire situation. If they lose here, not only will her new comrades be dragged away to Hardy's domain to be tortured for eternity, but she becomes the goddesses plaything — up until her ascension, that was still around forty years away.

She cannot allow that!

"Emroy! Grant me strength! Haah… Ugh!" yet, no matter her determination, no matter all her wits and strength! Something happened in the next moment!

'Thud!'

"Impossible! My Lord…!" something akin of a wave washed over her body; a horrible feeling started to overcome her, Rory Mercury… has fallen! All her wounds are opening, her strength leaving her! The apostle of Emroy out of an unexplainable reason has fallen.

"Rory? Rory!?"

"This cannot be…! This is impossible… my Lord…"

"DIE!" Giselle raised her scythe, prepared to behead the collapsed apostle, only in the last moment Zeno jumped before the strike, raising his shield high.

"[Impenetrable Fortress]!" the martial art activated just in time, repelling the speeding weapon. This gave the opportunity for the casters to cast their spell, concentrate on the staggered enemy.

"[Fireball!]!"

"[Wind Art: Kinetic Blades!]"

A huge fireball engulfed Giselle, then wind blades diced her body and dismembered her, pushing her away with great strength. The remains of her body crashed into the wall, and rubble buried her.

"What happened!? Rory!"

"It… impossible…" she muttered terrified, curling up in fetal pose — a highly unlikely expression appearing on her face. It was dread! It was fear! All her body trembled, hugging herself tight, the blood gushed out from her open wounds ever intensely.

Ever since they met, Zeno never saw her that way. She was always cheerful and fearless, charging even against the dragons without hesitation. But now? Her voice filled with fear! Like something or someone robbed her something crucial!

"The connection with my Lord… severed…"

"What!?"

Even Hardy's eyes widened in the backside, more and more confused about the situation.

…

"Oh my… this is bad. It seems, even Hardy-tan is scared now."

"Hmph, so you recognized."

"Yeah, something cut Rory's connection with her god. The effectiveness of her abilities reduced to almost nothing. Such a shame, I wondered how long this tag team would last. Ah! Just a little bit more time and Giselle-chan would have collapsed, what a shame."

"Wha-What do you mean!?" Yao's face paled right away, seeing even the head priest — who stood a few meters behind the barrier — back in horror. Hearing everything they conversed about, watching the battle in the safe second row.

"Hmm, why not ask Hardy-tan? Am I right?" Chunchunmaru glanced at Hardy, who turned her head away with a scoff. "Of course you knew… how should you not? Overcharging your apostle with your divine power may make her go harder, and faster. Her regeneration supercharged making her almost invincible. But…" she raised her finger. "Keeping a system overclocked will come with the risk of overheating. In this case…"

'Bang!'

In the next moment, Giselle jumped out from the rubble, her charred corpse fully regenerated, her limbs regrown completely, and it was like she gained more muscle mass, now, she looked like a blue she-hulk with wings, her draconic heritage starting to dominate her.

"GRRR…" she was clearly struggling to keep her body in one piece, the amount of divine power Hardy pumped in her slowly started to overwhelm and "overheat" her mortal shell. Whether she was an apostle or not, her body and soul can only take that much.

Indeed, her whole body already distorted, her previous slender form turning into a hulking, Dragonoid monstrosity barely able to contain her own power. Her own muscles started to tear themselves, blood sprouting from the torn veins.

"Hahh… it seems playtime is over." Chunchunmaru lowered her head, standing up. "And when I hoped this little game could go on a few more minutes. I had to be disappointed. But oh well…" she stretched her limbs. "No good thing lasts forever."

"I WILL ANNIHILATE YOU!"

"Dammit!" Zeno drowned his spare restoration potion, prepared to face alone the terrible draconoid. "This is bad…"

"Oh well… it cannot be helped."

"Yo-You!" Fluder who listened to the conversation — and spending enough time near the Supreme Being to know her nature, realized the true being of this adventurer — lowered to the ground, pressing herself into a "dogeza" pose!

"Please! Supreme Being! Please! Do something! Please, as your most faithful servant, I beg you!"

"Ahh! How annoying! My incognito gone!" the adventurer stretched her neck on the side, massaging it tired.

"Idiots! Prostrate yourself!" Shirayukihime shouted angry, urging the remainder of members to follow the example.

"…"

Hardy tilted her head confused, not understanding the slightest what these people blabbering about.

This simple human a Supreme Being? One of those gods that passed the gate? Don't joke with her! She gave away a presence minuscule, even for a human! There cannot be… but wait! What if she is hiding her power? Still, she would have felt it in her domain! That cannot be something that eluded her attention in the middle of her territory!

Unless…!

"Lady Hardy? What's happening?"

Her priests watched her expectantly, scared thoroughly by the hesitation of their goddess, alarmed by how things started to turn out.

Great! Now she needs to deal with these idiots too! Just what she needed!

"Just what I needed…" she shrugged, looking away.

Back behind the barrier, Meguminoi already prostrated herself, just as well Shirayukihime, awaiting the judgment of the Supreme Being.

Itami, Yao, and Tuka were confused about the situation.

"What?"

"You stand before the Supreme Being! Quick prostrate yourself! Before I make you!" Fluder shot a murderous glare at Itami, who right away stiffened.

"Ye-Yes… please forgive…"

"If you dare to do it, I will turn you into a pile of noodles." The Supreme Being's words and glare stopped Itami, the elves, and Lelei in their tracks. Seeing her deadpanned face while pointing at them made them hesitate to move an inch.

"Ah…!"

"Tch! It is annoying enough people do it at home. But here too? I rather swallow my own shit than allow that!"

"Is she really… a Supreme Being?" questioned Itami, leaning closer to Shirayukihime.

"Ah, yes! Lady Esdeath was always… eccentric."

"I see…" Itami met Ainz back in Japan. A quite pleasant fellow. Even despite his power not huffish, but treated him equally. Also, like many other people, he watched the mediation where the Supreme Beings spoke in a show.

"Well, she looks completely different than back then."

Back in that show, she was quite discreet and quiet, only answering questions when asked, doing so politely—also looking completely different.

Here? She was more like a child — a swearing child on top of that. Her appearance is also completely different.

"Guah!" In the next moment, Zeno smashed into the barrier, coughing blood. "Dammit!"

"Ara ara… it is time to intervene then. What do you say, de-tec-tive~? Do I get an autograph if I save these guys?"

"Whatever…" Constantine glanced away, uninterested. "Just stop this rampage, it is annoying."

"Now! Now! That's not how we react! Say Onee-sama! Please save us!~"

"Sod off… I rather die."

"Oh! Just what I expected from the famous demon-hunter who outsmarted even Lucifer! Fufufufu... Unfaltering! Even outgunned! Just what I expected." she clapped horizontally, almost drooling as she stared at him with her creepy eyes. "Oh, well! It is the final act then! In theatrical notions, we reached the part where "Deus-Ex Machina" will take place."

"Deus-Ex… Machina?" Lelei muttered, all confused. She never heard this phrase before.

"It means… god in the machine." Constantine explained, shrugging, caring not about the girl and her antics.

"Ah! Yes! I know that!" Itami perked up, finally understanding something.

"Father?"

"Ah! Yes! I'll explain it! In theatre, movies, and stories, this is the part where something unexpected happens that saves the situation! Almost like a godly intervention! Coming unexpected, in the direst situation!"

"Ohhh!"

"Please, Supreme Being!" Fluder lowered her head, even more, pressing her forehead on the ground. If she could, she most likely buried it underground to showcase her worship and need.

"So that's what you want, young elf "maiden"…" she smirked, making Shirayukihime grind her teeth in humiliation. "Yes…"

"Hmm, ok. But in return, you will wear a dress for me." Esdeath stuck her tongue, offering a mischievous expression.

"…!"

Fluder trembled for a moment, even imagining herself doing that made her stomach churn in embarrassment and disgust. No! Things needed to be done! If she survives this encounter, and receives the blessing of a Supreme Being on top of that, it is well worth the humiliation!

"Ah, well… let's start it. It would be a shame letting the great Sun Knight die here, no?" she glanced back at Hardy, who still watched them confused.

"Hmm, still refusing to stop your marionette, I see. Fufufufu… so interesting." Esdeath stepped forth, passing the barrier with just a step.

Meanwhile, outside, Giselle approached the barely standing Zeno. Rory can't move, with the next strike, Giselle will behead both. Her body is towering, resembling more of a distorted, overly muscled, bipedal dragon than her previous slender self.

"Any last wish?"

"Heh… it comes to this." the knight grabbed the strange crystal in his neck, facing the completely transformed Giselle. "I need to use the master's gift in places like this. How shameful… please, master, forgive me."

Yet, before he could have activated the mysterious object, Gissele's and his attention turned to the approaching figure.

"Oi! I would not do that! That crystal is dangerous! If you activate it, you might win, but you will lose your mind."

"Stay back! There is no other choice! You all, I will distract her. Grab Rory and flee! Meguminoi, tell the others, I am sorry, I can't hold to my promise. Please, blast a hole in the entrance. Flee! Live a good life." Zeno bit his tongue, using the last inch of his strength to stand straight.

"Haah! So bothersome, heroic people like you always bugged me. Oh, very well. [Sleep]!" It was like all his tiredness caught up with the adventurer, ignoring his mind of steel, and the protection that his items gave him; the ability pushed him into a deep slumber.

"What the…" his massive armored body started to fall back, light and weightless only to be caught up by a pair of slender arms.

"You did well, Zeno-kun. Now… sleep." Despite his towering stature and muscle mass, like a feather, the Supreme Being caught him from behind effortlessly. "I will take care of the rest," she whispered, lowering the elf gently to the ground.

"You better run… you have no chance. Giselle turned into a complete monster." Rory used the last inch of her strength to stand up, supporting herself with her halberd.

The backlash came by losing the connection with her god greatly weakened her. Her regeneration reduced to a rate where she was barely alive, even now, her thin legs trembled, the strength slowly leaving her body.

"You stand in my way? Ant! You stand against the herald of Hardy!? In her own temple!? You will be crushed!"

"Ah! So rich… like a villain of a bad story." The Supreme Being grinned, spreading her arm, sniffing in the air. "Good… I feel your anger. Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!"

"INSUFFERABLE GNAT! DIE!"

"No!" most looked away, and Hardy watched in anticipation of how her apostle will behead the last line of defense of these invaders.

Taking care of the rest will be easy. Yet, her eyes widened. Not out of glee, but horror.

"That's it…?"

"WHAT!?"

The cursed scythe Hardy herself infused with her power stopped by the frail neck of the Supreme Being. Like a wall, not even budging, she just tilted her head, on her face clearly visible disappointment.

"So this is what an apostle is capable of, infused and supported by their god, in the middle of her own realm. How disappointing."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Giselle right away jumped back. "What?!" only to recognize her weapon slightly notched only by striking once, it already started to crack.

"Another try?"

Hardy had enough! Be out of desperation or fury coming by her humiliation, she gambled everything on her apostle! Infusing her even more with her godly power!

"DAMN YOU! I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Giselle's world already painted red from the excessive divine energy poured directly in her.

Her body strained to the limit, distorting and twisting even more, on to blow up! Her previous elegant and thin form is transforming into a massive hulking mass of muscle, slowly but surely, she is reaching the critical mass.

She didn't resemble the charming Giselle from before! No! She became a monster! A true monstrosity molded after her god's image! Foaming and hyperventilating from the excess pressure this transformation burdened her evolved body and soul.

"DIE!" a flurry of slashes followed, stronger and faster than ever before, even Rory can't follow them anymore, all there was but afterimages of her strikes. Each move creating a sound explosion, a shockwave washing over the environment, leaving the ground sliced from the wind blades the combination Giselle's unholy artifact, speed, and strength created.

"DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!"

Yet, strangely, all strikes were dodged using only minimal moves. The Supreme Being avoided the blade smooth and fluid; it was like she didn't put any effort into it.

"How boring… no tactics, only brute force remains. No imagination."

"DAMN YOU!" As the last effort, Giselle gave her all, her muscles torn from the amount of strength she pumped in the strike, and it was like the very space bend from the power and effort she put behind that attack. Yet...

'Clang!'

"WHAT!?"

The already notched blade stopped only by two fingers, holding it steady like it would be stuck in a wall.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

"You gotta be joking, right? Telegraphing your attacks as you stand in plain sight like that? I'd have to be a statue not to dodge that."

'Bang'

The excessive force only caught up with them just now, denting the ground underneath the fighters greatly, shaking the whole shrine, akin to breaking the sound barrier several times over, the wild winds around them slicing even the walls.

"It cannot be… I can't…"

'Shatter!' at that moment, from the strain Giselle's scythe turned to dust, the force and burden behind her strike catching up with her, making her over muscled arms twist and turn, rupturing veins all over her body, throwing her far into the other side of the room.

"Guah…" her bones started to creak and break, dangling on the side.

"IT MEANS NOTHING! I WILL JUST REGENERATE IT…" she tried to get up, only have enough strength to remove herself from the walls.

Yet, her arm didn't start to regenerate; it merely continued to dangle on the side, the accumulated force in her body started to twist and turn her, like of a boneless fish, going along her whole arm, starting to accumulate strain in her whole body.

"What's going on… my bones… didn't regenerate!" In fact, the bones in her arm continued to break further to smaller fragments, her own muscle mass turning against her, dusting her bones completely in the limb.

"Just imagine it. What if… the bones in your arm were Nothing more than cookies?"

"Huh?!"

"Just now. You thought… of course, they'd be broken. Didn't you?"

"…"

"… and now, you imagined this too, am I right?"

Giselle just stood stunned and in silence, just for the bones in her leg to snap like a twig in the next moment, falling on the ground while the broken bones protruding from her shin, she lost more and more blood.

"Guah! Wha-What is this!?"

Giselle felt something inside her changing, her bones becoming more frail, like a biscuit. Indeed, looking back at the bloodied bones protruding out from the wound, they crumbled like a… crispy confectionery.

"And now you think… If the bones in my arm were made of cookies, wouldn't all my bones be made of cookies too?" Esdeath started to walk towards her, slowly, her hands pocketed.

"Grr…" Giselle once more tried to support herself, hoping this some kind of illusion she can just brush off, but once again, her arm broke, the bones piercing her flesh and skin.

All in her body, the same was happening, each of her bones started to crumble from her own weight. Her respiratory system closed and crushed by her own muscle mass, veins, and innards crushed - suffocating her with her own blood and asphyxia. Her regeneration somewhat still functional making it all worse, leaving her in a perpetual state constant dying.

"Ahhhhh!"

Her agony was indescribable; her previous confidence disappeared, fear and unbearable pain taking its place as the Supreme Being reached her, towering above her.

"Ah… Lady Hardy! Help!"

She wanted to die! She wanted to die! She just wanted to someone end her endless agony! Her endless torment! She prayed endlessly to her goddess to help! But no help came. All her pleas left wordless...

"In this world, the most powerful force is imagination. Here, anything I can imagine… all of it becomes a reality."

Horror dawned on the apostle, her regeneration and sheer muscle mass destroying her skeletal system, leaving her on the ground like a boneless fish.

"Help… please…" Giselle whimpered, turning towards her god, who looked back at her horrified, then mustering the last of her muscle strength, glancing up at the person that defeated her.

She felt helpless, unable to move on the ground, feeling as her own regeneration turned against her, her muscles crushing her internal organs, the continuously growing strain tearing her own body apart. All alone, even her own goddess let her down in her last moments.

"Goodbye… little one, you did what you could."

'Splatter!' Esdeath caressed Giselle's head gently, just to her body exploded in a bloody rain in the next moment, covering everything with her innards.

Indeed, the pressure inside her grew to a point where her body couldn't contain it anymore, making her explode inside out in the end.

"S-So gruesome…" Tuka whimpered, looking away, seeing the gruesome display.

Hardy's astral body collapsed on the ground, completely terrified, helpless, and flabbergasted by what just happened. According to her calculations, Giselle's body could bear more before this happened, yet, just suddenly, her apostle just exploded, died! No more! Even her soul shattered from the strain!

The apostle and champion of Hardy was no more. The goddess of the underworld remained here, enclosed with a monster and enemies, helpless to do anything by her astral self.

"That's why I said… don't overclock recklessly. It ruins the machine…" The Supreme Being watched Giselle's remains for a moment, sighing while shaking her head. "What a pity…"

Before proceeding forth, she clenched her fingers, palm still open, making a motion akin turning a valve, and like time-reversed, the gruesome remains of Giselle pieced themselves together once again, but not appearing as the hulking monstrosity she became, but the slender, cute Giselle they first met. Unconscious, her body intact, slender — maybe gaining a few more cup sizes.

"What the hell!?" Itami blinked, seeing the impossible. "Did she…?"

"She just reversed time… and restored her body and soul, like it was nothing? What a blasted monster she is…" Constantine muttered, even his cigarette slipping out from his fingers in surprise. Admittedly, it was not an everyday sight; he didn't remember seeing something like this happen… well, maybe once or twice at maximum. But doing it this easily? She was indeed a monster.

"Hmph! That's the power of a Supreme Being! Witness her and bow down in worship!" Shirayukihime smiled, bowing her head in reverence once again.

"Your master is an idiot, choose better next time… you are fortunate I saved your backup data, Giselle-chan." Esdeath glanced one last time at the unconscious Giselle before proceeding.

"Now Then!" using her heel, she turned around, clapping her hand together. "As it is solved now, I think we can proceed. Let's go along with that promised meeting then! Oh, goddess of the Underworld. After all, you sent that invitation. But before that…!"

She walked to Rory, crouching on her side.

"You look like a mess, reaper…"

"Hahaha… you think so?" Rory laughed bittersweet, ashamed to show her weakened side to a goddess who saved them. "I apologize for presenting myself in this state. My lord would be ashamed…"

"Yeah, pretty much. But oh well! I am not a fan of ceremonial stuff… I might imagine he as well dislikes it."

"Yeah, just like Lord Emroy himself." she laughed weakly, turning her head slightly away in shame.

"You feel weak, don't you?"

"Yes. the presence of my lord…"

"Severed, I know… don't worry; we will solve the situation. Until then…"

"Ah!" Esdeath stabbed Rory's forehead with her fingers, her limb phasing through Rory's forehead without damaging her.

"[Power Infusion]." she used her skill, rejuvenating the apostle's reserves. "Well, this much power will suffice for a while. Just don't be reckless, and don't start a crusade. Going against whole armies not advised in this state, you will run out of energy if you use too much at once. You will recover; eventually, it will just take more time without your connection to your god's divine realm."

"Th-Thank you!" Rory felt right away better, her wounds healed, her reserves rejuvenated. No! She felt more than better! Her whole body was overcharged, swelling with a power she can barely contain!

"No problem…" the Supreme Being nodded with a bright smile, showing a thumbs up. "Now then… on to the matter…"

On her way towards Hardy, she pulled her hands over Zeno, rejuvenating him too.

"Don't be scared, Hardy-chan. I just came to speak. Don't forget; you started it by opening those gates. You invited us there. Now then… bear the consequences to face us, dear goddess of Underworld. Action, reaction as the catchphrase goes..."

She disappeared, just to reappear before Hardy. The goddess turned her head away, trembling in fear as the Supreme Being leaned too close to her face.

"... now bear, the consequences!"

"La-Lady Hardy…!"

"Don't touch her!"

The head priest used his staff, trying to knock out Esdeath from behind, but his makeshift weapon shattered when it made contact.

"He…" the Supreme Being chuckled low, twisting her head and body with an unnatural angle towards the priest - almost like she would be boneless - a grin appearing on her face that was too wide to belong to a mortal, filled with horrifying needle-like teeth, the sclera of her eye turned pitch black, deeper than the abyss itself, tendrils of darkness and white light appearing behind her back.

"Eiii!" the head priest trembled, his whole body shaking. "Fo-Foul monster!"

"Boo!" suddenly, she scared him, akin mimicking a ghost.

"Ah…" 'Thud!'

Right away, the priest lost his consciousness, falling back on his back due to the sheer terror he felt.

"Fufufu… how amusing, even defeated, they are still loyal. You brainwashed them good…" turning back to Hardy, the Supreme Being raised her head, gently grabbing her chin.

"Ah, so you say it was not you? How interesting."

Of course, with the exception of Rory and Esdeath, the rest heard nothing.

"Albeit, I could speak with you while in this state, it would be a nuisance to the others who came this far just to meet you. I dislike disrespect, you know, so, please, would you kindly, show respect to them, and answer their question first?" the goddess nodded timidly, thoroughly scared just from this small display.

"Ah… so you say you need a body. No problem!" after snapping her finger, the blackness appeared on her side, reaching into it, she pulled out a human-sized doll, throwing it to the side.

"Possess it, and we can finally speak. And don't even try to flee, I locked the dimension around this city, and inside this shrine and just to be sure, placed a barrier that blocks astral movement around the walls. Just as you recognized, it is pretty effective. If you try anything funny, I will rip you to shreds."

"Well, she is not pulling her punches, that's for sure."

"You think so?" Tuka blinked, glancing at the detective.

"Yeah… the number of safety measurements she set would be enough for an army."

"The Supreme Being is scary…" Meguminoi mumbled.

"Better safe than sorry…" and the master answered her apprentice's concern.

"…"

Looking at the doll — made from some unknown material — insecure, Hardy gulped.

It is this or death! She felt, if she resisted, she would not last much longer! If she resists, this… monster will annihilate her here and now! Whether she is a goddess or not, on an instinctive level she knew, she had no other choice but to play along.

Thus, she started to float towards the doll, eventually entering it.

"No way!" Itami muttered, witnessing as the doll slowly started to reshape, taking the shape of a humanoid female — a shapely one that is.

"Splendid! Now then! Let's proceed to that meeting! Shall we!" Esdeath's eyes and teeth returned to normal, tilting her head happy. Now, in this state, one can even call her adorable.

"Weird…" Itami can't help but put it that way, the Supreme Being of Gown Prime was indeed a strange figure.

Scene Change: Meanwhile, in the Holy City: The last time where we left Ainz and the band:

"My power!"

"Impossible!"

"Ho-How, it can be!?"

The gods started to get rowdy, panic ensued between them, feeling as their divine domain was cut from them by some unknown method. Slowly, all began to fall from grace. Their body weakened, their connection cut, and with the loss of their source of power, eventually, they started to act like a mere mortal in distress. Simply panic!

"Fufufufu… how frail you must feel, cut from your own domain, stuck in those bodies, slowly breaking down. I wonder how long you will last once that body completely breaks down, floating astral entities without any source to replenish themselves. You must be terrified." The demon emperor grinned under his mask, bending his back forth while folded his hands behind his back.

His low cackle was maddening! It was mocking beyond reason!

"Foul creature…" Flare gritted his teeth, barely supporting himself with his forearm. "You will never get away with this."

"Fufufufu, we will see. Unfortunately, it will be not you who dec…"

"DIE! YOU BASTARD!"

"Ah! I see some people are still lively there. How delightful resistance…" Jaldabaoth looked at the side, seeing as Emroy jumped at him, the enchanted weapon he received as a gift from Ainz he held firmly, prepared to strike down the foul creature as he jumped high. Indeed, even in a mortal body, and his power stripped, he was an impressive warrior to face.

'Clang!'

"Huh?"

Jaldabaoth caught the weapon easily with his bare hand, holding it firmly between his fingers.

"An admirable try, the god of war and darkness. But against me, it is worthless."

"Bastard! I will…!"

'Shatter!' like a mere toy, the weapon shattered by a little squeeze of the demon emperor, the fragments running Emroy's arm, filling his body.

"Agh!"

"Wait on the side, will you? You are in the way…" and just like that, Jaldabaoth swatted away the god of war like a ragdoll, crashing hard into the wall. Right away, Emroy lost consciousness, losing blood heavily, the fragments of the enchanted weapon scarring even his astral self. "I will deal with your bunch later."

"Emroy!" Miritta hurried to him, checking her fellow god out. Although her body was still weak, the adrenaline the human host produced was enough to push her forth.

"How moving! The parasites of this world caring about each other! If I could, I would even shed a tear."

"What is your goal here, Jaldabaoth? I guess you are here because of me and not because of them." Ainz finally raised his voice, stepping forth.

"Indeed, I…"

"How dare you show yourself before Ainz-sama!? Bow down and beg for his forgiveness! You insufferable gnat! If you don't…"

"Albedo, it is fine…"

"Bu-But Ainz-sama!"

"It is fine." Ainz waved away Albedo's concern, turning his head to Jaldabaoth, keeping his calm all along.

"So… what do you want this time, Jaldabaoth? Do you want to duel again? In that case, I warn you, this time, I will not be that lenient in your direction."

"…" Jaldabaoth remained silent, lowering his head.

"Or… your appearance here is about entirely another matter? In that case, I will be civilized and listen to what you intend to say. Make your forces retreat, return the city to Falmart, bow down and swear allegiance. Then, we can speak about your further matters."

"Re-Return the city…"

"To Falmart…?!"

The gods gasped, paling immediately, unable to believe what they just heard.

No! It was impossible! Even them — the gods of this realm — can't remove a physical item forcefully from this world!? Not speaking about the whole city - A city blessed and protected by them non less.

It was not possible!

"Ah, I see… you used that item. Very clever indeed."

"Lo-Lord Ainz…" Flare gulped utterly terrified. "Don't say…!"

"Yes, it is the effect of an artifact. This item is able to transport and separate a big area into a separate dimension, cutting anyone inside from the outside world. Indeed, as you felt it, you were cut from your divine realm. It is unfortunate, but it seems, the distance you can keep your connection with your divine realm is limited to the astral segment where your planet is located."

"…" the eyes of Ral and Elangle widened, looking at each other baffled, filled with surprise and dread.

"That's…"

"…concerning." That's the only thing they said.

"As you say, gods of knowledge and magic. Fufufufu… so, what will you do now, oh great Sorcerer King? Will you fight me? Will you strike me down? Or… Does the situation reverse this time? We will see!"

Jaldabaoth spread his arm, and clatter can be heard behind his back.

"Wha-What is this sound!? Answer foul creature!"

"Fufufu… Ah! The sounds of the end! How delightful... It seems the citizens managed to overwhelm the few remaining guards outside. Not much longer, and they will reach this place."

"Wha… What do you mean… our worshippers?"

"Oh! How pitiful! Even so close, you didn't recognize? Fufufufu! Hahahahahaha!" the Prince of darkness laughed mocking, even spreading his arm in amusement!

"Then let me tell you! Oh, gods of this pitiful world! Ever since I arrived, your citizens, your worshippers are having the time of their life! Free from all morals and dogmas! Free from the leash you put around their neck! They are having a great time outside! Rampaging! Pillaging! Raping! Eating each other to the last bit!"

"What have you done!?"

"Oh! I did Nothing more, respected gods, but freed their minds from a harmful influence of yours." Jaldabaoth cackled devious, touching his fingers with each other before himself, he concluded the judgment of the gods.

"I only left this district intact! Your precious guards against all of the freed minds of the town! Oh! It was a wonder they lasted this long without your precious cheat tools to control the populous!"

"You monster!"

"One question… Jaldabaoth. How did you know about this meeting? How did you know I am here?" it was a stupid question, but Ainz played along. It was bad enough he only suspected what will come next.

"But to use a world item? Really? Isn't that a little bit… I don't know. Excessive?" on the other hand, he gave Demiurge free hand to use his world item according to his best discretion — until it served the interest of Nazarick and his kingdom — so, he shouldn't complain. "On the other hand… maybe it was a mistake," he concluded that much, but it was too late to regret things. The only thing he can do now is to play along.

"Oh, how you ask? Great Sorcerer King, I will tell you. One of the gods here betrayed you!"

"What!?" the gods looked around, trying to figure out which one of them was the traitor — even if this was an unlikely outcome.

"Hmm… I see…" Ainz hummed, calm; it was like he expected this.

"You are lying! None of us would betray their fellow gods! Not for a foul creature like you!"

"Hoo! You think so? Are you sure, Flare, god of the sunlight, last I heard, most of you were rivals. Jealous of each other's worshippers and power, only working together now because you were forced to face an even bigger threat. Solid alliance indeed..." Jaldabaoth clapped slow, almost like mocking the gods before him.

"That's…"

"And now…" Jaldabaoth pointed at the god's struggling to remain conscious. "Decide! Join me and prosper! Remain here, and die! Decide now, oh gods of this world! Death? Or prosperity under my rule! One of you already decided which side to join, am I right, Zufmuut?"

"Zufmuut! You! How could you!?"

The god of light and order looked around, insecure, gritting his teeth, all along, sweating, slowly, his anger started to bubble up.

"There was no other way… it is this, or to join that foul being! I'd rather see this world burn to the ground than see a foul undead rule over us! I'd rather betray you all, than see our heritage fade away! Like this, after the purging will be finished, only the faithful remain! Yes! Light will prosper once more! Yes! He promised me! Order will rise once again…"

"Have you lost your mind!? Believing a thing like that!?" Flare pointed at Jaldabaoth, filled with contempt and rage.

"He is more reliable than any of you! What have you done for me until now?! Nothing! All along, you bickered amongst each other, despite my best attempts to bring order, you refused to follow my advice and continued to fight! If not your continuous disagreement and meaningless rivalry, we would have already pushed these invaders back. I had enough of you! You only want chaos! You want to hide in the shadows! I had enough! I had enough of all of your foul ways! This demon might be destructive, but he is only following order! Yes! He is the follower and believer of true order, just like me! He showed me! He showed me! From the ashes, a new order will emerge, the world might be thrown into the calamity of darkness! At first… But I, as the last remaining god of this world, will herd the lost souls, giving them hope and light in the darkest night! Yes! I will be the one shining beacon in the darkness, giving hope, balancing light and dark! Just as it was intended, since the beginning! Order and balance will return! No grey or any foul mismatched color! Just light and dark! And the faithful will survive! Their radiant soul will bring light in the darkest night!'' In the end, Zufmuut breathed haphazardly, his mouth almost foamed in his madness.

"You've lost your mind!"

"So… that is your decision, Zufmuut…" Ainz hummed, lowering his head.

"That's it… Sorcerer King." without anyone stopping him, Zufmuut walked on the Jaldabaoth side, making his stand.

"Lord Ainz… should I?" Auriel already loaded a bolt in her divine crossbow, prepared to execute the traitor god.

"No… he made his decision, it wouldn't matter anyway. Don't waste your precious bolts for the likes of him."

"Flare! Join us! I know! Your light might be stained a little! But together, we can purify you! Join me! Join me, my friend, let's create a new world! Let's lead the people into the light!"

"You are not my friend… not anymore." Flare muttered. "Only the twisted image of an once pure, and righteous person."

Zufmuut backed wide-eyed for a moment, then started to grit his teeth. "Then disappear with the rest... DISAPPEAR! I… THE NEW WORLD, THE NEW ORDER DON'T NEED THE LIKES OF YOU!"

"Let me ask you one thing, at least… old friend. How long have you planned this betrayal?" the strength and anger Flare started to squeeze the arm of his chair made his hand bleed.

Before Zufmuut could answer, the noises of scream and madness appeared behind their back, coming from the only entrance of this room.

"AHHH!"

"RAPE! MANGLE! TEAR!"

'Batter! Batter! Batter!'

"Fufufu! The barrier I set up before the door will soon be overwhelmed. They come for you. Ironic, isn't it? Repressed so long… kept on the leash! Fufufu! I wonder what kind of death they will give you, dear gods. Well then…" Jaldabaoth spread his hand. "Make your decision fast before it is too late!"

After a few seconds, two more people walked forth, joining Jaldabaoth's side.

"Palapon? Deldort? You too?!"

"Sorry, Flare, but revenge calls. The soldiers of this Ainz fellow killed and stole more of my worshippers than the demon; revenge calls me to the side, which hurt me less."

"The dead rarely has covenants," answered Deldort in the end, lowering his head. "Sorry, Flare, this step must be done, for our survival..."

"This is it then… you made your choice." Ainz muttered. "Albedo, Cocytus. Kill them."

"With. Pleasure…" Cocytus breathed frigid air, and the surrounding already started to freeze.

"Ja-Jaldabaoth! You promised! Do something!"

"Do not freet; a promise is a promise! And just now…" the demon god turned his head towards the ceiling, grinning under his mask.

"Our needed escape window just opened."

"Wha-What is this!" the whole section of the town started to tremble violently, a dark voice echoed through the entire city.

"ROAR, MY SECRET ARCANA! DESCEND, O ULTIMATE DISASTER! FLOW, YE TEARS OF DESPAIR AND REGRET! —"

"That incantation!" Ainz breathed hard, recalling the only person who would incant something like that and not cringe in the process.

"Farewell, oh great Sorcerer King… may we meet again!" Jaldabaoth made a small salute, before activating his skill. "[Aspect of the Devil - Tentacle Wings]!" immediately, wings resembling feathered tentacles burst forth from the demon emperor's back, flapping them a few times.

"Oh! You don't!" Ainz raised his hand to cast his magic, but it was too late! Demiurge already grabbed the three traitor gods, breaking through the ceiling with unimaginable speed!

"Ainz-sama!"

"Wha-what's happening!"

"This foul magic!" the gods all around panicked, unable to do anything in their mortal shells.

"— MAY THE CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION SWALLOW YOU ALL! [GRAND CATASTROPHE]!"

The shaking all around intensified, and the whole square was on to fall apart. Infernal energy of unimaginable quantity and power descended on the building and the entire town.

"Well played…Ulbert-kun." Ainz smiled bitterly before the foul magic swallowed them all, making the whole city disappear with just one wave of destructive arcana.

Scene Change: Belnago:

On a terrace, near the shrine of Hardy, several people sat around a table, all silently staring before themselves, only glancing up from the untouched food.

"So… Hardy-chan. You invited me there yet; you didn't say a word. I am curious, why is that?" Esdeath cut a piece from her steak, slowly placing it in her mouth and started to gnaw on it.

"I…"

"But let's not rush too far ahead! First, there are a few other people who arrived before me. Let them tell you what they want. After all, first come, first served, as I always say. So, Rory-chan, Yao-chan… I think your requests are the most urgent. Tell her what you want."

"I-It is really fine, I mean…" Yao hesitated, playing with her finger unsteady.

"Don't be embarrassed, go forth and ask your heart's content! Don't worry, if she tries something funny, I will gouge her eyes out."

"Tha-Thank you very much…" Yao gulped, turning her head and bowing to Hardy.

"Lady Hardy, I would like to renounce you as the goddess I follow. Your acts against my people are unforgivable. I don't even know why my people worshipped you until now. It may have been different before, but… after losing my friends and family to the flame dragon. I wonder why I worshipped you."

"Tch… do as you please." Hardy just shrugged, turning her head away like she didn't care at all, but found Yao's jabbering an annoyance. "I will still not apologize."

A great rage bubbled up in Yao, and despite the presence of the esteemed beings, she stood up, hitting the table hard!

"Are you not ashamed of what you did for my people!?"

"Now, this is interesting…" Esdeath caressed her chin, grinning as she watched the situation unfolding itself. This, of course, earned a look from the detective and most people who heard her.

"It is a pointless question. Just as drinking seawater only makes you thirstier, suffering will not go away. In which case, you should just hate me. There is no need to pretend, I know your reason. If you wish for me to feel remorse, I tell you, I can't, nor do I care about you enough to try."

"Ah, so you lost your ability to feel pity living so long. How pitiful indeed…" it indeed was sad, Esdeath knew too well this feeling. Being timeless was indeed a burden sometimes.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?! All our pain! All our hopes! All our worship means nothing to you!?"

"Heh…" Hardy released a low chuckle. "Exactly, I feel absolutely nothing. Everything I do is premeditated."

"Tha-That's too cruel! I won't accept this! All my people were dying! Just because of your boredom!? Just because you can!?"

"Survival of the fittest is the rule of this world. Isn't that right…" Hardy glanced at Esdeath, expecting a positive answer from her, but the Supreme Being just smiled.

"Don't ask me; it is Yao-chan's time to speak and shine. I am but a spectator of this conversation, waiting for her time to connect."

"Tch…" Hardy's eyes twitched, expecting at least some apprehension from a fellow deity, yet, she received none.

"Continuing this line of thinking… Did I complain about that cute little thing being killed? No! So stop your annoying jabbering! Your loss is nothing compared to the losses I had to bear with!" Hardy even turned her head away huffish and pouting cutely.

Why people always complain, she can't understand. She is only offering what they ask for. Peace! She doesn't even complain after she lost a great many followers and even her very own Flame Dragons! It is she who should be offended! And what does she receive for her kindness? Complaints! Always complaints!

"Annoying jabbering!? Your loss!?" Yao started to lose her head; she was on the point of jumping on Hardy's neck and strangling her.

"In any case, I am the ruler of the Underworld. I guarantee the dead happiness. All of your friends, family, and lovers merely transferred from this world to that one, and now they live there happily. You should be glad! I provided them what they missed in their life, peace, and apprehension beyond your mortal scope."

"…" Yao's expression darkened, lowering her head. "Happily? Happily!? WHAT THEY MISSED!?" the dark elf recovered her dagger, jumping up to slice the goddess' neck.

"Yao!" Only for Zeno to restrain her in the middle of her jump. "Please moderate yourself! We are in the presence of a Supreme Being! I know how you feel, I understand! But for the sake of all of us, please, hold on to your rage! Justice will be served, I will assure you! The Supreme being will make sure of it!" Zeno glanced at Esdeath, hoping for a positive conclusion.

'Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!' but the Supreme Being, instead of providing the long-sought justice, just poured herself some steaming tea.

"Oh! Excuse me! It is rather close to teatime, after all." she raised her silver pocket watch, showing the time, before putting some milk and sugar in her tea, slurping it carefully.

"Ah! My!~ This tea is magnificent! Darjeeling of the finest quality you see!~ Though it may be a little bit inappropriate now, the serving of tea is a staple of the gentleman. Would you like some?" She offered some of the steaming drink to the rest of the group, but all she received were flabbergasted stares.

"Ah… I see now, you are hoping for a conclusion from me? Zeno-kun?" Esdeath slowly turned her gaze towards the adventurer. "I am afraid I can't do that. You see, I am not Touch Me-san to play the hero of the people, the man of justice. My nature as the balancer of things is not allowing me to interfere more than necessary, or I intend…"

"Then…?" Zeno gulped. Unfortunately, he knows too well each member of the Forty one and what they represent — or, better said, know everything their legends and their religion allowed him to know.

It was a misfortune of his, but this Supreme Being before him was dubious in nature, both good and bad. She was unpredictable, acting randomly from time to time, balancing things out where needed. Being Hardy was not an immediate danger to them; Esdeath was not obliged to do anything.

'Slurp!'

"You see! We told you many times with Ainz-kun. Salvation will not come from gods, or any higher power, no matter how much you pray, it will only come if you work hard for it and earn it yourself. So… do so if you really wish to earn your goal. Work for it with your own two hands. Struggle, and earn your reward for your own hard work..."

"I-I see…"

"So… Yao-chan. If you truly wish to kill Hardy, do it. It is your decision. Aim at her heart, head, neck, or any vital part. I will make sure; if your strike is true and your resolve is unshaken, you can kill her in that body, she will not come back anymore. Poof! She will disappear, just like the morning fog. This world will never see her again, nor will she be mentioned in any records. Akin to being deleted from history."

"Wha-what!?" Hardy stood up, backing slightly. No! It was not true! It cannot be possible!

"I propose aiming at her eyes. Penetrating the squishy eyeball is usually an easy way to the brain, ignoring the hardness of the skull." Esdeath grinned, pushing her finger deep in her squishy eye. A move made many around shudder.

"Yo-You can't do that!? Would you!? Grr…! Wh-Why can't I leave this body!? What have you done with me!?" Hardy tried to forcefully catapult herself out from the pseudo body, only to come to a dreadful realization.

"Wh-Why can't I leave!? What have you done with me!?"

Recovering a strange dagger infused with power, the Supreme Being flipped it in the air, offering it to Yao.

"Use this…"

"Yo-You wouldn't! I am your goddess! You wouldn't kill me! Would you!?"

Yao hesitated at first, but hearing the goddesses commanding voice; her decision was made; she grabbed the dagger. At that moment, Hardy felt betrayed, almost like someone kicked her in the stomach.

"No…" muttered Hardy, trembling, fighting with her tears, Yao turned to her, starting to close with her new dagger.

"Haah… so good!" Ignoring this small prattle, the Supreme Being slurped another sip before continuing. "You can kill her, of course, Yao-chan. Your mind, your body, your very soul is yours. No god or outside force can command you to do anything without consent. I will make sure of that."

Of course, it was somehow inaccurate. Strong enough suggestion skills and mind control can force Yao to do things. But this was not the main point of the conversation.

"Then…" Yao glanced at the Supreme Being for a moment, before turning her attention back to the uneasy goddess.

"I just want to say… your life is your own to control. But consider one thing before continuing: everything is connected."

"Everything is connected?" muttered the dark elf, confused by this strange phrase.

"Yup! Kill her, murder her, cut her down, it will be all up to you. It will be you who decided how you want to continue your life. But before doing so… Ask yourself: Can your conscience bear with killing the person you worshipped until now? Will it bring back your friends? What will they think of you after that? What will be with them if Hardy dies here? Will her realm be thrown into chaos? Will her realm disappear, along with the remains of your family and your friends? Or the dead will walk the land again? Twisted and corrupted by the madness and confusion their new life brings? Without regulation… Decide… Yao Dushi, what turns this story will take? Will it be the end of Hardy, the goddess of Underworld, or will this be the moment she will be humbled and change her ways? Or continue as she did before? It is only up to you to make this decision. Don't forget, no one will decide, but you. Not me! Not Hardy or any other god! Just you! All who exist can only decide for themselves, their decisions like a ripple washing through the whole cosmos, and affect everything. The writer of this story is you, decide the fate of this world, decide how this part will end… Yao Dushi."

"Creepy… Augh! Hey!"

"Father! Don't be rude! It is important!"

"Sorry…" Itami already felt bad voicing his opinion. "And damn! Since when can Tuka hit so hard?"

"So… Choose wisely… it is only you who can decide how you pluck the strings of your life. Not any kind of gods… but you!"

"Tch…" Yao looked away, gritting her teeth before clicking her tongue, pushing her dagger against Hardy's neck.

Hardy felt as the sharp blade cut into her flesh, the first time since long ago, she felt the terror of death running through her body, feeling her essence already escaping through the small cut.

This is it! That dagger was dangerous! It will not only injure this body, but her very essence if cut! She will be inescapably killed if properly stabbed by that thing!

"N-No… please…"

"Will you apologize?!"

"Ye-Yes! Please forgive me! I will do anything to make it right! I didn't know it was that bad…" Hardy, the goddess of the underworld…

Previous, she was unshaken, no matter the opposition. Yet, now, all Yao saw before her was a scared child who doesn't even know what gruesome acts she committed. And now, watching her, the only thing she felt was a pity.

"You are not worth it." Yao made her decision, pulling back her blade, discarding it with disgust.

"Oh! Interesting choice!" Esdeath clapped, amused by the surprising decision. For a moment, she thought the girl would kill Hardy, fulfilling her revenge no matter the consequence.

"Now then… Rory Mercury, why did you come here today. It is your turn now. Voice your want..."

"Huh?" Rory blinked for a moment before she regained her composure. "Oh! Yes!" she cleared her throat. "Hardy! I came here to turn you down! Properly this time!"

Hardy was still too shaken to recognize what Rory said, massaging her injured throat. Trembling all along, she ignored Rory, turning to the Supreme Being with teary eyes.

"Re-Release me… please! I will do anything! Release me from this body!"

"Oh! And why do you think I can do that?" asked teasing Esdeath.

"Because! Because…" Hardy bit her lip, squinting her eyes angry. It is it! She had enough!

It is said animals who are injured and cornered tend to act aggressively and without reason. The same happens with Hardy this time; she was cornered, nothing to lose anymore!

"I still have the influence to close those gates I opened! You and your people will be stuck on this side! Cut from your world and friends! Release me or…!"

"…" The Supreme Being's expression seemingly darkened, leaning against her fist, this made Hardy stop on her track.

"Ah…"

"Are you out of your mind!? You dare to speak with the Supreme Being like this!? Do you not know who she is!?" Fluder hit the table, having enough of the sacrilegious disrespect this goddess showed to one of her masters.

"...Now, I am too aware of what kind of monster she is. She left me no other option, but this! Release me! Or you will never return to your world!" Hardy's glare was profound, yet, the faint light of desperation visible in her eyes too.

"Fufufufufufufufufu! Hahahahahaha!" Yet, outside of the expectations of many, instead of striking her down, Esdeath started to laugh, almost hysterically, her mouth opened, like it was cut ear to ear, filled with needle-like teeth before returning to normal. "Haah! You have guts. I already like you. Say… are all gods of this world like you? You are quite funny!"

"What?!" Hardy backed, her body trembling, she felt, this is the end! No! She was confused! What did she mean by this? "Yo-You don't mean… I don't understand… You are not aware you can't return if that gate closes?"

"So what?"

"What!?"

"I asked, so what? What if I can't return?"

"Yo-You are not afraid? Your people…"

"Our people will suffice, even without us. Also, this is a new world to explore. As an adventurer, I can't ask for a better place." not speaking; they can simply use [Gate] to open another portal. The highest-ranked teleportation spell with no range limit and 100% success rate. They already tested it out, and it works just fine, even traveling between worlds is possible using them.

Of course, Hardy does not need to know about this. The game was on, and Esdeath wanted to enjoy it the fullest.

"Please, sit down."

"Bu-But…"

"Sit…"

Somewhat unwilling, but Hardy followed the order, taking a seat. Feeling, if she resists, she will be forced to do so with not so polite methods.

"So, this is the part where…" 'gulp' "… you kill me?" this is the end! She went too far! She gambled and lost! Why was she so stupid? Why did she risk her chance!?

"…"

After cutting another piece from her meat slowly, Esdeath raised it to her mouth. "You have an inflated sense of your importance. To a thing like me, a thing like you…" she slurped a small from her tea, placing the piece of meat in her mouth and started to chew on it loud, gulping it down.

"…Think of how you would feel if a bacteria sat at your table, and they started to get snarky."

'Gulp!'

"This is one little planet. One tiny solar system. In a galaxy, that is barely out of its diaper. We are old, Hardy-chan… very old. So I invite you to contemplate it… how insignificant we find you…"

"…" Hardy froze over, unable to speak, or even blink.

"You must be hungry, unable to eat after such a long time. Eat…" she pushed closer to the dish platter.

"I-I am not hungry." Hardy muttered, now even her stomach clenched in a perpetual cramp.

"Please don't lie to me, just eat."

Tremblingly, Hardy started to put meat and side to her plate, eating small morsels.

"She is scary!"

"I know…" Itami and Tuka muttered, crept out by this display.

Lelei and Meguminoi were just confused by the scene, and Shirayukihime just sighed, already somewhat acquainted with the antics of the Supreme Being. She was indeed scary, but every time she witnessed such a scene, she expected her bursting out in a laugh and saying: "It was just a joke!"

"Good… now listen to what I say, and answer truthfully."

"…" Hardy nodded, daring not to revolt anymore.

"It was you who opened those portals?"

"O-Only one of them. The one that brought the Japanese people forth."

"The other?"

"I-I have no idea! It was surprising even for me!"

"I see…" 'Cut!' Esdeath cut a piece from her steak, putting it in her mouth slowly, starting to chew it. The way she did so and her intent stare was like she said: I don't believe your lies.

"THAT'S THE TRUTH! I SWEAR!" of course, Hardy can't bear the pressure anymore, burst out like of a fountain.

"Hmm… I believe you." and just like that, the intent stare was gone! "It is interesting, indeed. Wonder who was the one who opened it," she muttered while the meat was still in her mouth. "Any idea?"

"No-None…"

"Oh, come on! Don't be that stiff! You were all flirty before! Don't ruin my mood!"

"It is hard to be flirty and happy while you are threatening me with death and stuck in this body."

"Hah! Maybe you are right! Sorry about it. But you were all cocky, and honestly, a dick. I needed to lessen the size of your face before our conversation can really start."

"Face?"

"The way you treat things, Hardy-chan. Every action must have a consequence. Lesser or greater, but all have consequences. I needed you to feel vulnerable, so your cocky uncaring attitude disappears, and finally realize, you are not in control anymore. I need you to realize the situation your little game brought forth, and take responsibility for the people who placed their faith in you."

"I-I see…"

"Hmph! It is a brutal but effective method…" Muttered Constantine on the side, listening to the whole conversation in silence.

"It wouldn't be any other way, Mr. Constantine, would it?" the Supreme Being glanced at the detective. "Gods usually feed with the illusion of their own invulnerability and power. All who proclaimed themselves that way were like that. But you most likely already know this. Don't you? You are familiar with this situation."

"Too well, kido…" Constantine lighted another cigarette.

"Of course, this is both good and bad. Bad because they abuse their authority, thinking no one can come to harm them. Good, because it gives mortals the chance to use this against them, overcoming the seemingly infinite gap. In the end, the beings calling themselves gods will be struck down by the same thing they created or created them. Mortals, their own children. Isn't that right? Children… destined to surpass, to overcome their parents!"

"And aren't you afraid you will end the same way?"

"Fear of the end…?" Esdeath muttered, considering Constantine's question.

"Constantine-kun… I think that's a little…"

"Ah! It is fine, Zeno-kun! It is absolutely fine!" she waved away the concern of the adventurer.

"Answering your question… Every being fears the end. That is in our nature! It is our integral part to function as long as possible, to strive to be stronger, and be smarter to avoid death! This is what is called evolution! But to fear our job completed, and our goal fulfilled? To see the children we nurtured so long reach their final stage and goal? To see them struggle, fail, and succeed? To see them surpassing us? What kind of parent wouldn't want their children, their dear project to succeed? So, answering your question. In our current state, we fear our demise not."

"What!?" Hardy gaped, completely confused by the opinion of the Supreme Being.

"Fufufu…" Esdeath chuckled, drinking from her drink before continuing.

"If… the unlikely situation happens — they reach that stage and power so they can stand against us — and they decide to do so, we will be filled with pride receiving their barrage with wide arms! Fighting to our hearts content, giving our all to survive! Struggle and win! Or… lose, be discarded, and destroyed in the end. Forgotten… cast in the void." she sighed, looking in the far daydreaming.

"If they disagree with us, that only means they finally reached the point where they no longer need us, but matured, capable of thinking for themselves and deciding which path they will follow — akin, the children able to make a decision they follow up. Be it is a good decision or bad, it serves their growth in the end. It will be their own decision. People who never make a mistake hardly mature and learn from their own faults, no?"

"I suppose… that's right."

"It will be the evidence… all our work was not wasted, but led to the creation of an even greater thing! The rule: "The strong dominate, the weak serve, or perish!" will once again gain recognition!"

Yao and Tuka gasped, but with their exception, everyone remained silent. Indeed, they already knew this: the strong dominate and rules, the weak serve. No matter the world, or place, or even time, this was the ultimate rule.

Winners and the strong write history, and decide what's just, and wrong, weak either accept it or revolt, risking to be squashed by the strong.

"I see you are no different than Hardy…" Yao lowered her head, her expression darkening from the realization; the Supreme Being says the same as Hardy.

"Yao, please!" Zeno places his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head.

"Well, Hardy, in a way is right, the strong usually do as they please."

"I see…"

"But she forgot one thing?" By Esdeath raising her index, Yao raised her head.

"The weak learn what the strong can't. The meaning of companionship, alliances, working together. The meaning and value of a family and love."

Just now, the times when all forty-one members were together came to her mind. Good times… better times spent in the game called YGGDRASIL.

All their adventures together, the times when they were weak, against the world and all those players those hunted them. They had only had each other to overcome all their challenges and adversary.

The bond of their friendship, their alliance all that kept them giving up and joining the fray of humanoid players — or leaving the game altogether.

"Exactly…" Rory chuckled, agreeing. "Love conquers all…"

"…The strength of many, over the one! The meaning of wits over strength! You might be weak, and frail, Yao-chan, most likely insignificant compared to someone like Hardy." she pointed at the goddess.

"But you and the rest of your people have what she lost long ago! You have each other to support, to push forward. Even if you lost a few, you still have a family! Hardy? The likes of her are all alone. The only thing that keeps her afloat is fear and the greed of her servants. If she starts to fall, they will be the first who jump on her, starting to plunder her most precious artifacts, tearing her apart bit by bit until nothing remains! That is how all tyrants went down in history! Torn apart by their own people! That's how you will go down, Hardy-chan, if you don't stop being the stuck up bitch that you are, and change your ways!"

"You are out of your mind! There is no evidence…!"

"Am I? Dear Hardy? Am I wrong? Now tell me… you, who lived for who knows how long, tell me, how do tyrants usually go down?"

"They were betrayed…" Hardy muttered, looking away ashamed.

Indeed, she witnessed the rise and fall of many kingdoms. Observed the rule of many tyrants!

One thing was common; tyrants usually are overthrown by their own people, their closest friend slitting their throat in their most vulnerable moments, out of jealousy, greed, or even because they can't bear their tyranny anymore.

"Exactly! That's why Ainz-san and I give our best to nurture our people! Urging them to grow, learn, and eventually overcome us! I… no! We feel immense pride in how far they have managed to reach at this point. With minimal guidelines, they manage. Even if one day we disappear, or leave them, or even they turn against us. We will disappear with the thought: they will suffice! They matured enough to be self-sufficient! With the thought: they can make their own decision — even if they make mistakes, it is their own to learn from! That's what free will is! The essence of being self-conscious and alive!" she glanced at Zeno, Shirayukihime, and Megumin, something akin to the smile of a proud parent forming on her face.

"I am proud of you."

"E-Esdeath-sama…"

"That's the Supreme Being for you…"

"…" all started to cry, even Shirayukihime and the usually apathetic Meguminoi cried out of pride and love.

"We will never betray you…" they muttered.

"Now! Now! Don't be that embarrassed, don't start crying because of the sentimentalism of an old and dusty thing." Nonetheless, she wiped away a single tear. "Dammit! Now I'm doing it too…"

"Ju-Just, what are you!? Why are you doing this to me!? I know! You want to ruin me! You only accepted the invitation to mock me! WHY NOT JUST KILL ME AND BE DONE WITH IT!?"

Hardy started to hyperventilate. She can't take it anymore! She's had enough!

"Oh! So you really want that?" the Supreme Being tilted her head, on her face a twisted expression, her mouth forming an 'O.'

"How disappointing…" and after waiting for a few seconds, the only thing she said was this.

"Di-Disappointed!?" It was like something hard hit Hardy on the chest, completely confused by what Esdeath said.

"You stole your power from others, you rejected your mortal origin, your own flesh, blood, and allies, and chose to covet the power you call godhood. You never really grew beyond the days of your mortal self. Did you truly think you became superior by discarding your emotions, your flesh, and blood? Your other part? You really think by proclaiming yourself as superior, you will be superior? Don't make me laugh!"

"What's wrong with that!? I only wanted to reach perfection! To grow beyond my mortal shell! What's wrong with craving knowledge? What's wrong pursuing something more!? What's wrong, wanting more excitement and diversity!?" Hardy clenched her fist, immense fury gathering in her gullet, hitting the table hard!

"Well, talk! What are you anyway? Who the hell are you to judge me!?"

"Who am I…?" Esdeath's eyes opened dangerously wide, almost like glaring at Hardy. Before lowering her head for a moment, just to raise it once again, slowly, transforming her expression — akin to a tired old woman who has witnessed too many things during her life.

"A name you might have for me is the world, or you might call me the universe. Perhaps "god," or maybe the "Truth." I am all, and I am one. That means…" she pointed at Hardy. "…That also means I am also you."

"Wha-what!?"

Now, this was an interesting twist; even Constantine turned his head.

"What!?"

"… the truth of your despair, the inescapable price of your boastfulness. And now… I will bestow you the despair you deserve."

Hardy started to feel; this was the end, a dreadful feeling started to fill her gullet, running through her spine and whole body.

"No…, please! I will change... I promise!"

The Supreme Being stood up slowly — almost like strings were pulling her up — it was like her form grew several sizes, towering above Hardy.

Her face overshadowed by sinister darkness, filling Hardy with crushing fear, darkness started to surround her, darkening the sky above the whole region, almost like the storm of a century was about to break loose on top of her!

"The despair reserved for the boastful…" She recovered a dark book, covered by demonic leather and many living eyes. "Goddess of Underworld, feel the price of your boastfulness!"

"Noo!" Hardy screamed, wanting to flee, but it was too late! She felt she would die here and now!

"[SUPREME BEING'S CHOP OF REEDUCATION]!" and thus, faster than any eye could follow, the Supreme Being brought down the book that was filled with many eyes, hitting Hardy's head with crushing strength.

"AhhhhH!"

'Bop!' "Augh!"

And the heavy book brought down on her head, smashing it into the table with enough force it cracked in two, denting the floor tiles underneath.

"I-Is she dead?" Itami asked with a trembling tone, watching the blood pouring down to the ground from Hardy's head to the table, then the ground, leaking through the broken tiles.

He was worried. Even if Hardy was not nice, he wouldn't want her dead.

"She brought this on herself. Stupid Hardy…" Rory muttered, biting her thumb mourning.

"Oh…" Meguminoi started to poke the body of Hardy with her staff. Only for the body to slowly push the staff away, grabbing her head.

"That freaking hurt! YOU ALMOST SPLIT MY HEAD!" Hardy grabbed her nob, tears dwelling in her eyes, and blood poured down her face.

"That's what you get because you were nasty! Miss! Opening portals to different worlds is a big no-no!" Esdeath formed an "X" with her palms out. And the darkness suddenly disappeared, like with the Supreme Being's changing of mood, everything would have returned to normal!

"What!?" Everyone was stunned and flabbergasted. First, that dark tone with the world ending speech... Then speaking light-headed and scolding Hardy like she would be a simple child? Just what kind of trolling game this "Supreme Being" is playing!?

"What do we say to those who suffered because of us?"

"So-Sorry?"

"And?"

"I will not do it again…"

"I don't hear you!"

"I AM SORRY! I WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN!"

"WHAT ARE YOU!?" 'Slap!' Esdeath's hands sandwiched Hardy's face, making her cheek pout the way she pressed it together.

"Wha…"

"YOU ARE AN IDIOT SANDWICH! REPEAT!"

"I AM AN IDIOT SANDWICH!"

"That's right! You are! That's what I like to hear!" Esdeath grinned, satisfied with her performance, letting herself fall on her seat once more.

"M-May I ask?"

"Of course! It is free to ask! And stop raising your arm, we are not in school! Don't even make me remember those times! I hated school! All those bullies and primitive apes, I would have cast them into a singularity and gotten rid of all of them if I could!"

"Right… tell. That speech? There is a manga with the same speech where I came from? It is called Fullmetal Alchemist. You stole it from there?"

Itami doubted someone like this Supreme Being would steal something like that. Still, better to ask about it than regret it later.

"It might be that she came up with it first, then gave intuition to the mangaka to write it…" who knows, she is something akin to a god, it might have been her that came up with it first.

"Fa-Father! She surely wouldn't steal!" Tuka insisted, pouting, tugging Itami's sleeves.

"Ah… sorry."

"Ah, yes… I see you are a man of culture as well. Sorry, I can't let this chance slip to practice my acting. And yes!" she pointed towards the sky, pouting and pushing forth her chest. "I stole it!" she announced proudly.

"WHAT!?" everyone shouted, completely fooled by her.

"What? It perfectly fits the situation. Ah! You have no idea how long I've waited to use it. I just needed the right moment! As well as that, it's been a long time since I could practice my acting! Umm! I missed it so much!" Leaning back in her seat, she rested her legs on the table, almost like she was satisfied with her fool play, even crossing her arms behind her head, balancing with only two legs of the chair — that eventually led her to lose balance and falling back.

"Aii!" 'Crash!'

"Yo-You cheated me!"

"Now! Now! Hardy-chan!" dusting herself, she set up the chair nice and proper once again. "I never cheat. You misinterpreting my words, and fell for my "peerless" performance… is only your fault."

"Ugghhhh! I hate you so much!" The goddess grunted in rage.

"Thank you!"

"Your Supreme Being is weird…" muttered Itami

"I know…" Shirayukihime lowered her head, sulking. All that inspiring speech leading to this? Sometimes she has no idea what is in the Supreme Being's head.

"…" Meguminoi, understanding how she feels, patted her back gently, offering her a lollipop.

"Thanks…!" this was too much! How "her"! The great Fluder Paradyne could fall this low? This is it! She's had enough!

"At least the Supreme Being didn't reveal my true identity…" that would be the ultimate blow to her self-confidence and ego. The last nail of the once-proud man and magic caster's coffin.

"So… what will you do with me now? Are you going to leave me like this? Dying as a mortal? Or do you just want to kill me, torture me?"

"Well… I don't know?" Esdeath scratched her head deadpanned. "Do you want to be tortured and killed?"

"Wha..!? Of course not!" How could she ask something like that!? That's it! She was making no sense anymore! "Ughhh! You are ruining me!" Hardy groaned painfully, grabbing her head frustrated, having enough of this pathetic game!

"Ah! I see. Then answering your question…" she breathed deep. " I don't really think that far… ten thousand years long plans are Ainz-san's specialty." and thus, the confusing answer was born.

"Duh!" Once again, the Supreme Being surpassed everyone's expectations. Be it her dumb answer or the surprise it caused, everyone was astounded by it, some even turning down from their seats.

"What? You already received a bop on the head! You provided me amusement. So, we are kinda okay now."

"…" Hardy just stared at her for long moments, her eyes twitching. "You cannot be serious! After all you have done… this is it?!"

"This is it…" confirmed the Supreme Being, only to look around seeing the flabbergasted looks. "What? I told you, I am only here because I had some free time on my hands, and I was bored. I didn't come for official reasons. At least I don't open portals to other worlds and send others to invade it just because I am bored, or sentence them to extinction because I have no idea where those magic portals open!"

"I already told you… I am sorry!"

"Ok… but you were not convincing. But oh well! Let's move on to another matter." she recovered something from her bag, putting it before Constantine.

"What the blazing heck is this?" Constantine watched the small magazine, raising his brow as he found the figure in the front familiar.

"Hellblazer first edition. Please! I am a big fan of yours! Can you sign it for me?" she bowed her head, offering the comic book by holding it forth both hands.

"Constantine-san has a comic?" Itami can only scratch his head, confused by the fact that he didn't know about this.

"Where in the blazing hell did you get this?!"

"Umm… comic shop?"

"I don't mean that… I mean, since when did you have a comic about me?!"

"Ah… that. You see, there are parallel universes. Each and every one of them is different, even if in just one thing, but different. In some of them… ok, in many. You are a comic character, running under the Hellblazer title. Of course, having many crossovers with many other DC comics."

"Tch… I should have expected. What a joke…" The Hellblazer pressed the butt of his cigarette directly over his face — on the magazine — having enough of this.

"Ahhhh! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Esdeath grabbed her precious comic, inspecting it left and right, and then biting her thumb hard. So hard, her black and golden blood sprouted from her finger.

"My precious…" she sniffed, tears pouring from her eyes. "This was one of the oldest pieces in my collection! You beast!"

"Serves you right, brat… putting that shit under my nose. Playing around with people…"

"Oh well… then it cannot be helped." and just like that, she was back to her usual self once more. Waving the comic, and magically, the burn mark disappeared from Constantine's face. "It was my fault then… I'll just fix it." she sighed smiling, expecting something like this from the famous supernatural detective. In a way, she was satisfied with this meeting.

"Well then… gals and guys. Now, as the situation is already resolved. State your questions! Whatever is your heart's content! I will answer them! The recipe of immortality? How to resurrect people? The location of the cosmic cube? State it! And it will be, or won't be answered."

With that, she sat down, tilting her head, smiling bright and sunny! "Come on! Don't be shy! Ask!"

And with that, the people stated their questions—some more than the rest.

…

"Ummm! That was long! They really had too many questions!" The Supreme Being stretched her limbs, still sitting, adjusting her butt on her "extra special" seat.

Yao and the rest already left, finishing their business in Hardy's place — stating their questions to the Supreme Being and the goddess of Underworld — they had nothing to do in the city anymore.

"Ughhh… you are so heavy!"

"Chairs don't speak, Hardy-chan…"

Hardy bit her lip, lowering her head on her four as Esdeath once more adjusted her shapely butt.

Honestly, she wanted to cry. She sent away her priests to attend other tasks at the moment they took a seat in this balcony — wanting to save what little dignity she had left.

But to be reduced to this? A mere chair? She wanted to be saved! She wanted to go away! She wanted to feel powerful and invincible once again! She regretted ever opening one portal just because she was bored!

If she could, she had gone back in time just to beat her past self up and make her not open portals!

"Umm…" she felt as the Supreme Being once again moving her shapely butt on her back, changing position.

Her arms, knees, and back screamed in pain! She was not accustomed to physical labor! Her entire body was drenched in perspiration! Her gown was completely soaked!

"Your back is uneven! Also, you are wet. Stop sweating…"

"Tha-That…" she gulped, her face going all red. "That's not what you're supposed to say to a girl! Also, how am I supposed to stop my sweating!?"

"But that's the truth; your back is uneven. Also, you are supposed to be a goddess, no? Figure out something… my panties are getting all wet because of you." Esdeath started to eat her ice cream. "Hmm! It is so yummy! Giselle-chan! Do you want some?"

"I-I…" Giselle just stood, unable to decide how to answer.

She was still confused about what happened. One moment she was fighting to the death, dying then drifting to darkness, then she was back again. Intact without an injury or any pain. On top of that! This being who completely destroyed her was sitting on the back of her goddess, and eating the thing called "ice cream" with great satisfaction.

If this thing was not confusing, nothing is!

"Why not use a normal chair then?! Haven't I suffered enough?" Hardy complained again, gritting her teeth as she struggled to support herself with her untrained body.

"Ah, for your reeducation, I'll bear with this little discomfort."

'Spank!' Esdeath spanked Hardy's bottom, making her squirm in slight pleasure mixed pain.

"Ahh~!"

"Oh! So lewd!" The Supreme Being snickered, entertained.

"You said you already forgave me! Why punish me then?!"

"Well, I might have forgiven you… but my precious butt and all my alternative selves who like to hold a grudge haven't. Also, Giselle-chan deserves this little retribution for what you forced her to bear. Maybe I'll allow her to sit on you next time. With her "new" weapon on her back on top of that… Hardchair-chan, do you understand what I am referring to?"

"…" Hardy didn't answer, just lowered her head blushing.

"I am doing them a service. Believe me; this is just as uncomfortable for me as you. And well…" Esdeath recovered a silver pocket watch from her pocket. "… I need a proper chair for the coming meeting."

"Why!?" the vein popped out on Hardy's forehead, having enough of this pitiful game.

"We are waiting for people of great importance. So, hold still, we will be like this for a while."

"Ughh…"

"And they arrived! Raise your head, and bask in his malicious glory! Hardchair-chan! Witness the bringer of the next age!"

"Huh?" raising her head, Hardy blinked, surprised.

"That boy?" Hardy raised her brow, looking up as much as she could, recognizing "that boy" from her first attempt to watch the first battle between these strangers and the Empire.

"I recognize him. He is… Ugh!" but it was the last thing she said, for her untrained and numb limbs gave in, collapsing under the Supreme Being's and her own weight.

"Yo! Beelzebub!" Esdeath stood up graceful without falling, using the momentum of Hardy's fall to accelerate her way up. "I see you found your way here, following my little breadcrumbs. Fufufufu… Even bringing guests. How adorable."

Glancing on the side of the first heir who wore a ragged cloak — and looked quite beaten down and messy compared to his usual state — she recognized three figures standing.

"So…" she crossed her arms, wanting to look cool before her nephew. "What's up… Kid?"

"Aunt…" the heir nodded respectfully, looking at the struggling girl whose limbs were still too numb to raise herself from the ground properly — and in a way, looked quite miserable.

"Dammit…"

"I come for your help and advice."

"Hmm, me? And why not your father? Isn't it a father's job to advise his son? Or even your mother? Why not bother them?"

"They are… not available currently." Beelzebub's voice was care-worn, visibly strained by the things that burdened him. "But you already know this, don't you?"

"Probably…" she answered cryptically. "Oh well… sit down, will you?" She took a seat on the nearby chair, motioning Beelzebub and the others to sit down.

"You can sit as well… Hardy," she said so while slurping small from her tea.

"Tha-Thanks…" the goddess muttered, taking a seat with a pained and strained expression.

All her body numb and drenched, she wanted a shower more than anything. She wanted to sleep through the day and forget about this nightmare — waking up and realizing all this was a very bad dream!

"Is she...?" the hooded female asked, scared, pointing at Hardy timidly, while the Supreme Being grinned.

"Yes, she is… Let me introduce you to the infamous Goddess of Underworld, Hardy! In the flesh!"

"Impossible!"

"You are joking? Right?"

The two people near Beelzebub were utterly stunned, almost falling down from their seats.

"Haah… I am afraid she is not. Princess Piña, Prince Diabo, Emperor Molt, let me introduce you… my aunt. One of the two last remaining Supreme Beings, and the enforcer of my father."

"Yo!" she grinned, showing a 'V' with her fingers. "And not two… it's three now!" she opened one more digit, making Beelzebub raise a brow.

"What do you mean? Aunt? What didn't you tell me?"

"It is a long story…" she recovered one of the delicious looking puddings from the table, raising her spoon elegantly. "But first, I want to hear the story that brought you here and with such esteemed company."

"Very well…"

"Beelzebub! Is it really the proper time?!" Piña questioned, scared.

Time was of the essence; they had no time to waste by telling stories! They already lost enough coming here!

"Haah! Believe me… it is easier going along with her request than against it."

"Well then…" she raised the spoon closer to her mouth. "Your wise aunt listens… tell us your story, young one. Tell us about your journey before the doomsday clock starts… again." the pudding ended in her mouth, and she enjoyed it — immensely.

"Again?"

Ignoring the surprised Molt, Beelzebub started to tell his story.

What happened to him after escaping?

How come he freed the Princess, the Prince, and brought back the Emperor?

What happened with Ainz? Why can't he reach out to him?

And finally! What brought him here? To the city of the Goddess of the Underworld — and her new functioning name, Hardchair!

Read forth, and find out!

A/N:

So, this is it for now!

I hope it was bearable!

In the next chapter!

The journey of the prince!

What happened with Ainz and the gods?

The Khan's great plan come to light?

What's the role of the royal family?

Read forth and find out!

In the next chapter: The preliminary of the end!

The next chapter comes when it is ready!

RnR!

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