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-An unknown amount of time later-
While it was nice to talk and hang out with both Tuare and Ninya, they did need sleep. They had their own jobs, and with his mana recharged, he needs to practice more. In a way, he missed the ability to sleep, but it allows him to work and plan.
So far, the second test had shown him that [Tainted fusion] took two-thirds of his HP, and [Blight rebirth] took one third. So, he could use it three times. The cost was staggering and would slow down his testing. While he spent some time working in his lab and using blood magic as much as possible, he regained the lost levels in [blood drinker] and [blood dancer].
This should put him at ease if Jester didn’t show him that his stats had not improved or changed. Another mystery to solve, or it would force him to change his style of fighting if he couldn’t get them back to normal.
‘I could just focus on getting back to level 100 and leave the fighting to Ainz.’
No, he wouldn’t be shown up like this turning to the mirror in his lab, no shadow staring back frowning—only his own Jealous face. Which felt worse than when he heard the whispers of the shadows. At least then, he could put the blame on it now knowing the shadow was just a by-product. Born of his own ill feelings, he had been ignoring.
After organizing the new potions and turning off the lab, for now, to save resources at the very least, he would have healing and other buffing potions to help in the battle. Exiting the lab, Kathrin, Bardic, and Ritana were missing. Nimble and Leinas were talking with Entoma, and Clem-chan was looking over his trophies all over the room.
“Where is Kathrin?”
“Lady Kathrin had to take care of her work. Arche needs training with Velvet…
Leinas processed the best way to phrase it, not knowing what happened to the battle maid. Only that they were gone as far as Leinas knew.
-missing, some Whisper of the attack on you my emperor in the dragon kingdom, and wind flow scripture causing trouble.”
Kyuketsuki berated himself for not thinking about the effects of Jester’s gift. The Slain theocracy reactions to losing the world item. He wanted to head there and deal with it. But halted, he refused to break his promise to Kathrin. His empress could handle the situation Kettor had to trust her to message him if she needed his help.
Both Leinas and Nimble were quietly watching him Entoma, broke the silence first. “Where are we going, my lord.”
Kyuketsuki had no idea how long he had been working losing track of time in the fun of blood magic. If one thought about it like using water as MP, it was fun. It was a relatively simple matter to level up classes in. Since his head knight and her best friend weren’t here, he could travel through the 7th floor. While the sixth floor was ideal for training, he had a particular spot he wanted to go visit.
If Ulbert were here, they could brainstorm the best ways to train world corruption. Plus, Kettor could give him a piece of his mind for allowing Demiurge to cause so much death and pain.
“Seventh floor, I would teleport us there, but the walk there should be good exercise.”
“Could I fly again? This harpy physique makes it easier to travel that way.” Leinas piped up.
Kettor agreed to it before Entoma could comment on it. Keeping a careful eye on Clem-chan surprised she had been so patient despite the dangerous lustful gaze. He could swear she was undressing him with her eyes. [Reward chains] was not a skill he wanted to be caught by surprise again.
The walk down was long, which gave him time to think about how to test world corruption. He only knew of two spells so far, but he knew there was more just not how many. What he did know was that to find out, he would have to try different ways.
While he would love to test it on the sixth floor, he feared permanently damaging the beautiful forest home of Aura and Mare. Blue Planet loved that floor, and he was hopeful Blue Planet out of all his missing friends might be in this new world.
The seventh floor, however, was already a molten ruin. Making it perfect to practice not because Kyuketsuki was still a little irritated with Demiurge. Pulse the evil morose atmosphere might give him ideas to try out.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the 7th floor, he stops everyone snapping a red stick to supply him with blood for casting [mass abyssal protection: thermal shield]. Typically, he wouldn’t use blood magic for it, but he needs all his mana for world corruption.
Kettor could only hope that its spells and skills would lower in cost as he leveled the world-class, or he would be much more limited when he could use these spells.
Opening the large gates Leinas and Nimble gasped while the eight floors had been a shock to them with the Sakura trees and peaceful nature. The Seventh was a hellscape of flames and ruin. They shared a worried gaze wondering if it had been attacked only for their emperor to smile at them.
“Welcome to the seventh floor, it is nice to be back here. Though I rarely visit mostly because the heat annoyed me.”
Kyuketsuki traveled through avoiding the lava rivers for both his elite knight’s safety. That they could even breathe without dying was only thanks to [abyssal protection: thermal shield]. Filtering the air around them and absorbing the heat. It was also excellent against cold but not much else.
Arriving at one smaller temple than the one Demiurge called home. The door creaked as they opened, showing the sizeable ash-covered training room he remembered fondly.
Kathrins’ blood runes lighting up the area in eerily red light. The few pop demons in the area were all in the seating area watching Xennessa and another demoness fling spells at each other. They both stop as flames when wide at them in surprise.
Clem-chan moves in a blur, shouting [domination chains] chains rising up and shielding him as the flames were absorbed by the metal. They were cool to the touch. Before he could comment, Clem-chan was already moving [Redemption chains] shooting out at the caster stabbing and as they dropped to their knees with a scream of pain. As Clemvet shout out [Submission chains] watching in shock as shackles latched on to the other demoness neck wrists and ankles. Burning them till they did as Clem-chan commanded them to submit. Practically laying on the ash-covered floor.
“That is enough, Clem-chan. I am sure they didn’t mean it!”
Clemvent stops as her [punishment chains] hovers around the poor demoness waiting to inflict pain.
“They dared raise their hand against you master I need to punish them.”
“I still need them alive!”
“We can’t let this slight against us stand master! Unless you would try to stop me?” The double-layered voice playfulness hides the edge in it. One Kettor dare not test for his safety.
“Fine, but no killing, they have a job to do. Do not take too long either I wanted to train one on one with you.” Forcing a happy mask to cover Kyuketsuki’s nerves.
“Don’t worry. This will only take a few minutes.”
He would have argued to stop altogether, but the rage in Clem-chan’s eyes told him she wouldn’t stop till her wrath had been stated. He wouldn’t waste the coins it cost to summon them. Watching the wretched succubus get dragged out of the room, the [Submission chains] preventing them from disobeying or grimacing in pain when they tried. As the doors slammed shut, shaking some dust lose from high above, he allowed himself to shiver.
“I like that one, my lord, did you summon her too?” Was Xennessa blushing? This was awkward.
“No, I made that one.”
Which he was really regretting trying to analyze the brief showing of her special skills. Chains that were a command mantra effect and others that absorb damage. Some kind of draining effect (he couldn’t be sure about those [Redemption chains] without another showing), and the lust effect from earlier. He already knew Velvets [punishment chains] had some kind of curse effect—Clemvet’s was more effective. It would take high tier spells to undo.
This was just what she showed off to defend him, but that felt like an automatic response. If she could resist doing that, she would be deadly in PvP. For a few seconds, it looked like she knew what the demoness was doing before they did, probably just his imagination.
“Why are you here, Xennessa? I thought Kathrin had you in the empire overseeing political matters? Doing amazing work too.”
The seductress smiled brightly at the praise. “I am, but as per your instruction, we use this area of the great tomb as a break area every sixth and seventh day of work.”
“Sorry about Najarian. She gets a bit too into our training. We still haven’t been able to gain any levels, forgotten one.”
This was great news in that his rest time idea was finally getting through to Kathrin. If not, Sad to hear that the old summoning rules still applied here. But they could provide the training dummies he needed, just like old times with Ulbert where they could summon hordes of imps for target practice. To test out changes to spells and their effects. He was first tempted to try one of the two spells he knew. But figured it would be better to try something new, like testing the separate parts of the world corruption the deconstruction and re-creation aspects.
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“That is understandable if not disappointing, would you mind helping me test something, I just need you to summon a horde of imps. Or other low-level demons nothing above your own level.”
“It would be my pleasure, though, wouldn’t one of the evil lords be better?”
Kettor gave a fanged grin, ok maybe he was slighting Demiurge a little. But he should have known to not allow the summoned evil lord to use Rita like a weapon, among other things Grombling in his mind about such carelessness.
“I don’t see them around, and I see a perfectly capable and beautiful demoness right here. Unless you don’t think you are up to the task, I am sure Clem-chan would love to give words of encouragement.”
“No! no, I am happy to help, my lord, it would be this one’s pleasure to help. [Summon 3rd demon horde]”
Twenty imps appeared in the center of the room with the pop demons cheering him on. Waiting for the blood bath as spectators to the violence while taking notes of what was going to happen.
Kyuketsuki, for his part, couldn’t block the loneliness that came remembering his time shared in this room. Raising his hand as the intent takes hold into the spell-like the other two, they felt like they were not new, just waiting for him to know and use.
Kyuketsuki used the familiar dark liquid forming it in his hand hissing and bubbling hungry to be unleashed. Analyzing the mana drain and power in his hands, this would take about one six of his total MP. Charging it up, it drained about three-six of his mana. It also changed the name slightly, letting it fire.
[Muketsu curse: half cup]
The corruption overtakes the horde of imps covering them in the sticky darkness at first it appeared to do nothing.
Which was odd until some started attacking each other. Other imps looked like they were withering away. The effects seemed to differ, but all of them were experiencing some form of entropy, destabilizing them on a base level. Even their weapons seemed to be weaker, and some crumbled upon a single hit. After five minutes, half the imps had died vanishing.
Thinking quickly, Kettor raises his hand again now time to try the renewal aspect. The slight name change happened, but Muketsu remained. It felt like a familiar and essential name even if he didn’t know why. The drain was the same using only two-third of the remaining power. He wanted to save some mana for his spar.
[Muketsu solution: quarter cup]
The dark liquid in his hand shined this time with less area of effect, only hitting half the remaining imps. They appeared to return to normal though the weapons and clothes on them were still damaged.
The other five imps dematerialized from the effects, but the impact he saw only killed them because of their low level. He had a good idea that Xennessa would live if not be severely weakened by the effects. Realizing that it destabilized anything it hit, it wouldn’t just destroy the target or its gear. But make it far easier to kill.
[world corruption level 2 Muketsu is pleased]
‘Jester Who is Muketsu? And please show me my stats again.’
Again, no increase what was going on was world corruption, the cause, or Jester’s gift! This was going to be a problem for his future if he couldn’t raise his stats.
‘My champion, that is the effect of my world-class. It appears to have disconnected your stats and level growth. On the upside, this should make learning martial arts much easier. You will need to manually raise your stats from now on.’
‘You couldn’t have told me about this sooner!’
‘My champion, this is new territory for me as for you. Trial and error are the only way to learn these things. What you have shown me shall make for an interesting study. Why does the world code change so much with the disconnection it could be…”?
Jester trailed off before disconnecting much to his annoyance, keeping up his mask at the five remaining imps. Kyuketsuki didn’t need more anger boiling with rage as he rushed at the fiends taking out his frustration on them.
Putting up a happy mask to Xennessa’s confusion and worry at his sudden ire. Thanking the demoness and telling her that he didn’t know if the imps where safe to keep around.
This testing had shown him a lot about this, and testing his knowledge, it did appear the cost of all four spells had gone down, or he could cast them more till he needs to recharge at least.
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-Kathrin in the royal palace-
Kathrin was starting to see why her supreme being hated politics. She had been enjoying talking with Ritana and her friends. When one of her packmates alerted her to a few significant issues that had popped up in her absence. The first and easiest was Arche meeting with her and informing her that Velvet would no longer be viable.
Arche was downcast as she had bonded well. Which made introducing her to Clemvet less than optimal, so she came up with a quick lie that she died protecting her lord from a surprise attack. Though it would hurt the human, it was better than leaving the option open.
Still not sure what to think of the strange fusion, Clemvet seemed to regard Kathrin as a sister, despite the mad assassin’s personality shining through. She would at least give the human Clementine this much she refused to die with the same willfulness as Kathrin herself.
Even if Clemvet still showed signs of disloyalty, for now, she could be trusted.
Arche’s training would have to be done by Fluder despite his lack of loyalty. He knew magic well, and if he ever thought about betraying them, his old body would meltdown in the most painful way possible.
This, however, was only the first matter as lovely as it was to see Kevlar again happy. Someone had betrayed her direct orders even if only implied. Now she had nobles and traitorous rats to purge on top of the slain theocracy, which brought her a satisfied grin.
Their reaction had been slightly faster than she anticipated. Using the wind flow scripture to infiltrate and try and weaken her empire. Still, this would take weeks to find them and kill the mice.
Which is time she would have to spend away from her love sighing? Kathrin would have to content herself with taking out her frustration on the stray dogs biting at her empire.
Commanding a few death knights to follow her as she swiftly traveled the halls.
“How do you command the emperor’s blood knights like that?”
She glanced at the dwarf. It seems Ritana was curious as well. Not a simple answer to give and how it varies from undead to living creatures. Sometimes pure fear or respect was enough for the lowly sheep. But she didn’t have time for the full answer.
“Bardic, would you like to know a secret?”
“Yes, my lady, we shall keep it hidden,” Rita answered hungrily to learn as Kathrin always was for knowledge. Self-improvement was critical as the most faithful servants of lord Kyuketsuki
“I am lord Kyuketsuki’s 9th-floor guardian. My domain has command over all other summons, servants, and loyal followers of my supreme being. Does that answer your question?”
It was the most simplified version, but she would have time to teach Ritana how it was done later. Her lioness had been such a grand fine lord Kyuketsuki must have seen this well of potential when they first met. Something that not all sheep had to her disappointment.
The training and evaluation of all the empire's servants and people Revealed that most didn’t have the same potential despite the same training methods and fairness of her style. Most struggled to even reach level 30, be it mental blocks or weak resolve. While most could not be trusted to hold power like the two outstanding examples next to one sheep, she had not seen before.
“What there are two of you! What is the meaning of this!”
Kathrin took in the noble with disdain. Did he not know of doppelgangers or other shapeshifters. Looking over the fake emperor and empress with four elite knights near them.
“Precautions in case foolish assassins try to attack us. Why have you demanded my attention?”
Kathrin wondered if the low noble even realized she already knew why he was here. Not that it mattered disloyal tools had no use to her or her selfish goals that her lord allowed her.
The new human stepped forward, kneeling to her.“We simply wanted to know that his majesty was ok after the rumors that an attack had destroyed the forward fort in the dragon kingdom. If I may ask, is the emperor alive?”
Kathrin smiled as some of her packmates fed her information about the innkeeper records. She hardly needed to have his background checked to know. This was not an act, but real loyalty the innkeeper was the brother to the husband of wife and daughter saved in the dragon kingdom.
It was admirable how a little act of kindness could motivate some to follow.
With a hard stare at the other two whose gaze only held contempt for the commoner. Grinning darkly, perhaps this sheep had earned the right to test his character.
“What of you, Baron of Harlein and Viscountess of Airwinder?”
Both of them put up the worst facades of care she had ever seen. Even her lord could look the part better without trying this was just sad and enraging to see the parasites trying to worm their way in.
“We had heard the same rumors kind, empress Kathrin. We thought it would do well to help in return for access to some funds. We could use to organize spare food supplies for the new land of the empire.”
Kathrin narrowed her eyes, already ordering a few pack mates to start investigating the two holdings of both. They could be connected with the sighted wind flow members.
Putting up a mask of innocence turning to Rita, remembering one of them had a connection to eight fingers remnants. The ones that Demiurge had told her about.
“You know, my dear lioness, I do believe I remember the viscountess here worked with eight fingers while they were still around. Would you be a dear and check for me she might be trying to rebuild it in the empire.”
The viscountess paled, turning to flee only to be blocked by two large swords and spears of blood knights.
Rita glared at her with a look Kathrin had not seen before. Marching up to them and guiding them to a private room to “talk” with them. Kathrin was so proud, turning to the other annoyance looking far less confident without the main backer to this ploy.
Kathrin Easly traped him with his own words. At which point, he spilled what information they had. Scowling the coward didn’t even know anything of real importance.
Waving the two other blood knights to take them away, leaving the last sheep.
“Sorry about that, but you know how corrupted the old nobility can be. His majesty is alive and well.”
“How did you know she was an old part of eight fingers?”
Kathrin beamed coyly at the sheep. “How about you take up the old retainer’s role and find out. You can even help me find out who is leaking this information.”
“Really, but I am not cut out for such a role? I am just a simple innkeeper.”
Kathrin walks up to the human, helping him to his feet. Yes, he had a few traits she liked in humans. Now, if he could resist the hunger for power, he would be a great fit.
“As my lord was once a simple human, he rose to become the powerful vampire that saved this empire. So too, can a simple innkeeper become a region retainer? If you are up to it, I could even arrange for you to meet your brother.”
Kathrin thought the human might turn it down at first before he agreed. Which was one part solved! Now to purge the old one, the failure of this leak was too great to overlook. They should have alerted her to this sooner.
Escorting the human to the record room, they would have to go back over the logs for the last month to find when this started. Leaving Rita to investigate the two fallen nobles standings in case it was connected to the wind flow scripture.
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-Back at Nazarick-
Lienas watched with her fellow elite knight in the stands of the demons spectators. The powers of her emperor were crazy. The fusion Clemvet was a monster. She couldn’t help but wonder how many different chains Clemvet had. The mad assassin was terrible before; she was an unbearable nightmare now. With barely restrained evil that made it scary to even talk to the psychopath. Which made her thankful that Nimble was here with her.
“Is it really safe to let them fight. Lady Kathrin might kill us if he gets hurt.”
As much as Leinas agreed with the sentiment. Lord kyuketsuki knew what he was doing so far and had not let her down once. Her hand ghosting over the once cursed side of her face with her clawed hand.
“Stop worrying, he will be fine. Besides, I think you still disliked him.”
Nimble hushed Leinas as some of the demon spectators turned to regard them. Reminding herself that she would have to be careful of what she said in Nazarick. Unlike the empire, even forgetting title put them on everyone’s shit list. Saying you disliked, one of the supreme beings would be seen as treason. Something she didn’t feel like testing with so many strong demons around them.
Nimble glared at her pleading her to assure them that he didn’t have lingering distrust about their new emperor. Leinas could understand in a way, but she was never too close to him or the other two old elite knights. Kyuketsuki had done so simply what former emperor Jircniv had promised but never delivered on.
“Sorry, Nimble meant someone else. Besides, aren’t you worried about the supreme being? Clemvet is a tough opponent.”
The spectator demons start to whisper again. Some agreed others throw bets that Clemvet would win. It was odd how short the attention span they had when it didn’t include fighting or supreme beings.
“What do they even bet with?”
“I don’t know, ask one of them.”
The nearest one turned to her, holding out a vile of some kind.
“Remnants of the fallen, favors, and time for shifts cleaning. Anything you have, really.” The short demon whispered.
“Would you like to bet?” another asked.
Honesty Leinas didn’t even know what cleaning they did, considering how messy the place was. Ash and bone were everywhere, even on some of the seats.
Leinas thought up an idea if she was going to be stuck here. Having one of them to boss around might kill some time. Nimble gave her a look that said not to do it.
“Sure, five favors that Kyuketsuki wins.”
“Oh, smart, taking the ruin house favorite.”
“No me knows new girl will win. You saw metal leashes.”
“Solic yo’ pick a loser. No one stronger than blood master sides maybe goat master.”
“Yeah, only Galic and his group stupid enough to pick weak challengers.”
As they talked, it was interesting to see the different factions of the demon spectators argue. It reminded her of the arena fights in the empire. Only here, Kyuketsuki was the leading champion. And whoever this goat master was another demon perhaps.
They hushed as all eyes turned to the fight about to start. The succubus was alive and left as soon as Clemvent got back into the room. Which did worry Leinas a little the one or two sorceresses she had seen fighting in the beast kingdoms fall, killed thousands of beast-men on their own?
The fact that Clementine altered as she was could terrify one was nothing to scoff at.
Both Kyuketsuki and Clemvet stood apart, staring each other down. Both of them flashed a few colors when he had learned other martial arts besides the one?
In a flash of metal meeting, they started Clemvet could create her stilettos at will now, joy. Now Leinas would never sleep well again near the assassin. Watching in shock as two [Redemption chains] grazed Kyuketsuki both [Mana Essence] and [Life essence] allowed her to see his MP drop and a little of his health.
If not for the third spell she had taken the time to learn, she might not even be able to keep up with the battle.
Leinas struggled to follow them. Clemvet was all but a blur most of the fight. Kyuketsuki was less blurry, but she could tell that Kyuketsuki was struggling to keep up. Worrying her as he got pinned once [Submission chains] appeared on him, but they didn’t look to have an effect they did before with the succubus, right he was undead.
“Come on, you can win this!” Leinas glances at a demon grinning at her then looking back to the match.
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-End of chapter-