Chapter 91
Connecting the two guilds was initially thought to be impossible without lowering the defenses and risking invasion until I remembered my unique Super Tier Magic: The Bifrost, a spell in which I inherited by slaying Heimdal, I didn’t think I would find it’s use here but I wasn’t one to complain.
Soon, there was a permanent BiFrost, or rather a longer Gate active on the respective 9th Floor of both Society and Nazarick, of course only those with clearance can go through at any time.
We decided to push back Momonga and Albedo’s wedding until after all the problems were over as to make sure that their love life wouldn’t interfere with the plan. Instead, the Five Elders met up with Demiurge and Albedo and discussed the politics and future of the world.
The main course of what will happen was generally simple, but it was all in the small details of the works that was the marvel in the story. Planning out the course for each and every emerging hero of the story. Individuals whom we have mentioned playing roles that will not diminish the glory they would have had or the punishment they would have had to endure. For example, Clementine was currently our test subject in Impel Down and found the it was possible to cure her of her insanity through pure physical pain. Quite ironic as usually it is the other way around.
Me: Prepare yourself Demiurge, we will have the trial session first before we launch Jaldabaoth into the world. You will need a force strong enough to easily beat them, but not a force so overwhelming that they submit. Choose what you will.
Demiurge: Kara-sama…I request the use of the Reptilian Summons of Nazarick, 3 Elder Liches, and one Mid-rank demon on my quest.
Me: Granted, get Cocytus and inform him of his task. Do not tell him of how you will proceed once it is time…this will be good practice for him as well.
Demiurge: Of course Kara-sama.
Diana: Everything has been placed in formation. It’s time for the blind to realize their surroundings. *sigh* Poor fools, they’ve thrown away their own lives by thy own hand. If only they would have accepted.
POV Zaryusu Shasha, Lizardmen
The Azellisian Mountain Range lay between the former Baharuth Empire and the former Re-Estize Kingdom…now it all belonged to the new Arcanian Empire. Its southern foothills were surrounded by a sprawling forest — the Great Forest of Tob — and there was a huge lake at its northern edge.
This lake was over twenty square kilometers in size, and resembled an inverted gourd. It was divided into the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. The Upper Lake was very deep, and was home to larger creatures, while the Lower Lake was where the smaller creatures lived.
The southern end of the Lower Lake was surrounded by wetlands, and countless structures had been erected in this large, marshy region. Each of these houses were built in the marsh and supported by about ten stilts each. Among the many stilt-houses, one of them had its doors open, its owner revealed to all under the golden rays of the sun.
I was a member of the demihuman race known as Lizardmen.
Things changed greatly over the last couple of years with the humans outside waging war against each other until a single overwhelming force took over what was the known world, or perceived of it. Until then, we Lizardmen had little to no interactions with humans, but that all changed when they sent ambassadors to the lake.
I remember when we prepared for war against the seemingly endless force, ready to die on our lake until they said that they came in peace. What was offered was a life that we couldn’t believe. All demihuman and humanoid races living in harmony. Heteromorphic races and those who're not united under a single banner with no discrimination whatsoever. Initally, we couldn’t believe what we were hearing; after all, the scale of the words they said would only come out in stories. After all, why would humans even think of living with us lizardmen, and us vice versa. Reptilians and Humans had enough bad blood and we weren’t ready to leave our swamp just yet.
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Surprisingly, they agreed to what we said. They didn’t say anything about letting us go free but they agreed that they would give us our independence as long as we don’t kill or harm anyone that comes to the Swamp in peace. Otherwise, we were free to do whatever we wanted, and they too would leave us alone. Seeing this as our best chance, the Green Claw tribe accepted the deal immediately. Afterwards, we found out that the other tribes around the lake had also accepted this proposal so the lake was left in peace and life went on as normal.
Very occasionally, a wandering merchant seeking a shortcut would pass through the swamps and send up a flag that symbolized they did not come looking for trouble. These few we would let in and trade with…not that we had much to trade. But often time the few metals and herbs we had gotten from the forest we traded for new and interesting things the humans outside the forest have made. Who knew they had weapons which can catch on fire without harming the wielder? Interesting species really
Even more few in number were the Lizardmen wanderers who came back to tell tales of the wonders of the outside world. Lizardmen hierarchy was very strict and solid with the Clan head at the top and a few elders advising his decisions. Others who were valued member of the tribe such as healers, druids, and strong warriors were ranked above those of others but wanderers, lizardmen who had left the clan, were an exception to the hierarchy. We listened to their stories and learned of the new exploits of this new grand empire and how they were full fledged citizens of this new place. Some of us were tempted to leave with the lizard outside of the swamp and lake to join the new place, but most decided to stay. After all, the swamps were our home.
After inspecting the conditions at the fish farm, I returned to the village. Then, a strange hunch made me suddenly look to the sky. A chill went down my spine as I felt negative energy whirl around the entire lake. One that was more powerful than anything I had ever felt. However, there was nothing unusual there. The only thing he could see in the clear blue sky were the cloud-wreathed peaks to the north.
In other words, the scenery was perfectly normal. There was nothing unusual there. Just as I wondered if I might be imagining things, I noticed a strange cloud in the sky. At the same time, thick clouds which blotted out the sun suddenly appeared over the center of the village. They were so dense and widespread that they plunged the entire village into darkness.
Shocked, I saw people starting to look to the sky as they realized that something was off…something was going to happen. They didn’t need to be a priest to know that this was a horrible omen.
The priests had said that today would be sunny. Their weather predictions were quite accurate, being that they were based on magic and knowledge gained over long years of experience. Thus, it was quite a surprise that their weather forecast had turned out wrong.
However, the strange thing was that there were no clouds in the sky except in the air directly above the village. It was as though someone had summoned those clouds into being there. This strange scene continued to play out.
The clouds began revolving around the village, and as they did, they spread out to cover a wider area. It was as though the sky was being rapidly eaten away by these mysterious clouds. This was highly unusual. The Lizardman warriors hurriedly prepared for battle. They children fled into the houses. I lowered his stance and glanced around himself, one hand closing around Frost Pain’s hilt, my trusty weapon which I had earned by killing the monsters from my time with the Dwarves.
The dark clouds now filled the air overhead, but in the distance one could still see the blue sky. The clouds only covered the village. It was at this moment that he heard a sound made by Lizardmen, which came from the center of the village. It was a shrill piping carried on the wind.
It was a warning. It warned of a powerful enemy, and the need to flee right away. As I heard the warning, I immediately began running through the marshes, at what passed for a sprint among Lizardmen. While it was hard to sprint in the wetlands, I kept my balance by shifting my tail’s position. With a speed no human being could attain — granted, Lizardmen were better suited for this terrain — I reached the place from which the warning had come.
Me and the warriors formed a circle that looked at the center of the village. My eyes followed theirs, and soon I was staring as well. Their many lines of sight converged on one place — a monster which resembled a cloud of roiling black mist. Countless dreadful, ever-changing faces emerged from within the mist. The faces belonged to many races and species, but the one thing they all had in common was the fact that they all bore agonized expressions. The wind carried the sounds of weeping, cries of agony, the gnashing of teeth and the last gasps of the dying to them. The endless tide of spine-chilling noise made me shiver in fear.
...This is bad… We should let the others flee so Ani-ja and I can take care of this. But if we do that…
I was easily one of the top combatants among the scattered tribes, and yet even I was afraid of the powerful undead being before him…whatever that was, it was leagues beyond in pure power alone.
Right now, the only people who could hold their own against this sort of opponent were probably myself and elder brother. The most important thing was that I still did not know what special abilities that undead creature possessed.
Glancing around, I noticed that all the warrior Lizardmen around me were panting and nervous, like frightened children. It must have a natural passive aura which dominates the weak in the near area. The monster which had seized the center of the village had not made a single move yet.
I did not know how much time had passed. In this tense atmosphere, the slightest movement, even that of the wind blowing against the grass, might signal the beginning of a cataclysmic battle. The best proof of that was the warriors, who were slowly edging towards their foe. They shrugged off the immense stress bearing down on them and moved.
I saw Shasuryu draw his sword from the corner of my eye. With a speed to match his, I raised his weapon as well. If there was to be fighting, their plan was to take the lead and charge the enemy before anyone else. This shouldn’t count as reckless if we manage to reveal the enemy’s special abilities to everyone...
The tension in the air grew thicker — and then the wails suddenly stopped.
The monster spoke with the voices of many, blended together into one. Unlike the vague, unfocused curses from earlier, this voice had a clear purpose.
Thing: —Listen well. I am a minion of the Demon Emperor himself, come to relay a message to you.
A wave of commotion spread through the crowd. Everyone looked at each other. Only myself and elder brother remained focused on the monster.
Thing: I formally proclaim that your days are numbered, for the Demon Emperor has dispatched his troops to eliminate you. However, in his mercy, the Great one shall grant you the freedom to fight — however futile it might be — for your lives. Eight days from now, your tribe shall become the second sacrifice among the Lizardmen tribes of this lake.
My face turned feral. He bared his teeth and gave voice to a threatening growl.
Thing: Struggle with all your might, then. The Demon Emperor shall delight in mocking your efforts.
The mist-like, polymorphic monster floated into the sky.
Thing: Do not forget — in eight day’s time…
The monster floated into the clear blue sky, toward the forest. As the other Lizardmen watched it leave, myself and elder brother merely stared into the distant heavens.