Overlord - Of Sin And Sanctity 21 Operation Gehenna 1

I arrive in the kingdom. Some distance away from the castle since despite my position I would probably be attacked anyway for trespa.s.sing, which would make things difficult. I immediately discover that the city has been practically turned upside down looking for able bodies with soldiers practically anywhere you look 'reminding' people that it's a requirement for them to join the army. Since I made quite a splash in the short time I was here before, I just walk in the direction of the castle. But things are never that easy.

Soldier: Hey you!

'Me? Couldn't be. Although… I didn't exactly spend much time here, and only the n.o.bles will have really been able to study my face, so I guess it would make sense, but I don't particularly want to respond to a "Hey you" so in that case - keep walking''

Soldier: Oi! Don't you walk away from me!

Grabbing me by the shoulder the soldier attempts to pull me around to face him.

'Oh. Getting physical now are we?'

Not allowing him to do so, I close my eyes, sigh heavily, and turn to face him while activating my [Despair Aura].

Dabilosi: I'm sorry, last time I checked it was treason to lay a hand on your king - and much less a higher power… Do you know the punishment for treason my "friend"?

By now he's practically a s.h.i.+vering wreck, but if I wasn't so much stronger than him, well, he doesn't seem the kind of person you can easily talk to.

Soldier: D-de-demon!

'Oh well that's amusing… But I'm going to make an impression'

Dabilosi: Not quite, it's death! But I'm not a cold-hearted monster. I won't kill you or even leave you disabled. Plus, you'll find out soon enough that there is a reason you use words instead of violence.

As I say this I disable the [Despair Aura] and his face regains a little of it's former colour. I ask him to bring me to the castle, since it would be bothersome for this to happen again, and once there he leaves, his face beginning to again show arrogance, as if this is a one-time thing. Until of course I secretly cast the ninth tier spell [Chains of Torment]. The beauty of this magic is that it can easily be erased by ninth tier purification magic, but otherwise it's permanent, and it's lore states that it causes indescribable agony of the soul, making it more difficult to focus.

Note - Indescribable agony. I will make my name both feared and respected. The two guards at the entrance look at me questioningly with hands tightening slightly on their weapons and stern faces.

Dabilosi: Darnell Salas, here to find out which side of the war I'm on… Oh and you should thank whatever G.o.d you believe in that you didn't point those things at me, since it wouldn't end well.

Guard 1: We will be needing proof of ident.i.ty.

I frown slightly before the other guard clarifies.

Guard 2: We are sorry, but we cannot just allow anyone into the castle without credentials, especially during wartime due to the threat of a.s.sa.s.sination and the like.

'Hmmm, a tier 5 spell should convince them well enough. If someone with that strength wanted to a.s.sa.s.sinate someone here, they could just storm in. And even if they were to try and stop someone like that, it wouldn't do anything'

Dabilosi: Well, I guess that's fine. [Lesser Astral Rend].

Having s.p.a.ce slashed open, even if only for a second, was clearly enough ident.i.ty for them as they moved out of the way. I was half expecting them to call me monster and rush at me, but I guess I need to remember this world isn't as cliche as anime. They allow me through, and then return to being straight-faced. Nothing stopped me between there and the gardens, where I saw Gazef Stronoff striding in one specific direction.

Dabilosi: Oi Gazef! Give me a hand here with directions!

Gazef: Hmm? Darnell?! How did you get in here?

Dabilosi: Well if I didn't I'd miss all the fun, so are you going to bring me along or am I just going to have to wait here patiently?

Gazef: I'm glad you could make it, by all means follow me.

'Eh? Xygat seems to be sitting down now, the princess is here along with her pet, poor thing, and as usual the n.o.ble and Royal factions were sitting opposed to each other. There's also a s.p.a.ce next to the n.o.ble faction… Well I'm known here so they wouldn't mind right? It's not as if they can really turn me away right now.'

Dabilosi: *Sitting Down* So! What seems to be the problem?

At this the king smiles, but each and every n.o.ble expresses displeasure in some form or other. Boullope, about to speak, gets cut off by Marquis Raeven

Raeven: The empire is the problem. They have ama.s.sed a military force which our current army cannot handle, and we believe they are soon to be headed in this direction.

Dabilosi: Katze Plains or?...

Raeven: We do not believe so. Due to the rapid expansion of our fire mages' tower, it is within reason to believe they are going to attempt to end our ongoing wars in one fell swoop this year. The proposal of Marquis Boullope is to fight them head on in the Katze Plains, however I believe it would be more efficient to draw them into sight of E-Rantel and using it as a base from which to launch a series of consecutive skirmishes and a.s.saults. This would give the army some reprieve and a steady supply line given the enemy cannot circle us. The only disadvantage is the steady destruction of crops by the enemy army by drawing them into our territory.

Dabilosi: Now here's a thought. You have numerous fire mages who can practically act as artillery. You have Xygat, who is far better than artillery and could easily shoot down any larger weapons the enemy brings with them. Why not create multiple lines behind which the mages can fire from, and retreat into when necessary. I will personally deal with any opponents Xygat cannot cope with, even if that scenario is incredibly unlikely.

Boullope: You mean to say you're stronger than this man?!

'Well yes, I would have thought that was obvious you dolt. Though, even if it was expected the rest of them do seem ever just a bit terrified.'

Dabilosi: Well, yes. Truth be told I'm a seventh tier magic caster and have beaten members of the Slane Theocracy's Black Scripture in swordsmans.h.i.+p. [Asura Slash of Light]

Every person in the room besides the king, princess and Xygat finds their clothes torn in 10 very specific places, namely the heart, brain, liver, left lung, stomach, intestines, little brother (only men got on the council) and kidneys.

Dabilosi: I should hope that is enough of a demonstration for your liking, because if not I may have to resort to actually killing someone.

Ramposa: That. Would be quite enough.

Dabilosi: Ramposa… People are not always as trustworthy or upright as you think, but likewise they can be far more so… Raeven, could you show me around the premises once this conference is over?

Xygat: I will.

Dabilosi: While I don't doubt you would do a great job of it and I would like to talk to you soon, as of this moment I'd much prefer someone who has lived here for slightly longer.

Raeven: Very well.

The conference continued for quite a while, with heated debates over supply routes, positioning and more… After I made it clear that they WERE going to function as a cohesive unit, or I wouldn't play my part. Multiple times throughout I wondered whether or not I was really dealing with grown men. The discussion eventually ended, and I retired to a mansion the king and n.o.bles decided on for my services - this might have disaligned me with the common people temporarily, but it will be easily remedied. Lying down in my comfortable bed, trying to sleep yet again, I ponder the deep my current situation.

'They will probably never know how happy I am that they're ignoring me. Sadly now I feel thoroughly refreshed and finding it hard to get back to sleep, so my body is probably almost ready to again go without for what feels like a century. A war should do that just fine - but I'm only going to move after I get summoned, I want as much rest as possible.'

*Knocking sounds*

'Of course. Yes, of b.l.o.o.d.y course. Just because I SHOULD get up doesn't mean- Hahh… I swear if this isn't important I'm gonna end them all even if I really shouldn't.'

'Ah. It does actually appear to be important.'

As a key member in the guild of Ainz Ooal Gown, I made it my business to know every attack and attack pattern of the guild's NPC's. It was thanks to this that I recognized the [Flames of Gehenna] currently outside my window as one by Demiurge, by the colour which change through the strength of the user coupled with the height and radius of the ring.

*click*

A single sound. metallic on wood, sharp, incredibly light. Quickly pulled back, not something dropped. Quiet, obviously unintentional. Since I cannot guarantee, even if highly likely, that it was a denizen of Nazarick, I should probably play it safe

Dabilosi: Oy vey. Yet another troublesome thing. When you are watching someone, you are supposed to be silent. But by all means carry on. I'm rather uninterested in this short episode you see. However, I started this game, and black has made it's move now.

[Bloodline Purification: Holy]

As they say, fake it 'till you make it. Under the influence of this magic, I unfurl 2 pairs of snow-white wings and a golden halo, bathing all those nearby in holy light. While in this state my karma is registered as positive 500 and cannot be lowered, meaning holy spells deal damage a great deal quicker. It's one of the key qualities that allowed me to be among the strongest, and that won't stop now.

I look at the city and all the death it contained. Funnily enough, barely any of this death was civilian, but that just meant they were being kept somewhere, meaning if the soldiers pushed far enough into the city they would find all of them grouped together at some point or other.

But that's just the logical conclusions that would be made. In reality, a large number would be taken away to be farmed for their skin by Demiurge for Nazarick, some trained with torture before being released as spies back into society, and some just as playthings for those with similar appet.i.tes to Solution and Entoma. Spotting a rogue skeleton flying in a specific direction, I follow with my eyes and notice Entoma actually being beaten by some kid wearing a mask. My interest is immediately piqued. I wander through the city towards him striking any demons within a certain distance of me using a collection of 12 orbs which work best together, modelled after the 12 tribes of Israel. There was a stronger version modelled after the 12 disciples of Jesus, but... It seemed like overkill for this situation.

Evileye: [Enhanced Maximise Magic: Crystal Dagger]!

Demiurge: [Aspect of the Devil: Razor Sharp Claw]

But it is deflected by one of my orbs.

Dabilosi: Oi… Don't pick on little girls.

*BOOM*