Overlord - Of Sin And Sanctity 22 Operation Gehenna 2

Demiurge: Let's see… Who are my enemies?

Momonga: Momon. Adamant.i.te ranked adventurer.

Dabilosi: I too will grace you with that knowledge, unnamed demon, because you are stronger than most. I am Darnell, rightful heir to the golden throne, rightful king of the angels and first men. Who are you?

Demiurge: Interesting. Then let it be known that I am Jaldabaoth, lord of the burning abyss and all within.

'That's a rather… Different, name.'

Evileye: Dark-hero! I am Evileye, member of Blue-rose, and as a fellow adamant.i.te-ranked adventurer I appeal to you! Please, aid me!

At this, my brow creased and I wondered why she hadn't asked me for help. At the same time, the other actors turned their heads in my direction.

Demiurge: Well well, isn't this an interesting development.

Evileye: As much as I'd like to, I have no right to ask for his help.

[Silent Cast: a.n.a.lyse]

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Subject: Keno Fasris Invern

Race: Vampire

Total levels - 50

Racial levels:

Vampire - 15

True Vampire - 10

Job levels:

Elementalist (ground) - 7

Sorcerer - 8

Vampire Princess - 10

-

Statistics:

HP - 26

MP - ???

Phy.Atk - 18

Phy.Def - 22

Agility - 30

Mag.Atk - ???

Mag.Def - ???

Resistance - 27

Special - ???

Total - 318

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'Ugh… So used to just seeing the name and race I forgot certain chronomancy skills scale with the difference in level. If I remember right the devs gave some lame excuse about not being able to bypa.s.s the person's "mighty aura" to warp time around them. But… Vampire Princess, eh? Interesting. Makes it slightly more reasonable that she didn't ask for my help at least.'

Seeing myself in that posture, while I was reading the details the others continued.

Demiurge: Very well then, if he is not to intervene it merely makes it simpler for me.

Momonga: What is your objective?

Demiurge: A mighty item capable of summoning us to this plane and commanding us has found its way to this city. We are here so as to retrieve it, of course.

Things progressed as they would, but in the middle of a melee between the two, my thoughts came to a close.

Dabilosi: Ah. [Frost Flare]

A stream of blue light separates the two combatants, and the building behind them, when hit, became frozen over, before falling apart, shattering into dust and shards.

Dabilosi: I understand now why you did not wish to fight alongside me, or have me anywhere near you for that matter… Keno.

A short gasp echoes, and there is a brief silence.

Demiurge: I am not aware of this name, but your speech implies that you are going to confront me now despite her thoughts

Dabilosi: That is indeed the case. However, it will not be for her. If I defeat you quickly, I can save more lives.

Demiurge: If that is the case, I will be taking my leave swiftly. [h.e.l.lfire Wall]!

After casting the magic, he leaps back and unfurls his wings, flying low and around buildings swiftly and gracefully.

Naturally, if I abandoned Evileye to her fate my reputation would be ruined, so I quickly put up an [Ice Wall] which absorbed the damage.

Dabilosi: Tch. If I want to go after him now it'll cause devastation. Not to mention the very act of battling him at full strength would wreak havoc on the landscape. So don't bother telling me to leave.

Momonga: That was a powerful shot you fired.

Dabilosi: Well yes, I do like to think I deserve my t.i.tles.

Evileye: How did you know my name?

Dabilosi: Oooh, good question. The answer, of course, is that I read you. I did not see your whole past, but merely extracted key points from it to establish a basic knowledge of your strength and abilities… Nevermind that... Yes, the bodies are together and intact. [Widen Magic: True Resurrection]. I must go now, for while the culprit has fled, many demons remain in the city. Death has never waited for anyone before, so why should it start now?

Not waiting for an answer, I carve a path through the demons in the area which seems thickest, not running, not walking, but striding, obliterating as many demons as I can within half the range of my orbs… Because 'we can't have people knowing any of my true strength now can we?' What I was unaware of was the fact that I had left behind me a confused skeleton and a sympathetic vampire by looking for all the world like a lost traveller, weighed down by past decisions and stumbling forward with a vain hope for change. Made all the more convincing by the fact that this was at least half accurate.

----- Conference Room, Re-Estize Palace -----

Attendance - 92% of all prominent fighters in the capital.

(A.N: Fair warning, this is practically a direct copy until my next note, so if you can remember approximately what's said, you can probably skip this bit. Also, from now on I will use <> to denote continued speech)

Renner: I am Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, and I am deeply grateful that everyone here was able to respond to the extraordinary summons issued tonight… Normally, I would render duly deserved praise upon all of you, but as time is of the essence, let us get straight to the point. Tonight, a portion of the capital has been surrounded by a wall of fire. The flames are more than thirty meters in height, and I am certain you have all seen them.

<>

This flame ought to be an illusion of some sort because touching it does not cause harm. According to those who have contacted it, the fire does not have heat or impede movement. Moving past the firewall should not pose a problem either.

<>

The mastermind behind this incident is known as Jaldabaoth, an extremely powerful and vicious demon. Blue Rose has already confirmed that there are low-ranking demons on the other side of the firewall. They seem to be acting entirely on orders from their superiors.

Lakyus: …Strike at the head and the body will die… a basic tactic. Does that mean all we have to do is defeat Jaldabaoth?

Renner: That might be an oversimplification, but fundamentally, that is true. However, what I wish to ask of all of you is to defeat this devil's plot. We have information that suggests that he is here to seize a certain magic item which is on its way to the capital.

???: How did you come by this information?

Renner: It was stated by Jaldabaoth himself.

???: Then don't you think there's a high chance this information could be false?

Renner: Certainly, it is not out of the question. It might end up being a ma.s.sive feint. However, I believe it to be accurate. The enemy has not made any movements ever since they set up the wall of fire. More importantly, if what Jaldabaoth says is true, then inaction will mean that all we can do is watch the worst-case scenario unfolding before our eyes. Therefore, we must seize the initiative.

???: How strong is that Jaldabaoth you mentioned? I don't remember hearing or reading about him. It would help us if you could tell us his difficulty level.

Lakyus: My colleague Evileye is the one who is most familiar with Jaldabaoth's strength, but we do not know the specifics yet. We will update you later.

Evileye: I shall speak of what I know as my group's representative. My comrades encountered an insect maid —believed to be one of Jaldabaoth's followers— and defeated her, only for Jaldabaoth to appear and engage us in battle…

<>

My companions were killed by Jaldabaoth.

<>

With a single blow.

But this tipped the adventurers over the edge as chaos broke out amongst the adventurers through the mere thought that adamant.i.te-ranked adventurers could be defeated so easily.

Evileye: Do not be afraid!

<>

Certainly, Jaldabaoth is powerful. I can vouch for this, having faced him with nothing to show for it but defeat. That is a monster that no ordinary human can defeat. Even if every person here gathered to fight him, we would simply be defeated as a group. But there is no need to worry. There is a man -no, two men- who can do battle evenly with Jaldabaoth!

Looking over to the corner of the room, a man of imposing bulk and a lady with a slender figure stand idly, as if waiting for something.

Evileye: Ladies and gentlemen, one of these men is at this very moment fighting demons, but the other is right here in this room. I believe you know this man. From the third adamant.i.te-ranked adventuring team that was recently founded in E-Rantel of the Kingdom— indeed, it is him—

<>

The leader of Darkness, the Dark Hero Momon-dono!

The disguised skeleton pushes his adamant.i.te plate into plain view.

Evileye: Quickly, Momon-san, please come to the front of the room.

Nabe, after having Momon speak to her: Momon-san says there is no need for a lengthy introduction. We should begin the briefing quickly. We are wasting time, and by extension, lives.

Renner: Well then, let us make haste, as Momon-sama suggests. Evileye, may I continue the briefing?

Evileye: *cough* Uh, apologies, Princess Renner, please, continue.

At this point, it was blatantly obvious Evileye was embarra.s.sed, but naturally, no-one mentioned it.

After this brief introduction, Princess Renner dived into a description of the tactic that would be used for the operation, and how Momonga, or rather, Momon, would give them the penetrating power they needed to confront the stronger enemies, and that once a breach had been formed in the enemy's defences, he would swoop in to deliver the final blow. There was also discussion on which strategy would be best, but as normal, Renner won that debate.

(A.N: End of word-for-word copying.)

However, there was one major upset during discussions. When Gazef Stronoff attempted to put across that he would not be joining the combat, and before the atmosphere became hostile, he was interrupted by Princess Renner.

Renner: I am sorry Gazef-san, but my Father has requested that you and a group of your men are his defences on the battlefield. I believe his exact words were - 'If I recollect correctly, my soldiers are sworn to my defence, not a pile of rocks.'

Gazef: My lord...

Renner: I'm afraid you won't deter father this time warrior captain-dono.

Gazef: His majesty must not come to any harm, your grace.

???: Then you'd better remember to have constant vigilance!