“I greet you, Leaders of the Slane Theocracy. I am the Sorcerer King, Master of Eleven Legacies, Slayer of Jaldabaoth, Bane of Re-Estize, Ainz Ooal Gown!”

The Gatekeepers broke their circle, imposing themselves between the newcomer and the Cardinals. The Black Scripture formed a back line, peering between the angels and around them to see the Sorcerer King and his bodyguard in black armor, wielding an axe.

The Pontifex responded.

“Sorcerer King. You see the overwhelming odds against you. I am glad you are sensible. Have you come to discuss terms of surrender?”

“Yes. Yours.”

Confusion swept over everyone.

“You stand before the highest of angels, angels greater than those that slew the Evil Deities, and you have the nerve to demand our surrender?” spat Cardinal Partouche.

“Dominic…” chided Cardinal Lagier. “He is still-“ The Sorcerer King interrupted him.

“Whether or not I have nerves is irrelevant. The name of Ainz Ooal Gown does not know defeat. Your Black Scripture’s petty victories and minute triumphs are only milestones along the road to defeat. But even now, I am full of mercy for you. Will you surrender to me? Even after you have insulted me again and again, attacked my lands and the people I govern, I offer you clemency.”

“What mercy can one expect from an undead? Cardinal Lagier said it before when you first came to try and intimidate us, and we shall say it again. We reject your mercy and you. Surrender to us or-”

“[Extend Magic – Time Stop].” The whole world froze around Ainz and Albedo. “Ah, no temporal countermeasures. Excellent. [Greater Magic Seal]. [Triplet Maximize Boosted Magic – True Dark]. Angels are vulnerable to negative energy, just as much as I am to holy energy. There will be no mercy. Albedo. I permit you to display your power.”

“As You command, Ainz-sama. [Life Essence].” The low-level scroll Albedo took from her inventory burned away in blue fire as she uttered its incantation.

“What do you want to target first?”

“Whatever You command me-“

“I want to see how you perform tactically, Albedo, in fights where we are outnumbered.”

“Then, Ainz-sama, I suggest we begin by targeting the Cherubim Gatekeepers, as they have the strongest defensive. I can hold the half-elf at bay, as she will likely be the main route of attack.”

“You have guessed my thoughts exactly. Well done, Albedo.”

“There is no higher praise than Yours, Ainz-sama.”

“Anything else you wish to suggest, before we begin, Albedo?”

“I have nothing to add, Ainz-sama.”

“Very well then.” The world moved again as the time spell released.

“-die!” finished Cardinal Partouche.

“[Maximize Widen Magic - Mass Hold Species].” The humans present, except for the Captain of the Black Scripture, froze. He moved to take a defensive position in front of them. The Cherubim Gatekeepers, flaming swords in hand, charged forward, intending to close around the two. Certain Death, unaffected by the spell, morphed her scythe into a bow, and she loosed an arrow of light at Ainz.

“[Wall of Jericho]!” shouted Albedo. Starting from her feet and widening to a circle containing both herself and Ainz, a cylindrical wall of force sprang up. The burning blades struck again and again, uselessly against the barrier, as did Certain Death’s arrow, dissipating.

A magic circle appeared around the center of the Seraph Empyrean that floated above them, rotating and growing brighter. It was about to cast a spell. Ainz reached out his hand to 3F, Albedo’s bardiche. “[Rune of Helheim].” A deep black rune, darker than even Hermes Trismegistus itself, appeared on the blade of the axe, and its once glossy edge turned into tangible darkness. Albedo leapt up to attack one of the Gatekeepers, nearly twice her height. The attack glanced off its shield, and it responded with its own attack.

“[Parry]! [Counter Arrow]!” Albedo’s axe met the flaming sword, and she leveled the axe’s haft to meet another of Certain Death’s radiant arrows, sending it flying back at her. The half-elf rolled away before the returning arrow could connect. Ainz vanished.

“[Triplet Boosted Magic – True Dark]! [Greater Magic Seal – Release]!” cried a voice from above. Ainz flew above the angels now. Three columns of darkness, in two rapid bursts, rained down from the sky onto the Cherubim Gatekeepers, before they could raise their shields to completely deflect the attack. Albedo hurled her weapon towards the Gatekeepers.

“[Rune of Helheim – Release]!” The black rune on the axe exploded, covering all four angels in a blast of unlight. Raising her hand, Albedo recalled the axe. Ainz vanished again, appearing behind Albedo again.

The Gatekeepers made their way forward again, as did Certain Death, a greatsword in hand.

“[Thunderstride]!”

Ainz zoomed forward, making straight for Certain Death. He held one hand back, a ball of lightning building in his open palm. The half-elf quickly darted out of the way, and Ainz smashed the lighting ball in the ground beside her as she passed him, sending her flying away to the side, and crashing into one of the Cathedrals. Ainz quickly turned towards the Cherubim.

“[Triplet Maximize Boosted Magic – Hell Flame]! [Triplet Magic – Call Greater Thunder]! [Boosted Widen Magic – True Dark]!” Three small sparks shot out from Ainz’s hand, colliding with the Gatekeepers before they could turn around, enveloping them in dark fire, followed by three falling bolts of thunder, which then ended with the Gatekeepers being enveloped in a wide cylinder of pure nothingness. “[Life Essence].” Thanks to his use of high-tier spells, their lack of resistance to said spells due to being 20 levels below Ainz, and his use of energy-types they are less resistant or even vulnerable to, the Gatekeepers could only boast 45% of their HP. Ainz teleported away again, appearing behind Albedo.

The magic energy building up in the Seraph peaked and flashed. Holy light rained down from the heavens.

{On a newly made hill not far from the city…}

Mare kept an eye on the Sorcerer Kingdom vassals gathered near him, especially Neia Baraja, Fluder Paradyne, Emperor Jircniv, who seemed to be watching the battle via the Mirror of Remote Viewing most attentively. The Emperor seemed nervous, glancing anxiously between Mare’s mismatched eyes and the Mirror, as he intermittently winced in pain.

This is mankind’s last cry of hope against the demon king before he gathers it to fatten for the slaughter. It’s all chess to him! And he won before the pieces even touched the board. Mankind is doomed to slaughter and bloodshed. I can resist the passage towards the inevitable slaughter in my own way, but it’s not enough to save many people. The Empire will be the last to die, and if I’m not careful, we’ll end up putting our heads on the chopping block willingly. My stomach hurts!

Fluder Paradyne watched in absolute reverence of Ainz.

The God of Magic! High-tier spells, exceptional tactical skill, knowledge of the enemy! But I didn’t even hear him use the [Magic Seal] spell on himself at all. He might have used the [Silent Magic] metamagic, but I can’t be sure. The Abyss of Magic holds so, so, so many secrets. And if he is willing, I would have Ainz-sama teach them all to me!

Neia ignored Mare entirely, caught up in her own train of thought. She realized something as the light of the Seraph’s [Holy Smite] spell engulfed Ainz and Albedo.

I see it all so clearly now… How could I have been so blind? I’ve missed the deeper meaning of Ainz’s Justice. Ainz is incredibly strong, but that is not why he is Justice. Ainz is Justice because he is Death. Death is the highest form of Justice.

{The battleground in Kami Miyako…}

The [Holy Smite] spell, having run its course, dissipated. Ainz shook his head in disappointment. Don’t they ever learn? That hardly affected me, even when I didn’t have [Magic Ward – Holy].

“They are quite powerful, wouldn’t you say, Albedo?”

“They are powerful, Ainz-sama. The battle is very much in doubt.”

“I disagree, Albedo. I am Ainz Ooal Gown, and nothing living or dead can defeat me! [Widen Maximize Magic – Reality Slash]!” Ainz swept the air in front of him with his hand, and it seemed that existence itself turned into a slashing blade. The four angels were cut in two at the middle, and they dissipated into a shower of golden sparks. Ainz raised to the Seraph. “[Maximize Magic – Planar Exile].”

Color drained from the angel, and it disappeared.

“How?! HOW?!” cried Cardinal Partouche. The humans stared with saucer-like eyes at Ainz, who they had just watched crush part of their final hope within several minutes.

“Pontifex, we should sue for peace and-“

“It is too late for that, Berenice. We fight and die, or we die.”

“This is madness to fight him! He has destroyed everything we’ve thrown at him! Everything!”

“Not everything, Maxmillian. Captain. Certain Death. Move now!”

As the two Godkin leapt forward to attack, Ainz vanished again. The Cardinals felt his chilling presence appear behind him.

“[Widen Magic – Darkness].”

The world turned black around the Cardinals.

“[Widen Magic – Light]!”

Cardinal Lauransan uttered the incantation, the darkness dissolving in a flash of light. As it did, the Cardinals saw Ainz in front of them, readying no spell. Albedo had vanished, it seems, since the two Godkin and the Black Scripture rushed to impose themselves between the Cardinals and Ainz. The Captain seemed resolute, whereas Certain Death was enthused about the battle, if her crooked smile was any indicator. Ainz spoke, turning his head slightly as if to talk to someone behind him.

“Shalltear, you may indulge yourself. I will deal with the angel. [Planar Exile – Self].” Ainz turned lost his color, like the Seraph had, and vanished. Just behind where he stood was a short figure, clad in blood red armor. Bloodstained feathers in twin plumes adorned the red helm, and two great feathered wings sprouted from the armor’s back. A crimson gauntlet clutched a strange lance, whose handguard was like a sphere of glass filled with an odd pink liquid. The newcomer greeted the Black Scripture with a fanged smile and hungry ruby eyes.

“Pontifex, Cardinals. Get out of here now. It’s the Vampire!” shouted the Captain.

“This, Captain? This is the Vampire that sent you packing?” asked Certain Death, incredulous.

“Impressed?” asked the bloodied Valkyrie, playfully swishing her lance in the air in front of her.

“How the Undead enslaved you doesn’t matter in the end, vampire. You die here once and for all,” said the Captain. “You still must answer for three lives you have taken.”

“Do I? Really? Last I checked, you were the ones being held to account. You forced me to fight against the Supreme Being, Ainz Ooal Gown-sama!”

“Enough of your talk, vampire. Your kind is a blight upon this world and will be removed. [Dawn].”

Gloom Herald opened the match one of his own spells, as a cylinder of blazing light erupted under Shalltear’s feet. As the light coursed upwards, the vampire shrieked in pain.

“W-What was that? What kind of spell was that?! That hurt so much!”

“The power of the Six Gods abjures your kind, monster. Feel its scorching justice, repent, and may your soul rest peacefully in the afterlife. Again, Third Seat!” cried Cardinal Partouche.

“[Dawn]!”

“[Deceleration]!” cried Time Turbulence. The rest of the Scripture joined in, attacking the now unmoving vampire.

“[Sunder Armor]!”

“[Zenith Cage]!”

“All of you, enough. Save your strength to-“

“No, Captain. The vampire is weak. I think you were overcautious and allowed it to kill Divine Chain and Myriad Barriers. Press the attack!” ordered Cardinal Partouche.

“Your Eminence, I respectfully submit that-“

“Press the attack. We will show the undead what it means to insult us with his weakest slaves.”

“Cardinal, please! Listen to m-“

“If you will not fight, then by my right as Cardinal, I relieve you of your duties.”

Certain Death rolled her eyes, watching rest of the Black Scripture attack Shalltear mercilessly, sending her flying back into the Cathedral of Air. The structure tumbled to the ground. Curses and spells, arrows and blades all struck the vampire. “How disappointing,” muttered Certain Death. “Weak.” She picked up the Rubik’s Cube she had left behind her, resuming her attempts to solve it, occasionally looking up at the now distant battle, its only signs the thunder of spellcasting and the rising dust from tumbled structures. The Cardinals had gone forward to observe the battle. Only the Captain stayed behind, gripping his spear.

“The Cardinals have surely doomed us. Did they really forget that this was the monster that murdered two of my men and fatally wounded Kaire-sama? And even if they do kill the Vampire, I fear the undead king will return himself and slaughter the rest of us. Killing the vampire will be no more than a minor inconvenience to the undead. It can just raise the vampire again.”

“Then why don’t you go save them, my dear Captain? Are you worried about me? Believe me, I’m fine. Go help your people. I don’t care. I’m waiting for Ainz-kun to appear so I can see how truly strong he is. I’m so excited, Captain! Another promising man has appeared.”

“Ainz-kun? Is that what you call it now? Which side are you on, Certain Death?”

“The side of my children. If Ainz-kun beats me, imagine how strong our progeny would be! They could burn the whole world down if they wanted to! And with Ainz-kun-“

“You are mistaken. It is undead, it has no flesh. And even if it did defeat you, it would never reproduce or create life, the very thing it longs to destroy.”

“Ainz-kun seems different than most undead, though. I’ve only seen him this once, but I can guess that maybe the way he turned into an undead let him cling to his living soul, or he can repress his hatred of the living, which explains the various living minions who work for him. Even if he doesn’t have flesh or seed to give me right away, he’s so strong in magic, he can probably use it to solve that problem. Oh, but here I go, getting all carried away again. I need to be sure Ainz-kun’s really the One. I don’t want him to turn out like Momon did.”

“You are a traitor. To me. To the Theocracy. To your mother.”

“Since you’re usually nicer to me than most humans, I’m giving you ten seconds to turn around and go away, Captain. If you weren’t this way, I’d be killing you here and now. Go back to your concubines or whoever.” Certain Death turned back to her cube. The Captain left the square, heading towards the residential district.

{The Commerce District of Kami Miyako, several minutes later…}

The Black Scripture halted, their vampiric opponent unmoving atop a pile of rubble that used to be a shop.

“H-How much can this monster take?” grunted Strongest Human. He looked at his axe, its edge marred and dented in multiple spots. He gasped for air.

“It’s not moving now, and I still haven’t called in my summons yet. We still have some punch,” said One-Man Army.

“We haven’t broken its skin at all,” pointed out Thousand-Leagues Astrologer.

“It’s quite powerful. [Discern Enemy] has confirmed that. Let’s see… [Life Essence]. It’s practically finished. Likely incapacitated,” said Veil Breaker, leaning against a wall to catch her breath.

“Quintia-kun! Have you killed the vampire?” called Cardinal Partouche, not far behind. At this point, the other Cardinals had either agreed with him or gave up trying to fight him.

“It seems to be unconscious, between our attacks and the ambient sunlight. Divine Chain, contain it.”

“On it, Quintia-san. [Zenith Cage].”

“Full report, Quintia-kun?”

“Except for myself, we have used all our mana and martial arts, Your Eminence.”

“Where is the half-elf, damn her? We could use her right now to cave in this bloodsucker’s stupid skull!” cried Strongest Human.

“Probably skulking around for that Sorcerer King. You know how she feels about strong people, living or dead,” said Divine Chant.

Gloom Herald scoffed, turning to Myriad Barriers. “For once, your shield survived a fight.”

“The real tragedy here’s that you did too, booksmarts.”

“I’m concerned by the fact that we haven’t seen the vampire use that holy javelin attack again. How can something so evil and vile even draw upon righteous energy that powerful?” wondered Veil Breaker aloud.

“It might have been a single-use weapon. A last resort, as it were,” suggested Divine Chant. The conversation was stopped by a voice from nearby, awash with contempt.

“Aww… all tuckered out after a hard-earned victory? That’s a shame.”

“All of you, get back! It’s still alive!” shouted One-Man Army.

Shalltear laughed. “You see, I learned something after Ainz-sama killed me. He said to me that in battle, control of information was just as important as good use of skills and raw strength. Of course, I could have been all boring and efficient, and killed you all right away, but I wanted to show Ainz-sama what I learned from Him!

For instance, I could be practically immune to your spells and physical attacks due to our differences in power, and yet act like they affect me. I could use magic to make you think I am losing health when you hit me, when in fact, you can’t even scratch me. I could act like your abilities are unknown to me, when in fact I committed each of them to memory, from intelligence gathered by Momon-san. [False Data: Life – Dismiss].”

“The hell are you-” started Myriad Barriers.

“It hasn’t lost any health! We’ve done nothing to it!” cried Veil Breaker, panicking.

“Impossible!”

“Darkness was just toying with us… to gather intelligence?” questioned Gloom Herald.

“We, we used almost everything! How is it not dead?!”

“So… now that it’s my turn, who’s first?” Shalltear smirked wider than before, raising her free hand. A bolt of holy magic appeared in it. [Purifying Javelin]. “Hmmm… On a second thought, no. Death is a privilege you will not earn for a very long time.” She lowered her hand as she spoke, the bolt of energy dissipating. Her disdain blazed into vindictive rage. “You disgraced me, long ago. You have tarnished my reputation with disloyalty and treason. And worst of all, you forced me to fight Ainz-sama, to fight Perfection itself! But once I defeat you, that will all be behind me, and you will all be under my feet!”

“[Maximize Magic – Summon Gigant Basilisk]! [Triplet Magic – Summon Fire Elemental], [Triplet Magic – Summon ”

One-Man Army summoned a massive beast, with lethal eyes. A Basilisk. Shalltear looked right at it and laughed.

“Hahahaha! Do you see this weapon I hold, human? This was the greatest gift my creator gave me. My lance can absorb the health of anything it strikes, not that I need the health. Your summons work to your disadvantage.”

“Creator?”

She leapt up, slashing horizontally with the Spuit Lance. Bits of bone, brain, eyes, and a spray of blood showered off to one side from the Basilisk, followed by the rest of the monster’s body.

Strongest Human roared, charging forward, followed by Blazing Star and Divine Chain. The barbarian brought his axe down angrily on… mist, the mangled blade clanging on the ground. The fog floated up into the sky a short ways, coalescing into Shalltear again. She extended her free hand.

“Hm. [Mass Hold Species]. [Widen Magic – Vermillion Nova].”

The Scripture and the Cardinals, froze in place, unable to move, and were soon engulfed in a burst of flame. They all collapsed, unconscious.

Shalltear laughed to herself, floating down. She put two fingers to the side of her head. “[Message]. Pestonya. … Pestonya-chan! I have some prisoners to bring home!”

{The air over Kami Miyako…}

Ha! [Planar Exile]! This is great! They fell for it! That spell doesn’t exist! I just used [Silent Magic] to cast [Perfect Unknowable] on the Seraph and then me! Usually, it would resist the spell, but since I’m a higher level than it, I can override the resistance using [Maximize Magic]. I’ve only used two thirds of my MP in this whole fight, and I still have my [Mana Siphon] from Narberal. Everything’s going great, and it looks like Shalltear has the Black Scripture well in hand. I can’t wait to hear about her side of things.

It might be cool if I could bring the angel right over to where people like Neia, Jircniv, and Fluder are watching. Well, actually, that would be bad for Fluder, and maybe Jircniv. Fluder’s going to explode with some sort of ‘God of Magic’ gibberish, and it might mentally break the Emperor. He already got shaken up just seeing the angels appear. I still need him alive and sane to help refine my regal bearing. I suppose [Control Amnesia] would help. I definitely want to leave a deep impression on Neia, deeper than the one I left when I ‘killed’ Jaldabaoth. If I can get Neia to get religious control over Jircniv and the other vassals, that would make integrating and annexing those regions down the line much easier.

But… being flashy and showy might pose a risk if someone like the Platinum Dragon Lord shows up. But I’ve heard nothing about anything crossing the Council State Border, nor have I heard from the Elven Kingdom to the south. I suppose if it gets down to it, I’d be fine. Alright, Seraph. I’ll move a little ways closer to the camp and let the fun begin.

{Back to Mare, Neia, Jircniv, Fluder, and the others…}

Neia had fallen on her knees in pure awe, having seen through the Mirror of Remote Viewing the destruction of the four Cherubim Gatekeepers with the spell [Reality Slash] and the banishment of the Seraph Empyrean with a single mighty spell. She ignored Fluder Paradyne, now babbling and cackling like a maniac, as he was carried away on a stretcher, or how the Emperor clutched his stomach in writhing pain as he too was taken away on a stretcher. Neia felt the goosebumps, the shivers down her spine, the lump in her throat, imagining what legendary duel now transpired between the Undead King and the angelic foe, an apocalyptic clash of magic and god-like might, the stuff of myth. She felt upset as well, not at Ainz, but at herself, knowing the battleground of that great clash was forbidden to her all-too-human eyes. She wondered for a moment if Mare felt the same way, wishing to see his… his loving father. Was he too barred from seeing the might of Ainz-sama? Or could his heterochromatic gaze pierce the corporeal veil, seeing in full the glory and power of Death itself? Neia laughed quietly at her own musing, raising a hand to wipe away the few tears that streamed down her face unnoticed.

Why am I so surprised and in awe, even now? How can His greatness and His love still shake my very soul? Why do I still tremble seeing the almighty embodiment of Death, who, loving me and all my people, delivered us from the Demon Emperor? And now, loving all others who serve him, He personally wars with the angels! Nothing, absolutely nothing in this world, can defy this most exalted Justice. He is not merely a great god among other gods. He is God.

As she thought this, the sky between the hill and the city exploded with light. There, brushing the low-hanging clouds, was the vast Seraph Empyrean, the flames of a vast [Explosion] dissipating off its body. Two vast wings folded downward, two folded upward, and the one laid horizontally, as a defense across its central core. The sixth wing swept horizontally, at something. Rays of holy light shot out from the legion of all-seeing eyes that adorned the rest of its massive wings, all aimed at a comparatively small, humanoid shape clad in dark robes, flying around it. The figure swept vertically with its hand. A thundering voice soon followed. “[Maximize Magic - Reality Slash]!” The angel visibly lurched, falling back. The air shook with a deafening shriek. Those soldiers in the nearby camp screamed as well, covering their ears, and weeping in terror at the horrid din. One of Seraph’s wings went limp, drooping down, its radiant glow extinguished. The spell had only partially severed the pinion, leaving a small part of it hanging on to the main body of the angel.

Neia tore away the Visor Mirror Shade from her face, wiping away the new onset of tears. She laid the item reverently on the ground beside her, realizing just how much her whole body was shuddering. She could barely move. But she was going to watch, no matter what happened. She was going to watch and see with her own eyes the true power of her God. The God of Death.