Chapter 125: The Shadow Commander
[Rose?]
"What is it, Luma?"
[There is someone in this world that I like… if you could, could you please spare her if she offers her service?]
"Of course, who is it?"
[The level 503 commander of this world, Celia.]
"I see, and why do you like her?"
[She is very kind and always says please and thank you.]
"I see, well as long as she swears loyalty, she will live."
[… Thank you.]
"Of course, I'm sorry I can't promise much better."
[It's alright, I understand that you would have to kill her if she's a threat.]
"E-e-excuse me?"
"Ye-"
It was someone who was at least a 500.
"Are you Celia?"
"Y-yes, I assume that the System informed you of me?"
"Yes, she did…"
"I want to swear my loyalty to you on a condition."
That intrigued me, she was aware who I was, and how powerful I was, yet she still asked for a condition to her loyalty.
"What is this condition?"
"You… you're actually going to hear me out?"
"Of course, I'm not a monster."
She smiled.
"Thank you, um… could you please spare my men. I understand if you wouldn't be interested in it, but if you could allow me three days to get as many men as I could to swear loyalty, and simply dismiss the others, you would get this world without more bloodshed."
I smiled.
"I like that. Sure, I can do that."
"Thank you."
[The individual, Celia, has sword loyalty to you.]
_
Celia POV
She was far different then I expected. I always assumed that she was just flat out a monster. A beast that would do anything for power, but those eyes… they were kind and pure…
And Ms. System swore loyalty to her… I didn't even know that was possible, or that there was someone strong enough to make a contract with her.
I called a meeting of the 400s, all but one showed up.
"So, as you may have noticed, but Martin is dead."
"How?!"
"I hope the killer was brought to justice!!!"
"Calm down."
"Yes mam."
"We are in the middle of being invaded and I have already checked, there is no way to contact reinforcements or retreat."
"Then we kill the attacker!!!"
"We can't we are not strong enough."
"What do you mean?"
"Our assailant is Rose Hood, someone who could terrify even the Shadow. We don't stand a chance, so we only have one hope."
"Mam, you can't be serious."
"I struck a deal with her, we have two options, in three days we need to either decide to join her, or leave."
"Or leave?"
"Yes, I made sure that those who didn't want to swear loyalty would still be able to leave."
"So, all of us need to flee."
"…"
"Mam?"
They looked at me with concerned expressions.
"To assure that she wouldn't break it, I already swore my loyalty. Of those who leave, please tell Sir Kalgero that I am so sorry."
"Mam… well, if you are staying then so am I. I'll swear loyalt-"
He jumped.
"What was that?!"
"She has a skill that prevents betrayal, and cements loyalty as a pact."
"I see, so she wouldn't be able to hurt us either…"
"Yes, and she would defend us."
"Well, that cements it. I'll do it too."
By the end of the meeting, all of my commanders swore loyalty, and somehow… I was happy.
_
At the end of the three days, Celia came in to talk. Every single member of the God Slayers had declared loyalty.
"It seems you all are scared of death."
"No, many of us didn't like everything that would be done by the faction, so that led to more people swearing loyalty."
"That's good to hear."
[The World of Halla is being handed to you, will you accept?]
"Yes."
[The World of Halla is now under the control of the junior faction ruled by Rose.]
[You have gained the title, Conqueror. When in a world that you are at war with, your skills are boosted by 50%]
[You have gained the title, Peaceful Queen. You now release a calming aura that makes negotiation easier.]
I checked the requirements once more.
------------------------
The individual Rose Hood has the sponsorship of the system, Luma.
Kill 10000 higher beings (COMPLETE)
Kill 1000 level 400+ (956/1000)
Kill 5 level 500+ (1/5)
Kill 1 level 600+ (COMPLETE)
Kill 1 level 700+ (COMPLETE)
Gain the Title- Conqueror (COMPLETE)
Kill an evolved deity by using his string of life (0/1)
Kill an Angel (0/1)
Kill a Demon (COMPLETE)
Kill a Dragon (COMPLETE)
Kill a Whilder (COMPLETE)
Gain the blessing of the Supreme Faction (COMPLETE)
---------------------------
"When did I kill a 600?"
"Hmm?"
[Your killing a higher rank also completed the lower quest.]
"Nice."
"What?"
"I completed a requirement that I didn't even realize I did."
"That is good. If I may, what remaining tasks do you have?"
"Kill 44 more 400+, kill 4 more 500+, kill an angel, and kill an evolved deity using his string."
"Mam, are you going for 200 or 800?"
"Heh, Luma said the same thing."
"Who is Luma?"
[Hi, I was named Luma.]
"The s-system?"
"Yep."
I smiled and she looked at me in shock.
Then I felt a presence.
[ROSE, DAMIEN JUST ENTERED THIS WORLD!!!]
"Crap, Celia, get your men and as many people as you can and go to Pandora, I'll block off Damien."
"Understood mam!"
I ran to the street and looked around.
"How did he even get in?"
[I don't know. I think he may have tricked the lock into thinking it was someone different.]
"That's not good. That means he can get to Pandora."
[What are you thinking?!]
"We need to stop him here and now."
[No. He is too strong. This isn't like Asmodeus, there isn't some magical realm you can teleport him to to make him weak.]
"Luma, what is my strongest ability?"
[FEAR?]
"Nope, system override."
I could hear her eyes widen, but I continued smiling.
"If there isn't a realm that will weaken him, then I'll just have to make one."
[Be careful.]
"Hello Rose. Glad to see that you are less… demonic this time."
"Hello Damien."
"I am stronger than you, so the fact that you don't flee is rather impressive."
[System override, create rule… Access granted, for the faction I rule, let any enemies' powers to be reduced by 50%, but only on a world that I own. And make it so they don't notice it.]
[What title should I apply this rule too?]
[World mother and subsequent evolutions.]
[Very well, new rule added to World mother.]
"Are you stronger than me?"
"Quite obviously, even your new thing couldn't stop me."
"I've gotten quite a bit stronger than I was before."
He was double my strength… meaning, now that his power was reduced by half, we were equal… and that was before that 75% power boost that Luma gave me.
In other words, even he would fall to my hands.
[Additional rule, while in a world you possess, you and any of your subordinates gain a 50% boost.]
"Oh, then that makes this easier."
"Hmm?"
Then I was next to him, slashing to kill. His eyes widened and he jumped back.
"How? You aren't even using the weird thing!"
"Didn't I already tell you? I've gotten stronger."
He slashed, but he was too slow. I simply blocked and punched him. He went flying. I leapt over and cut down.
"Your mana is low, so how are you this much stronger?!"
He's right, it took 95% of my mana to create a new rule, so the fact that I was even standing was impressive.
Of course, I wasn't losing to anyone weaker than myself. That would just be embarrassing.
I kneed him and cut his hand off.
"GAH!!!"
I slashed and cut his chest.
It was around this time that he realized that victory and escape were both impossible for him.
"Hey, wait wait wait. I could rejoin you. Swear my loyalty and everything. I know you have a skill to assure loyalty, so come on… I could help you."
I smiled.
"Do you remember what you said you'd do to Erica and Darsen?"
He blanched.
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that, I'm sure we could look past that."
"No, I think you need a demonstration."
I activated FEAR and stood over him.
"P-please? For old time's sake."
[FEAR has leveled to 2]
His screams echoed across the world.