Angel Awakening & a True Vampire
Deep within the borders of the Slane Theocracy was one of the Black scriptures bases, it was at this one that the "Angel of Humanity" was being trained. Her name was Mary Sioux, she was the daughter of the famed general, Antaon Sioux, and a woman who was a descendant of a legendary hero who was supposedly an actual angel from heaven rather than the ones that priests could summon. This made Mary a God-kin and the only descendant of this angel hero in many generations to have been able to manifest angelic and divine powers similar to that of her ancestor. Due to the Slane Theocracy holding these heroes up as living gods, the angel hero was their proof that the heroes were sent by or governed heaven. But Mary was the first one in so long that they could hold up on a pedestal for their citizens to show them their faith and belief in humanity's superiority in the god's eyes was absolute.
There was a problem though, the only divine powers she could use at will were healing spells that due to how effective they were, led them to be ranked near the tenth level or higher compared to every other known healing spell. She could also summon "holy blades" from nothing and power up weapons. She also through a unique angel race trait could go through most magical shields and hit with full damage. There were other abilities she manifested but could not use on command, like heavenly spells. She also could not do divination spells that the theocracy priests could do, only the basics. She once was able to bring a member of the Black Scripture back to life and the man had not lost any levels or was any weaker, a true perfect resurrection. But she was never able to do it again since then. There were other moments like that as well. But none that she's been able to use at will.
What was most inconvenient for the leaders of the Slane Theocracy was that Mary had not manifested Angel wings yet. They had spread rumors that a descendant of the Angel hero was born with just as much promise, but there was only so much they could do until their citizens stopped believing. So for now Mary had to train day in and day out at one of the Black Scripture bases, she was trained by every member or on her own. Her most strict teacher was "certain death" also known as Antilene, a half-elf who had just as much scorn for the elf king that scion her that the other humans of the Slane Theocracy had for elves in general. Her Mother being kidnapped to make her was a large reason the Theocracy was able to justify their constant aggression towards the whole of Elf Country.
Still despite how strict Antilene was to Mary neither hated the other. Mary's father was one of the few humans in the Slane Theocracy who held no hatred for elves so Mary was the same way. Most of the Black Scripture only put up with Antilene despite being an elf due to how strong she was and how long she has lived compared to them, but Mary genuinely enjoyed the company of her "teacher."
Mary did not dislike being in the Black Scripture as a trainee. What she did hate was of the ten years she had been here she had only seen her father a few times a year and only once in the last few years. After her mother's death, he was the only family she had left. She was thinking about him at the moment and for some reason felt sadder than usual. Which led to her being flung back into a wall by an incoming attack from Antilene. "Seems no matter how much I warn you about it you keep distracting yourself in combat. Forget elves and demons any regular man can beat you in a fight if you keep doing that." Mary shakingly smiled at Antilene as she stood back up "R-right. Sorry. I was just thinking about my father. I will try not to do it again."
Near the two a loud chuckle was made by Quaiesse, also known as the one-man army. Quaiesse was watching them train since the rest of the Black Scripture was out on a mission to use a legendary item passed down by the Seven gods so that they could tame a Catastrophe Dragon Lord that was near the Re-estize kingdom. He also used his natural charisma and the same trusting smile that he used on many adventurers to make Mary very comfortable around him which is why he was so easily able to convince her it was okay that her father was always busy. A ploy to keep her in check. But much like the other Black Scripture members he also did care for Mary, even if she was lacking compared to the rest of them.
He also like the rest of the Black Scripture towed the line with Antilene so as to not provoke her. "Come on 'Certain Death' don't be too harsh on her. She was promised her father would visit after he completes his diplomatic mission to the Baharuth Empire after all it's understandable she would think about him." Antilene giggled "Aww seeing how excited she gets every time he visits." Mary huffs and moves her arms up and down while saying "H-hey don't tease me!"
Quaiesse shakes a finger "Well if I recall Certain Death, you don't complain when he brings us baked goods as well. If I recall you he started bringing an extra box of those small cakes after how upset you got the first time." he teased Antilene but that only got him a stare that instantly made him wave his hands and say it was a joke. Mary smiles more "I need to get stronger so that I won't have to spend all my time training. Then I can see him whenever I want. So don't hold back on me till then."
The moment was interrupted when priests walked into the base. One of them was from the council and was carrying a covered sword. "The others already left for the mission," Antilene told them as she was a little annoyed they interrupted her teasing and training Mary time. "We are not here for that. Mary…" The cardinal slowly put the sword on the ground and removed the cloth. Mary's eyes turned from happy to wide and worried. "W-what is this?" she asks while both Antilene and Quaiesse are silent, they were not informed of the plan to kill Commander Sioux. But they knew it was something on the mind of those who run the country and had been for a while. Seem they went through with it without informing the Black Scripture.
The Cardinal holds both his hands in front of him. "While in the Baharuth empire a group of Mercenaries led by an Elf ambushed and killed Antoan Sioux…" Before he was even finished Mary gasped and quickly fell on her knees slowly looking at the holy sword her father once had the honor of wielding. "...along with the rest of his men. Apologize for your loss. May the heavens protect his soul." they easily used the lie Clementine gave them. Helped sell their lie more.
Antilene and Quaiesse felt something. It was Mary! "Everyone move!" a sudden burst of light blue magic filled the room as the cardinal and all the priests were blown back. Mary was making motions that looked like screaming while tears fell down her face but somehow they were inaudible cries and yells. The room was filled with blue flames and a circle formed around Mary. and for the first time since Mary was born, wings were shown off her back. Burning blue flames attached to them as well. Everyone was flabbergasted. The Cardinal especially, their plan had worked but even they expected it just to motivate Mary more not immediately bring out the signifying heavily angel trait.
Mary for a moment stopped moving and then slowly reached for and held her father's sword in her hands. "Who was this elf…WHO!" her voice echoed while she stared with nothing but contempt and madness. The Cardinal tried to make himself look more presentable and bowed to Mary. "this was the account given by the sole surviving knight before he succumbed to his wounds…" another lie but they gave all the details Clementine had given them. Including the name Tanya.
---------------------------------
In E-Rantel a fancy hotel restaurant Solution Epsilon threw food she never intended to eat in the first place. "Disgusting! How can you even call this food!" to normal people a fancy meal like the one she tossed aside would be a delectable meal, none knew she was a predator slime. She was posing as a noblewoman though even without this fake personality Solution only enjoyed human meat. After she stood up she told Sebas, who was posing as her butler, to get ready to leave before storming off.
Solution Epsilon then went up to the carriage driver they hired named Zach, who they also knew from spying was also secretly in cahoots with a famous bandit clan nearby. "Zach, prepare the carriage for transport I want to leave this town immediately for daring to insult me with such wretched food." after she walked upstairs Sebas turned to the rest of the restaurant guests and staff and bowed "I apologize for interrupting your meal. Enjoy the rest of your night." before he to went upstairs. Zach went outside to inform the bandit that had been sent with him to them to get the others ready for both robbing and "fun" with the pompous noble lady. Unaware the possible victims were already aware of what he was doing.
"We should get going I am sure Lady Shalltear is getting bored of waiting," Sebas says as he opens their room door. "One last thing Sebas, if it is not too much trouble. Can I have that man?" Solution was talking about Zach as she licked her lips, she hungered to eat him since they first found out who he really worked for. This was part of their plan to secure magic or martial arts users in this new world and bring them to Nazarick as per Ainz's orders. Well, their exact orders were to find criminals with these talents which was why despite seeing some adventurers in E-rantel with those skills they had found this to be at least a lead. If at least one of those bandits had the skills they were looking for it was worth their time.
Inside the carriage, while Zach was signaling his bandit pals from the Death Stranding Brigade along the way, Sebas was conversing with Shalltear. Solution Epsilon was sitting by her immediate superior's side which was Sebas as he was the head of the Pleiades. While two of Shalltear's vampire brides sat at either side of her. "It is a good thing Ainz-sama is as smart as he is hot. Sending me on this mission as the leader, instead of Albedo or those two little elves. I can easily capture any person no matter what martial arts or spell they use against me. Though I hope at least one we capture impresses him." Shalltear rubbed her cheeks, imagining what Ainz would do when he was grateful to her. Putting that unneeded comment of their glorious king aside Sebas says "Lady Shalltear, I can't help but notice you don't get along with Lady Aura all that much. Forgive me for asking, Is there a reason for this?"
Shalltear takes a moment to think while smiling with a tinge of nostalgia and warmth. "It is not that I have a bad relationship with that shorty. It is just how my creator chose to make me, as someone who teases her," she spoke about how her character profile was written even before she knew who Aura and Mare were. "to start My creator Peroroncino is the brother of BukuBuku Chagama, the creator of Aura and Mare…" Shalltear begins telling Sebas and Solution a memory she has of when Ainz and Pero were talking on the first floor.
"There it was, I had bought the adult game I was looking forward to for months, only to instantly recognize my sister's voice!" Peroroncino griped about his recent experience. "She did not tell me she was cast in it on purpose!" he said with giving a frowning emote. "Chagama huh? She is a highly sought-after Voice actor. Especially for those kinds of games." Momonga had never played any himself. But he did buy some of the first games and watched some of the earlier anime that Chagam had voiced characters in. just to show support to his guildmate, like the good leader he was. He had stopped after she took off. Mostly because there was only so much questionable material he could buy until he got worried about himself, let alone family or co-workers. Not that there were many opportunities to travel in the years of the 2130s unless you were rich, so he rarely had family visits. Momonga does a downtrodden emote "At least she did not make you read her script where characters who are very obviously based on Argent Silver and her do less savroy things." Pero's avatar sweats "Oh I read…part of it. I could tell right away it was based on Argent Silver. But…took me the first ten pages to get the other character was…well." Momonga posted a wide mouth Emote "I. don't want. To know!" both siblings were such perverts!
Shalltear finishes the retelling of the events, not really knowing what the supreme beings' true thoughts were. Sebas asked "Voice actor?" Shalltear would respond by giving her a misunderstood definition based on other conversations her creator and his sister had with their great Lord Ainz. "from what I am told, a Voice actor is someone who uses their voice to bring someone to life. So someone who creates others like us." both Sebas and Solution Epsilon were amazed. Solution would be in awe as she said "Thank you for furthering our knowledge on the supreme beings Shalltear." even Sebas and Solution came to the same conclusion, that even outside of Nazarick Bukubuku Chagama had never stopped creating and bringing Npcs to life. So Aura and Mare possibly have hundreds of siblings!
Suddenly the carriage stopped and not long after someone was banging on the door. "Come out rich lady. We have you surrounded." outside were the bandits and Zach. the carriage driver was rubbing his hands together "Remember I got them here, so let me have a go at her." the door opened and the bandits were shocked to see Shalltear there who did not fit the description of Solution of course. Still, despite her size making them think she was a kid she still had quite the chest size. One of them approached with an outstretched hand "Hey for a child you have quite the-" he stopped just before he would have reached her. "Please don't touch me with your disgusting hands" Shalltear had a smile of glee as the man backed away and screamed while holding the arm where his hand was cut off. "You are so loud" With one swift cut from her fingernails Shalltear removes his head as well. Shalltear forms a blood sphere from the man's corpse. The bandits get freaked, and it gets worse as after this happens the two vampire brides that came with Shalltear appear and on her command start to slaughter the men except one to interrogate about their base.
Zach was backing away from he yelped as Solution tapped his shoulder. "It's okay Zach, come over here" Solution's creepy smile nearly made him try to run but as she lowered the top part of her dress and showed off her breasts it seemed as though he was inviting her to play with her body. Something wanted to do anyway. But due to her nature as a predator slime the moment his hands touched they instantly went inside her slime body. He started feeling pain as Solution pulled him more and more inside to eat him in the unique and painful way predator slimes do. Zach yelled in from the dreadful misery and pain before he vanished into Solutions's slime and never heard again. It was unsightly but not unexpected.
"We know the locations of the base where the Death Stranding Brigade is. There is a man there who can use martial arts." one of the vampire brides said before dropping the poor man they had tortured the information out of before mercy-killing him. Shalltear knew what she had to do next which meant this was where she parted ways with Sebas and Solution. "We have our job collecting information from the capital. We will leave you to it Lady Shalltear." Sebas takes over as carriage driver despite Solution's insistence she does it. That left Shalltear and her vampire brides to hunt down the man who could use martial arts.
Some time later In the base, a man named Brian Unglaus was cleaning his katana when he stopped due to feeling something was off. No, he was sure he heard a screaming noise. He smirked and thought it was more adventurers so he went to check it out, would buy their commander more time anyway if they were outnumbered. Little did he know the true horror he would encounter.
Shalltear yawned while one vampire bride was killing one man after the other, one of them could stand a chance and could not even hit it once. The other vampire bride was by the entrance just in case their prey tried to escape that way. The vampire bride with Shalltear yelled as suddenly someone was able to hit her, though she healed up right away which meant the human they just encountered was their likely target. Brain was surprised to see vampires here, even if it was just two of them. Considering how far they made it these vampires were quite strong, sure the men here would struggle against vampires but he thought they would hold them off at least. "Vampires huh? Might actually have fun." Brain said as he gave a toothy grin while clearly underestimating the two vampires.
The vampire bride was about to retaliate but Shalltear flung it against the wall "It is my turn to play." she smirked thinking it was cute of this lowly human to think he stood a chance. Brain may be overconfident but he was not an idiot. "So want to face me? Names Brian Unglaus in case you didn't know." he wanted to flaunt his reputation but the vampire was not even phased. Shalltear lifted her skirt a bit and gave a small curtsied bow "Shalltear Bloodfallen. Pleased to be your final opponent."
Brain instantly activated the field, his unique martial arts skill he developed himself which allows him to perceive anything in the three meter range, basically increasing his accuracy far more than any other martial arts fighter skills. He did this while crouching a little and gripping the handle of his katana. "Oh, is this your plan?" Shalltear could see Field was up and despite not knowing what it was she was confident it would be nothing threatening to her. Brain instantly slashed and his Katana almost went right to her neck but was stopped just short of it by Shalltear casually holding it from the other side with two fingers. "H-huh?" Brain found he could not even move his Katana from the short vampire's grip. She finally lets go and he stumbles back a bit, a little more weary of Shalltear but still sure he stood a chance. 'She just got lucky' he thought.
Shalltear giggled while holding a hand over her face a bit "Was that all? Why don't you face me with real martial arts?" Brian's face changed to a bewildered one and slowly smiled 'Is that what she thinks this is?' he started attacking again with a different martial arts skill, using for fast but different range slashes, but with one extended nail Shalltear casually brushed aside each one. "What you did just now was a martial art as well right? How disappointing, are you perhaps not that strong? I can only measure strength in units of meters. I cannot tell the difference between one and three millimeters." Brain suddenly felt warped inside. He was being toyed with, Shalltear was not even trying.
The vampire slowly approached while saying "Well no matter how much you are lacking you are still useful to my Lord. so come with me." she wanted to kill him, savored it even, but she still had her mission. Tears filled Brian's eyes "heh…hahahahhaha!" he started hysterically laughing as he mentally broke down from the fear he felt and ran for his life. "Oh? A game of tag is it?" her playfulness merged with her bloodlust and she could not help herself. She transformed into her True Vampire form, looking like a lamprey as she chased after him.
Brain ran past the rest of the remaining men who were shocked to see him running away at all. But quickly Shalltear had burst into the room and due to her bloodlust instantly desired to kill and drink their blood. She jumped for the commander first, biting into his neck. Each bandit was slaughtered and had their blood drunk. However, after she killed all of them and got to the last room where Brian retreated he was nowhere to be found. She saw a secret tunnel, an escape route, and realized she messed up. "NOOOOO!" her bloodlust still there she ran through the tunnel.
When Shalltear existed in the tunnel she saw no signs of her prey but did see some adventurers. They seemed shocked to see her, one of whom was Brita who was getting the silver potions out so they could enchant their weapons with it and actually harm the vampire. But once against Shalltear tore her opponents apart. When she got to Brita the woman in a desperate move to save herself threw the red potion she got from Momon at Shalltear, this made her stop. The glass broke and as she transformed back to how she was before. Her vampire brides had caught up with her by then and she ordered them to bring that girl back.
Brita was forced down in front of Shalltear who forced Brita to stare into her big red eyes to put her in a controlled state. Once that was done Shalltear held up half of the red potion, it smelled like Ainz so she had to ask. "Where did you get this potion?" she commanded to know the answer. In a blank tone, Brita responded "An adventurer in big black armor gave me it. Momon." Shalltear clicked her lips a bit, this woman could have connections to Ainz's plans for this world which meant the most she could do was put her to sleep. "Was there anyone else with you?" if Brain had passed by them surely they would have noticed. "Yes. we had an archer stay behind when we found this place since we knew men who had abandoned their guard duties were inside. He was to head back and inform the local knights. He should be halfway back to E-rantel by now."
Shalltear rubbed her head, this was very bad for her! "Not only did I let that martial arts user escape but I let another human get away! Lord Ainz will scold me for sure!" she said as her misunderstanding of how Ainz was made her think this was actually a possibility. She quickly ran up the trees and jumped up to be at the very top of one. She summoned her vampire wolf familiars to hunt both of the men down. This was a mess, at least in her eyes. But soon she saw a light flash not too far away and instantly felt all her familiars were gone. "They…were defeated?!"
Enraged and already disappointed with herself she went to kill and possibly capture some of those responsible. She saw a group of people, she instantly went for the leader who managed to counter her large lance with his own. But he was pushed back. This prompted him to say "use it" to an old woman with an odd-looking qipao robe. She lifted the sleeves and magic started to activate. Shalltear went for the old woman but was delayed by a man with a shield.
A light that looked like a dragon was summoned by the robe and instantly hit Shalltear. She could tell it was a spell meant to take control of her, she could not stop it but in desperation, she used a spell. Purifying Lance went through both the shield used and the robe item wearer…the others tried fighting as well but without orders from the one who took control of her mind with the mysterious robe Shalltear attacked only when attacked and only killed one of them. The rest retreated with the bodies. Leaving Shalltear by herself. Not moving. Not dead. But not aware either.
--------------------------------
Ainz stared at the screen made by the Throne of Kings, his throne. It allowed him to see the status of his allies, NPCs, and others so long as they were inside the tomb. Shalltear's was red, and indicated she was under an effect. He had originally wondered if she was killed, but Albedo pointed out to him her name would have disappeared if that were true.
"The vampire brides that were with her were killed as well. Given we have lost contact with her Shalltear must have rebelled. We have to act lord Ainz!" Albedo insisted, volunteering to go with Cocytus and Mare to stop and kill Shalltear.
"No, since there is stuff in this world that did not exist in YGGDRASIL. Since the effect does not show up, that is likely the case, we will need to cure her. But…" Ainz lowered his skeleton hand. "If she did rebel. And did so because she was dissatisfied with me I would understand." Albedo aggressively ran her hand through the air "I refuse to let any thought like that against you exist from inside Nazarick. Lord Ainz as the overseer of the floor guardians I implore you we punish Shalltear to the full degree of any traitor!"
Ainz shook his head "No, my friends who created you all left behind bits of their personality in you all. Both the good and the bad. It is because of their passion when creating you that you all are important to me. And that I care about you all…Albedo?" the succubus was hugging herself in glee to hear Ainz say he cares about her and she is important to him, seemingly forgetting he meant the NPCs as a whole.
Aura's encounter with Tanya, possibly Argent Silver. And now this. It was all one big mess. First Ainz needed answers. Then he could go about solving the issues. Most pressingly, Shalltear's rebellion.
--------------------------------
Tanya was walking with her arms behind her back, Zewaurt walking alongside her. Tanya was in her Argent Silver outfit. The military and classic mage robe mix garnered attention amongst those in the Baharuth empire. She was currently on her way to fulfill their current job as a mercenary company, one which did not even require her to use military force. In fact, it is closer to assassination. Two rival slavers. Each offering a reward for the other head and destruction of business. She went for the one that paid more. She was sure either would have gotten a kick out of the fact she was an Elf. but only one scumbag would die tonight.
Rerugen had caught up with them finally. "I am being followed. I noticed it right away but did not want to draw attention amongst the crowds." he personally did not care if the people here feared or hated him if he were to kill the stalkers in front of them all. But he did fear Tanya enough to know she would not be happy if he did that in a crowd.
"That is fine. We will deal with them after this. Just in case Zewaurt." Tanya looked at the NPC inspired by Zettour. "Yes, commander? What are your orders?" she casually waved her hand "Cause that grate to fall." Zewaurt picked up a pebble and threw it behind him at a grate that was right over Mary and her partner in crime. Mary yelped like a girl. Both to busy recovering to keep track of Tanya and the others, losing sight of them. Much to Mary's chagrin.
But the two would encounter each other again. All she had to do was watch out now that she knew what Tanya looked like….