CH. 186: Sisters Face Off

The air shifted suddenly, and without warning, the mist around them thickened, swirling into an impenetrable wall of fog. Visibility vanished in an instant, and the cold seemed to deepen, biting into their skin with relentless force. The Foresight members froze in place, hearts pounding, as the already harsh conditions of Glacier became suffocating.

"I-I can't see anything!" Imina stammered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and the creeping cold. Her breath formed thick clouds, disappearing into the fog.

Roberdyck turned in circles, gripping his staff tightly. "Stay close! Don't wander off! We'll lose each other if we're not careful!" His voice sounded distant, muffled by the dense mist that pressed in on them from all sides.

The fog grew heavier still, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. The cold was more intense now, sinking into their bones. Termite's voice broke the eerie silence, sounding frantic. "Where is everyone? Stay together! We can't get separated!"

Suddenly, a new sound pierced the oppressive fog—a strange, rapid tapping, like footsteps moving at an unnatural speed. Along with it came the unsettling clatter of metal, like the sharp snap of scissor blades opening and closing. The noise seemed to echo around them, impossible to locate.

Hiro's voice cut through the tension, shouting into the fog. "Is everyone alright?! What's going on?"

There was a pause, then Termite's voice, thick with fear, resonates with force, "THERE'S AN INTRUDER AMONG US! SOMETHING IN THE MIST IA CLOSING ON US!!" He shouted.

After hearing those words and confirming their suspicion– Termite, Imina and Roberdyck's stress levels rose up exponentially. It seemed like they fell right into someone's trap.

"Albedo, clear this fog—now." Hiro's voice cut through the thick mist, his tone cold and authoritative, resonating with a sense of urgency.

Albedo didn't hesitate. Stepping forward with determined grace, she gripped her paladin sword with both hands, its blade gleaming in the dim light of Glacier. With a fierce shout, she swung the sword in a wide arc, unleashing a powerful shockwave. The force of the blow was immense, causing the air around them to ripple as the fog dispersed like smoke blown away by a fierce wind.

The mist that had suffocated them moments before scattered, revealing the icy landscape, though the chill remained as biting as ever.

Visibility returned, and the Foresight members, shivering from cold and fear, took a few cautious steps, trying to make sense of their surroundings. The once suffocating atmosphere was replaced with a tense quiet, broken only by their ragged breaths.

But the silence didn't last.

Hiro's gaze snapped to the distance, narrowing as he saw something moving in the now-cleared air. From the shadows, a dark silhouette was emerging—moving fast, its form shrouded in ominous darkness. The sound of metal clinking, like blades snapping shut, grew louder.

"There," Hiro muttered, his eyes fixed on the approaching figure. Albedo tightened her grip on her sword, her stance firm as they prepared for whatever was coming.

"An assassin's strength lies in their invisibility," came a cold, calm voice from the shadows. "By clearing the mist, you've destroyed my strategy."

Albedo's eyes widened, and a flicker of recognition crossed her face as the figure stepped into the now-clear air. Her expression shifted from surprise to a sharp, calculating gaze.

"That voice..." Albedo muttered, her grip tightening on her sword.

Emerging from the shadows was none other than Nigredo, Albedo's older sister. Clad in dark robes, her presence was both haunting and commanding. Her cold, analytical eyes studied them with detached interest.

"Nigredo," Albedo murmured, her tone caught between surprise and caution.

"Albedo," Nigredo mumbled, while holding her huge pair of scissors that seemed to be source of the previous metallic clashing. "You've aged well, younger sister." Nigredo adds.

Nigredo stepped closer, her face pale beneath the hood of her dark robe. Her eyes, sharp but deeply pained, bore into Albedo with a mixture of sorrow and fury. For a moment, the cold of Glacier seemed to fade as the weight of their confrontation pressed down on them.

"You've betrayed Nazarick, Albedo," Nigredo's voice cracked with restrained emotion. "How could you? After everything… after everything Ainz-sama has done for us…"

Albedo stood tall, her expression hard and unyielding, though a flicker of conflict danced in her crimson eyes. "You don't understand, Nigredo," she replied, her voice steady, but not without a hint of regret. "This isn't betrayal. It's a choice—a path forward."

Nigredo's voice wavered, but her strength didn't falter. "A choice? A choice to defy Ainz-sama? To stand with this outsider, this… this faker?" She gestured wildly toward Hiro, her hands trembling. "How can you speak of choice when you've thrown away everything we were built to protect? Do you think you know better than the Supreme One?"

Albedo's eyes narrowed, a flash of defiance crossing her face. "Ainz-sama himself taught us that blind loyalty is no loyalty at all. He said we must think for ourselves, make decisions that serve Nazarick's future, even if they seem to go against his direct will. This is not rebellion, Nigredo—this is survival."

Nigredo's voice broke as she took a step closer, her anguish barely concealed. "You speak of survival, but at what cost, Albedo? You've aligned yourself with someone who threatens everything we've sworn to protect! You stand there, so sure of your righteousness, but can you truly say this is what Ainz-sama would want? Can you honestly believe this is for him?"

Albedo's jaw tightened, but she held her ground. "Ainz-sama understands that loyalty without reason is a path to ruin. I have followed him faithfully, and I will continue to do so, but not as a mindless servant. I'm thinking beyond the present, Nigredo. I'm thinking about what Nazarick will need—what Ainz-sama will need—to endure in the future."

Nigredo's eyes glistened with unshed tears, though her voice remained firm. "You're so blinded by your idea of strength, by your obsession with power, that you've twisted his words to justify this madness." She shook her head, her voice softening in heartbreak. "You've always been strong, Albedo… but now I see that strength isn't enough. You've lost your way."

Albedo stepped forward, her voice lowering, but her resolve unshaken. "You mistake strength for ambition, Nigredo. Everything I do is for Nazarick's survival. You may not understand now, but in time, you will see that I have not lost sight of our purpose. I am not betraying Ainz-sama. I'm protecting his legacy."

Nigredo's hands clenched into fists, her body trembling with restrained emotion. "I refuse to believe that! You've chosen your path, but it's the wrong one! You can still turn back, Albedo… before it's too late." Her voice wavered with desperation, her sister's betrayal cutting deeper than she could bear.

Albedo's face softened for a brief moment, but only for an instant. "I won't turn back. I've already made my decision."

Tears finally broke free from Nigredo's eyes, though her voice remained strong. "Then you've become a stranger to me." She turned away, her back to Albedo. "You are no longer my sister."

As she disappeared into the thickening mist, her voice carried softly over the ice. "May Ainz-sama forgive you for what you've done."

Albedo stood still, her heart heavy with the weight of Nigredo's words. Yet her grip on her sword remained firm, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Forgiveness… isn't necessary," she murmured to herself. "This is the only way forward."

Nigredo's calm shattered, her breath ragged as her fists tightened, nails digging into her palms. Her eyes blazed with a wild intensity, years of restraint giving way to sheer fury. Without warning, she lunged forward, a force of raw, unhinged rage.

Battling the mind-bended Albedo was prohibited by Ainz-sama himself to all NPCs other than selected floor guardians; that's why it felt like Nigredo was breaking Ainz-sama's rules again, and this time, he wasn't gonna be so benevolent for a punishment.

"You think you can walk away from this, Albedo?" Nigredo growled, her voice low but laced with venom.

"We're both breaking Ainz-sama's will, but I'll be damned if I let you get away with it. I'll tear your treachery apart piece by piece. And when it's over, I don't care if Ainz-sama strikes me down.

I'll smile as I burn in hell, because I'll have taken you with me, sister."

She surged toward Albedo, her dark robe flaring as if fueled by her fury. The air around her crackled with deadly intent, the very ground beneath her feet trembling as her power surged. Her expression twisted into a grin, fierce and unrelenting, her eyes filled with the singular, reckless drive to destroy the one person she never thought she'd turn against.

"I'll carve your name into the flames of the underworld if I have to!" Nigredo roared, her voice a primal declaration, unyielding and fierce.

Albedo stood her ground, her eyes narrowing as her older sister charged, but even she could feel the weight of Nigredo's resolve. This wasn't just a fight between sisters anymore-it was a collision of two forces destined to burn everything in their path.

"Let's ride to Hell, then..." Albedo responded, rushing towards Nigredo.

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