Chapter 22

*Lemon- L

*Caneas- C

*Yuri-YAkeno- A

*Time Turbulence- TT

*Four Great Spirits- FGS

*Divine Chant- DC

*Strongest Human- SH

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On the starry 6th floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, a majestic Amphitheatre stood surrounded by sand. Inside this colosseum, a crowd consisting of the most powerful beings of Nazarick gathered to discuss the finalisation of their plan. The mood surrounding them, however, betrayed the serious nature of the topic. They gathered into a circle, talking and bickering jovially akin to a group of friends discussing what they would do during their holidays. The things they discussed, though, were not something so innocent. They laugh and sneer as they discuss how they would act in front of their enemy mixed with a piece of torture discussion on the side, creating this weirdly wholesome yet equally terrifying scene. 

As Lemon observed this scene from the side, his thoughts were stormed with anticipation and distress due to the graphic nature of the NPCs' conversations. He even experienced a slight sense of guilt towards the Black scriptures for being one of the people who would unleash this terror on them. To his side, Caenis and Akeno, now fully dressed in their battle attire, stood uninteresting.

"Man, look at them. The way they're talking, you would assume they are discussing something stupid. The only thing that screams this a serious discussion is their equipment." Grumbled Caenis as she stretched her arms to the back of her head.

"My-My Caenis san, I didn't know you were such a traditionalist when it comes to such a topic. I had assumed that you would be right at home with them." (Akeno)

Hearing Akeno's mocking tone, Caenis, who was looking bored watching the group of NPCs, turned to her with a hostile glint in her red eyes.

"What are you trying to say bitch. You saying I am stupid or something?" Caenis growled, moving to approach the priestess with raven hair.

This didn't go unnoticed by Akeno, as she covered her lips with a talisman fan, locking her purple eyes with her white-haired sister. 

"FuFu, I never said that, my dear sister. I was just remarking on one of your many attributes," answered Akeno, a teasing shade in her voice.

Walking forward to avoid the catfight that was about to happen, Lemon neared the only other person who was watching over the NPCs. Approaching Ainz, who was sitting on a throne made of stone, he started asking about the plan they had finalised when he was not present.

"Amm, You could have joined us you know, instead of messing around in the dining area. Haa, forget it. We could not make any concrete plans due to our time and intel limitations. So we thought the best way is also the simplest way." Adjusting his posture, he continued. 

"Shalltear, Albedo, Demiurge, Mare, Aura, and Cocutose will all be equipped with a world-class item as they will be confronting them directly. We will also start with a surprise attack. If they fall from that, it's fine, but our main goal is to divide them." (Ainz) 

"Hmm. OK, so what are we doing to separate them? We can't just physically separate them, right? Or are we using some teleportation?" (L)

Asked Lemon, his eyes still towards the group of bickering NPCs, to which Ainz continued as he shook his head.

"No, We thought of that, but spreading our counter-surveillance magic in several places would not be feasible, so we opted to use "Depiction of Nature and Society" instead. That way, we can Absolutely capture the ones that are trapped. " (Ainz)

Pausing to look at Lemon's face, which was on the verge of questioning him again, Ainz nodded knowingly. If Ainz had a face above his smooth skull, Lemon felt he would have a proud smile plastered on it.

"I know what you are going to ask, but it's fine. We are just using it as a stalling item, so after neutralising the ones that are not trapped, we will immediately deactivate it, and deal with them when they are out. And besides, I highly doubt they can find the exit of the painted world."

"I see. Guess you have everything planned out. Did you come up with this?" asked Lemon, turning towards Ainz with an impressed look.

Laughing delightfully when hearing Lemon's words, Ainz replied with a tone filled with pride and expectation.

"No, most of it was thought up by them. I only gave them some more options." (Ainz)

Ainz's eyes flickered back to the scene where the NPCs of his friends were fighting and squabbling, just like he and his friends used to. Seeing this nostalgic scene made his heart re-spark a feeling he thought he had lost.

Lemon gave a lonesome sigh on seeing his friend finally starting to emerge from his cage and recognised that it probably wouldn't be necessary for him to be there anymore to fill the void left by their teammates' departure. A wave of negative thoughts flowed out from his heart at this, but, like damming this up a river, he put an end to it with a self-deprecatingly smile on his face.

'What am I even getting sad for? This is a good thing for both of us, this way, I can move on from this world without any regret, and Ainz can rely on the children left behind by our friends. Now, the only thing left is to do something about that skeleton body of his.' 

Lemon started to slap his friend's bonny back as if to drive away his thoughts and continued speaking in an enthusiastic voice.

"Hehe. Told you that if they faced some difficulties, they would grow. Take a look at them all fired up with the upcoming battle." (L)

"By the way, what are they talking about, if the discussions are already over?" (L)

*thuk thuk*

"About *thuk* that *thuk* that's. Oi, how long are you going to slap me?" (Ainz)

Bellowed Ainz, making Lemon quickly back off with an apologetic face, his hand in the air as he offered a dumb laugh. And Ainz, seeing this, continued while shaking his head.

"What was I saying? Ah right, they're discussing who would fight who?" (Ainz)

Returning to Ainz's side, Lemon gave him a surprised look, then with a voice full of exasperation, spoke.

"What that's,...are you serious, it's more than fifteen minutes, you know. Shouldn't you settle them 'cause we are wasting time?" (L)

Hearing Lemon's remarks Ainz turned to look at Albedo's group, which seems to be getting more heated as time passes. 

"Ya, you are right. As much as I like to watch over them as they come to their own decisions, we are short on time." (Ainz)

Standing up, Ainz turned to Lemon and, pointing to his creation, told him to also settle them down. Then he headed towards the group of NPCs 

"You guys, it has been more than 15 minutes. Tell me who you want to fight, and I will decide who gets who." (Ainz)

Seeing off Ainz, who has finally entered to end their arguments, Lemon turns to his arguing girls, who are now having a full-blown fight with spears and spells flying everywhere. 

Caenis was running and jumping at speeds that would be difficult to perceive by even an A-rank adventure. Her every stride made water splash even in parts where there was no water before. Every movement of her body, every step she took, was followed by a bolt of lightning. 

This, however, was not a part of her power. No, it belonged to the smiling Nephilim flying high up in the sky. She rains down spell afer spells that would make any skeleton-looking necromancer call his mother towards the accelerating Caenis.

Lemon's thoughts also stray to his teammates, whom he will never see again, as he takes in the chaos in front of him.

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Amongst the crowded trees of Tob, a splot of darkness suddenly emerged, but before the curious animals even took notice of it, its volatile form suddenly expanded, creating a film of black that was even darker than night. 

The animals perked their ears and lifted their heads from their night's rest, looking wearily at this sudden black. Their curiosity and weariness, however, were repaid with a sock that shook their being. Seeing the creatures emerging from this black gate their body could not move, and the agility that aided in their survival failed them.

They watch in utter horror as being after being of death emerge from the black gate. Their bodies stay motionless, as though some ancient wisdom etched into their very souls is instructing them to stay still, despite their instincts screaming with terror and their hearts pounding with dread. All of the animals, dragged between these two unstoppable forces, did the only thing that was allowed of them: they passed out, leaving the higher beings to decide their fates.

"HMM. AURA. DID. YOU. FIND. SOMETHING. THERE?"(Cocytus)

"Ahh, it's nothing, just checking what happened to the animals. They are just sleeping, though some of them have weird sleeping postures. Some kind of stance to intimidate any would-be attackers, perhaps?" (Aura)

The NPCs of Nazarick, with the aid of "Mirror of Remote Viewing", had selected an area with comparatively few monsters and a fair distance from their targets. But Demiurge, wanting perfection in their base security, assigned Aura Bella Fiora and Cocytus with surveillance of the surrounding areas near the [Gate]. 

THEN. LET. US. REGROUP. WITH. THEM. THEY. ARE. WAITING. FOR. US. (Cocytus)

Aura, nodding at Cocytos's words, walked with him to the clearing where all their members had gathered.

In that clearing, the two highest beings in Nazarick were seated in plush chairs that stood out against the surrounding forest, and in front of them was Albedo in her full armour as she spoke in a distorted bell-like voice.

"We will commence the attack momentarily, Momonga-sama, Lemon-sama. Rest assured we "The Floor Guardians of Nazarick" will surely accomplish the tasks you have assigned to us." (Albedo)

"Hmm, but will you be okay without our support? Regardless of how weak they seem to be, they still hold items presumably from players," said Ainz, his worry evident in his voice.

"Ahhh, to be so worried for us, Ainz-sama, you truly are the most benevolent, but rest assured, we have prepared every form of countermeasures. Demiure has also set up anti-teleportation and anti-surveillance in the whole area. They cannot escape this net." (Albedo)

Placeing her hand on her heavy chest, which was now armored, she declared with Zeel and, seeing this, Ainz smiling bitterly -she assumes- nodded his head in approval.

"Ok, ok, let's get this fight started. Me and Ainz, with Demiurea and some high-level NPCs, will be waiting here. So you guys beat the crap out of them and let them know what true despair is." (L)

Interjected Lemon from the side, making the Guardian Overseer nod in understanding. His voice then turned to the two ladies casually standing to the side.

"You two also get your asses moving, and remember this is capturing mission, not an extermination one." (L)

Hearing Lemon's advice, his two creations replied in their typical ways.

"I hear ya, Master. We just beat the living crap out of them without giving the final blow right. Leave it to me. After I am done, they will be left begging." (C)

"FUFU. Yes, Master, I shall do my utmost to keep them bearly alive." (A)

'Now that's a reply that makes me worry, but they did well last time. At least Caenis did,.....I am sure Akeno will be fine. She is a shrine madin an all.....Yep, let's prep my spells, just in case.'

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*The clearing near the cave*

The first one to notice the hostile intent bowering towards them was the "Thousand League Astrologer". 

As she was drinking her soup ration with some of her teammates, a sudden chill so potent that she thought she was on top of the Azerlisia Mountains ran through her spine. Dropping the bowl in her hand, she shot up to warn her teammates, but it was too late, and as a show of that reality, a sudden protrusion on the earth appeared, dividing the Scriptures into two groups.

On one side, the 1st Seat: Captain of the Black Scripture, 2nd Seat: Time Turbulence, 3rd Seat: Four Great Spirits,4th Seat: Divine Chant, 5th Seat: Quaiesse Hazeia Quintia, "One Man Army" and the 10th Seat: Strongest Human was lumped together, purely from the fact that they had finished they night's rations and were peparing to sleep, they also had the still unconcious Keadea with them making their sudden situation precarious as best. 

The other group did not have it much better consisting of, the 6th Seat of the Black Scripture, the 7th Seat: Thousand Leagues Astrologer, the 11th Seat: Infinite Magic and the 12th Seat: Heaven and Earth, which only left them with one proper attacker the 6th seat. It can be even said they are in a more dangerous position as their assailants are more likely to target the 7th seat, thus crushing the most powerful eyes of the theocracy. 

The group of eleven, now divided, scramble to their feet and draw their weapons, their eyes wondering for their assailants. 

"What the? Where did this thing suddenly appear?" SH

"Is this an enemy attack? Where are they attacking from?" DC

Six members of the Scripture huddle together with Kaire as their centre. All faced outward towards the dark forest, ready for anything.

"Shit, We lost visuals with the guys near the cave." TT 

Looking at the towering wall, TT clicked his tongue, his usual smug countenance replaced with anxiety. He then turned to the guys with him mentally counting who he was stuck with, noting who were the ones on the other side.

"Dame it, IM is over that side. I will have to be more cautious when it comes to my mana reserves. Hey, SH, take down that wall with your overwhelming strength." Shouted TT, looking at the Barbarian-looking man.

The Barbarian, however, did not even give him a response, instead replying with a heavy shout as he jumped into the air, his giant axe overhead. As his name implies, this man, the SH, is the most powerful of the Black Scriptures in terms of raw physical strength. That is why, in his mind, the thought of his axe destroying this wall of earth was already a foregone conclusion. But, he was no overconfident fool. He understood the opponent they were facing were no ordinary rife rafts, they were powerful enough to silently bypass both the many barriers of FGS and the senses of TLA, so as he jumped, he activated all the [Martial skills] to make the image in his head a reality.

[Ability Boost, Greater Ability Boost, Supreme Ability Boost, Focus Battle Aura]. Skills after Skills are activated in his mind as the fibres of his bulgy muscles expand further, making him look like a Giand bolder in human skin as he starts to plummet from his jump, but not satisfied with this, SH activates the skill [Stone skin], this is a skill that hardens the body to make it as strong as stone, however, with the advantage of heighten defence it comes with the hindrance of increase in weight, but in this situation, with the gravitational force gained from the weight, his next skill would become an attack that can destroy anything.

As the SH plummeted into the wall, he shouted the name of the skill that would realise his goal "[Heavy Blow]". 

His booming voice resonated in the night forest as he swung the giant axe into the rough texture wall. A giant plum of earth and dust exploded from this impact, obscuring him from the others as they watched with breathed breath. Inside this plum, SH heaved heavy breath as a potent backlash travelled from his Axe to his hand, to the core of his body, making his arms feel as if every bone in it had cracked. But this pain did not even register to him as he looked on with jaw-dropping confusion at the still-standing wall.

"W-What in the, haa haa, It did not even scratch it. What is this thing made of?" SH murmured under his heavy breaths, a silent fear slowly crawling up his spine.

SH wasn't expecting a response to his question. No, he hoped no one would answer, since if anyone did, it would be the monster that conjured this thing in the shape of a wall. But this question, and his aim, would be met with an adorable voice and an answer that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

The wall shook with a rumble as it started to crumble, all at once like brittle concrete, and seeing this feat of absolute power, everybody rejoiced, praising the man who pulled this off. The man in question though, abruptly jumped out from the dust plum with the agility of a frightened tiger, running towards his team with a face white as paper. 

And seeing him running towards them with terrified bearings, they all sobered up from the excitement. 

"W-what wrong? Why are you coming here? Check if the others are ok first." TT shouted confusedly. 

But ignoring this, he replied in a hysterical shout. "R-Run s-something here. It just spoke to me." SH

"Oi, answer me properly. Did you hear something?" TT

"Hmm, look ahead everyone. There seems to be someone coming towards us." FGS

Hearing the calm voice of the old mage, TT turned to him, speaking in a joking tone to cover his increasing dread.

"Ha, ya, old man. It must be the other guys if they didn't rush to us in this situation." TT

"No TT, I think FGS are not talking about them. Look ahead. Their silhouette doesn't match up." (Quaiesse)

On listening to Quaiesse's comment, TT's eyes left the figure of SH, who just rejoined and looked at the people who were finally coming into view toward the individuals who were finally gaining visibility. At that moment, everyone's minds came to a stop. What they saw went against everything they had accumulated as common sense throughout their lives.

Seven beings emerge out of the settling dust, beings that were too bizarre to be part of this forest's ecology.

The leader of the group is a woman in fully plated armour, her feminine charms radiating with every step as she seems to absorb all the light surrounding it. An equally black axe with an exquisite design rests in her hand. They all thought, at first, that they were facing a Peerless heroine, but when they noticed the horns softly protruding from her head, they realized they were facing non-humans.

A little behind her, a red golem with a face that could charm any man or woman strides confidently, her red eyes burning with scorn as it gazes towards them. 

To her left, a giant ice blue bipedal insectoid monster walked, emitting breaths of cold as it crushed the rocks beneath it, ironically however when seeing this abomination of ice, the watchers felt a sense of revived purely on the fact that something that alines with the image had appeared. 

This relief transformed into outright confusion when an adorable dark elf girl walked out, looking glaringly out of place amongst the group of Monsters. It was to the point that if someone told them that she was actually a hostage from some hidden elf village who was abducted to be a guide, they would have instantly believed it. The sudden scream of horror from the SH put a damper on this logical thought. And, seeing the hand of this nervous-looking child, which appeared to have been severed from both an angel and a devil fully ended it.

Finally, to end off this march of nightmares, a humanoid woman with long ebony hair and soft purple eyes, dressed in a way that emphasized her proportion but exuded an air of serenity and purity, emerged, accompanied by a white-haired woman in golden armour that exposed her bestial body and outfitted her with equally golden weapons walked out.

TT's eyes, however, did not leave the elf's eyes. He rubbed it with his palms and, seeing what he observed had not changed, asked his captain.

"Oi. Captain am I hallucinating, or does the elf girl have Heterochromia?" TT

The Captain understood his surprise because Heterochromia in an elf signifies their royal lineage. It was surprising enough to encounter a race from a nation they were warring with, but to run into an elf royal was beyond even his imagination.

"No, She does. This could mean that they belong to the elf country, but how could they know we were here...No that's not the main problem right now. We have to find a way to escape and report this to the Elders." Captain

"Well said Captain," said FGS seriously. He extended his wooden staff and smashed it back to the ground, making a magic circle appear below the group. Finishing his preliminary setup he continued.

"These are formidable enemies, that we cannot beat head-on. Unfortunately, they have caught us unprepared thus, so our only course of action is to quickly withdraw." FGS

"Oi, I thought they were strong, but even you are saying that old man. Shit, where did they suddenly appear from," grumbled TT as he started to activate various Martial skills. 

The captain strengthens his grip on his spear as his eyes glance down to the still-sleeping elderly near him. He felt conflicted about how to proceed next. He understood that fighting with his team would give them the greatest chance of survival, but from his cursory evaluation of the opponent's strength, he was not confident that they could win. 

Looking down at the elder again, his mind came to the second option, to make the Black scripture members hold the enemies as he and Lady Kaede escape, effectively sacrificing his teammates and friends. Which choice should he take? Should he gamble on the slim chance of victory or betray his friends to death to save himself?

"I am sorry everyone, we might not all be able to get out of this alive." (Captain) 

Hehe, what are you saying Captain that's something we already knew when we joined the black scriptures. So, it's not something you have to apologize for." (Quaiesse)

"Yes, It's as Quaiesse says, you don't have to feel guilty about it". DC 

Looking away from the enemy in front of her, DC smiled gently at his confused captain, and spoke in a voice that sounded as though it were coming from a saint.

"Don't worry about us, and return with Lady Kaied. The Slane Theocracy cannot lose both of you right now, so please retreat, as we will hold them off." Pushing her voice to find her words, she continues.

"And take care of Antilene, please. Despite her strong exterior, she is always lonely in that sanctuary, and not to mention, she seems to like you more than me, which always rubbed me the wrong way. Please fulfil this as a final wish from a friend." DC

The Captian loosened his grip on his spear as he felt his body strengthing from the buffs FGS cast on him, then looking at the teary eyes of DC he nodded slowly.

Then as if to pierce through this tearful mood, TT sneered at them and confidently spoke.

"Speak for yourself. I am going to screw these guys, and quickly catch up to you, so hurry up and let us handle these losers. You just relax and with that old lady returned to our home." TT

Seeing his friend, who was always behind his back, make such a confident declaration. A proud smile surfaced on the Captain's face.

"Ya, you are right. I am sure you guys can beat them. Let us meet up again in our home." (Captain)

Feeling the casual agreement of the people around him, he strengthened his grip again and murmured in a voice too soft for anyone to hear but loud enough for everyone to understand. 

"Thank you, everyone, and good luck." (Captain)

The captain explodes in speed towards the sleeping elder and, with the speed of a gale, picks her up on his shoulders and runs straight inside the dense forest.

This action, however, to the surprise of the Scripture, did not elicit a response from the other side, and only the red golem tracked the Captain's retreating figure with its crimson eyes. This silence, however, was broken by a voice that sounded ethereal yet at the same time distorted.

"Shalltear, that was your target, right? Are you fine letting him get away?" (Abedo)

"Fufufu, Do not worry arinsu~. I am just giving him a head start. It will be no fun if it ends too quickly, right arinsu ~." (Shalltear)

"Hmm, do not play around. He also has the main target with him." Chiede the blacked armored woman.

"Chi. Yes yes, I will be going now arinsu~" said the golem unapologetically as it started to hover above the ground.

When the remaining members of Black Scriptures hear this conversation, which seems to be between an extremely serious coworker and a festive one, they immediately spring into action. But the golem mocked their efforts with a *ZooM* sound as it shot into the sky and raced toward the vanished captain.

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I Chapter=30 PS.

I will release a chap every 3 days if the PS count is reached, if not then I will release new chapters when I can since I do like to keep writing. Thank you for understanding.