-With Kyuketsuki-

"Where is Clementine?"

Gazing at Khajiit without a care, he was in no mood to play around already. They had killed Jade, crept into his area undetected, and now they somehow got to his team without him knowing. Rage boiled in Kyuketsuki’s ice-cold veins refusing to be made a fool of any longer or losing anything else to these people.

Whoever they are, they just hit the top of his hit list, and no mercy will be given. They would become nothing but ash by the time he finished. But first, he needs to take care of these three.

Therus snapped his fingers as the death orb in Khajiit's hands explodes with negative energy. Killing them all off as the sphere gathered said energy becoming a body of evil crackling darkness, With glowing red eyes, mouth, and a glowing orb for a heart.

“I don’t know who you lot are or what your game is, but you will regret not running when you had the chance. Though I am not without mercy, tell me were the Green Vultures' adventures are, or I destroy this whole city.” Therus let out the evilest laugh he could muster. At least till he knew his cover is blown.

The one in armor spoke up first. “I am Momon, I don’t know who they are or what game you mean? Though I thank you for taking care of the other fools, it saves me the trouble.” Momon gained a dark edge to his voice.

“You do not look like your responsible for killing Ninya. Tell me who it is!” Therus could swear two red dots glowed behind the helmet.

“Oh, you want answers, but so do I sadly we don’t all get what we want. I had a deal with the Green Vultures if they could stop me, I would spare this city. If they fail to show up, I will destroy this city now.”

Therus let the threat linger in the air waiting for their response. Though impressed when they failed to take the bait, this did not change his resolve. “Fine, if you will not tell me the truth, perhaps, I shall just beat the answer out of you!”

Stabbing the spear into the shadows [maximize magic double: darkness mirror] smirking as twenty copies of himself rose out of the shadows forming into a line in front of Therus. “Now, who will be the first to try and stop me before I destroy all of E-Rental.” Grandly waving out his hands, inviting an attack.

The first to move was the Minotaur charging forward Therus grinned with an air of blood lust. Each of his doubles raised their spears, uttering one spell together [triple: phantom pain]. Upon casting so many spells on to one target, the minotaur which he never learned the name of; had his blood practically explode out of his body as hundreds of cuts covered his body blood rushing out of his veins. Bull Drops dead into a large pool of crimson liquid.

“Next, please.” Therus taunted the next fighter, the armored woman holding her deadly ax, which seemed familiar charged forward. Only to get stopped by a wave of pitch-black energy [darkness thrust]. As they jumped back, watching both of them. He needs answers, and he couldn’t get any fighting both of them at once right now.

“Red orb, please keep the young maiden occupied while I talk with their leader.” At the command, the death orb flew at albedo, flinging her further away from their fight. He moves his attention on to the last one taking note of the sloppy stance and lack of movement he expected for a living being.

Watching his [blood pool] form out of the blood of the minotaur above him. As Momon didn’t move an inch despite the skill at work. From what he could gather, none in this world are used to seeing this skill active. Momon remained unphased despite this.

“Now that we are alone. Tell me, are you from YGGDRASIL?” Therus could barely make out Momon stiffen with narrowed eyes. ‘so, I’m right then let see just what level you are.’

“What if I am.” At this reply, Therus sent out five mirrors to rush Momon. Each shooting off [acid arrows] and [frost rays] in rapid succession and as two semi-solid illusion drew close thrusting at Momon’s armored chest only to fail to penetrate. It did dent it, if only slightly. As Momon wildly swings out his sword into the two-illusions dispelling them with a blast of dark energy.

Though the second blade got block by one mirror as to other thrusts out [acid blood] and [blood blades] at once. A rain of dark red swords shot out of them at Momon just enough to penetrate the armor in a few spots.

No blood or pained grunt only silence as Momon throws back the third copy and thrust at the fifth one with his second sword, vanishing it before wildly swinging to match the two doubles in an unskilled almost talentless manner.

‘This doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t fight like a warrior at all. Is he mocking me or just pretending to be one? And why is he not acting as if he’s injured at all?’

To his disappointment, the semi-solid illusions were again cut down by lucky strikes, though they were truly giving it there all. Scowling under the armor watching as the other fifteen mirrors divide into either casting spells from afar or trying to test out any hidden fighting style.

The longer Therus watched, the more he was sure. This was no warrior, let alone a melee fighter of any kind as the spells bounced off the armor or failed to take effect. Though looking closer, the armor appeared to have some magical aura around it. His scowl Deepaning, teleporting right behind Momon as he fought off his illusion. Bringing up his spear from the ground into an upward slash.

[abyss rising]

Momon could not react fast enough to the negative energy blast as the shield shattered into particles as Momon was flung at the pillar. Breaking through stopping his momentum by stabbing his sword into the ground but not before throwing his second sword through the last three illusions.

“You are surprisingly unskilled for a melee fighter. Magic caster, tell me, What are your real skills arcane, necromancy, maybe divine?” Therus asked rhetorically, impatiently tapping the bud of his spear into the earth.

“Oh, is it so obvious? I thought I wasn’t too bad at this.” Momon sounded annoyed though Therus was far more focused on how unharmed by any pain he was. Despite all the scratches and holes in his armor.

While Momon was agitated about how badly he was getting beaten in swordplay. If one thing did augment this, it was the continues use of negative energy spells, which only healed any damage he received. Momon noted this person seemed far too adept at close combat for most purely magic caster classes. If they were indeed an arcane necromancer, they looked like one better suited for melee.

Both of them watched the other with analytical eyes trying to find the real answer to who the other was. Both of them were sure on only one thing they were both players from YGGDRASIL, even if it wasn’t outright stated.

Still, Momon didn’t want to resort to his magic unless his opponent showed his cards first. Glancing over to see the skeleton dragons near were Albedo was fighting and thinking up the best way to distract Therus.

“So, what was your goal in attacking the swords of darkness?”

Therus thought this question was unneeded, yet he still went through with it. As his bitter regret rose up, ‘ It doesn't matter if a few humans die if I can’t have Jade.’ Clenching his hands around his spear with a chuckle-filled tented with an edge of madness.

“Why? Why not! It doesn’t matter either way. They died if they had just backed down, the swords of darkness might have lived too bad they had to get heroic.” Finishing with a few frost rays launched at Momon

Sidestepping the spells rushing up with his greatsword into a wide horizontal slash. What Momon didn’t expect was for the attack to be stopped by a wall of crimson glass. Followed by Therus tapping the barrier as the blood shot out spikes [crimson trap].

Momon jumps back though he predicted the next action turning to swing at Therus teleporting behind him. Only to stumble as the first Therus rushed at his exposed back, trying to shatter the armor blocking him.

Keeping both hands on his sword as Momon blocked a frontal attack. He knew he would be panting right now if not for the fact he was undead. Putting in his strength into pushing Therus back, which didn’t go as planned. Instead of staying in the bind, Therus maneuvered Momon’s sword to point down, allowing the copy of Therus in his blind side to stab at Momon’s back.

Momon managed to push Therus away as he cut the copy down. But not without receiving a few more stabs to his back. Once the copy was cut down, it dispelled into a pool of blood on the ground.

“You are terrible at this for a fighter with such oversized swords. I think I’m tired of these games. [cursed blood dome]” Momon watched the familiar spell form a dome of red energy over the area. Ancient runes appeared on the ground deactivating [true warrior] spell.

The sword slipped out of Momon’s hands on to the ground. ‘Great guess there goes any chance of avoiding this now.’ Momon, even with the enchanted armor he would be unable to use weapons outside of his class so long as they were inside this dome.

“Prepare for horror! You people may have taken Jade from me, and though she will not return to me, I will make sure you feel endless pain before your end!” Therus spoke even as he pulled up blue sticks from his belt. Snapping them both as his armored suit replaced his armor and staff. Ainz froze under his persona in shock, whispering out, “Kyuketsuki!”

Kyuketsuki almost halted glaring at Momon. “So, you know my name. It shall not change your death.” Ainz felt panic as his friend quickly hovered into the air before rushing down at him. Thinking fast, he pulled out his neckless of flight, jumping over the thrust at the last-minute landing behind his friend dismissing his armor, turning to him.

“Wait, stop Kyuketsuki. It is me, Momonga.” Holding up his hands, watching as confusion filled the true vampires’ eyes, lowering his sabers.

Sitabus halted, losing all his energy at the sight of his friend, the persona of Therus slipping away. Using his detection spells to be sure this wasn’t a trick, nothing was going as he planned. It felt like another stab at his empty heart could it really be Momonga?

“Is that really you?” The words rolled out of Kyuketsuki’s mouth.

“Momonga, what are you doing here? Where is my team? Wait, does this mean the other one is? Is that Albedo?” Sitabus just now realized how similar the armor was.

Ainz let out a breath as the battle frenzy left his friend calm if no less frantic for answers.

“Well, we came here to stop an undead army while growing the fame of Ainz Ool gown. And avenge my team which... You kind of killed quite brutally too.” Letting his bitterness rise even if Ainz was happy to see his friend, it didn’t change the fact he killed the swords of darkness.

“This was Khajiit’s idea though it will help later. Besides, if you're still mad at me for this, we can Revive them later, maybe?” Not trusting his abilities fully.

Ainz gave Kyuketsuki a strange look. What did he mean, maybe?

“This is not important; I have just been having some difficulty with resurrection magic.”Kyuketsuki could feel his friend penetrating gaze on him as if demanding an answer. Before anything, more words shared Clementine dropped down between them, taking a low defensive stance.

Kyuketsuki glanced over nearby to see Nifrea watching them all as if looking for an answer to what was going on. Sighing explanations would have to wait.

“Good work, Clem-chan, did you take care of your sister?” Getting back into his adventurer role. Keenly observing as Clem forces a smile.

“Of course mas- I mean boss. She is dead, and I rescued the boy. Now, what about him?”

Kyuketsuki gestures for Momonga to play along. As he cleared his throat, “Ah, we are adventurers we came to help as soon as we could, I’m Momon albedo should just about be done finishing off the last monster.”

They all turned to where the skeletal dragon was as the second one fell. All the while, Momon’s eyes focused on Kyuketsuki.

{Later we can talk let's finish this up, and we can hash this out then.}

{sigh...Alright but I’m holding you to it and no running off this time.}

{I didn’t run off I was teleported here ugh. Your still mad about the swords of darkness aren’t you.}

{no, I’m not!} Cutting off the telepathic message though Sitabus could Cleary see, he was just a little bitter about how all this turned out. He was too if albeit for a different reason.

“We can go check up with them and find my team.” Kyuketsuki leads the way to Albedo, all the while wondering where his team was?

-Else were-

Ritana struggled to stand up after the fight if it could be called such after this Jester summoned an enormous tree to fight them. Looking at the smoldering remains as the horrid smell of burned rotted trees permeated the air. Stumbling to one knee, clutching her bruised stomach, at least two ribs felt broken.

Glancing over at Bardic out cold on the ground, then over to the dead pool of her master. Rita’s eyes were dulled over with regret. She had failed even to prove her strength against a clown. None of her spells so much as scratched them.

She would not even live to regret her failure as soon as the mistress found out he was dead. Punching the ground in a mixture of shame, regret, and rage hearing their mocking footsteps. Only a few feet out of view.

“You can’t stop it; you never could though this is only a premonition to his true fate. Remember this girl.” The phantom's words lingered in her mind, only increasing her despair. Ritana Gathering her courage to approach the spot with a heartbroken gaze into the pool of mush, which was once a living undead.

…

Unable to find the words as to what to say in her beaten and battered armor struggling to find the strength to stay standing. On wobbly legs not helped by the dizziness from the last wild attack of the enormous tree.

“I’m so sorry if I had only been faster or stronger, I could have…”

Rita was halted in her task by the familiar scent mistress Kathrin had trained her to know. Part of her gift from mistress Kathrin's changes. Her golden eyes zooming over to see Kyuketsuki-sama approaching with two familiar armored people and someone new a blonde and red-headed assassin with mismatching eyes, light armor, and two small thin daggers at her side.

“Ritana, what are you doing come here and help me lift Bardic we must be going.” Ritana hearing her lord seeing the loving smile and those eyes filled with worry for her. It was all too much after just thinking she had failed felt tears of joy well up in her eyes. As her tired and bruised body finally gave in fainting.

Kyuketsuki just sighed. “At least their alive, but what happened here.” Without looking, he could pick up the faint scent of magic all over the area. Most notably illusionary arts and summoning.

If the smoldering tree was any indication, he would say a Treant. They were not very common to summon in YGGDRASIL. Partly due to the difficulty of finding or gaining access to such a spell. Kneeling down to pick up Ritana as Clementine carried Bardic.

“What happened here?” Momonga asked

“This is what I would like to know, as well. Kathrin, did you see the person who did this?”

Kyuketsuki took her silence and bowed head as a yes. Balling a hand into a fist, the one who was using illusion spells to get into the city. It explained how the minotaur got in, but why did they attack his team. What other objectives did they have here?

...

-Hours later-

Kyuketsuki gaze silently fell on to Kathrin's fingers interlocked together as she finished her search. Turning to Ainz and albedo as if hoping for answers on the matter. Glancing again at the missing rings, though, it was a bigger shame to be missing the [god of death hands] somehow taken out of his inventory while he was busy fighting Ainz, he guessed.

“So, we have no leads or ideas were Jester went.” His voice is drained and weary from the long day. Nothing seemed to be going right.

“No, I’m afraid we lost track of her once we entered the cemetery. Though why only steal a transformation ring, the ring of concealment and a rather weak world item.” Pondered Ainz with Albedo looking static as ever nearby. Not without a subtle glare sent Kyuketsuki’s way.

Sitabus thoughts linger on Jade, glancing over at Clementine, trying to think of what had gone wrong. The only consolation was all of E-Rental was under his control now. Even if no one knows it yet. Which was the whole point of the undead attack little more than a smokescreen to clear any unseen danger in this town?

“We will need to find this Jester later; for now, Xennessa can keep a lookout. With E-Rental under our control, nothing will go unnoticed again. Though we should probably combine our team for now unless you want me to revive the swords of darkness.”

Kyuketsuki couldn’t find it in himself to feel anything for their passing. He gave them a chance no if anything he felt terrible; they had got close to Ainz. Only to get killed a few days later.

“No, it won’t be necessary.” Even hearing Ainz's words felt empty like he didn’t care at all. Perhaps it was just the emotion suppresser affecting Ainz as well. While they both had some kind of emotional damper at times.

‘Ainz; however, seems to be feeling the loss of emotion more even if he won’t outright say. Then again, maybe it is just a natural change in this new world.’

“Alright, though, I am sorry about it. If I had known, I would have. - halting as Ainz just gave him an understanding look to drop it.

“What’s done is done. Nothing will change this. I am just happy to see you again. Your skills seem as sharp as ever.”

Sitabus let a small smile grace his lips. “You say that, but we both knew Touch Me was the best PVP fighter in the guild. Then again, I could probably handle him to if I had game-breaking gear like his too.” He grumbled under his breath. This remarked earned a laugh from Ainz.

“Maybe, but you got far too focused on your role-playing and character build to go after world champion.”

“Very true, still your skills at swordplay need some real improvement. It might work on low-level enemies, but I’m far above the like of goblins or bandits.” Sitabus Brushing off the glare from Albedo, she seems relatively attached to Ainz for whatever reason.

“I can work on it later.” Ainz huffed in annoyance, “now why didn’t you just teleport back to Nazarick once you arrived here. you only answered my message spell twice as well. ” Ainz rested his chin on his hands, waiting for an answer.

“Well, for one, I didn’t want to scare the town, seeing as they don’t even have magic above the third tire. As for another after the first message, I thought you were traveling alone, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.” Sitabus watched Ainz face his red eyes seemed to be the only give away.

“I don’t recall ever saying that.”

The edge in Ainz's voice only confirmed his suspicion. He is racking his brain for an answer that didn’t seem to exist. Narrowing his eyes in thought. “I see then. It will just be something else to look into.”

“Kathrin, go update Xennessa. I want anything on this group delivered to me immediately!” watching Kathrin teleport away with a bow.

“Well, I suppose I can take a break to let things die down here. it will be nice to return to Nazarick again.” Letting out a breath before sipping the tea though it provides no benefit. It did calm his nerves a little. Bringing a kind of normalness to such a crazy day.

Before Sitabus could even say a word, Clementine was already by his side. She is patiently watching him with lustful eyes, Hair wriggling around her body, With a sly grin on her lips.

“Clem-chan, please go tell Bardic and Ritana I will be away for a few days. Though keep active while I’m away.”Sitabus gently asked, setting the cup back down on the table.

Ainz only spoke up once he hears the door close. “Kyuketsuki, are you sure she is trustworthy she seems unstable.”

Sitabus gave his old friend somewhat of a reassuring smile letting out a sigh. “I believe so even if her demeanor seems predatory, she is loyal. Though I really must get back to Nazarick to check on something.”

Ainz gave his friend a blank look disbelieving statement. “Don’t give me that look I made friends with other NPCs in the past, didn't I. Before they were half as alive as they are now.”

Ainz just sighed, “Fine, she is your responsibility, …sorry to hear about Jade.”

Sitabus turns his gaze to the night sky, not wanting to show his mournful face. It seemed the more time went on, the more the longing to see Jade again would be something he would have to deal with, pushing the regret down into his heart.

“Let's not talk about it here…not now…besides, I believe Clem-chan is back.” His voice was empty of emotion. Meeting Clementine’s caring gaze as she bowed. “The Void vultures are clear on their orders. Though in a few days, Pluton wants to talk to all of us. You, in particular, master.”

Ainz gaze at his friend with worry though unwilling to press the issue so soon. Perhaps it would be better to tell him later when all this had passed over.

Giving Clementine an encouraging nod of approval. “Are you ready to return Ainz I can fill you in on the rest on the way back.”

“Yes, and it is good to see you, Kyuketsuki. Again, come along, Albedo.” Opening a gate back to Nazarick following his friend through.

“Of course, lord Ainz” The overseer chippered happily following her love back home.

-Carnival-

Stopping just outside E-Rental to turn back, looking at the city from above as smoke trails still lingered from the destruction wrought upon it. People were quickly traveling all over the place. As the city guards worked overtime to secure the city after its near annihilation at the undead attack.

Carnival could only chuckle at how funny they all looked from so high up. Unknowingly passing by vampire brides keeping watch from the shadows of the alleyways. Along with shadow demons traveling unseen throughout the three-ringed walls of the city.

Holding up her hand with two rings, one of greater doppelganger and the other of concealment. It had been tricky to steal in the fight ‘It a necessary evil,’ she told herself. Though it was necessary to do, it didn’t mean she likes doing this. “Now, it is only a matter of time before mister vampire starts hunting them.”

“~What to say to blank-san he will be so angry. When he finds out what Bull did too bad.” Putting up a sing-song voice

“Oh, did you forget about me, or did you think I wouldn’t notice what you did.” Hearing the angry voice of the shadow behind her, Carnival lost her smile under the mask turning to glare at the shadow's eyes.

“It doesn’t matter if you did or not soon, we will be meeting in person. Besides, no rules were broken, so you can’t do anything.” Carnival smirked in victory

Not a word was spoken from Jester, at least until they chuckled. “Oh, you think so, I guess we will see. But this changes nothing besides I think you miss something and how much can two rings and a world item do.”

“They can do a lot more than you think Jester; besides, I know my gambit will pay off just you wait.” Carnival watched the shadow vanish before teleporting away herself.

-End of Chapter-