Chapter 186 ~ Power of a King
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘As expected… Things went the way they did…’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Lelouch mused as he watched Gazef and his warriors’ battle against the Archangel me summons through his scry.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a bloody battle. And while Gazef and his warriors did fight valiantly, they were soon pushed to the brink as more new angels kepting after they killed one.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even Gazef, who had overwhelmed multiple angels and bisected more with the help of his Martial Art skills, was soon pushed to the brink of death as blood dribbled out the side of his mouth.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even so, the man known and admired by the people as the Warrior Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom never fell.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man who should’ve been powerless to stand was now standing proudly, his broadsword clenched tightly in his hands. The sheer mighty force of his presence forcing back the angels that have now surrounded him.
<span style="font-weight:400">But… as expected, his sheer will could not kill all the angels summoned by the elite divine magic casters of the Sunlit Scriptures.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Angels, kill Gazef Stronoff.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Countless wings moved in response to that cold, cruel order from Nigun, the head of the Sunlit Scripture squad sent to kill the Warrior Captain.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gazef steeled himself, preparing to charge forward, when suddenly, a voice came past him:
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Looks like it’s about time to switch.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The scenery before his eyes changed, and he was now no longer on the bloodsoaked in. Instead, he was now in the corner of what looked like a simple vige hut.
<span style="font-weight:400">And instead of angels, he saw worried-looking vigers all around him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This… This is…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-This is the warehouse that Ainz-sama had protected with his magic…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you’re the chief… Gown, Gown-dono does not seem to be here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, he was here just a moment ago but he and hispany, Zero, seems to have vanished without a trace. And in his ce, you appeared, Warrior-Captain-dono.”
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I see… so the voice in my head was…’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Gazef allowed himself to rx. And in that instant, strength quickly left his body, knowing he would have no part in what woulde next.
<span style="font-weight:400">He copsed on the wooden floor, and the vigers quickly drew closer worriedly to try and help him.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Six Scriptures. An enemy even he, the strongest warrior of the Re-Estize kingdom, could not hope to defeat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yet… he could not even begin to imagine that Ainz would lose.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">The anti-divination barrier had been set.
<span style="font-weight:400">No eyes, except for those permitted such as that of the Mirror of Remote Viewing used by Yuuji and Aika, were allowed to witness the scene that would be happening here.
<span style="font-weight:400">But none of this was noticed by the folks of the Theocracy.
<span style="font-weight:400">Their attention was elsewhere… specifically, at the two figures on the ins who had not originally been there.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun of the ine Theocracy’s special operations unit — the Sunlight Scripture — looked at them with perturbation in his eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">One of them was dressed like an arcane magic caster. He wore an evil looking mask to hide his face, and a pair of iron gauntlets on his hands. He wore an expensive-looking ck robe, suggesting he was a person of some status.
<span style="font-weight:400">The other one was dressed in a long cape with a high cor, a luxurious ck suit, and an ominous mask to hide his face as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">They had no visible weapons on their person, but as a magic caster himself, he knew that being armless did not equal being harmless.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gazef and his men were gone without a trace… In their ces were these two mysterious figures. It seemed to be some kind of teleportation magic, but he had no idea what kind of spell had been used here.
<span style="font-weight:400">Alerts red within his mind, and Nigun immediately called the angels back, ordering them to form a defensive perimeter around them as they faced the mysterious magic casters.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, therger built magic caster took a step forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Pleased to meet you, gentlemen of the ine Theocracy. I am Ainz Ooal Gown. I would be d if you could call me Ainz.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Despite the distance between them, the sound of howling afternoon wind that breezed past the ins carried his voice over clearly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The person behind me is called Zero. I would like to make a deal with you. Might I have a moment of your time?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun tried to search through his memories, his studies, and his long years of information gathering to attach some meaning to the name Ainz Ooal Gown. But it was futile.
<span style="font-weight:400">It might be an alias. But he had no way of confirming or denying it. Trying to glean more information from him would be more productive. Thus, he raised his chin, indicating that Ainz should continue.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. Then firstly, I would like to start by making one thing clear to you gentlemen. That would be – there is no way you can defeat me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a deration. A statement.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun could clearly hear the absolute confidence in his voice. It wasn’t a bluff or a boast. This was something he believed from the bottom of his heart.
<span style="font-weight:400">He furrowed his brows.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ignorance is truly deplorable. You will pay the price for your foolishness, magic caster.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Really now. Do you really think that will happen? I observed your battle earlier with the warrior captain and his men. My presence here indicated that I am absolutely confident in my victory. After all, if I was not sure I could beat you, would it not be wiser for me to leave that man to die?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He was right.
<span style="font-weight:400">An arcane magic caster would be better suited to different kinds of confrontations.
<span style="font-weight:400">Arcaners, sorcerers and wizards could only use light armor, so they would want to avoid meleebat, using [Fly] to repeatedlyunch [Fireballs] and other such spells from afar. Yet Ainz had chosen to face them head-on. He must have a trick up his sleeve.
<span style="font-weight:400">At his silence, Momonga chose to continue.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now, for the reason I am here. The truth is, I overheard your conversations with the Warrior Captain. What a lot of nerve you have…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ainz’s tone changed suddenly, and he continued speaking as he looked at Nigun mockingly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“To think you would dare say that you would massacre the vigers that I, Ainz Ooal Gown, took the time to personally rescue. I cannot think of anything that is more offensive than that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ainz’s robe rippled in the wind. That same wind blew across Nigun and hispany, sending chills down their spine.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Offensive? Huge words, magic caster. What of it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He was obviously frightened. But he did not change his mocking tone.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was themander of one of ine Theocracy’s secret weapons, the Sunlight Scripture. How could he be afraid of a simple magic caster?
<span style="font-weight:400">It was impossible.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yet–
<span style="font-weight:400">“I mentioned a deal earlier… These are the terms. You will either hand your lives over to me without resistance. Or willingly offer yourself, your body, your heart, and your soul to our cause. Whether you like it or not.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ainz took a step forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a single step, but his body seemed to massively swell before their eyes. The immense pressure emanated from his sheer presence alone caused all of the Sunlight scripture to take a step back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ahh…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Cries of fear escaped their lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was but a natural reaction when havinge face to face with an unimaginable force. This was the first time Nigun had been faced with such might. Therefore, he did not rebuke his men for their fear.
<span style="font-weight:400">A thrill of cold ran from the bottoms of Nigun’s feet to the top of his head. He had felt this countless times in his struggles along the edge of life and death. It was a sign of impending doom.
<span style="font-weight:400">“H-Have the angels charge him! Don’t let him get close!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun’s voice broke slightly as he shouted his orders. It sounded more like a scream.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was not to raise his men’s spirits. It was a cry of fear. Fear of the being he knew as Ainz Ooal Gown.
<span style="font-weight:400">Two Archangel mes pped their wings of light in response to Nigun’smand, andunched their attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">The angels flew straight towards the hulking ck figure, and stabbed him with their ming swords.
<span style="font-weight:400">Zero, who was standing behind him, should’ve done something to attack the charging angels to stop them in their tracks before reaching Ainz.
<span style="font-weight:400">That is why all of the Sunlight Scriptures, who had been predicting that course of action and ready to retaliate, could not believe their eyes. It was not that anything happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">On the contrary… Nothing happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">Neither Ainz nor Zero did anything to block, dodge, cast a spell, or did anything to intercept it. Nothing happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">Their shock quickly became mockery.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How unsightly. To think he would scare us with a bluff.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun sneered. But soon, a question came to mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">Why… wasn’t Ainz’s corpse falling?
<span style="font-weight:400">“...What are you doing? Call the angels back. He can’t fall down with those swords stuck to him.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“B-But sir… W-We’ve already given the order…”
<span style="font-weight:400">His subordinate’s confused voice startled Nigun, and his eyes quickly shifted back to Ainz’s figure.
<span style="font-weight:400">Only then did he realized, the angels were pping their wings vigorously… While they were not meant to express feelings, Nigun saw those angels pping their wings in fear and desperation, like a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I told you, didn’t I? There is no way you can defeat me. You should’ve listened and heed my warnings.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The calm voice resounded and reached Nigun and his men’s ears. But none were able toprehend the sight before them…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Impossible…”
<span style="font-weight:400">One of his subordinates muttered, giving voice to the words in Nigun’s hearts.
<span style="font-weight:400">No one could believe it. Judging from the angels’ swords, they had to be fatal wounds. But he didn’t even seem to be in pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">That wasn’t the only shocking thing.
<span style="font-weight:400">Momonga was gripping the angels by the throat. And no matter how much they struggled, never let them go.
<span style="font-weight:400">Angels summoned from magic had bodies created from their summoner’s mana, so they were definitely not light. They weighed more than a grown man. In addition to the weight of their heavy te armor, there was no way they could be lifted up by the throat so easily.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There… There must be a trick…!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“High-tier physical nullification. A passive skill that protects against the attacks of up to level 60 – In other words, only attacks above level 60 could harm me. Well, I guess this has gone long enough.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Holding an angel in each hand, Momonga mmed them both to the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">A thunderous crash echoed throughout the ins, and the earth trembled from the impact, creating two craters – A testament to his supernatural strength.
<span style="font-weight:400">The angels died in an instant, dissipating back into countless dancing motes of light that soon vanished into the air, and the swords stuck in him vanished as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now then… Let me see your trump card.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-All angels, attack! H-Hurry!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nothing Ainz said registered in his mind. Everything simply went red and fear took deep roots in his heart the moment he saw Ainz stepped forward, causing him to quickly yell out his orders.
<span style="font-weight:400">All archangel mes shot towards Momonga like bullets.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No… Not this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun could hear the cool, calm voice of the monster attacked by the angels, but he did not care. Ainz was surrounded by so many angels that nobody could even see him. And yet, his voice did not carry even the slightest hint of worry.
<span style="font-weight:400">It looked like he would be impaled by countless ming swords. But Momonga’s spell took effect before that.
<span style="font-weight:400">“[Negative Burst]”
<span style="font-weight:400">The air shuddered, and a wave of ck radiance erupted from Ainz, like the negative image of a camera sh. It onlysted for an instant, and in that instant, all 40 angels had been annihted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Im-Impossible…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun could not help but tremble… And only then did he recall the words of the Kingdom’s strongest warrior, Gazef Stronoff.
<span style="font-weight:400">That there was a man stronger than him in that vige. That trying to kill the vigers he protects was impossible.
<span style="font-weight:400">Only now did he understand the truth of those words.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Zero… No, Lelouch-kun. I think this is enough. They’re just as weak as we expected. Let’s finish this before he uses the crystal. It’s a one time use item. It’d be a waste. It’d be better if we bring it to Yuuji-kun so he can take a look at it and study it. Maybe, he could replicate how to make it.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Agreed.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nigun froze…
<span style="font-weight:400">He could not understand what they’re saying… But one thing did caught his attention.
<span style="font-weight:400">How did they know about the crystal…?
<span style="font-weight:400">Come to think of it, Ainz said to show him his trump card. Could it be that… he was referring to the Sealing Crystal? The trump card his homnd had given him. A sealing crystal containing a seventh-tier spell capable of summoning the strongest angel, Dominion Authority.
<span style="font-weight:400">No… That’s impossible… H-How could he know…?
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally, the man in the jet-ck mask called Zero walked forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, he waved his hand, and a small opening appeared on his mask, revealing a crimson eye.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Lelouch Lamperougemands you. Obey me. All of you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">With enhanced eyesight, Lelouch could see all of their eyes through the small, rectangr holes on their headdress.
<span style="font-weight:400">The power of absolute obedience took hold on the consciousness of every single member of the Sunlight Scripture.
<span style="font-weight:400">Any kind of magic resistance, magic items, or talent they had did not matter before the absolute power of a king.
<span style="font-weight:400">Enhanced by the magic power of his newly acquired form, the power perfected geass was absolute in this new world.
<span style="font-weight:400">All members of the sunlight scripture froze for a moment…
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, with a soldier’s discipline, all of them dropped onto one knee, their heads bowed down, ced a hand on their left chest, and dered in unison:
<span style="font-weight:400">““Yes, my lord!””