Although they remained concealed within G.D.I.'s territory, Izumo could sense the ominous miasma thickening in the air. The evil presence around him grew more intense with each passing day, no doubt fueled by the spreading rumors about the Jade of the Four Souls. He understood well that an inevitable clash among monsters and demons was approaching. Yet, unwilling to entangle himself in the chaos, he chose to observe quietly from the sidelines.
His mastery in weapon forging was unrivaled; his craftsmanship stood at the pinnacle of the world. However, when it came to combat, his strength was merely average. Against truly formidable demons, he knew he stood little chance of survival.
Fortunately, he possessed artifacts capable of concealing his presence. His disciple carried only a faint trace of demonic aura, indistinguishable to the untrained eye. Together, they could still move somewhat freely within G.D.I., hidden in plain sight.
"When will these days ever end?"
Hearing his master's weary murmur, the disciple sighed deeply. He had once learned the art of forging from Izumo, dreaming of fame and glory, hoping to craft legendary weapons renowned across the world. But their current lives were pitifully humble; they could barely find work making farm tools for villagers.
He had seen the mysterious instrument Sebastian had crafted. While Izumo marveled at its ingenious design, he couldn't comprehend it. To him, it was nothing but an enigma, one he dismissed with scorn.
As he pondered this, a faint unease crossed his face.
"Master, there are more and more monsters gathering," he said quietly. "It seems every tribe has arrived… and quite a few of them are remarkable."
He had just taken a bite of pastry when his sharp eyes caught sight of a woman's tail slipping out from beneath her skirt on the street. It vanished in an instant, unnoticed by the crowd but not by him.
Izumo followed his disciple's gaze. With centuries of experience, he instantly recognized the stranger's true nature: a demon wolf. Though many demon tribes still existed across the world, they rarely interfered in human affairs unless great upheavals drew their attention. But now, all of them were being lured by one thing, the appearance of the Jade of the Four Souls.
And among them, Sebastian, whose growing fame and fearsome reputation had become a thorn in their side, was a target they longed to eliminate.
"The coming battle," Izumo muttered, "will be a bloodbath."
He sighed heavily. Despite forging countless weapons over the years, he had no desire to witness the carnage that might soon engulf the land.
"Those hairs are so pretty…"
A soft, enchanting voice echoed above the bustling street. A girl with short, black, shoulder-length hair strolled leisurely through the crowd. Her eyes shimmered like starlight, her teeth gleamed like the moon, and her crimson lips radiated an alluring, dangerous charm.
Her name was Hora Eka, and this was her first time entering G.D.I.'s territory. Thanks to Sebastian, who had deliberately weakened the city's outer defenses, she had managed to infiltrate undetected.
As she walked, she admired the silky, flowing locks of the women around her, brushing her own cropped hair with pale fingers, her gaze flickering with envy. While most demons concealed their identities upon entering G.D.I., she made no such effort. Her ethereal beauty drew countless stares from passersby.
Upon arrival, she was astonished by the towering structures and dazzling, high-tech streets, creations seemingly born from Sebastian's mind. The brilliance of it all far surpassed anything she had imagined.
Driven by curiosity, she approached Sebastian's mansion, eager to uncover the truth about the man dubbed a miracle worker among demons. She soon arrived at his Battle Lab. Her gaze fell upon several guards stationed at the entrance, formidable presences whose auras made her blood run cold. Instinctively, she slipped into the shadows.
Even without direct confrontation, she could sense the overwhelming strength radiating from them. Yet her curiosity refused to wane. Peering through a narrow gap in a nearby window, she glimpsed several figures carrying something heavy.
Squinting, she tried to see more clearly, and froze. It was the corpse of the Centipede Witch. The creature had ventured into Sebastian's domain only to be swiftly slain by Kikyo, now empowered by Sebastian's enhancements. Her remains had been delivered to the laboratory for research.
"Just how powerful is Sebastian…" she whispered, her voice trembling. She swallowed hard, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Her original plan had been to lure more monsters into G.D.I., hoping to wear Sebastian down through sheer numbers. But now she realized how foolish that was. Those monsters hadn't stood a chance. Even more frightening were Sebastian's demon-extermination masters, they were equally terrifying.
Only now did she understand how naïve she had been. Against absolute power, no swarm of insects could prevail; they'd all be crushed beneath the heel of might. At that moment, she spotted a woman in a black skirt striding briskly toward Sebastian's residence.
"I'm back," Tsubaki announced as she entered the combat laboratory. After stepping inside, she gently set down the fabric she carried. Yet, the silence within unsettled her, no one answered.
"I said I'm back!" she called again, her voice echoing through the chamber. Still, there was no reply. Frustrated, she shouted louder, "Asshole, did you hear me!?"
A moment later, a massive skeleton appeared before her.
"Sebastian, it seems your friend has returned," it intoned.
"Ah!!!" Tsubaki screamed, startled by the sight of Ainz, the necromancer. Her face went pale as she instinctively prepared to unleash a barrage of spells. For a moment, she feared the place had fallen into enemy hands and worried desperately for Sebastian's safety.
"I heard you," came a calm voice. Sebastian appeared before her, halting her spell with a gentle gesture. With a weary sigh, he said softly, "Every time you return, you bring the aura of a storm. Keep this up, and even the monsters might think twice before attacking."
"Hey, what's going on here?" Tsubaki huffed, though her eyes still flicked warily toward Ainz, her guard far from lowered.