The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 45
Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(A World Enemy)
-{Satomi}-
Satomi's hands trembled as she watched Zephyrion convulse on the floor, her heart hammering in her chest and her anxiety pervading her entire being.
The seed pulsed with dying light in her palm, its power already spent and having seeped into Zeph's chest, pulsing with a light that lit up through his skin.
She knew this transformation and use of a world-item went against his wishes; she knew he would never have agreed to such a drastic measure, as seen when she had tried to offer it a multitude of times.
But the memory of his blood pooling beneath him, his body broken from their latest raid, had driven her to this desperate act.
Satomi still felt the lingering shock. Zephyrion seemed untouchable in a weird sense; he carried himself in a way that made her think he was way above what any level-hundred player could ever be.
He made the world seem small.
She had been so focused on the fight and making sure he wasn't involved or hit that she was genuinely taken by surprise when Shalltear suddenly got hit with some spell that had broken the mind control.
The relief and happiness she had felt were replaced with a deep pain when Shalltear's shout drew her to Zephyrion's state. A hole in his side. An area the chainmail had failed to defend. Blood had been pouring out of him, yet he was still grinning.
The fact that Shalltear was back filled her with relief, but if the cost had been Zephyrion, she would have never forgiven herself. It was these thoughts that led her to this, to decide on something that he didn't want.
Now, perhaps she was regretting her decision as she watched the Devil grit his teeth in pain.
She watched keenly as his lean form writhed and thousands of veins popped up like worms trying to wiggle out, his muscles twitching and skin rippling like water disturbed by unseen forces.
Satomi found herself dropping to her knees beside him, panic flooding through her veins as his body temperature spiked dangerously high. His body was hot enough to make her wince.
The transformation was more violent than she'd anticipated. Then again, she didn't know what would happen. This wasn't Yggdrasil any longer.
She had tried to change as little as possible, but it seems there were changes anyway. Satomi didn't know if his different energy compared to Yggdrasil would somehow affect this…
"I'm sorry," she apologised with a deep frown, reaching for the healing potions scattered across her inventory. "I know you would have used it for yourself if I weren't your friend, and that alone makes you all the more worthy of it. The wishing ring could go wrong, but a world-item is far more powerful."
The admission of her obsession earlier still burned in her throat.
Zephyrion's spine arched unnaturally as another wave of transformation wracked his body. She flinched back as red miasma erupted along his arms before receding, his previous skin replaced by smooth obsidian skin that cracked and reformed.
She poured healing potion after healing potion over him, the crimson liquid hissing as it met his burning flesh. Satomi once more panicked, but no damage seemed to have actually been done.
Zephyrion's eyes were hazy, staring up at her as she lay his head on her lap. Her fingers hovered over the communication crystal that would summon the floor guardians.
Maybe they could help. Can they stabilise whatever process was happening?
She shook that thought away; they wouldn't be able to do any more than she could. And they'd probably just panic and start mass rituals or some other such thing.
While she wouldn't mind sacrificing a village or two for her Zeph, she would rather avoid it. Satoki knew Zephyrion wouldn't approve.
Satomi thought over all she knew about this particular world item.
The item allowed players to change their race to anything, without the normal restrictions that came with Race-Change.
However, before using it, she had modified the process, carefully avoiding erasing the distinctive features he wanted to keep, which was basically everything, including his bloodline. She was sure it would limit the power he gained and affect which race he would end up with, but she wouldn't dare cross that line and change his very being.
She thought over her choice. The R'hal were among the most powerful demonic world bosses in YGGDRASIL. Their second stage was massive and destructive, an eruption of raw power that would lay waste to entire guilds.
But she didn't want him to become that monster and knew that he would never forgive her for such an act.
There had been only one other player to use Seed of Yggdrasil, and he had become a world enemy capable of making thirty level 100 players struggle to defeat him.
It took all of them to come up with an ambush plan and hundreds of hours spent farming resources, just to take down that monster finally.
He hadn't taken kindly to that death. He hunted down each one of the party members, killing them until their avatar was destroyed. It wasn't a free ordeal. He had gotten revenge at the cost of his own avatar.
His final words still declared it a worthy sacrifice.
Her musings came to an abrupt end as another roar tore through Zephyrion's throat. His body temperature spiked again, steam rising from his form as the healing potions evaporated before even making contact.
The transformation reached its crescendo.
Demonic energy erupted from his body in waves, each pulse stronger than the last. His eyes glowed, unfocused and wild, pupils dilating and contracting rapidly as different colours swirled through his irises.
The chamber's foundation shook as power burst from him, and he launched himself upward, movements erratic and primal.
Satomi barely had time to activate her defensive skills before the first shockwave of demonic energy struck.
"Fortress of the Frozen Heart." She quickly cast, and the following impact sent her skidding backwards, her boots carving grooves in the stone floor.
He wasn't attacking her specifically. His body moved on pure instinct, lashing out at everything around him.
Furniture disintegrated under the wild energy blasts, and walls cracked from unfocused strikes. It was the animalistic rage that the R'hal were infamous for. It coursed through his system without direction or purpose.
She then remembered him saying something about wrath being his primary Sin. She fucked up.
Satomi dodged a sweep of demonic energy that carved through a bookshelf, turning a shelf into ash.
"Binding Chains of Eternal Winter." She called out softly. Ethereal chains of ice wrapped around his limbs, but he shattered them with ease, not even seeming to notice their presence.
She could see no recognition in those wildly shifting eyes, only pain and uncontrolled power seeking release.
His strength had obviously soared, and his demonic power had seemingly increased.
"Absolute Zero Shield." She raised a barrier just as another wave of hellfire erupted from his form, the conflicting elements creating a cloud of superheated steam.
Through the haze, she saw him clutching his head.
She braced herself, only to see the rage passing.
Zephyrion stumbled, his movements becoming less frantic. The wild energy around him began to stabilise, drawing inward rather than exploding outward.
He fell to his knees, hands pressed against his temples as the transformation entered its final phase.
Satomi lowered her defences cautiously, watching as his form began to settle. The violent shifts in his skin colour slowed, eventually settling into his natural tone.
The room's temperature normalised, and the oppressive aura of chaotic demonic energy began to recede.
With a final shudder, he collapsed forward, catching himself in his hands. The silence that followed felt deafening after the chaos of moments before.
"Zephyrion?" Satomi asked hesitantly, rushing to his side and holding him.
He raised his head slowly, and her breath caught.
His rainbow eyes, which seemed to swirl with their own inner light, were now slightly slitted, like a cat's. His ears had slightly elongated to elegant points, the only other visible sign of his transformation.
It was much of a change like Demiurge's, but they were undoubtedly able to be seen when you stared at them. He looked confused, disoriented, but undeniably himself.
"Satomi?" He asked.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
My eyes opened.
The first sensation that I felt was a dull pain wracking my body. It was as if it had been pushed to its limits by my training too hard. Each muscle was sore, and my nerves were all but rattling.
The only distraction from the pain was Satomi's face, as she looked down at me with worry, naked in the creases of her eyebrows and lips, contrasting her usually cold and reserved appearance.
There was only a moment of confusion before the memories of what had happened surfaced back to the forefront of my mind, eliciting a sigh of annoyance from me.
My hands shot to my face, checking if anything about its contours had changed. Then I looked down at my body, especially the part where my body was pierced. Sure enough, it was intact. I was mostly unchanged, except for my demonic energy. It was straining against the surface of my skin, unusually eager to break free of its confines.
Nothing appeared wrong until my hand grazed the tips of an unfamiliar ear. They were slightly more pointed than before, similar to an elf's, but less pronounced. I paused, considering this, then shrugged.
Having switched bodies before, slightly pointed ears seemed a fair trade for the sheer well of power now running through me.
Just what have I turned into?
"Satomi."
"Zephyrion…" she said, her voice sounding unsure, tinged with a hint of nervousness. "I'm sorry…"
"You used the World Seed," I stated.
"I did." She sighed. "I-I just felt like it was needed. A world item is more powerful, decreasing the chances of something going wrong. Much safer than using the Wishing Ring. I felt like being an Arch-Devil wouldn't be what you would want… please forgive me."
"Satomi," I said with a sigh. "I'm not exactly going to combust with anger just because you used a powerful world-item to change my race… I had decided against it, because I wanted you to use it for yourself."
Satomi smiled. "I know. And that's what makes it even better. I would have never done it if you hadn't expressed your desire to change your race. But if we are going to do it, I say we do it right."
"I can't argue with that logic." I smiled warily.
She rolled her eyes. "I couldn't allow you to go back to some death world while being weak. Especially if you're travelling between worlds, and are likely to end up in the weirdest of scenarios."
"Well, in my defence, my sister sealed a lot of my demonic power due to a mutation in my bloodline, and my magical training was less than stellar," I replied flatly.
She laughed. "I know. And I can't really speak, considering I transformed into my maxed-out game character."
"Which took you ten years to create, don't downplay your achievements. I'm sure that had you been given at least the chance to actually practise magic, you'd have reached the same level. Not just anyone can lead a group as powerful as Nazarick." I replied with a hint of a smile, still testing my body out.
Unexpectedly, she blushed and looked away.
"Thank you. I appreciate your kind words." She replied evenly.
I raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue her weird actions.
"Now, tell me. What exactly have I turned into? I'm guessing it's not Arch-Devil, unless you truly wished to be safe?" I questioned curiously.
Satomi smiled nervously.
"Satomi?"
"W-well, you see. The item I used on you. It wasn't the first time it had been used in Yggdrasil. So I kind of knew what to do and with my knowledge on Demonic races, I also knew what to look out for regarding this… certain race." Satomi said distinctly.
"And what race was that?" I asked slowly.
"Let me explain my reasoning. A World-class item can alter reality itself, far beyond what wishing rings are capable of. The only limits are the item's inherent abilities, which become drastically amplified." Satomi began. "Take a sword that summons fireballs. That fireball would passively absorb nearby heat to grow larger, gain its own sentience, and become impossible to extinguish with water."
"I understand the concept," I said slowly. "They sound similar to Sacred Gears from my original world, though those were created primarily by a very powerful God for humanity's benefit."
Satomi paused as if wanting to ask more but deciding against it, and continued. "Yes, they do sound similar. This item would rank among the strongest World Items. Normally, race changes are limited to Yggdrasil's existing racial database, even the rare ones requiring special unlocks."
I listened while sensing my demonic power inwardly.
It had grown significantly. From the lower end of High-Class to the higher end. I knew of the gap because my father sat at the peak of High-Class, making it a perfect reference point.
Reaching High-Class in terms of power was genuinely difficult in devil society, considered prodigious among my kind. That was true for most factions, really. This was a level of power that made you a wartime captain commanding your own forces.
Rising this far in under a year was incredible. What is the difference between the two ends of High-Class? Night and day.
I'd planned to rely on the Falna and slowly devour powerful souls while avoiding the danger of consuming too many at once. Instead, one chance meeting gave me access to new, powerful magic and a massive boost in demonic energy.
Though I still wasn't at Satomi's level.
"This World Item bypasses that. This was shown when a player once used it to mimic a world-enemy boss. Allowing him to bypass the limit of level one hundred and gain the power of dozens of max-tier players." Satomi explained, and I listened keenly.
"So… you chose a unique race? Perhaps a High-tier Boss?" I questioned curiously and with a not-so-slight amount of excitement. I held no real attachment to my race, and my bloodline was still there, so I didn't mind the change at all.
My demonic power certainly felt more potent, and I could feel something else as well, as if I had gained access to something I hadn't before. A weird feeling that couldn't be explained.
Unique skills? More things to experiment with.
"Yes…" Satomi trailed off. "Well, about that. You didn't just become a boss… I kind of made you into a copy of a demonic World Enemy?"
"... A world enemy?" I asked in disbelief.
Those potential God-tiered beings?
"Yes…" Satomi said with a bashful smile.
"Those massive, monstrous raid bosses that take entire guilds to go through?"
"Umu, yes. But they only take so long because the World enemies have their own subordinates, and the devs decided to make them have the strength of a normal boss." Satomi said, as if defending why they took so long to go through.
"You made me one of those?" I asked, my tone still laced heavily with disbelief.
"Y-yes, a copy of the Demon Tyrant to be precise. A World Enemy that appeared after the Demon Kings were slain. Arkas, Prince of Chains, was a surprise addition from the devs. He descended from a unique race of higher-tier demons, the only known member of this racial line. Like most World Enemies and bosses, it was completely unique. A R'hal." Satomi announced, her voice taking on an almost grand quality.
A R'hal?
It was certainly a unique name.
"Interesting lore aside, I'm a world enemy? Shouldn't I be stronger?" I asked, wondering what changes had been made.
"Normally, yes. But restricting yourself to avoid drastic physical changes likely limited how much power you could've gained." Satomi sounded slightly disappointed. "Still, it's probably for the best. These demons are massive. The world enemy itself had reached several stories tall."
That didn't sound ideal.
"You should've gained unique skills regardless, possibly even the potential to reach that size eventually. If you were part of the system, I imagine your level cap would probably extend to match World Enemies."
"That's fine," I admitted, slightly relieved. "I didn't expect to gain this much when I originally wanted to change my race. The fact I even have that potential is incredible."
Soul devouring has slowed down lately, and my Falna will hit its limit soon as well. Having another source of strength, one with a heightened cap, was a blessing.
"There was never a guarantee of my even hitting the Ultimate-Class. The slight chance of potentially hitting the realm beyond it? That is invaluable." I said, my breath genuinely taken away.
The sheer things I would have done for such an opportunity… just to have it dropped on my lap.
"Good," Satomi said with a playful smirk. "If you plan on visiting your birth world or continuing to travel between worlds, I'm not comfortable with your slow growth."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll have you know my growth has been incredibly fast," I said defensively, then paused. "Though I do have to ask, why did you choose this particular World Enemy anyway? Couldn't you have chosen one of the Demon Kings?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do you wish to be a Demon King?"
"No, not particularly," I replied flatly. "I'm merely curious about the decision. I know you, and you rarely perform actions like this without meaning."
Satomi looked thoughtful.
"It wasn't a massive decision maker, but the R'hol race is tied heavily to the Arch-Devil race. So I figured it would be safer since it ties into you being a former devil." Satomi replied with a shrug.
That reminded me of something…
Curiously, my wings opened, and sure enough, they were different. Large wings greeted me and multiple of them at that, the leathery, slightly ugly texture gone in favour of a sharper texture.
They held a striking resemblance to my old pair; they just looked a lot stronger.
Satomi admired my wings. "Definitely a change, I hope you weren't attached to your wings?"
"Not particularly. Though I'm glad they didn't change too much…" I grinned.
Satomi nodded and stared at me for a moment.
There was a knock on the door.
"Ainz-sama, Zephyrion-sama?" Demiurge's voice questioned, tinged with alarm.
Ah right.
I looked around at the broken room. Now, how would we explain this?
-{Tsaindorcus Vaision}-
He stood atop a remote tower, his draconic form coiled as his consciousness spread through the network of his far-seeing eyes.
As he went through multiple nodes of information, his curiosity betrayed his concentration. He couldn't help but think back to a recent event once more. It was perhaps the most surprising encounter he had experienced in a long time.
His remote-viewing armour was slowly being repaired and would be salvaged, even if only with tenuous effort.
All because of that monster.
The objective of his mission had seemed straightforward: investigating a powerful vampire that had devastated the Black Scripture, leaving two dead and Kaire mortally wounded after an incomplete mind control spell.
Naturally, he had expected much danger. But that… that was beyond his wildest expectations.
Through his remote armour, he had found the vampire standing motionless in a clearing, vacant crimson eyes staring at nothing, as if a statue, albeit one that would attack anything that came within its range.
He had planned on probing the obviously powerful vampire, only to be cut off as he saw an astonishing sight of two people who teleported into the midst of the field.
One had appeared as a human woman with rather dark features. Still, he was pretty sure she was some sort of undead, and the other was a Crimson-haired man whose energy signature felt fundamentally alien yet unmistakably reeked of evil.
Both of them had their presences concealed completely from his gaze, which was what made them all the more terrifying to him.
Tsaindorcus watched as the crimson-haired man had approached the vampire in a lackadaisical manner.
They had both talked as he watched from his armour. Then, the undead woman approached the vampire carefully, whose eyes remained vacant and dangerous.
She pulled out some sort of item, her hands glowing with powerful magic as she attempted to break the World Item's influence. Energy surged, complex weaves of spells that glowed with power that Tsaindorcus could sense even from a distance.
It failed.
The vampire's eyes remained empty, the mind control unbroken.
He didn't know for sure why, but the previously neutral parties had suddenly erupted in combat.
It had certainly changed his plans.
He had come for the powerful vampire and had planned on attempting to defeat her.
But with these new arrivals. He could no longer go through with that plan. They were obviously part of the same group if they had come here attempting to break the mind-control spell.
A group of powerful individuals… two being confirmed monsters and powerful ones at that. The third being an unknown factor, who reeked of evil.
It wasn't hard to decide what he had to do.
Tsaindorcus made his decision. With both of them occupied, this was his chance. He would eliminate the man while the others were distracted.
Then, if he had the time, he could use the vampire's mind-controlled state to finish off the other one and then possibly try to finish off the vampire as well. If not, he could come back another day or send his subordinates to finish them.
It was a spur-of-the-moment plan. If there were more of these beings, then at least he would have gotten rid of what were certainly high-ranking members.
His armour swept in, platinum wings spreading as Wild Magic gathered around his weapons. Four legendary blades locked onto the crimson-haired figure, who turned to face him with surprise.
The battle went on for longer than Tsaindorcus had expected.
The young man's defences were formidable, his reactions sharp. He was weaker, surprisingly, but his magic was strange. Some spells he knew and others he didn't.
But gradually, Tsaindorcus began to press his advantage.
It had been going well.
Then suddenly, crimson energy that could only be called pure destruction bypassed his armour's defences entirely, punching through protections that should have held.
Where it touched, matter simply ceased to exist.
His legendary armour, layered with a powerful resistance to magic and powered by his strong vitality, along with possessing a naturally strong armour surface from the legendary materials used in its creation, was torn through.
TsaindorcusVaision could say his shock had turned into utter horror. It was only his speed that allowed him to escape the web that was created; the branches, solid yet not solid, had tried to encase him.
Still, even then, he couldn't escape it. The effect had spread with horrifying speed, each branch accompanied by a distortion that resembled static, as if reality itself was being torn apart.
His armour took real damage, sending an alarm through his remote connection.
That alone had made it so that he could suppress his pride and not care about using underhanded tricks.
Little good that did for him.
When that monster of a man had pulled out some sort of wand, he felt incredulity. Then he had performed a strange magic, not of the tiered variety, a magic that reminded Tsaindorcus uncomfortably of his own Wild Magic.
It was different, however. Wrong and fundamentally different. Tsaindorcus had felt the World Item's influence shatter like glass.
He had wanted to escape, but she launched herself at Tsaindorcus with a terrifying speed, her divine-class lance aimed to kill.
For the first time in a long while, Tsaindorcus was forced to abandon a task.
That didn't happen before she was able to tear his armour apart and leave it severely damaged. Still, he managed to retrieve his remote viewing armour with a quick teleportation.
Now, a day later, here he was, recalling the encounter obsessively.
The crimson-haired one had broken a World Item's effect using something resembling Wild Magic, but executed it completely differently, channelled through some wand.
Wild Magic left traces. Tier Magic followed the rules.
What had he witnessed from that man? It had been an absolute, final erasure. The energy behind it, itself, had been different.
The coordination between those three monsters also suggested familiarity, an established relationship.
The vampire was almost certainly from YGGDRASIL, given her power and equipment. The undead woman's strength suggested the same. They had used tiered magic, upper-tiered magic that wasn't seen much in this age.
Has the cycle begun again?
But the crimson-haired one's abilities didn't quite fit previous patterns. He had used tiered magic, but it wasn't all he had used.
That destructive power alone made him a threat on par with the strongest beings Tsaindorcus had ever encountered. The ability to break World Item effects added another dimension to that threat.
Together, they represented a force strong enough to reshape the New World.
He hadn't been able to focus on the battle between the undead and the vampire too much, but they were no doubt strong as well. And he had no idea how many others might be with them.
It did feel like the cycle had begun once more, the new rise of an unknown Demon, and so many changes were occurring. The slow pace of the world felt charged, sped up with various unknowns popping up.
The players' chaos was rarely silent, but now there was someone outside even that system.
Was such a power even from Yggdrasil?
-{Demiurge}-
The situation surrounding Lord Zephyrion had never failed to amaze Demiurge.
That hadn't changed when he was but a mere puppet or when he gained true sentience. What Demiurge and the other Guardians knew was limited.
Their Lord had been the youngest Supreme Being, yet also the strangest. His history, or as Ainz-sama would say, his lore, remained frustratingly scarce.
What little they knew painted a picture that fitted their image of how special he was. A demonic prince from a line of rulers from another world who had escaped using his unique ability to travel between worlds.
Unlike the other Supreme Beings whose travel was restricted, Lord Zephyrion's power allowed true freedom of movement.
But somehow, his power was sealed by his family, a subject not even Lady Ainz spoke of often. Then, by some means that Demiurge would forever thank, he had found Lady Ainz, and from there they became eternal partners.
He alone had remained loyal to Nazarick besides Ainz-sama.
That had led to the recent issue. Since coming to the new world, there had been many concerns, the top and foremost was the lack of his presence. It had been… disappointing when they had thought that perhaps he had finally left them.
It was Ainz-sama who revealed that it wasn't the case.
Leading to no end of relief and self-berating for Demiurge. In truth, he had been devastated, but what he learnt was equally as distressing. Apparently, he had been completing a task outside Yggdrasil when they were mysteriously transported, preventing his return.
That had led to the ordeal of trying to summon him, the main and highest priority. It had led to many of their plans being carried out outside, especially after Lady Ainz had revealed her desire for world domination.
Even then, it seemed the guidance of Lady Ainz had been enough to prevent that from being a problem.
Now when his Lord was finally back and with the recent danger… he had been keeping an ear out while he remained in Nazarick. That's why, when one of the maids reported a disturbance, Demiurge immediately went to investigate, concerned for his Lord's well-being.
What he found left him momentarily speechless.
Lord Zephyrion stood shirtless, and Demiurge was immediately hit with a strange feeling when gazing upon his form. So much so that the scattered, broken furniture became a side note.
Power lingered in the air, and a new presence lay behind his Lord.
Since coming back, his Lord had held a true presence. But it was more subtle, like a power buried deep. He attributed it to his sealed state, which Demiurge was also miffed about.
However, that had changed now; instead of the suppressed Presence, there was something else. It was still subtle but somehow even more potent than Ainz-sama's aura of despair.
Something had happened.
His sharp eyes saw differences in his Lord's features. Pointed ears and slightly slitted eyes.
Demiurge's mind raced through possibilities.
It led to a suggestion… had they broken this seal on him?
Looking around, Demiurge finally registered the broken furniture as well. He looked at the tattered clothing of Ainz-sama and the undressed of Lord Zephyrion.
Multiple gears started spinning in his head.
Was carnal pleasure all that it took to dispel such a seal? How interesting.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
It had been a day since Satomi had used the world item on me.
In that time, I'd decided to test what I'd gained and see if I could learn higher-tier magic without help. Sure enough, I was able to learn some Ninth-Tier spells without the wishing rings.
Though I didn't have much time for that, beyond the effort it took to learn, I was focusing on the racial skills I'd supposedly gained access to.
Satomi had listed off some potential racial abilities she'd seen used by the World Enemy, but wasn't sure which ones were actually racial in nature and which were learned skills.
She'd admitted that World Enemies were unique. That was to say they could only be fought once, during some events. And that task was normally undertaken by a coalition of strong guilds.
What a fun talk that must have been.
Currently, I was standing with Demiurge in one of Nazarick's training areas, a massive chamber on the seventh floor designed to withstand high-level combat.
The butler stood with his usual composed posture, hands clasped behind his back, watching me with analytical interest.
"What have we learnt so far?" I questioned curiously.
We have been experimenting, with Demiurge taking notes and looking for any differences. Since beyond his downright monstrous intelligence, he also knew some of my capabilities and would be able to see the difference.
"What have you got so far, Demiurge?"
Demiurge's tails swayed thoughtfully behind him. "My Lord, if I may state my observations, among the first differences I have noticed from what we've discovered so far, it would seem you have gained an aura that acts as a shield against magic, along with boosting your physical attributes, and a substantial boost to your magical power is also among the list. Other changes are still too obscure to say anything concrete about them."
"A magical resistance, huh?" I stroked my chin. I'd felt more durable, but hadn't consciously registered it. Naturally, I had felt the other two.
"Precisely," Demiurge replied. "This racial change has given you an almost imperceptible resistance shield against most magical attacks we have tested so far. A powerful resistance at that."
"Why did you want to test that anyway? I don't believe Ainz told us anything about that, besides the potential abilities we should look out for."
"I was able to find limited information about the fascinating beings deemed 'World Enemies.' In preparation to assist you. It fascinated me to find how the residents of Nazarick had never been told of such Godly beings." Demiurge said with a hint of admiration. "To force Yggdrasil to unite just to defeat them is awe-inspiring, and for Nazarick to have one of its own Supreme beings be able to become such a world enemy is expected."
I flatly stared at him.
I wouldn't go that far. I hadn't even reached level one hundred yet, and I was just finding out what abilities I had actually gotten.
"I guess I should start working on getting those powerful, unique racial abilities Ainz was speaking about, then," I commented with an amused look, purposefully using Satomi's chosen name.
I closed my eyes, reaching inward for that new well of power.
The R'hal bloodline thrummed through me, something I could sense now sitting beside my Gremory and Baal bloodlines. And for a moment, I was aware that I had glimpsed a sense of abilities lurking just beneath my conscious awareness, waiting to be called forth.
It was easier feeling something that hadn't been there before; the cold but powerful demonic blood flowing through me was one such thing. It stood out, almost glowing as it flowed through my veins.
I searched my own body for answers. What new powers do I have?
Chains?
Binding?
Some of the skills Satomi had told me about. Going through the attack patterns and the contents of what the massive raid had consisted of regarding the World Enemy.
I raised my hand, focusing on the sensation and pushed.
Nothing happened.
I frowned, pushing harder. Still nothing. The power was there, I could feel it, but it was like trying to grab water with my bare hands.
"Frustrating," I muttered, trying again.
And again.
After an hour of zero progress and a failed attempt, I lowered my hand with a sigh.
"A perfectly understandable challenge, Lord Zephyrion," Demiurge said respectfully, his tone carefully neutral. "Racial abilities of such calibre often require time and practice to manifest fully. That you can sense them at all speaks to your remarkable adaptation to your new form, and for whatever you have gained to be so hard must speak of a complexity and power they shall possess."
He certainly knew how to sweet-talk.
"I guess it was unrealistic to expect to learn everything about my new race within a day."
The fact that I could even have some of the absurd abilities I had been told about was a boon.
Demiurge adjusted his spectacles thoughtfully. "If I may make a suggestion, Lord Zephyrion? Perhaps we could approach this from a different angle."
I regarded Demiurge curiously. "How so?"
"Most demonic entities above a certain level possess innate summoning capabilities of lower demons. Given your new heritage and your status as a Supreme Being, I confess I find myself quite curious about what manner of creatures you might be capable of summoning." Demiurge suggested.
His tail swayed with barely contained excitement. "It may prove easier to access than the more specialised racial abilities. And if successful, it would provide valuable insight into the full scope of your transformation."
I considered that.
Summoning magic.
Perhaps the most absurd magic of Yggdrasil. Simply using magic to create an entire being that could fight for you…
"How would I even go about that?" I questioned.
I doubt it was as easy as just having the intention.
Maybe imagination magic could help?
What followed was an in-depth explanation of what summoning was, how I should be able to perform such spells, and a demonstration of the summoning spells he knew.
That led me to try several times. Each attempt had Demiurge making small, polite comments and assessments that I used to the limit. I couldn't find myself to be annoyed by the failure when, for once, I had a smart demon actually guiding me.
Then, on my eighth attempt, something shifted.
The world seemed to pause for a heartbeat.
Power surged through me, not from my own magic reserves but from something deeper. It was that weird feeling of practising a spell of Yggdrasil. It had a unique feel, different from when I used my imagination as a weapon or the wand.
Yet, as if it were sand sliding through my closed fist, the feeling disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
However, I didn't lose hope. I even felt motivated by this momentary success.
Still, no matter how many times I tried. The sand kept slipping through my fingers.
While Demiurge patiently waited, I was growing more bewildered by the second. I had already been a fast learner, and that had been boosted to a prodigy-like status after the racial boost. The fact that it was taking this long for a racial ability was insane.
It was by chance that the fist closed completely. A word entered my mind, as if it had always been there, on the edge of my tongue. It finally clicked, and a name almost drifted out of my mouth, the very syllables sounding baneful and cursed. It took some amount of concentration to stop myself and still hold onto those words.
"I think I've got it," I announced, allowing Demiurge, who had been acting like a statue, to move.
"Would you like me to prepare for any potential resistance from the summon, my Lord?" Demiurge questioned. "Such the effects of a summoning spell are unknown, and coming from a very powerful race could prove unsafe."
"That won't be needed," I replied easily.
I raised my hand and spoke something that just sounded wrong, yet so awfully right.
"Summon Tyrant's Executioner."
The first sign that this wasn't just a tenth-tier spell was the way my demonic power plummeted. My reserves, which had begun to border on ultimate class, dissolved in mere seconds.
So much so that I quickly grabbed a magic refilling potion and began downing them, the next one handed to me by Demiurge.
The air itself turned turbulent, and the ever-present smile on Demiurge's face widened.
A single magic circle blazed to life beneath my feet, an arcane blue that turned into a crackling red, filled with what I knew as Demonic script. The words themselves looked alive, as they writhed and shifted. But it didn't stop there.
A second circle appeared above it, rotating in the opposite direction.
Then a third. A fourth.
They multiplied rapidly, dozens of arcane circles manifesting in concentric layers, each one spinning at different speeds and angles. Some hovered vertically, others at diagonals, creating a complex pattern.
The circles ranged in size from barely a meter across to massive formations that nearly touched the chamber's walls.
Demiurge's amazement turned into caution, and he subtly positioned himself in front of me.
A massive magic circle blazed to life in front of me, filled with demonic energy that seared the air. From its centre, darkness erupted upward like a pillar of smoke, coalescing into a towering figure.
It stood nearly three meters tall, clad in pitch-black armour that seemed to absorb light. A greatsword materialised in its gauntleted hands, easily two meters long.
The helmet had no visible eye slits, just a smooth, featureless faceplate that somehow radiated menace. Chains wrapped around its arms and torso.
The summoned knight knelt, head bowed, sword planted before it in a gesture of absolute submission.
I stared, momentarily speechless.
Power practically burned off the figure, and immediately I could tell it was stronger than Satomi…
Which meant it exceeded the limit.
Demiurge's shock was palpable. He stepped closer, examining the summon with wide eyes. "Lord Zephyrion, this is... this is a Super-Tier spell manifestation, and beyond that, it seems to be something above the limit. An existence Lady Ainz would call a 'boss'"
Then it clicked.
"I see," I replied seriously.
So, in actuality, the race of R'hol was enough to make someone a World Enemy. And it seemingly allowed for such a demonic summon. Satomi had mentioned underlings, and they would have had to come from somewhere.
Was this truly just developer lore? What level of power would it take to make such a thing become reality?
"Are super-tiered summons… common?" I asked, just for the sake of wanting to know.
"No, not in the slightest. I believe I can recall only the 'Pantheon' summoning spell that summons six powerful Cherubs. And even then, the summons aren't to the sheer level of power I'm sensing." Demiurge replied with a hint of amazement. "Congratulations, my Lord."
I grinned.
So, another being to call upon whenever? Could I leave it at the house with Hestia? My two familiars were strong, but this sheer level of power was deep within the ultimate class.
I grinned, though the magical exhaustion was already settling in. My reserves felt nearly empty despite the potions I'd downed. Super-Tier spells didn't use MP traditionally, but this one had drained my demonic energy almost completely.
"Perhaps we should pause for now," Demiurge suggested carefully, noticing my state. "You've made remarkable progress, Lord Zephyrion. Discovering a boss-class summon on your first attempt is extraordinary."
I nodded, feeling the weight of fatigue. "Yeah, that took more out of me than expected." I looked at the kneeling knight. "At ease."
The summon rose smoothly, moving to stand behind me like a silent guardian. It didn't speak, didn't make unnecessary movements, just waited with perfect obedience.
"Though while I recover," I said, an idea forming, "we could still test other aspects. You mentioned wanting to examine souls?"
Demiurge's expression lit up with interest. "Indeed, my Lord. I'm quite curious about how your new abilities interact with soul manipulation. It's a field I've been researching extensively."
We relocated to a more specialised chamber, one designed for Demiurge's various experiments. My summon followed silently, its presence both comforting and imposing.
Demiurge had several test subjects prepared. Bad people, he assured me. Bandits and slavers captured during Nazarick's intelligence operations. I didn't feel particularly guilty about using them.
First, we tried extracting souls from Demiurge's summons with my contracts.
He called forth lesser demons using standard summoning magic, then attempted to harvest their souls.
Nothing. The summons simply dissolved when I tried, their souls apparently tied too closely to the magic that created them.
"How curious," Demiurge murmured, taking notes. "Summoned entities appear immune to soul extraction. Their essence is fundamentally different from naturally born creatures."
Next, we tested on the criminals.
Demiurge wanted to witness how it worked with my unique contracts. It was easy enough to absorb their souls after a trip to a being named Neuronist.
Testing showed it wasn't worth absorbing, and I felt a small trickle of power enter me.
Very small.
"Barely anything," I said, frowning. "A normal soul like this doesn't give much at all."
"To be expected," Demiurge said. "The quality of the soul matters as much as the quantity. A weak bandit would provide minimal sustenance compared to a powerful warrior or magic caster."
We experimented with the remaining subjects. The pattern held. Weak souls gave minimal returns. The process itself was clean and efficient, but the payoff wasn't impressive unless the target was powerful.
Throughout it all, my knight stood watch.
It never moved unless I commanded it, never showed any emotion or initiative.
Just perfect, absolute obedience.
I knew Demiurge was watching as well.
For now, the summon didn't seem to be showing any signs of intelligence, which was probably for the best.
After about an hour of testing, I'd recovered enough demonic energy to feel functional again. That's when curiosity got the better of me.
I hadn't seen Satomi in a while.
"What's Ainz doing right now?" I asked casually.
Demiurge's tails swayed with enthusiasm. "Ah, Lady Ainz is overseeing the final stages of the lizardmen conquest. It's quite the strategic operation."
"Lizardmen?"
-Scene Break-
I looked over to Satomi, as something tugged at the edges of my chest.
We both sat in one of the many rooms that had been made just for comfort. Relaxing, as we had come to do after my demonic power was spent.
Though the cheat existence that was a mana potion made me revitalised in a second.
I had come to learn that Satomi had something going on with the lizard men of this world. And that had led me learning about her whole world-conquering thing.
Honestly? She was probably going to succeed with Nazarick behind her. I wasn't too worried about her. Even the arrogance of the denizens of Nazarick had been curbed enough for caution to exist. At least the Shalltear affair taught them something.
I didn't feel much after hearing her plan, but it did give me ideas.
It was what we were talking about when a slight tug in my chest interrupted me mid-sentence.
That was the sign of someone attempting to summon me.
I sent Satomi a look.
From my estimations, it must be Hestia who was trying to summon me.
In truth, I was slightly sad to go. My time here has been amazing. Nazarick was definitely a place I could say I trusted. I doubt I'd find myself lucking into anything similar when travelling in future worlds.
Perhaps this was a manifestation of Gremory Luck? I thought amusedly.
I had gained an obscene amount of boons, more so than any other world, due to Satomi. And even just having Nazarick behind me as my sort of found family was nice.
Satomi didn't seem to be amused, as evidenced by her frown. Her features conveyed her concern well enough that my own amusement faded.
"Zephyrion?"
"It's Hestia," I said, my hand moving to my chest instinctively. "She's summoning me back."
The reaction from her was immediate.
"The Goddess has activated the contract?" Satomi asked, and I caught the hint of something stale beneath her calm tone.
"Yeah. It seems she's finally found one of my demonic contracts." I clarified, feeling slightly relieved.
I had known there was a demonic contract there, or admittedly, I would be a lot less composed. I had mostly been waiting for Hestia to summon me, getting slightly more worried by the day.
Perhaps she had thought I had done it on purpose?
It was still a mystery I hoped to solve soon.
"I see, I'm glad we've prepared," Satomi said, gesturing to the Basilisk, who perked up. However, I noticed a subtle twitch in her eyebrows.
"Don't look so worried." I chuckled. "I've already given you many of my contracts, and we have a way to communicate, if not in a slightly limited capacity."
"I know." Satomi grouched.
A slight glow announced she had probably summoned the guardians currently within Nazarick.
"I guess we should move quickly then," Satomi said with a smile.
Sure enough, walking into the throne room showed that they were all there.
Which was impressive considering they had been summoned like five minutes ago.
I was met with varying frowns by the assembled guardians, which consisted of Albedo, Demiurge and Shalltear. Albedo wore an intense look and a deep, worried frown, while Demiurge didn't look happy, and Shalltear could barely look at me.
In my time here, I had come to learn of the guardians and to say that whatever had happened to them was massive was an understatement. While the core of their existence relied on the way the real creators had made them, they were genuinely people with their own will.
They weren't going to be happy I was leaving. Especially since Satomi had made me a "Supreme Being" and further made me Demiurge's supposed 'creator' as a joke.
Nevertheless they had been informed of my situation… I suspected the only reason they weren't outright causing a riot was that I was keeping in close communication with them.
Nazarick was definitely a power I wanted behind me, and Satomi had made it clear that I was also a Leader of Nazarick. Travelling in new worlds felt more comfortable with Nazarick and my expanding 'empire', as Satomi had jokingly put it, behind me.
It felt… good.
Travelling back to my original world had been a worry for me. Even with my devil family, the one that would probably try to lock me up, it was a world of monsters. The strongest world I had been in so far was fortunately(?) enough, my home world.
At least from what I knew. Who knows? Maybe this world also had Gods in it, albeit ones that preferred to stay hidden instead of going around impregnating random unsuspecting women.
My thought chain was broken as Albedo stepped forward, her golden eyes studying me intently. "Zephyrion-sama, how long do you anticipate being away from Nazarick?"
"Not long," I responded. "My abrupt summons has probably left my Familia back in another world quite worried. This wasn't exactly a planned visit."
Albedo frowned.
"Then, if I may suggest, may we send a proper escort with you?" Demiurge suggested, adjusting his glasses. "A show of Nazarick's strength despite my Lord's undeniable strength would be beneficial."
"It would be unnecessary; that world is slightly strange, but I have a strong foothold there. I wouldn't say it's a matter of worry, especially when compared to other matters like those of the wizarding world or my own world." I deducted easily, preventing him from interpreting my words.
Demiurge sighed. "I understand, my Lord, I just wish you wouldn't feel the need to part from Nazarick's great walls."
"Yeah, well. Travelling worlds does cause tricky situations, but I wouldn't be here if I couldn't." I replied with a chuckle. "I have important people there, and the wizarding world is being used to further my magic."
Albedo and Satomi perked up at the mention of love, while Demiurge became thoughtful.
"May I ask about this person you love?" Demiurge questioned carefully.
I considered him before nodding.
"She's a Goddess and her name is Hestia," I revealed. "Along with that, there is another girl who is quickly becoming special to me… an elf princess, you could say."
Satomi blinked, and Albedo's sad frown figuratively turned upside down.
"As expected of my Lord." Was the reply I received.
Meanwhile, Shalltear was still trying to avoid my gaze.
I patted her on the head.
It didn't take a genius to see how her thought process was unfolding.
"It's not your fault. I'll be coming back." I promise.
She looked up hopefully and melted under my touch.
Albedo looked tense. "Is there no way you can be convinced? How about just bringing an army? I don't feel safe knowing you'll be so far away. Without the guardians' protection."
"An army won't be needed," I smirked with amusement, before deciding to be at least considerate to Albedo's request. "Though I have spoken to… Ainz about taking someone with me, a resident of Nazarick."
Someone strong enough to handle the unexpected, but who won't immediately try to conquer the city or better yet, the world. My gaze flatly landed on Albedo and Demiurge.
Yeah. No way. The Gods would instantly be on my backside if I let these two inside.
All three of them practically lit up with joy.
"A splendid idea, even if you do not need such a service," Demiurge commented smoothly.
"Who will you choose? May I suggest it myself?" Albedo practically gushed.
"As the primary creation of Lord Zephyrion, I believe I would be a suitable fit. Nazarick needs its guardian overseer, and I could create a suitable analysis for when Lady Ainz has time to visit." Demiurge interjected smoothly.
That was… surprisingly reasonable.
I had spoken to Satomi about the Falna. If the Falna could allow for a way beyond level one hundred, it'd be invaluable to Nazarick's growth.
Naturally, I suspected Demiurge would probably cause chaos in a way that would ultimately benefit me, but would still cause chaos. He was technically the weakest guardian, but that didn't make him docile in the slightest.
He was perhaps the most dangerous among them.
I couldn't judge what level we were at anymore, but it was definitely above level six.
Satomi seemed okay with me choosing.
"You're too integral to Ainz's plans, and you've got many projects I want you to focus on within this world," I said, trying to be at least polite while rejecting him.
Demiurge accepted it slowly, though I could tell he had wanted to come.
Who would work well in my Familia?
My eyes landed on Sebas, who stood at attention near the throne, silent and observant as always.
"Sebas," I said.
The butler's sharp eyes met mine, surprise flickering across his usually stoic features. "Zephyrion-sama?"
"Think you can handle accompanying me to another world?"
For a moment, Sebas just stared. Then he bowed deeply, and when he straightened, there was something unmistakably pleased in his expression.
"It would be my greatest honour, Zephyrion-sama, if Ainz-sama allows it," he said, his voice carrying sincere respect beneath the formal tone. "To serve alongside you and witness another world... I am deeply grateful for this opportunity."
"An excellent choice," Demiurge acknowledged with a slight nod. "Sebas will represent Nazarick admirably and serve you in a manner I deem fit."
"Indeed," Satomi agreed, and I caught the slight waver in her voice. She was trying to hide it, but I could tell she was going to miss having me around. "He'll serve you well, Zephyrion."
I could feel the summoning circle activating on the other end. A second attempt to summon me.
"Sebas, your duties here are suspended in favour of serving Zephyrion. Do not allow harm to come to him and try your best to follow his every order as expected." Satomi ordered.
The butler's stern but noble features turned downright sharp, his eyes gleaming red. "I swear it on my honour, my lady."
We spent a few minutes longer together, with me mostly assuring the overly caring guardians that I would be back and speaking to Satomi about my plan with the Falna.
I walked up to Sebas.
"Do you need to get anything?" I questioned.
"No, my Lord. I am as ready as I can ever hope to be." Sebas replied politely.
"Good." I placed my arm on his shoulder, and a demonic circle fizzled to life under us.
I felt a serpentine being slither up to my neck, and it just wrapped itself around the top of my head.
"Don't look so upset, I'll be back soon and potentially with good news." I winked at Satomi.
My demonic power clicked and began plummeting quickly, yet the amount now seemed small compared to my increased reserves.
The last thing I saw before leaving was Satomi raising one of her hands in farewell, the Guardians all bowing respectfully, before reality twisted and the throne room of Nazarick vanished.
I hit the stone hard, my body absorbing the impact easily.
Beside me, Sebas landed in a perfect crouch, already scanning our surroundings for threats.
Before I could even get my bearings, something small and warm slammed into me like a cannonball.
"ZEPH!"
Hestia tackled me, wrapping her arms around me with enough force that even with my new strength, I stumbled back a step. She buried her face in my chest, and I could feel her trembling.
I grinned, relaxing slightly.
It was nice to be home again.
-END-
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