Chapter 4, Part 3

The fighting broke out and the arena was instantly filled with chaos. The attackers rushed to their chosen targets as the shouts of spells and Martial Arts filled the air. However, Sebas remained still. He was currently dealing with a conundrum and was unsure how to proceed.

All the guardians were told to match their opponents’ strength, and then slightly exceed it to come out victorious, rather than crushing them with overwhelming strength. But then Ainz gave Sebas an order to secure the Blue Rose members. It would be rather hard to incapacitate them if he were to fight at their level. Doing so could even lead to unintended injuries.

After weighing the pros and cons of his actions, Sebas has made a decision and began to move. He calmly approached the crowd of the allied forces, and then sped up. Quickly slipping by several enemies he circled behind Blue Rose members and delivered a quick chop with the edge of his palm. With a whistling sound, his hand cut through the air.

Oh, I missed? Sebas thought surprised after his attack failed to find its target. But, he didn’t stop. A couple quick step and another, identical chop were performed almost instantly. This time it was a success. One of the members were knocked out and her body began to slump to the ground. Sebas quickly grabbed the unconscious woman and jumped out of the crowd.

“Damn it! He got Tia! After him!” Tina cried out and the remaining four members of Blue Rose ran after Sebas, who had placed Tia’s body toward the edge of the arena and was now calmly waiting for them.

As Blue Rose rushed after their captured comrade, Climb was left behind. Not that he could move, as he was on the ground on all fours. He was trembling all over and cold sweat poured from his forehead onto the ground.

When the fight broke out, Climb was fully focused on Sebas and saw the moment when Sebas approached the crowd of attackers. Climb knew better than anyone just how terrifyingly powerful this old man was. That was why he decided to activate his magical pocket watch immediately. Doing so could be seen as a waste, compared to waiting for an ideal moment, but Climb trusted his gut.

Using the pocket watch resulted in Climb’s dynamic vision greatly improving. That was why he was able to see Sebas slip past some fighters and circle behind him. Climb knew that an attack was incoming and that he had to dodge it. However, while the watch greatly improved his vision, it did nothing for his reflexes. Climb desperately tried to force his body to do something it couldn’t.

It was similar to when he faced Sebas’s death punch. However, while that time he was under tremendous pressure due to Sebas’s bloodlust, this time it was due to the knowledge that he would most likely be killed. Every inch of his body screaming at him to dodge, Climb managed to crouch before he fell on his knees and arms as he felt completely spent.

Climb tried to control his heavy breathing, after a few moments he tried to stand up. His vision blurred and his surroundings began to spin. He knelt once again and vomited. He tried to steady himself again, while somewhere in the back of his mind was a thought that his mistress would find his performance pretty pathetic.

The remaining Blue Rose members went into a formation as they prepared to attack Sebas. Gagaran was in the center, flanked by Tina and Evileye, while Lakyus was behind Gagaran, a bit further away. Then, they attacked in unison.

Evileye cast [Crystal Dagger], Tina threw an exploding contraption that would blind anyone who looked at the explosion. Both of their attacks were but distractions, to allow Gagaran, who had leapt into the air, to land an overhead blow.

However, things did not work the way they should have. Sebas slapped the flying icicle away with his hand, he then closed his eyes to avoid getting blinded by the explosion. Despite his eyes being closed, he sidestepped Gagaran’s crushing attack and countered with his own. It didn’t look like much, he simply pressed his palm against Gagaran’s armor. However, in the next instant Ki exploded from his palm, sending Gagaran flying to the side. With their meat shield gone, Sebas advanced.

“Lakyus, watch out!” Tina shouted.

She then used her skill to merge into the shadow and emerge directly behind Sebas, launching a sneak attack.

“What?!” Tina said in disbelief, as her dagger pierced nothing but air.

Unfazed by her sudden appearance, Sebas executed a figure seven maneuver and ended up behind Tina. A quick strike to the back of her neck, and Tina’s unconscious body hit the ground.

Seeing another friend fall, Lakyus screamed and rushed forward. She wasn’t foolish enough to fight Sebas at melee range though, rather she had used activated Kilineiram’s ability, and after taking a few steps forward she swung the sword, sending an arc of dark energy at Sebas.

Although this attack posed no harm to him, Sebas didn’t take it head on. Rather he used this chance to move toward Evileye. His movement was so fast that to Evileye it looked like he teleported in front of her with his left hand outstretched and his right hand bent in a ready position by his side. He then delivered a classic martial arts punch, before moving back toward Lakyus. Evileye groaned as she tumbled backward some dozen yards. Luckily, she was able to use [Translocation Damage] at the last moment, so she wasn’t actually hurt by that strike.

“Hang on! I am coming!” Gagaran shouted as she ran toward Lakyus. Sebas was faster.

Lakyus swung her sword, and Sebas stepped back to avoid the slash. However, rather than moving forward he followed up by jumping sideways toward Gagaran. While flying through the air, just a few inches from the ground, he gracefully rotated his body, the movement culminating in a spinning back kick. The distance Sebas traversed was quite large, still, Gagaran managed to intercept the kick with the pole of her large weapon. However, she could not stop the momentum behind the attack. Once again, she was sent flying, this time smashing into the wall of the arena. Then, her lifeless body slumped to the ground.

Lakyus watched in terror as Sebas dispatched Gagaran and once again set his sights on her. She cursed, this fight was going completely wrong. Against a powerful opponent, she would normally buff her allies, while they stalled looking for a weakness. Unfortunately, this time their opponent was too powerful. He simply didn’t give Lakyus any room to breathe, as he effortlessly incapacitated three members of Blue Rose in under one minute.

Sebas advanced toward her, and Lakyus swung her sword wildly, trying to keep him at bay, while she backed up toward Evileye. However, with a perfectly timed counter, Sebas stepped in with a punch just as her blade wheezed by. Lakyus braced for impact, but a wall made of ice suddenly appeared between them, she let out a sigh of relief, but that was a mistake.

Sebas didn’t try to pull his arm back, instead smashing the wall with his punch. He then opened his fist and attempted to grab Lakyus, while the shattered ice fell all around them. Caught off-guard, Lakyus stumbled backward and slashed at Sebas’s arm. But rather than pulling his punch back Sebas moved his hand in an arc, moving it out of the weapon’s trajectory and grabbing Lakyus’s wrist. He then stepped back, pulling Lakyus after him and to the side, forcing her to expose her back. Unable to stop her momentum, all Lakyus could do was lock eyes with Evileye.

“Sorry,” Lakyus mouthed before she lost consciousness.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!” Evileye screamed at the top of her lungs.

No longer caring about her own safety she rushed toward Sebas while chain-casting her magic.

[Crystal Dagger] [Crystal Lance] [Shard Buck Shots]

She used the most damaging spells in her arsenal. However, it wasn’t even enough to slow Sebas down. He knocked the first two attacks out of the way and simply walked through the [Shard Buck Shots] to arrive in front of screaming Evileye. As she watched Sebas assume the martial fighter’s pose before delivering a punch.

At this moment the time slowed down while her thoughts sped up. She recalled the words Momon had said while negotiating with the Sorcerer King: “ I am certain that we have no chance of victory.” She was shocked to hear such words from the strongest man she knew. She even started to question his sincerity when he left the allied forces after securing the lives of Blue Rose. But now she understood. If he insisted on fighting, the only outcome would be that they would all die.

The first time we met, he had to let Jaldabaoth go in order to protect me. And this time he was willing to act in a way that cast doubt on his honor, all to protect me and the rest of Blue Rose. Momon-sama… it’s no wonder I have fallen in love with you. With a smile on her face, Evileye received Sebas’s attack.

His task completed, Sebas cast a quick glance at the battle. After making sure that Ainz was not in any danger, he scanned the arena for Climb. He quickly found the man in white armor, who was fighting alongside the two Scriptures against Aura and Mare.

I guess he didn’t want to fight me, Sebas thought. He looked at Ainz again, noticing that Albedo had positioned herself so as to keep Ainz in her view. Pandora’s Actor should’ve come back by now and must be hiding among the spectators as well. Sebas thought as he considered Ainz’s safety and what to do next. I should help Aura and Mare. There is no way to hide their power if they beat over thirty people on their own. I should provide a diversion. Having reached this conclusion he moved toward the largest group of fighters.

***

Under her helmet Albedo was biting her lip. Was that too much? I hope Ainz-sama doesn’t think that such a pitiful spell can hurt me, she thought. After being told to hide their power and to only slightly overpower their opponents Albedo was prepared to carry out this order to the best of her ability.

That’s why she had prepared to scream, as if in pain, when she saw Yavon begin his cast. However, she didn’t expect the spell to be of a ninth tier. Not that such a spell posed any danger to her, but she could feel the pain from it, similar to that of being bitten by a bee. The surprise she felt at feeling pain had amplified her prepared scream to produce a very natural sounding cry.

I hope Ainz-sama doesn’t change his plans because he thinks I was hurt… although, if he did, would it not be proof of his love for me? Albedo thought absentmindedly as she deflected Zesshi’s attacks. Oh, no! That was too close, I need to focus, she admonished herself. She put too much force in her last blow and almost knocked Zesshi’s scythe out of her hands.

***

Shalltear smirked as she watched Loras lunge toward her. He launched a series of quick stabs but she easily deflected them with her weapon, Spuit Lance. The smirk on her face stretched into a full grin.

He’s strong enough to make playing with him fun, she thought. She parried a few more attacks from Loras, however, the man didn’t seem frustrated or rushed. He’s trying to stall me, the fool. In that case…

The next time Loras stabbed at her, rather than parrying it, she used her left hand to grab a hold of his spear. A twisted smile crept onto her face as she slowly raised the Spuit Lance in her right hand, giving Loras plenty of time to realize what was about to happen.

However, her fun was cut short. A blue-haired man jumped at her from the side while yelling “nail clipper.” Apparently, it was the name of a Martial Art, because in the next moment four strikes of light flew toward Shalltear, targeting different parts of her body. A frown emerged on Shalltear’s face after she was forced to use Spuit Lance to deflect this attack.

“It’s you again. You are persistent. Weak, but persistent. Tell me, what is your goal? Why does a weakling like you insist on fighting me?” Shalltear asked Brain who seemed not at all concerned that his surprise attack was easily negated.

“It is to challenge myself and to see how far up the mountain I can climb,” Brain responded with conviction. “Even if this is the last time we meet, I will surpass my previous limit!”

“Hmm, an ambitious pest,” Shalltear said slowly, her eyes moving between Brain and Loras as she thought of something.

Suddenly, her attention was grabbed by what was happening near them – where the Scriptures fought the two dark elves.

After Loras gave the order, the approximately thirty people which made up the two Scriptures began to act. The magic casters spread out in a perimeter, the melee fighters rushed forward while most of the Windflower Scripture members tried to flank the two elves, looking for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack. Several of the Zuranon members joined them as well.

“Mm, too many, we should thin them out,” Aura said as a plain-looking bow appeared in her hands.

‘O-Ok,” Mare stuttered from behind her, before casting his spell.

The earth split in a spiderweb pattern right where most of the attackers were. However, the Scriptures had heard about this spell and were prepared for it. While it threw their formation off, none of them fell into the opened chasms. The same couldn’t be said about Zuranon members, one of whom fell into the opened chasm.

The spell was followed by Aura using [Rain Arrow] to send a downpour of arrows onto the attackers after their mobility was limited by the spiderweb of chasms. Screams of pain filled the air as many of the arrows found their mark.

Kegor Elan Bosk circled around the two elves, thankful that he wasn’t among the frontal troops which were hit by the rain of arrows. He made his way behind Mare, and after a brief moment of hesitation sprinted forward. Blade in hand, he would end this quickly.

Aura turned to face Mare and lifted her bow.

[Shadow-Piercing Arrow]

An arrow flew out and struck Kegor’s shadow just as he closed in on his target.

“Ah, th-thanks,” Mare thanked his sister and swung his staff at Kegor’s immobile body.

Aura turned back and began to shoot at the attackers who struggled to regroup.

“Use it on the archer, now,” the third seat of the Black Scripture orders a young woman who wore a white dress decorated with a golden dragon.

A moment later, a ball of light appeared near the woman’s stomach. Over the next few seconds it became more and more intense, and then it flew forward and hit Aura, bathing her in blinding light. After several seconds, the light faded.

“Hey, that white bitch is mine! So, don’t kill her,” Shalltear, who was attracted by the blinding light, shouted.

“Yes, yes, I know,” Aura shook her head. Everyone knew that the Black Scripture’s members belonged to Shalltear.

“It… didn’t work?” The third seat of the Black Scripture switched between Aura and the woman who used the World Item.

“Damn it!” He cursed, before he fell, screaming in pain, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder.

“Don’t falter. For the Six Great Gods!” The second seat of the Black Scripture shouted as he moved forward.

Dressed in a green jacket and pants, he wore high brown boots, a miniature top hat and a cape with a clock pattern on the inside. Nicknamed Time Turbulence, his power was only second to the captain.

Seeing their forces sent into disarray, he decided to change the situation by himself. He wasn’t well-suited for leading, like some frontline fighter, that role was usually done by the captain, while he could focus on exploiting opportunities for a surprise attack. Although he was now leading the attack, he didn’t mind.

“It doesn’t matter,” he thought with a smile, as he activated the ability of his cloak.

One of the most powerful abilities among the equipment left behind by the Six Great Gods, it possessed the ability to stop time itself. Granted, it didn’t last long and he couldn’t actually inflict damage during its duration, an ability to stop time was truly one that only the Gods could boast of.

He advanced forward, but then froze as he was struck by a sudden realization – there were still sounds of the battle. Shocked, he looked toward it and Saw Zesshi and Albedo fighting merrily. He shifted his gaze and saw both Ainz and Yavon stare at him, their skulls remained expressionless, but he could feel that the two were annoyed at him.

He then looked back at his own opponents. Mare was standing there with a bored look on his face. While Aura was poking at an arrow that she had shot, which was now stuck in the air.

“Ah, you used a time-stop ability, that’s quite surprising,” she said with a smile.

He was terrified. Only Zesshi possessed an item that allowed her to ignore the time-stop outright. Loras had an item that would react to a time-stop ability and make him invulnerable for about half a second after the time resumed its flow. Several other members had similar items as well.

However, it appeared that all of the Sorcerer King’s servants could ignore his time-stop ability. Not only could they still move, they didn’t even look fazed by the fact he triggered it. His trump card negated, he began to retreat. However, Aura wouldn’t allow it.

“It’s useless,” she said cheerfully, as she readied her bow. “Useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless. Useless!”

She shouted as she quickly fired a whole bunch of arrows at once. The arrows didn’t fly out but were stuck in the air due to the time-stop still being in effect. Aura stepped to the side and fired again, she repeated this action several times.

By the time she was done, all he could see were dozens of arrows aimed at him.

What do I do? I can’t dodge these many… just what kind of hell-hole is this place?! His mind screamed at him. After using the cloak’s ability for many years, he had developed a certain sense for when its ability would end. He knew that moment was about to arrive, and when it did, he would undoubtedly be killed. In his last moment, he looked at the young dark elf girl who had so casually ended his life. She was mumbling something he couldn’t make out, but it looked like she was counting something. Then, with bright eyes and a flashing smile, she locked eyes with him. She raised her open hand before closing it into a fist.

“Zero,” she said cheerfully as the time-stop ended and the world began to move again.

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