The offensive against the Council State was led by the Northwest Ninja Army, with Kirigakure acting in support.
The Fourth Mizukage, Gengetsu—who had rushed over after receiving the emergency report—listened in full as the heavily bandaged Karatachi Yagura recounted the battle. Afterward, he joined Northwest Army Commander Uchiha Naka to deliberate countermeasures.
Uzumaki Mito had already returned to Konoha's Military Affairs Department. The actual deployment routes and assault strategies would now fall to the two of them, with the advisory corps refining plans and filling in tactical gaps.
"The Magic Continent truly hides dragons and crouching tigers," Gengetsu muttered. "It cannot be underestimated."
Meanwhile, Amegakure's war against the Baharuth Empire had reached a stalemate.
The "Bloody Emperor," Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix, might not be a battlefield genius, but he possessed sharp judgment and extraordinary charisma. Surrounded by capable ministers willing to stake their lives, backed by the Empire's guardian Fluder Paradyne, the newly risen anomaly-level "Demon Spear," and one of the famed Four Knights, Leinas Rockbruise, the Empire had proven unexpectedly resilient.
Hanzō of the Salamander—known across the Empire as the "Walking Poison Tide"—had begun considering negotiations.
Even victory would leave Amegakure hollowed out. The territory they now possessed was already rich enough to sustain five or six generations. Continuing the war would only weaken themselves for others to exploit.
Once that clarity dawned upon him, Hanzō felt as if the sky had widened and the air had cleared.
Pride was meaningless now. The Three Great Ninja Villages were facing the same reality. Even mighty Kirigakure had suffered heavy losses. If Amegakure encountered such enemies head-on, annihilation was not impossible.
"Make arrangements. I will request an audience with Emperor Jircniv. This war has reached the stage for negotiation."
Inside the command tent, a Nara strategist hesitated. "Rain Shadow-sama… the conquest of the Empire was ordered by the Military Affairs Department. Acting independently—"
"I am well aware," Hanzō cut in calmly. "The Empire is too large a cake for Amegakure alone to swallow. If negotiations succeed and the Empire submits to the ninja world, the result is no different from conquest."
"And if talks fail," he continued, glancing at the strategist until the man felt his scalp prickle, "we will request reinforcements from the Southeast Ninja Army—perhaps even the Central Army."
"Amegakure has reached the limits of its strength. If the Military Affairs Department holds someone accountable, I will bear it."
The Nara strategist bowed deeply and withdrew.
—
In the Theocracy's Six Gods Conference Hall, news of Kirigakure being massacred by the Platinum Armor triggered an emergency meeting.
"The situation between Amegakure and the Empire requires no further comment. Our own war with Iwagakure has entered a lull. Their tactics have grown increasingly conservative—no, even turtle-like. Even the Black Scripture struggles to achieve results."
"Perhaps that is for the best. It spares Kaire the risk of using Downfall of Castle and Country again. She may spend a few more days in prayer."
"That is unacceptable!" another voice snapped. "The enemy's advantage on the main battlefield is visible to the naked eye. They can afford to wait. We cannot."
"Indeed. One slow step becomes a hundred slow steps. Iwagakure would never expect us to strike boldly when we should be catching our breath."
After heated debate, the aged High Priest gave the final verdict.
"Proceed according to the Grand Marshal's plan. Spare no effort in seizing control of the Tsuchikage. The survival of the Theocracy's faith depends on it."
The decision was transmitted instantly through spatial magic.
—
"Then we act."
The Grand Marshal wasted no time. The Black Scripture would serve as the spearhead—open and forceful—compelling Iwagakure's Tsuchikage to reveal himself.
To secure decisive victory, casualties were irrelevant.
All lives, including his own, would eventually return to the embrace of the Six Great Gods.
"For the survival of the Theocracy."
There was no hesitation in his heart.
—
Within Nazarick's Ninth Floor office, Momonga watched through his magic mirror as ninjas gathered in a nearby village.
The image shifted—
Until it stopped on a young noble of striking beauty.
Suddenly, Momonga felt as though the man was smiling directly at him.
As if layers of space meant nothing.
"Hello there, Momonga-san."
The friendly greeting sent a surge of cold dread through even his undead body.
(That's impossible!)
Momonga shot to his feet. A burst of green light from his racial passive skill suppressed his panic, forcing calm upon his mind before he could cry out.
"Momonga-sama! Is something wrong?"
Sebas Tian stepped forward in concern, while the homunculus maids dropped to their knees, unable to comprehend why the Supreme One had shown such uncharacteristic alarm.
"It's nothing," Momonga replied evenly. "I simply stood to think more clearly."
He dismissed Sebas, then used his guild ring to teleport to his private chambers. Diving face-first onto the bed, he buried his skull beneath a pillow.
"Ahhhhh—!"
"How does he know my name?! Is he another player from Yggdrasil?!"
His voice trembled with both fear and excitement.
In a foreign world, encountering someone who knew his true identity was both comforting and terrifying.
The stranger knew him.
And still dared to mobilize forces against the tomb that had once buried over fifteen hundred high-level players—Ainz Ooal Gown.
That meant confidence.
But how?
"And how did he detect me? There was no such spell in the game. Is it a unique ability of this world?"
Momonga knew Yggdrasil's systems thoroughly. A same-level magic caster could learn perhaps three hundred spells.
He had mastered seven hundred and eighteen.
His mana pool exceeded that of peers by fifty percent. He could cast Tenth-Tier magic one hundred and ninety-eight times without enhancement.
Tenth-Tier: Fallen Down—comparable in scale to the Heavenly Obstruction Star.
In raw numbers alone, he was arguably the strongest magic caster.
And beyond that—
He possessed Super-Tier spells brushing against Six Paths-level might.
Alone, he could erase every ninja village—save Konoha.
Which was precisely why unfamiliar abilities unsettled him so deeply.
The game had rules.
This world did not.
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