The battlefield had already been reduced to silence.
The Kingdom's army lay sprawled across the ground like discarded puppets. The fodder had been dealt with—what remained now was the real show: a clash between true monsters.
The Empire's soldiers were utterly useless in a confrontation like this. Ren Kuroda simply ordered them to withdraw and return to the Empire to await further instructions.
After all, their original role had only ever been ceremonial—an honor guard meant to create momentum and spectacle.
The moment they heard Ren's command, the soldiers collectively let out breaths of relief, their tense expressions melting away.
What they had witnessed today was far too shocking—so unbelievable that even if they told others, no one would believe them.
And now, the only ones left standing on the battlefield were monsters. With their pitiful strength, they weren't even qualified to be scraps between those beings' teeth.
If not for Ren's overwhelming display of power earlier—and the fear of punishment for desertion—they would have fled long ago.
The fact that they could still remain composed after witnessing such a scene was already a testament to their iron will.
Remedios and her paladin order withdrew alongside the Imperial soldiers. But unlike the terrified troops, Remedios wore a complex expression—part fear, part excitement.
Because this confirmed it.
She hadn't misjudged him.
If Ren possessed power like this, then dealing with the demi-human threat plaguing the Holy Kingdom would be effortless.
In fact, after witnessing Ren's strength, a new thought had begun to form in her mind.
She had heard that Ren—known as the "War Oni"—was often accompanied by a beautiful woman named Yuri, but the two were merely partners. Ren himself was still unmarried.
Meanwhile, Queen Calca of the Holy Kingdom was actively seeking a suitable marriage partner.
In terms of strength and appearance, Ren was flawless.
Even if he belonged to the Empire, Remedios believed that with Calca's title as the "most beautiful woman among humanity," convincing Ren to marry into the Holy Kingdom's royal family wouldn't be difficult.
And with Ren's support…
Not only would the nobles no longer dare to challenge Calca's authority, but even the Empire and the Kingdom might come to fear the Holy Kingdom.
The more Remedios thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
She had already decided—once she returned, she would immediately write to Calca.
—
Back on the battlefield, with the Kingdom's army incapacitated and the Empire withdrawn, only the key players remained.
Aside from the Black Scripture and the Platinum Dragon Lord, there were also the Kingdom's warrior captain, his two companions, and Ren's side.
The captain had stayed behind to buy time for the king's retreat.
The other two remained because they had previously experienced Ren's oppressive aura and managed to endure it again this time. Knowing the soldiers hadn't truly died—and given their past acquaintance with Ren—they hoped to negotiate.
In other words, five factions remained on the field:
The Theocracy's Black Scripture.The Platinum Dragon Lord, one of the Thirteen Heroes.The Kingdom.The Empire.And the Sorcerous Kingdom.
No—strictly speaking, the Empire had already exited the stage. Ren and the skeletal overlord stood together, firmly aligned as one faction.
With no outsiders left—and given the alliance between their sides—the skeletal overlord and his companions no longer bothered hiding their relationship with Ren.
A woman in black full-body armor stepped forward, accompanied by an imposing warrior, placing themselves between Ren and their master.
They could sense it.
The enemies before them—especially the silver-haired woman and the armored dragon—were no ordinary opponents. They were beings capable of rivaling Guardians.
And after the previous incident involving mind control, there was a real possibility that these enemies possessed world-class items.
"This was a miscalculation…"
The armored woman spoke, her voice tinged with frustration.
"I never expected this world to harbor such powerful individuals. Even though Lord Ren warned us, I underestimated the situation. This is my failure as Overseer."
She paused, then continued:
"Lord Ainz, Lord Ren—until we fully understand our enemies, please refrain from acting. Leave this to me and Cocytus."
But even as she said it, her confidence wavered.
She knew her own limits.
Against ordinary foes, she was overwhelming—but against beings of equal level, victory was far from guaranteed.
And with only the two of them present, defeating all enemies here would be… difficult.
Reinforcements existed—many of them—but the space had already been sealed.
Teleportation was impossible. Communication was cut off.
Breaking the seal would allow reinforcements—but it would also give the enemy a chance to escape.
A perfect deadlock.
Her regret stemmed from that very mistake—failing to bring more forces before sealing the battlefield.
"Don't worry about it."
Ren's voice cut through her self-reproach.
"Our current strength is more than enough. Besides, I didn't foresee this situation either."
From his perspective, their side still held the advantage.
Even if their opponents could rival level-one-hundred beings—so what?
Ren. Ainz. The Overseer. Cocytus.
Each of them stood at that same peak.
And as for world-class items…?
Ren was a notorious spender back in the game.
Ainz commanded the full resources of an entire guild.
They weren't lacking in that department.
—
Before the battle resumed, the Platinum Dragon Lord spoke.
Clad in sky-blue armor and a crimson cape, he did not attack immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Ren and Ainz.
"I have a question."
His voice was calm—but heavy.
"As those who came from that place… how do you view this world?"
"And how do you, as beings no longer truly human, intend to treat the people who live here?"
The moment those words were spoken, Ainz visibly reacted.
To outsiders, the question might sound strange.
But to him—and Ren—it was unmistakable.
"That place."
YGGDRASIL.
This being knew of it.
Perhaps… he was even a player himself.
Ainz answered without hesitation.
"At first, my companions and I only wished to live peacefully in this world."
His tone was cold.
"But the pests are far too many."
"Even if you ignore them, they crawl over you, pushing their luck, making you sick just by existing."
"So our answer is simple."
"We either exterminate them… or teach them—through absolute terror—that lesser beings must learn to obey the laws of the strong."
Silence followed.
A heavy, suffocating silence.
The Dragon Lord's anger flared instantly, magical power surging from his body like a storm.
Once, he had fought alongside companions.
Once, he had protected this world.
And though those companions were gone… the world they had defended still remained.
He would not allow it to be trampled.
Not again.
Not by beings like these.
His grip tightened around his weapon.
Without another word—
He struck.