[The Second Day of Destruction, 00:45]
[Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick -- The Throne Room]
Growing steadily higher, the mountain of discarded human flesh formed a grisly barricade. Mechanical efficiency dictated the rhythm of the Eternal Death as it harvested the population of Kami Miyako, trapping the horrific imagery entirely behind the pristine glass of the [Mirror of Remote Viewing].
Far removed from the choking ash and burning marble of the capital, the Ruler of Death watched his design unfold in absolute silence.
Occupying the Throne of Kings, Ainz Ooal Gown observed the massacre within a cavernous hall that smelled only of ancient stone and faint incense. This sterile environment created a jarring disconnect from the apocalyptic slaughter displayed upon the magical glass.
Standing to the right of the throne, Albedo fixed her golden eyes upon the carnage as a satisfied smile curved her lips. Demiurge stood to the left, allowing his silver glasses to reflect the strobe flashes of distant fires. Nearby, Pandora's actor observed the theater of despair while maintaining a rigidly perfect military posture.
Internally, Ainz reeled from the sheer scale of the devastation.
I knew the artifact possessed incredible power, but this is absurd, Ainz thought, feeling a wave of phantom nausea roll through his nonexistent stomach. The mind-control effect is blanketing almost the entire surviving population. Is this the result of the Doppelgänger acting as an amplifier, or is the mental resistance of these New Worlders simply that pitiful?
A green aura pulsed around his fleshless skull to engage the undead's emotional suppression immediately. This passive skill violently crushed his rising panic before forcing his mind back into clinical detachment.
I only meant to create a localized panic to force their guards to act, yet they are literally lining up to die.
Maintaining his regal posture, Ainz rested a bony chin upon intertwined fingers as the red orbs inside his eye sockets flared. He had deployed the [Eternal Death] specifically as bait, presenting the towering undead as a massive target designed to draw out the ultimate weapon of the theocracy. He fully expected them to deploy [Downfall of Castle and Country], anticipating the exact world-class item that had previously brainwashed Shalltear Bloodfallen.
To prepare for this exact moment, he had layered elaborate countermeasures across the plaza. Invisible ambush squads waited in the shadows, standing ready to sever the arms of the user, the exact millisecond the unique magical signature of the item flared.
Yet, the trap remained entirely empty while the Eternal Death continued its industrial harvest, unchallenged.
"It seems our guests are incredibly tardy," Ainz said, allowing his resonant baritone to echo off the vaulted ceiling to project absolute intellect. "I placed the bait in plain sight to present them with a scenario promising the physical annihilation of their people. Where are their strongest heroes? "Where are the high cardinals?"
"It is indeed baffling, Ainz-sama," Albedo replied, her voice dripping with venomous disdain. "To watch their own citizens be butchered like livestock and do nothing proves their vaunted righteousness is a fragile facade. They are cowards hiding in the dark while their flock is sheared."
"Or perhaps they are paralyzed by the overwhelming majesty of your strategy, my Lord!" Pandora's Actor chimed in.
Stepping forward with a sweeping gesture, the Doppelgänger clicked his polished boots sharply against the marble. "They look upon the grand stage you have set and realize their meager props and players are woefully inadequate, losing the will to even perform!"
Adjusting his glasses, Demiurge offered a dissenting perspective. "While Pandora's Actor makes a poetic point, I believe there is a more pragmatic reason for their absence."
Ainz turned his gaze toward the Guardian of the Seventh Floor. "Explain your thoughts, Demiurge."
"Yes, Ainz-sama," Demiurge answered, bowing deeply. "The leadership of the Slane Theocracy did not build a six-hundred-year empire on sheer cowardice, nor are they fools. I believe they have deduced the vanguard is a trap."
Pointing a clawed finger at the mirror, the demon elaborated on the tactical reality of the humans. "They know exposing their trump card means losing the item and their lives immediately. Because the sheer scale of your forces has communicated your absolute superiority, they have realized that fighting for the surface is mathematically futile."
"So they have abandoned their capital?" Ainz asked, tapping a skeletal finger against his golden armrest.
"Precisely," Demiurge nodded as a segmented silver tail swayed smoothly behind him. "If I were in their position, I would retreat underground, utilizing deep subterranean vaults or escape tunnels designed for an extinction-level event. From there, they will attempt to flee toward the vast southern deserts to rebuild in secret. Or perhaps..."
Pausing momentarily, his razor-sharp smile widened. "...perhaps they will seek out the only entity they believe can rival you to bargain with the Platinum Dragon Lord for sanctuary."
Albedo scoffed, twitching her black wings in harsh irritation. "Fools. They think a lizard hiding in the Argland Council State can protect them from the Supreme One?"
"It is the desperate grasping of a drowning man, Overseer," Demiurge replied smoothly. "But it remains the logical course of action for survivors."
Listening to his Guardians, the tactical mind of the Sorcerer King raced to process the variables.
Demiurge makes perfect sense, Ainz concluded, finding the gamer logic aligned flawlessly with the narrative unfolding above. If the guild base is compromised and you know winning the defensive raid is impossible, running away with your most valuable drops is the only viable play. I cannot let that World-Class Item escape the map.
"Very well," Ainz declared, commanding the very air in the room to turn still with his absolute authority. "If the rats have fled into the walls, we will smoke them out."
Leaning forward, the red fires in his eyes burned with a cold, predatory light. "Demiurge, deploy the [Hanzo] and the [Eight-Edge Assassins] immediately to infiltrate the subterranean networks beneath the capital. Bypass their heavy vault doors to seal every tunnel and every hidden exit leading south, east, or west. I want the Cardinals found alive, but above all else, secure the item."
"Your will is reality, Ainz-sama," Demiurge whispered, bowing until his face nearly touched the polished floor.
"As for the surface..." Ainz murmured, turning his gaze back to the [Mirror of Remote Viewing].
Framing the Cathedral of Darkness, the mountain of discarded human flesh had grown substantially as silent, milky-eyed citizens continued marching blindly into the waiting scythe.
"Let the show continue."
"My Lord?" Albedo asked softly, tilting her horned head. "If the leaders of the Theocracy have fled into the earth, is there still a need to expend the duration timer of the summon upon the common rabble?"
"There is," Ainz replied, keeping his tone chillingly calm.
He remembered the unexpected encounter within the Re-Estize Kingdom, where the sudden appearance of floating platinum armor dared to interfere with his battle against Shalltear. This New World possessed strange, unaccounted variables, housing arrogant individuals who operated on misplaced ideals of justice and heroism.
"Even if the Slane Theocracy is too cowardly to act, someone else might," Ainz continued. "This continent has its share of self-proclaimed protectors, including the Platinum Dragon Lord or perhaps other hidden True Dragon Lords. If we create a spectacle of suffering grand enough and flaunt our cruelty loudly enough, those who fancy themselves heroes will not be able to resist the urge to intervene."
Leaning back against his throne, his gaze fixed immovably upon the bloody work of the undead executioner. The deaths of the innocent meant nothing, acting merely as chum thrown into the water to attract much larger predators.
"We will grind Kami Miyako into dust, citizen by citizen, while we wait here, seeing exactly who takes the bait."
Bowing in unison, a chorus of dark reverence filled the silent hall as Nazarick settled into a state of supreme, predatory anticipation. Its master watched the burning world above, patiently waiting for a hero to step into the light and die.
---------------AN
Hey everyone! 👋
That officially wraps up Arc 3. I had an absolute blast writing this one, and now I am going to take a quick 2-week break before we dive straight into Arc 4. I need a little breathing room and time to handle a few personal things before we jump back into the chaos. Nothing too dramatic. Well... at least not yet. 💀
I would love to hear your honest thoughts on the journey so far. Are you enjoying the writing style, the narration, and the overall pacing? If something feels off, please tell me. I am constantly learning and evolving as a writer, and your feedback really helps shape this story more than you might think. 🫠
While we wait for Arc 4 to begin, I have plenty of content to keep you fed over on my Patreon. I am currently working on a massive side story based on Overlord Volume 14 that dives deep into the Kingdom's perspective. We are following King Ramaphosa, Prince Zanac, Princess Renner, the nobles, and the terrified citizens as the Sorcerer Kingdom's ultimatum hangs over their heads like a guillotine waiting to drop. 👑
There are already 10 to 12 chapters up, and the first four are completely free to read!
On top of that, I have another side project up there with 10 completely free chapters from Nazarick's perspective, taking place right after they discover who brainwashed Shalltear. If you are craving more world-building and deep reactions from different factions, definitely go check those out.
Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me through this dark little journey. It truly means the world to me. Have an awesome day or a peaceful night…
by Horizon2burns....❤️🔥