"Forgive the rude intrusion, but we were unable to find the key to the door."
"What the…? Where the hell is my dragon?!"
Part 3
As light pause of silence filled the corridor as the two stared each other down, one with an expression of surprise. She had clearly not expected to be seeing someone so out of place in an underground sanctum.
"Who the hell are you? I heard some explosions and screams of agony! Where is the monster that caused that havoc? Is it still behind you?"
Zesshi screamed out in pure frustration. Those shockwaves and blasts were enough to make the whole sanctum quake violently. It would take an incredibly powerful group of mages and warriors to break through the sanctum's defenses or at least some kind of terrible beast. Zesshi had been looking forward to fighting this insane force in glorious combat, only to find that the one that entered the room was some kind of grandpa in a butler costume. Therefore, the real monster or intruders must be still behind him.
"Who knows? But you certainly shouldn't judge a book by its cover, miss…?
Although Lycan had already told Ainz and the guardians that she called herself 'certain death', it was still common courtesy to ask for one's name if the other party did not know yours. At least that much respect must be shown even to your enemies, of this Sebas was strongly convinced.
"Zesshi Zetsumei is all you need to know, geezer-san."
Not the least bit bothered by Zesshi's comment, Sebas merely smiled politely as he responded.
"Is that so? Well then, Zetsumei-san, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Sebas, a butler in service of…"
"So this is where you were, you bastard?!"
An enraged voice rang and interrupted from behind Sebas as a huge crimson figure leaped from the breach and entered the corridor.
"Hmm, you've certainly healed up well, little mutt. And I thought I had good health insurance. Just what kind of priest could heal injuries that quickly and thoroughly?"
Ignoring the insensitive questions, Lycan was simply foaming from the mouth due to sheer anger as hatred began to overtake his mind. To see the person that caused him to almost be sentenced to death and disgrace both his name and the name of Nazarick made him feel as if he could just rip her to pieces, which if he was allowed to do so, he would definitely make sure he did.
Unable to suppress his rage any longer, Lycan prepared to pounce on Zesshi and rip that smirking face right off her body along with the rest of her head with it. But just as he was about to leap at her…
"Halt, Lycan!"
A dark voice bellowed from behind him as it commanded him to stop. Even though he should have lost all reason this voice still caused him to freeze in place like a sculpture as if this voice had seemingly completely restored his sanity.
Zesshi on the other hand had lost her senses for a bit. Although her bout was brief, she had gotten a good grasp of Lycan's personality and traits. Someone who was as proud and arrogant as him would not be chained easily, which made one wonder who the hell could command such a creature with just a simple order. Although the answer if one thought about it was quite obvious.
An even bigger monster
"Well, well. So this is the worm that Lycan told me about. Quite the accurate description."
From behind the butler emerged a malicious figure that stared intently at Zesshi with scarlet glowing eyes as he examined her with the same curiosity that a scientist had when he was about to dissect a newly discovered specimen.
Following behind the skeleton appeared another humanoid, only this one had a tail sprouting from behind him which clearly meant that he was not all human. Even more than that was the dangerous aura that he gave off as his false smile made even Zesshi feel a bit uncomfortable.
"I take it you are the one called Ainz Ooal… whatever?"
Zesshi mockingly asked as her lips curled into a mischievous smile that portrayed how fearless she was even in the face of a threat this serious.
"Ainz Ooal Gown. I feel honoured that you know my name. But where are my manners, allow me to introduce my comrades. You've already met Lycan Thropius, and this is my butler, Sebas Tian and one of my closest aides, Demiurge. Please take care to remember our names and faces. They might just be the last ones you see in this life."
The voice carried neither anger nor malice but simply a cold tone of indifference that could not possibly have come from someone who still valued the life of others. As was expected from an undead, the weight of a life to him was absolutely zero.
"Sure, whatever you say ehh… what was your full name again, you can just call me Zesshi by the way?"
Unable to withstand the annoying taunting from Zesshi any longer, even Demiurge lost his composure. There were very few things that he would be irked by, but someone purposefully insulting the great name of Ainz Ooal Gown was definitely one of those.
"Insolent worm! Aspect of the Arch Demon [Hellfire Breath]"
Demiurge's mouth glowed bright as he inhaled deeply and proceeded to breathe out again, only this time he also spit out a veritable volley of flames that flew towards Zesshi at quick speed, burning with a tinge of something far more sinister than ordinary flames.
Seeming the approaching blaze, Zesshi merely smirked as she simply continued standing in her place while the flames engulfed her body completely. These flames contained a tinge of demonic fire and therefore would not burn out the oxygen in the room but that was hardly the point as these flames could easily melt steel and would only subside if its master willed it. No human could survive within this conflagration for very long and any second now it was expected that Zesshi would start issuing miserable shrieks of burning agony.
But there was only silence and the sound of the flames crisping and defiling this holy place with their demonic malice.
"You're wasting your time, Demiurge, magic attacks won't work against this foe because she's wearing an item that negates all forms of magic damage."
"Correct! You know your stuff well, Sorcerer King. A little too well I'd say, even."
An elated voice rang out from within the fire as the flames in the center started to disperse, revealing what was inside.
Amidst the flames stood a figure that seemed completely unbothered by the excruciating fire surrounding her. The only thing that seemed affected by the flames was the black robe that she had been wearing, which was charred beyond repair. But the rest of her attire seemed completely fine.
As her black robe burned away, a mysterious white armour appeared beneath it. It was evidently not weak, as a vicious holy glow endlessly shone from it. Various religious symbols were engraved upon the chest armour as well as on the rerebraces. Her face was now concealed by a shimmering white helmet that seemed intricately crafted as its smooth construction gave an impression of belonging to a mighty holy warrior. She must have been hiding it underneath her black cloak. A thin white cape draped over her shoulders engraved with golden embroidery completed the sacrosanct feeling of the outfit.
Looking at the unhurt appearance of Zesshi who wore such a mysterious armour Ainz did not show any signs of surprise that she survived the attack unfazed. Instead, he looked relieved and turned to Sebas as he calmly spoke. "Say Sebas, do you know how the champion class is obtained?"
Sebas looked at his master slightly surprised. To be asked about one of the classes that his creator Touch Me-sama possessed at a time like this was puzzling to him.
"Yes, Ainz-sama, it should be won in some kind of tournament as a prize correct? If I'm not mistaken, then Touch Me-sama was one such holder of that class and became one of the strongest beings in Nazarick partially because of it."