“Warriors, advance!”
Shasuryu’s uplifting command raised the morale of the lizardmen to new height.
He had to change his mindset to that of a warrior. Zaryusu gathered his thoughts.
Under the lead of Shasuryu and the two wetland fairies, the lizardmen marched forth slowly.
They moved away from the village to avoid collateral damage to it.
Zaryusu and Zenberu were the rear guard.
Zaryusu looked back at the village suddenly. The tattered mud walls, the worried group of lizardmen seeing them off, and—
Zaryusu sighed and shook his worries away and took large stride forward. He didn’t utter the name of the female lizardman that was right at his lips.
The lizardmen traversed the wetlands, forming up between the enemy skeleton army and the village.
There was no particular formation, the lizardmen simply gathered randomly as they waited for the upcoming battle. The only clear arrangement was that the various tribe chiefs, Zaryusu and the two wetland fairies were standing in front.
The skeleton army was probably waiting for Zaryusu and the others to come. The skeletons banged on their shields and marched forward.
If the timing was even slightly off, it would just sound like random noise from a marching army, but their movements were in sync and the sound was as one. In a different setting, this performance would be worthy of applause and praise.
While the sound drew the attention of the lizardmen, to the rear of the skeletons— several trees in the forest fell.
There was only one reason why the thick large trees fell. Someone cut them down.
This caused a commotion among the lizardmen.
As they couldn’t see how it was done, it might be possible that this was a handiwork of several beings. However, the timing between the felling of each tree was too tidy. After seeing the synchronized movement of the skeletons, it might be possible for several beings working together to achieve that, but not a single lizardmen thought this was the case here.
A strange premonition lingered in their hearts, the feeling that this was the work of just one being.
This was because there was no sound of blade cutting into the trees before they fell. Which meant that it might be improbable, but it was done by a very strong being in one stroke.
What kind of strength and weapon could cut a large tree in one strike?
The thuds of falling trees together with the banging of shields came closer to the lizardmen.
Anxious feelings welled up. This was expected, how could anyone keep calm in such a situation. Even Zenberu who had the resolve to die, or Zaryusu and Shasuryu were shaken even though they hid it well.
Moments later, the one opening a path in the forest revealed itself. At the same time, the banging of the shields stopped.
In the eerily silent space, a smooth blue circle appeared before them. If not for the thick clouds, there was no telling how bright his reflection would be.
That large body of 250cm in height looked like an insect standing on two legs. The appearance was like that of an ant or mantis, a hybrid born of a twisted devil.
Its hard exoskeleton had a frosty air about it, sparkling like diamond dust.
It had a spiked tail that was twice its height and powerful jaws that looked powerful enough to chew off a human arm in one bite.
He had four clawed arms with shiny gauntlets gracing each one. A round golden necklace was worn around its neck and silver bangles adorned its legs.
The powerful being on par with the Overlord of Death— made its appearance.
So this is Cocytus?
Zaryusu’s heart raced and his breathing became ragged.
None of the lizardmen spoke. Their eyes were drawn to the monster that showed itself, unable to shift their gaze away. Even though they were afraid, they were too scared to look away.
The group backed away unconsciously. Be it the lizardmen who came with rousing fighting spirits or Zaryusu and the others who came here with the resolve to die, all of them were stunned in the face of dominating power.
I know the Overlord of Death is holding back, but to think a powerful being that wants to fight could be so terrifying.
Even with magic that could suppress fear, the urge to run away still sprung up from within Zaryusu. It was a miracle that the other lizardmen who weren’t protected by such spell did not run away.
Cocytus drew near slowly.
He walked into the wetlands, passing the skeletons with swagger—
Cocytus stopped about thirty metres before the lizardmen, on top of a small knoll. Cocytus then moved his insect like face on his long neck. He seemed to be searching for someone.
Zaryusu felt Cocytus’ gaze rested on him for a brief moment.
“—Alright, Ainz-sama is watching, so show your might. Before that, 「Ice Pillar」.”
With the activation of the spell, two pillars of ice sprouted between the lizardmen and Cocytus, about twenty meters away.
“This might be rude for the warriors who came with the resolve to die, but know this, only death awaits all who cross beyond these ice pillars.”
Cocytus crossed two of his arms, his body language seemed to a signal of him leaving the decision up to the lizardmen.
“Hey hey, he is an unexpectedly a nice guy…”
Zaryusu nodded in agreement when he heard Zenberu’s comment.
He then took a step forth. Zenberu, Shasuryu and the two other tribe chiefs followed.
Shasuryu turned back and told the warriors following them:
“You lot stay here… no, go back to the village. If not… you will die because of us.”
“What?! We want to fight too! It is scary… but even so, we want to fight!”
“There is no cowardice in retreat, living on takes more courage.”
“But—”
“Not all the lizardmen can go back, that’s how it is. As the tribe leaders, we can’t allow others to conquer us without a fight, right?”
“But chief, we also want to fight.”
“Hold it young ones! Scram, get out of here, leave the rest to us old timers!”
The lizardmen pushing their way to the front were old, but not elderly enough to be called an old man. They numbered 57, and the other lizardmen couldn’t say anything after seeing their faces.
If they showed resolved or resignation, the others would had insisted in going with them. But their expressions were pleading them, begging the younger ones to live on.
The speechless warriors reluctantly fell back.
Shasuryu turned to Cocytus once again.
“… Apologies for the wait, Cocytus.”
Cocytus extended one of his arm, bending a thin finger, gesturing at them to come at him. Facing the taunt of the enemy, Shasuryu yelled at the top of his voice:
“Charge—!”
“Warrghhhh!”
The lizardmen who steeled themselves mentally roared from the bottom of their heart and rushed at Cocytus.
Cocytus looked coldly at the warriors charging him.
“… I am sorry to do this to you, warriors, but let me cut down your numbers.”
Cocytus wouldn’t lose even if all the warriors reached him, but he still needed to pick his opponents.
Personally, Cocytus wanted to show his respect as a warrior and fight in a distance where the enemy could strike at him. But he owed a deep debt to his master, so it would be rude to show Ainz a disgraceful fight between a Nazarick's Guardian and unruly mobs.
Cocytus released his sealed spirit.
The ability of the class ‘Knight of Niflheim’— ‘Frost Aura’. This special ability used extreme cold to deal damage and slightly lowered the speed of adversaries. At full power, it would even affect the lizardmen watching from the sidelines. Cocytus didn’t wish for that.