Текст книги "Overlord - The Lizardmen Heroes"

Автор книги: Maruyama Kugane

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

However, that kind of magic belonged to a realm that was beyond her capabilities, which was why she lacked self-confidence– Crusch explained this to Zaryusu in a low voice, such that none else could listen in.

Zaryusu knew how shocking it was to have magic in the realm of the 6^th tier. That kind of magic was in a realm which could not even be attained his most powerful adversary to date, Iguvua. It was also believed to be the highest tier of magic in this world.

“Is this… the strength of the Supreme One? So that’s how it is… then it makes sense…”

If 6^th tier magic could be used, then being hailed as ‘Supreme One’ was no overstatement.

“Hey, hey, hey, it seems that everyone is anything at all but reassured.”

Zenberu’s complaint accurately pointed out the atmosphere in the surroundings.

Cold wind which could not possibly appear at this moment– meant that this was an unnatural change in the environment. This caused the lizardmen’s morale to plummet to the lowest levels.

The degree of change only extended to clouds last time. If it were only that, even the druids could pull it off by putting together a large bonfire ceremony. However, once the lizardmen felt this kind of autumn-like wind, they realised that the opponent possessed great power. Power to control the weather, which was supposedly an uncontrollable natural phenomenon.

Even if they had not heard Crusch’s words, the ceaselessly blowing cold current was enough to depict just how powerful their impending battle adversary was.

“Cheh, the opponent has begun to move.”

Zaryusu gritted his teeth, using willpower to suppress his tail from fiercely waving about. Just as he anticipated, sure enough the opponent had chosen this moment to move out.

After the organised skeleton army begun their advance, marching uniformly with precise equidistant footsteps, the nearby warrior class lizardmen immediately became frantic, and some even let out deep warning growls. However, Zaryusu who observed the skeleton army moving silently, formed a different opinion. That was not the initiation of a battle.

Just as Zaryusu and Zenberu were about to request aloud for the panicking lizardmen to calm down—

“—Calm down!”

A majestic shout which rippled the atmosphere sounded out.

Everybody looked towards the same direction, and found themselves looking at Shasuryu.

“I say again, calm down.”

In this silent space, only this voice filled with self-confidence and authority reverberated.

“Also, do not be afraid, warriors. Above all else, you must not disappoint the numerous ancestral spirits behind you.”

Shasuryu passed through the group of lizardmen which had retained their calm and were peacefully silent, and arrived by Zaryusu’s side.

“Younger brother, what action has the opponent taken?”

“Hmm, older brother, although they have begun to move… they do not appear to be preparing for battle.”

“Hmm…”

The five hundred skeletons which had begun to move formed into ten ranks.

“Just what are they planning to do?”

As if the skeleton army had been waiting for this question to be asked, they once again began to move.

Under perfect and precise commands, the legion parted to either side from the centre. What appeared from the gap of approximately twenty skeletons in width was… a figure.

That figure was not very large. Even if it was about two hundred and fifty meters away, it was possible to see that the figure was shorter than Zaryusu.

That person wore a pitch-black robe, and gave off a terrifying aura. He wore a similar attire to the powerful lich from yesterday’s battle, therefore likewise, this opponent should also be a magic caster.

However, there was a decisive difference between the two, that being their strength.

Seeing that figure, Zaryusu felt his back getting the shivers. His instinct was telling himself that if he were to compare this person who had just appeared to yesterday’s lich, the difference in their strength would be like that of a baby to a warrior.

Even if the distance between them was so large, it was still possible to be affected by that terrifying freezing aura emitted from that person’s entire body. Not only that, but the opponent’s equipment were also of a different class.

As if it was impossible to resist death– an absolutely dominating image.

“Is that… an Overlord of Death?”

Zaryusu could not resist speaking out the most appropriate description of this creature, and these words completely hit the point.

That person was an Overlord which dominated over death.

“... Oh, oh!”

What exactly was this Overlord of Death attempting to do?

The lizardmen which were nervously watching this Magic Caster let out a panicked sound altogether. At this moment, an enormous hemisphere-shaped magic array approximately ten metres in diameter expanded outwards with the magic caster at the centre.

A blue and white radiance floated on the surface of the magic array, with semi-translucent markings which looked like it could be words or symbols. Those semi-translucent markings were rapidly changing, and at any given moment none of the words were the same.

Being unable to understand what exactly it was, Zaryusu felt confused.

When a magic caster was casting magic, one would not project it into the air like he did with the magic array. The opponent’s current movements were already beyond Zaryusu’s area of knowledge, therefore he turned to the female lizardman here who was the most familiar with magic and asked:

“What exactly is that?”

“I-I don’t know. I cannot figure out what that is either—”

Crusch’s reply was a bit terrified. It looked like she was even more frightened because she possessed knowledge about magic yet was unable to understand that behaviour.

Just at the moment that Zaryusu was planning to comfort her…

Not knowing if the magic had successfully activated, the magic array broke apart, becoming numerous light particles flying towards the sky. In the next instant– like there had been an explosion in the sky, the particles spread out—

And the lake… completely froze.

Not a single person could understand what exactly had happened.

Shasuryu who was a tribe leader with outstanding qualifications; Crusch who had extraordinary druid powers; even Zaryusu the traveller who had seen much and had a wide breadth of knowledge. Even these individuals, who within lizardmen history could be considered to possess miraculous abilities, could not immediately comprehend the current situation.

No way of understanding why their own feet were inside ice.

Before long– after enough time had passed for the brain to accept the situation before their eyes– a crying rang out—

Every lizardmen– indeed, everybody let out a lamenting cry.

Even Zaryusu was the same. Crusch and Shasuryu, and even the most courageous Zenberu, were no exception. As if terror crept out from the depths of their souls, everybody could not help but scream.

This fact laid out before their eyes was simply too terrifying. The lake, which absolutely would never freeze over, which had never frozen over ever since the moment of their birth, was apparently frozen solid.

The lizardmen frantically lifted their feet. Luckily the layer of ice was not thick, and broke immediately, but the broken areas immediately froze up again. A chilling cold vapour came from underneath, making it painfully obvious that this sight was not an illusion.

After Zaryusu agitatedly clambered up the mud wall, he immediately surveyed the surroundings, then was stunned into silence by what he saw from his widened point of view.

Everything in his field of vision was completely frozen over.

Indeed, it was inconceivable to imagine that such an enormous lake would be entirely frozen solid. However, this radiating ice which covered everything in sight was also reality.

One corner of Zaryusu’s mind was also worried about the situation of his fish farm, but now was not the time to be worried about such things.

“That can’t be…”

Crusch, who had also climbed up, looked around and was lost for words just like Zaryusu. From her gaping mouth, she let out a despaired voice.

Like Zaryusu, she did not wish to believe that this scene she saw before her was real.

“Monster!”

She cursed loudly, whilst at the same time wishing that swearing and cursing would mitigate her internal fear.

“Get up here, quick!”

Older brother Shasuryu bellowed.

Several lizardmen had already toppled over. The remaining warriors who were still able to move cooperated together, helping to pull up their collapsed companions from the frozen ground.

Those lizardmen whom were being helped up had pale faces and were shivering constantly. The cold gas which wafted upwards probably had robbed them of their vitality.

“Older brother, I’ll go check on the others!”

Zaryusu who wielded Frost Pain could not be affected by this degree of influence from the cold air.

“No… Do not go!”

“Why, older brother?!”

“The enemy will probably start moving in a short moment. You are not permitted to leave! Grasp the overall situation, do not let any information slip! This is something which can only be entrusted to you who have wandered across the world and acquired various kinds of knowledge.”

Shasuryu’s eyesight moved away from Zaryusu and turned to speak to all of the surrounding warrior class lizardmen.

“Right now I will be casting some ice resistance magic upon you all, ‘Protection Energy Ice’. Quickly go and inform every single person in the village, and avoid coming into contact with the ice.”

“I will also assist with casting the magic.”

“Please do! Then, Crusch, let us act separately. If any individual is discovered to be in an emergency situation, immediately cast healing magic!”

Crusch and Shasuryu began to cast defensive magic on the unharmed lizardmen.

Zaryusu remained on top of the mud wall, and looked towards the enemy’s position with sharp eyes, making sure to grasp the opponent’s every single movement. It was imperative to carry out the task given to him by his brother with perfection.

“Hey ho.”

Zenberu who had climbed up to Zaryusu’s side gazed leisurely at the enemy’s position.

“You need to relax a bit. Your older brother is looking forward to your wisdom right? Even if you miss something, he won’t blame you. The more important thing is to not be too hooked up in it, and end up narrowing your vision.”

Zenberu in his carefree voice had given Zaryusu a sharp warning.

Just like with that lich battle, everyone should cooperate and divide up the labour, and focus on their own role to the best of their ability.

Zaryusu surveyed the surrounding and discovered that warrior class lizardmen had also likewise climbed on top of the mud wall to observe the enemy. Correct, he was not here to fight a war by himself, but to fight shoulder to shoulder with everyone.

It seems that he who had witnessed that overwhelming power – magic – had been shaken.

Zaryusu exhaled one giant breath, as if to get rid of his internal worries all in one go.

“Sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

“... That’s right, because you, Zenberu, are also here.”

“Ha, don’t look to me for matters which concern thinking.”

The two of them laughed at each other, then continued to observe the enemy’s movement.

“However, that really is a true monster.”

“Yeah! It is basically on a completely different level…”

The Overlord of Death had the insufferably arrogant posture of a king, and pompously gazed in the direction of Zaryusu and their village. That supposedly quite small body seemed expanded by ten times its size.

“... He should be the one referred to as the Supreme One.”

“That ought to be pretty spot on. Furthermore, I really hope there are no others powerful enough to cast magic that freezes the entire lake.”

“That’s right, and I hope so too. In the eyes of that monster who is even able to freeze the lake, we lizardmen are no more than ants. Ah~ what a shame! We’re no different than small insects. Speaking of which… there’s movement.”

The magic caster who froze the lake raised the hand which was not holding onto a staff, and gave a wave in the direction of the village. That action ought to be a command given– Zaryusu felt as such, and in the next moment received a terrifying proof of it.

“Oh oh oh oh!”

The sound came from various parts from within the village.

“What is… that! What on earth is that?!”

After Zaryusu, who at this stage deeply believed that there was nothing more that could surprise him, saw the sight before his eyes, on reflex gave out an anguished cry.

What appeared before him was a two-armed, two-legged colossus which seemed to be carved out of stone.

There in its thick rock chest region lay a red light which shone just like a heartbeat. With thick hands and stubby legs, its stout body shape was even a bit cute, that was, if it was not over thirty metres in height.

This kind of gigantic rock figure suddenly appeared in the forest. Calling it an illusion would in fact be even easier to mentally accept.

The rock figure slowly began to move, and raised an enormous boulder from who knows where.

And then threw it.

Zaryusu involuntarily covered his eyes. Without a doubt, all those who collided with the giant boulder would be met with nothing but absolute death.

In the darkness, Zaryusu heard the movement sounds of surprised persons, and an enormous collision sound reached him. Even the mud wall began to shake violently.

This was followed by the sound of intense rain– the sound of rebounded gravel as it fell onto the ground, and the exclaiming of both adults and children from the village.

Although he was already accustomed to death, it was still intolerable for him to face such horror which exceeded imagination. The shocking lesson moments ago even caused those who had fought victoriously in the previous war to shriek just like small children.

Comforting himself with the fact that he was still alive, Zaryusu exhaled and calmed himself down. After cautiously opening his eyes, what he saw reflected in his eyes was the sight of the undead army beginning to move, and the giant stone figure was nowhere to be seen.

In the wetlands between the two armies was the giant rock boulder which was non-existent moments ago. The undead legion gathered close to the rock, raised their shields flatly above themselves before kneeling down. The other skeletons jumped on top of the raised shields, nimbly maintained their balance then, like the skeletons below, likewise raised their own shields.

At that moment, Zaryusu understood what the opponent was doing and, as if he had been struck by lightning, started trembling.

“Could it be… stairs? Apparently even this myth-like army is used as mere stairs!”

The skeletons approached the giant boulder at abnormal speed– and the stairs made out of undead army units was finally completed.

Following this, the other undead soldiers also began to move. These undead were even more impressive looking than the skeletons moments ago, and numbered approximately one hundred. In their hands were spears with a piece of cloth attached, like the kind used by horse-back spearmen.

Bright red cloth– all of their spear-flags had a single emblem.

Those undead wore cloaks billowing in the wind, and stepped into the wetlands one after each other in perfect unison, advancing forward silently as they shattered the ice beneath their feet. This was followed by another group of skeletons which also entered the wetlands in perfect unison. The second group maintaining a fixed distance from the first group before stopping and crossing spears with each skeleton on the other side.

The crossed spears formed a single path leading directly to the large boulder.

“... Is that a path for the Overlord?”

Zenberu was correct.

The ‘death’ magic caster stepped on the path arranged by the undead, and following behind him were numerous figures who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

Leading the path was the magic caster whose extent of true strength had reached unfathomable heights.

On his body he wore a pitch-black changpao, so dark that it looked as if it had been cut from a piece of the night, and in his hand he held a staff which radiated a black aura. That radiating aura seemed to form into agonised human expressions, which collapsed and disappeared. Even under the hood was a skull, with vacant eye sockets which had a shining small red light in either of them.

The opponent wore innumerable magic accessories which were absolutely beyond Zaryusu’s comprehension, and walked forward at a commensurate pace with the authority of a king.

There was a white clothed woman following behind the Overlord of Death. Although she had a human appearance, there were one particular area which was different to humans. Namely, that was the wings attached to her body at the waist.

“She can’t be… an Akuma?”

Akuma.

Demons were those who used violence to bring about destruction, and Devils were those who used their intelligence to bring about depravity. These kinds of otherworldly existences grouped together were referred to as demons. It is said that they are atrocious monsters which existed solely for the extermination of all sentient and good living beings. They were also synonymous with the word ‘evil’.

Zaryusu had once before heard about demons during his travels.

He had heard how terrifying demons were. It was said that two hundred years ago, a being known as the king of the demons – the Demon God – had led demons under his banner, and had almost exterminated the entire world.

The Demon God had met his end at the hands of the thirteen heroes which vanquished him, and in a certain place it was still possible to see traces of that battle.

If undead could be described as creatures which detested the living, then demons were creatures which tormented the living.

A pair of dark elf twins followed behind the demon, and behind them was a silver-haired girl. Not only that, there was also a bizarre creature floating in the air, and lastly there was a human-like male with a long tail.

Although the bizarre creature gave off an impression that it was not strong, a single glance of each of the others would cause tails to start to tremble. His feral instincts were fiercely warning himself, saying it was crucial to quickly get away at full speed.

This line of persons walked forward silently, passed through underneath the spear banners, and climbed up the stairs leading to the giant boulder. Without hesitation, they stepped on the undead soldiers, and stood on top of the giant boulder like royalty. The Overlord of Death, who walked in front, stretched out his hand and gave it a wave.

In the next moment, a high back throne giving off a black radiance appeared, and the Overlord of Death directly proceeded to sit on top of it.

The ones which walked behind, which should be his trusted people, formed a line, and as if waiting for something they looked towards the village. However apart from this, they did not make any other movements.

What kind of situation was this?

Several lizardmen looked at each other uncomfortably, and finally decided to allow the cleverest person at the scene to make a judgment call.

“... P-Please tell us, what we should do, Zaryusu-sama? Shall we prepare to flee?”

This speech was devoid of battle intent. Their powerless and drooped tails spoke volumes about how they felt inside.

“No, that will not be necessary. Think about the previous lich. Our opponent is a magic caster who is by far more superior to that lich, and making an attack at this distance should be child’s play for him. The most frightening thing is… what kind of words does he have for us.”

The lizardmen revealed an expression of agreement.

During this period of time, Zaryusu’s gaze remained focused on a line people that had approached. Like a commoner looking at royalty, he did not stop observing the powerful creatures standing on top of the giant boulder.

This was so that he would not let any information slip his attention.

When the distance between them had closed, he could already make quite detailed observations, and it could even be said that they were close enough to exchange gazes.

Was the Overlord of Death seated on the throne observing the lizardmen? The outward appearances of the dark elves did not show any hostile intent, the silver haired girl had a mocking expression, the demon’s gentle appearance conversely caused hairs to raise on end, it was completely impossible to see if the bizarre creature was up to anything, and the male who had grown a tail had no emotions in his eyes.

After exchanging observations like this for a while, the Overlord of Death once again gently raised the hand not holding a staff to the vicinity of his chest. Several lizardmen who saw this action flickered their tails intensely.

“—Do not be afraid. Do not put an embarrassing display in front of our opponent.”

Zaryusu’s razor-sharp rebuke made all of the lizardmen at the scene immediately raise their heads and straighten their backs.

A number of black clouds appeared in front of the Overlord of Death, numbering twenty. The black clouds spun ceaselessly, growing in size and each becoming approximately one hundred and fifty centimetres in size. Before long, many horrifying faces appeared floating inside the black clouds.

“Those are…”

Zaryusu recalled that it was the monster which had approached the village, and was also the same kind of undead monster which he had once come across during his travels.

Although he had already explained this in Crusch’s village, unless they were to use magic weapons, weapons forged from special metals, magic or special martial arts, it would be exceedingly difficult to harm this kind of incorporeal creature.

Even when all of the lizardmen tribes were aggregated, they only possessed a small number of magic weapons, which meant to say that even defeating one would be very difficult.

Not to mention that the opponent had apparently summoned twenty of that kind of monster with great ease.

“... So, that’s what it means to be able to control death itself.”

Zaryusu despairingly thought to himself that the opponent was indeed a supremely powerful being able to have the powerful lich swear loyalty to him.

After the Overlord of Death uttered some unknown words, he stretched out his hand and waved as if intending for everyone to attack. Following this, the monsters flew over, surrounded the village and began to chant in unison.

『The Supreme One transmits his message to you as such.』

『The Supreme One requests a dialogue. Will the representative please step forward.』

『Should you waste our time, it shall only serve to aggravate the Supreme One.』

After this unilateral declaration, the incorporeal undead returned to their masters’ side.

“Ha...? It can’t be… That is it?”

Zaryusu had a stumped look as he said this.

So he sent out such powerful undead just to transmit this message?

However, what was even harder to believe was when the silver haired girl, who was waiting at attention at the back, forcefully used both hands to make a clap once she received her instructions from the supreme ruler of death.

At the moment of the hand clap– those undead were exterminated.

“What!”

Zaryusu, who had taken in a large shock, involuntarily shouted out.

Since that move was not to return the summoned monsters, but to exterminate them.

Priests could exterminate undead. Although normally sending them back was already not easy, if there were two individuals and there was a great difference in strength, they could do more than make the undead retreat, and even directly exterminate them. However, to exterminate a group of undead at the same time was impossible.

What that meant was that the silver haired girl’s strength was on par with the Overlord of Death. If that was so, then the others by his side were fearfully also the same.

“Ha ha ha ha—”

Zaryusu could not stop his own laughter.

This was natural. At this moment, what could he do other than laugh? If the difference in their strength was as such—

“Younger brother!”

“—Ah, older brother!”

Zaryusu replied as he glanced to the voice which came from the under of the mud wall, and discovered that both Shasuryu and Crusch had arrived at the wall. Both individuals climbed up the mud wall and looked in the direction of the magic caster’s entourage.

Crusch forcefully squeezed herself between Zenberu and Zaryusu, almost causing Zenberu to fall over. However, this should have counted as a forgivable action.

“Is that the enemy's leader? The atmosphere around him is so strong that merely looking at him will cause people’s bones to chill. Although the appearance is similar to the lich which you defeated… but the strength of both individuals simply cannot be compared…”

“... Older brother, have you finished on your side?”

“Mm, pretty much. My and Crusch’s magic reserves have been depleted. Furthermore, after hearing that being’s words… I also think that we must resolve this matter first. About what that being said… Zaryusu, are you willing to come along?”

Zaryusu looked silently at Shasuryu for a while, then nodded gravely. Shasuryu momentarily showed an anguished look, but immediately returned to normal, so fast that nobody had noticed his expression.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t mind it, older brother.”

Shasuryu had only apologised before jumping off the mud wall, treading on the thin layer of ice coating the wetlands, and letting out splashing sounds.

“I’m off then.”

“Be careful.”

After Zaryusu hugged Crusch tightly, he also followed Shasuryu and jumped down into the wetlands.

Zaryusu and Shasuryu treaded across the thin ice above the lake, moving forward together. After they walked through the main entrance, Zaryusu felt the Overlord of Death’s group gaze intently at the two of them, as if their gazes carried actual pressuring strength. He desperately restrained his strong emotions telling him not to get away.

At this moment, Shasuryu spoke out.

“... Sorry.”

“... Sorry for what, older brother?”

“... If negotiations fall apart, the opponent may perhaps kill the two of us there and then.”

Zaryusu had already prepared himself mentally a while ago. It was because of this that he had hugged Crusch so tightly first.

“... Considering the opponent’s numbers, I cannot allow older brother to go forward alone. If you were by yourself, the opponent would probably also form the opinion that we are not paying them enough respect.”

Amongst lizardmen, Zaryusu was indeed widely known, and extremely suitable to take part in negotiations. However, his identity was that of a traveller, therefore even if he were sacrificed, it would not affect the lizardmen group structure. From this perspective, his loss would not be regretted.

Even if the hero were to be killed, so long as there were other remaining tribe chiefs, the battle could be continued. The only pity would be the loss of Frost Pain. Without it, there would be no means to block the cold wind coming from the frozen lake.

The two of them continued silently forward, getting step-by-step closer to death.

They arrived before the undead stairs leading up to the throne, and announced their arrival loudly. If the throne was situated even further back, they could have chosen to climb up the stairs first, but the opponent stood at the brink of the stairs, showing that they were not intended to climb up.

The king must sit at a higher level.

Although lizardmen did not have such a rule, many tribes had the habit where those in a higher position would look down on the others. Of course, from the perspective of holding talks, this was considered disrespectful treatment of the other party.

Therefore, whilst on the surface it was called negotiation, blatantly there was no intention for these negotiations to be conducted between equals.

However, requesting equality in talks would be overconfidence. Indeed, Zaryusu and the others had won the previous battle, but after seeing the rows of enemy soldiers on top of the enormous boulder, they were forced to realise that their previous victory had no meaning even if they did not wish to believe so. All of it had been just a game.

“Our delegation has arrived! I am the lizardmen representative, Shasuryu Shasha, the strongest hero amongst the lizardmen!”

“I am Zaryusu Shasha!”

Even so, their sonorous voices still had no flattery in them. They knew that this was foolishness, but this was their remaining dignity. Perhaps the previous battle was only a game in the opponent’s eyes, but they absolutely could not forfeit the honour of those who sacrificed their lives in that battle.

No response. The Overlord of Death seated on top of the throne merely looked critically at them, unceremoniously sizing them up. It was completely impossible to tell if there was any intent to take action.

The one who replied was the demon who had a pair of black wings which grew from her waist.

“Our master does not consider that you have not entered into a listening posture which demonstrates respect.”

“... What?”

Once the female heard the confused voice, she called out to the man by her side who had a tail.

“—Demiurge.”

“『Prostrate』.”

Suddenly, Zaryusu and Shasuryu knelt down, with their heads buried into the wetlands. Their actions made it look like these two persons thought it was only natural to do.

The cold mud stained the two persons’ bodies, and the shattered ice blocks immediately froze up again.

It was impossible to stand up. Even if they used their entire body’s strength, their bodies did not budge. As if there was an invisible giant hand which was pressing down on them from above, their bodies had completely lost all freedom of movement.

“『Do not Resist』.”

In the moment that the sound once again was heard in their heads, Zaryusu and Shasuryu felt as if their bodies had given birth to another mind– taking over their decision making organs. Their bodies seemed to act according to the instructions of that organ.

After seeing the two energy-drained persons awkwardly kneeling in the muddy ground, the female demons seemed to look very satisfied, and faced the master as she reported:

“Ainz-sama, their respectful listening postures are prepared.”